Blessed by Sapphires (A Dance with Destiny Book 2) (11 page)

“I am far too common to express my enormous gratitude for your enlightening words. It’s how I have always been told…
Every blessing has a curse, and every curse has a blessing.
No one life has proven this more than my own.”

She reached for my hand. “Come, let us walk. Vindicus is needed at the gate and good Vybius must regain his strength. You seemed full to bursting with questions when first you entered here. I will gladly answer all that I know.”

“Apologies, Viatrix,” Vybius said. “But I promised Jenevier a complete tour of Vandermil.
I
will see to her.”

I touched his arm, causing him to turn, granting me full access to those incredible amethyst eyes.

“No, good Vybius. You have done far too much for me already. You need your rest. And honestly, I’m looking forward to spending some time with another woman for a change. You warriors can play hell on a lady’s heart sometimes.”

“I am no warrior, Milady. And I promise you now, I am
not
playing.”

“Vybius, enough,” Vahan said. “You need your rest and the lady has made her wishes clear.”

I could plainly see the pain on Vybius’s regal face. I turned from him, walking out into the warming light arm in arm with Viatrix.

She showed me many wonderful new things. I saw rare flowers—touched delicate petals that could be found nowhere else in all of creation. I was blessed with an enchanting, aromatic feast for my hungry eyes, a soothing balm for my wonderment, a colorful gift for my soul. To say I was spellbound would have been an understatement.

I discovered the brilliantly crowned Vanir in Vandermil display outwardly the trait of their affinity, their natural guardianship. For instance, Viggo is the Guardian of the Sky and claims pale blue coloring—his hair, brows, and eyes—all matching thusly. Likewise, vibrant pink locks denoted an affinity to flowers in the same shade. This was true with all plants. Each one had a regal Vanir tending it, sharing the coloring identifying their heavenly job. But the most beautiful, the most vibrantly coifed, were the Vanir who claimed guardianship over precious gems and metals. Vibrant red for the rubies, deep rich purple for the amethysts, bright vivid green for emeralds, and all else—gold, silver, diamond, bronze, pearl. Each element of nature boasted its own ethereal sentinel. Once you understood the concept, it was easy to tell a warrior’s affinity with but a glance. Viatrix made a game of the guessing and I didn’t get many wrong. Her instructional entertainment afforded me the opportunity to meet countless new friends face to face.

Hours later, when my head truly was full to bursting, I said farewell to the ever-lovely, always-entertaining Viatrix and made my way back to Vybius’s comforting home.

There the Sage sat, eyes half closed, fighting his long overdue slumber. I sighed aloud at his stubborn determination.

Taking my treasured brother by the hand, I led him to a warm bath.

I knew Vybius was exhausted, but I was so full of wonder and new discoveries, I chatted along incessantly as I bathed the regal Vanir. Once I had him properly robed, I prepared one of Aunt Marlise’s famous soothing teas and bade him drink. I brushed out and braided his extremely long luxurious locks, the same as I had done for Varick so many times before, talking and laughing all the while. His braid was stunning, a sparkling treasure, to be sure. The deep amethyst wove spectacularly through the pristine silver, lacing its way down his back, nearly to his knees. It just popped. I couldn’t stop looking at it, couldn’t stop touching it, playing with it. I truly envy Vybius his glorious hair.

Standing behind him, I admired his impressive reflection staring back at me through tired eyes in the large looking glass.

I tenderly kissed the top of his head. “Ah, Brother, were I to be crowned as you are, my beauty would be that of fairytales.”

Vybius reached up, gently placing his hands over mine upon his shoulders. “Your smile alone surpasses fairytales, Jenevier. Were you any lovelier, the Angels in heaven would yield to their own jealousy and still your exquisite heart, cease your magnificence.”

I chuckled. “And if all men were blessed with your silver tongue, good Vybius, we women wouldn’t stand a chance. Our hearts would melt within us and we would freely surrender them, give them away with no hope of reclamation.”

“Would that I should be so blessed,” he whispered. “The stars don’t write such glory in my eternity.”

