Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4: Papa IV Era & The Main Event - Fate Breaker (MxM)

Not Ready

For the first time since he’d been summoned, Quinn managed to make the transatlantic flight home whilst absolutely stone cold sober. He kept his promise to Amaya and she remained asleep in his lap the whole way. Air curled up next to them, making sure to offer comfort wherever he could.

Secondo checked on them often during the journey, offering a reassuring smile and a comforting shoulder squeeze to Quinn every now and then.

The ether tried its best to break through to him but the best it could manage were some bad feelings and a couple of flashes of something too fleeting to see. Every time Quinn felt something trying, he made sure to kiss Air’s forehead in thanks. Of course, Air had no clue that’s why Quinn was doing it, but it didn’t matter.

He managed to stay awake and by the time they reached the airstrip on home soil, Quinn was feeling pretty exhausted.

Once they had disembarked and were on the tarmac, he called back his magics and woke Amaya up gently. She blinked rapidly and stirred, eyes widening when she came aware and confusion hit for a few moments.

“We are here,” Quinn said. “Just a short drive and we will be at the Abbey.”

She looked around and shivered. Quinn cursed, realising that it was much colder here than it had been in Spain. Air once again came to the rescue, draping a blanket over her and smiling fondly at them both.

Amaya thanked him shyly and they all climbed into the vans that would take them home.

The drive was exhausting too. Mountain, Copia’s ghoul, had come to pick them up and they travelled in one of three vans that the Clergy had sent.

Itzal had decided to ride with them after being in the van with Lucia on the way to the airstrip in Spain. He wasn’t coping well.

Amaya had wrapped the blanket all around herself and resumed her place curled up in Quinn’s lap on the backseat. He noticed the way that the shadow ghoul couldn’t stop his eyes straying to her every now and then and could feel how stressed he was.

Itzal was barely holding it together. He was twitchy and his emotions were akin to when he’d first arrived with them – fraught and anxious.

Quinn tried his best to send him some soothing energy but he was concentrating most of his efforts on keeping Amaya calm and he didn’t have too much left to spare. Keeping himself level was taking a lot of concentration too but Quinn tried his best. It was all that he could do.

As soon as the van slowed to get through the gates on the Abbey’s driveway, Itzal threw open the door and jumped out. He changed to his shadow and flowed away towards the main Abbey.

“Itzal!” Air called after him but it was no use, he was gone already.

He sighed and reached over to the door, sliding it closed as the van began to move again.

“Leave him be,” Water said. “He’s been struggling. I’m sure he’s gone to find Sunshine.”

“We’ll check on him later then,” Air said sadly.

Secondo had agreed that Amaya should be taken to the infirmary to be checked out so that’s where they headed to.

“Should we get one of the ghulehs to come and be with her?” Water said.

Quinn kicked himself that he hadn’t thought of that. It must be intimidating for her to be surrounded by big Clergy ghouls so maybe a female presence would be welcomed.

“Should I call Cali?” Air said carefully.

Quinn shook his head.

“No. I think that maybe we need to check with Secondo before we do anything.”