Chapter 12

The Gentleman Warlock

With the right resources, it was easy to find information on anyone. In my case, I had more than just the right resources; I was able to assume the shape of someone with easy access to all the information I needed. It hadn’t taken much to learn that the police were doing nothing to investigate my email. I’d lucked out when it had been assigned to this particular department. The only officers who weren’t lazy were corrupt. No one wanted to put any effort into investigating one threatening email, so they’d insisted it was nothing to worry about. The laziness and corruption also made it easier to blend in. No one cared if I did a half-ass job.

Days had passed since I’d sent the email to Julia Dupree. She’d likely convinced herself there was nothing to worry about by this point. With no new threats, she probably felt safe. Her guard would be down, making it easier for me to get to her. Soon, I’d get to savor the look of terror in her eyes. I’d get to enjoy her sobbing and begging me to spare her life. I’d decided to use a knife. Few people really appreciated the knife. Even limiting oneself to only stabbing, there were ways to draw out the pleasure of the kill.

“Let’s kill her quickly,” Katya cooed from my side, having gotten over her anger at me as soon as I’d told her we were going to kill Julia tonight.

As I’d planned out Julia’s death, I’d been tempted to find a way to go without Katya. In the end, I hadn’t been able to come up with a way to leave unnoticed. I’d even considered killing another so I could enjoy a more intimate kill with Julia. After adding a burn to my arm earlier that day, I’d decided against it. I didn’t want to be forced to add another scar so soon.

“Desmond!” she whined, pulling me out of my own thoughts. “You’re going to kill her as soon as she opens the door, right?”

The shade had no patience, a common trait among her kind. In this case, I couldn’t completely blame her for wanting to rush things. Her inability to take on a physical form would seem like hell to someone who thrived on physical pleasure the way Katya did. It wasn’t just sex she loved. Katya also enjoyed food, fine wine, and many other sensual delights.

“We can’t rush these things,” I insisted, hoping no one was around to hear me since I was the only one who could hear Katya. I didn’t want to look crazy.

“You can enjoy a kill later,” Katya snapped at me. “I need a body now.”

“And since I’m the only one who can make it possible for you to have one again, I suggest you stop pushing me,” I warned in a cold voice.

“You’re the one who did this to me. You owe it to me to fix this situation,” she hissed. “Kill her quickly.”

My temper snapped. “You betrayed me,” I hissed back. “Your betrayal was just as bad as Julia Dupree’s. No, your betrayal was worse because you claim to love me. Perhaps, I should leave you like this. It might be what you truly deserve.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” she shouted. “You love me, and I’m the only one who accepts you just as you are. I don’t care that you aren’t a well-respected warlock on your stupid witch council. I’ve always been there for you.”

She was right; that had never mattered to Katya. Her acceptance of my position among the witches was another reason I was tempted to leave her this way. It might be best to find a demon to help me end her existence once and for all. I hated my lowly birth and low ranking with the Council of Witches. In many ways, I looked down on Katya for failing to see it as an unforgivable flaw.

When I didn’t respond, she eventually spoke again, her voice sounding sad and desperate. “You love me. I can give you things that frigid witch, Tatiana, never could.”

“I love you as much as someone like me is capable of loving,” was my cold reply. No matter what I felt for Katya, she had to know I loved myself most. If she’d ever believed anything to the contrary, I needed to make sure those beliefs were snuffed out.

“You are such a bastard,” she accused. “If I had a body, I’d be begging to ride your cock.”

My lips curled into a slight smile. “My coldness turns you on, doesn’t it?” I demanded.

“It would if I had a body,” she replied. “I remember how you used to make me feel. I miss the ache between my legs. Don’t you miss having me pleasure you?”

“Be patient,” I told her in a bored tone. She was trying to manipulate me with sex. It was laughable, considering that tactic hadn’t worked even when she’d had something to offer me. At the moment, she was just a ghostly shrew.

Standing on the porch of Julia Dupree’s home, I smiled, anticipating the fear in her eyes when she realized what I had planned for her. In my latest disguise, she’d open the door for me. Then all I had to do was force my way in and use the readymade tranquilizer spell in my hand to subdue her. It was almost too easy.

I rang the doorbell and waited. After a short time, I rang it again, but no one answered.

“Why isn’t she answering?” I muttered to myself.

“She’s not here,” Katya told me, sounding more amused than angry.

“She has to be here,” I insisted. According to my research, Julia Dupree was predictable in her routine. The bitch rarely went out when she had to work the next day. Bliss was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It was a Wednesday, so she should be home. “It’s possible she had to run an errand, or she went for a walk,” I mused mostly to myself.

“Maybe your email scared her off,” Katya suggested.

“Impossible,” I scoffed. “I looked over the police report as soon as I took this form. The bitch didn’t believe she was in any danger. She must have gone out. We’ll wait in the car until she gets back.”

“Someone might have already beaten you to it,” Katya suggested. “It could be you’re not the only one who wanted her dead.”

“She’s not dead,” I snapped.

“How do you know?” Katya asked. “What difference does it make if someone else killed her, anyway?”

“It’s my right to kill her,” I growled. “I’m the one who has to punish her. That bitch should be here waiting for her punishment.”

“You know what would make you feel better?” she purred.

“What?” I snapped.

“Killing,” she replied innocently. “Let’s go find someone to kill, just in case this witch is already dead.”

“No,” I ground out. “You’ll just have to hope I find Julia Dupree soon.”

“But you said you’d fix this tonight,” she whined.

“Shut the fuck up!” I snapped.

As I made my way back to the car, I took several deep breaths to get my temper under control. I was disappointed that I’d have to wait a little longer to punish the bitch, but I refused to let it keep me down. Sitting in the driver’s seat of my car, I mouthed the words to a spell to screen me from view and unzipped my pants. Freeing my dick, I began to stroke it as I imagined the events that would soon play out. After I had Julia transported to my cottage, I’d be able to have some real fun. She’d scream and beg me to spare her life. She’d probably even try apologizing for her many sins, but it was too late. Naturally, I’d let her believe she could sway me with her pleas. It was more fun when they still had hope.

My dick got even harder as I pictured the blonde bitch begging for her life, promising to do anything if I didn’t kill her. When I tired of taunting my prey, the real fun would begin. I came hard as images of the knife penetrating her pale flesh filled my mind. With a contented sigh, I cleaned myself up and waited for the bitch to return.

Katya remained silent, so I decided to enjoy the rare moment of peace.