"It's okay."

"It's not okay," Brian growled, pacing back and forth in the clearing. "I should have dealt with them all."

"It's a good sign that you felt pity. You're still a good man, Brian. We've just been forced to do terrible things."

"I had them, and I was weak," Brian snapped. Rage was bubbling through his blood in waves of heated frustration. "They revel in the shit. Their damned rituals and those cloaks and charms. They celebrate it," he spat.

"They think they've found something wonderful. They don't know what horrors lie in wait," Jackson said calmly. His even tone finally began to calm Brian down. He sat and accepted the offered lunch in Jackson's hand. "You were able to use the golems well enough?"

He nodded. "They did everything I asked perfectly, even when I told them to leave."

"Good. Now, what I was able to do today while you were resting." Jackson began to draw in midair, a map of the town springing to life like a hologram out of a movie. He drew dark crimson lines across the roads and railways leading from the town. "I've closed off every proper land route from the town. The mountains and hills are too treacherous for any significant number to cross easily. I've also sent word to the nearest towns that the roads and rails are out until further notice, so we won't have any innocents caught in the crossfire."

"You really think this is necessary?" Brian asked nervously. His thoughts were on his daughter, and the few friends he had made in Rallsburg. "Encircling the town?"

"We simply don't know how many have been awakened," Jackson replied. "Until we can clear them, we can't risk anyone escaping. Between this and the information we've leaked, they should be in a perfect state of chaos for us to do what needs to be done."

Brian stared at the dark lines hanging in midair and shivered. He didn't like how his town was starting to feel like a medieval castle under siege, but it had to be done. Whenever doubt crept into his mind, visions of the burned RV flooded his thoughts, or of the greycloaks performing horrible rituals in the woods, or balls of fire thrown from the radio tower in the dead of night. There was too much potential for catastrophe secreted around every corner.

"Brian, someone's out in the woods—besides the mercenary." He looked up. Jackson's eyes were clouded over, a side-effect of his ability to see magical activity outside the town. "It's Seth Merrill again."

Brian hesitated. The greycloaks were one thing, but Seth was just a stupid college kid.

"Do you still have doubts?" Jackson asked.

"I…"

"Talk to your friend next time you meet. Ask him about Seth."

Brian stepped out from behind a tree once he was sure the man was alone.

"Jesus, Brian," Robert breathed, lowering his rifle. "You oughta give me some warning."

"Sorry." He shrugged. "So what happened?"

"Everythin' you said was true, about the electricity burns on the bodies and the time of death and whatnot." Brian had supplied the electricity burn information at Jackson's request, though he still wasn't sure why exactly. Jackson had said it was 'a gift to an old friend', but his tone had been dripping with irony. "Made 'em look like idiots for a bit, til they took over the meeting."

"What?"

"Yeah. Now they're working with the mayor and the sheriff. Some girl named Rachel. You know her?"

"Rachel DuValle? Tall—taller than you, actually—and straight brown hair? Always looks a little bit lost?"

"Not so much the last part, but yeah, that's her."

Brian frowned. "She's one of my tenants." Realization struck him as he recalled a strange incident a year back—involving a series of explosions and gemstones in the girl's room that had utterly terrified Natalie. His eyes narrowed. "She's one of them?"

"The leader, apparently. Speakin' o' which," Robert added, giving him a glare, "you knew about all this shit, didn't you?"

"What?"

"Magic, goddammit! Magic's real and these kids all have it, apparently. And you knew, didn't you?"

"I… yes. I did."

"And you didn't tell me?" Robert growled.

"I'm sorry. I should have. I didn't think you'd believe me."

Robert sighed. "We've been friends since you moved here, man. I've got your back, just like I do now. You got mine?"

"Yes."

"Then keep me in the goddamn loop! Why are you out here all alone?"

"For Natalie," Brian answered simply.

Robert was taken aback. His tone dropped back to reasonable levels. "For your kid?"

"So she doesn't grow up in a world tainted by them," he continued. "By these monsters with their magic. I've seen what they do. The greycloaks even fight amongst themselves. I've seen their leader put her people in harm's way for the fun of it." He paused, remembering what Jackson had told him. "And then there's Seth."

Robert nodded. "That business at Dan's, you mean."

Something at Dan's? Brian's heart fell. Dan was another of his few friends in town. Anything happening to the diner would be a nightmare. He tried to tease more information out of Robert while still sounding informed. "Think about the damage they could cause."

"The wall's still got those burn marks all over," Robert nodded again. "I didn' see it myself, but Seth and Ryan and that out of town Asian girl were definitely responsible. Rachel didn' deny it." The older man paused, scratching his thick beard. "What about your little tyke though? Ain't Nat gonna be missin' her old man?"

