Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (15 page)

Jenevier paused—speechless, dumbfounded.

Gabriel softly, gently cleared his throat. “Naga… tell us what Dofarel revealed.”

She swallowed hard before pulling her gaze from her sons. “Umm… Dofarel said there is much chatter concerning the veils. No one seems to know what is causing it, but the effects are obvious within every realm.” She met Gabriel’s concerned gaze. “If the seals are intact, and no
entity
is responsible… then, the Elven King surmised that it must be magical in nature.”

“Magical?” Jophiel furrowed his brow. “Who do we know who can wield
that
kind of magic?”

“Well, it’s not the Elves,” Jenevier said.

Raphael turned to Munenori. “
Your
descendants claim great magic.”

“Yes.” Munenori nodded. “I do not believe this problem involves the people of Iga, but I will check it out, nonetheless.”

“I do not believe it’s the Shinobi,” Jenevier said. “I met with them at length. They seemed genuinely surprised by the news.”

“What about the first and second layer realms?” Daichi asked. “They are made up
wholly
of magical races, are they not?”

“Yes, they are,” Gabriel said. “But even with their power combined, they could not deplete the veils.”

“…Deplete,” Uriel mumbled. “Perhaps that’s it.”

Everyone turned toward the speaking Arch.

Uriel smiled. “Perhaps we shouldn’t focus on the
wielders
of magic, but on the
users
of magic. Turn your thoughts toward that, my kinsmen. Perhaps someone has found a way to tap
into
magic, into the magic of the veils.”

“Perhaps,” Gabriel said. “But it would have to be an enormous amount—that which has been stolen—for it to cause such a change within the veils.”

“Perhaps someone is collecting magic,” Raphael said. “Storing it up somewhere.”

“Yes,” Jophiel agreed. “But who could do such a thing? Where could they hide it that we could not see?”

“What of your stalker, Naga?” Daichi said. “Could
he
manage such a thing?”

Jenevier shrugged her shoulders. “I know nothing of the man.”

“What stalker?” Tenshi demanded.

“Tell him, Naga,” Daichi coaxed. “Tell your son about the man with eyes like fire and ice.”

Jenevier turned, wide-eyed, toward her former blue Blessing, giving him a
what are you doing
look. Daichi only winked at her.

“Spill it, Mama. You know better than most—secrets only
cause
problems. They do not solve them.”

Jenevier sighed. “It isn’t a secret. Not really. The subject just hadn’t come up.”

“Yet, now it has,” Yui said softly. “Come, Madam Empress. Tell us all we do not know concerning the man.”

“That’s just it,” Jenevier said. “I know nothing of the man. He approached me in the clouds, as I was returning from Earth. He admitted to having followed me around for years… since the day of the great battle here on Jinn.” She glanced toward Apollyon. “And he has apparently made every step I have, from that day until this.”

“What?” Uriel furrowed his brow. “You mean… he is watching us. Here? Now?”

Jenevier shrugged her shoulders again. “I know not. I
guess
he is. He said he ever watches me.”

“To what end?” Tenshi asked.

“I know not, my son.”

“You said he approached you in the clouds,” Raphael said. “Is he Angel?”

“No.” Jenevier shook her head. “He has no wings. I know not
how
he travels. He is Nephilim.”

“Nephilim?” The Angels gasped in unison.

“He said he was Nephilim—the last of his kind.” She turned toward Tenshi. “He was the one who kicked over the tree—the one who upset Cherie.” She then glanced over at Yui. “The
shadow
we saw on our balcony. He thought you were hurting me. That’s why he showed himself.”

“A Nephilim?” Jophiel whispered, mostly to himself.

“She must be mistaken,” Uriel said. “They have all been banished to Sheol… ages ago now. There are none left among the layers.”

“I am only telling you what he told me. Rixx said he was the last of his kind—”

“Rixx?” Gabriel asked.

Jenevier nodded. “Maza Vespar Rixx—the last Nephilim… tasked with ever watching me.”

“Tasked by whom?” Daichi asked.

“I know not.” Jenevier sighed. “He approached me, told me his name, that he had been watching me, and then offered me his help.”

“Help in what?” Raphael asked.

“Help concerning my acclimation into
Angelhood
, I suppose. He said he could relate to the things that were troubling my heart—told me I would need my strength to face a coming darkness.”

“What coming darkness?” Apollyon asked.

“He did not elaborate. He only mentioned it, then said that souls were being bartered for.”

“Bartered for?” Munenori said. “You withheld that bit from me.”

Jenevier turned toward the Guardian Angel of Jinn. “Apologies, Senpai. I only just remembered it. Rixx mumbled a few more parting words, but I was too angry—didn’t catch the whole of it.”

“So…” Gabriel paused. “It seems perhaps this
Nephilim
is the source of our problems. He hinted at too much to be innocent in this.”

“Yes,” Raphael agreed. “And as far as bartering for souls, that can only happen in—”

“In Sheol,” Apollyon said through a growl.

Jenevier turned toward Uriel. “Tell me more of Sheol. You and your smirking brother, there.” She motioned toward Jophiel. “You bade me go to Sheol once… told me ancient things were bound there.”

“That they are,” Jophiel said. “Creatures as old as time itself… and many newer ones as well.”

“Do you think that’s where Rixx lives?”

“No, Naga.” Raphael gently patted her hand. “You cannot just walk in and out of Sheol, little sister. Once you are sentenced to that place, there you remain.”

“But…” She looked back to Uriel. “You said I could go there, and return as well.”

“Yes.” He nodded as he said the word. “But that was when you were yet human. Sheol is not for humans. Father left a passageway back, a loophole of sorts,
if
the human was pure enough to find it.”

“You are no longer human,” Jophiel added. “And no longer pure, either.”

