Council of Evil Read Online Free Page B

clattered aside a rusted oilcan. It bounced in the darkness, sounding unnaturally loud. He felt a chill run up his spine and could have sworn the air temperature had suddenly dropped.
    â€œCongratulations, Hunter,” purred a voice from the darkness behind him.
    Jake wheeled around, dropping his bike and sliding out the wrench in one fluid movement. He heard slow, mocking clapping from the shadows. It sounded like bricks being banged together.
    â€œVery good. Reflexes like a cat,” continued the voice.
    â€œWho are you?” Jake demanded.
    â€œI’m your new best friend.”
    The darkness shifted as a figure stepped from the deepest shadows. He was much taller than Jake. Faint moonlight reflected off steel struts that braced both legs and disappeared in a pair of black boots with countless buckles on them. His arms were bare and looked to have the texture of stone. The rest of the stranger was clad in matte black, but even in the dim light Jake could see the man’s chest was well defined with muscles. A short black cape hung over his shoulders, and when the moonlight caught it, it seemed to glitter like a snakeskin. A wide hood covered his head, obscuring any features. He stood and appraised Jake with a slight tilt of the head. When he crossed his arms, they made the sound of stone grating against stone as they moved.
    Jake held his ground, although he wanted to jump on his bike and scurry away.
    â€œYou can call me Basilisk!” The figure’s voice reverberated dramatically among the deserted buildings.
    After years of picking on kids with stupid names, Jake couldn’t help but smile. “
Basilisk
? What kind of name is that?”
    â€œOne you will respect!”
    Basilisk took a step forward, his boots thumping heavilyon the ground as he drew himself to his full height. Jake gasped; he hadn’t been aware the figure was slouching until now. Basilisk must have been almost seven feet tall, and egg-shaped eyes flared neon blue under his hood.
    Despite himself, Jake let out a whimper of fear and took a step backward as he lifted the wrench, ready to strike. Basilisk boomed with humorless laughter.
    â€œOh, very good. Feisty and aggressive. Those traits will serve you well.”
    â€œTake one more step and I’ll slug you across the head!” Jake warned.
    A beam of concentrated light shot from Basilisk’s finger, as fine as string, but the moment it struck the wrench the tool glowed bright red and smoldered in Jake’s hand. He let go of it with a yelp.
    â€œHow’d you do that?” he said while sucking his burned fingers. “Did you get those powers off a Web site by any chance?”
    â€œNo. I was born with them. But I did send you that e-mail. You were given a gift. A temporary gift to be used how you see fit. And I have been watching you.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI saw how you used your powers for rage and revenge. Burning down your classroom was very wicked,” Basilisk’s voice became thoughtful. “Although you lost points for pulling out that pain-in-the-neck teacher of yours. But you were close to perfect, allowing youractions to be guided by your feelings. Controlled anger is the mightiest weapon.”
    Jake’s questions tumbled out at once. “I want to know exactly what you’ve done to me. Are there any side effects, like radiation poisoning? Is it going to happen to me again?”
    Basilisk regarded him silently for a moment. “How did it feel? Knowing you controlled such a destructive force?”
    Jake was thrown by the question. He had to admit that he’d felt a thrill tremble through him when he realized that he had been the source of the fire. It had made him feel terrified too, but there was no way he was going to admit weakness to this stranger.
    â€œIt was cool.” Jake reflected that that was an inappropriate choice of words.
    â€œIt’s in your blood. Wielding power is part of who you