Protected by Emeralds (A Dance with Destiny Book 5) (37 page)

Tenshi turned to face him then. “Yes, I know… but it is not my story to tell. I watched the whole thing play out in her mind.” He looked back to the house. “When she is ready, you will know.”

“Should I be worried?”

“No.” Tenshi half smiled. “Surprisingly… that wicked little Angel blessed her. It just wasn’t the blessing she was expecting.”

Duhrias snorted. “She didn’t look very blessed when you found her lying there upon the ground.”

Tenshi glanced back to the River Spirit. “That seems to be the way Mama receives
most
of her blessings—via great pain.”

*****

After quickly unbinding the surprised young man, Jenevier let Akio lead her in to bid his father adieu as well. She smiled sweetly until she heard the door close, granting her requested privacy. Her smile disappeared.

“Valencia, how goes it?”

The she-Guardian could only stare at her, flames of hate whipping about in those celestial blue eyes.

“I just thought I would pop by and pay my respects, sweet sister.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Seems your lovely body did not fare well during the battle, not as well as your precious little soul did. I watched your lovely head fall to ash… just after Prince Suou removed it from your shoulders.”

Tears trickled back onto Valencia’s pillow, leaving tiny dark spots in their wake.

“Tears?” Jenevier laughed. “You have only ever managed to shed them for yourself. You would be throwing one hell of a party right now… if those were
my
ashes blowing around on that littered battlefield. You sold me.
Twice
, no less.” She held up two fingers as she went on. “Sold me to evil men, ones who meant me great harm. You laughed when you thought I had died, and laughed even louder when you thought my babe had joined me. You slaughtered hundreds of innocents on Val Hal, and were intent on obliterating the whole of layer eight as well.” She leaned in closer to the fragile, paralyzed form Valencia now resided within. “You are a cancer, a rancid rot for which there is no cure. Instead of hating me and wallowing in self-pity, you should be praising my name throughout the heavens. Hell was bent on having you, she-Guardian. And Apollyon is not known for giving up
or
for being merciful. I shudder to think about your eternity, were he the one to have found you. At least this way, you will have a couple of years to come to terms with your vile deeds. Take my advice, sweet sister. Spend the time you have been unduly blessed with concentrating on repentance. Try to save your soul, Valencia. Your body is lost.”

Jenevier stood up and slipped her new pink sunglasses back on. She felt a sharp pang of sadness. Pity gripped her heart as she looked into Valencia’s teary eyes.

Damn
, she thought.

Leave it, Naga
, Nilakanta said.
This is best for everyone, for the whole universe. Things are as they should be.

“It’s not like I could do anything about it anyway,” she grumbled as she opened the door of that dark room, leaving Valencia alone in a bed of her own making.
As it should be
, she thought.

*****

“What should we do with
this
?” Jenevier handed a large metal container to her son.

“What is it?” Tenshi asked.

“A parting gift from Akio.” She lightly tapped on one of the side glass panels revealing the strange glowing liquid inside. “You now hold the weapon meant to destroy this whole realm. He called it a
virus
, said to be extremely careful with it.”

Tenshi’s eyes widened. “I will wing it to Gabriel, now.” He turned to Duhrias. “Can I trust you to see my mother safely home?”

“She could be in no more capable hands,” Duhrias said with a bow.

Tenshi looked at Jenevier. “Mama, promise me you will behave yourself, and that you will come home soon.”

“I promise to behave, and I promise to return to Jinn… when I am ready.”

“Very well. That will have to do for now.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you, Mama.”

“And I love you more, my son.”

When his sapphire wings had disappeared into the clouds, Duhrias bumped her with his shoulder.

“You did good by that one, Naga. You did real good.”

“Yeah.” She snorted out a laugh. “He turned out pretty well, despite my influence.”

“So… what’s the plan, Empress?”

Jenevier started walking away. He smiled and hurried to catch up with her.

“I want to check on Cherie.”

Duhrias chuckled. “She’s like… a hundred times your age. You know that, right?”

“Age does not factor into concern, sweet Knight. I wish only to say good-bye and spend a bit of time with the girl.” A smile twisted up one corner of her mouth. “I find her extraordinarily refreshing, Dimples. She is full of spunk and fire, that one.”

“When she needs to be, yes,” he grumbled.

They silently walked on for a while, casually. Neither one seemed to be in much of a hurry.

“Dimples?”

“Hmm?”

“How many people know about the cave?”

He glanced up from the pine needles and forest debris, somewhat distracted. “The cave?”

She plucked up a toadstool and broke off the stem. “Yes, the cave.” She ran her thumbnail around the soft underbelly of the large mushroom, pressing each little fin down as she went. “The one behind the waterfall. How many people go there?”

“People? None, I should say.”

He pitched a tiny leaf toward her curls. It stuck there, but she didn’t seem to notice. He smiled.

“I don’t suppose any
people
even know it’s there. If you are talking about Spirits, well, we all know. It doesn’t really matter, though. I am thousands of years old, and the first time I saw it glow was with you. We
all
know it’s there. But since we cannot use it, no one really seems to care. Why do you ask?”

“Curiosity.” She tossed the smashed-up toadstool over her shoulder, leaving a dark stain where it hit his chest. “Now, quit throwing rubbish in my curls.”

She squealed out a laughing scream when he snatched her around the waist and spun her in a circle.

“That was too much fun,” she gasped out through her giggles.

“Hey, let’s have a foot race.”

