Karissa Cross

Vampire, 505 years old, self proclaimed princess, currently living at the Cincinnati Institute

[auggiesilverwright-blog]

Auggie ran a hand through his hair. “We’re going to try to convince them to stop or bring them to justice I guess. Just because they’re mundanes doesn’t make them above the law.” Auggie frowned thinking about bringing mundanes to justice. He always felt conflicted about keeping mundanes ignorant of the shadow world. On one hand ignorance kept them relatively safe; but on the other it caused instances like this. It was a complex issue, and one he didn’t think he had a real answer for. 

“Oh angel help me, I’ve totally brought the mood down haven’t I?” Auggie said earnestly. It dawned on him that maybe the downworlder girl in front of him was sick of hearing about the hunters. Auggie knew that at least for him thinking about the thing making him anxious only made it worse. He didn’t want to make anyone feel anxious! “Do you want to talk about something else? Like, how long have you been in the city?”

[karissathevamp-blog]

"Justice?" Seemed to her the Hunters weren't interested in justice; they wanted deaths. That was their justice, and to her it seemed obvious that the only way to stop them was to give them what they wanted: death.

Though she herself would really rather not get her fangs dirty. She'd leave that to other, more war-prone species. Perhaps they could prod a pack of mutts into doing their dirty work. She made a mental note to ask someone about that later.

She smiled charmingly, shaking her head. "Of course not, I asked you answered. It's really the only way to keep a conversation going."She laughed. "I don't mind talking about the Hunters," lie, "they don't frighten me," bigger lie, "but to answer your new question, I've been here about four years. I liked the sound of the city and I attended one of the high schools for a bit. I was supposed to start my second year of college, but then all this hubub about the Hunters grew, and I was advised to come here until the threat was taken care of." She waved off ehr story, focusing her eyes on the boy in front of her eagerly. "But I'm boring news, what about you? Have you been here long? What brought you here?"

[karissathevamp-blog]

Meet the Family || Past || Karissa and Illario

[the-delightful-illario-cross]

Illario laughed softly remembering the girl as the little crying bundle she once was. “You cried practically the whole first night you were here, and most of the second really. But I didn’t mind. It was nice to hear some noise in the villa.” 

The boy thought about the many nights he spent alone, with only the wind and occasional birds to keep him company. Signore and his tutor lived in the servant’s quarters; too far for him to have the comfort of their voices in the evening. And Illario hated the silence. He welcomed the energy his sister and her family brought in. It provided comfort to him, even if he could not be a part of that life. 

Illario brought his knees to his chest and sighed. “I’ve lived here my whole life. It’s a vacation villa to you, but it a home to me.” The boy had never in fact left the grounds of the villa. It was more than his home; it was his whole world.

[karissathevamp-blog]

"In my defense it was probably strange and not home!" She defended herself to the voice behind the door. It felt like less of a betrayal if she thought about it that way, she realized. She was simply talking to a voice, it could be anyone; so long as momma didn't find out she'd actually gone INSIDE the room, didn't realize she'd properly met this boy, her brother, she could get out of this with minimal consequences. "Anyone would cry, especially babies." He'd said he hadn't minded the noise, and she wasn't sure why she continued to defend herself. But she wanted to seem older, seem like a proper Cross, wanted to show off for this boy who claimed brotherhood to her.

She heard him moving and got ready to run down the stairs if he was trying to follow her out of the room, but a moment passed and he spoke again and she relaxed back against the door. "Where do you vacation, then?" She asked, barely thinking about the question. Families like theirs traveled, they went to see other families, other lands, other everythings... it was simply the way life worked.

Wasn't it?

[karissathevamp-blog]

Control || Past || Karissa and Adam

[childxfthenight]

Adam was particularly fond of silence. He’d found that listening proved far more fruitful than speaking most of the time, but could engage in idle talk when necessary. Even in life, he had been a man of few words, as biting his tongue had done far more good than any comment could’ve. It was that quietness that allowed Adam to learn much more than others intended him to.

His enhanced eyesight could already see her sire waiting a few hundred meters ahead. The situation was delicate, obviously, as it would be insulting to appear as though he were undermining her superior’s authority. But given the nature of the problem (a vampire over a century old still unable to control themselves) Adam had a certain amount of authority in the situation. He was, afterall, Vlad’s cleaner, and Vlad maintained a certain control over most vampires as he initiated their creation.

