Protected by Emeralds (A Dance with Destiny Book 5) (23 page)

Why am I naked? I chill, Nilakanta.

Your chills come from the fever, Naga. You may believe you are freezing, but you burn, little one.

She carefully ran her arms across her belly, hugging herself for warmth. The action caused several sharp pains, but she did her best to ignore them… until her teeth started chattering. The tiny movements sent shocks of agony through her jaw and straight into her head. It brought to mind what a nail must feel like when a hammer makes contact with its head, driving it through the splintering wood.

H-ho-oo-lee-ee h-hell-ll-ll
, ran through her mind.

Naga. Holy hell? Now… how is that even possible, tiny Guardian?
he teased.

S-sh-shut i-it-t-t, D-Dr-ag-gon-n-n.

Nilakanta chuckled.
How can your words shiver in your thoughts? Is your brain chattering as well?

“Sh-sh-sh.” She tried to speak, but then felt the cool glass touch her lips.

“Here you go, now,” the girl said. “Oops. Not too much too soon. You’ll get sick.” The young woman tsked and removed the glass. “Enough is as good as a feast, they say.”

“I am c-c-co-oo-ld-d,” she rasped.

“Freezing, are ya? You’ve been on fire all day. Mayhap your fever’s close to breaking.”

Jenevier felt the thin blanket sliding up her body. When it reached her shoulders, she curled up on her side, crying out from the pain of the action. Yet she remained there—in as small a ball as she could stand, covers hugged tight against her.

“Wow… Would you look at that, now?”

She heard the girl’s amazed words only a heartbeat before she felt the icy fingertips lightly touching her back. She flinched, causing the girl to jerk her hand back, but not for long. Jenevier simply bit her lip and suffered through the freezing, curious exploration.

Her touch is warm, Naga… physically and mentally.

Yes. I am sure I will grow to appreciate it in time. As for now, it’s like overeager needles.

She lay perfectly still, listening to the girl’s amazed chatter blending in with the constant chirps and croaks just outside the window. Eventually, blessed sleep finally claimed her.

Chapter 17

Cherie

(CHAIR-ee)

Naga, wake up. That nice lady has brought you some warm soup. Please, Naga. Please sit up and eat.

“Come, Milady. I’ve brought you some warm rice porridge. It won’t be hard on your throat
or
your tummy. And… it’s yummy sweet and good for you,” she sang happily.

Jenevier half smiled and turned to look at the young woman for the first time.

“There you are, Milady.” Her lovely smile lit up her even lovelier face. “Wow. This is the first time I’ve seen your eyes in the sunlight. They sparkle like crystal roses.”

Jenevier tried to use her elbows to prop up, but she was as weak as a kitten.

“Here, let me.”

The girl helped her sit and piled pillows behind her.

“Gratitude,” Jenevier rasped.

“Not at all.” The girl smiled again. “Now, a bit of a drink. Yeah, that’s good. Just enough to wet your whistle. Very good. Now for some okayu, it’s delicious.”

“Okayu?”

“Yep, rice porridge,” the girl chirped. “You’re supposed to season it with salt and other things. But I made yours with lots of butter and white sugar. I mean, it’s not like we have to worry about you getting fat, now do we? I can easily count every rib in your tiny little body. I feared you’d soon fade away if you didn’t wake. You need some energy, Milady. And
this
will fix you right up.” She popped a heaping spoonful in Jenevier’s mouth as she talked. “How’s that taste?”

She nodded her head with approval and tried to smile.

“There are so many things I want to ask you, Miss.”

The curious young lady continued to talk while she slowly fed the shaky woman with the amazing Dragon ink covering most of her tiny body.

“Like… how in the world did you get in this shape? And, how is it you lived through it? I mean, I’m overjoyed that you did, don’t get me wrong. But I should dare say. There were a few days… we weren’t so sure you would.”

“I was chained and beaten,” Jenevier whispered, looking down at her stomach, gently touching the dark bruises with trembling hands.

The girl froze, laden spoon hovering in the air. “Yeah… I guessed that much,” she said softly. “By the cuts on your wrists and the damage to your ribs.”

Jenevier glanced at her bandaged wrists. “Gratitude for your kindness. When I am healed, I will return the favor with interest.”

“There’ll be no need in that, Milady. It was my honor.” Cherie stirred the cool spoonful of porridge back into the bowl before delivering the next mouthful. “Is that all you can remember? Do you know who did this?”

Jenevier’s gaze blindly locked onto a spot on the opposite wall as the harrowing memory played out in her mind. Tears burned the backs of her eyes.

