Dark Season: The Complete Third Series (All 8 books) Read Free Page B

back to tell me that they're ready. I guess somehow I was hoping things would sort themselves out on their own.
    "So..." I take a long drag on the cigarette. "What does that mean, exactly?"
    "It means it's started," he replies. "We've been watching Patrick, waiting for a sign. Finally it happened, last week".
    "How can you be sure?"
    "We're sure".
    " How ?"
    "You think we don't have our methods?" he continues. "We've been following Patrick for centuries. The Watchers know everything about how vampires operate. Even when he went into the mountains after the incident with Sophie, we kept track of him. And it's finally happened. He's done it".
    I pause for a moment. "How long?"
    "Five months. Maybe six. It's not an exact science. Vampire physiology is a subject area that requires a lot more study". He takes a deep breath. "But it's definitely started. According to Benjamin, the first signs were detected a couple of days ago. Also, Patrick has begun to come down from the mountain. It's pretty obvious that the moment is here. Added to that, there's the fact that Abigail turned sixteen last week. Everything's starting to come together and it all adds up. The Age of Chaos is getting closer and closer".
    "Fine," I reply. "Well... good luck with it. Let me know how it works out".
    "You know it's not that simple," he says.
    "I don't want to come," I tell him.
    "Are you scared?"
    I nod. "Aren't you?"
    "No," he replies. "I'm not remotely scared. I'm ready for this. I've been training for over a decade".
    "Yeah, well," I say, before having a small coughing fit. "I haven't been training," I tell him after a moment.
    He smiles. "That's pretty obvious".
    "Thanks". I stub the cigarette out in the ashtray. "I smoke about twenty a day," I continue. "My lungs are probably fucked beyond all belief. Do you really think I'd be any use to you at all?"
    "You were Sophie's best friend," he replies. "You owe it to her".
    "She's dead," I say bluntly.
    "I know". He pauses for a moment.
    I stare at him. "It must be easy for you," I say. "She was my best friend. To you, she's just a name".
    "Maybe," he replies. "Maybe not. But this isn't about Sophie any more. She's gone. This is about her daughter".
    "So you've come here to play the blackmail card," I say. I knew this was coming, but there was a part of me that had hoped perhaps he wouldn't be so cruel. He must know that I've always blamed myself for what happened to Sophie. I should have been in Dedston when she needed me; instead, I was here in New York, starting a new life for myself. I swear to God, not a day has gone by in the past sixteen years when I haven't relived - over and over again - the moment I heard that Sophie's body had been discovered.
    "I'll say anything I need to say to get you to come with me," he replies. "Benjamin and I both know that we can't do this without you. Neither of us knows Patrick very well". He pauses for a moment. "There's also the matter of what he told you".
    I stare at him. "What he told me?"
    "The Watchers have spies everywhere," he continues. "We know that Patrick whispered something to you. Now, you have two choices. You can either come with me, or you can just tell me what Patrick said".
    I take a deep breath. "I've told you what he -"
    "Not all of it," he replies. "You're holding back".
    "Tell me one thing," I say, trying to change the subject. "Tell me why we have to do any of this. 'Cause it seems to me that if we just sit back and don't do anything, there's no problem. Patrick's dying? Fine. Great. Abigail doesn't have to know who she is, or where she came from. She's probably doing just fine. So instead of interfering, why don't we just wait it out? Let Patrick go, and let Abigail have a normal life".
    "It's not that simple," he says. "Abigail's as much vampire as she is human. Do you seriously think there aren't creatures out there that can sniff her out? She's in danger. Now she's getting older, she'll be getting easier and easier to find. We can't take