“A story I’m quite interested to hear at another time,” he answered, though it was just as much a dismissal of the topic for the time being as it was an answer.

Lazzarro approached, obviously agitated. No doubt the sight of Karissa’s failure was a bit of an embarassment for him.

           “Signore Petran-”

Adam nodded his greeting, having already spoken to Lazzaro before agreeing to assess the younger girl.

“It seems you’ve underestimated her voracious appetite,” Adam began in Italian, the first hint of disappointment on his tongue. “She should be destroyed or remediated. Have you any plans for the latter?”

[karissathevamp-blog]

She knew a dismissal when she heard one, and obliged the polite indication to continue her talking at a later time. And she'd have lots of time, if he was serious about taking her with him. Lazzarro may try to keep her here, but the mystery vampire had an old air about him, a stench of power and a gaze that didn't need fascination to compel you to do what he wanted. Lazzarro would cave, but it would be fin watching him try to keep his control over her in the face of the new arrival.

Signore Petran.

Oh God. Someone have mercy on her and let there be two vampire Petran's in the world and make it so she hadn't mucked up so thoroughly in front of Vlad the Impaler's very own Adam Petran, the vampire who it was rumored that to cross was to vanish, permanently. Her face lost what little color remained in it at the realization of who exactly she'd been walking with, who she'd been babbling at, who she'd accepted an offer to travel with.

[This is a gif of Karissa going as pale as a vampire is capable of, and looking a bit like a deer caught in headlights]

She tried to reassure herself that it would be alright, that he'd asked her to go with him- hopefully not to kill her- that perhaps he'd take pity on her-

Destroyed or remediated. Destroyed. That word circled around in her head for too long, long enough that Lazzarro had already beat her to replying to it. Her arm was still in Adam's, she was trapped, there was no way on God's green earth she would be fast enough to escape him. She wouldn't even get her arm free. So she remained still as stone, feeling much like she had back in the clearing where she'd first turned as she listened to Lazzarro's familiar edgy tone try to justify his lack of training for his young charge in a tone Karissa personally wouldn't have taken with Adam even if she hadn't known who he was and what he did. Blaming Odessa, that wasn't surprising (or even entirely untrue), given he'd entrusted Karissa's lifestyle adjustment to the vampiress that still loathed her for making her look bad in the clearing that day.

You'd think after a century she'd have gotten over it, but no luck. Karissa suspected the woman secretly hoped for something like this to happen, for her suspicions of Karissa being unmanageable to be proven and she'd be rid of the young vampire for good. She wanted to speak, wanted to defend herself, but she had a sinking feeling Adam had brought her here having made up his mind, and nothing a teenage vampire could say would change the mind of Vlad's infamous right hand.

She tried to keep from shaking too obviously, and wondered if Adam meant to kill her himself.

[karissathevamp-blog]

Control || Past || Karissa and Adam

[childxfthenight]

Adam bent down and picked up the body and began walking down a back alley of the caked dirt roads, assuming the young one would follow.

“They’re right, of course, it’s quite ‘silly’ to play human.” The thought brought a genuine smile to his lips and his eyes lit up in amusement, something wasn’t wont to happen. Pretending to be human the way children played dress-up. Adam certainly couldn’t help her act human, and had no intention of doing so, but he could help her play among the humans.

His eyes settled on hers as he set it down gently onto the path. The darkness of the countryside loomed outwards behind them, and only the light of the moon and the bare flicker of candlelight illimunated his work. “I see no chains on your wrists,” he pointed out, still quite amused while staging the corpse to look as though it’d been attacked by an animal. It didn’t take much effort, as the hungry young vampire had not been at all delicate with his demise.  Only the smallest bit of strategic tearing of skin and clothes made it seem the man had encountered an unforunately hungry wolf or wild creature. Local superstition would help shroud his true cause of death.

“You needn’t be worried,” he added, sensing the girl was a bit uneasy about the thought of leaving. “I find that I’m quite persuasive, should the need arise. Now…shall we?” He offered his arm in politeness that he may escort her back to her clan. Truthfully he was rather pleased the politeness was optional- he could’ve taken her by force, but that would be far less tidy.