Tenshi growled at the Arch. Jophiel did not respond.

“I can come and go there,” Apollyon said.

“Only because you should be chained there as well,” Raphael snapped.

Jenevier jumped, due to the unusual outburst. She furrowed her brow at the dark-haired Arch she favored above them all.

Apollyon laughed. “Careful, Raph. You don’t want your precious little sister to see you as you
truly
are.”

“She saw
you
as you truly are,” Jophiel quipped. “That did not temper her desire… now, did it?”

Uriel chuckled. “The truth in that lies down there in that handsome blue Angel she calls son.”

When Tenshi made to stand, Jenevier jumped to her feet. “Stop it! The lot of you! We have gathered here to
prevent
discord, not wallow in it.”

“She speaks truth, Brothers,” Gabriel said. “Besides, she has already felt Raphael’s icy touch. Have you not, little sister?”

Jenevier reclaimed her seat, looking down as she did. “Yes,” she whispered. “I have had a taste of what Raphael is capable of. It was bitter indeed. I do not wish another.”

“And that was but a nibble.” Gabriel smiled warmly and winked at her. “Imagine the whole feast.”

“I’d rather not,” she mumbled.

“Raph,” Apollyon said through a growl.

Everyone turned to look at the terrifyingly beautiful Prince of Hell.

“What did you—”

Raphael held up his hand, cutting Apollyon’s words short. “I did not do what is now playing about in your mind. Like she said, it was but a nibble.”

Apollyon narrowed his gaze. “Why?”

When Raphael refused to answer, Gabriel took up his part.

“We came for a sunrise visit. We startled her. She feared for her Daichi… attacked our chocolate-crowned brother over there.”

“She didn’t really
attack
me,” Raphael mumbled. “Only started to. Gabe restrained her before I could…” He paused. “When things had settled down, she came back to apologize.”

“Yes.” Gabriel smiled sweetly. “She told him she was sorry and that… that he was beautiful.”

Raphael shot his golden brother a seething glare. Gabriel continued, somewhat amused.

“And when she touched those treasured brown locks of his—”

“Stop!” Raphael snapped.

“What?” Apollyon said. “What did you do to her, Raph?”

“He scrambled my brain,” Jenevier whispered. “I had a headache for days.”

Jophiel laughed. “All because she touched your hair? Hell, I’ve been trying to get her to do that to
me
for ages.”

“Hush,” Uriel whispered to the other Arch, motioning toward Tenshi… and the sapphire power now pulsing around him.

“It wasn’t because she touched my hair,” Raphael grumbled.

“No.” Gabriel tilted his head and smiled again. “The fact that she admired him, called him beautiful… couple those sweet words with such a tender little touch, and—”

“Gabe!”

When Raphael shouted, Gabriel bit his bottom lip and tried to contain his coming chuckle.

“I just caught him off guard. That’s all.” Jenevier took Raphael’s hand as she spoke, squeezing it. “We’re all good now. Right, Brother?”

“Always,” Raphael answered with a smile.

“Careful, Anicee,” Apollyon said. “His wings are bloodier than yours. Trust me in this.”

“Yes,” Munenori said. “Apollyon and Raphael were quite the team… way back in the day.”

When the other Angels began reminiscing about times past, Raphael leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I am so sorry I hurt you, little sis. I never meant to—”

“Shush now,” Jenevier said. “I know you love me. That’s all that matters.”

He tenderly kissed her forehead. “You are the only creature I am gentle with.”

She smiled. “Yeah. I sort of figured that. I mean… after you fried my brain and then killed me, that is.”

They shared a quiet chuckle.

When Jenevier turned back to her guests, Apollyon was glaring at her and Raphael… as were a few of the others. Jophiel was half snarling. Yui was taking deep, controlled breaths. And Gabriel was smiling with only one corner of his perfect lips.

Jenevier hastily cleared her throat. “Very well, then. Let’s see. So…” She glanced toward Gabriel. “…we should go check out Sheol then, right?”

“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “We cannot go there.”

“I will question those filthy Sheol dwellers,” Apollyon said, still glaring at his former wife
and
his former brother. “You will stay here with Tenshi until my return.”

“There are other places that should be checked as well,” she said. “I cannot simply sit here and—”

“Then I will accompany you,” Tenshi said.

“But… I will be with my Dragon—”

“I was not asking your permission,” Tenshi interrupted. “I have wings, Mama. I will be at your side.”

Jenevier’s bewildered gaze left her son, and found her former husband. Apollyon was smiling, triumphantly.

“That sounds good,” Gabriel said. “We should pair up, search each realm, then meet back here with the sunrise tomorrow.”

As the gathered Angels began leaving in twos, Apollyon took Lala’s elbow and led her out of the room.

“Let’s have a talk, you and I. Shall we?” he whispered.

*****

As soon as Lala shut the door to her room, Apollyon spun her around to face him.

“I smell darkness on you, little one. Tell me. Where has my beautiful granddaughter been spending her time lately?”

“D-darkness? But—”

“Ah, ah, ah. Do not play innocent with me, my child. Before you try to lie to your old grandpapa… forget not to whom it is you now speak.”

Lala couldn’t hold his penetrating sapphire gaze. She looked away, blushing… trembling.

“Come now, little one. Do not fear me. I am not vexed with you. I am… curious.” He turned her chin so that she had to face him. “I thought your heart belonged to the River Spirit. Am I wrong in this?”

“No, Grandpapa. You are not wrong.”

“Then… who is it I smell upon you? How is it you reek of
my
realm?”

Lala gently pulled away from him and walked out onto her balcony. She tried to quickly brush her tears away before Apollyon could see them. She jumped slightly when she felt his large hand upon her back.