Page 11 of Dark Fae's Destiny

The space could house a hundred people, though only the three nearest beds have been made up for me, Lucca, and Quinn. Ivory partitions have been put up beyond, to create a slightly more homey atmosphere for us in this incredible space.

As Lucca whistles, I hear Quinn give a low hmm of agreement; all of us marvel at the vast opulence of the Dark Fae’s city here in Venice. Because though Master Ilyov’s domain up in Novakitsk was lovely, ephemeral in its high-north glory, this is something else completely as we gaze around, impressed.

But as Lucca, Quinn, and I move to the nearest banquet table now, setting our masks down and taking in the fantastic spread of anything we could ever even hope to eat, a strange feeling fills me. Because somehow, this feels like the calm before the storm.

And the food before us, like the last meal of the damned.

“They don’t expect us to survive.” I understand suddenly, as I take in all that food and the beautiful opulence surrounding us. I feel sick then, sinking to a seat as I stare at one banquet table, my appetite gone.

“Ariana?” Quinn feels my sudden shock as he sinks to one knee before me, Lucca stepping up behind me and setting his strong hands on my shoulders. Quinn takes my hands. “Your power has gone vastly dark inside you; I’m having trouble reading your thoughts through our bond. What’s wrong?”

“This—all this,” I say as I wave a hand, indicating the cathedral-like space and the laden tables. “It’s not a show to impress us, nor is it the usual opulence these Dark Fae live with here. It’s a gallows-blessing: like what a person might enjoy on their last day, before they die. The Dark Fae Sages give it to us now because they don’t expect us to survive whatever trials they’re going to give us tonight. It’s live or die time—and they expect us to die.”

“My gods…” I feel Quinn get it now as he gazes around. His dark brows narrow, as Lucca gives a furious growl behind me.

“Fucking hells!” Lucca snarls, as I feel his bright Fae aura blaze around me now, protective with the vast spread of his bright-dark wings. “I knew all of this was too good to be true!”

“Easy, Lucca.” Quinn rises, eyeballing Lucca. “The Dark Fae here have not menaced us; if their trials are severe, I imagine it is with good reason. To oust an energy like Staphylogenes’ hold upon us cannot be simple. I am sure even with the Sages’ power, it is vastly hard to do.”

“So they have to make us prove we’re worthy first. Maybe even killing us in the process.” Lucca snorts, as a searing, too-bright fire roars through him now, scalding.

“I don’t think they want to kill us.” I feel my deepest truth-reading ability rise now, chiming like a chorus of bells inside me. “It’s simply that whatever we’ll face inside ourselves tonight is dire. You heard Gideon; we have to find the place where no heart is within you. We have to find and face some place inside ourselves that is like the Gold Eyes’ void—a place where we devour ourselves. I think Gideon’s saying that place allows our link to the Gold Eyes to be maintained. A place inside our very own selves that is like Staphylogenes. That is utterly heartless and void… just like he is.”

“A place of endless punishment.” Quinn goes quiet now as he takes a deep breath. I feel how close this is to his Revenant state for him, and how deeply worried that makes him. “We might all go Revenant if we touch that kind of place inside ourselves… or worse.”

“Yet the Dark Fae Sages will challenge us tonight to find it. They haven’t been obtuse about what they’re going to ask of us.” Lucca sighs, his light dissipating as he becomes morose. “How could anything inside us be as void and heartless as the Gold Eyes? I love my people and want to fight for them with every breath of my being.”

“There are those I would kill again; punish forever, in a heartbeat,” Quinn says darkly now as he glances at us. “Emiliana DiClario, for one.”

“You may have a heartless void deep inside you, but I don’t,” Lucca says, firm now as he protests. “There are those I feel deep conflict about, but not utter hate like you do Emiliana, Quinn. My entire life is too much heart; I care too much about things to stand by when injustice reigns.”

“Still. There is someplace inside you that would strike like a snake, Lucca, without thought.” Quinn stares Lucca down. “You’re a blazing light in the world; but any light that bright casts a shadow. Of the darkest kind. You just have yet to see it.”

“What about me?” I ask, as both men glance at me now. “What’s my darkest void? Although I think the Vampire Council and Lucca’s father are odious, there’s no one I have such a deep vendetta against that I would kill them in cold blood, without thinking it through first.”

“Isn’t there?”

As Quinn asks it, I suddenly know where my void lies. As it rises inside me with a terrible clanging of bells like a church being cast down a mountain, I don’t want to see it.

I don’t want to face it, much less admit it’s there. But I know I’ll have to, as I close my lips and feel the bonds between Lucca, Quinn, and me block. Because our lives will depend on it tonight, upon me going there and facing my darkest inner truth.

Though it’s the one place I never want to look.

5

LIGHT

Quinn, Ariana, and I are unable to enjoy our time in the Hidden City of Venice, after what we figured out this morning. Though we clean up in the opulent bathrooms of our cathedral-like rooms, then have breakfast from the sumptuous spread upon the tables, a sense of doom pervades us. I try to call Alleno to let him know we’re safe, but I find modern electronics like cell phones are useless here in this magically protected place. We while away the hours; though we rest and kiss and cuddle, none of us are in a sexy mood.

As we wonder what we’re in for tonight.

The hour finally comes. Clothing in a myriad of styles has been provided for us, though somehow, our own clothing we packed has made its way to us. As we get ready, our trio dresses for anything; there’s no one here we have to impress, so comfort is key now that we know we might just engage in a trial that could kill us.

Quinn dresses in a plain black shirt and slacks, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his collar open, with no other adornment upon him, though he usually wears golden rings. I dress similarly, except in a white shirt and cream slacks, though I add a golden bracelet from my Summer Fae attire that feels right tonight.

Ariana dresses in a charcoal silk cocktail dress with long, blouson sleeves and a jade sash around the waist. Her tasteful jewelry is jade to match her eyes, her slim stilettos black. It’s a demure but arresting look, showing off her long legs and beautiful eyes. The jade and grey make her red hair pop.

Which she leaves wild tonight, rather than constrain.

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