Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (14 page)

Silence ruled their conversation for several long heartbeats, each woman lost in her own thoughts.

“Obaasan?”

“Yes, little one?”

“Do you ever wish you did not now know… you know… what you did not know way back then?”

“Every single day, Lala.” She sent her granddaughter a warm smile. “Every. Single. Day.”

“So… how do you live with it—the knowledge of what is truly out there?”

“I will be honest.” Jenevier sighed. “It marks you, Lala. It leaves its own kind of scar. But it doesn’t change who you are on the inside.” She placed her hand upon her own chest as she spoke. “That is… not unless you let it.”

“Do you let it?”

Jenevier smiled. “Not anymore, little one. Not anymore.”

Chapter 9

Jinn

(JINN)

“And how is the universe’s most enchanting creature doing this fine day?” Daichi said, lightly kissing her forehead.

“Daichi?” Jenevier smiled. “Why are you here? You haven’t visited my home in… forever.”

He sat down beside her, taking her tea. “Forever is a bit extreme, Naga. But, yes, it has been ages, my love. As for
why
I am here… you were thinking of me, needing me, longing to see me.”

Jenevier crinkled up her nose at him as he drained the remainder of her rose tea.

“Truly?” She snatched the empty cup. “You truly just did that?”

“Oh, stop pouting, Naga. Yui will obediently bring whatever your heart desires. Ring your bell and he will run to your side.”

She stared down at the scattered dregs dotting the bottom of her cup before glancing back up at the stunning Angel before her.

“I have
killed
for less than that, Lord Daichi.”

He snorted out a laugh. “No you have not, Madam Empress. Stop trying to act tough with me.
I
know better.”

Jenevier smiled as she leaned over against him, relishing the feel of his strong arm about her shoulders.

“You sensed my thoughts?” she whispered.

“Yes, Naga. Of course I did.” He gently brushed the curls back that had fallen down over her cheek. “It has been so long…” Daichi bit his bottom lip, regaining his composure. “I thought you had forgotten me, completely replaced me within your heart.”

She sniffed. “That will never happen, Daichi… not even if I live for a thousand millennia. I will always love you… always need you.”

He bent down and lightly kissed her cheek. “And I you, my love… always. Now, tell me what vexes the Angel of Death. Do not try to hide such from me. Acting thusly would only serve as an effort in futility.”

Jenevier chuckled. “I have missed you, Brother.”

Daichi yanked hard on one of her curls. “Call me thus once more, and I shall see that you are punished appropriately. I am not, nor will I ever be, your
brother
.” 

She snickered. “Apologies, Daichi. Habit.”

“Yes,” he said, pulling her closer. “Now, out with it, Naga. I have already gleaned the words Apollyon whispered in your ear. Your mind is at war over what the Elf King revealed…
and
that damn Senpai of yours.” He growled under his breath. “But your thoughts are muddled concerning the— Who the hell is that running about in your mind, Naga? I have never seen his like.”

“Nor I.” She sat up and sighed. “I need counsel, Brot— Umm… Daichi. I suppose it is time to have a family dinner. What do you think?”

Daichi only stared at her, mesmerized by her sparkling pink eyes.

He gently ran the tips of his fingers down the edge of her face. “Do you have
any
idea how much I miss you?” he whispered. “How badly I long to lay by your side once more?”

“But…” She lightly placed her hand over his as he continued gently stroking her cheek. “I thought you were happy—being an Arch, fulfilling the summonses given to you directly by Father.”

“I am happy, Naga.” He smiled tenderly. “Yet, that happiness does not replace the void left in my heart concerning
you
.” He twisted one of her curls around his finger. “
That
little lesson is one you never learned, my love—joy and loss living hand in hand within your heart. All creatures know and feel this, Naga. You…” He snorted out a soft laugh. “Well… you are all or nothing, Little Fire. You love as fiercely as you hate… and your pain is as epic as your joy.”

“…Yeah.” She looked away. “No one can ever accuse me of feeling
half
of anything.”

