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

Guests of Honour

Andras was not known for his patience but Quinn thought that he was doing pretty well considering. He had invited most of the more important generals, demons and minions in the realm to this event and they had gathered in the fortress. Appearances and impressions were important to Andras so the throne room where the party was being held was looking its dramatic best.

At the front was a raised stone stage where an ornate bronze throne sat, centrally. It was decorated with bones and swords and various other trinkets from captured and bested enemies. Andras sat draped over it casually and elegantly and to the untrained eye he looked relaxed. Quinn knew that he was far from it though. He surveyed the party goers with sharp eyes and Quinn felt the thrum of anticipation wafting from him as he awaited the arrival of his guests of honour.

Quinn stood to Andras' right and his wolf Convel sat obediently to his left, stoic as always and ready to defend him at a moment's notice.

Andras had spared no expense for this gathering. A feast was laid out and the revellers were dressed in their finest attire. They were dancing and drinking and openly indulging in pleasures of the flesh and all the while Andras waited patiently.

It made Quinn nervous when he was like this, he was more unpredictable than usual and nobody was safe from his wrath. Andras must have sensed Quinn's anxiety because he felt a caress in his soul as Andras petted him, trying to soothe him. Quinn had managed to cover up that he was actually nervous of Andras and the demon thought he was worrying about facing the guests. He calmed, giving in to his will; Andras wanted him to be calm, so he was.

Andras cocked his head and an eager smile broke out on his face. Quinn sensed the anticipation turn to bloodlust. He swung his legs to the ground and stood just as the massive doors to the throne room swung open. The guests all stopped what they were doing and turned to look, moving to the edges to create a clear path from the door to Andras.

The room fell silent as Andras' pack of trackers entered. Their eyes glowed with fire and Quinn could smell the adrenaline that was still coursing through them even from the other side of the room. They were barely containing their excitement and still riding the high from the thrill of the hunt. Their leader, Cernunnos, was first to reach the bottom of the steps that led to the throne. He got down on one knee and bowed his head in respect to Andras.

"We deliver the demons you requested, Lord."

Andras descended the steps and lovingly placed a hand on the top of the demon's head.

"You never disappoint me, Cernunnos. My gratitude to you will be paid for generously. Stand. Show me what you have for me."

The tracker stood and gestured for his demons to bring forth the prisoners. They were dragged from the midst of the pack and shoved to the ground before Andras. The fire demon was struggling but the pathos demon stayed calm. Quinn shivered and curled his lip when he met the eyes of the fire demon who had taken him and used him for visions before leaving him for dead. The demon looked to Andras and Quinn felt his fear at the thought of what would become of him for crossing the Demon Lord. Quinn's brain involuntarily flashed up the memory of his capture and he knew that Andras had seen it cross his mind.

"Oh dear. It seems that you two didn't run hard enough. Pity. I hope the visions you stole from my prophet were worth it, because now you get to experience what happens to those who betray my trust." He turned to the pathos demon who knelt and hadn't moved a muscle. "This will be particularly fun for you, pathos. All of those delicious thoughts that you will experience."

Quinn thought that he felt something akin to apprehension from the blind demon, but he couldn't be sure. Most demons did not experience emotions in the same way as other creatures so he found himself guessing.

"Where would you like them, Lord Andras?" one of the trackers asked.

Andras gestured to the throne behind him. It had sets of warded chains attached to it on either side.

"Fire can go there," he pointed to the chains to the left of the throne, "and pathos there," he said, pointing to the right.

"Of course, my Lord."

The trackers dragged the demons up the steps and chained them as instructed. The chains were short enough that they would not be able to stand up and their hands were bound closely together to prevent much movement from happening.

Andras climbed the steps, stood before his throne and turned to address his guests.

"My esteemed colleagues and friends, I present to you the main entertainment for the night. Drink, be merry, let all of your inhibitions go!" The crowd laughed at his joke; demons had very, very few inhibitions. "They are my gift to you, to use as you wish. My only request is that they are still alive by the end of the night. I have some more guests arriving at the new moon and I want them to be able to have some fun also. There is no rush, they will be here in my throne room for your enjoyment for a while."

Quinn felt the ripple of excitement from the crowd as they turned their attention to the prisoners Andras had just offered up to them. Demons could be very creative when it came to it so this would probably get messy. Fights would break out and it would not be pretty once the lust and the bloodlust descended on them all. He felt no pity for the captured demons though. Maybe in his previous life he would have, but not in this one. As far as he was concerned, they deserved everything they got and he let their fear wash over him.

Andras beckoned Quinn to him and cupped his cheek, meeting his gaze and giving him a warm smile.

"For you, prophet," he murmured.

He kissed Quinn's forehead and he closed his eyes, grateful for all that Andras had done for him.

Quinn woke with a start.

3.13am. Fuck!

He scratched at his hip and growled. Ifrit stirred next to him and sighed.

"Bad dream?" he whispered.

"I suppose," Quinn answered.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Oh. Okay. Want to talk about something else?"

Quinn huffed a laugh. He sensed that this new fire ghoul had a lot of energy and he seemed to be wide awake now.

"Sure, why not? What do you want to talk about?"

"Tell me about humans. I've never met one before. What are they like?"

Quinn thought about it for a minute. He didn't have that much experience with humans really, despite being here for many years now. He tended to mostly keep away from them.

"What do you want to know about them?"

"Are the females the same as ghoulettes?"

That made Quinn smile.

"Hmmm. I don't really have a lot of experience with the human females."

"Oh. Of course. Sorry I didn't think. I can smell your mate on you."

"I don't have a mate." He said it a bit too sharply and instantly regretted it. "Sorry, it's a long story. I had a mate. She died."

"Fuck! I'm so sorry! Ugh I do that all the time, say things without thinking, and when I smelled another ghoul's scent on you I just presumed."

Quinn laughed. His life was such a fucking mess.

"Don't be sorry. It's just... It's complicated."

"These things that we think are complicated? Usually that's only because we make them that way."

Quinn's brain stuttered and he was actually lost for words. He had nothing that he could argue with him about that. The lively little fire ghoul had just given him way more insight into his life than he wanted or needed.

"Anyway. What else do you want to know?" Quinn said, changing the subject because he wasn't expecting or prepared for being called out like that right now.