I affectionately kissed his iridescent cheek and led him to the giant bed, demanding he lie down and rest. As promised, I lay with my head upon his chiseled chest, listening to the hypnotic rhythm of his steady pulse. I told him many stories, beguiling him with many of the things I’d seen during my recent banishment on layer eight. When the beating of his precious heart slowed and sleep finally claimed him, I laid perfectly still, breathing in his spellbinding scent until I was certain he would not easily wake.

Keeping the front door steady, I silently eased it closed, holding my breath until I heard the tiny click of the latch. Smiling contently, I strolled out into the constant sunlight and sat down, lazily resting my weary form across a giant slab of sapphire magnificently protruding from the ground.

Has any place ever been quite so spectacular?

Then, I closed my eyes and drifted.

Chapter 16

Vindicus

(VIN-dah-kuss)

“That’s
my
stone your gorgeous little bottom rests upon.”

My eyes were closed but I didn’t need to
see
the ethereal warrior now shading my sunlight to know his deep guttural voice.

“Ah, I figured that out all on my own
hours
ago, Vindicus.” I opened one eye and looked up at the giant. “What brings you to this door, Sentinel? Should you not be guarding the gate?”

“Shift’s over. I came to check on Vybius. His glow seemed a little off today.”

He spoke as he lay down on the ground beside my priceless resting place, propped up on one elbow. My blue Guardian began plucking up blades of grass, casually chewing on them.

“Is that so? Well, Vybius is resting now and I shan’t let you disturb him.”

“Then I suppose I’ll just have to be content with
your
poor company for a while.”

I chuckled. “Surely you could do worse.”

“I could, perhaps, but not very easily. You’re about as
worse
as they come around here.”

I grabbed hold of his supporting wrist, jerking his arm from under his head. He casually fell back, resting his all-too-perfect form upon the lawn. His smile was lazy, tinged with mischievousness.

“He has fallen for you, ya know. A week ago, I would have called you a liar if you told me that stuffy old devil would
ever
fall in love. Now, here we are… worlds away from normal.” Casually reaching over, he tugged lightly on my skirt tail. “Is that what you do, tiny lady? Stroll into people’s lives, turn their worlds upside down, and leave with more tears than smiles?”

“Your words may be spoken in jest, but they are painfully near the truth.” I felt the burn of coming tears. “You see what is not there, Brother. I am betrothed. My heart is not mine to give,” I whispered, mostly to myself. “And you are much mistaken. He hasn’t fallen for me. Vybius and I are as kin, blood born siblings, more like.” I yanked a lock of his ethereal hair. “It was natural for us, happened within an instant. It’s easy being with Vybius… it’s comfortable.”

“For you, perhaps.” Vindicus grabbed my hand, pulling me from my sapphire pedestal. We lay on our backs, elbows touching, staring into a perfectly blue sky. “I tell you now, delicate Angel, that little Guardian in there, he sees you as
anything
but a blood born sister.” He yanked one of my curls in retribution. “Are you really so daft you cannot see the obvious adoration dancing plainly within his rare eyes? No wonder you stay in trouble, little girl. You do not think before you speak and you do not look before you step. You blindside yourself, naïve maiden.”

“What you say is true, Guardian, the whole of it. I have always been my own worst enemy. Alas, I cannot love another. No matter what may be dancing in my new friend’s lovely eyes. I am Varick’s Anicee, now and always.”

“For a woman who cannot lie, you seem to have no problem lying to yourself. I have looked upon your dainty fingers, held them even.” He picked up my hand, gently rubbing his thumb over the empty indentation where the tattoo had once been. “You are absent a manacle, dear one.”

“Perhaps upon my hand, I am. Yet the same doesn’t hold true for my heart. It is bound with a tie that cannot be seen and can never be broken.” I sighed. “When Vybius wakes, we will talk. I do not wish to hurt that gentle man.”

