Essence of Quinn: Parts 1&2 Secondo Era and Terzo Era (eventual MxM slow burn)

Split Up

They pulled onto the Abbey grounds just after midnight, which wasn’t too bad considering. Secondo had set a twelve a.m. curfew and they’d only missed it by about ten minutes. If anyone else but Air had been driving, then they would have been much later.

Air parked the car back in its spot and they headed up through the internal doors and into the main Abbey. The high from their run and the drive was still coursing through them and Quinn knew they’d be taking themselves back to Air’s room for round two of working off frustrations.

He opened the door that led into the main foyer, and Air pushed him through it. He stumbled and smacked straight into Earth. The massive ghoul growled and folded his arms as Quinn and Air both cracked up laughing.

“Secondo wants a word with you two," he rumbled out, looking serious and clearly not amused by their high spirits.

They looked at each other, and Air snorted a laugh.

“Uh-oh, are we in trouble?”

Earth’s only answer was a raised eyebrow as he turned and walked away. They followed him to Secondo’s apartments and wandered inside, still trying to hold back their laughter.

The second they stepped through the door though, Quinn felt Secondo’s anger. It burned slowly, but that meant nothing with the Papa. The fact there was any emotion coming from him at all meant that he must be extremely pissed about something.

“Sit,” he barked as he pointed to one of the sofas. Quinn and Air obeyed him and their good mood faded. “Where have you been?”

Quinn clamped down on his thoughts and presumed Air did the same. Secondo narrowed his eyes at them. Air spoke up first.

“We went for a drive, Papa. It’s the perfect evening.”

“And where exactly did you drive to for all this time?”

“Just around. We needed to stretch Aurora’s legs.”

Secondo looked between them.

“And what about yours, Air? Did you stretch your legs also?”

Quinn tried harder to block what they’d just been doing.

“What do you mean, Papa?”

Secondo strode over and leaned down, putting his face level with Air’s.

“Do not lie to me, ghoul! There is good reason I forbade you from running in the human world. Now more than ever! Ose is clutching at straws and he is desperate. He could have spies anywhere around us, and he could have made a move to capture either or both of you.” Air opened his mouth to protest, but Secondo shushed him. “Do not deny it! I am not stupid. I turn a blind eye to some of the things you do because I know ghouls will be ghouls, but there is justification for that rule. Look what happened last time, Air! They would have killed you were it not for Quinn’s vision.” Quinn hissed in a breath. That was a low blow and it had the effect that he was intending on Air. He hung his head in shame. “You two are a bad influence on each other. I am not banning you from leaving the Abbey’s grounds, but I forbid you from leaving together. Pick a new partner to play with.”

Air looked up at him and actually pouted, making Quinn smirk.

“But what about Aurora?”

Secondo pinched the bridge of his nose and Quinn saw Earth trying not to laugh as he stood stoically behind Papa.

“You can take the car out, but not together. Someone else will have to drive Quinn.”

Air’s eyes widened and he shook his head. He didn’t let anyone else drive her.

“Maybe I’ll take her for a spin next time,” Earth said, not even bothering to hide his smirk now.

Air looked horrified.

“No offence, Earth, but I’ve seen the way you drive. There’s no fucking way you’re getting in that car. You’re too big, anyway! You wouldn’t even fit behind the wheel!”

“Enough!” Secondo snapped, and all eyes swung back to him. “From now until further notice, you two do not leave the Abbey’s grounds together. If I hear of any other rule breaking from either of you, I will bar you from leaving the Abbey at all.” Quinn and Air glanced at each other and Quinn scowled. He could tell that Air was itching to argue, but by some miracle, he resisted. “And don’t think I don’t know about that spell you cast, Quinn. I can smell the Infernal on you. I am too old for dealing with this! You are worse than children!”

Quinn dropped his eyes and grimaced.

“It was in the human world. There was nobody around.”

A flash of anger washed over him.

“Do not push me tonight, Quinn! I am tired from our meetings today and now I’m having to deal with ghoul problems; problems that shouldn’t have arisen because I set the ground rules already. I told you no Infernal magics unless I allow it!”

“Sorry, Papa,” Air and Quinn said in unison.

“Air, you’re dismissed. Quinn, I need to speak to you alone.”

Air gave him a sympathetic look and left. Quinn sighed.

“Look, I’m sorry about the spell, but I thought it would be okay. You know what Air gets like about that car so I just put it on so that we wouldn’t have to kill any humans for touching it...” He looked up to see Secondo scowling at him. “Which, of course, I’m joking about. We would never kill humans for sport. Ever. Obviously.”

Secondo raised a brow, and Quinn glanced at Earth, who was trying to contain his smirk again.

“That is not what I wanted to speak to you about. I have a job for you. But I doubt you will enjoy it.”

That got his interest.

“Oh?”

“Yes, oh. Do you remember the Abbey in Italy?” Quinn nodded. How could he forget? “It seems the boy from the Abbey has developed the Infernal eye. We need to bring him here where I can keep watch on him. But I need to find out how much Imperator knows about him. I need someone to get close to her. I know she kept tabs on him, but I don’t know if she knows about this.”

The Infernal eye was the symbol of the Clergy’s leaders. It went hand in hand with the Emeritus’ powers. When they gained the Infernal eye, they also gained their magical abilities. They were both gifts from Satan.

“Okay... And why do you need me to do this? Why can’t you just take the information from her head?”

Secondo frowned and sighed a weary sigh.

“Imperator has become skilled in shielding her thoughts. I rarely pry on purpose, but sometimes it is necessary. She has always had a good natural shield towards telepathy.”

“Why me though? Why not Air or Earth?”

Earth scoffed and shook his head.

“She got bored with trying with me. And Air has been there and done that. She doesn’t like to revisit her past mistakes. She still has a bee in her bonnet about you though," he said.

Quinn was confused. She’d left him alone after the business with the seer potion and that last time when he threatened to eat a Brother of Sin.

“She hasn’t bothered me again since Secondo put her in her place. Why would she believe I would suddenly show an interest in her?"

Secondo smiled slyly.

“Because she’s going to believe that we have developed a bit of an issue with one another."