Daichi smiled. “No, Naga. They cannot.”

“So…” She sighed loudly. “You ready for this
meeting of the minds
?”

“Does Jophiel have to come?”

She chuckled. “I fear he will show up, invitation or no.”

“And Munenori?”

Jenevier glanced back at him, a tight-lipped smile wrinkling her lips. “He is a part of this, Daichi. We
all
are. Yes, Munenori’s presence will be required as well.”

He leaned back against the sofa, but didn’t speak.

“If this is anything close to what I think it is… no realm will be left untouched.” She took his hand, gently squeezing. “We all need to be on the same page, Daichi.”

The gorgeous blue Angel let his head loll to the side, glancing back at her. “Can it at least wait until sunrise? I wish to spend a bit more time… just the two of us.”

Jenevier smiled, leaning over against his chest, wrapping her arms around him. “As you wish, Daichi. We will save these worries for tomorrow. Today… let us live in the past for a bit.”

*****

“Dammit all, Uriel,” Apollyon roared. “You see from only one perspective—Naga is the Angel of Death, therefore
she
must do all the killing. She has only been with us but a breath in time. Who would you have put this off on, prior to her arrival?”

Uriel snorted. “Hmpft.
This
coming from the creature who chooses to always remain on the sidelines when duty comes knocking. You cannot just wear the uniform,
Brother
. You gotta play the game.”

Apollyon snorted. “Forget not the parable of the hammer thinking everything is a nail. You always want to bang away like a Neanderthal. Naga is
not
your nail. Every problem that arises—it is not her job to fight or kill. Especially not for
you
.”

Uriel rolled his eyes and sighed. “You are just biased where
she
is concerned.”

“As are you,” Apollyon hissed.

Gabriel smiled softly before speaking. “Neither one of you are necessarily wrong in this.” He glanced toward Uriel. “It is true that your default setting is to blame your little sister for every wrong,
use
her to rectify every problem.”

Apollyon smiled then.

Gabriel turned to the gloating Prince of Hell. “And
you
, darkest of my brethren, do not forget her purpose. Naga is blessed thusly… to do what it is that needs to be done.”

“Yes,” Jophiel said, smiling as he turned toward Jenevier. “You have been darkly blessed, little sister.”

Jenevier rolled her eyes and looked away, but the instigating Arch would not be deterred so easily.

Jophiel smirked haughtily. “Pretty little jack
ass
of all trades… master of none.”

“She is Master of Death,” Yui said, taking her hand in his before turning to face Jophiel. “Mind that
yours
is not the next soul she reaps.”

“Rawr,” Uriel said as he elbowed Jophiel. “Perhaps that pretty little ninja has some teeth after all.”

During the noisy exchange now happening around the table, Raphael leaned over and whispered in Jenevier’s ear, “Wow… this has turned into a right fine mess.” He gently yanked one of her curls. “Precious little sister, you have put a
literal
spin on
getting in bed with the devil
.” He chuckled. “Have you ever seen such posturing, such arrogant possessiveness?”

Jenevier turned to her dark-haired angelic brother and gently bumped her forehead against his. “My success in choosing mates… should be an inspiration to
all
women.”

Raphael and Jenevier shared a quiet chuckle, before the loud crash of Uriel’s fist meeting the table caused them to jump.

“Apollyon,” Uriel said through a snarl. “To stop the unthinkable, you must be willing to do the unspeakable.”

“Those are
my
words.” Apollyon glared at the enraged Arch. “Why don’t you try turning them on yourself, Uriel? Take the bull by the horns then—
do
the unspeakable. Trust me, Brother. It feels sooo good.”

Uriel raised a single perfect eyebrow. “Was that a challenge? Or a threat?”

Apollyon smiled coolly. “Take it how you will. But know this,
Brother
. Our truce is over at the bottom of that teacup… drink slowly.”

