Karizma

Kristopher straightened in his seat. Something triggered a surge of power in Ryleigh’s magic. He rose to his feet slowly and approached the railing of the second floor. He gazed down at her curiously, but she appeared undisturbed. He sipped his whiskey as his eyes canvassed the patrons that were dancing before her booth. Something happened, he thought. Something spooked her or stressed her. Her eyes met his suddenly and she smiled at him. He offered a small smile and nodded. She seems fine, he thought.

“I felt it, too,” Grayson said as Kristopher returned to his seat. “Strange.”

“Yeah, it is,” Kristopher murmured. “She seems fine, though.”

“How certain are you that it’s not her?” Liam asked slowly. Kristopher tensed and took another sip of his whiskey. He felt pretty damn sure that she was not the Karizma that he was targeting. She couldn’t be. Sure, she was powerful, but she was a witch, after all. It had been so long since he had come across a true witch that he had almost forgotten that they existed.

“Pretty certain,” Kristopher said through gritted teeth. “Not to mention, I don’t smell a Karizma. Do you?”

“Cinnamon is the signal,” Grayson nodded. “No Karizma has ever been able to hide that god-awful smell before. Not for long, anyway.”

“Not for long,” Liam repeated.

“It’s not her,” Kristopher growled. “Drop it. We’ll find the real one soon enough.”

“Brother, don’t do this,” Liam sighed.

“Do what?”

“Fall for a witch,” Grayson answered. “It will only end badly, and you know it.”

Kristopher sipped his whiskey and shifted his attention back to the booth. His jaw tensed as his eyes attempted to burn through the metal railing to locate the witch of his affection. He could not seem to keep away from her, and it appeared that she felt the same way. For a witch, she was kind and genuine. So many witches before her were conceited and so ugly internally that whatever external beauty they possessed appeared to be just a façade. But not her, he thought. Her internal beauty simply enhanced her physical beauty. She was the most beautiful creature that he had encountered in a very long time.

“Kristopher,” Liam said.

“I heard you both,” Kristopher snapped. “Just drop it, all right?”

“You know we can’t do that,” Liam said sternly. “Witches loathe us because of what we have done to their ancestors, the ancestors that they worshipped. There is still one Karizma left. How do you think she’s going to feel about you after you kill the last of her ancestors, the last of the most powerful witches ever born?”

“He could always just not tell her about that part of himself,” Grayson shrugged. “He wouldn’t be the first of our kind to get his dick wet by a witch.”

Kristopher clenched his jaw. His grip on his glass tightened, and he heard a slight shriek muffled by his palm. He had cracked the glass. He saw Grayson’s eyes widen slightly, but Kristopher ignored him and shifted his attention back to the balcony. Grayson was not wrong; vampires and witches were basically forbidden to each other, so it was always more exhilarating to indulge in them once in a while. But can I live with myself without telling her who I truly am? He thought. He rolled his head against his shoulders and cracked his neck. He was actually considering her feelings. For decades, he shut the considerate part of himself off; fucking and feeding, that was all that mattered to him in the world. Until he met her, and then everything changed. The ice that encased his shriveled heart over the years began to chip away, and the light that she radiated had provided the life that his heart needed to grow and thrive again.

Ryleigh’s magic caressed his arm softly, and he could not prevent the smile that stretched across his lips. Just like that, his anger and worry were diminished by happiness. Happiness, he thought. Something else that I haven’t felt in a long time. He placed his glass on the coffee table and sped downstairs. His hands gripped her hips tightly from behind as his lips brushed her ear. He felt her shiver against him, and he gripped her even tighter as he drew her back into his chest. “I am keeping my word for tomorrow, pet,” he growled darkly into her ear. He released her and sped back upstairs before any human could notice. The vampires, however, were eyeing him curiously.

“Have you not listened to a word that we’ve said?” Liam scowled.

“How can I not? You keep fucking saying it,” Kristopher grumbled as he grabbed his glass.

“Kris, we’re just worried for you—”

“No, you’re not,” Kristopher snapped. “You’re worried that I won’t be able to do my job if it’s her.”

“Can you?” Grayson asked. He leaned forward in his chair and rested his arms on his knees. “I have faith in you, Kris, but she is affecting you differently.”

“Humanizing you, that’s the word,” Liam nodded.

“Watch it,” Kristopher warned. “Don’t insult me, Liam.”

“All he’s saying is that you’re different with her,” Grayson said cautiously. “Karizma or not, she is still a witch. Get your dick wet but get out. Neither one of you will last long with the other. Where do you think this will lead? Happily ever after for a witch and a vampire? We’re old enough to not believe in such childish fairytales.”

“I’m older than you are, Gray. Trust me, I don’t believe in such things,” Kristopher said.

“Then what is it?” Liam asked.

“Can we stop probing about my damn love life and just shut up and drink?” Kristopher snarled. He swallowed the rest of his whiskey and stood up. “I’m going to get more. Do either of you need anything?”

Grayson and Liam simply shook their heads in response. Kristopher began descending down the stairs, the blasting of the music attempting to dissuade the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. He had every intention of keeping his promise to Ryleigh, about finishing what they had started tonight. He craved to tell her who he truly was but knew that she would not react well to such news. The monster that had been killing off witches for decades was interested in a witch, how poetic, he thought bitterly. It was entirely possible that she would kill him for such an admission, and he would not blame her for it. Just one night with her, he thought. And then I’ll have to keep my distance from her. His heart ached at the realization; he would be treating her like a one-night stand, like his bachelor reputation portrayed him. She was different, she was special, but the only way to protect her from himself was to stay away. It may be selfish to indulge first, but he knew by the way that she smelled and reacted to him that she was craving him as well.

Kristopher reached the bar and Alisha walked over to him. “Another double shot of whiskey, please,” he said as he placed his glass on the counter.

“I get that you own the place, but can you stop breaking the merchandise?” Alisha teased. She retrieved a new glass and poured the warming substance into it. “You okay, boss?”

“I will be. Thank you,” Kristopher nodded as he accepted the glass. He took a sip of it and walked over to the stairwell. He leaned against the wall of the stairwell and observed the humans writhing on the dance floor. He felt a slight flutter at the realization that his affection was the one creating the joy and freedom that the humans felt. He took another drink of his whiskey.

Kristopher knew that tomorrow with Ryleigh promised the same creation from him. Happiness, joy, freedom. He felt like he could truly be himself around her, and he admired that she was allowing to be herself around him. It was like they were two caged birds finally flying free. The world around them ceased to exist each time they flew together, and for that he appreciated her even more. He had not been able to turn off his hunter instincts in a long time, always needing to be prepared for a fight; with her, fighting never even crossed his mind. The only thoughts that consumed him were holding her, touching her, making her smile. For the first time in many decades, he felt like something more than the Master’s assassin.