[karissathevamp-blog]

He turned to go, the body hanging limply in his grasp, and she jumped forward to walk alongside him, watching him with curious eyes that turned petulant when he spoke again. "It is not." She insisted. "I want to be able to be around people again, I used to like people, and people used to like me." Before she liked them more for food, anyway.

He looked ethereal in the bleached light of the moon, and she forgot to answer him as she watched him stage the body, partially taking notes for the future and partially distracted by how much she wanted to be like him, be that calm and otherworldly. She was supernatural, but sometimes it felt as though she was playing at supernatural rather than playing at human, as though she was doing it wrong. He wasn't doing it wrong, he was everything seductive and dangerous about the lore of vampires, everything ages old and ages wise, and she couldn't help but be jealous.

[This is a gif of Karissa staring awe-struck at Adam as she quickly becomes a member of The Adam Fanclub] 

Persuasive. the word brought her back to her senses, and with a familiar grace that contradicted the blood on her clothes, she accepted his arm. "I was persuasive once. I was even persuasive enough to live when they attacked my caravan. I was the only one to live." She added proudly, hoping to impress the older vampire. "So to speak, of course." There was something in her instincts that was uneasy having her arm in his, something that knew on a base level that he was too capable of overwhemling her, of overpowering her, and that instinct was uncomfortable that she'd allow him the option to entrap her by their linked arms. But she was too enthralled with the creature beside her to listen to silly things like instincts, and was far more concerned with impressing him, showing him he wasn't making a mistake by taking her with him, that she had value and had something to offer to make her worthy.

[auggiesilverwright-blog]

“It’s nice to meet you Karissa! How’s the institute treating you so far? I know it’s probably inconvenient to live here but we’ll hopefully have this hunters thing sorted soon!” Auggie was honestly determined to stop the hunters. He hated the idea of innocent downworlders suffering, and he hated the idea of mundanes getting in over their heads with the shadow world. There was, after all, a reason the nephilim kept mundanes in the dark.

[karissathevamp-blog]

"It's... new." She laughed. "An expeirence, to be certain, but I think I'm settling as well as can be expected." He was so eager, so open, it was unusual in her expierence to find a downworlder who was so... chipper, even when discussing hunters.

Speaking of hunters, she couldn't help the bristle that ran down her spine at the mention of the hunters. "And how do you plan to take care of the infestation problem?" She wasn't scared, of course. She was a vampire, a rather old one at that; she could defeat something as simple as a human hunter. But... she was grateful to have strong walls keeping her from having too. Not because she was scared, though. Simply because she hated the mess of fighting and hunting... that was all.

[This is a gif of Karissa pretending to be totally casual while discussing hunters that do actually scare her... just don’t suggest that to her haha] 

[chosenvictory]

The new girl | Past | Stiles and Karissa

[chosenvictory]

After a few moments of yelling at himself in silence, Stiles casually strolled back into the room, walking around the back for no other reason than because it was closer to his seat, obviously. His eyebrows raised towards his best friend, asking if he’d played his little reaction off well, but the returned eye roll didn’t inspire too much confidence. Still, Stiles flopped into his seat with as much grace as he could muster and took out his typically notebook and pen. Black for writing notes, and red for things he should expound upon later while rewriting them.

But then she was talking to him. Actually turning towards him to speak.

“What? I-” Obviously he was a bit flustered, but that wouldn’t stop him from stringing together some words in an attempt at conversation. “I… don’t know what you’re talking about. I got a, uh, a phone call. From my friend. Kind of important. All cleared up now though, obviously, since I’m not… on the phone anymore…”

[karissathevamp-blog]

She smothered another laugh, nodding. "Ah, of course. Do you often hide under your backpack while taking calls?" She shot a conspititorial look to the teacher's desk, and back to the boy. "Or are they just that strict around here?"

