26. Depart

26

DEPART

D evina and I sit in the Glass Bar overlooking the city of Florence and the Red Letter Hotel as I sip a dirty martini. She knows what it signifies and smiles slyly at me as she flicks back a lock of her perfectly curled, supermodel dark hair; Devi knows I’m anticipating fucking hard all night, and am gaming up to do it. She lifts an eyebrow at me now as I set my cocktail down. As she drums her perfectly manicured crimson nails on the glass table, I sit back in the padded velvet booth.

Reveling in the world around me.

Twilight is descending in the city of Florence; I watch the white rim of the sky emerge now as the sun sinks low, dropping beneath the horizon. Blue shadows spread long over my beloved city. It is my city now, no longer Staphylogenes’—and I have a feeling we won’t be hearing from him for a long time, if ever, in our mortal lifetimes.

It gives me a satisfied feeling beyond ease or even pleasure, as something warm fills me. Incredible, it beams softly from me as it fills my chest.

My natural Light, devoid of darkness now, though flickers of fire move through it.

“You’re shining again, Quinn,” Devi says as she cocks her head at me, a bemused smile on her crimson lips. “What’s going on? Why this sudden, clandestine meeting at the Glass Bar when we have a million things to do, setting up the Hotel for business again and getting everything ready for the grand re-opening gala later this evening?”

“This meeting is sudden, because I will not be attending said gala, Devi,” I say to her now as I sip my martini, then set it down. “And the Glass Bar is hardly a clandestine location for anyone to meet.”

“You’re not going to attend…?” Devi blinks at me now, as the grand re-opening of the Hotel we’ve been planning all week is suddenly wrecked for her. “Quinn! You have to be there! You’re Head of this Hotel, damitall, and you have duties to?—”

“Peace, Devi.” I hold my hand up to her tirade as I chuckle, an easy grin slipping from me. “Take a moment and listen. I promise, it will interest you.”

“I’m listening.” Devi crosses her arms now in her little black lace cocktail dress. Her energy is beyond peeved as I feel it whirl all through me like a thousand blades, via our bonds in the United Haven of Florence.

“I will not attend the gala because I’m no longer Head of the Red Letter Hotel Florence. You are.”

Devi’s full, red lips fall open as her dark chocolate eyes bulge. “What?! Quinn!”

“No, I’ve decided.” I hold my hand up again, motioning her to listen. “I’ve already signed the necessary paperwork; as of three o’clock today, you are officially Head of the Red Letter Hotel Florence, and I have stepped down. I’ll continue my duties to the Hotel Board, but I have so many new duties on the reformed Vampire Council of Rome, plus the new United Council of Ascendant Lineages—the new unified, overarching council that includes all Fae, Dark Fae, and Vampires—that I have no more time to manage the day-to-day operations here in Florence. Thus, I have made you Hotel Head and I am retiring. My cathedral apartments are nearly cleared and will be completely empty by tonight. They are yours now, as Hotel Head. I hope you enjoy them. ”

“Quinn…” Devi stares at me, shocked as I feel deep, conflicting sensations of joy, fear, and wonder careen through her. “But… where will you live?”

“Ariana is working on that.” I smile now, thinking about it as I feel Ariana’s whereabouts through our bond. “She’s at the ruins of her original family’s manor, on the outskirts of Florence here in the Twilight Realm. She’s having one last final look at it tonight with Illyria and Adicus, and a Summer Fae Adjudicator of the Royal Houses, to confirm her Summer Fae bloodline and inheritance of the property. She and her parents have been moving the entire Summers estate there from the human world. Magically, of course. Her parents are part of the Summer Fae Council now and have moved into apartments at the Palace of Light; they can no longer take care of their farm, so Ariana is taking it over, but here in the Twilight Realm.”

“Where you, she, and Lucca can all be together. At last.” Devi smirks at me now, no longer incensed at what I’m doing. I know she has my number as she takes a sip of her Boulevardier, swirling it around her mouth as she thinks, before regarding me again. “Well, it’s the end of an era, Quinn. Are you sure you don’t want to turn tonight’s gala into a grand send-off for you? You know our people would enjoy it.”

“No. I think it’s better if I slip off silently into the night, and simply let you all enjoy this new Grand Re-opening of the Hotel,” I say now as a deep peace settles inside me. My beautiful Night aura unfurls around me now in our niche, calm and quiet, as it feels my deepest heart.

And all the blessings I now have in my life.

“Will you remain the magical pinnacle of the United Haven of Florence?” Devi asks, as she cocks her head.

“I am currently working with Ariana, her parents, and Master Ilyov to rearrange that,” I tell her now as I shake my head. “The magic here in the United Haven needs to be shared all ways, rather than have a pinnacle anymore, so everyone can share equally in the Light our unity creates.”

“We nearly do, right now.” Devi chuckles as she shakes her head. Swirling a hand, she manifests a shifting ball of crimson Dark Scarlet Fae energy above her palm, though even I can see how much it whirls through with Lucca’s bright rainbows, Ariana’s darker ones, and my scalding firelight.

