Destroyed by Onyx (A Dance with Destiny Book 4) (29 page)

“Of course I love her, Tenshi, you idiot.”

“So… perhaps you still
need
her.”

Daichi scoffed. “To say I did not need her would be like saying a fish no longer needs the sea because he was tossed out upon the land.” He sighed heavily. “She is why I was created, Tenshi, why I was even given breath. This you know.”

“Yes, I do.” Tenshi smiled gently. “Now, tell me.
Why
were you made for her? What is your purpose?”

Daichi didn’t answer.

“Because she needs you, too,” Tenshi whispered. “You were made to walk
beside
her, Daichi. Not to follow her. You know better than any other creature, she cannot live without you. Why do you now punish her for something she had no control over? You knew she wasn’t herself. You carried the largest part of her in your own hand, the same part that swirls beneath where you now lay.”

Daichi only rolled his eyes, where Tenshi couldn’t see.

“Vittorio went to visit her,” Tenshi said, as he plopped down beside the sullen Angel.

Daichi sat up then, glaring at his brother.

Tenshi pretended not to notice, staring off into infinite space as he continued his tale. “He said she was angry and cold and scared. Nothing like she once was. She even threw him out.” He cast Daichi a quick sideways glance. “Told him she didn’t need him, didn’t need anyone. Said she could make it on her own, minus comfort or help.”

“She speaks madness,” Daichi mumbled.

“Yes, she does.” Tenshi wiped some moon dust off his boots. “Tiny pieces of her are probably already drifting away into the heavens. While you sit here on the surface of this colorful little moon and wallow in your own tears.”

“She does not want me there,” he growled.

Tenshi snorted out a laugh. “So what? When has that ever stopped you before? I didn’t want you there plenty of times. Yet, your bull-headed stubbornness wouldn’t let you leave. I spent a huge chunk of my childhood trying to piss you off good enough to make you run away.”

Daichi only snorted back and rolled his eyes.

“Yet in all we’ve shared, the good and the bad… there is one thing you never told me, Brother,” Tenshi said. “One thing you never confided.”

“And what might that be?”

“What did you do to Mama to convince her you were not her beloved son?” Tenshi turned to look at him then. “What in the world could you have possibly done to that stone-willed woman to cause her to accept you as her healing mate, not her blood?”

Daichi tossed a small pebble and watched the fine dust silently puff into a tiny cloud over where it landed.

“I kissed her,” he whispered.

Tenshi smiled, still staring at the other Angel’s stoic profile. “Huh. As simple as that? Just a kiss?”

“Our connection could never be explained with words, it’s beyond them.” Daichi looked down at his strong hands, they were trembling. “Touch is the only possible way. Then… you just know.”

“Makes sense to me.” Tenshi shrugged his shoulders. “So, tell me. What did you do to convince her once the memory of that kiss, the memory of your healing touch, had been stolen from her? When we finally found her on Val Hal, all but destroyed, what did you do to remind her of what it felt like to be healed by Father?”

The twin Angels sat there in silence, shoulder to shoulder, staring out at the glorious wonders of infinite space.

Several moments passed before Daichi spoke.

“Shut it, Tenshi. Just… shut it.”

Tenshi only smiled.

Chapter 32

Kagi Naga

(KAH-jee NAH-gah)

The mossy lavender Angel pulled her tight against him. Wrapping his arms around her, he imparted nothing but heavenly love, trying desperately to heal the wound he’d helped cause.

“Careful, Munenori.” Jophiel smirked haughtily. “You don’t want to lose control again, little brother. Least not right here in front of the boy.” He nodded his head toward Yui.

“You never even told us why you’re here,” Munenori said, ignoring the Arch’s lewd reference. “What did you want with her, anyway? What business do you have within her home?”

“This does not concern you,” Jophiel said. “This matter is between us and Kagi Naga. Tend to your own affairs, Guardian of Jinn. Play not with our missions. You cannot handle the weight
our
wings carry.”

“Then tell me, Jophiel.” Her muffled words were barely audible. “What do you want with me?”

“We have an assignment for you,” Uriel answered softly.

“By whose authority?”

Jophiel turned a cold glare toward the speaking Angel. “We are Archs, Munenori. By whose authority do you think?”

Munenori flinched.

“Seems we’re having a bit of a problem with the Grigori,” Uriel continued. “When the notice came down, Raphael said little Naga here would be the perfect man, umm,
woman
for the job.”

“Are you saying Raphael thinks Naga can stand against the Grigori?” Munenori asked, half laughing. “On her own?”

“No, Munenori, not
all
the Grigori,” Uriel said. “There is only one in need of her type of services. And to be fair, we were under the impression she
wasn’t
alone.” His eyes narrowed. “She is supposed to be accompanied by her healer, Daichi.”

“And just which of these mighty Grigori is this child to stand against?” Munenori asked. “Whose summons do you carry?”

