The power of manipulation

Arkins turned to Melly with a casual smile, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. "Melly, can you give me and Nabi some privacy?"

Melly arched a brow. "Privacy?" she repeated, her arms crossing.

"Yeah, just for a moment," he insisted, his tone light yet firm.

Melly hesitated but eventually scoffed, "Fine. Do whatever." She rolled her eyes and walked away, though her curiosity burned.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Arkins turned to Nabi, his entire demeanor shifting in an instant. The warmth in his gaze disappeared, replaced with something dark and predatory.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a menacing whisper. "Listen carefully, Nabi. If you say a single word about what happened between us last night…" He paused, letting the weight of his threat settle, "…I swear on my life, I will show you that there is more to pain than just scandals."

Nabi's breath hitched. She had never seen him like this before. His usually charming eyes darkened, and his entire presence felt… unnatural.

Her heartbeat quickened, fear creeping into her veins. But it wasn't just fear—something was pulling her in, consuming her thoughts. She couldn't look away.

Arkins' stare deepened, and suddenly, it felt like the world around her blurred. His voice was inside her head, twisting her thoughts.

Forget.

Forget everything.

Nabi's vision clouded for a moment, and just like that—everything from the previous night vanished from her memory.

The moment passed, and Arkins stepped back, his expression shifting back to normal. He smirked slightly and tilted his head.

"Last night's movie night was great, wasn't it?" he asked, his voice casual.

Nabi blinked in confusion, then nodded, her face lighting up with a dreamy smile. "Yeah… it was."

Arkins mentally smirked. It worked.

---

Rejoining Melly

Arkins and Nabi walked back to where Melly was waiting. She had her arms crossed, her gaze shifting between them suspiciously. Something felt… off.

She narrowed her eyes at Arkins, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him aside into a corner.

"What the hell was that?" she whispered sharply.

Arkins raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What do you mean?"

Melly's eyes flickered to Nabi, who was standing there, still staring at Arkins like she was under some kind of spell.

"Don't play dumb," she said, her voice quieter but firm. "What did you say to her?"

Arkins gave her a small smirk. "Just reassured her. You know… made sure she doesn't stress about her little scandal."

Melly didn't buy it. "That's not it," she muttered, studying his face. "Something about her feels… different."

Arkins simply shrugged. "Maybe she's just overwhelmed. You know how people react under pressure."

Melly still wasn't convinced. Something told her Arkins had done something, but she couldn't put her finger on what.

For now, she let it go—but she wasn't going to ignore it.

Something about Arkins was changing. And she was going to find out why.

Arkins felt his throat dry as Melly's sharp eyes bore into him. His mind raced—why hadn't it worked? Why couldn't he control her like he did Nabi?

He had done it so effortlessly with everyone else. A simple stare, a few whispered words, and their memories bent to his will like fragile paper. But Melly… she stood there, unaffected, watching him with an amused smirk.

"What do you think you're doing, Arkins?" she asked, tilting her head.

His lips parted slightly, but he had no immediate response. "Em… nothing?"

Melly let out a small chuckle and folded her arms. "You think you're some vampire from a horror movie or something?" She laughed, shaking her head. "Are you trying to hypnotize me? Lol, don't be ridiculous, Arkins. You watch too many movies."

Arkins forced a laugh, but inside, his mind was spinning. Why? Why didn't it work?

He had tested his abilities so many times before. He had used it on strangers, teachers, even his own mother .It had never failed. But now, standing in front of Melly, he felt powerless.

His fingers twitched as he clenched his jaw, watching her closely. Was she immune? Did she have some kind of hidden resistance?

Melly took a step closer, looking up at him with a teasing smile. "Aww, don't look so disappointed. What? Were you really trying to hypnotize me?"

Arkins forced himself to smirk. "As if," he scoffed. "You really think I'd waste my abilities on you?"

Melly arched a brow. "Abilities? So you admit it."

