Essence of Quinn Parts 3 & 4 (MxM)

It Should Have Been Me

Quinn lay awake in the darkness, mind busy with thoughts of the vision he’d woken from. Calista had fallen asleep again, curled into his side. Air snored softly beside her, a long leg and an arm thrown over them both, his hand resting on Quinn’s hip.  

With the light off, Quinn was blind again. Not even the familiar blur of daylight shadows remained. He’d have to see what happened once the dawn broke, but he probably shouldn’t get too excited until then. There was plenty to keep his mind occupied, at least.

He scowled, thinking about Convel and Aella and what the vision had shown him. He’d known for a while there would be something between them, hadn’t he? The vision of Andras capturing her and Air. Of Quinn and Convel, both trapped in the fallen angel’s will. When he thought back, there was a definite bond between the hellhound and Aella. 

Quinn shuddered, haunted by that vision. Hating having to analyse it for clues and ideas on how to stop it coming to fruition. He tried to get a sense of when the one he’d just had would occur. Was this what Convel had been talking about when he’d shown up on Earth and scared Quinn and Air half to death? He’d said there was an unholy war coming. That sides were drawn. That whatever was coming could be the end of him. 

The vision with Eligos and Convel looked like he was playing both sides. But how was that possible? Andras would know if Convel had betrayed him, surely? He knew his hound inside and out. His control of him was ultimately absolute. Even if Convel had somehow met with Andras’ enemies in secret, the Fallen would see it in his mind afterwards.  

Quinn breathed a heavy sigh. Why was he even worrying about this? Convel’s bad decisions weren’t his to stress about, so why did it feel like he’d be dragged into things that didn’t concern him? Again. 

Air stirred, mumbling something in his sleep. Quinn’s heart ached, just a little. Aella was his mate’s baby sister. If she was involved, it would affect Air. He’d be beside himself with worry if he knew she was fraternising with any hellhound, let alone Convel. 

The decision not to tell Air about it just yet was a no-brainer, and Quinn just hoped that what he’d seen was not yet set in stone. 

Quinn must have dozed off again at some point during his musings, because he woke again to the smell of freshly-brewed coffee. The morning felt unnaturally peaceful after the ominous vision he’d had.

He stretched out on the furs on the bed, breathing in deep and instinctively taking stock of his surroundings using his remaining senses. The fading warmth on the bed, and Air and Calista’s scents. A faintly steamy atmosphere from a recent shower. Warm sunlight hitting the bare skin of his stomach from the nearby window.  

Quinn turned his face towards it and inhaled. Calista, freshly showered and enjoying a mug of the coffee he’d scented. 

“Morning, sleepyhead,” she said with affection. 

Quinn blinked a few times, eyes straining. His heart leapt. Calista’s silhouette, framed by a soft, fuzzy halo of light from the arched window.  

He saw her. 

Quinn sat up, brows drawn as he tried to focus. He rubbed his eyes and tried again, feeling a surge of happiness from Calista. She walked towards him carefully, the soft pad of her bare feet against the wooden floor barely competing with the rushing in Quinn’s ears. 

“Hi,” he croaked. 

A soft clunk as Calista put down her mug on the bedside table. The bed dipped ever so slightly as she climbed onto it. A softly trembling hand on Quinn’s cheek. 

“Can you see me, Quinn?” she murmured. 

He narrowed his eyes and concentrated. He could see her outline. The contrast of dark hair against pale skin, but nothing more than that. It was enough, though, wasn’t it? It sparked hope in his heart that he wouldn’t be trapped in the darkness forever.