Between Imminent Fates (The Immortal Accords #12)

21. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Blair

The human lashed out as soon as he recognized he’d been teleported. Kaien had brought both Lucius and Torrin into the holding cell, but the Citizens’ leader was still capable of fighting back. Torrin pulled a small pistol from the holster hidden beneath his suit coat. It was undoubtedly filled with the dual ammunition rounds designed to incapacitate immortals.

Kaien barreled into him, grappling with the human before he had a chance to use his weapon. Within seconds, Torrin was plastered against the floor, and all he could do was bare his teeth at the two men he’d nearly killed.

“Long time, Torrin,” Blair hissed. “With your lieutenants disappearing right and left, you’d think you’d be a bit more careful about your own safety.”

“Let go of me!”

Torrin struggled fruitlessly when they hauled him onto his feet. Blair grabbed his cell phone and wallet from his back pockets before they arranged him in a chair with leather straps for his hands and feet.

Built to withstand a vampire’s strength, Torrin wouldn’t be able to budge from it. Unlike the Citizens’ own restraints, they wouldn’t be followed by torture and mutilation.

“You didn’t have to follow me, Torrin,” Lucius continued, “but I want you to know that we truly did want peace. Your stubbornness was your own downfall.”

Blair looked at Lucius with pride. He never showed fear before the man who’d brutalized him. Though she had been hopeful the war would end, seeing Torrin pay the ultimate price from his crimes would be immensely satisfying.

Torrin was beginning to sweat. “My work will continue. My death will not save you. We’ve been recruiting, showing other humans the viciousness of your kind. My cause is theirs. Nothing can stop your destruction.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Nothing but sheer confidence infused Kaien’s voice. “Cut off the head of the snake and the body will die.”

“As soon as Derek disappeared, I engaged a contingency plan that no one can stop.” The smugness he wore was heavily tinged with despair. “No matter how many of us you take out, there will always be another ready to take our place. It doesn’t matter if I’m not there to pick up the phone when your death comes calling.”

All of them watched as the human grew more anxious with every passing second, trying to delay the inevitable.

After a minute of silence, he finally managed to sputter, “What are you going to do? Turn me into a vampire?”

“That would be the ultimate punishment, wouldn’t it? Turn you into the very thing you detest most?” Blair considered it for a second. It’d be oddly poetic. “No, Torrin, you needn’t worry about growing fangs. Why would we ever waste immortality on the undeserving?”

“You’re going to pass peacefully in your sleep, surrounded by the privileged wealth of your apartment, alone on top of the world.” Kaien shared. “A quiet death. Or at least that’s what your newspaper will say.”

“And how will you manage that, when I’m sitting here in your dungeon?”

Lucius patted him on the shoulder. “You needn’t worry about the mechanics. All that is taken care of.”

“And do you really think you can kill me in cold blood, Lucius? You, the happy-go-lucky vampire who believes there’s good in everyone?”

“Oh, Lucius won’t be taking your life, Torrin.” Kaien stepped forward. “I will.”

“We’ll take it from here, fledgling,” Blair said. “We’ll inform you when it’s finished.”

Circe slipped her hand into her mate’s and turned them both towards the door. The leader of the Citizens sneered. “Get back here vampire, look me in the eyes as I die!”

Over his shoulder, Lucius merely said, “Don’t you remember, Torrin? My eyes are no longer yours.”

And then he was gone.

As Key had accurately predicted, Blair wouldn’t pervert Lucius’ good nature with the assassination. She’d been raised in the shackles of slavery. There was justice in ending an overlord who relished in the pain of others.

Blair caught her mate’s eye, managing a small nod. With the detachment of an executioner, Kaien placed his hand over Torrin’s heart.

“I vaguely recall you laughing as I nearly died on your couch. Turnabout is fair play, Torrin.”

A wave of electricity prickled over Blair’s skin as Kaien’s gifts sunk into the tissues of Torrin’s heart. Responding eagerly, the human’s pulse began racing, prompting his facade to drop as he drew in panicked breath after panicked breath.

“Wha—what are you …”

Torrin couldn’t finish the sentence, so Kaien did instead. “What am I doing? My gift is mending flesh, to prompt and speed healing. In this case, I’m going to speed up your heart. Your death certificate will say you died of a massive heart attack. Congratulations: you’re a statistic.”

Torrin’s meek struggle against his restraints was fruitless. Sweat dripping from his brow, he gasped for breath and his head slumped forward. Only Kaien’s hand against his chest kept him upright.

Blair’s exceptional hearing recognized the exact moment Torrin’s heart went into a frenzy. The stubborn will of the Citizens leader fell away to reveal a man looking his own death in the face.

In the end, they granted Torrin a mercy he would’ve refused Lucius: a swift death.