Blessed by Sapphires (A Dance with Destiny Book 2) (28 page)

You should never have touched him. Care you not for this gentle man at your side? Why do you torture such a valiant heart as his? You stupid old fool
, I thought.

“By the gods.” His voice shook. “I love you too damn much.”

“I am sorry,” I whispered. “I often wish we could go back to that night. Back before the teapot whistled.” I drew my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them, trying to hold myself together as those precious memories washed over me. “The comforting feel of your arms wrapped about me, your gentle embrace. Your intoxicating scent, it was maddening, laid complete claim over my will
and
my senses. You melted me, Alastyn. I still dream about those mesmerizing eyes, falling into them, floating through the stars.” I sighed and shook my head. “Dammit… I love you too much, too.” I sniffed, wiped my tears, and released a self-deprecating laugh.

“Will you ever return?” he asked softly.

“I know not my future, but I can see no reason for it. Everything here has been set to rights. I’m only drawn to the places were all is amiss.” I laughed again, but my heart was not joyous.

“Your coloring is incredible,” he whispered. “I want desperately to see what your shiny skin feels like and twist one of those enticing pink curls within my fingers. Your ethereal eyes caught my breath within my chest. I fear if I look directly into them, I shall cease the ability to breathe at all.”

“Your words are as honey to my ears, wings upon my heart. You have seen me covered in blood, and again as my angelic mask. I knew that you alone would lovingly accept me as I am now.”

“With every cell in my trembling body,” he whispered.

“I must go now, before I cannot. You will always own a piece of my shattered heart.”

Alastyn turned quickly, seizing both my cheeks, and looked desperately upon my face for one long moment. The tears caused by our lost love mirrored each other’s.

“I will always love you in a way I could never love anyone else,” he whispered.

“Then we are of like-mind, valiant knight.” I placed a hand over his at my cheek. “Farewell, my sweet Alastyn.”

His breath hitched, he tightened his hold on me. “Please, if this is the last time I shall ever look upon you, grace me with but a moment more. I wish only to record you properly within my mind.”

I remained silent, still. Never have I beheld such admiration through eyes alone.

“You have owned my heart since I was but a child. Yet we have never kissed.” He gently played with my one blue curl. “Do not forget me, Jenevier. One day I shall cease to be. My breath will slow and my heart will stop. The only thing that makes this miserable life bearable, is knowing I will always live on in your beautiful heart. And
that
, gorgeous Angel, is
my
immortality. So promise me this one thing. Promise you will never forget me.”

His tears were more than I could bear.

“You never even had to ask,” I whispered.

And with those words, I disappeared from his hands and darted into the clouds. Only to be welcomed by that familiar nausea.

Chapter 38

Praetoria

(pray-TOR-ee-ah)

The years I spent before my exile in almost constant combat, sent me to nearly every layer of this universe. Not once did I stop to take in the scenery or soak up the local culture. I was sent to execute, not socialize. Most layers I cannot tell you a single thing about. Yes, I may have been there, but like I said, I was busy.

Lyra, layer one, is where Princess Falls, my little paradise home is. Lyra is a small layer and only consists of three different races. Fairies live on the expansive plains, the Merfolk reside in the sea, and the mountain dwellers live in the Northern mountain range. I spent some time snooping around layer one and discovered the mountain dwellers live
inside
the mountains. Not upon them, as I’d previously thought.

In fact, now that I think about it, Lyra boasts no actual inhabitants upon its surface. At a glance, the whole layer appears deserted. The mountain dwelling Dwarves live inside the giant mountain ranges, the Merfolk obviously live within the sea, and the Fae live in hidden places across the great green expanse. Very few Fairies lived amongst the trees. The largest part of the feisty little winged people resided in magical grottos with lavish furnishings.

Lyra is a layer of diminutive races. I’m not much over five feet tall myself, yet I didn’t meet a single Lyrian that stood more than four. The Vanir may look like giants to
me
, but to a Lyrian… they were horrifying monsters.

Since I left Ashgard and all my beloved friends, I decided to let my wings fly on faith alone. I cleared my mind before I entered the transporting cloud bank and popped out wherever Fate decided to wing me. This time around I vowed to
experience
life, every moment of every day, no matter which layer I happened to visit.

