Elias locked his jaw and put pressure behind the knife at Blue’s neck. “I’ve already told you that I don’t care what happens to you,” he reminded her, watching as the blade of the knife began to split her skin with an almost surgical precision. His head remained bowed, but his eyes flickered up to the doctor. “But I think that Alex does. Am I right, doctor?”<br/><br/>“Get off of her, you -<span style="font-style: italic">fuck</span>, stop it!” he yelled as Elias continued to dig into her throat. He was being careful of her arteries - he didn’t want to hurt her. Lex needed to take advantage of that. “What do you want?<span style="font-style: italic">Tell</span>me what you want to know and I’ll talk, I swear.”<br/><br/>The knife left its place between layers of skin and blood, but only just. It still remained at Blue’s throat, ready to split it entirely. Elias’ head cocked to the side. “Is this woman truly that important to you, Alex?”<br/><br/>Lex froze, but only for a millisecond. “Nobody else needs to get hurt for the things that I’ve done. Just-” His voice calmed, his breathing slowed. “Just tell me what you want to know. We can talk, you don’t need to hurt her.”<br/><br/>Elias smiled his ever-present smile. “So you feel as though you can cheat death? That if you agree to talk to me, I won’t kill her?”<br/><br/>“I trust you to be a man of your word that you won’t hurt her if I do.”<br/><br/>“I’ve made no such promises, Alex. All I told you was that you will talk to me.”<br/><br/>Lex worried the inside of his bottom lip between his teeth. It was true, the man had given him no inclination to belief that he would let Blue out unscathed. “And I will,<span style="font-style: italic">if</span>you leave her and my brother alone.”<br/><br/>The pen knife retracted, and Elias slid it into his pocket. “A surprisingly noble answer coming from you, doctor. But I’ll ask you again. Do you feel that you can cheat death?”<br/><br/>“Wha-?”<br/><br/>“The incredible end to a mortal life. Do you think that death can be circumvented? That mortals can transcend the human need to exist on limited time?” Lex blinked in confusion, then realization, then horror. He was about to open his mouth to speak, but Elias interrupted. “What was the true purpose for the Realians, Dr. Ascolani? And from whom did you obtain their design? Did you design them? Did your father? And to what end?” His left hand curled dangerously around Blue’s shoulder. He would use her for leverage whether she wanted him to or not.