Enthroned by Amethysts (A Dance with Destiny Book 3) (17 page)

And there, behind the slain atrocity from hell, still frozen in her killing stance, stood the only woman he would ever love.

Her curls returned, blue and pink and gold, emitting a heavenly radiance, casting an enchanting glow on their dismal surroundings. Her right hand remained high in the air, firmly grasping the large hilt of her borrowed sword. Face tilted downward, mouth slightly opened, her heaving chest forcing air over her teeth, out her parted lips. Jenevier’s magical pink eyes were looking up and through him, focusing on nothing, filled with determination.

She just stood there, an ethereal statue, frozen in time, covered in blood, oozing fierceness from every pore. He was in awe.

Varick felt the hungry beast rising within him. An animalistic growl pulled her distant gaze back from the beyond. She focused on him, on the heavenly beauty that was her Guardian Prince, battle rage pulsing through her veins as powerfully as it did his.

Formality and restraint fled. In a blink, he had her tiny body pushed up against the subterranean wall. She tore through his tunic, their hungry mouths exploring each other.

“Varick… I desire you.”

His lips covered hers, silencing her words, fueling her already uncontrollable passion.

He moved in her, forcefully. She moaned, eyelids fluttering.

Varick shook his head, trying to push the delicious memory back into hiding. A wry smile crossed his face when he recalled her words.

“Promise me you will accompany me on
all
future summonses. Never have I known such pleasure. You have spoiled me with desire, my Prince. I will demand such daily.”

She kissed him once more, stopping time, ceasing reality, stamping an eternal memory on their racing hearts. They began again.

After that glorious night, I was overcome with primal jealousy every time she was paired with another
, he thought.
I never confessed such. But… she knew.

He was still smiling when he burst through the clouds over Val Hal.

“It wasn’t long after that, her powers waned as her belly grew,” he mused. “I cannot recall if ever I told her, yet I desired her all the more. Motherhood suits her.”

He chuckled to himself as he opened the massive doors and entered their Great Hall.

Chapter 21

Tenshi

(TIN-shee)

All she could see… was the glorious mother moon.

Jenevier knew there wasn’t a moon such as this upon any other layer. Musashi had been right. Jinn was definitely blessed with enchanted nights.

“I love the moon.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“That’s why I chose this room for you, Milady. I wanted to give you the moon, both of them.”

She strained her eyes, searching the darkened corner until she found the outline of the Emperor seated within. He neared her bed, arms laden with her new miracle.

“You died,” Mika whispered.

Jenevier turned to find the young girl sitting beside her on the bed.

“All your blood came out… and you died.” Tears were pooling in front of her lavender eyes, spilling down her lovely cheeks. “I was so scared. I kept screaming your name… but you moved not.”

“Apologies, little one. Don’t waste those precious tears on me.” She smiled weakly. “I’ll not leave you, Mika, not just yet.”

“But you died. Yui even said so.”

“Well, I have returned to you, then. Dry your eyes and bring me some water, child. I thirst.”

“Can you move?” Musashi asked.

“Not yet, my arms won’t obey me. How fares my son? Does he live?”

“He lives. He sleeps.”

The Emperor gently sat down on the edge of her bed, leaning the tightly wrapped bundle down, letting her gaze upon her angelic miracle.

“Never have I seen a babe such as this.” Musashi smiled at the sleeping boy. “I cannot release him. Neither can I pull my eyes from his glowing face. He’s my little Tenshi.”

“Your… Tenshi?”

“It means Angel, in the old tongue.” Mika answered her question as she returned with the water and tried to help Jenevier sit up. “Color’s returning to your cheeks, Milady. Promise me you won’t die.”

“I promise, Mika. I fear you’re stuck with me for a while. It seems immortality doesn’t exempt one from pain or injury. You just don’t get to die from it. You learn to live through the pain. That kind of stinks, huh?” She winked at the sniffing girl. “I may not yet be able to move, but I can talk and I can hear. So, tell me, child. I wish to know the whole of my story.”

The trembling girl looked at Musashi, who only inclined his head toward her.

“When the babe came, something went horribly wrong,” Mika started. “I feared I’d injured you, inside, when I turned him.” She sniffed again and wiped her eyes. “You told me you had to push. But… there was so much blood. I knew not what was happening. Then you quit screaming. You just went limp. I was shaking so badly my mind went numb. Yui was the one who saw…” She paused.

