“You can’t buy your freedom.”
“I am buying my life. Turn me in.”
Christian gave a mirthless chuckle. “I wasn’t hired to slap you around and turn you over to the higher authority. I was hired to put you in the ground.”
Confusion swam on his face.
“Perhaps your little friend Borislav is to blame. He’s the only one we haven’t been given a location on yet. Real nice friends you have there,” Christian added, switching the large piece of glass to his right hand.
“Impossible.” Blood saturated Li Han’s shirt, and when he coughed, he made an agonizing sound. “Even I do not know where Ivar and Borislav stay. We communicate through phone, but we decided many years ago that we are safer apart.” The Mage lowered his gaze. “If it is not money you want, I can give you protection. I can give you power.”
“’Tis a mortal shame you won’t be able to give your farewells in person. Can we wrap this up? You’re not escaping, and that’s a fact. You’ll bleed out before crossing the street. And you’re no match for a Vampire.” Christian’s fangs punched out. “You can’t buy me because I’m not for sale. Do you understand? Mercy is one quality I don’t have.”
Li Han locked eyes with Christian and grimaced. “Only one man knew my location. If what you say is true, he is the one responsible. You are a fool.”
“And why’s that?” Christian asked, the timer still ticking.
“Because he will not want to be caught. He is using you to get what he wants.”
“From my understanding, there’s a long line of immortals who want you dead.”
“My death is not what he wants.” Li Han coughed up blood. “When you finish the job, he will finish you. And if you do not know who he is, you will never see it coming.”
Christian slid his jaw to the side, tapping the glass against his thigh. “You have a point. But it won’t be the first time someone’s come after us, and it won’t be the last.” Despite what he said, Christian was no fool. He knew the identity of Mr. X might be crucial if what the Mage implied was correct. “What does he want from you?”
“What do all men seek?”
“Power? Land? A warm fanny?”
“Money. Riches beyond your imaginable dreams. Our entire fortunes combined.” Li Han stared at the cleaver in his chest and the opening in his abdomen where blood was soaking his clothes. He looked like he was struggling through the pain to get his last words in. “He seduced us with lies. He convinced us we could no longer trust immortals in charge of our belongings—that because our wealth was spread out, it might be claimed by governments or stolen. He said this was the old way, and we could only retain our wealth with absolute certainty by working with currency and investments. I was a fool to believe I needed him.”
“It’s a tale as old as time.”
“You should not mock me, Vampire. This man is not born of courage, and he will shield himself behind our riches. He will eliminate anyone who can link him to our murders. So long as you live, you will always be a liability.”
Christian sighed. “Save your breath. If this is the part where you offer his name for your life, I won’t be bribed. As you already pointed out, if I turn you in, everyone will know our name. It’s in my best interest to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Li Han lightly touched the cleaver in his chest, still hunched over with his arm hanging at his side. “If I cannot preserve my life, then I will not die with his name.”
Christian furrowed his brow. “You would give it to me for nothing?”
The Mage spat out blood. “How will I be revenged if I die with his name?”
Christian belted out a laugh. “I sure as shite won’t be revenging your death.”
Li Han straightened up. “As long as he is shrouded in secrecy, he will never receive his karma. This is my karma for the tens of thousands of lives I have taken. I regret nothing. Evildoers are necessary in this world. Who else would inspire heroic acts? Now do what you came here for, and know that your enemy goes by the name Ronald Frazier.”
The frog dinged, and the ticking stopped.
“Time’s up,” Christian said, his intention clear.
A fever burned through him with the anticipation of a kill. His Vampire nature thirsted to spill blood.
Like an animal, he sprang toward the narrow table and sliced the Mage’s throat. Simultaneously, the Mage lifted his supposed lame arm, and pain shattered through Christian’s entire being. He fell across the table, his head knocking against a candle. A sickly sound came out of the Mage as the blood poured from his throat like a waterfall.
Christian winked out for just a moment. He felt himself grasping for something even though he couldn’t move. Grasping for what? The world around him grew distant like a dandelion floret floating on a breeze.
He stood up and stepped back, unable to process the scene. His body was draped sideways across the table, a stake driven through his heart, instantly stopping it. The Mage had collapsed beside him, blood pooling across the table and dripping onto the floor.
