Page 10 of Dark Fae's Destiny

Where something had only been void and black.

“The void of the Darkest One lies within you,” the man says now as his bright-dark gaze penetrates me, then Lucca, and Quinn. “We know his heartless magic; you can dispense with all explanations and petty appeals to win our favor. Three trials you shall go through to discover why his power is blocking you. For the Light and the Night are endless; he does not control one or the other, and cannot control it inside you. Only once you discover why you are blocked, can you reach the true unity of Light and Night. And then the Music will ring within you, free and unfettered, at last. And you may create with it what you will… and do with it what you hope to.”

“Thank you for taking us on.” Quinn gives a deep nod to their leader. “We are vastly grateful?—”

“Enough.” The man holds up a hand, cutting Quinn’s words off like he sliced them right out of the air. His dark eyes flash. “Your petty words of gold do not win us. Speak from your heart. Or leave this place, your true self undiscovered.”

Quinn pauses. I feel the dark whip of wrath that takes him for just a moment, before it smoothes out to a touch from my hand and one from Lucca.

We can’t have Quinn accidentally wreck this for us, with all his courtly ways. I know I’m the one who needs to speak, as I step forward in our trio now.

Locking eyes with the Dark Fae’s leader.

“Help us or don’t.” I stare him down in the dawn, feeling a fierce flash of Lucca’s bright righteousness and Quinn’s dark fire surge all through me now, along with my own midnight rainbows. “We’re not here for games. We want the Gold Eyes’ vacuous taint gone from us; from our magic, from our minds and souls, and from our deepest hearts. It’s played one master’s chess game too many, and we’re not inclined to play anymore. Either we get what we need from you, here amongst the Venice Dark Fae Sages, or you let us go, to find somebody who will help us. Because we’re going to best the ancient Descendant Staphylogenes, one way or another. It would be easier with your help, but if you don’t give it to us… we’ll look elsewhere. And fight every damn one of you to get free and do it.”

The Dark Fae leader stares at me for an endless moment. It’s so long, I think he’s going to turn us away, or perhaps order his people to attack us, as his dark eyes stare into mine, ancient.

But then the slowest smile curls his lips.

“I believe you,” he says.

Suddenly, his entire party are removing their masks. As they finally unveil themselves, I see they’re some of the most beautiful people anywhere, in the Twilight Realm or out of it.

Raven-haired or fair and golden, some with skin and features black as midnight or Asian, each one looks like a god or goddess of ancient times as they shine before me now, resplendent.

They all wear kind smiles; moving in, they set their hands on their hearts and nod deeply to us now, these Dark Fae who look like the progeny of archangels.

Indeed, their power is so blended in its Light and Night that I can’t tell if any of them have one power stronger than the other. They’re all Animante Dark Fae, balanced in their magic in a way I can only ever aspire to, as they regard Quinn, Lucca, and me.

Beaming with the most haunting Night, and the most beautiful Light.

“Come.” The man with the dark eyes and dark ringlets beckons to us. “We will show you to accommodations, to rest and freshen up. Your trials shall begin at sunset tonight, for the eventide is when a Dark Fae’s magic is strongest, to penetrate the veils that lie within and discover one’s fullest truth. We shall work all night until the dawn, when the darkest knowing inside you gives way to light. Then shall your fullest truths be known. And how to break Staphylogenes’ hold upon you.”

“You’re the Dark Fae Sages. All of you.” Quinn suddenly understands as he looks around the group. “You had an informant, or a few of them, in Venice, who told you we were here. So you came to find us, to deem whether we were worthy of help.”

“Yes.” The man with the bright-dark eyes nods to Quinn, before gesturing around the group. “We are the Sages. And we shall adjudicate your trio’s Trials of Inner Truth this evening, once you are rested enough. Beware: we are neither friends nor enemies, but seekers of the deepest truth that lies within you. We can already feel the truths you each hide from, which keep you locked in Staphylogenes’ void. Because that heartless creature feeds upon the place where no heart is within you, keeping you bound to its ancient, devouring coils. Find that spot, the place where you devour yourself, deep inside. And forgiveness shall liberate you. Come.”

With an elegant gesture, the man indicates a towering, cathedral-like building of white stone and crystal pinnacles across a bridge ahead. With thousands of waterspouts that send water coiling both up and down the magnificent structure, the entire building shimmers with rainbows in the new day.

As the rest of the Dark Fae company melts away now, ostensibly to go about whatever they normally do until our trials tonight, our guide leads us across the canal and up the stone steps into the building.

Vast hallways of towering white stone lay within, with an incredible warren of corkscrewing stairwells and stunning rainbow-hued water fountains jetting everywhere.

As we’re led up one stairwell to a suite of rooms, we find our accommodations large as a church and just as lovely. Fountains cascade everywhere inside, greenery blossoming in a riot of flowers with hummingbirds lancing in through the crystal-latticed windows, high domes, and pinnacles.

It’s astounding, even more than the Summer Fae Palace of Light. Everything glows with rainbows and shimmers with light on the water.

As wind chimes sound, enchanting us with an unearthly delight.

“Your rooms.” Our guide gives us a low bow. “Rest and freshen up. I shall come retrieve you at nightfall.”

“Do you have a name? Anything we can call you?” Lucca asks with an amused smile, his demeanor far more at ease now that we know no threat is upon us.

“I am Gideon, Sage Host of the Hidden City of Venice.” Gideon smiles as his dark eyes beam. “Should you need anything that hasn’t already been provided for, think of me and I shall come. You may stay in your rooms or wander the city; we care not. Only give yourselves a chance to rest. For the trials this evening will not be easy.”

With that word of warning, our host departs. It leaves Quinn, Lucca, and I all staring at each other as we also gaze around our gargantuan accommodations. I feel like I’m inside the Louvre or the Notre Dame de Paris, only a Fae version of it as I look around, enchanted.

Fountains burble everywhere, and before us are three massive banquet tables laden with every good thing we could ever hope to eat, plus crystal ewers of blood for Quinn. Towering ivory canopy beds occupy the space, surrounded by living room furniture, fountains, and plants.

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