Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (27 page)

“The day I summoned her to the village,” Gabriel mumbled to himself.

“Isn’t that the same day I put her to sleep?” Raphael asked.

“Yes,” Cherie answered softly. “I remember because I was waiting for her to come home. Waiting to tell her the news Vareilious had shared with me concerning her homeland.” She looked to Gabriel. “The two of you arrived together.”

“Well then,” Munenori said. “It’s obvious someone removed it while she slept.”

“But, who could do such a thing, save the one who placed it there?” Uriel growled again. “And why didn’t she notice it was gone? You would think such a thing would be obvious.”

“Now yer just being an idiot, Arch,” Vittorio said through a half grin. “The lass wore it for nearly fifty years. It’s as much a part of her as is her own flesh. How many days have ye woke an’ checked tae see if yer nose was still there? Aye, or yer ears or yer smug wee mouth?”

When Vareilious burst out laughing, Uriel rolled his eyes and turned away from the jeering Dogs of Heaven.

“I do not sleep,” he mumbled. “Therefore, I do not
wake
.”

“But… how could Ahriman have withstood the pain?” Tenshi asked. “Even if he had somehow found out that Raphael’s magic had been woven over her, how did he manage such a thing?”

“Who’s to say he did it himself?”

At Viggo’s words, Apollyon began nodding his head. “Yes. This
is
the soul-eater we’re talking about. He is a slick one.”

“Uriel.”

The Arch turned toward Jophiel when he called his name.

“Remember when first we came to visit our little sister? Remember what kind of shape she was in?”

Uriel nodded. “Yes… we discovered then that Ahriman had sought her out on Val Hal—stumbled upon her while she was minus her soul.”

“And being true to form,” Jophiel added. “He replaced her missing essence with his dark gift… planted himself deep within her.”

“By the time we came,” Uriel said. “She was breaking apart—literally—had this big black gash running down the center of her spine.”

“And she spoke to me with
his
voice,” Jophiel said.

“Whose voice?” Michael furrowed his brow. “Ahriman’s?”

Jophiel nodded. “Questioned me about my flaming sword. Asked me if I had been given charge over any more
gardens
.”

“That was the soul-eater, alright.” Michael mumbled. “Who else would taunt you thusly over Eden?”

Gabriel turned toward Yui. “Emperor, has anyone in your household been acting odd as of late? Anyone who would have regular access to her as she slept—have they cracked flesh or a darkened countenance?”

“No, Angel,” Yui said. “Not to my knowledge.”

“And even if such were the case,” Daichi said calmly. “Naga was never left alone. Someone from her immediate family was with her at all times.”

“Not so, Lord Daichi,” Munenori said.

“What do you mean,
not so
?” Her glorious blue Blessing narrowed his gaze. “Explain yourself, Angel.”

“It only happened the once,” Munenori said. “There was a day when Duhrias went off with Goemon and Kin-Ryu, leaving Lala asleep beside the Empress. When Mika arrived around noon with their tea, she found Jenevier sleeping alone. Lala had returned to her own bed, unaware of how or when. So, in truth… it is possible that Jenevier was left unattended for several hours that day.”

“And that was the
only
time she was left unattended?” Michael asked.

Yui nodded. “Yes… only then.”

“What about her stalker?” Vareilious said. “If he ever watches her, then that bloody little Nephilim probably had something to do with it.”

“Not so,” Jenevier said, finally sitting up.

Raphael chuckled. “And just how would you know such a thing as that? You were fast asleep, baby sis.
This
I can assure you.”

“I know because he told me himself. Well… told me what he had been doing while I slept, that is. Rixx wasn’t even on Jinn.”

“Nephilim?” Michael burst into laughter. “There are no Nephilim, Kagi Naga. We cast them into Sheol ages ago. You are mistaken.”

“All I know is what he told me,” she said, not looking toward the Arch as she spoke. “He said he was Nephilim, the last of his kind. I had no reason to doubt him. I mean, firstly… I had never even heard of such a creature. And secondly… he has a rather
peculiar
look about him. He certainly isn’t like anyone else I’ve ever come across. I had no reason
not
to believe him.”

Michael narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean,
peculiar
?”

Jenevier visibly shuddered. “I don’t know. He gave me the creeps. His hair is fiery on
this
side.” She pointed as she spoke. “And snowy white on
this
side. Oh, and his eyes are the same as well.”

Michael turned to Gabriel. “Jago’s spawn?”

“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “There are none of his blood yet among the living. This I know.”

“And… he will never be able to produce more.” Apollyon said. “This
I
know.”

With
that
dark little confession still hanging in the air, everyone else shuddered right along with their wide-eyed Empress.

“And you say his name was Rixx?” Michael asked.

“Yep.” Jenevier nodded. “Maza Vespar Rixx.”

“Hmm…” Michael pondered a moment. “I know well the name of each one of those accursed abominations. There was no Rixx among them.”

“Then…” Raphael looked at Jenevier. “Either he isn’t what he says he is…”

“Or he isn’t
who
he says he is,” Daichi added.

Jenevier shrugged her shoulders. “I only know what he told me. Same as you now know. He isn’t a figment of my imagination. Nephilim or no, Rixx or no… the man himself is real.”

“And what was it this creature said to you, Naga?” Munenori asked. “How is it you are certain he wasn’t here on Jinn?”

“When I woke angry… kicked everyone out.” She glanced over at Yui. “He came into my room—told me he had taken up my part on Ashgard.”

“Meaning?”

At his question, Jenevier turned toward Uriel. “I promised not to say.”

She felt a sharp tug at her neck. Jenevier cut her eyes sideways towards Michael’s general direction and growled. He didn’t speak, simply crossed his arms and waited.