Uriel glared hard at the much smaller Angel. “Shamsiel,” he said.

“Shamsiel?” Munenori laughed out the name in an unbelieving gasp. “He is your responsibility, Uriel, is he not? He was
your
right hand, Brother.”

“I know full well what and who he is and was,” Uriel hissed. “Do not presume to preach to me, Angel.”

“And you actually expect this child, even with her Daichi, to be able to accomplish what you, yourself, could not?”

“Ah, ah, ah, Munenori.” Jophiel’s sweet voice filled the room. “You tread upon thin ice, Brother. Heed your tongue lest it make you fall.” He raised one eyebrow, daring the Angel to continue.

“I see.” Munenori smiled knowingly. “I was curious as to why you were always so interested in Kagi Naga.” He gave Uriel a level glare. “Why it was one as majestic as yourself went to the trouble of leaving your realm to avenge her. And, just why it was you would entrust your favorite blade to the sapphire Blessing you hold such disdain for.”

“You go too far,” Uriel warned.

“No, you’re the one who has gone too far,” Munenori spat. “You didn’t try to help her because you cared. You couldn’t possibly care less. You only sought to spare your hide the stripes you deserve by sacrificing this child’s life to cover for your own inadequacies.”

Munenori stiffened. His arms were no longer wrapped protectively around her. Jenevier looked up at her swaying Senpai. He screamed. Grabbing his head, the Guardian Angel of Jinn fell to his knees in unrelenting pain.

“Stop it!” she yelled. “Stop it now, Uriel! Leave him alone!” As she turned to face the Arch, a large black line slowly inched its way down her leg. “I will go with you. I will freely do all you ask of me. Just… leave him alone.”

“You are worthless in your current state,” Jophiel said dismissively. “It would do no good to send you as you now are.”

“Physical pain is not what cracks me. It never has.” She glared at the condescending Arch. “What you so coldly gaze upon now is only the physical manifestation of what is happening within my heart. Now, leave… him… alone.”

Munenori’s cries stopped. He crumpled to the floor.

“Uriel, Brother, if you send her like this, she won’t even last a day,” Jophiel said casually.

“Aye, then I’ll go with her.”

Uriel smiled. “Ahh, at last he speaks. I was wondering how long you would choose to hide upon the railing. Come forth, Guardian. Plead your case.”

“You have
got
to be kidding me.” Jophiel rolled his eyes when Vittorio entered the room. “A Vanir? Are you being serious, Uriel?” He laughed through his patronizing words. “Why not send her forth with a suckling babe hanging from each breast? They could sustain her life longer than a Vanir.” He spat out the word
Vanir
like it was a foul curse, bitter upon his tongue.

“Aye, Lass. An’ ye wonder why I hate Angels?” Vittorio winked at her and smiled.

Relief washed over Jenevier as she ran to her old friend, wrapping her arms around his waist.

“You possess a valiant heart, Guardian, and an unquenchable love for this little colorless angelic abomination,” Uriel said. “It is an admirable thing, I suppose. But useless. My brother is right. You will be nothing but a hindrance for our little
sister
.”

She turned and faced the Angels she had fast come to hate. “Can you kill me? Truly?”

“We can make you
wish
you were dead,” Jophiel snapped.

“I see,” she said. “So… you have no more power than does Fate.”

With that, she turned and left them standing there as she entered her own chambers. They followed her.

“Do you truly believe I have no power?” Uriel asked.

His sardonic tone turned her stomach.

“If all you can do is make me
wish
for death, then you are too late, Brother.
Years
too late.”

She tossed Yui’s destroyed shirt and her reclaimed blades atop the bed. Yanking a new tunic from its hanging place in her closet, she shimmied it over her head before walking out onto her balcony.

Jophiel’s cheeks flushed at the sight of her dressing. He glanced away, giving her privacy she hadn’t asked for, and noticed Vittorio staring at him knowingly. He growled at the Guardian before following after her.

“You hate me,” she continued. “Call me an abomination. Come to my home with the intention of sending me to my death.” She turned to face Uriel. “Very well, Angel. I accept.”

“Jenevier, nae. Dunnae do this, my love.”

“Empress, listen to your Guardian,” Yui pleaded.

She held her hand up toward her friends, silencing them, but kept her gazed locked with the Archangel.

“If you can meet my demands, I will face this
Shamsiel
by mine own choice, freeing you from any responsibility concerning my fate.”

“Demands?” Fire burned in Jophiel’s eyes. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“Uriel,” she continued, giving no notice to the other Arch. “Have I been given a direct summons to deliver judgment unto this Shamsiel?”

“You have not,” he answered coldly.

“Very well, then. For reasons unbeknownst to me, you require my assistance. To obtain that which you seek, you will meet my demands.”