Layer four was my birth home of Ashgard. Layer eight, Earth, was home during my exile. And now, I was leisurely strolling through a marketplace upon layer seven, Praetoria.

Praetoria is a rather large layer. Not as big as Earth, but nearly twice the size of Ashgard. Maybe I’ve never told you, I cannot recall, but this universe resembles an inverted pyramid, with Lyra being its bottom point, so to speak. The realms grow in size as the layer grows in number.

So now, Reader, if you aren’t too horribly confused with my simple but puzzling analogy, I shall continue with my story.

As I was saying, I emerged from the clouds over the city of Falacrin this morning and I’ve been immersing myself in the local culture all day. The food is delicious and the people are friendly. But they have armed guards posted everywhere, on nearly every corner.

I had used some of Aunt Marlise’s old scarves to wrap my little bottles of potion #4 and rosewater, and now I was very glad I had. My hair would
definitely
cause me problems on Praetoria, and I wished not to be hindered at every turn. My scar was another matter. The people here didn’t use face coverings, as I’d seen on some layers, so I was forced to find alternative camouflage.

At first I’d tried to cover it with dirt and mud. It looked bad, but I wasn’t here for a beautiful lady contest. I was here to blend in. Well, the mud on my cheek did anything but help me blend. I’m not so certain I wouldn’t have garnered as many stares had I left my sapphires untouched.

I walked into a little store just behind the large open market stalls lining the dusty main street. Not many shops were within closed doors, but I wanted away from the hundreds of disgusted eyes beholding my muddied face.

The pleasant middle-aged woman running the shop approached me as I entered. She didn’t speak. She only took my hand and stared at me, piteously.

“Apologies, Ma’am.” I instinctively covered my left cheek but she pulled my hand away.

“Never apologize for what you’ve lived through. Be thankful you yet live.”

“Gratitude, Milady.”

She laughed. “Oh, I’m no Lady, child. What can I help you with today?”

“I was actually just looking around. And, well, I tire of the busy streets.”

“And the judging eyes?”

“Yes, something like that.” I felt my cheeks flush.

“You have nothing to fear in here, little one. I don’t get many customers, well, not during the
daylight
hours.” She winked at me then. “Are you looking for a less dirty way to hide your marked face?”

“Umm, apologies. I have only just arrived, but I did not see women donning coverings.”

She laughed again. “Well now, you wouldn’t very well see them walking around in broad daylight with one, no.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yes, I can see that.” She chuckled. “My shop isn’t normally open during the day. I had some cleaning and stocking to do, so I came by.”

“You only sell stuff when it’s dark?” I asked, puzzled.

“Ah, this one should work rather nicely with your coloring.”

The shopkeeper had been looking through the wares displayed in a large woven basket.

“My coloring?”

She handed me a pink ribbon with hundreds of strands of tiny pink and blue beads hanging from it.

“It will go perfectly with your eyes.” She smiled.

“My eyes?”

“Yes, child. Now, go in the back. There’s a place where you can get cleaned up and try out your new veil. Run along now. I’ll be right here if you need any help.”

The
back
she referred to, was obviously someone’s living quarters. It was small, but elegant and clean. I easily found the wash basin and hurriedly removed my intentional filth. Then I noticed my eyes.

How could I have possibly forgotten about my strange new eyes? And my skin? No wonder people were staring. I cannot cover all the things that mark who I now am. I cannot hide who I have become, not truly.

“I’ve never seen eyes quite like
those
before,” she whispered. “You must possess an extremely
unique
kind of magic.”

The kindly woman had entered and was standing next to me. I hadn’t even noticed.

“You were taking quite some time,” she said. “I thought you might need help. Besides, women like us need to stick together.”

“Women like us?” I asked automatically, numbly.

I was just standing there, staring at my nonhuman-colored eyes and my glowing ethereal skin, absently holding the beaded veil by one ribboned end.

“Yes. Women like us,” she said again. “The outcasts of this
perfect
world we’re forced to live in.” She took the veil and laid it upon the dressing table as she continued to talk. “The women who’ve had to live through some not-so-womanly treatment. The ones who are cast out. The ones who were born under the wrong stars… women like us.”

I half laughed. “I was definitely born under the wrong stars,” I whispered.