Damn it. He had slipped up.

She laughed again, shaking her head. "Whatever you're up to, Arkins, just know—" she leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a whisper, "—it won't work on me."

Arkins stood there, unable to say anything. His heart pounded, not from fear, but from something else.

Melly turned and walked away, leaving him standing there in shock.

Why her?

Why was she the only one he couldn't control.

The night air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of the city as Melly and Arkins walked side by side. They had been wandering for a while, lost in comfortable silence. But Arkins wasn't comfortable. His mind was restless, filled with words he wasn't sure how to say.

Melly noticed. "You've been quiet. What's wrong?"

Arkins exhaled, his breath visible in the cool air. "I need to tell you something… and I don't know how you'll take it."

Melly raised a brow. "That sounds serious."

"It is."

She stopped walking, turning to face him fully. "Then say it."

Arkins hesitated, then finally met her eyes. "I was the one who leaked everything about your family."

A pause.

Melly's expression didn't shift. She simply stared at him. Arkins braced himself for anger, maybe even betrayal—but she didn't react like he expected.

She blinked. "You…?"

Arkins nodded. "I gathered the evidence. I uploaded everything."

Silence.

Then, to his shock, Melly exhaled and ran a hand through her hair. "Damn. I thought I was the only one playing this game."

Arkins narrowed his eyes. "You're not mad?"

Melly let out a small laugh. "Mad? Arkins, I should be buying you a drink. You did what I've wanted to do for years."

Arkins studied her, searching for any trace of deception. "Even when Nabi got caught up in it?"

Melly sighed, tilting her head in thought. "That part was… unexpected. But honestly, she's part of them. If the truth ruined her, then maybe she wasn't as innocent as she seemed."

Arkins smirked. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

Melly rolled her eyes. "Please, you're just realizing now?"

The playful moment hung in the air for a second before fading into something more serious. Arkins took a breath, running a hand through his hair. "There's more."

Melly's brow furrowed. "More?"

Arkins hesitated, then looked at her with an intensity that sent a chill through her. "I'm not… normal, Melly."

Melly tilted her head. "Well, yeah. I figured that out a long time ago."

Arkins huffed a laugh. "No, I mean it. I'm not human."

Melly blinked. "Excuse me?"

Arkins clenched his jaw, struggling to say the words. "My father… wasn't human. He was a vampire."

A long silence stretched between them. Melly's face was unreadable, and for the first time in a long time, Arkins felt nervous.

Melly finally let out a slow breath. "That's a hell of a confession."

Arkins nodded. "I know."

She studied him. "And you're telling me this because…?"

Arkins met her gaze. "Because I want you to know the truth. I have abilities, Melly. That's how I got Nabi to forget what happened between us."

At that, Melly's expression changed. "Forget what happened?"

Arkins hesitated. "…We kissed."

Melly's eyes flickered with something he couldn't quite read. "And you erased it from her memory?"

"Yes."

Melly crossed her arms, looking at him carefully. "And tell me, Arkins… did you enjoy it?"

Arkins stiffened. "That's not the point."

Melly smiled slightly. "I think it is."

Arkins swallowed, suddenly feeling exposed. "I erased it because it meant nothing."

Melly didn't respond for a moment, then simply hummed. "Interesting."

Arkins frowned. "You don't seem shocked."

Melly shrugged. "I've seen a lot of crazy things. A half-vampire? That's just another mystery to solve."

Arkins watched her carefully. "You're taking this too well."

Melly smirked. "Maybe I just don't scare easily."

Arkins narrowed his eyes. Something about her was different. The way she carried herself, the way she processed everything—most people would be afraid, or at least ask a hundred questions. But Melly… she was too calm.

He stepped closer, voice dropping. "You're hiding something too, aren't you?"

Melly's lips twitched, but she didn't answer.

Arkins searched her expression, but for the first time, he couldn't read her. And that intrigued him more than anything else.