Chapter 27

In the room, an air of palpable tension hung heavy around Xain. He couldn't help but feel out of his depth, a sentiment that appeared to elude Lennix, who remained unfazed by the unease.

"I'm not sure what you mean by 'get down to business,'" Xain admitted, his brows furrowed in puzzlement. Lennix's cryptic comments left him thoroughly confused.

Lennix's response was measured, and he leaned back, studying Xain intently. "You came here with a purpose, didn't you? Beyond just seeking your allies," he mused aloud, as if probing Xain's intentions.

Xain's confusion only deepened. *What is he talking about?* he wondered, growing increasingly frustrated. Lennix, however, didn't appear troubled by the lack of understanding. Instead, he sighed softly, his voice taking on a more straightforward tone.

"Look, I've already told you what I am, despite your prior knowledge. Now, it's your turn to be forthcoming," Lennix declared, his words hanging in the air, a clear expectation for Xain to reveal something important.

Lennix's insistence continued to bewilder Xain, leaving him with a growing sense of unease. *Is he mistaking me for someone else?* Xain pondered as he tried to make sense of the situation.

As Xain contemplated the situation, his sharp instincts picked up on something crucial. Lennix's gaze was fixed on a spot to Xain's right, the very place where his shadow would typically be. However, Ercale's magic had made his shadow disappear. Although Lennix concealed it well, there was an underlying tension in him, evident to someone as observant as Xain.

Taking a calculated risk, Xain decided to alter his approach. He straightened his posture, adopting a more self-assured demeanor, and adjusted his tone accordingly. It was a gamble, but he had a hunch it might work.

"Why should I disclose anything?" Xain retorted, feigning confidence. "You're the one who revealed himself without any prompting from me. There's no reason why I should reciprocate."

Lennix responded with yet another sigh, his demeanor showing a hint of exasperation.

Lennix had a thoughtful look on his face for a second before starting to laugh, which caught Xain off guard and left him momentarily concerned. *Did I mess up?* he worried. However, the laughter soon subsided.

"You know, kid, you had me going there for a second," Lennix admitted with a grin. "If I didn't know how hunters operate, I might've mistaken you for one."

Xain dropped his confident act, though he remained cautious, readying himself for any potential attack. However, to his surprise, none came. His confusion deepened as Lennix continued to speak.

"Relax, I won't do anything to you," Lennix reassured him, his tone surprisingly calm. "At least, not yet."

Xain realized that he had been outplayed. The tension he had sensed in Lennix earlier had been an act, a deliberate ploy to provoke a reaction. "Why are you doing this?" Xain asked, still uncertain of Lennix's motives.

Lennix's response was equally baffling. "For fun, what else?" he replied with a nonchalant grin, his intentions still shrouded in mystery.

Xain's patience waned as Lennix continued to play his enigmatic games. He rubbed his temple in frustration before demanding, "Just tell me where my friends are."

Lennix, seemingly unfazed by Xain's irritation, strolled over to the window, his gaze fixed on the bustling afternoon scene outside. He turned back to Xain, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"If I told you that you could only have one of them, what would you do?" Lennix inquired, clearly relishing the psychological game he was playing.

Xain clenched his fists, his annoyance turning into resolve. "I would have to fight you," he declared firmly.

Lennix nodded, his grin widening. "Well, I guess you will have to, because I'm only willing to give back the drunk," he replied with a chuckle.

Before taking any action, Xain decided to ask one more question, "What's your plan with Zee?"

Lennix, still gazing out the window, replied nonchalantly, "You see, my sister and I are looking to evolve. To achieve that, we require 'pure souls,' which are, as you might imagine, quite rare."

Xain had a sinking feeling that he knew where this was heading, but he pressed on, "And what does Zee have to do with all of this?"

Lennix nonchalantly shrugged, "Weeell, your elf friend, while not completely pure, is the closest we can get to finding a second pure soul."

Xain recognized the need to gather as much information as possible while Lennix seemed willing to talk. "Who's the first?" he asked.

Lennix seemed momentarily puzzled but then caught on. "Ah, you mean the first pure soul," he mused. "Well, I'm not sure if you've had the pleasure of meeting her, but it's a little girl named Mari. My sister has the honor of feasting on her, while I get the pleasure of your elf friend."

The casual manner in which Lennix discussed such horrifying matters sent shivers down Xain's spine. Lennix added a chilling warning, "By the way, if you're thinking of fighting me right now, you'll die."

Xain's anger surged as he continued to listen to the vampire's callous words. He gritted his teeth but forced himself to ask one more question, his voice strained with worry, "How are they right now?"

Lennix, still looking out the window, allowed a sickening smile to creep across his face as he replied, "Well, I may have told a small lie about your friends being safe. They are safe, in a sense, but I wouldn't say they're unharmed. I did want to have my fill, after all." He licked his lips, relishing the anger he felt from Xain.

Xain's face darkened, and his anger reached a boiling point. Without thinking, he grabbed the nearest object, the teapot filled with hot tea, and hurled it at Lennix. In a reflexive motion, Lennix turned and swatted the teapot out of the air, feeling a searing pain as the hot liquid splashed onto him. 

But Xain wasn't done. He leaped over the desk, and delivered a powerful kick to Lennix's chest with his left foot. The unexpected attack struck the vampire squarely in the chest, sending him stumbling backward. As Xain landed on his left foot, he executed a swift spin and swung a silver tray from the table, connecting with Lennix's head and sending the vampire crashing to the ground. Lennix lay there momentarily dazed and disoriented.

Lennix, despite the shock of the sudden attack, couldn't help but smile as he looked up at Xain. It wasn't often in his long, immortal existence that he had witnessed such profound and unadulterated Hatred in someone's eyes.