Free Sunset: Pact Arcanum: Book One by Arshad Ahsanuddin Page A

life you knew, you’ll only endanger everyone you care about. Your family. Your friends. They’ll all be at risk if you try.”
    “You don’t know that,” Nick said in irritation.
    “I do know that, and so do you.” His eyes bored into Nick’s. “Luscian killed you before your Gift could give you the race memories that go along with it, so you probably don’t know, but in every generation, the four elemental powers of the Sentinel Gift are concentrated in four individuals, each of whom express one of the elements in its most powerful form. Those four individuals are genetically programmed to be the leaders of the Sentinel race, called the Winds. Takeshi, Anaba, and I are the Winds of Earth, Fire, and Air respectively for this generation. We’ve wondered for years where the Wind of Water has been hiding.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “But you know, don’t you, Nick?”
    “No,” Nick said in horror, shaking his head. “Oh, God, no. Rory, you’re wrong. You have to be wrong.”
    “I’m not wrong, Nick. I knew the second I shook his hand—when you introduced me to Scott at your birthday party. Two powerful latents, linked in a dyad configuration even while dormant. Now that your Gift is awake, his will be primed. He’s probably already on the edge of kindling, just waiting for a spark to start the change. Sooner or later, you’ll drag him down into this world along with you.”
    “I won’t let that happen!” Nick shouted.
    “No matter what you do, someday it’ll happen. The two of you are at the height of your musical careers, just a few months away from touring worldwide. Were you planning to cancel all of your shows outside the Armistice Zone? How would you explain that to your record label, let alone your bandmate? No matter how careful you are, somewhere along the line, you’ll slip up, and he’ll be exposed. It’s inevitable.”
    Nick’s shoulders slumped. “Rory, please, help me.”
    “There’s a way you can protect him.” Rory put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “But only if you have the will.”
    “How?”
    “Walk away.” Rory’s voice hardened. “Let the old Nick Jameson die and find yourself another path. Quit the group and stay away from him. It’s the only way you can keep him safe. But it’s your decision.”
    Nick swallowed. Pain and indecision burned in his eyes. Finally, he straightened, and his expression grew stony. “Goodbye, Rory.”
    “Where are you going?” Rory’s voice was calm.
    “Home.”
    “When the time comes, try to remember that I offered you a choice.”
    Nick looked at him stolidly, saying nothing before jumping away.
     
    January 2040; The Citadel, Lunar Farside; Five hours after public exposure
    Nick’s siblings stared at him incredulously before Faith snapped her head around to look at Scott. “How long have you known?”
    “Twenty-thirty-four, near the end of our tour in Europe,” said Scott. “A Nightwalker named Zachariah attacked Nick while we were in London; that kindled my Gift, turning me into a Sentinel.”
    “Is that how it works? You said on TV that the Gift becomes active under special circumstances,” Faith said to her brother.
    “The Gift is activated by the presence of any Nightwalker who isn’t shielding himself from detection,” Nick explained. “As long as they remain within the Armistice Zone, Nightwalkers are required to shield themselves whenever they’re out in public, to prevent the accidental activation of latent Sentinels.”
    “And you just happened to be a latent Sentinel?” Toby asked Scott. “Isn’t that kind of unlikely?”
    “Not really. Latents tend to aggregate. They’re subconsciously drawn together into social groupings, based on complementary talents. When they are finally activated, their peer group often becomes a linked team of two to four members.”
    “Linked?” asked Faith.
    “Sentinel groupings are linked mind to mind,” said Scott. “Members pass thoughts and memories among