“That is quite enough,” Jenevier said. “We have veered way off our intended path.” She glanced around at her gathered brethren. “We should stay on task. No more bickering. Eyes on the objective, boys.” Her gaze met Uriel’s just as he started to open his mouth. “Shut it, Brother. Do something different for a change. Try
listening
… just for today.”

“We are not even certain what is happening,” Munenori said. “Opinions should be withheld until all we know has been revealed.”

“Yes.” Jenevier nodded. “It is as he says. Dofarel confirmed Vindicus’s suspicions.”

Her gaze met the enchanting sapphire Angel she had once named as husband. He gave her a closed-lip smile.

“The Elf King knows not how…” she continued. “…but the veil between realms is dwindling.”

“Yet, the celestial seals have not been broken,” Gabriel said. “This I well know.”

“Some other force is at play here,” Munenori said. “Something that has the ability to affect
every
realm.”

“Or
someone
,” Jophiel added, turning toward Jenevier. “Tell me, little sister. Where have you been playing about recently? I haven’t heard any of your latest adventures.”

“Mama hasn’t been
playing about
anywhere.” Tenshi narrowed his gaze. “Cast one more stone her way… and neither will you.”

An almost palpable silence fell over the room. Tenshi was an unknown force, a definite wild card,
especially
where his mother was concerned.

“My son speaks true.” Apollyon lifted his chin. “The Angel of Death spends her time watching, lurking about within the clouds. She has caused no harm.”

His words snapped Jenevier’s attention back to the speaking Angel. Apollyon’s intense sapphire gaze was fixed upon her.

“But how— How did you know?”

Apollyon smiled. “Always do I seek you, Anicee. The clouds are the only place you go that I cannot follow. You have changed, little one.”

Jenevier blushed. “I didn’t realize anyone else knew.”

“These self-absorbed creatures would never notice,” Apollyon said, glancing around at the other Archs. “Their minds are on their mission only. I am certain they have passed by you thousands of times.”

“They have,” she whispered softly.

Apollyon smiled. “They noticed you not, for their hearts are not continually upon you. Mine is.”

Daichi cleared his throat. “Very well. Shall we proceed, Naga? Tell them what it is you have discovered.”

“Well, to be honest… Vindicus was the one who brought it to my attention. I hadn’t even noticed. He heard murmurings from all realms leaking into the Nether.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I couldn’t get his words out of my mind… nor the crease they left upon his brow. I sought out the Elves. They seem to know a lot about the mysteries of the universe. At least, they
act
like they do.”

Raphael snorted out a laugh.

“When I met with Dofarel, he sang his thoughts into mine.” Jenevier turned to Munenori. “Have you ever done that, Senpai?”

He smiled, shaking his head. “No, Naga. I do not go amongst the Elven ones.”

“You should try it sometime.” She turned to Yui, taking his hand in hers. “When their tune starts, you are swept away into this magical kind of euphoria. It is breathtaking, enchanting. All your worries and cares simply evaporate into nothingness.”

“That sounds amazing,” Yui said, tucking a curl back behind her ear.

“Oh, it is.” She smiled brightly. “It was hard for me to come back to reality. Dofarel said—next time—he wouldn’t release me at all.”

“Then you will not be returning to the Elves,” Tenshi said coolly. “Did you tell Nilakanta what that pointy-eared King said—that he would keep you?”

Jenevier shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t remember. I told Nilakanta all the secrets that had been revealed to me. Besides, Dofarel was only teasing me. Why would I tell my Dragon such nonsense?”

Tenshi turned to Duhrias. Her sworn Knight immediately perked up at the blue Angel’s piercing glare.

“Inform her Dragon,” Tenshi said pointedly. “If she hid this from him, he can take it up with her later.”

Duhrias only gave him a sharp nod in response.

Jenevier glanced from her son to her sworn Knight. “Wha— I don’t keep secrets from Nilakanta. And… who do you two think you are?”

“We know exactly who we are,” Tenshi said. “We are your protectors.”

“But—”

“Do not fight me in this, Mama. We will speak on it no more.”