Free Dark Hunter by Andy Briggs Page B

twenty-four-hour news channel on the other.
    Then he noticed a balcony area beyond a set of double glazed doors that swished open as Mr. Grimm approached. They stepped out into the icy cold. Mr. Grimm gestured around him.
    â€œYour new home.”
    They were standing at the top of a single spire that gave them a view of the castle below. Jake had guessed correctly; it was an old castle built on the edge of a cliff top that dropped into blackness below. The castle itself wasn’t huge, but it was more than big enough for Jake. Around them sat jagged snow-covered mountains, the peaks of many smothered by thick clouds.
    â€œThe Transylvanian Alps; they’re part of the southern Carpathian Mountains,” said Mr. Grimm in his monotone voice that was oddly fitting in this setting. He looked at Jake as though that should mean something, but Jake was drawing a blank. “The legendary home of Dracula?”
    â€œOh,” said Jake, feeling more than a little creeped out.
    â€œThe landscape was inspiration for Bram Stoker’scharacter. And a fitting lair for a supervillain, don’t you think?”
    â€œI don’t get it. Chromosome is giving me this?”
    Mr. Grimm shook his head and looked out across the vista. “No. I am. I’m not an employee of the Council. I just work for them as a contractor. In fact I work for a great many people, including the Hero Foundation. But the views of my employers never interfere with my work … except in this one instance. I have been following your progress with great interest, Mr. Hunter. You’re stuck in the middle of a war.”
    â€œLike Switzerland,” said Jake, remembering some of the history lessons about World War Two. That and the dinosaurs were definitely the best parts of history.
    â€œNo. Switzerland was neutral, and not under threat from opposing sides. You are something else.” Jake frowned, but decided not to question him. “I’m unsure what Chromosome’s full plans for you are. My employers only tell me what
they think
I need to know. I do know she thinks that by controlling the president she can control the largest military might on the planet.”
    â€œWho would she attack? The Council? The Foundation?”
    â€œ
Everybody
. You must learn that when you swim on your own, the sharks will eat you.” Mr. Grimm looked back at Jake, his face pale and calculating. “Unless youare swimming with the shark with the biggest bite. Like me.”
    Jake’s head began to spin with animal metaphors. He hated this kind of thing. Basilisk was always secretive and had spoken in riddles, claiming that Jake was just a kid who wouldn’t understand. But now Grimm was speaking as though Jake understood the cryptic references. As much as he loathed admitting it, Basilisk had a point; he was just a kid who was frightened and confused. But that was a weakness he knew he couldn’t show.
    â€œSo all this is yours, and you are offering it to me? Why? What’s in it for you?”
    â€œBalance. I am not interested in exploiting you, Mr. Hunter. Sure, you can use your powers and rule the world, gathering riches from across continents. But then I would inevitably be working for
you
. No, that’s not what I want. I require that you do … whatever it is you wish to. You desire to get your family back, fine. You want to try and bring down the Foundation or the Council; that is fine too. As long as there is a balance between the two forces, I can do what I do, and reap the rewards.”
    â€œSo you’re just a mercenary?”
    â€œA mercenary who respects that no one side should be all-powerful. I must look out for myself, after all.”
    That made perfect sense to Jake. It seemed that he and the enigmatic Mr. Grimm held very similar views. Jake wondered if he’d found an ally.
    Mr. Grimm continued. “Right now the Hero Foundation is suffering, which somewhat upsets things. But plans