Sunset: Pact Arcanum: Book One (58 page)

“It’s a whole new world out there, full of hope and change, and you’re both going to be part of it.” He raised his glass of champagne high over his head. “My Lords and Ladies, please join me in congratulating President and Agent Jameson on their union and wishing them the best as they set out on together on the journey ahead.”

Everyone cheered as Nick and Jeremy blushed and thanked him. Scott, Nick’s Best Man, stepped forward. “In the last seven years, we have all seen our share of victories and setbacks. I have often wondered if I’d have been happier had I never opened my eyes, never seen the half of the world that had been hidden from me. But I have come to realize I was living in an illusion and that I much prefer the world as it truly is.

“We have come so far from the people we were when we were human. Yes, there has been blood and pain and horror. But there has also been joy and wonder. Most of all, there has been love. Nick opened the door that led me into this world, and I have no regrets. Nor do I regret that I helped open that same door for Jeremy. If I have played some small role in contributing to their happiness, I am content. The two of them have walked separate, lonely roads through a long trial of fire and darkness; finally, they have emerged together on the other side, into the light.” Scott raised his glass. “Nicholas Lawrence Jameson and Jeremy Kenneth Harkness Jameson, may your common path forward be filled with delight and grace. May God shelter you and keep you safe in His mercy, forever and ever. Amen.”

“Amen,” Nick and Jeremy repeated in unison, and the guests drank once more, solemnly this time, to the happy couple.

Setting his drink down on a table next to him, Toby raised his hands. “To mark this joyous occasion, Scott and I have been asked to allow one of the guests to make a special presentation. Takeshi, the floor is yours.”

From his position directly across from Nick and Jeremy at the edge of the dance floor, Take said, “My Lords and Ladies, I wish to inform you of the details of a new project the Spacer Guild has embarked upon. It is an achievement that honors the Archangel’s friendship with their fallen brother in the last moments of his life.”

Reaching into his pocket, Take removed a small metal cube that was topped with crystal. He stroked the crystal, which lit up and projected a large, angular image of an arrowhead with swept-back wings into the air before him. “This is the structural schematic for the prototype of a new class of vessel that has been modified from existing Guild templates. It incorporates the most advanced design elements we can construct at our current level of technology, using everything we learned from the construction of the
Odyssey
.

“The basic design was slated for manufacture much later in our space program timeline, but due to recent events, the Guild chose to advance the project. The initial concept was simple: a passenger vessel optimized for solo operation, although it features quarters for eight. The Navigation AI has been specifically designed to adapt to the skill level of the pilot, from novice to advanced, with training subroutines for in-flight instruction. The power cores have been adapted to allow for long-term operation, and it has intermediate cargo capacity to carry sufficient supplies for an extended voyage.”

Nick stepped forward, gazing silently at the clean lines of the ship projected before him. Finally, he met Takeshi’s gaze and smiled. “Take, it’s beautiful. Michael would have been proud. I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to him than a new class of jumpvessel.”

Takeshi raised his eyebrows theatrically. “Oh, this isn’t a jumpvessel, Nicholas. They took out the inertialess drive and used the empty space to increase cargo capacity and the size of the power cores. This ship has no Recursion capability whatsoever.”

Nick frowned. “I don’t understand.”

The Earth Sentinel’s face crinkled into a grin. “This is the first vessel in the fleet that has been specifically modified to accommodate interplanetary travel using only conventional Gravity Drive.”

Nick’s gaze swung from the image hanging in the air before him to Take’s beaming face. “Wait, Take, be serious. Are you saying the Guild is offering to build me my own ship?”

Take shook his head. “No, Nick. I’m not saying that at all.”

Nick flushed. “Oh. I’m sorry. I thought—”

“I’m saying that it’s waiting for you outside if you’d like to take it for a spin.”

Above and behind Takeshi, a great arrowhead of white metal appeared in the holographic projection.

Nick’s jaw dropped.