“Yui saw what? Go on, Mika. All is well now.”

“I saw him not. Yui scooped him up and cleaned him. I only realized what had happened when he started crying.”

Jenevier furrowed her brow. “When Yui started crying?”

“No, Milady. When
he
did,” she whispered.

Jenevier followed Mika’s watery gaze out to her balcony, coming to rest on a darkened figure, silhouetted by the moon, silently swaying back and forth.

“He will only stay calm when he’s at your breast or in the moonlight.” Musashi spoke as he rubbed her tangled curls. “He loves the moon. Yui’s quite taken with him, refusing to even let Mika hold him.”

“Hold him?” Her voice sounded distant in her own ears.

“Jiro,” Mika whispered.

“Jiro?”

“Yes, Princess,” Musashi answered. “It means, second son.”

Her burning tears were already soaking her night dress when Yui came to her side, presenting her with a second breathtaking bundle. Jenevier raised her trembling arm just enough to lightly touch his little round cheek, before it fell limply back to the bed.

“Fret not, my love. Your strength will soon return. Already your color glows and your eyes have found their magical sparkle once more.” Musashi tenderly rubbed his thumb across her brow as he spoke. “Mika told you true. You bled out when the babes came forth. I carried you to the bath and she washed you while I held them. Yui called the guards to carry out and replace your ruined bedding.”

The young girl’s tears flowed anew. “I thought I cleansed you for your funeral. You were so cold.”

“Then… how long have I lain here?” Jenevier asked, worriedly. “Days? Weeks? Who fed my Angels?”

“You’ve slept only hours,” Musashi reassured her. “Fear not, my little rainbow. They nursed from you as I held them.”

“This is the same night of their birth, Milady. You have missed nothing,” Yui added. “Gather your bearings and be at peace. You came to us yesterday. Early this morning we heeded your labor cries. And now the moons have risen this same night. Two days you have been upon Jinn, but the blessings you carried here with you… they are eternal.”

“I feared I was a curse unto you,” Mika whispered.

“A curse? You are a sacred blessing, Mika. What would ever make you think thusly?”

Musashi spoke up. “Yui and Mika both lost their mothers in this manner.”

Jenevier tried to reach for the girl, Mika grabbed her trembling hand.

“You will find, little one, I’m not so easy to kill. It is my curse
and
my blessing. You’re the little sweet cake who took care of me and my Angels when I could not. I will always be obligated to you.” She looked to the two men holding her angelic twins. “I will never be able to repay this great debt to you all. No matter how long I shall live.”

“Not true, my love. It is I who placed you in such harm. Had my greedy heart been removed from you, the Guardians could’ve done so much more than we.”

“Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “We will speak no more of this. I’ll break those words with Valencia one day. But not this day. This day, this night, this glorious moonlit night, shall be for joys alone. I wish now only to hold my precious Angels and look into their eyes.” Her smile beamed. “Ah, Tenshi stirs.”

With her words, the babe Musashi held began to squirm in his arms.

“We were too loud,” he whispered.

“No. His tummy aches. He’s hungry. Help me, Milord. Help me feed my firstborn.”

The Emperor of Jinn gently raised her up. Sitting behind her, leaning her back against his broad chest, he placed her little boy before her. With what little strength she could muster, Jenevier held her son as he nursed.

This was a love she had never dreamed possible, a bond unlike any other. There are no mortal words which can contain the whole of a mother’s love. It’s the most powerful force in all creation.

That night, upon that giant bed, Jenevier slept with two identical Angels, a Shinobi ninja, an invisible girl, and a mighty Shogun Emperor.

It was the most peaceful night of sleep she’d known thus far.

Chapter 22

Vanahirdem

(van-ah-HEAR-dem)

“How is it we’re Warriors of God and one of our own can be so easily snatched away? This is madness,” Vareilious roared.

“Aye, so ye found naethin’ either, Brother. Tis the same for us all.” Vittorio sighed in despair. “We’ve combed every layer. Her name’s nae even whispered upon the wind.”

“She vanished. She didn’t
cease to be
. You’re not looking hard enough,” Varick snapped.

“Aye, an’ ye think ye love her more than I? Destiny an’ Fate be damned, Brother. Yer pain cannae exceed mine own.”

“Nor mine, Varick. Quit whining and casting blame upon others,” Vareilious snorted. “You were the last one to see her. You alone were there when she was taken, oh mighty Prince.”

