Kai took his time walking through the New York streets, the cool night air brushing past him like an invitation. The bar wasn't far, maybe three blocks from where he started, but he wasn't rushing. He took his time moving around and enjoying the magic in the air and walked casually, like someone who had all the time in the world.
Because he did.
As he turned the corner and approached the spot, he slowed, letting the noise spill out before he even reached the entrance. With a flicker of focus, his vampire hearing kicked in. The dull thrum of music, the low hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, laughter, music and there it was.
Julia's voice.
"God, I can't even think straight with these Yale exams coming up," she said, her tone frustrated but bright. "I've got like three mock tests and no motivation."
James's voice followed, easy and teasing. "You say that like the party this weekend won't light you up like a sparkler."
Julia laughed. "Well, I need the party. Quentin needs it more. I'm pretty sure he hasn't left the apartment in a week."
"Yeah, I just hope he doesn't start going on about Fillory again. Guy's gonna scare off all the women."
That made Julia laugh again, the sound light and real. "He loves those books a little too much."
Kai smirked.
He let that linger in his chest a bit longer before blurring forward in a flicker of movement. Vampire speed carried him straight to the bar's front door. He made sure, deliberately, to keep his eyes on the decor anywhere but the direction Julia and James were sitting. Cool. Unbothered. Just another guy grabbing a drink.
The moment he stepped in, he felt a gaze shift to his general direction. That subtle awareness when someone's watching.
"Hey," Julia whispered, elbowing James lightly. "Isn't that the guy we bumped into that day?"
James turned, squinting past the heads and shoulders of the crowd. "Oh, yeah. We didn't really introduce ourselves then."
Julia tilted her head slightly, still watching him. Her brows pulled together, curious.
James caught the look and grinned. "How about we go say hi?"
Before Julia could object, James was already moving through the crowd. Kai, standing by the wall and pretending to read the drink specials chalked in aggressive cursive, didn't flinch when James clapped a friendly hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, stranger."
Kai blinked like he was pulled from deep thought, turning with a slightly confused expression that melted into polite curiosity. "Uh… hello?"
James smiled. "I'm James. We bumped into each other a while back. Outside on the street, remember?"
Kai squinted for a second, then let his face light up with recognition. "Ohhhh yeah. Right. You're the guy with the… uh… hot girlfriend." He said it warmly, almost innocently, as if it were just a fact.
James laughed. "Guilty."
Kai gave a short chuckle and added, "Didn't catch your name back then. Or hers."
"Julia," James said, nodding behind him to where she was sitting. She caught the motion and gave them a wave, a small smile playing on her lips. Not quite shy. Just… uncertain.
James gestured. "Wanna come join us?"
Kai's smile deepened ever so slightly, but his tone stayed casual. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
And just like that, he followed James through the crowd, already threading the needle.
Slipping between warm bodies and the hum of cheap liquor breath. The booth Julia sat at was dimly lit, her fingers curled lightly around a half-empty glass, condensation slowly creeping down the sides. She looked up as they approached and set her drink down, offering a polite, curious smile.
James slid in first. "Julia, this is Kai. Kai—Julia, or Jules if you want to be extra friendly."
Kai smirked and nodded toward her, "The infamous hot girlfriend. It's nice to be properly introduced this time."
Julia laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You had me confused with someone else the last time we met, right?"
Kai scratched the back of his neck, his grin sheepish. "Yeah, about that… I was jetlagged, half-hungover, and slightly enchanted by the New York humidity. I thought I saw someone I knew… turns out, I didn't."
Julia chuckled and waved it off. "No worries. Happens."
They settled into the booth. Kai let his arm rest lazily along the backrest, his eyes flicking between the two of them with practiced ease.
"So, where are you from, Kai?" James asked as he sipped his beer.
"Portland originally," Kai said casually. "Born and raised. Then Virginia for a while. Now… here."
Julia tilted her head. "You're here for School?"
Kai shrugged. "Something like that. My parents are out of the picture, so I figured a change of scenery wouldn't hurt."
Julia's expression softened immediately. "Oh… I'm sorry."
Kai chuckled, waving it off. "It's totally fine. Seriously. No tearjerker story I'm alive. That's a win, right?"
James nodded. "That's the spirit."
"So, what do you do?" Julia asked. "Studying or just chilling for now?"
Kai leaned forward slightly, eyes twinkling. "I've got a weird thing for the occult."
That got her attention.
"The occult?" she echoed, raising a brow.
James blinked, impressed. "Wow, that's… kind of rare."
"Yeah," Kai replied with a half-smile. "My parents were deep into it. Weird rituals, dusty old books, full moon crap. I guess it rubbed off on me. I've always been curious about magic, mythology… all of it."
Julia nodded, suddenly more interested. "That's actually really cool. A friend of ours would definitely like you, he's kind of into believing in the magical"
Kai grinned. "You don't say?"
James laughed. "You two might get along better than I thought."
Julia gave him a playful nudge with her shoulder.
Kai turned back to her, thoughtful. "There's something about it, right? All these stories and symbols. Maybe there's more to it than we think. I mean, what if there's something real hiding behind the folklore? What if we're only scratching the surface?"
Julia stared at him for a second, intrigued. "Huh. Yeah… I guess so."
He leaned back, letting the conversation breathe. "And hey, if it turns out to be nothing, at least we have cool reading material and candlelit aesthetic."
James laughed. "Spoken like a true mystic."
Kai took a sip of the drink he finally ordered and tilted his head at Julia. "What about you? You applying anywhere, or already in?"
"Applying. Yale," she said, eyes lighting up.
Kai's eyes widened. "No way. Seriously?"
James glanced between them, brow raised.
"I'm applying too," Kai said, doing a damn good job sounding surprised. "Mock tests are frying my brain. I keep forgetting which timeline in European history actually matters."
Julia leaned forward, eyes wide. "You're kidding."
Kai gave her a confused look. "Uh… no?"
James laughed, "You guys better not start a Yale study group and leave me out."
Julia shook her head, still surprised. "Wow. What are the odds?"
Kai smiled, letting the energy simmer just enough. They talked a bit more and swapping stories, feigning stress over fictional exams. The drinks made it easier and the laughter came easier as well. And Julia… she was starting to lean in every time Kai spoke.
He filed that away. Useful.
Then James said, "Hey, you know what? We're throwing a party this weekend. You should come."
Kai blinked, playing uncertain. "Oh, I don't know—"
"You have to come," Julia cut in, grinning now. "Lighten up a bit. It'll be fun."
Kai let the hesitation stretch just long enough before nodding. "Alright… you talked me into it."
James pulled out his phone. "Cool. What's your number? I'll text you the address."
Kai rattled it off, letting the glow of connection settle into place.
After a while, Julia finished her drink, and James flagged down an Uber. They stood, stretching, and Julia gave Kai one last smile.
"See you this weekend?"
He smiled back. "Wouldn't miss it."
They waved and left the bar, disappearing into the Uber waiting outside.
Kai remained in the booth a little longer, fingers drumming on the table. His eyes drifted to the last ring of condensation Julia's drink had left behind.
"Well," he muttered under his breath, stretching his legs. "That went better than expected."
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