“We all were, Honey.” She placed her hand on my shoulder and gave me a sympathetic pat. “Now, let’s see what we have to work with. Wow, I don’t know what happened to you, child. But it had to be some extremely strong, terribly dark magic indeed.”

You have no idea
, I thought. “Yes, it was unbelievably old and powerful,” I whispered, mostly to myself.

I was no longer focusing on anything. My mind was journeying through my strange past. I didn’t even notice she had removed my scarf until her sharp intake of breath drew back my full attention.

“I should go now,” I said hastily.

She grabbed my shoulders when I tried to stand. “You just sit right there. You’re among friends.” She placed her hand over her heart and released a long breath. “I apologize. I can’t remember ever doing anything quite so rude before. I’ve just never seen—”

“What’s your name?” I interrupted.

“M-my name? Oh dear, my manners are obviously absent me this day. Forgive me, child. My name is Larie. And what do you go by, if I may be so bold?”

“Jenevier.”

“Jenevier… how lovely. I’ve never met a Jenevier before.”

“Not many people have.”

I studied her reflection in the mirror. She smiled brightly, even though the look in her eyes was positively frantic.

“Well, Jenevier, do you wish to share your story?” She leaned over my shoulder, looking back at me through the mirror. “I can’t even imagine the half of it, I’m all but certain.”

“It’s an unbelievable tale, to be sure. But I don’t wish to hear it again. Not so soon.”

“I understand.” She gave me another reassuring little pat. “There’s pain awaiting us just around the next corner. No need hurrying it along
or
adding to it.”

Larie held the beaded veil up before me and carefully let the ribbon come to rest just above the tip of my nose.

“Now, lift your hair, child.”

She tied the pink ribbon behind my head and I released my curls.

“I’ll tell you true. I’m certain my veils have never been used to cover something as beautiful as that cheek of yours. It almost seems a shame.”

“For all the good it’ll do.” I sighed again. “I can bind my hair, but my eyes and skin are what they are.”

“A treasure such as you should be displayed, not hidden,” she said with a smile. “Alas, people are terrified of
different
, no matter how beautiful that different might be.”

“I only wanted to see what your city was like. I wanted to see how you live. I probably should just be on my way now.”

“Nonsense.” She waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “Wait until the sun sets.” Her eyes were now sparkling as she spoke. “There are amazing things yet to be discovered. At the moment, I have much to do. Stay here and relax. Tonight, I’ll show you the
real
Falacrin. When the blessed ones sleep, the flawed ones rise.”

Larie left me for the rest of the day. I made myself at home, ate some fruit, and rested when I could. When darkness fell, my accommodating host returned with lots of packages and curious friends.

“Oh, Larie. She’s even more breathtaking than you described.”

“I’ve never seen curls such as these.”

“Cast off that veil, lovely maid. Your skin puts the heavens to shame, and your scar is the sun.”

The chattering women all danced about me, each doing their own part to get me ready for the mysterious night I was about to experience.

“But how can I go about as myself? Everyone will see. What story could I possibly concoct to explain my colorings away?”

“Ahh, but the night is dark and full of magic,” Larie said. “Perhaps you won’t be the most exotic dish on the menu. Hmm? Falacrin is full of enchantment, Milady. And only outside these city walls can you experience
true freedom
.”

The dress Larie unwrapped was the color of new leaves. The bodice was covered with beautiful flowers and colored stones.

I gasped. “Is that for me?”

“Of course it’s for you. You are my honored guest this evening. I have promised you a night filled with magic, have I not?” She winked and smiled again. “Our Oracle divined this dress to complement your essence. And I believe he was spot on.”

Larie turned me towards the looking glass. I didn’t recognize my own reflection. Their Oracle had been right. This dress was the very embodiment of nature, the very embodiment of
me
. Her giggling friends had tied my curls back with beads and flowers. My azure scar was as prominent as a star on a moonless night. I took my own breath away.

“How is this possible? I look as if I grew from a vine.”

“The most enchanting lily in all the field,” Larie whispered.

Tears filled my eyes as I was painfully reminded of Aunt Marlise’s Life Celebration. The very last night of my normal life, I wore flowers in my hair and a smile upon my broken heart… same as now.

“Why the tears, dear one?” Larie asked.

“Precious memories,” I whispered.

“Precious, or painful?”

“Both.”

She smiled knowingly. “Ahh, all the best ones are.”