I've never struggled so hard in my life to thank someone as I just did — but honestly, he really did earn it. In the end, if I'm still alive, it's only because of John Hardley.
That night nine days ago — when I was attacked by that masked Monster Slayer — I was saved by those mysterious bursts of black light shooting down from above, letting me escape with nothing more than one hell of a scare. Ever since, I've been wondering what the hell actually happened, and only now do I find out it was the work of some Alex Serghal — John's second right-hand man.
He's from Elyndra too, obviously, but unlike John and Hank, he's not exactly a demon. He's something else… a dark emissary — that's what John called him — something like a fallen angel or some shit like that.
And that timely intervention wasn't random at all — Hank was the one who warned him. And to think I even got pissed at Hank for running off like a coward, when in reality he'd gone to get reinforcements.
Anyway, I can't stop thinking about the question I had asked Hank right before the Monster Slayer attacked — «And what do I gain from joining you?»
People say actions speak louder than words, and even though Hank barely knows three words in total, what he did answered that question better than anything he could've ever said.
So what would I gain by joining them? First of all: staying alive — which, yeah, isn't exactly a minor detail, especially considering what John is telling me right now about what happened in that alley after I ran away, while we sit comfortably on a padded couch in the private lounge of a nightclub — which, of course, he owns as well.
«That Monster Slayer hunting you isn't some rookie,» John comments as he lights a cigar. He offers me one, but I refuse. I don't smoke that crap — only weed. «Trust me, Alex Serghal is incredibly powerful, easily among the strongest under my command. And yet that Monster Slayer managed to escape with just a leg wound — and not before giving Alex serious trouble. At this point, I'm sure even you can see that you can't keep hunting for blood in New York's outskirts without someone powerful watching your back. Someone… like me,» he concludes in that annoyingly pompous tone of his.
And as much as I hate to admit it, the bastard is right. Right now, I'm standing at a crossroads.
Give in to his constant pressure and step into a world that's clearly dangerous — probably even more than I imagine, and trust me, I'm not imagining a theme park here — but at least I'd have someone covering my back at all times. Or I could simply change my hunting grounds and methods, maybe move to another city or even some tiny village in the middle of nowhere.
But if I did that, I'd be giving up the last scrap of humanity I've got left — that part of me that insists I kill only the scum of society, humans who are worth more dead than alive. In smaller, isolated places, there might not be enough scum to satisfy my thirst, and then I'd be forced to kill innocents — which is the last thing I ever want.
But there's also this: if I joined John, I'd become one of those criminals I despise and hunt down.
Given that… yeah, there's only one real choice.
«It's tempting, believe me, but I can't accept it. Still, thank you again for saving my life — I'll make sure it never has to happen again,» I reply, trying to mask the fear stirred by those cold eyes locked on mine.
I take a sip of the human blood in the glass John handed me as soon as I arrived — a gesture that alone was enough to keep me sitting at this negotiation table.
I won't lie — if I were alone, I probably would've taken his offer without a second thought. But I'm not alone — I have Veronica.
Stepping into the criminal world would put not only my life in danger, but — more importantly — the lives of the people closest to me. And I'd never do anything that could put Veronica at risk, and the same goes for Elaine. If anything ever happened to them because of me, I'd never forgive myself.
«Very well, Jace Lance. As you wish,» John murmurs with a tone far too compliant for someone like him — someone who always gets what he wants, one way or another.
If you think about it, John and I aren't that different.
He's stubborn and relentless when it comes to getting what he wants in business, and I'm the same when it comes to women. And I'm probably to him what Kimberly Almiris is to me — a personal challenge, the one person who had the nerve to resist.
Because honestly, with underlings like Hank Dalloran, Alex Serghal, and who knows how many other powerful beings under his command, a weak, inexperienced vampire like me isn't exactly valuable enough to justify all this effort he's putting into persuading me.
I'm sure recruiting me would simply be another flashy way to show off his influence and supposed irresistibility — proof that no one in this world can say no to him.
I just hope I never end up giving him that satisfaction.