Their beastly snarls and roars were silenced only when Valadrog pulled the bloodied warriors apart.

“If you succeed in slaying one another, will that bring her back sooner?” Valadrog demanded.

Varick tore loose from his father’s grasp and spat blood upon the crystal street, roughly adjusting his mussed tunic.

“We have every available warrior set to this task,” Valadrog reassured them. “It has been but a couple days. We shall find her. Put anger toward purpose, gentlemen. Cease not your hunt.”

“Aye, only a couple days, says ye. Forget nae, good chief. She an’ I, we were missing only hours when Sha—”

“I will never forget,” Valadrog growled, cutting off Vittorio’s words. “Now go. Find your sister and cease your quarreling. Have you heard back from Valencia yet?”

“She’s with Vareen now. I only just left them,” Vareilious said.

Varick spoke as the warriors entered Vareen’s home. “Deliver us fair news, dear sister.”

“Would that I could, dearest brother. Alas, I know not where she ran.”

“Where she ran? Where she ran? Bloody hell, Valencia. Will you never grow up?” Varick roared.

“Don’t waste thy sweet anger upon me, Brother. If your fair Princess resides not upon the layers, search for her in hell. You were with her, were you not? She roamed those woods daily, calling out for her demon lover. Perhaps he heeded her siren call at last.” Her voice remained eerily calm. “You know where the portals appear, you know where she spent her time, what her mind was continually upon. You of all people should remember, Varick. He left hell for her once already. Who’s to say he cannot bargain for their spawn the way he bargained before?”

“Valencia, if you weren’t mine own sister, I would tear your tongue—”

“Aye, Brother, the same thought crossed my mind,” Vittorio interrupted.

“You’re all mad,” Vareilious yelled.

“Hold, Brothers, an’ think. I dunnae take Valencia’s part in this. Jenevier wouldnae leave withoot hinting at farewell. She certainly wouldnae allowed ye, Varick, tae accompany her if she knew of Apollyon’s plan. Think hard, Brothers. He came when he should nae have been able tae. An’ his son’s time is close at hand. What would ye do tae be with the one ye love an’ yon babe?”

“I would rend heaven and hell,” Vareilious answered.

“Aye, as would I, Brother,” Vittorio said.

“But, God forbid him from—”

“Oh, yes.” Valencia interrupted Varick’s words. “And we all know how well Apollyon has
always
followed God’s commands. He’s the model Angel, is he not?” she quipped. “Perhaps that’s why he resides in hell, a throne worthy him.”

“Heed not your sister’s ill counsel, my son,” Vareen said. “Vareilious is right. This is madness.”

“Yes, listen to honored mother instead. Was it not to you, dearest brother, that she confessed wishing Jenevier would break loving heart? Letting your pain amass into a single, world-altering moment.” Valencia turned her icy gaze on Vareen. “Is this not true? Did you not confess to your only son you could no longer bear to see him in pain, Mother?”

“Are you saying he should heed counsel from the one who now turns claws on revered mother, in front of us all?” Vareilious countered.

“Aye, perhaps this is madness,” Vittorio said.

“Then look for her upon the layers for all eternity. I care not.” She headed for the door and didn’t turn back. “Farewell, good family. I have more important matters to attend.”

And with those words, Valencia left Vanahirdem.

“Mother, I know Valencia hates Jenevier. I also know she would stay her hand at helping to return her. Yet, her words give me pause,” Varick admitted.

“If Valencia had a hand in this, your sister would be dead,” Vareilious said flatly. “That vicious little Princess of yours would’ve happily watched your sister’s ashes blow away on the wind. She would’ve run back to your waiting arms with a satisfied smile upon her lovely face.”

“Aye, nae so, Brother. Nae this time. Our colorful little Angel is currently absent her powers. Her spirit may linger, but her strength is gone.”

“Vittorio’s right. We cannot be certain of my sister’s guilt or innocence in this thing. But we fail Jenevier if we leave one stone unturned in our quest.” He sighed. “Have you seen nothing, Mother?”

“No, Varick. God is quiet in this.”

“Dark words birth darker thoughts. God may be silent because this is what should be. Or He may—”

“Don’t dwell upon the unknown, my son. Do not venture to guess intention,” Vareen said. “Only grief can come with such thinking. Do what you can. Search where you will. Exhaust every possibility. Then we shall see.”