“Surprise, Nicholas.” Jeremy wrapped his arms around his husband’s waist.

Dragging his eyes away from the ship, Nick said, “You knew about this?”

“They asked me to help refine the living quarters to be more in line with your tastes.” Jeremy smiled. “They’ve been building it under highly accelerated time at the Odyssey Shipyards for the past month. Everyone at Arcadia colony has been chipping in with supplies and manpower to get it done in time. They wanted to honor you and Michael for what you did together and for what it cost you both.” He leaned in to kiss Nick on the cheek. “Where would you like to go for our honeymoon?”

Twisting out of Jeremy’s embrace, Nick took Jeremy’s hand. “I want to see it.” He led Jeremy out of the banquet hall, passing Rory and Lorcan, who had been watching from the doorway. The elegant lines of the vessel filled the street in front of the building. As Nick and Jeremy walked to the ramp extending from the belly of the ship, Nick was shocked to see the person standing at the base of the entryway. “Raf?”

“Hello, Nick.” The other vampire, dressed in Spacer Green for the first time since they had met, smiled warmly. “I heard you might need a pilot.”

Nick gave him a half-smile in return. “I guess this explains why you declined the wedding invitation.”

Rafael nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for the ceremony, but there’s no way I would have missed your wedding entirely.”

“You’re here now, Raf. That’s everything.” Turning to Jeremy, Nick said, “Leshir, may I introduce my friend Rafael Tervilant?”

Jeremy reached out to shake the Nightwalker’s hand. “A pleasure to finally meet you, Rafael, but I thought Nick said you hardly ever leave Icehaven.”

“I didn’t believe I would ever want to walk beneath the stars again, Sentinel.” He looked at Nick in gratitude. “But your husband has made it possible for me to travel the sky as I’ve always dreamt; for that, I will gladly chauffeur the two of you anywhere in the Solar System.” He gazed up at the ship affectionately. “The
Starlight
is fully operational and supplied. Just tell me where you want to go, and I can take you there.”

Nick turned, grinning back at the delighted faces of his family and friends, who waved from the steps of the embassy. Then he reached out to take Jeremy’s hand and turned to Rafael. “Second to the right, and straight on ’til morning.”

Rafael smiled at him. “All aboard.”

Nick and Jeremy walked up the ramp into the belly of the ship, followed by Rafael. The rest watched as the ramp retracted, and the ship rose gracefully into the air before smoothly accelerating away into the night sky until it was lost from sight.

D
EDICATION

To the Lord of Daybreak, for giving me inspiration and a modicum of talent. To my family and friends, without whom I would not be here. To Jerry, for his constant criticism and support as I wrote it all down, and for badgering me into making the attempt to get the story published.

G
LOSSARY

T
HE
G
REAT
P
OWERS:

The Pact Arcanum:
A ritual that allows a being of the material plane to bargain for power with beings from other planes

The Red Wind:
A demonic power of the lower planes, creator of the Nightwalkers via the Pact Arcanum

The White Wind:
An angelic power of the higher planes, creator of the Sentinels and the Daywalkers via the Pact Arcanum

The Gift:
The Sentinel inheritance of supernatural abilities that lies dormant until exposure to Nightwalkers, roughly patterned upon aspects of the four elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire

The Grace:
An angelic power granted to the Redeemer via the Pact Arcanum, which allows him to raise the dead and restore the souls of Nightwalkers, in exchange for physical invulnerability and eternal service to the White Wind

The Crown of Souls:
A spiritual prison created by Luscian Firstborn via the Pact Arcanum that permanently enslaves the souls of beings killed by the artifact sword Reaper in order to augment the wielder’s mystical strength

T
HE
R
ACES:

Humans:
The Children of the Day: the most populous race, born with the least magic

Nightwalkers
: The Children of Darkness: the vampires, soulless and immortal greater undead

Sentinels:
The Children of Twilight: mystical soldiers genetically programmed to defeat the Nightwalkers

