Sunrise(Pact Arcanum 2) (13 page)

Nemesis swallowed and hesitantly raised her hand to the cross. An expression of wonder crossed her face as she grasped the cross fully and drew it slowly out of Anaba’s hand. Rising quickly to her feet, she faced the assembled Nightwalkers and raised the glowing cross over her head for all to see.

“The Long Night is ended!” she screamed in a voice like thunder. “The Dawn has come at last!”

The Nightwalkers dropped to their knees, and one by one began to sing. Rory hadn’t heard the words before, but he understood music; the harmonies he heard in those minutes transcended the capabilities of the human voice and the song burned itself into his memories forever. Rory knew they would never hear anything to match it on this side of the Gates.

Rory reached weakly to grasp Take’s hand. Not caring who heard, he said, “Take, I can’t do this. I’m not strong enough.”

“Then we’ll do it together. I’ll be beside you every step of the way.”

“You said you wouldn’t stay with me if I brought you back. You said you’d walk into the sunrise the first chance you got.”

Take pulled Rory closer and wrapped his arms around his triad brother. “I lied.”

Rory huddled against him, saying nothing. They watched as Nemesis turned away from the singing Nightwalkers and knelt before them. “Redeemer,” she said in awe. “We are yours forever.”

Rory gathered his thoughts and breathed deeply. He had only one chance to get this right, to make a difference with his words. “I have conditions, Nemesis.”

“Name them, Lord.”

“The angel told me that the bloodlust and thirst for violence would only be partially sated by this power, and that choice would be restored. You must consciously choose to bind yourself to the Light to be worthy of redemption.”

“What must we do to receive this touch of Grace, Lord?”

Rory thought for a moment. “You will all swear to take no human life.”

Nemesis did not even blink. “Agreed.”

“You will not kill, except in self-defense or defense of another.”

Nemesis hesitated. “My Lord, if I may, only one thing has held our natures at bay since the First Age when the Court of Shadows first imposed structure on our society. For thirty thousand years, our civilization has held to the strictures of honor to keep the demands of the Red Wind in check. I fear for the future if you strip us of honor’s restraint.”

“If I allow you to defend your honor, will that be sufficient?” asked Rory, after considering her words.

“Yes, Lord.” Nemesis seemed relieved. “Would you have us swear allegiance to you, as well?”

“No. I need no followers. You may continue to lead your people as you have before, as long as you hold to my conditions.”

“As you wish, my Lord. Is there anything else you require?”

“No.”

“Then we must speak of more practical matters.” Her voice lost its air of deference as she continued. “Traveler, we will defend you with our last drop of blood, but I fear the Court of Shadows will move quickly to destroy you. My house and your triad will not be sufficient to keep you secure.”

“What do you suggest?” Take asked in suspicion as he helped Rory to his feet.

“You must recruit others of your kind to the Redeemer’s defense, and we must do the same. Only then can we keep him safe.”

“An alliance? Between vampires and Sentinels? Are you nuts?” Ana snorted contemptuously.

Nemesis focused on Rory. “My Lord,
you have opened the door to a new age. We have agreed to your conditions. Others of our kind will as well, for the chance to touch the Light.” She turned her attention to Take. “Sentinel, your kind fight to defend the humans from us.”

“We fight because we are forced to by the Gift.” Anaba’s voice was bitter. “The safety of humanity is merely a convenient justification for killing you.”

“Then what if that justification were removed?” Nemesis waved her hand to indicate the kneeling vampires. “If we all agree to the Redeemer’s demands and refrain from hunting you or the humans, there is no need for us to battle unless you attack us directly. Would your people not be willing to take the risk of trusting our honor for the chance to give up the sword?”

“A truce.” Rory looked at the encircling Nightwalkers, who gazed back at him hopefully. “That might be possible. If it holds, an alliance might actually be something they would consider eventually.”

“This is madness,” said Take. “No Sentinel would ever be willing to turn his back on a Nightwalker. It just won’t work.”