“Gentle?” Vindicus laughed. “Take heed, Milady. I didn’t call him an old devil in jest. There’s a reason he has never loved before. It’s not his purpose.” He rolled onto his side, propping himself back up on his elbow, staring down at me. “It’s easy to forget how incredibly young you are. When you have lived a tenth as long as I have, you’ll stop using words such as always and never. Eternity is a long time, little sis. You cannot even fathom it. There will be countless things that will change your
always
and your
nevers
. Trust me on this. It is as it should be. Besides, change is the only thing that makes the endless time… bearable.”

I unconsciously played with his stunning blue locks. “And just how long have you lived, ancient Guardian?”

“If you truly wish to know, I will tell you…”

And, he began.

Hours passed like minutes. We laughed and spoke of things of old. Vindicus told me of great battles, thousands of years ago. I briefly touched on the many I had seen and described in detail the little babies in Detroit, how they had grown into amazing young adults.

He shared marvelous tales of ancient wars fought in places that no longer exist against people who no longer were. I didn’t ask if he’d helped wipe these races from every place except the history books, for I didn’t truly wish to think about that possibility. Not right now.

Time stood still as our memories danced about us. As it was in Vanahirdem, the light never faded. The day never waxed old. Only my yawns betrayed my internal clock.

“You’re going to leave me now, aren’t you?” Vindicus whispered. “Would it matter if I told you… I didn’t
want
you to go?”

I didn’t answer him. I only smiled, kissed my new Guardian farewell, and made my way back to the giant bed holding my sleeping friend. Collapsing wearily beside Vybius’s silent form, I slept the peaceful dreamless sleep of a newborn babe.

Still smiling, I woke to the smell of rose tea and sugar sprinkled honey bread. The most beautiful amethyst eyes in all creation were sparkling down at me.

“Good morrow, my love.”

“Mmm.” I yawned and stretched my arms. “Good morning, Vybius.”

“Promise not to tell anyone and I’ll let you in on a little secret.”

“My lips are sealed.” I giggled as he handed me the tea.

“Last night… I slept with an Angel.”

“Truly? Well, I have a secret of my own,” I whispered. “I did as well. And I’m certain
my
Angel was rarer than yours.”

We shared a cheerful breakfast together before heading down to the chamber hall, hand in hand, laughing like children. Well, I was laughing, Vybius only smiled. I ran from one enticing new thing to the next, inquiring about every little mystery I found. My lovely new friend obliged me all, never tiring of my ceaseless enthusiastic questioning.

We finally reached the crowded chamber hall where everyone sat, silently awaiting our arrival. It seems they were all too curious to learn more of my once hidden secrets, now revealed to all.

When I gaily skipped within, I released Vybius’s hand and ran to Viatrix. She caught me up in her arms, lifting me to match her towering height, and gave me a giant hug.

I marched to the center of the room and found my blue Guardian already sitting on the floor, smiling.

“Vindicus, my sunshine, I no longer fear my past. You won’t have to coddle me today, I shouldn’t think.”

“Well, lovely maiden, better safe than sorry, I always say.” He winked at me and patted his knees.

“You seem in high spirits today, young warrior,” boomed Vahan. “You must be a particularly resilient Angel indeed.”

I turned to the council head and gracefully bowed to him. “Apologies, kind sir. I have witnessed and accepted things far stranger than these proceedings here. I needed only a little time to breathe and a few moments to acclimate. I am ready to continue with the airing of my dirty laundry and past transgressions so that I may freely proceed into my glorious future, unshackled and tether free.”

“Indeed,” he said with a snort. “Let us begin.”

Vahan motioned to Vybius and his ethereal sphere appeared once more. I smiled and cast him a sideways glance when I realized he’d skipped over the intimate time I had spent with my enchanting Alzeen in the Valley of Trees. His rare magic now showed me trying to enter Vanahirdem with that same charming man at my side.

Vindicus’s giant lap shook with laughter as he watched my
first
confrontation with the Gate Guardian, Vareilious.