He was silly, all gangly limbs and overwhemling expressions that overtook his whole face. He was flustered by her, her arrival, her speaking to him, and she couldn't help the urge to fluster him even more, and held out a hand to shake. "I'm Karissa, by the way. I'm new." She added with a small eye roll, as though to say 'if it wasn't obvious'. She could feel the boy to their side sneaking glances at them; there was something off about him, something that made her want to ask him to change his cologne, but she ignored him for the moment, her eyes on Stiles'.

[This is a gif of Karissa being a prat and trying to fluster Stiles with mucho amounts of charm and smiles] 

[karissathevamp-blog]

Meet the Family || Past || Karissa and Illario

[the-delightful-illario-cross]

Illario wiped his eyes and looked towards the door where his sister was speaking. He laughed sadly. “A Devil isn’t supposed to say his prayers every night and go to church on Sunday either. But I do both.” He sniffled. “I look like a Devil but I don’t feel like one, sorellina. I don’t know what it means” Illario called her little sister for the first time. For him there was some power in the word. It reminded him that while he may be damned, he is a part of a human family; whether they like it or not.

Illario got up and walked to his desk and grabbed an aged, sealed letter. With the letter in hand he walked over to the door and slid it underneath. “I wrote you a letter when I heard you were born. Signore wouldn’t let me send it but I guess you can have it now.” Illario paused. “I’m happy to have met you sorellina, even if you think I’m a devil. I’m happy we met.”

Illario sighed and sat on the ground next to the door. He had written the letter went he first learned to write, and was so proud of it then. It had been a crushing blow when Signore refused to send it. But even though it was sealed, Illario remembered every word. It read, “Dear Sorellina. I do not know your name but I saw you come to the villa. You were so tiny, and cried a lot, but I could tell Momma loves you very much. I know we will probably never be friends but I wanted you to know that your big brother Illario loves you very much. I hope you grow up to be a princess and don’t ever have to live in a scary tower! Sincerely, Illario Felicio Cross.” 

[karissathevamp-blog]

She didn't reply to his words; she wasn't sure what to make of them. He didn't sound like a Devil, but he looked like one. He didn't seem dangerous, but their parents kept him locked away, there must have been a reason. Her world was black and white, divided into good and bad, right and wrong, and this boy, this maybe-Devil who called her sister, he didn't seem to fit into one of her neat boxes, and it made her itchy and uncomfortable.

She almost left, almost didn't speak in response and simply fled down the stairs to pretend she'd never encountered him, but then something was sliding along the floor from under the door, and she squeaked in surprise and a little fright, unsure what she'd expected. But it was just a letter that sat innocuously in front of her. A letter to her, if he was to be believed. She stared at the letter for a moment, thinking how much trouble she'd be in if her parents found out that she'd entertained this boys' words and claims, if they found out she'd accepted a gift from him. But curiosity won out, and she picked up the letter and sat with her back to the door, ripping open the too-old seal and reading.

Little sister. Big brother. Love. So many heavy words that she didn't know what to say in response to. "I didn't cry that much." She said softly, a bit petulantly. "Have you been here each time we come for holiday?" He couldn't see her, so she felt safe to stroke along the words that she almost wished resonated more with her. But he was a stranger, a horned stranger that her parents didn't want her knowing, possibly for her own safety.

But still she traced the words with small, slender fingers, waiting for the voice on the other side of the door. 

[karissathevamp-blog]

Control || Past || Karissa and Adam

[childxfthenight]

“Yes, I hear that phrase rather often,” Adam answered thoughtfully. Roling up his sleeves with a particular element of grace, Adam prepared himself to remove the rubbish, though the kerchief wouldn’t suffice in cleaning the young woman up entirely. It wasn’t supposed to go like this.

In all practicality, it was. Vampires were lethal creatures, and only their need for discretion kept them from being truly apocalyptic for humans. At her small command, Adam did look at her with a hint sympathy. Certainly without disgust, or even disappointment. Just sympathy. He’d already had decades behind him as a vampire, and Adam had always possessed incredible willpower. He’d spent at least ten years drinking only the blood of his opponents in battle with Vladimir until a certain amount of self-righteousness faded. 

“Your words and actions war with themselves, dear.” As always, Adam remained polite, thoughtful. “And having played witness, I have a certain duty to alert your clan leader to your difficulties.” He certainly could just return Karissa to her clan, and he considered it briefly, but the thought troubled him a bit. Karissa wasn’t a newborn, and yet her clan leader had struggled to teach her complete control. Not an easy task, but still one that should’ve made more progress. The slightest bit of emotion played across his face- unsettlement. He was not yet resigned.

