Under the Iron Fist

Chapter 8: The Borrower's Offer

The next morning, Jax was abruptly awakened by a loud knock on his door. Two burly guards stood outside, their expressions grim.

"Magnus wants to see you," one of them grunted. "Now."

Jax quickly dressed and followed them through the winding corridors of the central complex. They finally arrived at an imposing set of double doors, ornately decorated with intricate metalwork.

As the doors swung open, Jax found himself in a vast office. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the Sanctuary, a constant reminder of Magnus's dominion. Magnus himself stood with his back to the door, hands clasped behind him as he gazed out over his empire.

"Leave us," Magnus commanded without turning around. The guards promptly exited, closing the doors behind them.

Finally, Magnus turned to face Jax, his piercing eyes studying him intently. "I hope you've had time to... acclimate to your new home," he said, his tone deceptively casual.

Jax nodded cautiously. "It's been... enlightening."

Magnus smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good. Because I have a proposition for you, Jax. One that I think you'll find quite interesting."

He gestured for Jax to sit in one of the plush chairs facing his desk. As Jax complied, Magnus took his own seat, leaning forward with an intensity that made Jax instinctively tense.

"I want you to be my new bodyguard," Magnus stated bluntly.

Jax blinked in surprise. "Your bodyguard? Why would you trust me with that?"

Magnus's smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed just a bit too sharp. "Oh, it's not about trust, Jax. It's about insurance."

He tapped the base of his neck, right where Jax knew his own implant resided. "You see, all of my bodyguards have a special modification to their implants. They're linked directly to my vital signs. If my heart stops for more than five minutes, they die."

Jax felt a chill run down his spine as the implications sank in. "So you're saying..."

"That your life would quite literally depend on keeping me alive," Magnus finished for him. "It tends to inspire a certain... loyalty in my guards."

Jax's mind raced, trying to process this new information. "And what if I refuse?"

Magnus shrugged, his casualness belying the threat in his words. "I'm sure you can see how someone with your potential would be seen as a threat if left untethered."

There was a moment of tense silence before Magnus continued, his tone almost conversational. "But before you decide, there's something else you should know about me. Something that might help you understand why I'm in the position I am."

He stood up, walking around the desk to stand directly in front of Jax. "They call me the Borrower," he said, his eyes gleaming with an almost predatory light. "Because I can borrow the power of others for a short time."

Jax's eyes widened in surprise. "You can use other people's abilities?"

Magnus nodded, clearly pleased by Jax's reaction. "The weaker the power, the longer I can hold onto it. But even the strongest abilities, like yours, I can use for a few crucial seconds."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Imagine it, Jax. The ability to have any power you want, even if just for a moment. It's how I've stayed on top in this place for so long."

Jax sat back, his mind reeling from the implications. Magnus's ability explained so much about how he maintained control over a city full of powered individuals.

"So," Magnus said, straightening up and returning to his seat behind the desk. "What do you say, Jax? Ready to join my personal guard?"

Jax knew he was trapped. Refusing wasn't really an option, not if he wanted to stay alive.

"Do I have a choice?" Jax asked, his voice carefully neutral.

Magnus's smile was cold and triumphant. "There's always a choice, Jax. It's just a matter of whether you make the right one."

With a resigned nod, Jax sealed his fate. "When do I start?"