“I’m amazed at the differences.” He yanked on one of my curls, apparently his favorite thing to do. “You showed not your claws when you entered
my
gate, little Princess. I seem to remember you couldn’t even find your tongue. Perhaps the difference isn’t in the maiden, but in the Guardian.” He wrapped his enormous arms around my waist. “It’s good for my ego, little Angel, to know I make you stutter so. You elicit a mirrored response from me as well, internally.” He whispered that last part.

I blushed, cheeks flaming from his insinuation, which only made the crowd’s laughter, at my expense, continue.

But I soon heard the chilling warning growls, eerily emanating from my new Guardian, as he witnessed some of my harder days spent under Varick’s fierce tutelage.

“He goes too far.” Vindicus spoke through gritted teeth. “If ever we should meet, he will carry scars as bitter payment for his unnecessarily cruel actions concerning you.
Your
punishment was not deserved. His is.” His powerful arms tightened around me.

I knew, without a doubt, Vindicus meant what he said. And that horrible thought sent chills up my spine.

I must make sure their paths never cross. I know not if I could live through the loss of either.

I playfully elbowed my new Guardian. “You would’ve gone easier on me? You would have been satisfied with providing me a cushioned, and thus improper, training?”

“Oh, I would never have gone easy on you,
will
never go easy on you. And as far as satisfaction, mine would have come from knowing you slept in my arms with a smile upon your face, not tears upon your pillow,” he whispered as he yanked another one of my curls.

I tried my best to remain calm and disassociated as I watched Vybius’s magic fill in the blanks of my past. My heart warmed with Alastyn’s revelation of love to the beautiful Willow. I visibly trembled through the horrific sounds of Halora’s maniacal laughter and Jezreel’s shrieks of pain. Vindicus moaned slightly when the orb displayed me walking into the Broken Wheel that fateful day, donned in slick black leather and extremely high boots.

Vybius shot him a warning glare. We all three blushed.

*****

The witnessing Vanir saw everything. Every single battle I was summonsed to. From the babies in Detroit down to the vile men in the King’s hunting lodge,
all
was laid out before their hungry eyes.

I heard the collective gasps when I tore Merodach’s still beating heart from his pleading chest. I witnessed their tears firsthand, caused by Vareilious’s bitter cries for help concerning my fated execution and his bold defiance of God’s orders.

I was relieved when Vahan’s booming voice broke through that horrible scene, causing the magic to fade and disappear.

“That will be all for today. I expect your prompt attendance to bring these proceedings to a close on the morrow,” he said.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be here,” I answered.

Vindicus whispered into the curls mounded at the back of my head. “Are you well, my love?”

“Yes, dear friend. None of this was completely new to me.”

“No, but
all
of it was new to us,” he said.

I looked around at the tear-filled eyes of the parting Vanir.

“They’re not angry with you. Do not fear.” Vybius tried to assure me. “They feel for you. That’s all, little Angel.”

I waited until the chamber hall had emptied except for Vybius and myself.

“You ready?” He extended me his hand.

I sighed heavily. My heart felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. “You go on ahead, Vybius. I’ll be home soon. I need a little alone time.”

“You now realize what the morrow holds for you, do you not? Until now, it has been painful but
known
to you, for the most part.”

“Yes. Tomorrow will either be a recount of my exile, or…” I paused with the terrifying thought.

“We have no need to witness your exile. We have watched you every moment since your first step out of that swamp,” Vybius stated, regretfully.

“I feared that answer more than you know.” I tried to smile but I could feel the tears burning the backs of my eyes. “So, tomorrow I’ll get to see my life without me in it.”

Vybius took my hands. The pity in those beautiful amethyst eyes was almost more than I could stand.

“Or rather, tomorrow I’ll see what life is like for my loved ones… without me in it.” Tears began to silently spill down my cheeks.

He took me in his arms. “Shhh, you knew the time would come, my love. You may have refused to speak it aloud, but I have already seen the tide of dread surrounding your heart.”

“You know what happens, don’t you?”

“Yes, little one, I know.”

We stood silently, embracing. My heart trembled with fear of the knowledge I was no longer sure I wanted.

“Vybius?”