Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (13 page)

“Obaasan is not the woman you knew,” she whispered. “Not anymore.”

“What do you mean? Has something happened to her?”

Lala shook her head. “Nothing new. But… ever since she lost her humanity… she’s just… different.”

“Pfft, losing her humanity was the best possible thing that could have happened. You have no idea what you are talking about, little girl.”

“That may be true, but I know what I know. And I know Obaasan isn’t my Obaasan anymore. She’s different. She doesn’t smile like she did when I was little. And even when she does, it doesn’t reach all the way up to her eyes. In truth, I normally don’t get to see her for weeks or even months at a time. She doesn’t come home very often. After she sorted out all the people in her life… she poured herself into her work.”

“What do you mean—sorted out?”

“When Obaasan saw to everyone else in her life. She brought Duhrias back to be my Guardian. We are constant companions, every moment of every day since I was three years old. Uncle Daichi is an Arch now and he stays busy with that. She brought Cherie—the Forest Spirit—back to be with Yui. But Yui wasn’t having
any
of it. Then Cherie met Vareilious and they have been inseparable ever since. Then she asked Yui to become Emperor, so she wouldn’t have to worry about Jinn.” Lala sighed. “We used to all have tea together—my parents, Obaasan and Yui, Daichi and all the Archs—but those days are long since passed. It has been a couple years now since I have listened to Raphael’s deep laughter, or heard Daichi threaten to kill Jophiel.” Silent tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. “Obaasan… well… she is only Death now, Vybius. Jenevier is long dead. Naga, too, as far as that goes.”

“I see…” Ahriman studied her innocent blue eyes a moment longer. “I am going to bestow a rare gift upon you, little one. Close your eyes.”

Lala immediately obeyed. Her breath hitched when she felt his warm lips graze across hers a heartbeat before he kissed her fully. She was lost. Her knees buckled and she desperately clung to the lethal dark Angel. When he finally pulled away, she whimpered. She didn’t want to stop.

“Be calm, little one,” Ahriman whispered. “I am not meant for you, nor are you meant for me. That dark kiss is all we will ever share. But from this day forth, always will I speak within you.” He looked away long enough for the spell he had cast to be broken. “Come. And bring your River Spirit. There is much we need to discuss.”

And with those words from the soul-eating Hand of Hell, Duhrias was mercifully released from his horrifying bonds as well.

*****

“But I don’t understand,” Lala grumbled.

“Yes, and that is the problem.” Ahriman glared at her. “You don’t understand, yet you refuse to listen.”

“Let me see if I’ve got this,” Duhrias said. “It doesn’t cause problems when Naga passes through the caves. But when
we
do, the lines between realms… blurs?”

Ahriman sighed. “It doesn’t cause problems when Naga calls upon the Urimtheim, not because she is Naga—because she is Angel. The same holds true for all Angels. Even
I
could use the caves if I so wished. Let me put it this way. If you do not
need
the Urimtheim, you do not deplete it. Naga doesn’t need the caves, she has the clouds. The same holds for me and my dark kin as well. We can access all realms, minus your precious glowing pebbles.” He snorted in disgust. “But neither you, nor this irritating raven-haired little Princess, can leave your realm without calling upon the power of the Urimtheim. Thus, you
use
its power, you deplete it. And as that magic fades, so too do the walls between worlds.”

“…I see,” Duhrias whispered.

Ahriman clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth. “So glad to see such unimaginable power is being cashed in for a good bowl of ramen.”

Lala caught his sharp glare. Her shoulders slumped even more.

“Bellevine didn’t have wings and she used the caves all the time,” she mumbled.

“Yes, and tell me what happened to Jenevier’s beloved great-grandmother?” Ahriman paused, but received no response. “She died before her time. As did her daughter, Princess Lazeen. They each claimed celestial blood, yet, they were not Angel. The cats learned their lessons through great loss and suffering. How is it the whole of
your
lineage has so much damn trouble with it?”

“It’s not her fault,” Duhrias said. “I have known about the caves the whole of my days. Never have I been told such, nor even heard whisperings concerning harm.”

Ahriman turned his attention to the handsome River Spirit then. “Did you not wonder why it never worked for you or anyone you knew?”

“I knew it glowed only for Angels—”

“Yes,” Ahriman interrupted. “Because only Angels are meant to use it.”

“But I carry the blood of Angels,” Lala whispered.

“Ahh, but your blood is tainted, little one. You are descended from an abomination, an offspring of Shamsiel and Talia. And apparently
that
unsanctified vein of angelic blood runs stronger in you than does the blessed bond you also claim. Jenevier’s blood was cleansed during her Pyrolysis, and Tenshi was born an Angel.”

“Fine then,” Lala snapped. “We won’t use the caves anymore.” She cut her eyes away from them. “And I am
not
an abomination,” she mumbled.

Ahriman sighed and stood. “But the lesson comes too late in the learning, tiny Shinobi. The damage has been done. What has been depleted, cannot be regenerated. I have been searching for the source of Shamsiel’s growing strength. I never dreamed it would be one of his distant, yet stupid, offspring.”

Duhrias stood as well. “What are you saying, Ahriman? Have the walls to Sheol been weakened?”

“Have you not been listening?” Ahriman hissed. “
All
the walls have been weakened. And that idiotic little girl, sitting right over there…” He pointed toward Lala as he spoke. “…has admitted to popping in and out of the caves for years. Every time she had a craving, she pranced her smug little ass right into the caves and simply skipped about anywhere she damn-well pleased. Listen well, you little raven-curled brat. When the veil is gone, when the barriers have vanished and the universe spills into itself… the countless deaths will be upon
your
head.”