Among countless other magics from those bound to us, though ours are the brightest.

“It may be that I need do nothing,” I agree now as I see all those powers manifest in Devi’s. “Given time, we may all simply reach a balance of power in our magics, with no one power larger or smaller than any other. Though perhaps our own native magic may persist as strongest in our own manifestations.”

“Perhaps,” Devi agrees, as she snuffs that swirling ball out. Her gaze flicks now to a large, slender parcel I have wrapped in plain brown paper beside me. A lovely gold-white ribbon is around it, tied in a draping bow. “Is that for me?” She teases now as she grins. “A present for my new tenure as Hotel Head?”

“That’s for Ariana.” I smile more, keeping my secret from flowing into Devi’s mind via our connection, because I want it to be a surprise for Ariana and not get spilled via any of our mind-connections before I give it to her tonight. “A little gesture from me to her, now that we’ve vanquished the Gold Eyes.”

“He’s not been truly vanquished,” Devi reminds me now, sobering as she lifts an eyebrow. “Though Ariana turned him mortal with your Music and he opted to stay in his ruined hideaway of the world he first built, it’s not like he’s completely gone.”

“Gone enough for our purposes.” I smile, unconcerned.

“What did the returned Revenants have to say about it?” Devi asks me now, having not been party to the meeting I had with all of them last night, before most of them departed to go their separate ways, except the three oathed to us. “Did they insist you honor your blood-oath to them and kill the Gold Eyes outright?”

“They were satisfied by the outcome of what happened.” I think over my conversation with all those ancient Vampires. “It seems my blood-oath to them is fulfilled enough; they feel as I do, that the Gold Eyes is gone from bothering any of us for a vast eternity. Long enough that they do not care whether or not he is dead. Maybe he’ll even die in his empty nowhere realm. Who knows?”

“Creatures like that do not simply wink out,” Devi warns me as she gives me a severe eyeball.

“I know, but we will, long before he can ever come for us.” I shrug. “To me and to the returned Revenants… it is enough.”

“I suppose.” Devi sits back in her booth, mollified, though I see a thousand questions swirl through her now about my sudden departure from the Red Letter Hotel Florence. “Won’t you be bored, though, Quinn? Living on a farm and doing nothing for the rest of your life?”

“I’m hardly doing nothing, Devi.” I chuckle as I regard her. “I sit a seat on the newly reformed and far more progressive Vampire Council, plus the Ascendant Council. I still sit on the Red Letter Hotel board and have plenty of duties there. I am very much looking forward to slowing down a bit, perhaps working on new concoctions for all the aphrodisiac chocolates and wines the Florence Hotel produces. If you’ll let me sell them to you.”

“Of course.” Devi grins now. “You always were the best formulator of aphrodisiacs we ever had, Quinn, with your deviously sensual magic. I would welcome buying any new concoctions you dream up with your power. You know that.”

“I do.” I chuckle as eagerness sweeps up inside me now to do more of what I most liked for the Red Letter Hotel Florence. But the hour is growing late; I check my watch, seeing how far the sun has now dropped beneath the rim of the sky, and I realize I must get going. I rise from our booth, and Devi rises with me.

Facing me, she sticks a hand out.

I draw her into a deep hug instead.

Devi stiffens, before thawing in my arms. She’s never been one for close personal touch, even with those she loves. But our love and history together swamp her now, as it does me. She grips me fiercely as I hold her. I pet a solemn hand down her shining, dark hair.

Loving her and missing her suddenly, as the night sweeps us.

“You know I’m not gone,” I say now as she finally draws away. Holding her hands, I squeeze them as I watch her. “I’m just a phone call away. Or a portal. Which we can both manifest now with our magic.”

“I know,” she says, as she heaves a deep sigh. Her sigh is not sad, however.

Something beautiful fills up my heart, then, as it beats almost normally in the night.

“I have half a mind to follow you to your farm.” Devi lifts an eyebrow at me. “Keep tabs on you.”

“We are forever bonded with our magics in the United Haven of Florence,” I counter as I shake my head. “You’ll always be with me, Devi. Just a thought away.”

“I know,” she sighs. “Still. It’s hard to let you go when I’ve been guarding your back for centuries.”

“Come visit the farm.” I wink at her now. “You know you’re curious about how Quindici DaPonti lives out in the sticks.”

“If you’re settling at the old Altvie property, you’ll barely be on the outskirts of Florence at all.” Devi snorts at me now. “It’s hardly the sticks, more like the suburbs. Exceedingly wealthy suburbs, I might add. For the Royal Houses of the Summer Fae.”

“I’ll be right at home.” I give her a genuine smile now.

But Devi’s right; some part of my heart is sad to be leaving the Hotel. It was where I was raised as a Vampire, and where I learned to both love and hate my life in the Night.

