Chapter 423: The Price of Power

"Did something happen with Marcus?" asked Alexander, knitting his brows. "Are things bad between you two?"

Ashley sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"Between us, everything is fine," said Ashley. "We worked things out, but ever since he came back from the other world, Marcus has changed. He’s obsessed with the war."

"He doesn’t sleep and barely eats," added Jessica, her voice trembling. "He keeps injecting himself with strange serums. We don’t know what’s in them, but he feels like a different person."

Alexander looked at them with disbelief.

"I saw him yesterday and he was fine," said Alexander.

"That’s the problem," said Jessica. "He seems fine, but it’s as if two people are trapped inside him."

Alexander remained silent, processing the information.

"Give me a moment," said Alexander, walking toward the living room. "I remember leaving it here."

"What are you looking for?" asked Ashley, following him with her eyes.

"A phone," said Alexander. "It’s black. I just don’t remember where I left it."

He searched between the couch cushions and found it beneath an armchair. He dialed Stephen’s number and put the device to his ear.

"Old man, quick question," said Alexander as soon as the call went through. "Do you know what Marcus is taking?"

"Supplements to enhance his ability," replied Stephen’s voice on the line. "I prepared them myself. Why?"

Alexander explained what Ashley and Jessica had told him. A silence fell over the call before Stephen spoke again.

"I see... there might be a problem," said Stephen, his tone turning serious. "If you see him, bring him in. I’ll head to his place, but if I don’t find him, let me know."

"Is it dangerous?" asked Alexander.

"Not for him... or so I hope," said Stephen. "We’ll talk later. I’m going to look for him."

Hanging up, Alexander noticed Ashley and Jessica watching him with pale faces.

"Is everything going to be okay, Alexander?" asked Jessica, clasping her hands together.

"Everything will be fine," said Alexander. "Let’s go find him. Where was the last place you saw him?"

"Five floors down," said Ashley. "They assigned us that floor."

"Well, it’s close. Let me grab some clothes," said Alexander.

PAFF!

The roar of shattering glass echoed through the room. Alexander spun around and saw Marcus standing by the shattered window. He was bare-chested, his skin glistening with sweat and his eyes bloodshot.

His gaze locked onto Alexander, who was standing beside Jessica and Ashley wrapped only in a towel.

"You bastard! What are you doing?!" roared Marcus. "Aren’t all the sluts you have enough?! Do you want to steal mine too?! You think I’m afraid of you?! You’re dead wrong!"

Marcus advanced with long strides, getting close to Alexander while shouting curses.

"Marcus, calm down. It’s not what you think," said Alexander, raising his hands.

Jessica and Ashley rushed toward Marcus, grabbing his arms to pull him back.

"Marcus, stop it!" yelled Ashley, struggling against her brother. "Alexander was listening to us!"

"Don’t give me your bullshit!" screamed Marcus, spit flying between his teeth. "I saw you coming out of the room wrapped in a towel! I saw how my mom and sister were looking at you! You think because you’re the hero, the big Emperor, you can take everything?!"

"Marcus, you’re losing your mind because of the serums. Listen to your sister," said Alexander in a firm tone, staying calm. "Jessica and Ashley came to find me because they’re worried about you. Nobody is taking anything from you."

"Shut up! Don’t talk to me like I’m one of your subordinates!" roared Marcus, shoving Ashley aside when she grabbed his shoulder. "Get back! You two are traitors! The second my back is turned, you run to the boss so he can control me?!"

"Shut up, Marcus, for God’s sake!" shouted Jessica, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You’re sick! He’s your friend!"

"He’s not my friend! He’s a monster who thinks he’s God because he commands a shadow army!" spat Marcus, his breathing ragged. "They sent me to the other world to rot in the dirt while you stayed here surrounded by women! I had to pump poison into my veins just to keep up with you! And now you’re trying to take the only thing I have left?!"

"If you don’t calm down, I will bring you down by force," warned Alexander, his voice turning deep. "Don’t make me repeat myself."

"Try it! Let me see if you’re invincible!" bellowed Marcus.

With a scream, Marcus threw a punch at Alexander’s face.

Alexander reacted on instinct, raising his left hand to catch the fist with an open palm. The impact echoed through the room, but Alexander’s hand blocked the blow without shifting a millimeter.

"It’s over," said Alexander, tightening his grip.

However, Marcus’s arm popped with an unnatural crunch. His joints bent at an impossible angle, slipping out of Alexander’s grasp as if his skeleton were flexible.

"What ability did they give you?" asked Alexander, taking a step back. "Why are you moving like that?"

"Fuck you!" screamed Marcus.

Twisting his torso, Marcus spun on his axis and landed a blow across Alexander’s cheek.

The strike sliced through the skin on Alexander’s jaw, letting a trail of blood bead up. Yet within a fraction of a millisecond, the flesh sealed shut.

Alexander ran a finger over his cheek, staring at the speck of blood on his skin.

"Don’t say I didn’t warn you," said Alexander.

In an instant, his irises turned a vivid crimson, and his aura exploded throughout the room. The physical pressure grew so dense that the remaining glass panels in the penthouse began to crack.

For the first time, Marcus felt the true might of his friend. Having that killing intent pinned onto him froze him. Marcus’s lungs refused to draw air, rendered immobile by the dread radiating from the vampire.

Alexander took a slow step toward him, the floor creaking under his bare feet as he looked down on him with an icy smirk.

"They say psychopaths are sensitive to others," said Alexander, bringing his face close to Marcus while the killing intent nearly suffocated the young man. "I don’t want to hurt you, my friend... but don’t think I won’t stop you if you try to do something fun."