Sunset (Pact Arcanum 1) by Arshad Ahsanuddin

Author:Arshad Ahsanuddin [Ahsanuddin, Arshad]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-10-02T11:00:00+00:00

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Jeremy watched as Nick came slowly to his senses. The Daywalker was shackled to a heavy metal chair in one of the embassy’s basement offices, his arms chained behind him to a load-bearing pillar. The integrated wards of his restraints were suppressing his ability to summon any magic or psychic power beyond the physical attributes of his own vampire physiology. Rory and Take entered, followed by Scott and Ana. Checking the spellworked chains that bound Nick’s hands, Ana grunted, satisfied, before stepping out of the way. They watched as Nick looked around in confusion and realized he was restrained.

“Guys?” he said uncertainly. “What happened?”

Take frowned. “You tried to kill Ana. Don’t you remember?”

Nick stared at his friend. Dried blood stained her clothes and obvious claw marks had rent her blouse. Nick’s eyes widened, and his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “I did that?”

His question was met only by the metal scrape of a chair against the floor as Rory pulled a chair to the center of the room and sat before him. The Sentinels stood behind, alert for any sign of violence. Avoiding Rory’s eyes, Nick gazed past him to Ana, unable to tear his eyes off the dried bloodstains on her blouse.

“What happened?” Rory said sternly.

“I don’t know,” Nick whispered. “I was laughing and clapping, and then I woke up here.” He looked at Ana again. “I don’t understand, Ana. I don’t remember anything.”

Ana involuntarily scratched at the fading scars on her belly. Scott’s healing spell, now enhanced by Rory’s more advanced casting, continued to work to repair the damage. “I believe you. But we have to know why or it might happen again.”

Nick turned to Rory. “What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to relax and let me in.” Rory leaned toward him. “You have to lower your shields and let me examine your mind.”

Nick’s face paled, and he swallowed nervously. “Is that the only way?”

Reaching out and cupping Nick’s cheek, Rory insisted, “I won’t hurt you. I promise. It’s the only way I can see the entire shape of your mind. If Jeremy goes over your shields, we won’t know if whatever happened is tied to your active defenses. Trust me, Nick, please.”

Nick took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. “You may not like what you find, Rory.”

“I won’t know until I look,” Rory said matter-of-factly.

Nick sighed, bowing his head as he dismantled his mental shields. “Go ahead.”

After more than an hour, Rory stood and motioned the others outside. He followed the four Sentinels into the outer office and dropped into a chair, exhausted, as Take closed the connecting door behind them. “His mind is damaged.”

“In what way?” Take’s face creased with concern.

“Certain memories have been severed from his awareness. In some areas, only the emotional content is gone, but in others there are complete gaps in his recollections—entire segments of his past that he’s lost. It’s as if someone has taken a scalpel to the fabric of his life.

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