Protected by Emeralds (A Dance with Destiny Book 5) (44 page)

Nilakanta chuckled.
Yes, but are you certain you can handle parting with me? I know how much you love me flying about within you.

She smiled. “Yet, if we do not separate, how will you carry me about upon your back, protect me with your awesome fire?”

Very well, tiny Angel. Shall we begin?

Jenevier stood on the very spot she had once held the bloodied form of her beloved Varick.

Nothing grows here still.

“I know, and nothing ever will.” She sniffed and wiped at her coming tears. “No seed will ever take hold within this cursed soil. Life has not the heart to flourish here. This is the one spot upon the whole of this realm where true injustice was served. No plant, no matter how hardy, will ever find nourishment here. This sand that I stand upon now, it holds nothing but pain. Pain, yes… and innocent blood.”

I knew not the man while he yet drew breath, Little Fire, but your memories of him put all other creatures to shame.

“Yes. A more glorious man has never lived. Varick was one of a kind. And as always, I played the fool.”

Not foolish, Naga… young.

“Yes… young and naïve and foolish.” She blinked away the burning tears, bringing the world back into focus.
I miss him so much
, she thought.

“Not nearly as much as I miss you, my dearest Anicee.”

Jenevier took a step back and blinked again. “Do you see him as well, Nilakanta? Or has madness and grief finally taken me?”

If madness be your affliction, then I am afflicted likewise.

“So you do? You see him as well?”

Yes, Naga. I see him as well.

Varick reached out toward her. “Come, Anicee. Sit by my side. Let us gaze upon these beautiful moons but for a moment.”

She took a trembling step forward, grasping tightly to his slender, elegant hand.

“How is it you are here, my love?” she whispered, never taking her eyes from his glowing, beautiful face.

“The blood I sacrificed for you… it called out to me, told me you needed me.”

“Are you real?” Her voice was tiny, pleading, hopeful.

“Come, Anicee. Wrap your arms about me and know that I am flesh.” He held her gently, stroking her curls as she cried. “I am so very proud of you, little Angel.”

“Pr-proud? But… why? I have done nothing but fail since the day I first laid eyes upon you. How is it one such as you could ever be proud of one such as me?”

“Anicee… I gave my life for you. Do not cheapen my sacrifice, Angel.” He held her ever closer. “Look at me, Jenevier. Let me gaze once more into those most magical of all eyes.”

She hurriedly wiped her face before he lifted her chin.

“My beautiful Anicee, heaven roared when you bested the soul-eater. Every day you find new ways to amaze me. I stand in awe of you, precious Angel. I always have.”

“But… but I
didn’t
best Vybius. He got the better of
me
. I caved, Varick, surrendered myself to him.”

His adoring smile stole her breath, the same as it always had.

“You are still so naïve, sweet Anicee.” He tenderly kissed her forehead, holding her close to him for one quiet moment. “Can you explain to me why Ahriman was able to go against all that he is? Can you tell me how it was he found the strength to bind you so?”

“…No, I cannot.”

“Because, my love, you showed that dark soul-eater your light.”

“M-my light?”

“Yes, beautiful lady, your light. Remember during your training? I warned you about staring too long into the abyss, into the souls of the ones you were summonsed to reap. Anicee, when you gaze into darkness… darkness gazes back into you. That is how Ahriman snared you. You were tired. You were beaten. And you were scared. You placed your faith and trust in him because you needed him, needed
someone
. It took but a moment, little one, a single fleeting heartbeat… and then he had you. Alas, hell’s Sage was not ready for what he received in return—
your
light. While you were staring into the abyss, the abyss was staring back… into the sun.”

“The… sun?”

“Yes, my love, your sun, your pure light. In that instant, you taught the Hand of Hell about compassion, about love, about empathy, about true forgiveness. Not through words or sermons, no. You showed him exactly what it means to be
of
the light. You are who you are, little one. Your beautiful light reached all the way to the very corners of his wretched darkness… and he was ashamed. As I said before, Anicee, I stand in awe of you… daily.”

“But… no… no, Varick. I was weak. I failed. I fail all the time. I make mistakes that are so catastrophic, entire worlds are put to the flame.” Her tears now flowed as blood from a gaping wound. “I am not all light and good, I’m not. I need you, Varick. I am weak. And… I am afraid.”

“Afraid?” He chuckled softly as he tried to dry her cheeks. “Anicee, you cannot make
fire
afraid. Worry not, for I am always with you. My lips,
these
lips… they are trained to yours, they know when yours tremble. My ear, this same ear that rested upon your soft chest while you slept… it hears when your heart quakes. These hands, the ones that hold you now… they ache every time your claws extend, my love. I know
everything
about you, Jenevier. Every breath you draw in, every thought that crosses your mind… I am there. Be not afraid, precious Anicee. Take strength in knowing I am always with you, even unto death.”

Jenevier felt his flawless form giving way. She cleaved tighter.

“Please… do not leave me, Varick.”

“I just told you, my love. I never will.”

The soft touch of his lips upon hers grew fainter and fainter, until the cool breeze caused her to open her eyes. He was gone.

Are you well, Naga?

She smiled as Varick’s loving warmth soaked into her, filled her grieving soul, completely consumed any fears that may have lingered. 

“Yes, Brother, better than I have been in years.” She took a deep breath. “I am ready now.”

Before we begin.
Nilakanta paused.
He is more glorious than even your memories, more radiant than your most inflated dreams.

