Council of Evil Read Online Free PDF Page A

are; of what you’ve become. You have the ability to rule. An ability few men possess.”
    â€œIs that right?” said Jake skeptically, though it was a great sales pitch to his ego.
    â€œThe Web site, Villain.net, is a portal to channel your anger and fear. If you use it right, we can be truly unstoppable. You can have not just a single power. Imagine hundreds at your disposal.”
    Jake’s mind was now running quickly through his options, a form of mental gymnastics he wasn’t used to.Basilisk didn’t look like the mild-mannered do-gooders that Jake had seen in the movies. He looked every bit the sinister bad guy, and that sent a conflict of emotions through Jake’s mind. Of course, running with the good guys would be just plain dull, but this guy seemed like major trouble—and trouble was something Jake was good at detecting.
    â€œSo through the Web site I can just click and use any of those powers when I want to?”
    â€œYou can download them, yes. Anytime you want. But, of course, you don’t get something for nothing.”
    Jake shook his head; he knew it was too good to be true. “You want money?”
    Basilisk unfolded his arms and held out his hands in a “stop” gesture. “Not from you. I want your services. If you wish to possess these powers, then you must help me. Let me be your mentor, your trainer.”
    â€œWhy me?”
    â€œBecause you are unique. You have undreamed potential.”
    â€œAnd what would I have to do?”
    â€œAssist me, and see the world like you’ve never seen it before. It would be like a unique adventure camp.” Basilisk held out his hand as if to shake Jake’s. “Do we have a deal?”
    Jake hesitated; this all seemed wrong. At school Jake was goaded into actions that he knew weren’t right, likeletting Scuffer persuade him to use the virus. Jake felt it was a sign of being weak willed, even if his friends seemed to respect him more for doing it.
    His eyes scanned the dark factory around him. If he wanted to, he could run. But an element of curiosity held him in place, even now. Basilisk was offering a fresh start—unlimited power and an opportunity to leave his boring life behind. Basilisk seemed like the bad-tempered kind, but that was something Jake was used to dealing with. He felt scared, and he knew fear led to weakness. The kids he picked on were frightened of him and that made them weak, prime targets for bullying. He took a deep breath—although he was scared, he was no coward.
    He reached out and shook Basilisk’s hand. It dwarfed his own. His skin felt like granite, and as it closed around Jake’s, he could feel that it was stone. His astonishment with the rocky skin lasted for a second before the powerful grip stopped short of crushing every bone in his hand. Jake didn’t make a murmur, and shook life back into his hand when Basilisk turned and strode into the darkness.
    â€œWe leave now,” said Basilisk.
    â€œLeave? Where? My parents don’t even—”
    Basilisk spun around on his heels, his eyes flaring deep blue. “Your parents? I am offering you a chance to help me rule the world, and you’re worrying about getting home late? If I am to make you a king, then you will learn from me—not them!”
    Basilisk turned away and continued into the darkness. Jake realized that this guy was crazy and he could be dangerous. If Jake had not sampled the superpower firsthand, then he would have turned away. But he had, and now he needed to quench his thirst for that power again. He followed.
    â€œYou never told me where we’re going, Bas.”
    â€œTraveling!” said Basilisk. And on cue a small vehicle was illuminated at the end of the factory floor. At first Jake mistook it for a sleek sports car, as it had the graceful curves of a Porsche. But as he got closer it was clear the vehicle was larger and had no wheels. Instead it sat