Lala’s eyes went wide. “Wha— Deaths? But—”

“Already the reapers are selling souls to the highest bidder and demons are making slaves of the righteous. The madness will not cease, and the unimaginable will soon become commonplace. When next you see your Obaasan, you best kiss her and hold her like it’s the last time you will be blessed to look upon her.” Ahriman narrowed his gaze. “For I tell you this, and without reservation, Jenevier’s soul will be the most bartered for.
Her
precious soul will claim a high price… and it will be the first one sold.”

*****

Duhrias tossed another leaf from the balcony and watched as it blew silently across the flowing lavender. He stared down at the now bare stem as he broke off the last thorn, sighing. Turning to place the odd blue rose back into the vase, he caught Lala’s irritated glare.

“Just come right out and say it before you burst,” she snapped. “What are you thinking?”

“…I was just thinking…” He paused as he drew another azure flower from the water. “Where does your grandfather find roses such as these? And then I was thinking… Does Naga know you have these? She will be cross if she finds them in your room. These lovely blooms stand as a rare symbol between the two of them. He considers them sacred… as does she.”

“Oh, who gives a damn about a bunch of stupid flowers right now? We have much more pressing concerns. Don’t you think?”

“What
I
think is… our problem,
any
problem, does not negate the preciousness of such a rare gift.” He lightly ran his fingertips across the soft edges of the lovely petals. “Nor the symbol of lost love that it holds for them both.”

Lala jumped up. “Oh, to hell with these flowers!” She dumped the contents of the vase over the edge of her balcony and then crushed the bloom that Duhrias was holding before hurling it down to meet the others. “What purpose will they serve if we are all lost? Help me think of a plan, Dimples. There must be some way we can fix this… something we can do that will
undo
the harm that has been wrought. I need you to focus, Guardian.”

“If something could be done to
undo
the harm, don’t you think Ahriman would have told us? He didn’t have to share any of it. He could have simply eaten our souls and gone along on his merry way. None would have been the wiser. But he didn’t. He spent the better part of the day trying to impress the action of our deeds upon us. If he had known anything else, why would he have left it hidden? No. There is nothing that can be done to
undo
our sin. The only choice we are left with is to let everyone else know what is coming.”

“No!” She grabbed his hands, squeezing. “Please, no. Don’t tell anyone. Not Naga, not Father, and especially not Daichi. Give me time to think this through properly. I’m certain I can come up with something without having to involve
them
. Just give me a little time, Dimples.”

“And just what do you have in mind?”

She looked out into the distance, yet focused on nothing. “I was just thinking… Do you know where the
walls
are Vybius was talking about?”

“What do you mean?”

“The walls—the veils he said were depleting. Do you have any idea where they would be?”

“Hmm… Well, they have to do with the unseen world. That’s for sure.” He furrowed his brow. “Perhaps… the Nether. Don’t all roads, all paths, lead through the Nether?”

Lala smiled. “Yes… Every realm
has
to be connected to the Nether. Just like every realm is connected to the clouds.”

“But reapers don’t use the clouds, do they?”

“No.” Lala bit her lip. “And neither do the dark ones. So… I guess all we can do right now, is wait.”

“Wait? On what?”

“On a visit from Grandpapa.”

She smiled and went back into her room, leaving Duhrias alone to do all the worrying.

*****

“And just where is my enchanting granddaughter off to in such a hurry?”

Lala jumped slightly when she nearly ran headfirst into Jenevier as she was storming out of her room.

“Oh, Obaasan! I-I didn’t see you standing there.”

“Of course you didn’t, child. I have only just arrived.” Jenevier smiled softly. “Now… where were you heading off to, little one? I wished to spend some time with you today,
if
you can spare it.” She sighed. “We rarely get to talk anymore. I miss our quiet nights—gazing up at the moons.”

Lala blushed. “I miss them as well, Obaasan.”

“Then, come.” Jenevier held out her hand. “Let us claim this evening for just the two of us. Shall we? We will have tea out on the balcony, and talk of things as they fall upon our hearts. No worries, no summonses, and no boys allowed. What do you say?”

“That sounds amazing.” Lala smiled, taking her grandmother’s extended hand. “You have no idea how much I need this right now, Obaasan.”

“Oh?” Jenevier tucked one of Lala’s raven curls back behind her ear. “Tell me, little one. What worries plague my beloved granddaughter?”

“They are not really
worries
, per se. I’ve just been thinking.”

“About what, my child?”

“About the way things used to be.”

“When you were little?”

“Yeah.” Lala nodded. “And when
you
were little as well.”

“Ahh…” Jenevier chuckled. “You wish to know of my youth?”

“I wish to know everything about you, Obaasan… everything.”

“Everything?”

“Yes, Obaasan. Everything. Pleeease?”

Jenevier had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. “Very well, little one. Just remember.
You
asked for it.”

*****

Yui brought in their rose tea, kissed each woman on the crown of her head, and quietly exited the room.

“When
I
was little?” Jenevier chuckled. “What is it you would like to know, my love?”

Lala took a sip of tea, swallowing hard. “Did you ever wonder—way back then—what secrets the universe held?”

“In truth… no.”

“No?”

Jenevier shook her head, shrugging her shoulders. “I never wondered what lay beyond Ashgard because… Ashgard held all the magic and mystery I’d ever dreamed of.
That
, and the fact that I was clueless to anything existing beyond
my
world. I enjoyed the innocence of my youth. Although, I did not know to treasure it… not until much later, after far too much had already been revealed.”