“Yes. I know who did it. And I know why… sort of. Alas, he was not the one to land the blows. He gave the order only. Perhaps he does not have the stomach for the dirty bits.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “As for my torturers, they were soldiers. Apart from that, all I can recall is the feeling of knuckles colliding with my body, connecting with my bones.” Her voice grew fainter as her memory grew darker. “They were impressed I did not scream. In truth, the first blow removed my air, rendering that particular action all but impossible.” A single tear escaped her unblinking eyes. “But I screamed on the inside,” she whispered. “Screamed and cursed and cried.”

Jenevier drew in a deep breath, but the action sent pain ripping through her chest. She exhaled slowly and leaned back against the many pillows, closing her burning eyes, sending the gathered tears back to soak into her tangled curls.

“I lost consciousness. I know not if they continued in their demented task.” She paused, slowly opening her eyes, staring at the beamed rafters above her. “The next thing I can remember was… dimples.”

“Dimples?”

Jenevier barely shrugged her shoulders. “I am certain I must have been dreaming. Yet… I cannot recall ever having seen dimples the likes of those. They were constant and perfect. I remember wanting to touch them, wanting to see if they deepened when the person smiled.”

The girl covered her mouth, muffling a giggle, causing Jenevier to glance sideways at the pretty young woman.

“What is your name, child?”

The girl’s eyes widened. “Oh, apologies. I’m being so rude today.” She blushed, but giggled again as well. “I’m Cherie, like the tree. Cherry Blossom is what the older folks call me. I’m just plain old Cherie to my friends, though.”

It was Jenevier’s turn to giggle, even though it was painful. “I have been called that myself while visiting this realm. It must be your people’s favorite thing.” She paused slightly. “I can see why. They
are
breathtaking.”

The girl gasped. “I
knew
it,” she said, beaming from ear to ear. “I
knew
you weren’t from here. Are you a Spirit? A goddess? A watcher of some kind—like a Guardian, or a Grigori?”

Jenevier only closed her eyes, softly smiling, barely shaking her head.

Cherie took her action as what it was—a halt to questions she obviously did not want to answer. She waited a quiet moment before she continued.

“So, Milady… someone named you Cherie as well?”

“No. You are the only Cherie I have ever met.” Jenevier partially opened her eyes to see the girl’s smiling face. “No… a friend of mine, Suou… he named me when I could not name myself. He called me Sakura, Sakura Mankai. But that is not my true name. Alas, he was adamant about using it. Said it suited me better than the name Father gave me.”

When silence fell over the room, when all the many curious questions suddenly ceased, Jenevier opened her eyes and found the girl standing by the bed, an unreadable look upon her face.

“What is it, child? Did I frighten you?”

The girl waited a couple more heartbeats before slowly shaking her head. Jenevier furrowed her brow and continued to stare at the girl, waiting for her to break the strange silence.

Cherie cleared her throat. “Umm… why would your friend feel the need to name you? Why couldn’t you name yourself?”

“Strangely enough…” Jenevier held the girl’s questioning gaze. “…I was in nearly the same shape I am now. I was injured and he tended to me. Much the same as you now do, Cherie. Yet, he wasn’t nearly as lovely, nor did he feed me sweet rice porridge.”

The girl’s tense muscles slowly relaxed. Jenevier smiled.

“Alas… I was unconscious for days. He named me Sakura while I was yet without voice.”

“So what’s your true name, then? What name were you given he felt didn’t suit you?”

“My name is Naga, Kagi Naga.”

A muffled laugh came from the far corner of the room. Cherie nervously glanced toward the shadows and then back to Jenevier.

“In truth, Milady,” she quickly said. “I think that name suits you perfectly. You are the very embodiment of a fire lizard, if ever I saw one.”

Jenevier only vaguely heard the girl. She was busy trying to sense who else was in the room, who was hiding in the shadows.

Can you feel them?

No, Naga. I would have sworn we were alone
, Nilakanta answered.
It’s nice to have you back, little one. I was lonely in here without you.

A tiny smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
I missed you, too, Brother.

Her attention was pulled back to the girl when she felt the gentle squeeze upon her hand.

“Naga? Are you listening to me?” Cherie was saying.

“Apologies, lovely girl. My mind was elsewhere.”

“I asked about your friend, Suou.”

“Yes?” Jenevier waited for the accompanying question.

“Can you tell me about him?”

