Maximus directed them to the map. A red circle pinpointed the location of Hudson’s cabin. Around the circle were several red marks. Pointing to those, Maximus said, “Caleb will arm me with symbols and talismans and anything else his brilliant mind can fathom. I will place those wards at strategic locations around the cabin in an attempt to block Silas’ access to other sources of energy. From what Caleb has said, natural areas have more available energy than if we were in a city.”
Shaney had used that energy, pulled it up through the ground. Reminding them of this, Maximus nodded. “If I can get close enough, I will try to get something beneath the cabin to block it. However, that will be difficult since the guards will be keeping a close eye out for me. They know I’ll try a preemptive strike.”
“It’s all impossible,” Shaney mumbled, feeling the entire ordeal with Silas was too monumental for them.
Maximus gave Shaney a pointed stare. “I don’t like the odds here, either. I wouldn’t like the odds even if Silas didn’t have an arsenal of black magic. We’re going blind into a dangerous situation, but...”—he licked at his lower lip—“I’ve been around this occult shit for a long time. First with Silas, and then with Caleb. I’ve seen a lot of powerful people do some shit that blew my mind.” He shook his head. “That’s nothing compared to what I saw you do yesterday. No one can do what you do. No one has that power, not even Silas. But you can have all of the power in the world and that will mean nothing if you don’t believe in it. If you don’t get your head in the game, and get rid of the self-doubt and the fears, you will fail. You might as well walk in with your hands up and surrender.”
Shit, Maximus was right. Going into the game thinking he’d already lost, was a game he shouldn’t even play.
“Oh, yes!” Caleb drew their attention, his grin wide, as his gaze flew over something written in the book. “Silas, you’re not as smart as you think.”
“What did you find?”
“A back door.”
“Huh?” Shaney asked not following.
“Think of it as a back door into a computer program. Hackers are always looking for those hidden doors to enter protected systems. I think I have a way to disarm Silas without having to completely eliminate him or put any of us at risk.”
“They deserve to die,” Todd spat.
Todd’s ‘they,’ which was undoubtedly included Dan, was unsettling. While Shaney wanted to see his ex-probe officer pay for his betrayal, he didn’t plan on killing two people. He kept this to himself and tried to ignore the comment.
“How will we do that?” Shaney asked.
“In writings that speculate on the methods to defeat this black magic society, there is talk of a little known Byzantine occult sect. Many have theorized this was straight from Rome, but at the time Constantine the Great had moved the capital of Rome to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople—”
“Is there a point in there somewhere?” Shaney asked, losing all patience.
Caleb pursed his lips and frowned. “Yes, I forgot. Dumb it down. Using a reference I found in Silas’ notes, I’m certain I can fashion an amulet that will neutralize Silas’ powers, but this relies heavily on Maximus’ success in placing the wards around the cabin. It’s essential that Silas be unable to draw in energy from the surrounding area for this to work.”
Shaney pondered the possibilities. “Are you saying with this we can win?”
“If everything lines up correctly, anything Silas throws at you will be neutralized. His power will be useless.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” Shaney said.
“I am confident this will be a win for the good guys.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Shaney sat on the dock of the cabin that stretched over Gull Pond. He soaked in the late afternoon sunshine and tried to decide exactly when his life had taken such a drastic wrong turn. When he’d stepped into that circle? The day he met Hudson? No. There was no wrong turn. This had all been set into motion the day two men playing God had created him. One man furthering science, and one man trying to regain something he’d lost.
Shaney could understand the lengths grief and loss could drive a person. When his father had died—had been murdered—Shaney would have considered selling his soul to the devil to have him back. But that was the difference, wasn’t it? He would have considered such an offer, but would he have done something so drastic? At ten, maybe, since he hadn’t had the understanding that life wasn’t just about living, but about loss as well. But Silas was an adult without the capacity to accept his loss. Certainly, he must have understood the consequences of his selfishness. That was what made him dangerous. Not just the fact that he had black magic. Taking that away didn’t change his immaturity, his self-serving attitude, or his fucked up agenda. That thought scared Shaney right down to his Underoos. If they could win without resorting to harm, so be it. If it came down to a choice, well, Shaney had already made his decision.