“It will,” Nemesis insisted, “if you yourself support it.”

Take froze, surprised. “Me?”

“You are first among the Four Winds, Shadowhunter,” Nemesis said with inexorable logic. “Your authority is written into the very being of the Children of Twilight. They have bowed to the leadership of the Wind of Earth for more than thirty thousand years. You must step forward to command your race as a people. If you agree to a truce, your words will carry weight and credibility.”

Take was silent, considering it. Rory was almost shocked that he was giving the idea serious thought. The other Sentinel groupings deferred to them, it was true, but a course of action this radical—it was impossible to predict their reaction. He glanced at Ana, who shrugged. Finally, Take answered with grudging respect. “If I agree to this, how do you think we should go about it?”

Nemesis was quick to respond, her words clipped. “Seek out your allies and get them to listen. We will do the same. Bring them here, to this place, in manageable groups, and we will show them that the Children of the Dawn are no threat to them—that the possibility of peace exists. We will give them hope for the future … something they have all forgotten.”

Take nodded, and Rory could feel the Sentinel’s mind falling into familiar patterns as his Gift of Earth mapped out the strategic implications, considering which teams to approach first. “Hope has been a rare commodity so far.” He looked from Nemesis to Rory. “So we’re agreed? We try to recruit others to join us and bring them here so the two sides can work out their differences.”

“Agreed,” answered Nemesis. “This place will be our anchorpoint, the lynchpin of the new alliance. If we act swiftly, we may yet have a chance to marshal a defense before the Court of Shadows moves to obliterate us.” She held out her hand to Rory and Take.

Take reached out to grasp it, and Rory laid his palms over their clasped hands, the light from the cross brands shining between their fingers.

“God help us if we screw this up,” Rory told her. “Because if your people don’t kill us all, then ours certainly will.” Letting go of their support, he walked alone into the surrounding crowd of Nightwalkers, palms outstretched, and began his work.

PART III:  CASUALTIES

CHAPTER 15

October 2020, Los Angeles, California

Edgar answered the door to find Takeshi standing on his front porch. Neither of them seemed surprised to see the other. Edgar stepped outside his house and closed the door behind him. “Yes?”

“Do you know who I am?”

“I know who you
were
, Mr. Nakamura. My son toured with your band for the better part of a year. As for who you are, any Sentinel can recognize the Wind of Earth as soon as the Gift kindles. What can I do for you, my Lord?”

“I wanted to talk to you about Antonio Martinez.”

“I thought as much. Nick told me that he died of a heart attack right at the end of your last tour. I assumed that was just a plausible lie.”

“He was taken prisoner and sent back to us under a compulsion spell. The spellcaster forced him to betray us, and then stopped his heart when he was of no further use to her.”

Edgar took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “He was a dedicated Sentinel. He deserved better than to die a traitor.” His gaze sharpened. “I trust you dealt with the spellcaster?”

“Not exactly. She’s one of our strongest allies at the moment.”

Edgar stared at him in disbelief. Then he quickly recovered. “I’m sure there’s a lot more to that story, but I don’t want to know. I’m out. If you’re here to try and recruit me back into service—”

Takeshi shook his head. “No, I came to give you this.” He held out a small leather-bound book.

Edgar took the book, and read the first page. “A journal?”

“I found it in his room after he died. I haven’t shown it to the other Winds. I thought he deserved some privacy.”

“Then why give it to me?”

“The last entry is addressed to you, by first name. I only recently figured out who he was referring to. It’s dated the night he died.”

Edgar flipped to the end of the book, and translated the dense Arcolin script.

Edgar,

I’m probably dead by now. I hope I didn’t do the cause too much damage with my passing, but that’s just wishful thinking. They took your son. I only have a few minutes before they kill him, so I have to be quick. I promised you I would protect him, and I keep my promises. If he makes it out of this unscathed, then I can die content that I kept my word.

I want you to know that I have the greatest respect for you and your choice to do your duty to your family rather than to the cause. I wish I could do the same, but circumstances have made that impossible. I was the last of the Winds. Honor compelled me to lead our people, and I could never escape the duty that my Gift demanded.

