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When I finally turned around, the South American was sweating profusely. That hope of his was evaporating. Giving way to my venom. It would only be a matter of time.
I crossed my arms over my broad chest, resting each blade on a shoulder, and regarded the man coldly.
"Do you know the difference between deceit and delusion?" I asked.
"W-what?" he stammered.
"It's a simple question," I said plainly. "Deceit and delusion. Have you ever thought about the difference?"
The man's eyes fixed on my blades and he shivered.
"Deceit," I explained, "is when a man lies to others. Delusion is when he lies to himself."
I watched his face expectantly. He was too scared to ask.
"Like right now, for instance. Is it true you don't know the name of the man who sent you? Are you lying to me? Or is it that you're somehow convinced that whatever your boss will do to you if you talk is worse than what you're facing right now? Because that, little human, is pure delusion."
I tapped into my innate magic and charged. In a fraction of a second, I moved from the wall to inches away from his face. It took him longer to register my motion than it had taken me to complete it. I waited until he jumped, startled by my sudden shift, calm and methodical though it was. Faster than humanly possible.
Marco let out a scream as sure as if I'd buried my blade in his chest.
But that was too easy for this one. He'd long ago relieved himself of the right to a quick death. I let him shake and sniffle until he opened his eyes a peek, disappointed to see he was still alive and unharmed.
"I could flay you alive, mageling. Stem the flow of your blood with my magic so you wouldn't bleed out. I could get in your head and convince you to beg for it. I could make you chew your own fingers off. Believe me, anything your boss can dream up is a pale comparison to what I can do."
"I believe you!" he cried. "I'll tell you what you want to know--I'll tell you everything."
I grinned, metal teeth inches from the open wound on his neck. I inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet scent of his beating heart. His blood was fouled now. Poison from my bite pumped into every inch of his quivering body. It was biological betrayal. His own flesh and blood working against him.
His mind was the last holdout. Sheer willpower, emboldened by the practiced channeling of spirit energy. But even that defense was crumbling before my eyes.
"What is his name?"
He swallowed hard. "I don't know that. I swear to Christ."
I lifted a blade to his ear.
"But I know where he is," he hastened to add.
I paused. New information, at last.
Marco nodded his head conspiratorially, overeager to make a deal. "He's expecting me. Waiting for my return. I'll tell you where he is if you let me go. You have to let me go."
I grinned. Delusion again. But I supposed fair was fair.
"If you tell me true, I won't kill you. You have my word."
An intake of air caught in his throat. He couldn't believe his good fortune. He was afraid to let that hope back in for fear it would betray him, too. He spoke before I could renege my offer.
"He keeps properties along the coast for when he needs them. He doesn't come often, but he's here now. For a couple of days at least. He's here."
For the next several minutes, I pumped the broken mage for information. Location. Security. Procedure. Expectations. It all sounded professional enough. Concerning, even. Exactly the type of thing I needed to personally take a look at myself.
"So, you're gonna let me go?" Marco finally asked.
I leaned in and dangled my black tongue over my teeth. I lapped at the blood pouring from his neck. Already coagulating. It would get infected, perhaps, but it wouldn't bleed out. "I would've liked to drink your life into mine."
"No. You said you wouldn't kill me."
