Sunset: Pact Arcanum: Book One Read Online Free Page B

grinned as he turned to face Nick. “Emphasis on the word ‘tried’. You’re stronger than I am, a lot stronger, but I would have slowed you down long enough for the others to get here.”
    Nick raised his eyebrows. “Others?”
    “You’re a high profile target.” Scott shrugged. “Every Sentinel in the country would have come running for the chance to help take down Soulkiller’s Bane.”
    “Charming.” Nick grimaced. “A mystic free-for-all in the heart of Los Angeles.”
    “It would have been a shame to have saved the city from nuclear destruction but then reduced all of Southern California to molten glass in the aftermath.” Scott looked around at the cameras. “So, I have to say, you certainly let the cat out of the bag this time. This kind of public disclosure would constitute a class three breach if the Triumvirate hadn’t agreed to let you handle it your way. I thought you were just supposed to provoke her into attacking you. Why didn’t you have Rapier knock out the cameras?”
    “From reading Medusa’s mind, I knew she was going to press the button regardless. I had to keep her off balance until I could goad her into something rash. She was curious, though, and she had an authoritarian streak a mile wide. As long as I challenged her in public, with the cameras rolling, she would have held off on the detonation until she could put me in my place. Jeremy screwed everything up by taking my side. Anyway, it’s too late to do anything about it now.” Nick turned to Jeremy. “Speaking of which, it’s time for you to make a choice.”
    “What choice?” Jeremy looked back and forth between them.
    “One of our associates is maintaining force shields around the building. She’s keeping out the reinforcements that have arrived to replace the soldiers knocked out by Nick’s spell.”
    “The shields will dissipate when we leave.” Nick indicated the bomb. “You came here to nuke the city, Jeremy. The fact that you changed your mind probably won’t cut much ice with the human authorities. If you want to stay here, you’re going to spend the rest of your life behind bars, along with Medusa and the rest of them.”
    “But you have another option, if you choose to take it,” Scott said.
    “What option?”
    “You have obviously been able to subconsciously access some of the memories from your Gift, so they’re still there, just suppressed. I can bring those memories fully into your awareness and let you remember who you are, even if you won’t have the physical enhancements or the magic that should have been yours. If you choose that path, you can come with us and find sanctuary among the Free People, at least for a while.”
    “What do I have to do?” Jeremy licked his lips nervously.
    “You just have to give me your consent.”
    “Can I ask a question first?”
    “If you like.”
    Jeremy looked at Nick. “If he’s a Sentinel, and I’m a Sentinel, then what are you?”
    Nick smiled at Scott. “He’s a sharp one.”
    “Maybe we should discuss this elsewhere,” Scott said, glancing at the cameras again.
    “It’s too late to be coy, Scotty.”
    Scott chuckled. “Jeremy, in your kid’s game, what was the purpose of Sentinels? What did they do?”
    Jeremy frowned. “They killed vampires.” He shrugged. “I know—it’s stupid.”
    Nick smiled wider, revealing his fangs.
     

C HAPTER 3
     
    Jeremy stumbled back in surprise. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” He stared at Nick. “You can’t be serious!”
    “I didn’t say a word, Jeremy.” Nick stopped smiling, and his fangs retracted. His voice grew serious. “If you choose to live your life as a Sentinel, you’re going to have to catch up on current events. The rules have changed.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “You will,” said Scott. “But I need your consent.”
    “Fine.” Jeremy stood up straight. “Do whatever you need to do.”
    Stepping forward, Scott laid the tip of his right index finger on the center of