Nick stared at her with wide eyes. “And you haven’t told him, yet? Nemesis, you’re about to spend over two decades trapped on board a starship with him!”
“I only found out last week, during the final pre-flight medical exam. He’s been planning this trip for over a year. I didn’t want to ruin it for him.”
Nick’s gaze turned shrewd. “And even if he freaks out, he won’t be able to get away. You’ll have time to wear down his resistance to the idea. Is that it?”
“You make it sound so calculated.”
“So do you. Look, if you want my advice, tell him before you board. Let him make his own decision without any constraints. Your relationship will be that much stronger for it.”
Nemesis considered it. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll tell him after the dedication ceremony.”
“Don’t worry so much. It will all work out.”
* * *
Rafael stepped up to the lectern at the front of the Observation deck. “My lords and ladies, I am Guildmaster Rafael Jameson Primogenitor Curallorn. Thank you for joining me here today to say good-bye to these brave travelers. Be they friend or family, lovers or protectors, we wish them all a safe journey on their way to whatever awaits them in the void.
“It is a byword among us that magic requires sacrifice. We shall miss them deeply, but we are grateful to have walked by their sides for the time they have been among us. Accordingly, I dedicate this Jumpvessel Draconis to them, and bid them all a fond farewell. Godspeed.”
* * *
The next day, Rafael and Antonio stood again on the observation deck, next to Nick and Rory. The four of them watched the Draconis pull away from the station, then burst into rippling white radiance as its interstellar drive engaged and it sped into the distance. Within minutes, it was just another star in the sky.
Rafael draped his arm over Antonio’s shoulder. “I love you.”
Antonio smiled, but said nothing, still trying to pick out the faint light of the departing ship.
Rory pulled a silver pocket watch from his vest and opened the case, revealing the skeleton clockwork on one side and a painted miniature of Lorcan’s smiling face on the other. He looked up at Nick, who had caught the movement and was gazing fondly at the small portrait. “Come on. It’s late. Let’s go home.”
ENDINGS AND NEW BEGINNINGS
DEDICATION
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.
GLOSSARY
THE GREAT POWERS:
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
THE RACES:
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
Harbingers: The Children of Starlight: a hybrid race born of the union between Daywalker and Sentinel; destined to be the inheritors of magic after the Great Work is complete and the Children of Darkness are finally redeemed or destroyed
Constructs: The Children of Air: Artificial Intelligences created from a fusion of magic and science to emulate the Sentinel Gift of Air; ruled by the Nexus Council, which is composed of one representative AI of each software generation
THE NIGHTWALKER HIERARCHY:
The Court of Shadows: Leaders of the Nightwalker Race
Imperator: Adjudicator between houses, called the Huntmaster
Night’s Herald: Spymaster, leader of the Inquisition
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
Consul: Senior Councilor
Praetor: Senior Diplomat
Tribunus: Senior Soldier
Notable Houses and Territories:
House Luscian (Daywalker Alliance): France and the Ukraine
House Jiao-long (Daywalker Alliance): Canada and joint rulership of United States territory with House Curallorn
House Curallorn (Daywalker Alliance): Mexico and joint rulership of United States territory with House Jiao-long
House Daviroquir (Daywalker Alliance): United Kingdom, excluding Ireland
House Diluthical (Daywalker Alliance): Ireland
House Tervilant: Spain and Portugal, with settlements in major cities of France by treaty with House Luscian
House Talizered: Russia and China
THE SENTINEL HIERARCHY:
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
THE ARMISTICE HIERARCHY:
The High Council: Leaders of the Free People
Archangel: President and Spokesperson
Speaker for the Watch: Sentinel Representative
Speaker for the Dawn: Daywalker Representative
Speaker for the Damned: Nightwalker Representative
Speaker for the Word: Nexus Representative
The Hidden Cities:
Anchorpoint (Colorado, United States): Sentinel Capital, Armistice Security Headquarters
Icehaven (Hudson Bay, Canada): Nightwalker Capital, Court of Shadows Embassy