Daywalkers:
The Children of the Dawn: vampires who have regained their souls through the intervention of the Grace

T
HE
S
ENTINEL
H
IERARCHY:

The Four Winds: Leaders of the Sentinel Race

The Wind of Earth: Weapon-based physical combat, blademaster

The Wind of Water: Adaptive physical combat, shapeshifter

The Wind of Fire: Energy-based combat, magician

The Wind of Air: Psychic combat, tactician

T
HE
A
RMISTICE
H
IERARCHY:

The Triumvirate Council: Leaders of the Free People

Speaker for the Watch: Sentinel Representative

Speaker for the Dawn: Daywalker Representative

Speaker for the Damned: Nightwalker Representative

Armistice Security:

Director: Principal enforcer of the Armistice Declaration of 2021

Special Agents: Reserved for the Winds, acting as regional military commanders

Agents: Law enforcement officers given powers of summary judgment

The Hidden Cities:

Anchorpoint (Colorado, United States): Armistice Security Headquarters

Icehaven (Hudson Bay, Canada): Court of Shadows Embassy

The Citadel (Mare Arcanum, Lunar Farside): Spacer Guild Headquarters

T
HE
N
IGHTWALKER
H
IERARCHY:

The Court of Shadows: Leaders of the Nightwalker Race

Imperator: Adjudicator between houses, called the Huntmaster

Magister: Leader of a house, called the Prince (gender neutral)

Leshir: Mate to a Magister, called the Prince Consort (gender neutral)

Primogenitor: Second-in-Command of a house

Consul: Senior Councilor

Praetor: Senior Diplomat

Tribunus: Senior Soldier

The Inquisition:

The Night’s Herald: Spymaster; holds direct responsibility for the security of the Court of Shadows Council Chamber Complex

Inquisitors: Court of Shadows intelligence and security service

Notable Houses and Territories:

House Luscian: France (exterminated 2033)

House Jiao-long: Western United States, China (exterminated 2020)

House Daviroquir: United Kingdom, excluding Ireland

House Curallorn: Eastern United States

House Diluthical: Ireland

House Ellestan: Italy

House Tervilant: Spain, Portugal (annexed France 2033)

T
HE
P
RINCIPAL
C
AST

T
HE
A
RMISTICE:

Nicholas Jameson Magister Luscian
(Daywalker/Sentinel hybrid): Soulkiller’s Bane, the Prince of Thunder, Triumvirate Council Ambassador to the Court of Shadows

Scott Phillips Consul Luscian
(Water Sentinel): The Wind of Water

Anaba Nizhoni Consul Jiao-long
(Fire Sentinel): The Architect, the Wind of Fire

Layla Magister Curallorn
(Daywalker): Nemesis, the Prince of Wrath, Triumvirate Council Speaker for the Dawn

Sean Rory Brennigan Magister Jiao-long
(Nightwalker/Sentinel hybrid): The Traveler, the Redeemer, the Wind of Air, the Prince of the Dawn, Triumvirate Council Speaker for the Damned

Takeshi Nakamura Leshir Jiao-long
(Earth Sentinel): Shadowhunter, the Wind of Earth, Triumvirate Council Speaker for the Watch, Director of Armistice Security

Michael Danvers
(Water Sentinel): Lieutenant, Spacer Guild

Rafael Tervilant
(Nightwalker): Master Pilot, Spacer Guild (retired)

T
HE
C
OURT OF
S
HADOWS:

Lorcan Primogenitor Diluthical
(Nightwalker): Court of Shadows Ambassador to the Triumvirate Council

Brion Magister Diluthical
(Nightwalker): The Prince of Dread

T
HE
A
MERICANS:

Jeremy Harkness
(Human): terrorist

Medusa
(Human): terrorist

Tobias Jameson
(Human): brother of Nicholas Jameson

Andrew Kensington
(Human): Operative, Central Intelligence Agency