“I will escort you home, and you will have a decision to make. You can stay, and endure your clan leader’s repercussions, or you may accompany me to Northern England. It will not be without difficulty, as I am not your sire, nor am I inclined towards laziness, but you may find my methods more fruitful than the ones you’ve been practicing.”

Adam knew he had not yet given his name, and that was purposeful. If Karissa was truly desperate to evolve her control, she would choose his option without even truly knowing. And Adam knew that that desperation was the saving grace for even the most difficult vampire. If she wanted to learn, he could teach her.

“I trust you can find a suitable change of clothes and wash up. I’ll take care of this-” he gestured to the body, “and you can decide when we arrive.”

[karissathevamp-blog]

She watched him move, mesmerized by the languid way he moved with. She wanted that, wanted that confident ease of grace, that smooth movement of a predator; that was her goal. She'd thought she'd accomplished that, but it was easier around her own kind.

Every now and then she felt a sting of guilt at how quickly the others had become 'her kind'. They'd turned her instead of killing her, and she'd adapted quickly, she'd followed them from the blood-stained clearing where her parents lay motionless and never looked back, knowing to linger in the past and the mourning of her family would only hurt her, and possibly get her killed after all. So she'd adapted, and lingered in the dark with them, but the only times she'd actually encountered humans was when they attacked for meals; she wanted more than that, and for a few years she'd refused to go on hunts, claiming she wanted to be able to walk amoung the humans.

She'd been met with laughter; humans were food, occasional entertainment, nothing more. And each time she'd tried to refrain, she'd eventually given in once the hunger was bad enough, making her even more feral when she finally did go on a hunt. There was no winning for her, and she feared she was destined to be a blood covered, messy animal the rest of her life.

Maybe she'd made the wrong choice back in the clearing.

She snorted a small, derisive laugh. "They won't be surprised. They don't understand why I want to be able to play human. They think it silly." She said sadly. Her expression quickly shifted into surprise and curiosity. Go with him? She didn't even know him, though he was certainly more an example of who she wanted to be than any other vampire she'd met. But the other option, going back and facing the consequences and laughter of her failure, wasn't much more appealing.

She stood, trying to seem confident even though all she could think was 'am I allowed to do this?'. "I have other clothes, but I don't need to decide then, I want to join you." She hesitated a moment, then, "Am I allowed to do this?" 

[auggiesilverwright-blog]

Auggie pulled a face and laughed “Oh by the angel! Being rabid would be terrible!” 

When the woman in front of him asked if he’d like to sit, Auggie nodded and took a seat in the kitchen. “My name’s Auggie Silverwright by the way. I’m one of the shadowhunters here. You must be one of the downworlders staying in the institute, right?” Auggie looked at the woman with curiosity. He was trying to figure out kind of downworlder she was. 

[karissathevamp-blog]

"So I've been told." She laughed with him, thinking of her issues with control when she first turned. She may as well have been rabid back then too. But that was neither here nor there right now.

She clicked her teeth at him playfully. "Right in one. It's a pleasure to meet you, Auggie Silverwright." She offered a hand. "Karissa Cross." He seemed friendlier than the one that had shown her into the institute, but she supposed the real test would come when he figured out she was a vampire. She considered the Nephilims on her level, but she knew there was bad blood between every species, and Andy had proven to her when they'd conversed on the way in. She didn't mind Auggie as much, he was cute in a puppyish sort of way. She could use that.

[karissathevamp-blog]

Meet the Family || Past || Karissa and Illario

[the-delightful-illario-cross]

Illario forgot his fear for a moment as anger bubbled up inside of him. How dare this girl, his little sorellina, accuse him of trespassing! This was his home! The boy matched the haughty tone of the girl as he answered, “I am Illario Felicio Cross and the only reason I am stuck in the dark is because you and Momma are visiting my home!”

