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

Destiny Calling

Imperator didn’t want to go, but ultimately there was nothing she could do. Despite the lack of food, the rough treatment over the last few days, and the fact that she was clearly traumatised after her little taster session with Flauros, she still had a bit of fight left in her.

“If you don’t want to walk, then we will carry you, Imperator,” Earth said to her patiently, the way a father would speak to their rebellious toddler.

She shrieked a frustrated shriek, and Quinn chuckled.

“As much as I would love to have some more fun with you, Imperator, we are on a tight schedule tonight. I will just knock you out. Is that what you want?” She snarled at him and spat, but it fell short of its mark, landing on the stones by his foot. “Looks like I’m knocking you out, then.”

She glared at him through lank strings of greying hair. It was a far cry from the golden tresses that she used to pride herself with in years gone by. Quinn sent her enough magic to knock her out and Earth caught her before she hit the ground. They couldn’t risk her hitting her head and dying before the ritual. He and Earth would really be in the Clergy’s bad books then.

Earth threw her over his shoulder to carry her up to the chapel. When they reached the doors, Quinn called back the quintessence magic and she woke up, but she still seemed dazed. They put her on her feet and her knees buckled.

Quinn sighed.

“Are you going to walk or...?” She glared at him, some of her old fire returning. “Dragging it is then,” Quinn said in Ghoulish.

They threw open the doors and dragged her into the chapel. Her feet trailed behind her and she kept her head down. Quinn forced her to her knees inside the summoning circle and leaned in close to her ear.

“Good riddance to you, Imperator. Give Flauros my best regards when you see him,” he growled.

She flinched and Quinn shoved her as he stood up straight again. He and Earth stepped back. Terzo nodded his thanks to them and went to stand before her. He was angry still, but the most prevalent emotion that Quinn felt from him was sadness. Terzo and Imperator had always had a volatile relationship, but nobody had ever thought she would stoop so low as to have him murdered to further her own agenda. Imperator tipped her head back to look up at him.

“And here we are, Sister,” Terzo said. “Do you have any final, venomous words to say before we carry out your sentence?” Terzo asked. “I’m sure we are all dying to hear what poison you will spill.”

She cackled, and the sound made Quinn’s skin crawl. That superior laugh that had haunted him since the day he’d met her.

“My son is worth fifty of you, Terzo. You never deserved to be Papa! You have fooled these people here, but you have never been worthy. You’re nothing more than an idiotic playboy,” she spat.

Quinn felt Terzo’s temper rising but he kept it together and outwardly he didn’t show how her words had affected him.

“Oh, your son? You mean Copia? He is lucky that he did not grow up with your influence. He will be ashamed to find out that it was you who birthed and abandoned him. Copia has more reason than any of us do to hate you. He may well one day be Papa, but fortunately for him, you won’t live to see it.”

Imperator was fuming.

“I did it for him, to make him stronger! Everything I did was for him, to make him the man he is today!”

Terzo laughed and shook his head.

“And look where it got you, Imperator. I am certain that the Dark Lord will have a special place reserved just for you. I’m sure He will not be best pleased at you for causing so much turmoil amongst us. Now you shall find out.”