Then that burden was taken from me, and I met the Winds of the next generation, still young and full of hope. I couldn’t send them into battle unprepared, so I remained to guide them. If circumstances were kinder, I might someday have had the chance to make your choice, but that won’t happen now.

Take good care of your family, Edgar, and live a long life, free of the cause. If I can keep that dream alive by saving your son, then I will do what is necessary. My eyes are open, and I am not afraid.

Your friend,

Antonio Martinez

Edgar closed the book. “I thought of him as a superior officer and a mentor. I would never have presumed to call him my friend.”

“He thought differently.” Takeshi hesitated. “How is Nick?”

“He’s still latent, if that’s what you mean.”

Takeshi raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I was asking whether he was unharmed. I wasn’t aware he was latent.”

Edgar sighed. “I know my son. They must have wiped his memory, because there’s no way he would have been able to hide this from me.”

“Good. Then Antonio didn’t die for nothing.” Takeshi turned to go. “You can keep the book. I think he would have wanted you to have it. As far as I know, he didn’t have anyone else.”

“Mr. Nakamura.”

Takeshi paused at the front steps. “Yes?”

“He wanted his death not to harm the cause. Did he succeed?”

Takeshi stared at him for a long moment before answering. “His actions while he was controlled resulted in the destruction of a man I loved more than anyone else in the world, but they may have given us the key to our eventual victory and freedom from the Gift.”

Edgar resisted the urge to ask the questions which came to his lips. “Good luck, my Lord.”

Takeshi didn’t answer. He just turned his back and walked away.

CHAPTER 16

January 2021; Court of Shadows Council Chamber Complex, Alexandria, Egypt; Four months later

Layla paced angrily in the receiving chamber of the House Curallorn embassy.
Where is he?
She had invited one of her strongest allies to join her here, to sound out whether he would support her against the Court. It was now an hour past the time she had specified in her coded letters, and the Magister Kashalas had yet to arrive.
What does he gain by keeping me waiting?
She tried to puzzle out the meaning behind the slight as she kept one eye on the antique grandfather clock standing next to her desk.

One of her Praetors entered. “Master, the Magister Talizered has requested an audience.”

Layla froze.
Talizered.
Luscian’s other blade, and just as deadly. She ruthlessly controlled her emotions.
If I show weakness, I will most likely die
. Composed, she stood calmly in the center of the room. “Send him in.”

The Praetor bowed and withdrew. A few moments later, Aleksei entered. A tall man with straw-colored hair and a ruddy complexion, he wore a charcoal-gray suit that matched his eyes—when they weren’t red, as they were now.

“Prince Layla.”

Layla inclined her head. “Prince Aleksei. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

Aleksei smiled. “I have come to convey the regrets of Leif Magister Kashalas. I’m afraid he will not be joining you tonight, or indeed any night, ever again.”

She nodded, already planning strategy in the wake of the new tactical information. “I see.” With Leif dead, there would still be one other whose support she could call upon. It would not be the same caliber as that of her old friend, but it would serve the same purpose. “How did he die?”

Aleksei’s fangs extended as he smiled wider. “Imperator Luscian took offense to his words in Council and challenged him to a duel before the Assembly.”

Her thoughts ground abruptly to a halt, her eyes widening in involuntary horror.
Oh, Creator, no. Not like that.

Aleksei laughed at her dismay. “Yes, Lady. Your former ally now serves the Eldest in the Crown of Souls. Would you care to join him?”

Layla forced herself to stand upright against her terror.
Luscian would not have sent Aleksei if he intended to come for her. This was a trap of a different sort.
“Speak plainly, my Lord.”

Aleksei stopped smiling and regarded her with a thoughtful expression. “We have heard tales from America of secret alliances, of old enemies setting aside their differences in the wake of a new prophet. The Eldest believed that the Magister Kashalas was one of their number—that Leif could lead him to this Redeemer.”