Jophiel started to speak when the other golden-eyed Arch lifted his hand, halting his brother’s coming words.

“I cannot be expected to pay a price which has yet to be set,” Uriel said.

“Fair enough.” Jenevier lifted her chin before she continued. “First and foremost, you will either stop or undo whatever it is you did to my friend, Munenori. You will restore him fully.”

Uriel’s eyes sparkled. “Done,” he hissed. “Anything else?”

One corner of her mouth twitched up. “Yes, much more.”

Jophiel rolled his eyes.

Munenori staggered unto the balcony, collapsing into a chair. He remained silent.

“Go on, then,” Uriel urged.

“Tell me the story of
me
,” she said. “The real version. Minus all assumptions, guesses, or opinions. Who am I and what is my purpose? Are you privy to the truth of it?”

“I am,” Uriel said.

“Then, whenever you’re ready.” She leaned back against the banister, wrapping her arms across her tummy.

“Are you certain?” Uriel asked.

She only stared at him in silence.

“Very well,” he said with a sigh. “Much of it you know.”

She raised one eyebrow at his words.

“Well, much of it you
knew
,” he added.

“Let’s pretend I do not,” she said. “How would your story go if I was absent any word of it?”

Jophiel snarled at her impudence. She only winked at him and looked back to Uriel.

He sighed heavily before starting. “As you may remember being told, Angels are of one mind. That’s true to an extent,” Uriel explained. “But Archs… we are
always
connected. And we are not the first you have met. There was another.”

Her confused look caused Jophiel to laugh. “You were married to him, stupid girl.”

Uriel continued, ignoring his brother. “You were created special, but not to be an Angel. I suppose you could have been called sort of a prophetess, in a sense. You were blessed with the gifts you would need to restore the King of Ashgard.” He crossed his arms. “Well… that’s the long and short of it.”

Jophiel spoke up. “One responsibility.” He held up a single finger. “That was it. Just
one
thing. Could you possibly have screwed it up any more than you did?” He snorted out a condescending laugh. “You could not, even if you’d been trying.”

Uriel looked sideways at his brother and back to her. “What he says may seem harsh, but he is not entirely wrong. Munenori was correct in telling you… you were meant to be marked, to be cursed by the reigning King of Ashgard. Yet, your altered course was not your doing alone. Several of your meddling ancestors had a hand in it as well.” He sighed. “Merodach was to mark you, take you, and his heart was to be changed by you. He would be taught how to love. That was your responsibility, simple as that. Your birth wouldn’t even have been necessary had the Guardians stopped Shibta from spreading her blight across your realm.” He cast a quick glance toward Vittorio. “Merodach’s grandparents would have been spared and they would have naturally taught him love. As it should be. Alas, you were created as a
backup plan
, you might say. To right a wrong.”

Jophiel narrowed his eyes. “So, I guess you should thank Shabriri’s sister for your very existence.”

She returned his glare and cocked her head to the side as she spoke. “And yet, here you are,
Brother
, seeking my aid.” A smirk turned up one corner of her mouth. “Imagine that, the completely screwed up, accidental Angel. Given breath because of a demoness and too stupid to fulfill her one and only responsibility. Huh, oh how the mighty have fallen.”

Munenori half tried to muffle his laughter and earned burning angelic glares in return.

“Anyway, it is what it is.” Uriel’s story played on. “You ran. That one decision ended with unexpected, catastrophic results. The Guardian Prince was already weak for you. He meddled where he shouldn’t have. And… then he trained you in the way of the warrior.”

“Ridiculous, what was he even thinking?” Jophiel scoffed. “You only needed basic knowledge to defend yourself. But he loved you too much.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I was certain you wouldn’t live through it. It would have served you right. If you ran from your destiny, there was no longer a need for you. Your death wouldn’t even have made a hiccup in time. Yet somehow, not only did you live, you thrived.”

“Yes. And that’s when Raphael took even
more
notice of you.”

“You did as well, Brother,” Jophiel snapped.

“Yes, I did,” Uriel admitted. “But for very different reasons. I was fascinated by her constant mistakes and ridiculously bad decisions. I was curious as to how badly one little human could err.”

“If that was different from Raphael’s interest, what was
his
intention?” Munenori asked.

The Archs both glared at him but did not speak.

Jenevier cleared her throat. “Yeah, what he said.”

Uriel rolled his eyes. “Raphael was just curious. That’s all. You remind him of someone.”

“Then our fascination grew to other things,” Jophiel added. “Especially after your Guardians finished turning you into the abomination you were, and actually let you go through the Pyrolysis.”

Munenori stood then and faced Jophiel. “And yet, Father changed her. Are you saying He was wrong?”

The Archs growled.

Jenevier cleared her throat once more, drawing their attention back to her. “I would like to amend my first condition to include not only that you healed the harm you wrought my Angel friend, but also that you swear to refrain from harming him in the future.”