She rolled her eyes. “Meaning… he went there on his own—messed with the Southern rebels—helped Alastyn with his victory.”

“So
that’s
what happened…” Raphael whispered under his breath.

“Anyway,” Jenevier continued. “He wasn’t even here. He couldn’t have taken my bracelet.”

“Then it had to be someone else,” Michael said. “Someone you know and trust. Or at least, someone your family knows and trusts.”

“Ugh.” Vareilious collapsed into a chair near her. “Is there never anything that’s just simple with you, tiny Angel? Don’t you ever just have a
normal
day?”

Jenevier smiled. “Not since I met
you
, Brother.”

The massive Guardian winked at her and chuckled. “Changed your life, did I?”

“Yep.” She crinkled up her nose at him. “Led me astray, well and good.”

He sighed. “Eh… I try, Babe. I try.”

“Is this truly the time to be joking around?” Uriel said.

“Listen, Brother.” Jenevier stood, popping the tense bones in her neck. “I couldn’t possibly care less about the bracelet, one way or the other. In truth, I’m glad to be rid of the damn thing.”

“But that was the only thing keeping you safe from the soul-eater,” Uriel said.

“Wrong.” Jenevier gave him a level glare. “That was the only thing keeping
him
safe from
me
.”

Uriel furrowed his brow. “Why the sudden change? I thought you were
in love
with him—gonna throw us all away to stand at his side.”

When Jenevier growled, Yui quickly stood up and embraced her.

Michael snorted. “Uriel, Brother… do you do such on purpose? Is your jealousy so great a thing?”

Uriel didn’t answer.

“Very well, then.” Michael smiled. “Next time… I’ll let her have you.”

Uriel only rolled his eyes.

“Her change of heart is not a recent thing, Brother,” Jophiel said. “Forget not what she said before, back during council? You know… when she
snapped
in Mangladune. She has been forcibly parted from that silver-eyed demon-Angel for over fifty years now. You know how his power works. Same as mine… same as hers, as well.” He shot Jenevier a smirking grin. “If the one casting the spell doesn’t refresh it regularly, it fades. And quickly, at that. The lustful net Ahriman cast over Naga has long been absent. He no longer holds sway over her.”

Uriel narrowed his gaze, studying her firmly set jaw and fire-filled eyes. “Then… it
is
true.” He smiled. “Perhaps she hates that wicked little Sage even more than you do, Jophiel.”

“Yes.” Jophiel chuckled. “I did not think it possible, but it seems as though her thirst for his blood far exceeds even my own.”

Munenori glanced sideways at the two smirking Archs. “Yes… perhaps little Naga will finally succeed where
you
have so often failed.”

When Jophiel grabbed her Senpai, Yui could no longer hold her back. And Michael—well… Michael only smiled, and watched the show.

*****

Jophiel winced when Vareilious walked by and slapped his shoulder.

The Guardian chuckled. “You sure showed her a thing or none. Huh, Angel?”

Vittorio slapped the Arch’s other shoulder and smiled. “Aye, that’s just the way siblings act. A good roust every now an’ then—shows how much they love ye.”

Jophiel only rolled his eyes as he made his way toward Jenevier to receive the two Dragon scales.

She grimaced, sucking air between her teeth when she looked up at him. “I am sooo sorry about that, Jophiel.” She motioned to the marks across his chest. “Truly. I went too far.”

He snorted. “And how is it you came through that without so much as a bruise?”

“That’s because you didn’t strike back.” She smiled knowingly. “You love me too much.”

“No,” Jophiel said. “I didn’t strike back because I didn’t get the chance. I was too busy defending to advance.” He lowered his voice. “Actually, that was kind of exciting—not half bad. Perhaps I will let you have another go at me… sometime soon.”

“Masochist,” she mumbled under her breath.

“Only with you,” he whispered, winked, then walked away.

“Okay,” Jenevier said, standing. “Does that make two for everybody?” She glanced around at the nodding heads. “Very good. Now, remember what I told you. Two scales for each portal. Place one on either side of the wall just inside the entrance. That’s it. Dragon magic will do the rest. We want to coordinate it so that we place the scales as close to the same time as possible. That way, any
one
scale will not have too much of a drain, and the magic will spread as evenly as possible.” She picked up her journal. “I have your assignments here. Viggo will take care of the entrance to hell, while Apollyon covers Sheol.” She glanced up to see that they were listening, then back down to the page. “Raphael, Uriel, and Jophiel.” She looked back up. “Yous guys will see to the other three portals within the Nether.”

“Yes, My Liege,” Jophiel said, fisting his hand over his heart.

Jenevier only shook her head, looking back down as she smiled. “Now for the layers. Tenshi, I have you down for layer one—Lyra.”

He gave her a quick nod when she glanced at him.

“
I
will see to layer two,” she said.

“No,” Daichi said coolly.

“Very well… pretty much
knew
that was coming.” She marked through her name without missing a beat. “Vittorio.” She looked up at him. “
You
will be seeing to Byzantha instead.”

“Aye, good decision, Lass.”

She smiled with only one corner of her mouth as she kept reading. “Gabriel will go to Spadroon. And layer four…” She wrote her name on that line as she said it. “
I
will go to Ashgard. Daichi, you’ve got Val Hal. Vareilious, Pretoria.” She checked the names off as she said them. “Munenori will see to Dimthe Leard. Valen.” She looked up at the Guardian as she said his name. “Well, well. You’re looking a spot better than the last time I saw you. How are you doing?”

Valen smiled. “If I were any
more
awesome, I couldn’t stand myself.”

“Then that’d make two of us,” she mumbled.