Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) - By Fionn Jameson Page 0,14
it. “Forgive me if it seems like I’m flogging a dead horse, but is Jason your real name?”
Once the words left my mouth, I winced. It was a completely unnecessary question. It didn’t matter what his name was. What was it Shakespeare had said? Something about a rose being a rose no matter the name, right?
“It’s real,” he said, leaning back in the seat, hands crossing in his lap. “As to our future…I can make it so you can infiltrate Noir’s establishment and take him out. Those are your orders, aren’t they?” His eyes glowed. “However, what if you were to kill two birds with one stone?”
“An interesting proposition,” I replied. “Go on.”
He seemed terribly amused. “By the time we’re done, a very strong vampire will be gone. I’m offering you a chance to come along for the…ride. What do you say?”
I met his eyes, let my gaze harden. I’m quite good at it, apparently. “You say your fiance was abducted four years ago. When you said this before, I believed you. After all, for a normal human being, the only way he is going to receive assistance is through the help of others with more influence, more power. I have little doubt, that if you put your mind to it, you could crush the Fellowship.”
“You flatter me.” The corners of his eyes crinkled, but there was no warmth to that smile.
“Why did you wait?” I resisted the urge to walk around the room and turn on all the lights, even the small chandelier that dangled above us, shivering in the wake of the heated breeze that floated about the room. The small lamp by his elbow was providing light, but it seemed to make the darkness that much more obvious, that much more dangerous.
He ran his hand over his strong jawline in a parody of thought. “Why did I wait?”
“You had four years to exact your revenge,” I said. “Four years is a long time.”
“It is a long time.” He straightened in his seat. “Would you like a drink?”
I let my lips twist. “Remember? I don’t drink.”
“Ah, of course,” he said. “How could I forget? Well, then I hope you will excuse me while I pour myself a drink. Regrettably, I do not have any juice.”
Was he playing with me? It was an unpleasant idea. "That's fine."
I watched him as he proceeded behind a large desk and pulled out a small, crystal bottle off a high shelf along with a short glass. The amber inside was golden. “Does Martinez know you could have bought the damn bar?”
He laughed. “Unfortunately, or perhaps not, you are the only person who knows the truth, Ms. Hwang.”
“Not Pang?”
He stopped pouring as the glass became half full. “I do apologize. Jase…as you can see, was a bit of a test. I had to know who they would send. You see, in order to find Shannon and find the vampire who took her, I needed someone strong, but someone unobtrusive enough to be given much notice.”
I blinked. “Unobtrusive?”
Bringing the glass with him, he took his seat again and watched me from under hooded eyes. “I have a plan that requires a very specific type of person.”
I have a plan that requires a very specific type of person.
“And you think I’m that person…” I began, slowly. “You think I can blend into the background.”
He nodded. “No offense, but it seems like most women do. Which seems strange, considering just how many women I’ve been betrayed by.”
“Not all women are traitors.”
His lips thinned. “That remains to be seen, doesn’t it?”
I let that go. For now. “Okay. So you have me. What happens then?”
“I will push myself into vampire society, get deeper and deeper until I find Shannon. Until I find out the truth. But in order to do that, I’ll need someone to watch my back. I’ve heard of your abilities and I think you might be the one I’ve been looking for. You’ve got a special gift, I’m told. I could use it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said automatically.
Only two people were supposed to know of my ability. Elder Chang and Adrian.
How did he know?
He shrugged and swirled the liquor in his cup, the absence of ice making this a somewhat perilous task. “I suppose I’d think less of you if you copped out so easily. Be that as it may, I know what you can do. The best I could do is hire a vampire and I refuse to trust something I