Before Kai left to meet up with Margo, Eliot, and Quentin, he stayed behind for one last bit of unfinished business.
Pete came strutting around the corner in his cheap suit, cigarette dangling from his lips like he thought it made him look cool. He had just made his debut with Julia in the bathroom and forced her to use a light spell after making her think he was going to rape her… which of course he wasn't. He just needed her to panic and use a spell.
Kai leaned against the brick wall, arms crossed, a deadly calm smile curling on his face. "You know, it's generally frowned upon and illegal, actually to strip a lady of something without her consent and even more so using a spell to bind her arms with her clothing!."
Pete froze mid-drag and looked to where Kai was and said. "What the fuck, what the hell are you talking about, who are you?"
Kai didn't bother answering. He stepped forward just one step and Pete crumpled to the ground like his legs forgot how to work. A strangled gasp escaped him as agony exploded behind his eyes, like molten lava pouring through his skull.
'Phasmatos Morsinus Pyrox Allum,' Kai thought, though he didn't really need to use the incantation but it just felt better. The pain infliction spell rolled off him effortlessly, only a fraction of its true power, mindful of Pete's fragile humanity and not a vampire who can regenerate a blood vessel after it pops.
Pete writhed on the concrete, choking on his own panic and pain as his nose started leaking blood.
Kai crouched, ending the spell with his intent. His voice dropped, quiet but razor-sharp. "Do that to Julia again, and I will rip you apart. Slowly. And oh you better make sure Marina doesn't take it too far with her or else… well I'll leave that for whatever I decide to do in the future."
For a heartbeat, his vampiric features surfaced veins darkening underneath the skin and eyes turning red, fangs glinting before melting back into the mask of a man.
Pete, pale and trembling, could only gasp for breath as he squeezed his eyes in pain and When he dared open his eyes again, Kai was gone.
---
Kai found Margo, Eliot, and Quentin just as they were heading out.
"About time, twat. We were about to leave without you," Margo drawled.
"Lucky me, then," Kai said, smirking.
Quentin gave him a puzzled look. "What took you so long?"
Kai shrugged, deadpan. "Got lost on the road to life."
Eliot chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Well said, brother."
---
The Next Day
It was almost midnight and this brought Kai to an empty classroom, peace at last. He lounged with his legs crossed on the table, absorbed in a heavy book, Theory of transmutation and integrity of structure. From his black water bottle, he sipped what appeared to be water.
In truth, it was blood. But thanks to a subtle illusion spell one that masked reality behind a veil no one would see it for what it was. A trick he'd perfected long ago… Nahhh it was perfected after his to do list was made, just in case he needed to misdirect anyone from noticing him sipping on blood.
His solitude ended with the sound of footsteps his vamp hearing picked up.
Quentin and Alice entered a few seconds later, looking surprised to find anyone there.
"Oh, we thought this room would be empty," Alice said.
Kai raised a brow, grinning. "A classroom rendezvous? How scandalous. Don't let me interrupt the romance kids carry on."
Neither of them laughed. Quentin fidgeted awkwardly, while Alice gave him a look.
Kai sighed. "Tough crowd. Alright, what's this? What are you two up to?"
Quentin rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, so I was contacted by someone through a dream this evening and ended up being branded with a symbol on my palm and now because of that symbol we are trying to contact someone... who's dead."
Kai blinked and added out of surprise. "Right. As one does." As if it was a normal thing to just say hello to a dead person… Oh wait, yeah it actually is for people like them.
'Branded, isn't that when Jane forced his palm on a stone slab in the fillory dream?'
They moved to the front of the class where a large mirror was placed, setting out books and tools. Kai tried to focus on his reading, but curiosity gnawed at him.
He heard Quentin mutter after un-wrapping his bandaged palm, "Great. That makes me feel so much better," showing his palm to Alice.
Alice flipped through a book. "Quentin, no magic is safe magic. You should know that."
Kai nodded to himself. 'She's right. Especially with magic.'
Quentin asked, "So... who are we trying to contact, anyway?"
"My brother," Alice said quietly. "Charlie. He died. I just... want to say hi."
Kai glanced up at that, studying her.
Quentin hesitated. "How... how did he die?"
Kai thought, 'Wow. Cold, Coldwater.'
Alice's gaze darkened. "Horribly. That's all I know no one will tell me what happened. I know it was here, at Brakebills. Five years ago."
She let out a bitter laugh as she saw Quentin's surprised look. "Did you think I came here because I just love magic so much? No. I need answers. He deserves that. Now, can we focus?"
Quentin stumbled. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"
Alice cut him off. "Shit, no."
Quentin blinked. "What? This is good. We're making progress."
"No, it's not that. We can't do this."
Before Kai could comment, the door swung open. Penny and Kady strode in.
"What are you doing here?" Kady asked Kai.
Kai closed his book, deadpan. "Trying to read in peace. But I see that's impossible now."
Penny gave a casual nod. "Hi."
Kady groaned. "You've got to be kidding me. We're sent to help these losers?"
Alice bristled. "Sent by who?"
"No one. I just figured you needed help," Penny said, eyeing Quentin. "And yes, I can. Yes, I have. And yes, everything you think is boring I replace with dubstep."
Kai actually laughed and they looked at him. "Oh no, no… don't mind me. Carry on."
Alice pointed to the text. "It says we need five. Each a magical adept. And look…here we are. Perfect timing."
Kai frowned inwardly. 'Huh. Five? Wasn't this supposed to need four? Something's different.'
"Oh well," he muttered aloud.
They gathered around a handkerchief in the center, surrounded by small bowls of herbs, with one large bowl of dark, bubbling liquid. Midnight struck, and all eyes turned to the large mirror infront of them.
They stared. Nothing.
Kady broke the silence. "I'm starving."
"Hallelujah to that," Kai said.
"What?" Kady asked, noticing Alice's disapproving glance.
Penny sighed. "No shit gets exciting."
The two stood, ready to leave.
Quentin sighed. "Guess I'll start cleaning up."
Kai stretched. "Welp, I should get going too."
One by one, they filed out.
Behind them, unnoticed, the mirror fogged over. A crude smiley face appeared, drawn in the mist.