Korika | ✓

     Alexander had not seen the sun for almost six centuries. Since the day his creator turned him, five hundred and eighty four years ago, his main purpose had been to find a way to feel its warmth on his skin again, without turning to ashes. He had spent years travelling around the world, studying every possible theory, cure, spell, belief ever mentioned in books or old stories, that could free him from his curse. 

As much as he had enjoyed his new powers and immortality at first, he quickly found himself missing the daylight. Being trapped only living in the dark had slowly driven him crazy, to the point of trying out every rum remedy he'd come across. He had cultivated all sorts of plants, supposed to protect him for at least a few hours, had searched every magical gem, and tried all sorts of therapy. He had even seduced a powerful witch who had casted countless spells on him, and made him taste the most disgusting potions. 

Yet none of it had worked, and he was still trapped with his condition, becoming less and less patient with every passing year. He hadn't given up though, and when rumor had it an ancient and powerful Indian gem named Korika had resurfaced and was going to be displayed during a masquerade bal in Chicago, Alexander had used all his powers to get himself invited to the excluded event.

From what he had read about it, Korika was supposed to grant its owner his biggest wish, and to give him immense powers. It had disappeared for centuries before reappearing last weak in the mansion of a fantastically wealthy deceased old woman. She had expressed the will to have all the items she collected during her life on display after her death to raise money for charity. 

So there he was, on a chilly night of October, with a tuxedo, a mask, and a plan. He couldn't take the risk to steal the gem himself, so as he entered the event, the first thing he did was scan the room to find the person who would do it for him. He had mastered compelling early in his new life (if you could call it that ...), and could easily make anyone do absolutely anything for him. He just needed to find someone unlikely to get caught, someone who would walk around unnoticed, who no one would suspect.

His eyes stopped on a man, in his mid thirties, average size, brown hair, not handsome, yet not unattractive either. The basic kind of men, the kind of men who doesn't draw too much attention on them. In a word, exactly what he was looking for.

Alexander slowly made his way towards him, not looking away once. As he got closer, however, his eyes diverted from the man to the person he was talking to. Dizzying high heels, red long strapless dress, lengthy dark hair tied in a loose bun, a mask covering her higher face, and behind it, the most stunning eyes he'd ever seen. He suddenly stopped, stunned by her beauty.

He'd had his fair share of lovers during his long life, though for a long depressing time, he had just compelled women tu use them as he pleased. Lately though, he took much pleasure in seducing them using only his charm and not his powers. And this woman right in front of him seemed like the kind of fun he couldn't miss out on. Especially if this fun could lead to him owning Korika, and walking in the sun freely.

He watched the two of them interact for a few minutes. The man seemed to actually believe he could interest a woman like her. But even behind her mask, he could see her boredom and her shifty eyes that ended up on him. She stared for a few moments, and he took it as an invitation. Grabbing two drinks on his way, he closed the distance between the pair and himself, and flashed his most seductive grin.  

"There you are, honey!" He shouted, offering her a glass, "I got your drink, hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long. Who's your company ?"

She hesitated, taken aback by his action, before reaching forward to grab the glass, smiling gently. "Thank you ... Darling. This is Jorgen Van Lear, he was telling me all about Mrs Carter's painting collection!"