The Citadel (Mare Arcanum, Lunar Farside): Daywalker Capital, Spacer Guild Headquarters
Sanctuary (French Alps, formerly Castle Night): Armistice Security European Headquarters, Armistice Global Refugee-processing and Immigration Center
The Colonies
Cassandra Station: Orbital habitat, Earth-Moon L4
Hephaestus Station: Manufacturing facility, Earth-Moon L1
Janus Station: Orbital spaceport, Earth-Moon L2
Hades Station: Elysium mining facility, Earth-Moon L5
Ares Colony: Mars
Persephone Station: Ceres asteroid, ice mining facility
Lycaon Colony: Europa, Jupiter Space
Arcadia Colony: Callisto, Jupiter Space
Cronus Colony: Titan, Saturn Space
Charybdis Colony: Triton, Neptune Space
Scylla Colony: Pluto, Neptune Space
THE PRINCIPAL CAST
THE COURT OF SHADOWS:
Imperator Lorcan Ruarc Magister Diluthical (Daywalker): The Prince of Subterfuge, Leader of the Daywalker Alliance
William Magister Daviroquir Primogenitor Diluthical (Daywalker): The Prince of Lightning, Second-in-command of the Daywalker Alliance
The Night’s Herald (Nightwalker): Formerly Razheel
Tribunus Talizered
Vladimir Magister Talizered (Nightwalker): The Prince of Torment
Eduardo Tribunus Tervilant (Nightwalker): Second-in-command of the Inquisition
THE ARMISTICE HIGH COUNCIL (PRESENT AND FORMER MEMBERS):
Sean Rory Brennigan Magister Jiao-long (Nightwalker/Sentinel hybrid): The Traveler, the Redeemer, the Prince of the Dawn, former Wind of Air (2015-2042), former Speaker for the Damned (2021-2075), Founder of the Armistice
Archangel Nicholas Jameson Magister Luscian(Daywalker/Sentinel hybrid): Soulkiller’s Bane, the Prince of Thunder, President of the Armistice
Layla Magister Curallorn(Daywalker): Nemesis, the Prince of Wrath, Speaker for the Dawn, Founder of the Armistice
Jeremy Harkness Jameson (Air Sentinel): The Seer, Governor and Founder of Sanctuary, husband of Nicholas Jameson
Ghian Achara (Earth Sentinel): The Wind of Earth (2128), Speaker for the Watch (2136)
THE SPACER GUILD:
Antonio “Tony” Jameson Consul Curallorn (Harbinger): Captain of the Jumpvessel Singularity, son of Tobias Jameson and Layla Magister Curallorn
Bradley Ellestan (Harbinger): Junior Crewman of the Jumpvessel Singularity
Rafael Primogenitor Curallorn(Nightwalker): Captain of the Jumpvessel Starlight, formerly Tribunus Tervilant
THE NEXUS:
Revenant (Construct): Nexus Violet (gen6 AI representative), composite fusion of Tobias Jameson simulation and Icarus 6th generation AI
Rapier (Construct): Nexus Blue (gen3 AI representative), Jumpvessel Starlight navigation AI, former personal AI client of Nicholas Jameson
Citadel Control (Construct): Nexus White (gen5 AI representative), Citadel municipal AI
IN MEMORIAM:
Tobias “Toby” Jameson(deceased 2043, assassinated by enemies of the Nexus): Fire Sentinel, Nexus Liaison (renamed Speaker for the Word after AI emancipation), younger brother of Nicholas Jameson, husband of Layla Magister Curallorn, father of Antonio Jameson
Takeshi “Take” Nakamura(deceased 2082, jumpvessel accident): The Wind of Earth (2015-2042), Founder of the Armistice, husband of Rory Brennigan
Anaba “Ana” Nizhoni(deceased 2067, natural causes): The Wind of Fire (2015-2042), triad sister of Takeshi Nakamura and Rory Brennigan
Scott Phillips (deceased 2074, natural causes): The Wind of Water (2034-2042), dyad brother of Nicholas Jameson
Luscian Firstborn (deceased 2033, killed during the Burning through combined attacks by Takeshi Nakamura, Rory Brennigan, and Nicholas Jameson): Soulkiller, the Eldest, the Prince of Nightmares, Founder of the Court of Shadows, Creator of the Pact Arcanum ritual
TIMELINE
1504 Lorcan born
1525 Lorcan turned
1601 Connor dies
1792 Rafael born
1815 Rafael turned
1993 Rory, Takeshi, and Anaba born
2001 Scott born
2003 Nick born
2008 Sentinel assault on Court of Shadows defeated; Antonio Martinez and Edgar Jameson only survivors of assault force
2015 Rory, Takeshi, and Anaba kindle (Winds of Air , Earth, and Fire respectively), Jeremy born
2016 Toby born
2020 Antonio Martinez killed, Rory turned by Jiao-long Firstborn, the Pact Arcanum
2021 Armistice Declaration signed
2022 Andrea born
2023 Anaba develops recursion drive, Armistice space program established
2024 North American coastal defense barrier established, Edgar Jameson killed
2026 The Citadel founded
2030 Spacer Guild established
2032 Nick and Rory meet at Christmas party and renew friendship