He frowned. "I can't go home until it's done."

"But she's—"

Brian shook his head. "I'm not good enough."

"What?"

"I've never been good enough. The world always made sure I knew that. Now, I have a chance to do something important. I can help save the world. But the only way is to be totally committed to this."

"I don' envy you, man," Robert muttered. "I'll keep an ear out, I guess."

"Thank you," Brian answered. Robert had offered to help before, but Brian declined. He didn't want to get anyone else involved; Jackson had more than enough power to take on the entire town alone, so long as they never entered.

There were rules, apparently—and if Jackson abided by them, then the other demon residing in Rallsburg wouldn't interfere. He was an aloof monster who refused to intervene under any circumstances, by Jackson's description. Someone who wanted to watch the unnatural growth and change over time, like a scientist watching the town from a microscope on high. It made Brian sick. Someone treating these people like playthings, like an experiment to be watched and discarded. These were real, precious lives he was toying with, this mysterious pretender-god.

Jackson's counterpart was too powerful, but he was also strict and predictable. Thus, Brian could act with impunity—for he had no magic and wouldn't even appear on the man's radar. Equipped with Jackson's weapons and his plans, Brian was practically unstoppable.

"Jus' remember what you're fightin' for," Robert added.

"How is she?"

"Fine as far as I know. She's been stayin' with the British professor, Kendra Laushire. You know her?"

"I've met her a few times." In fact, Brian had investigated her with the runestone, and breathed a sigh of relief when it hadn't vibrated at all. She was quietly one of the more powerful people in Rallsburg, particularly with her riches that had no ties to the Price feud with the logging union. "And Natalie seems all right?"

"She's gettin' fed and homeschooled. I've kept an eye out, don' worry," Robert clapped a hand on his back. "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you home, after all this is done."

Brian nodded. His motivations were redoubled. His daughter was safe and sound, though the world around her was anything but.

His mission must continue.

When Brian approached their usual meeting place, he was startled to hear Jackson already talking to someone else. As far as he knew, Jackson only spoke to Brian, beyond the occasional muttering in that broken and haunted language of magic that Brian did his best to ignore. Brian got the impression Jackson was terribly lonely, though the young man hid it well.

Jackson was speaking, and someone else was answering. A much smaller voice, soft and feminine and nervous—a massive contrast to Jackson's somber rumble. Brian hid behind a tree, not daring to look out at the growing argument. Jackson was a deeply private person, by Brian's measure—he wouldn't want an intruder. Still, Brian couldn't help himself. After so many days with the man, Brian was eager to get another perspective on his ally.

"—a warning, and if it's not heeded, there's nothing more I can do," Jackson said. Brian noted the concern in his voice. It wasn't a threat, but exasperation. The sort of tone a parent might take when talking about a troublesome child.

"You won't hurt him though, will you?"

"It's not under my control, BB. It's Alpha's choices that brought us here," Jackson sighed.

"Yes it is, Jack!" she said. "You two need to stop this stupid fight. And stop using those dumb names. It's not doing anyone any good."

"If I stop, the world will end."

"Stop being so dramatic. You don't know that."

"And Alpha might not be right either. I don't want to risk a terrible world where everyone has this sort of power at their fingertips."

"Jack…" The girl trailed off. Brian hesitated. It took him a few moments to build up the courage, but he peeked his head out just slightly around the tree.

There was Jackson, head bowed and eyes dark and sorrowful. There was a girl hugging him, about the same age, with long, thick brown hair and distinct silver-grey eyes that seemed to sparkle even in the dim light of the forest. At first, Brian assumed that Jackson had been comforting her—but it was clear from a glance that he was overcome with emotion and she was the one holding him up.

"I just want us to be friends again," the girl said quietly, while Jackson stared off into the distance with his eyes clouded and unfocused. At her words, though, he snapped back into being.

"Friends?" he asked, and his tone was suddenly quite harsh. Brian recoiled involuntarily. "Friends with him?"

"Jack, I…"

"Are you forgetting that he tried to kill me?"

"He didn—"

"Look!" Jackson suddenly tore off his shirt, sending the girl a few paces back. Brian had to stifle a gasp. Jackson's body was covered in burns and scars.

"Oh, Jack…" the girl said, tracing her hand across a large scar across his well-muscled chest. "I'm sorry. But why didn't you take care of these?"

"I never read those pages," Jackson replied. "I don't know how to. And I'm not sure I want to."

"What if I—"

"No!" Jackson growled. The girl took another step back. "These remind me who I am… And what he did."

