Page 57 of Dark Fae's Destiny

We’re in some sort of ruin; a massive, ruined building like those in Rome in the human world. But this is in the Twilight Realm, as I hear a shocked shriek of dozens of voices hit my ears. For a moment, I think it’s the Descendant Revenants, coming for us.

Until I realize those shrieks came from embodied persons, standing all around us.

Because we’re arrived back in the Twilight Realm from the Ascendant city of Florence, but not back to our Florence. We’ve come through to somewhere else, as the heart tore open a portal through countless worlds to find its way back to its maker.

And we’ve arrived right smack dab in the middle of someone’s meeting—the Vampire Council of Rome, as I feel them surge now.

Sending a towering vortex of Night up all around us.

Quinn, Lucca, and I are sealed in with Staphylogenes’ heart, as we find ourselves in our worst nightmare—being trapped by the Vampire Council of Rome. Hate seethes from many eyes now as the Vampire Council gather around us; we killed a good number of their members the last time we appeared before them, though that was without Lucca standing among us.

We’re all here now, caught like flies in the web of spiders as their towering dome of Night surrounds us. Worse, the heart seems to not care, as Quinn, Lucca, and I desperately try to flare our Music again to get it to resonate with us and portal us out of here.

But it doesn’t.

The heart does nothing now, as if it played its part and is content now to watch us suffer. And suffer we do, as the Vampire Council put a stinging, roaring energy into their dome, hammering us all to our knees with the heart trapped between us.

Making us writhe and scream from the torture the Council has set for us.

“Quindici DaPonti. Well. Something tells me you did not expect to portal yourself right into the Council’s midst, just as we were having a meeting about how to destroy you. Some dire oversight in your plans, perhaps?”

A voice emerges from the group as the Council stands stalwart around their seething barrier of Night. I’m shocked to see one of the Dark Fae Masters from the Council approach us now, Mistress Elena Iliescu of Romania.

Her golden hair perfectly coiffed, she smirks with a cold amusement as she stands before us, wearing one of her immaculate white pantsuits with a light lavender silk top, and long, draping necklaces of gold and diamonds, glittering against her shirt.

As she taps her buffed nails against her thigh, however, I see the brief worry that crosses her face before she stills it. Because she and the other Dark Fae Masters on the Council were counting on us to mount some sort of coordinated attack against the Vampire Council that they could join when the time was right.

This is not that, as I feel Mistress Iliescu’s evaluation of us, wondering whether she needs to change her plans immediately.

But Quinn draws up tall now, as he pushes up to standing and hauls Lucca and me up with him. He faces down Mistress Iliescu and the entire Vampire Council with iron in his gaze.

Not about to be undone, when we finally have the biggest prize of all in our hands.

Staphylogenes’ heart.

“Trap a tiger and feel it bite.” Quinn speaks quietly as he faces them. He’s got the many-sided crystal case of the heart in his hands now, as if showing it to the Council. I see all their eyes go to it, wondering what in seven hells it is.

And what it might do for us.

“You are not a tiger.” Mistress Iliescu snorts now, as contempt drips from her perfectly red-painted lips. But it’s a show for the Council; I feel it as her gaze connects to Quinn again.

Wondering just what in blazes his plan is.

“You’re right, I am not a tiger.” Quinn stands tall before the Vampire Council now, as he stares them down. “I am a burning spear of Night and Light. Feel my fire as it comes for you, and ask yourselves this: do we, the Council, dare come for the Dark Fae, when they bind themselves as one in the Light? Because though myself and my Dark Fae trio are trapped now inside your dome of magic, the rest of our people are not. And there are more… Vampires who support us and true Fae, bound to our ideals of heart, mind, and soul, as well. So ask yourselves this: is it wise to mount an attack against Quindici DaPonti, orchestrator of this vast movement, with his two bound beloveds, who inspire it to its utmost? Or should we set their fire free… rather than have it burn us to smithereens as we try to trap it?”

“Set a fire free and watch it burn everything to ashes, including us.” A strong Master I’ve never seen before steps forward now, his regal garb reminiscent of the ancient Maya, his eyes cool and black as he regards us. “My people learned long ago not to set a fire free in the thick forests that surrounded us. No, we will keep your fire contained, and ferret out all the various combustibles that could feed it. Then we shall put our blanket of blackest Night over your fire. Smothering it… before it destroys us.”

As all heads around this strong Mayan Master nod, I see Mistress Iliescu’s disappointment. And I know we’ve just lost our Dark Fae allies on the Vampire Council of Rome.

Even as Quinn lifts his head high—the most terrible smile I’ve ever seen on his lips.

“Harm my people, Master Cabrakan, and my wrath will be terrible,” Quinn warns as he stares this ancient Master down.

“Empty words.” The strong Master Cabrakan’s gaze bores into Quinn, only sparing the barest glance to me, Lucca, and the heart in Quinn’s hands. “Your arcane relic is no use beneath our barrier, unfortunately. Even your most cunning Music will not rise under this dome, Quindici DaPonti; that you and your trio are Dark Fae and can wield it means nothing now. For this past week, we have been at work while you rested. We have anchored our Council’s might to the ancient Vampire relics that live beneath Rome, still there from the Fall of the Descendants themselves. We have attuned them to prevent the Music’s rise; this dome of power surrounding you is specifically attuned to not let even a single vibration of the Music come alive inside it, nor any ability to share power with those you are bonded with outside the dome. You are finally trapped, Quinn. Your people may come for you, but they will find their ability to raise their Music inside Rome’s oldest city-center hindered, just like yours. Which leaves them only their regular magic to accost us. Do you think they will win, when faced with our Council’s Societas Sanguinis and our own furious might? I doubt it. And so… you are finished. Enjoy watching your people fall as we exterminate them. At last.”

With that, the Mayan Master waves his hand. The Vampire Council withdraws, though Mistress Iliescu gives us one last gaze, before finally turning away like the rest.

Departing and leaving us trapped in the night.

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