Read Nightside 06 - Sharper Than a Serpents Tooth for Free Online Page A

"Needs must when the devil drives, old sport. You're just too dangerous to be allowed to run loose any more. I saw what you did with Merlin and Nimue, remember? You don't care about anyone or anything, except getting your own way."
    "No," said Razor Eddie. "That's not true."
    We all glanced at him, a little startled. He was so quiet and still it was easy to forget he was there.
    "You have to be stopped," said Tommy, a little more loudly than was necessary. "You're cold and ruthless and…"
    "You got back from the Past months ago," I said, talking right over him. "Why didn't you do something before this? Why wait till now?"
    "I was keeping my head down, out of sight, while I thought things through," said Tommy. He was trying hard not to sound defensive. "I put a lot of thought into how best to stop you. It took me a while to admit I couldn't hope to do it alone. So I came up with this plan, and went to Walker with it, and he put me together with Sandra. Not at all a nice plan, I agree, but you brought it on yourself. Fight fire with fire, and all that. You might say… this was my last test for you, John. One last chance to see what you're really made of, to see if you care for anyone other than yourself. Prove me wrong about you. Prove to me and to Walker that you're not the evil we think you are by turning yourself in. And I give you my word that Cathy will be released, entirely unharmed."
    "I can't," I said, trying hard to make him hear the need and urgency and honesty in my voice. "My mother Lilith is back, and she's worse than I'll ever be. I'm the only one who can stop her from destroying the Nightside."
    "Such arrogance," said Sandra. "We'll stop her, after we've dealt with you."
    "I could blow your head right off your shoulders," Suzie Shooter said casually.
    "You could try," said Sandra Chance. The two women smiled at each other easily. Sandra leaned forward to put down her champagne glass, and Suzie moved her shotgun slightly to keep her covered. "I am a necromancer," said Sandra. "And this is my place of power. With this much death to draw on, even the Punk God of the Straight Razor can't hope to stand against me. Your presence here was not expected or required, little god. This is nothing to do with you."
    "Yes it is," said Eddie. "I know what you found in the future, John. I know who you found. I've always known."
    I looked at him sharply. I saw him die, in the Timeslip future. I helped him to die. But I never told anyone.
    He shrugged easily. "I'm a god, remember?"
    "This doesn't have to end in violence," Tommy said urgently, sensing the undercurrents. "You know I'm an honourable man, John."
    "You might be," I said. "But Sandra works for Walker. And Walker… has his own very personal take on honour, when it comes to the Nightside. He'd sacrifice any number of innocents to preserve the Nightside for the Authorities."
    "He was supposed to be here," said Tommy, frowning slightly. "To reassure you of his good intentions. But unfortunately he was called away. It seems something really unpleasant is happening on the Street of the Gods."
    We all looked at Razor Eddie, who met our gaze a little reproachfully. "Nothing to do with me," he said.
    "Hell with this," said Sandra Chance, rising to her feet in one smooth feline movement. "It's time to take care of business."
    "No!" said Tommy, scrambling untidily to his feet. "He has to be given a chance to surrender! You agreed!"
    "I lied," said Sandra. "His existence offends me. He killed the Lamentation."
    "Ah yes," I said. "Your… what was the term, exactly, I wonder? You never did have much taste in lovers, Sandra. The Lamentation was just a nasty little Power with delusions of godhood, and the world smells better now that it's gone."
    "It was the Saint of Suffering, and it served a purpose!" Sandra said loudly. "It weeded out the weak and punished the foolish, and I was proud to serve it!"
    "Exactly what was your relationship with the Lamentation?" said Tommy Oblivion.