Things have changed, however; I know I still have my old Summer Fae fire in my magic now, and it’s risen high inside me, ever since my trio vanquished the Gold Eyes. Rather than live as a Vampire anymore, a stronger part of me wants to rediscover my former Fae life .

And build a new one with Ariana and Lucca, my beloveds.

“I better get going. Drink hard for me tonight.” I lean in, kissing Devi on both cheeks as she does the same to me.

“I will stay sober.” She lifts an eyebrow, even as a pleased smile takes her. “I need my wits about me if I’m to be the new Hotel Head.”

“Touché.” I smile at her, and suddenly, it’s time to go. Reaching for my parcel for Ariana, I tuck it under my arm, then take a last deep inhalation of the scent of my Hotel and Haven. Like gardenias in a midnight waterfall, it’s an intoxicating flavor on my tongue, and always has been.

Before I can go, Devi reaches out, touching my shoulder and making me turn back. I glance at her, lifting an eyebrow. “Yes?”

“Are you going to be alright, Quinn… without the Music?” Devi asks me suddenly.

I know what she’s asking, as I feel some ancient part of my heart gone silent now. Because the Music left us after we vanquished the Gold Eyes and Ariana returned to us via her portal.

All at once, the Music was not there anymore; though I can still feel its vast harmonies, and still see Ascendant Sigils in that otherworld on the other side of the void when I close my eyes, it’s as if a veil has been drawn down between us now.

Those sigils are unable to manifest anymore. A part of me wonders if we were only given that power at all to bring down the Gold Eyes. It makes me wonder if all of this was one big cosmic plan by some other Ascendant to bring Staphylogenes low by the only thing that could undo him, his own hubris.

Whatever the reason, the Music is gone from us now, no longer able to be made manifest. It still sings inside my heart, and within the hearts of my two beloveds.

Its outer manifestation is gone, however.

And it’s never coming back.

“Long before we had the Music, Ariana, Lucca, and I had our cunning minds, our blazing hearts, and our truthful souls,” I say now as I answer Devi from my innermost heart now, hale at last. “We will be fine without the Music. Diplomacy has always been my strong suit, and Lucca’s, and Ariana’s. What does the Music give us that we cannot create for ourselves? Because now, we have a chance at a good, normal life, together with each other in true love. And that is all I could have ever asked for.”

“You’ll still have your ability to turn an entire room to your charms.” Devi chuckles now as she cocks her head at me, setting her hands on her hips. “Beautiful Quindici DaPonti… or do you wish to be called Valerio Incendari once more, as you were of old?”

The question takes me aback now, as I pause.

“I’m really not sure,” I say with a blink.

“Well. Think on it.” Devi smiles radiantly now as she leans in and kisses both my cheeks.

And then it truly is time to go, as I clasp her hand and finally depart. Devi lets me go, staying behind in the Hotel that is now hers as I trot down the upper steps of the Glass Bar, striding out through the beautiful doors and into the main hotel.

All my lovely pastoral paintings have been restored upon the walls, the dark, midnight-blue velvet drapes and marble archways painstakingly restored since our battle against Florian. Everything looks as it should, the Hotel ready for its grand re-opening tonight.

Patrons I know come and go through the halls, getting ready for the gala in an hour. I nod to them, and some bow to me. The hotel is packed for its grand re-opening, though none stop me or mention the transfer of leadership, as none yet know except Devi.

Curio has already departed back home to Novakitsk, his duties to his father long past done. He’d been wanting to take some time to get to know his people once more, now that the Dark Fae are no longer hidden from the world. His wintery brightness no longer graces the main Concierge desk as I move past.

But that is as it should be, though it saddens my heart .

But the United Haven of Florence will always have its home here; I will be back to tend that, at least, and not entirely be a stranger to these halls.

For though we have created a pact between the Summer Fae, the Dark Fae, and the Vampires, such progress and understandings do not happen overnight. Without the Music, we have to engage the greater Vampire, Fae, and Dark Fae community with old-fashioned diplomacy now, and allow them to see that what we’re doing here is an excellent thing.

Thankfully, diplomacy is my strong suit. I trot down the front steps of the hotel now, through the main vaulted portico and into the street. As I gain the cobblestone walkway on the other side, I turn, taking one last look at this amazing place I’ve built.

And then a blazing white Maserati pulls up.

Lucca honking the horn as he leans out the driver’s side window, beaming.

“Come on, Quinn! You’re going to be late.” He chuckles at me, a devious look in his summer-blue eyes.

“For what?” I ask him, my eyebrows rising.

“You’ll see.” Lucca grins at me now, like the shining ruffian he is, and it’s everything I want in my life.

Always.

“ Idiota. ” I grin at him as I come to the passenger side of the car, lift the door and settle my parcel in, then slide into the seat beside it.

“ Bastardo. ” Lucca grins at me.

And then we’re zooming away, into the deepening twilight towards Ariana’s new home.