A sigh escaped her lips , but even so , Alessia knew she still had to get the job done - and do it well . She glanced around , only now remembering she was no longer at the Tate family's manor . Of course there wouldn't be any art supplies here . The last time she'd asked Cole to help , he'd brought her a small box of paints , but she'd given them all to Ivan - hadn't kept a single tube for herself . Resigned, Alessia stood up . She'd have to borrow some paint from Ivan . She knocked on the cabinet door ; the curtain hanging nearby fluttered gently in the breeze , but the room remained silent . Alessia was used to this - she figured Ivan was probably lost in his painting again - so she simply pulled the curtain aside . But the little studio was empty . She was about to let the curtain fall back into place when a painting by the window . caught her eye . The canvas was a mass of black , streaked with deep , unsettling reds , the whole image twisted into something almost grotesque . Even though the summer air outside was thick and stifling , this painting seemed to leech the warmth from the room , sending a chill through her . Almost without thinking , Alessia stepped closer . The moment she reached out , Ivan burst out from who - knows - where and clamped his teeth onto her outstretched hand . Pain shot through her - she could feel his teeth sinking into her skin , sharp and desperate , as if he wouldn't let go until he'd bitten out a piece of her . She sucked in a breath . As she started to pull away , Ivan suddenly trembled , his eyes wild with terror , his grip tightening instead of loosening . Alessia was quick to pick up on emotions - sometimes more than she wa d to be . A thought flashed through her mind , one she instinctively wanted to reject . Her hand throbbed , but instead of pulling away , she reached over and gently patted Ivan's head, soothing him with a calm that belied her pain . The movement was so fluid , it was as if she'd been bitten and then immediately moved to comfort him . There was no screaming , no flailing - none of the panic she'd braced herself for . Ivan stilled , sensing her steady presence and gentle touch . He blinked , eyes clearing , the fear draining away as he met Alessia's gaze . There was no anger there , just a helpless kind of resignation . " Sorry , " Alessia said , crouching down so she was eye - level with him . " I shouldn't have barged in . I just wanted to borrow some paint . " She made sure her tone was 1/2 13:50 Chapter 42 even , not scolding , just honest - putting herself on his level . She wasn't angry about being bitten . Besides , it was her own fault for startling him , and honestly , this wasn't half as shocking as what the Tate twins had put her through . Ivan had calmed down . He let go of her hand and curled up against the wall , arms wrapped tight around his knees . He was so small , drawn in on himself , that she felt an unexpected pang of sympathy . Alessia wasn't the sentimental type , but seeing Ivan like this made her brow crease with concern . She wanted to say something , but the moment didn't feel right . Besides , glancing at the blood oozing from her hand , she just let out another sigh . Without another word , Alessia left the room , giving Ivan his space . The apartment wasn't big , so it didn't take her long to spot the first - aid kit in the living room . Her hand was already bruising , purple and blue around the crescent marks where blood still welled . Against her pale skin , the bite looked almost ghastly . At least it was her left hand - cleaning the wound wouldn't be too tricky . She twisted the cap off the peroxide and poured it over the bite without so much as a flinch . Bubbles fizzed up , but she just dabbed them away and reached for the iodine , moving with practiced efficiency , her face unreadable . Finally , she tore open a roll of gauze , biting one corner as she wrapped it around her hand with the other . Just then , she heard Karen and the others outside the door . A second later , the front door swung open .