“Yes, Brother. To know Varick is to know true unconditional love. He was my rock.”

And he ever will be, Kagi Naga.

Jenevier only smiled.

*****

The pain was every bit as horrific with his removal as it had been with their melding. Her skin burned like fire. She struggled to maintain consciousness, finally falling to her hands and knees, utterly spent.

When the very tip of her Dragon’s tail separated from her calf, Jenevier began choking, coughing up a lump in her throat—eventually spitting out what she thought was a stone. She picked up the strange sapphire bauble and studied it closely, rubbed her thumb across the intricate lavender veining its way throughout the blue.

It’s a Dragon scale
, Nilakanta said.
A tiny piece of me, of my soul.

Jenevier smiled as she closed her fist around it.

I wished a trinket of my own hanging about your fair neck, tiny Guardian.

Her smile remained as exhaustion claimed her and she collapsed fully upon the ground—her aching body covering the same place Varick’s once had. Her sweat and blood… soaking into the same sand.

Rest well, little one
, Nilakanta said as he gently lifted her in his claws, winging her to the moonlit springs of her secret valley home.

*****

The scar was raised slightly, not smooth as the glorious Dragon tattoo had been. And this scar… well, this scar was the color of the moon, edged about by a starless night.

“Do you think I am hideous?”

“No, Mistress.” Yui kissed her shoulder then looked up to meet her gaze in the beveled looking glass. “In my eyes… you are even
more
lovely because of it.”

She giggled softly. “You are biased in my regard, dear husband.”

He squeezed her then, harder than he meant to.

“Say it again,” he whispered. “Say the most glorious words I have only ever dreamed of hearing.”

“I love you, Yui, my most rare and beautiful husband.”

“Never has any man been blessed with such happiness. Always have I prayed for the everlasting miracle that is you, my love.”

She only smiled sweetly as he drew closer and kissed her.

Their marriage had been born of necessity, yes, but their love had been whole and pure since the day they had first met.

As promised, Yui had seen to every detail of their ceremony, from the decorations to the seating arrangements to the menu. Even the bridal gown was sewn to his specific design. All Jenevier had to do was wake up that day and be swept along with the joyous tide.

The bride and groom were to be lavishly dressed in gold, while the attendees would be expected to follow Jinn’s tradition of wearing black to a wedding. Yui had decided to try and mix their customs together, somewhat. Jenevier’s dress was more akin to the customary ones of Ashgard—fitted and full and completely covered in beads. Yui, on the other hand, would be donned in a stunning golden kimono.

Even though she thought it was rather silly, Yui would simply not be satisfied until she agreed to spend the night before their wedding in her secret valley home, while he remained at the palace.

*****

“Normally, Milady…” Mika said as she looked at her in the mirror. “…brides on Jinn are painted white from head to toe.”

“Yes, little sweetcake, I remember your wedding well. Alas, my skin is already as crystal. Painting me white would only darken my complexion.”

The two were still laughing when Lala ran into the room, panting and smiling at the same time.

“Obaasan, Grandpapa is here. He brought you something.”

Jenevier’s laughter immediately ceased. Her throat tightened and her chest ached. She wasn’t sure if it was from excitement… or fear.

“T-tell him I will see him.” She glanced over to her smiling daughter-in-law. “Will you see to Lala for a bit?”

“Yes, Milady. She wanted to play barefoot amongst the toadstools anyway. We will wait there until you are ready.”

Jenevier turned back to the mirror as they left the room, and sighed.

“Ugh. What am I to do with all this hair?” she mumbled. “My curls are as unruly as you are, Taka.”

The little Dragon Pixie only purred at her as he continued sniffing all the different little bottles scattered across her dressing table.

“Never have you looked lovelier, my Princess. Never has your rare beauty shone quite so brightly.”

She glanced up in the mirror as Apollyon entered.

“You say much the same thing every time you see me, Milord. You will find… overused words tend to lose their value.”

“Not where you are concerned, my love. If I were to shout them from the mountaintops daily… their value would only swell in your regard.”

She smiled softly. “And what brings you here on my wedding day, Vindicus?”

She jumped slightly in reaction to his soft touch upon her shoulder.

“I was worried.”

“Worried? Concerning what, pray tell?”

“Your luck with weddings, little one. They have not proven themselves to be such glorious events where
you
are concerned. I came to ensure you were not cheated out of happiness, yet again.”

She placed her hand over his on her shoulder. Their gazes met in the looking glass.

“Gratitude, Vindicus. You are the only living creature who knows the full truth of those words. And… you have no idea what it means to me—your genuine concern.”

He tenderly kissed the top of her head. “Your dress is stunning, Empress. Yet, I prefer you in sapphire.”

She smiled with only one corner of her mouth. “I wear it all the time.”

“I know,” he whispered. “And you take my breath away every… single… time.”

“Stop spying on me, Milord,” she teased. “It gives me the creeps.”

He inclined his head toward her. “As you say, Milady.”

Jenevier smiled softly as she fiddled with her curls for a moment, lost in thought.

“Varick came to me,” she whispered.

“He did? When was this, my love?”

“A fortnight past. He had heard about Vybius…” She paused.

“Did he do what I could not? Did he ease your guilt concerning that devilish dark Angel?”

“He did.” She sighed. “Varick could always make me feel better, make me
be
better. I never deserved him.”

Apollyon had begun lacing her curls together as she spoke, piling them neatly atop her head. When she stopped talking, when he felt her coming tears, he tried to change her thoughts.