“Well… there is not that much to tell. Like I said, I was injured in the line of duty and he tended me. I had not met him before that. Yet he sat by my side for days in a rundown little shack hidden amongst the bamboo. As soon as I could, I slipped away without a word. He was kind and gentle… but I did not belong there. So, as soon as he slept, I hurriedly left.” She patted the girl’s hand and sighed. “Alas, Fate brought me back to this realm the very next day. Suou found me beneath the magical cherry trees in his own personal garden, forced me to attend some grand celebration.
That
did not end well, either, I’m afraid.” She smiled then, trying to hide her regret. “But that, my child, is an especially different kind of story for an especially different kind of day.”

The color slowly drained from the young girl’s face. “You can’t possibly be talking about the same Suou, then. I thought perhaps you meant the Southern Prince.”

Jenevier smiled. “Oh, you know him then? Perfect. I need you to get a message to him. Do you think you could help me with that?” She paused. “Wait. What do you mean,
Southern
? Am I no longer within Suou’s kingdom?”

The girl stiffened again. “Would you like something else to drink? Something to give you a bit of energy, perhaps? Do you like tea, Milady?”

“I love tea, rose tea, if you have it.”

“Apologies, Milady.” Cherie blushed. “I’ve never heard of rose tea before.”

“Well then, I shall have to see if I cannot change that, and very soon. You will love it. I am all but certain.” Jenevier gently squeezed the girl’s fingertips. “Tell you what. Why don’t you bring me
your
favorite, for now? I will introduce you to
my
favorite as soon as I feel more like myself. Is it a deal?”

The young woman energetically shook her head, smiling as she left the room.

Jenevier took a deep breath and rested back against the many pillows. “You can come out now,” she said. “It is rather poor manners to lurk about in the shadows.”

She heard the approaching footsteps, but kept her eyes closed.

“I do not lurk,” the man said, his voice gentle and low. “I just couldn’t find a place to jump in and make my introduction.”

Jenevier smiled softly. “It was a lively conversation, was it not? Cherie is a bundle of energy. I like her.”

“Yes. Everyone likes Cherie. She is a true ray of sunshine.”

There was admiration and awe in the man’s voice. Jenevier could respect that, felt almost the same way herself.

She sensed him near her bedside, felt when he bumped against it, seating himself in a nearby chair.

“It is also rather poor manners to carry on a conversation with someone you refuse to look upon,” he said. “It was you who beckoned me come closer. Yet you refuse me the respect of even a curious glance, Kagi Naga.”

At the sound of her name, Jenevier slowly opened her eyes, gazing once again at the cobweb-laced rafters. “It is with deepest respect that I did
not
look upon you, sir. I can only assume you are the one who saved me from a deserved fate. Why would I willingly curse a man who has shown me such kindness?”

“Hold sentiment until it is deserved. You may not feel the same way in a few days.” He mumbled that last part. “Tell me.” He half chuckled. “Why would your gaze be a curse?”

“Not my gaze, Milord. My eyes.” She sighed. “I wish us to be friends. I fear if you look into my eyes, you will fall prey to their vile magic. As so many others have before,” she whispered.

“Ahh, I see. So… your eyes are as my dimples—heart traps.”

With his
dimple
admission, she couldn’t help but look at him.

“But I fear I may have already ensnared
you
, Milady,” he teased. “I heard your adoring confession earlier. Never have you seen dimples such as mine, thought you were dreaming.” He leaned closer, smirking. “I heard you, Kagi Naga. You wished for nothing more but then to touch them.” He smiled teasingly.

She rolled her eyes. “Not hardly.” She blushed. “I can name countless wishes I would rather have granted.”

“Truly?” His smile grew ever wider. “So, tell me. Do they deepen when I smile, Milady?”

“Ugh, just stop right there. I will not be led down your darkened path, good sir.”

He chuckled. “And what makes you think it is dark?”

She cocked one eyebrow. “Are you saying it is not?”

A shadow fell across his handsome features, his smile slowly faded.

“As I thought,” she said. “Now, tell me. What is going to happen in a few days that will make me withdraw my gratitude for your noble rescue of my battered form?”

“You tell me something first.”

“Very well. You have but to ask.”

“Why did you feel your fate was a deserved thing? Did you do something worthy of being strung up and used as a practice dummy?”

She sighed. “I have done many things, Milord. I know not what horrors await me at my true end, no. But they will have to be born in the pits of hell if they wish to overpower what I have already lived through.” She looked back to the rafters. “Can that be a story for another day? I wish not to burden my heart with the retelling. Not today.”