Chapter 64

THE NECESSITY OF DEATH

Oceanwide Plaza Tower 1, Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

For a long moment, Gen simply stared over the side of the building, careful to keep a safe distance from the edge. The wind whipped around her, like it was trying to lure her into the same fate as Charlie Sloane. However, her dragon was close by, having come around to that side of the corner of the building, and she knew that Emperor would always save her.

“What happened?” Gen asked in awe, looking down at the pavement where the man’s body lay, broken and dead. Then her gaze darted to the black cube which moments prior had been a deadly cobra. “Why did Bellumferrum kill him?”

“Because you couldn’t,” Emperor answered, hovering in place with just a slight movement of his wings. “Because you wouldn’t.”

“That’s because I didn’t want that blood on my hands,” Gen argued.

“And now you don’t have it,” Emperor stated wisely. “Charlie Sloane fell. That’s how he died and you had no part of it.”

“But…” She walked over, picking up Bellumferrum, not at all fearing that it would become something that could harm her like a deadly animal. “Why?”

“I believe,” Emperor began in a low, rumbling voice, “that Bellumferrum knew that what Charlie Sloane said was correct. If you would have put him in prison, he’d simply find a way out. He was very connected, as you are aware, based on how he got his position. And your intention to Bellumferrum was to stop Charlie Sloane, but you didn’t want to kill him.”

“So it did it for me?” Gen asked, holding up the small cube.

“It’s the Weapon of War,” Emperor answered. “It has no problem killing and in this case, it was necessary. But you are in a vulnerable position and couldn’t be guilty of such an act.”

“But this is my weapon,” Gen insisted. “How will this not come back on me?”

“Because you aren’t a snake and Charlie Sloane fell to his death,” Emperor stated. “I saw that clearly and I can’t lie.”

“Wow,” Gen said, letting out a breath, clasping Bellumferrum in her hand, a silent message of gratitude to it. “Then it’s over.”

“Not quite,” Emperor stated, nodding at the workstation. “You have to stop the signal, but you still have time. Charlie Sloane was lying to you, saying that it was done. But you should call Alicia and get it shut down. There should be enough time.”

“Of course,” Gen said, rushing over to the computer station, pulling out her phone as she slid Bellumferrum into her pocket. “So everything will be okay? Once I get this shut down?”

Emperor glanced down to the ground where Charlie Sloane’s body would soon attract the attention of the authorities. “Yes, the people of Los Angeles will be saved, thanks to our efforts. And a bad man has been stopped. But I think we both know that the worst one is still out there…”