Illario got off of his bed and walked towards Karissa, close enough that she would be able to see his horns and yellow eyes. “I am Momma’s hidden little devil. She makes Signore lock me in the tower when you visit because she thinks I am sinful. But I’m a good boy, and I’m sick of being stuck in the dark!” The boy fell to the ground crying. He hadn’t realized just how much his mother’s actions had hurt him before, and he hated hearing his sister speak to him so rudely. It sounded too much like his Momma. 

[karissathevamp-blog]

His voice grew stronger, and for a moment she faltered, but the falter was overtaken with curiosity. He was a Cross as well? That was curious. She didn't know there were any other Crosses around, let alone one that seemed to live at their holiday home. Before she could question his claim to her lineage, he was walking from the dark, and her eyes went wide as she stumbled backward at the sight of bright yellow eyes, realizing a moment later that that wasn't where the oddities ended; he had horns as well, devil type horns, and she went running from the room slamming the door behind her.

She didn't run off completely, though that had been her intention. But the sounds of tears from inside the room stopped her at the top of the stairs, and she crept back to the door, listening for a moment. "Why are you crying?" She asked, her voice perhaps a little more curious than as sympathetic as it should have been. "Devils aren't supposed to cry, don't you know that?"

[karissathevamp-blog]

Welcome Wagon || Karissa and Andrea

[andreawrayburn-blog]

Andrea heard the girl’s question and chose to ignore it- the vampire knew exactly what she meant. It was a super creepy talent of a lot of vampires, one that Andy despised. If it meant they didn’t have to kill mundanes to feed, she supposed it could be worse, but she wouldn’t mind if the whole species died out. 

With a shrug, Andy felt a little bit smug- deciding to come to the Institute put the downworlders at the mercy of the Nephilim’s hospitality- the consul was going to make sure they complied as well as they could, but at least she did have a little bit a freedom to refuse. She wasn’t the only shadowhunter, so if she really didn’t want to, she doubted the consul would force her out.

“You can leave whenever you want, you need a nephilim escort to re-enter. That was my meeting place- if you don’t return with a shadowhunter you can meet them at one of those kind of locations at a later time.”

[karissathevamp-blog]

"So you're tour guides and a babysitters, how cute." She was really testing her luck now, but the girl was so cranky she just couldn't help herself. It was too easy.

"So what's there to do for fun around here? Or do you not do fun?" She asked, her voice a little less taunting and more teasing as she gave the girl a playful once over. She actually looked kind of fun, in hardcore sort of way, but fun nonetheless. She might know someone cool to go, somewhere Karissa hadn't been already. She didn't often venture into the supernatural side of fun, she didn't like risking her cover when she was in school with mundanes, but now that worry was a little moot since she was stuck around other downworlders anyway.

[karissathevamp-blog]

Control || Past || Karissa and Adam

[childxfthenight]

As one of the oldest vampires, Adam was often consulted when a toddler-vamp needed direction- particularly if they were running out of options. Out of control vampires were dangerous, especially in this region, and clans were getting too big to handle their own messes. And that, to Adam, simply didn’t sit well.

He had set out of his own accord to watch, having been told this young one was going back in public after a slight hiatus.  From what he could tell, she was doing pretty well, but it took only a moment before Adam was quickly taking care of damage control as the young one enjoyed a decidedly fresh meal.

It was fascinating, really, watching a vampire eat with so little abandon. He’d seen it many times, and each time found it more interesting. She hadn’t even noticed him compelling the two humans about to approach into taking a different way, nor  him walking up to announce his own presence. What was even more strange was that the young girl seemed rather upset about a natural vampiric tendency. It was part of her nature, and certainly uwnarranted.

 Adam grabbed a hankerchief from his breast pocket and held it out towards the little lady.

“Would you like some assistance?”

[karissathevamp-blog]

She looked up at the voice, her mind torn between running and attacking, thinking a human couldn't be allowed to see what she'd done, to go tell others what she'd done. But the face looking down at her was impassive, the hand offering a hankerchief was steady, not shaking with nerves, and his tone was light and easy.

She accepted the hankerchief and attempted a grateful smile. "Thank you." She managed. She looked back at the body, feeling the shame well up again. "It wasn't supposed to go like this." She said, half to herself and half to him. "I'd made sure to drink this morning. I thought I was under control and now," her face crumpled in disgust as she rubbed at her face with the cloth. "Look at me."