Her laughter stopped when his words pulled her thoughts back to Val Hal and her old friend Gráda.

“Nah,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “I don’t feel like getting all sweaty.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her off the ground, spinning her again.

“A dance then,” he said, not waiting for her answer.

Her giggles resumed. “How can you call it a dance if my feet aren’t even touching the ground?”

“Because we are holding each other.” His dimples deepened with his soft smile. “That’s the best part, anyway.”

He began to hum a tune she had never heard before as he swayed to and fro down the narrow path.

Jenevier rested her head on his shoulder, wholly comforted by the vibrations in his chest, lulled by his baritone hymn. She believed he had perhaps gone through two different tunes before he gently lowered her back to her feet.

“A lovelier dancer there has never been,” he whispered.

She chuckled. “You are talking about yourself, aren’t you?”

“But of course.” He smiled. “Wouldn’t you agree, Milady?”

“Absolutely, Milord.” She placed the back of her hand to her forehead, pretending to sigh dreamily. “I fear I may swoon.”

They continued to smile as they quietly strolled hand in hand.

“So… are you going to tell me about this new bauble?”

He raised their clasped hands, shaking them gently, causing the shiny bracelet to sparkle in the sunlight.

Tears burned her eyes as she stared at it. A strange, uncomfortable numbness washed over her.

“Did that handsome soul-eater gift you this lovely treasure?”

She kept her watery gaze fixed on the brilliant purple stones. “It was not a gift. It is a shackle.”

“A shackle?” Duhrias snorted out a laugh. “Then it is the most astoundingly beautiful shackle I have ever seen. All the ladies will wish to be bound thusly.”

“Not I,” she whispered.

The charming River Spirit didn’t push the conversation further. The sadness in her magical eyes almost made him wish he had never even broached the subject.

She sighed softly, never taking her eyes from the unique bangle gracing her right wrist.

“Who would ever wish to be bound away from their desires?” She spoke aloud, but the words weren’t actually intended for any particular ears. “Love via pain, or pain via love… I’m not sure which.”

Duhrias didn’t speak. He just waited for her to continue.

She sat down on a nearby stone and absently fondled her new trinket as she gazed blindly into the distance.

“There was once a man—gentle and kind, glorious to behold.” She smiled softly. “He loved me, was my friend… in his own way. When I learned the truth about that man, about
all
of them… I was hurt. Everything I believed in was put to the test. And…” She snorted out a self-deprecating laugh. “…I failed that test. When I realized what I had done, when I realized that my ignorant actions would destroy the hearts of the people I had once loved, the ones who had once loved me… I snapped. Then… I set out to destroy the hearts of my new friends as well.”

She looked up at the quiet sell-sword, but he remained silent.

“That’s what I do, you know—lash out at the ones who care about me the most. When I leave this place, Dimples, when you look back upon our time together… if you can dredge up but one memory, let it be this. Love with your whole heart… every chance you get. Never hold back. Never be silent or scared. Lay your heart on the line and give thanks for the scars it may receive. Just… don’t look back and regret
not
loving. And even though there may come some unintentional pain, always remember… harm none. Not willingly.”

She looked into his lovely green eyes a moment longer before she stood and continued walking. He silently followed her. After a time, she continued speaking.

“This man, this exquisitely rare man… he came to me when I was all alone.” She chuckled softly, precious memories playing out before her. “At first look, I desired him. I desired him greatly.” She sighed. “But as time went on, I loved him—counted him as my only blood brother. And so the love grew. When at last the painful truth was mercilessly smashed in my face, when I was carelessly hurled back into reality…
his
deception hurt me more than even the man I had bonded with. Vybius had become not only my family; he was my
friend
, my true
friend
.” She turned to face him then. “Have you ever had a
true
friend?”

He matched her intense gaze, but did not answer.

“If you have one…” A single tear trickled down her scarred cheek. “…
always
hold them as precious, as the most valuable thing in the world. Love can eventually be replaced—broken hearts mend in time. Alas, true friendship is an irreplaceable thing. Dimples, if you ever find yourself lucky enough to be in love with your friend…” She took his hand in hers and squeezed gently. “…forsake the whole universe to protect that rare bond. It is worth more than words can ever tell.”

“Will you do thus, Milady? Will you forsake us all for the soul-eater?”

Her countenance fell, as if a shadow had been cast over her. “I fear I would have.” Her sad pink eyes wavered. “Alas… I cannot. He has stolen my ability, and I am left absent choice.”

Duhrias furrowed his brow, tightening his grasp upon her tiny hand. “How is such a thing possible, Milady? If you desire Vybius this much, if you wish for nothing but his arms about your waist and his hand upon your heart, who can keep you from him?”

“He can,” she whispered.

The sell-sword shook his head. “Ohh, Milady. A heart’s denial can come upon a breeze… and change just as easily.”

“I know,” she said through a sad smile. “Which is why he bound insurance against such a thing.”

She glanced back down to the bracelet. Duhrias’s gaze followed hers.

“A shackle.” His whispered words revealed his understanding.

Jenevier slowly nodded her head as the painful memory played out once again…

“So, Vybius, you wish to bind me?”

The dark Angel looked upon her teasing grin. “Yes, I do.”

She giggled. “Will you still be gentle?”

He swallowed hard. Every cell of his being was screaming in protest, but every cell of his breaking heart knew what he had no choice but to do.

“No, my love,” he whispered against her lips. “I fear this will be torturously painful… for both of us.”