The Grand Finale . . .
Hugh had no notion what he would do when Percy tried to take the amulet from him; his only aim was to entice him away from the doors till someone with a better idea stepped forward. Hugh knew the amulet was unnecessary for the Book’s secret workings, as Percy obviously did not. A very tiny piece of knowledge, he thought, to hide behind. He wished he had picked up Niccolo’s sword.
Hugh was perfectly balanced between laughter and horror as Parthenope stepped up behind Sir Percy, her pot-metal costume sword at his neck. ‘Yield, sir, and give the book to me.’
Percy, startled, backed away from Parthenope’s blade till, laughing, he sputtered, ‘You have audacity, madame, I’ll give you that!’ He was still laughing when Bacigalupo came up behind him and plucked the book out of his hand, dashed through the mirrored double entrance doors of the Ca’ Specchio, and out into the plaza.
Hugh called out, ‘Here, Percy, you might as well have this bauble for your trouble.’ Percy turned back to Hugh, his face contorted, as Hugh tossed the amulet on the floor in front of him. Percy scooped the amulet up. ‘Why?’
‘It’s useless. It always was. You are the last to know, I believe.’
‘But why give it to me now? Simply to gloat?’
‘No, you simpleton. To delay you.’
***
Parthenope had already grabbed Sarina and followed Bacigalupo into the street. There they saw the man they had known as Rodolfo West thumbing frantically through the Book of Cantrips, stopping to chant, then putting the book down in front of him to make several gestures with his hands, then snatching it back up to find the next magical step. They heard the uproar in the ballroom falter, then rise again as Hugh and Percy pounded down the shallow slope of the Ca’ Specchio stairs.
Sarina said, ‘All I have is this.’ She held up Lucia’s stiletto.
Bacigalupo looked up at them and said simply, ‘Help me.’ His face cleared as he dropped his human mask and appeared to both women as the creature he was, both good and evil, as humans would see those very human concepts. Sarina drew a deep, shaking breath, nodded, and turned to face Percy’s sword with the small blade of her wounded friend.
She stood in front of the kneeling Bacigalupo as Percy tried to force his way past her.
‘Devil take it, must I fight my way past every goodwife’s paring knife and larding needle in Veniche?’
Hugh had come up beside Sarina. ‘Give me the knife, and I will do what I can.’ They both jumped to avoid a thrust by Percy.
‘This is all I have of Lucia. I want to kill him with it.’ she sobbed.
‘My dear silly woman, you could not kill me with the sharpest sword in the hands of the greatest duelist in Eirie, least of all with that woman’s toy. Get out of my way.’
‘As he says. Get out of his way.’ The voice came from behind Sarina. Bacigalupo stood with the Book of Cantrips in his hand and walked between Hugh and Sarina. She noticed with a start that she could see the faint outline of a golden lion statue in front of the Ca‘ Specchio through his body. He stopped in front of Percy, who thrust his sword with all his strength through Bacigalupo’s chest.
Bacigalupo was becoming increasingly transparent. He placed his hand on Percy’s sword arm, and Percy could not pull away. He struggled with increasing hysteria, but no amount of writhing or screaming could move Bacigalupo’s hand.
Percy began to fade, his rage incandescent and filling the night air. As the stunned humans watched, he and Bacigalupo, being the Others they were, dissolved into the night air.
Silence fell like a shroud and the small band of conspirators looked at the emptiness of the piazza. Their friend had gone; Lucia was now a memory, doomed to fade like the Others’ shades had just done. Sarina and Parthenope, with Hugh in between, retraced their steps into the Ca’Specchio, obliged to carry the night forward in the best possible way.
***
But all is never as it seems in Veniche. There is a wisp of eldritch here, a skein of enchantment there. And the friends knew that it was only a matter of time before Others trespassed on their lives again, stirring the pot, creating mayhem.
But then perhaps, as they say in the best literature, that is another story . . .
Parthenope: I’m just glad I survived for the sequel.
Sarina: As am I.
Venus: Oh Parthenope, Sarina, do put us on your invitation list for the sequel event! I told Mars it would be filled with mystery and intrigue and not a little violence. But (she whispered) please let me know afore if Mr. Darcy is to come.
Gaia: I’m astonished. Faded away…How is that possible? Lord Armitage, could you, please, help me to understand?What does it mean Lucia Brebante has faded away? I’m scared. Are we leaving the Ball now?
Lord Armitage: Of course, my dear, you must never fear anything when you are with me. I shall take you home now. Let us join your kind cousin and my friend Valmont.
Lady Vee whispers to Lord Vee: We must find out more about this Eirie.
Lord Vee whispers back: Indeed.