"I can do it," she insisted, even though he hadn't said anything to contradict that. "I can keep it under control, I know I can."

[karissathevamp-blog]

Meet the Family || Past || Karissa and Illario

[the-delightful-illario-cross]

Illario hated when Momma and her new family visited the villa. Signore Alberto would grab all his toys and march him up the stairs to the towers. It was dark and lonely up there and Illario was scared of the dark. 

This time started much the same way. As soon as they heard carriages rolling down the road to the villa Signore Alberto pushed him up the stairs and locked him in the tower’s dusty bedroom. Illario rushed to the tiny tower window and watched the family arrive. He saw Mamma, her husband, and the little girl exit the carriage and enter the villa. 

Illario always wanted to meet the little girl. Signore Alberto had told him when he first saw her that she was his sorellina, little sister, and Illario wanted desperately to be her friend! But Illario knew that could never happen. Signore Alberto told him so. He said that she would hate him and call him a devil just like Momma. Illario didn’t like being called a devil, so he avoided the little girl. 

Illario sighed and stepped away from the window. He sat down on the edge of his bed and began to read one of several books Signore had brought up for him. He was a few chapters in when he heard the bedroom door quickly open and shut. Illario squinted into the darkness, afraid, and shakily said, “wh-who is there?”

[karissathevamp-blog]

She squeaked in surprise, having not expected the room to have anyone in it. She’d thought if she was going to run into people, it’d be a library of men sipping their drinks that made them giggly and reckless, a sitting room of meanly giggling women who spoke in double edged comments that Karissa didn’t quite grasp yet. Not a dark room off a small staircase. 

She turned around, peering into the dark, and straightened her back, lifting her chin imperiously, the nerves in the other voice making her more confident, even if she was technically breaking the rules even just by being here. “Karissa Eulalia Cross. And who are you? This is our villa, does my mother know you’re here, skulking in the dark?” She added, pleased with herself to have remembered one of the new words she’d learned. Skulk. She loved that word, though her mother hated it, said it sounded crass. 

[chosenvictory]

The new girl | Past | Stiles and Karissa

When the talk of the high school turned to whispers about a new transfer student, Stiles had listened with veiled curiosity. It wasn’t as though he expected to actually befriend the stranger, but new kids didn’t happen often and he had to gain as much information as possible to determine the amount of threat this intrusion posed. Stiles had long since understood his place in the social heirarchy, but he knew it wouldn’t last forever, and it would be interesting to see where this girl would land. If she was hot, she’d probably quickly get absorbed into the Cheer squad or the alternative “rock” group, depending on her disposition. They didn’t attend the largest school, so assimilation would happen quickly, and Stiles felt he needed to be prepared.

He’d seen a glimpse of her once in the hallway, but he could only follow for so long before even he knew he was being creepy. So the back of her head was immediately familiar as he walked into senior British Lit. When she turned, though, Stiles froze. Goddamn his lack of conspicuousness. 

For some reason, his first instinct was to back out of the room with his backpack hoisted over his head, praying she hadn’t actually seen him. Fuck, she was actually beautiful. And sitting in front of Stiles’ seat. 

[karissathevamp-blog]

She actually loved high school. Any school, really. High school, colleges, she just loved being around people, loved getting her hands dirty in the epitome of socializing; teenage life. 

It didn’t hurt that she knew she was pretty; she had been in life, and immortality had only solidified her confidence in herself, and a little bit of makeup to hide the telltale wan of death, and she was good to go. She walked into her class-British Lit, one of her favorites-, enjoying the whispers that started up in her wake, and the professor- wait, no, teacher, they were just teachers in high school- pointed to a seat for her to take, and she turned to look, spotting a boy she’d seen in the hall, smothering a giggle as he retreated out of the room with his backpack acting as a shield of sorts. 

He couldn’t possibly be a hunter, couldn’t possibly know what she was, that couldn’t be the reason he retreated. She’d seen him earlier, sensed someone trailing after her but hadn’t bothered to look; she almost hoped people would trail after her, she liked the attention. She tried to comfort herself that that was probably the reason. She had nothing to worry about, her facade was safe. 

