Awakening - The Last Science #1

Interlude II - Selling One's Soul - IV

  "You have to kill him, Brian."

  Brian stopped eating the fruit Jackson had handed him abruptly. "What?"

  "Seth needs to die before he can hurt anyone."

  Brian shook his head. "I'm not a murderer. I didn't agree to that. I said I'd help you track down everyone, but I'm not about to hurt a kid who hasn't actually done anything yet."

  Jackson's eyes were cold—and with the deep blackness that shrouded his gaze permanently, adding a layer of ice was enough to remind Brian of the terror he had chosen to serve. "He will."

  "He's a stupid college kid. I don't disagree there's a risk, but innocent until proven guilty, right?"

  Jackson frowned. "And what about when that one guilty verdict comes at the cost of hundreds, if not thousands of lives? They may not have done any damage yet, but it's as if we'd given nuclear weapons to children and trusted them not to do anything wrong."

  "I don't think I can kill anyone," Brian said. "I can't even go hunting with Robert whenever he invites me."

  Jackson looked pensive, then turned and dug through his bag for a moment. He came back up with a small rod made of obsidian, laid with a bright green stone. He offered it to Brian, who took it gingerly. "Like I taught you, put your mind into the rod."

  Brian hesitated. "Is using this pushing me over the edge as well?"

  Jackson shrugged. "You aren't awakened. You haven't read from the book or done the ritual, and the magic does not originate with you. I would call that distinction enough, but that's for you to judge."

  Brian closed his eyes and prayed. God, I hope I'm doing the right thing. I haven't seen Natalie in days, but I know that she can take care of herself. I'll make the world safe for her again. Please, let me be spared from whatever demons haunt the man I'm following.

  He sent his mind into the rod. There, legions awaited him.