After our evening in Venice, my traveling companions and I spent the next ten hours going home. When the plane finally touched down, and my nerves were pacified with a locally brewed coffee, Sylvie and Colin caught a cab to her apartment. They were horny after being denied in the loft, plus she needed to check on Mr. Pearlman. Vincent and I made the obligatory stop at Trinity Church, and we saw Charles as he packed up for the day.

"Welcome home," he said, shaking Vincent's hand. "I hope your trip was a success."

At this point, Charles's gaze flicked to me, and I knew what he was fishing for.

"From the standpoint of seeing that justice was served, the trip was a success," Vincent offered in his jet-lagged, CEO voice.

Charles's eyebrows shot up, as if he hadn't expected Vincent to answer him. "Sounds like a problem was handled, then." Charles seemed unsure whether to probe further, and he happened to notice the Jaipur bracelet dangling over the back of my hand. "Pretty bracelet, Reese. Did you get that in Italy? It looks well-made."

"Yes. Vincent bought it for me." I held out my hand to let him admire the piece.

"So, a successful trip on a romantic level as well. Can't ask for more than that," Charles said as he shoved his keys into his pocket. "Well, I have a dinner date with my boss to discuss things that will probably give me heartburn. Have a good night, you two."

With the light fading fast, as it usually did that time of day, I hurried to capture the shots I needed without using a flash. Having already established a route, I quickly made my way around the restoration site, finishing up at the wall with the missing font. The scaffolding had been moved, giving me easy access to the pale design left by time.

"The spot looks less mysterious now that the scaffolding is gone," Vincent said as he joined me.

"I wonder if they'll paint over it soon. It doesn't look like any work has been done in this area." I walked up to the wall and gently pressed my hand to it, feeling the ancientness of the fading plaster. How many years had the font been there while the world yellowed around it?

I vibration rumbled under my feet, and I snapped my hand back. This caused the rumble to stop abruptly. "Did you feel that? A vibration in the floor? Or am I just jet-lagged beyond repair?"

"I felt it. You triggered something when you put your hand on the wall. Do it again."

I turned to read Vincent's expression. He didn't appear to be joking, which I would have been suspicious of. "Okay, but if the earth cracks open and swallows us, it's on you."

I reached out, holding steady as my palm came to rest on the textured plaster, and the vibration started again. This time, the surface swiftly heated up, causing my skin to tingle but not burn, so I held a tentative position with only my fingertips making contact, letting shit play out. Just then, the spot beneath my hand began to glow, the kind of glow you see just before a flame ignites, and I was ready to pull away when the tiles at Vincent's feet separated. He took several steps back as the floor yawned open with a tired groan, revealing a staircase leading down a dark passage.

"Holy saints!" I backed up from the wall to get a better look and the floor retreated, grinding closed with an echoing protest. Fortunately, the sound had been masked by the buzz of a faraway saw.

Vincent glanced around suspiciously, looking more wide-eyed than I'd ever seen him. "I think we just found Trinity Church's vault," he said.

"I think we have. But, why did it close when I lifted my hand off the wall? How can I go inside if my hand is stuck outside? That doesn't sound pleasant."

Vincent shrugged absently. "I wonder why Cecile didn't give you specific instructions for using your gifts."

"Maybe she knew I wouldn't need them. She already suspects the gollums have the amulet she wants. I'm just her mole."

"Or maybe she had a reason for leaving you in the dark. She either doesn't know how to conjure them, or she wants you to ask her how. That way, she'll know you found a hidden vault."

Vincent took my hand and led me silently out of the church. If he'd asked, I would have argued against opening the floor again. Who knew what creepy things slithered beneath the century's old church. I pictured cobweb-covered bones of previous hybrids who failed to escape in time. As we hoofed it home, my phone buzzed inside my jacket, and I glanced at the sender's name. Damn. Why did Christoph always contact me when Vincent was around?

You back in town?

"Christoph is asking if we're back in town," I said as I punched out a reply.

Yes, but I'll bet you already knew that.

"He was at the airport," Vincent said matter-of-factly. "I'm surprised you didn't see him. He wasn't trying to hide."

Yes. Welcome home.

"He was? Well, I'm a nervous wreck at airports. I don't notice much outside of security checks and baggage claim."

Thanks.

I thought about asking Vincent if I should query Christoph about my gifts. Christoph seemed to know enough about hybrids not to hate them, but I didn't want to think about demons or their precious amulets right now, not with so much other crap to obsess about, and I let the text stream drop.

Griffin met us at the apartment with Bonnie and Clyde, and she helped me offer them treats as she pummeled me with questions. During our discussion about the frittata I ate too much of, Wren and Amelia arrived.

"How did the hearing go?" Amelia asked as she pulled me in for a hug. "Did the perfume help at all?"

"I'm not sure, but I returned without additional punctures, and I also came back with new bling, compliments of Vincent." I extended my wrist to give Amelia a good look at my bracelet, and Wren snapped to my side, eyeing my prize.

"How exquisite," Wren gushed. "It's so you, Reese."

The door opened again and Charleton walked in with Jonathan and Rizzo bringing up the rear. I had grown used to having loads of people in the apartment, and I squeezed through bodies, offering greetings and arranging refreshments for everyone. Despite the caffeine buzz I had going from my airport coffee, I pulled out a mocha from Vincent's collection and popped it into his Keurig. Everyone rallied in the living room and discussion ensued about Boris' punishment, and how justice was served for Caleb.

"We have pushed for this action nearly ten years," Charleton said. "And Boris' crime against Reese is unforgivable. That kind of callous cruelty has no place among us." He reached for Wren, who had been battling tears during the conversation, and patted her knee.

"It's a shame it took such an appalling act to finally make it so." Wren lifted her face to smile sadly at me. "My father will no longer be welcome here, and it will take a great deal of penance on his part before I speak to him again."

"It is better to dwell on things that make you happy," Rizzo offered. "Caleb will soon take his rightful place as magister, and Reese is still here with us." He lifted his water in a toast, using his injured arm, and I returned it with my coffee cup.

"Not all the news from Verona came back in our favor," Vincent said, swiftly capturing every eye in the room.

"I know that look," Amelia said. "You're about to drop a bomb on us."

After assessing each member of his audience, Vincent delivered the blow. "The magisters of the council feel my ability to produce offspring outweighs my ability to lead the members of my domus. They have threatened to remove me from my position as magister if I remain committed to Reese."

"That's outrageous!" Wren cried, shaking a fist at her side.

"Is it?" Vincent countered. "I'm sure it's in the bylaws somewhere. I plan to look them up when I'm fully recovered."

Faces grew long as the news sunk in, and my head began to throb. I rested my arm over my eyes so I wouldn't have to look at all the sober faces, but this only drew my attention to my chest, which had been slowly taking in concrete oxygen and doing a terrible job of it. Vincent slid his arm around me, tugging me onto his lap, and tears I hadn't noticed dropped onto my cheek as I surrendered to the angst.

"Everyone here knows how I feel about Reese," Vincent said over my head. "And you know the measures I will take to keep her safe and in my life. My best hope is that we continue to rise to every challenge, including the likely scenario that Jonathan will succeed me as magister. I don't need a title to remain loyal to my family." 

"Here, here," Charleton said, which were the last words I remember before the curtain closed on me.