2033 Nick turned by Luscian Firstborn, the Burning, the Fall of the Citadel
2034 Scott kindles (Wind of Water), Nick meets Lorcan
2035 Rafael defects from the Court to join the Armistice
2038 Lorcan appointed Court Ambassador to the Triumvirate Council
2039 Nick appointed Triumvirate Ambassador to the Court of Shadows
2040 Los Angeles incident
2041 Toby kindles (Fire), Jumpvessel Horizon destroyed in defense of Anchorpoint, Lorcan becomes Huntmaster, Nick becomes Archangel and marries Jeremy
2042 Andrea kindles (Wind of Air), Odyssey Expedition departs Sol, Antonio Jameson born, Toby marries Layla
2043 Toby killed, Revenant created, Rafael joins House Curallorn
2049 Castle Night reorganized into Sanctuary City by Jeremy
2051 Jumpvessel Odyssey arrives at Alpha Centauri, Planet Nephele detected
2052 Chiron colony established, planet Nephele
2062 Antonio Jameson joins Spacer Guild with Rafael and Jeremy’s support, over Nick and Layla’s objections
2063 AI emancipation, Speaker for the Word formalized
2065 Antonio Jameson graduates from Spacer Guild Academy
2066 Jumpvessel Odyssey returns to Sol from Centauri
2067 Anaba dies
2073 Antonio Jameson named Captain of the Jumpvessel Singularity
2074 Scott dies
2075 Rory retires as Speaker for the Damned
2076 Rory marries Takeshi
2077 Rafael named Primogenitor Curallorn
2082 Takeshi dies
2083 Rory and Lorcan formalize mating
2094 Jeremy dies, Nick retires as Archangel to rule Sanctuary
2095 Layla elected Archangel
2108 Nick formalizes mating to Rory and Lorcan
2111 Ghian Achara born
2112 Rory becomes Speaker for the Word
2130 Winds of Water, Fire, Air killed by the Inquisition
2133 Jumpvessel Singularity departs Chiron for Sol
2135 Bradley Ellestan born
2136 Ghian Achara becomes Speaker for the Watch
2142 Jumpvessel Singularity returns to Earth
POST A REVIEW!
If this book made a strong impression on you, whether positive or negative, consider writing a review. Alternatively, if you wish to express yourself privately, you can contact me directly through http://pactarcanum.com/contact/.
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Starlight-Pact-Arcanum-ebook/dp/B007BCYYL6
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13493406-starlight
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to those who helped me improve my skills and made this second edition possible, with advice, criticism and encouragement. I especially want to thank my editors, D. Kai Wilson-Viola of IndieUnbound.com, Karlyn Thayer, and Katy Sozaeva for their comments, as well as my beta readers, Jerry, Eric, and Karul. Thank you also to Jason for his proofreading skills. And of course, props to Craig Payst for his terrific illustrations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arshad Ahsanuddin is a practicing hematopathologist, a physician specializing in the diagnosis of diseases of blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes using laboratory data and microscopic evaluation of tissue biopsies. Yes, he’s a blood doctor writing a series of vampire novels. The irony isn’t lost on him. If you enjoyed this story, or if you have questions about the Pact Arcanum saga, check out his website at http://pactarcanum.com and leave him some feedback.
Website:
http://pactarcanum.com
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/author/pactarcanum
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/pactarcanum
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/pactarcanum
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/pactarcanum
OTHER WORKS
Fiction
THE PACT ARCANUM SAGA
Sunset: Book One
Sunrise: Book Two
Moonlight: Book Three
Starlight: Book Four
Cathedral of the Sky
Non-Fiction
First Words:
13 Short Essays on Writing from a
Neophyte Author’s perspective
Stepwise:
eBook and Print-on-Demand Formatting using Word 2010
COPYRIGHT
First Edition: March 2012
Second Edition: April 2012
Third Edition: October 2012
Text © 2012 by Arshad Ahsanuddin
“Red and White” artwork incorporates licensed stock images © iStockphoto.com/t.light, Susanne Karlsson, Ivan Rubanov, Vudhikrai Sovannakran, and yystom. “Endings and New Beginnings” artwork incorporates licensed stock images © iStockphoto.com/zennie and SF Photo.
All other artwork © 2012 by Arshad Ahsanuddin
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organizations, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, government institutions, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.