The girl suddenly glanced over her shoulder, sending a shock of panic through Brian—but she was looking the other way. Towards the town, but not at Brian. He hadn't been noticed.

"What?" Jackson asked.

"I have to go," the girl answered.

"No." Jackson took hold of her arm.

She looked down at his fist like it was nothing. "This wouldn't stop me," she said quietly, and suddenly the nervous tone was gone. There was a brief undercurrent of power, something fiercer than Brian had ever heard in his life. It was like the gentle purr of a huge hunting cat—calm and relaxed, but unmistakable, ready to strike in an instant with absolute force.

"No, but the rules might."

She shook her head. "You two and your rules. I only agreed to get you to stop arguing. I thought you were going to blow up the rest of the library."

"You did more than just keep them alive through incomplete readings. You talked to them."

"I'm not going to just ignore everyone I meet."

Jackson shook his head. "You broke the rules."

"Are you going to punish me, Jack?" The girl's silver-grey eyes narrowed. "After all we've been through?"

Jackson hesitated. His hand fell away from her wrist. "Of course not," he said, and his voice had dropped to the sorrowful tone from the beginning of the conversation. "I lo—"

The girl twisted around immediately and vanished, a faint breeze wafting out from where she had disappeared.

"—ve you, BB."

Brian quickly pulled himself back behind the tree, as silent as he could manage. Jackson remained there for a long time, while the birds sang around them and the wind whistled through the leaves.

"You're still doubting?" Jackson asked.

"I just…" Brian hesitated. To send the golems out at the greycloaks was one thing, but to kill a man in cold blood? An awakened man who had tried to burn down a beloved diner and hurt a good friend, perhaps, but still it did not sit well with Brian.

"May I show you something?" Jackson said, extending his arm again.

"Not more, oh God," Brian groaned. He couldn't stomach another scene like that in the RV, or the sight of the man in the cloak burning from Jackson's golems.

Jackson shook his head. "I promise you, nothing like that. No bodies, not even any injuries."

Brian frowned, but reluctantly took Jackson's offered grasp once again. The whirlwind started up, and Brian was beginning to get used to it. By Jackson's explanation, they weren't actually moving any faster—Jackson was moving at a brisk walk, but time itself was accommodating his swift passage. Brian wasn't sure what that meant, precisely, but Jackson assured him that time travel and its ilk were still quite impossible. He didn't have to worry about alternate timelines or someone travelling back to kill his grandfather.

They wound up in a treeline, on the edge of a wide field. Beyond the field was the park where Brian had taken many a walk with Natalie. He'd often imagined himself walking a dog around the park, but Natalie had been adamant against getting a pet dog or cat. She wasn't big on animals. Brian wasn't totally attached to the dog they'd looked at in the shelter in Tacoma, but he had been a little disappointed when Natalie had voiced her disapproval. Still, he was happy enough with just the two of them that it hadn't bothered him much.

There was something going on at the park. Usually it was only a couple people wandering the flowerbeds or spending a pleasant afternoon on the benches reading away the sunshine, but Brian saw a large procession, dressed almost entirely in black.

He saw the Wilsons, gaunt-faced and dreading every interaction from well-wishers that didn't understand their pain at all. He saw the mayor, using the event as an excuse to rub up with the more powerful members of the town. There was Rachel, the apparent leader of the entire group he'd slowly grown to hate over the last couple weeks.

A car pulled up, and there she was.

His vision blurred as he watched his daughter comforting the Wilsons. She looked so beautiful in that dress—far nicer than anything he could have ever given her. She was strong and healthy, angry and grief-stricken. Brian wished she could never have to feel those emotions again.

He turned back to Jackson, who waited patiently in the shadows of the forest. His somber eyes were full of empathy. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to. They were in complete agreement.

Jackson offered his arm once more, and Brian was whisked back through the woods to the site of the abandoned RV park. There, wandering through without a care in the world, was Seth Merrill. As they watched, he summoned up a tiny ball of fire and started tossing it between his hands casually.

Jackson couldn't do anything to him. It would break the rules. Only Brian could carry out this crusade. Brian, who was a powerless man in a world of gods and demons, would be the one to protect the world against those demented souls that thought they could make a deal with forces beyond their reckoning.

God, forgive me. Protect my daughter while I do this for you, and for the world you created.

Jenny's death was a tragedy. They had to ensure it could never happen again.

Brian gripped the golem rod tight and let the monsters spring forth from his mind.

The screams of Seth Merrill continued to echo in his ears as he walked away, disgusted with himself and the whole world around him.