She took her seat, waiting until she felt him approaching behind her before suddenly spinning around in her seat to pin him with a smile. “So. Was it something I’ve done?” She asked teasingly, looking back at the door for a second to indicate his retreat. 

[karissathevamp-blog]

Control || Past || Karissa and Adam

She suddenly came to, the bloodlust vanishing as quickly as it'd assaulted her, and she fell back on her butt, staring in shock at the torn apart body lying on the ground in front of her. She looked down at her red-stained hands as though she didn't recognize them, lifting her hands to her face to dab at her mouth with her wrist, realizing that her mouth- and probably her face- was also covered in blood.

It wasn't her fault. She'd been fine, she had been under control. They'd just been flirting, it was innocent. She'd eaten earlier, for this specific reason, she hadn't wanted to be hungry going out, if she messed up who knew when she'd next be let out in public. She'd been hidden away with her clan for what seemed like ages, and she'd missed public, missed people. She'd wanted to prove she could be out, that she wasn't the child they treated her like.

But he'd cut himself, and high on her success thus far, her guard down from the flirtation, and her vision had gone red with bloodlust, and here she was. It wasn't her fault; it was his. If he hadn't cut himself, if her too-sharp senses hadn't been suddenly assaulted with the metallic tang of blood, none of this would have happened.

She needed to get rid of the body, but she felt messy and dirty and failed, and it was all she could do not to cry.

[karissathevamp-blog]

Welcome Wagon || Karissa and Andrea

[greenwillmend-blog]

“Yes,” she retorted, in reference to both stupid questions. As Karissa just clicked along behind her Andrea stared forward, picking up her pace a little. Andrea hadn’t used any runes for this excursion, the roads were empty so there was little point in being soundless or glamoured out of mundane sight. Still she was making a note in her head to refuse to do any of these alone anymore.

With a huff she decided to start listing off some rules, preferring anything to the creepiness of the thing walking behind her. “So before you go in you have to swear an oath. While on Nephilim property you must retain human form. No biting, feeding, turning or mesmerizing anyone of any species. No fighting except in the training room. Can’t get in without a shadowhunter- the doors literally won’t open for you.” As she listed the things off the top of her head, she shoved her hands in her pocketsso keep from swinging at the girl for making this walk so much worse.

[karissathevamp-blog]

She watched the girl unblinkingly, wondering if it was just that she was a vampire that was making her so edgy or something else. She knew her kind unnerved others, even though with the expansion of populations and the wonderful creation that was blood bags, her kind had managed to keep their reputation of propriety and elegance better than other species... like the werewolves.

She wrinkled her nose, the thought occurring to her for the first time that there might be mutts at the institute, and hoping there was enough space that she’d be able to avoid any mutts that might end up there with her.

“Now by mesmerizing, do you mean literally, because I can’t help that people just love doing things for me, some people are just that charming.” She smiled innocently, as though it was a legitimate question. “How am I supposed to come and go, then? Certainly I’m not to be trapped within the walls of this place?”

[karissathevamp-blog]

Welcome Wagon || Karissa and Andrea

[greenwillmend-blog]

“Well if you’d like to stay out here a few more hours- the sunrise is truly beautiful- I can come back later,” Andrea hissed, unable to keep her resentment for the species out of her voice. That condescending tone was almost too much, and Andy had to wonder where she’d gotten the self control to actually keep standing there instead of storming away.

“If you want in the Institute, yeah. And I’ve got things to do today, so I’d rather not drag this out if it’s not absolutely necessary. Ask any questions you have on the walk there.”

[karissathevamp-blog]

“Question one: are you always so cheery, or is this your ‘tour guide’ face?” She laughed, putting her phone away and following the Shadowhunter and wondering where they were headed. Despite the fact she didn’t want to have to be at this Institute, she was curious about it. 

She followed in complete silence, poking at the girl’s discomfort and dislike byt not even pretending to breath, simply trailing alongside her, just barely a step behind her, in complete silence, save the click of heels that she’d worn specifically to be annoyingly loud. 

And maybe a little to stop her from idly hunting; it was hard to stalk when in loud heels, and sometimes when she got bored it was hard to keep from idly hunting around.