Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (5 page)

Chapter 5

Jinn

(JINN)

“So glad you made it back in time, Empress.” Yui softly kissed her cheek. “I was afraid you would miss the big day.”

Jenevier kissed him in return. “What
big
day
are you speaking of, my most beautiful Shinobi?”

“Mistress, please do not tell me you forgot Lala’s Kougai—her reveal.”

“Of course I haven’t forgotten such a thing.” She half rolled her eyes. “What kind of grandmother would I be if I forgot the traditional ritual display of my
only
grandchild’s magical Shinobi powers?”

“You are a marvelous Obaasan, to be sure.” He gently twirled one of her curls around his finger. “Now, Naga.” He smiled softly. “Lala and Duhrias left for the village a few days ago. Tenshi took Mika there yesterday. Your darling son and his lovely wife wished to spend the past evening with the in-laws. Oh, and if I am not very much mistaken…” He glanced out the nearby window. “…that little windstorm blowing around out there could only be Kin Ryu. Goemon promised me a ride on his majestic golden Dragon.”

“Wait.” Jenevier furrowed her brow. “I thought the Kougai was
next
week.”

“This
is
next week, Empress.” Yui kissed her forehead. “Never fear, Naga. You still have a couple hours before it begins. And… just in case you came back at the last moment, I have already laid out your lovely pink—”

“No.” She shook her head. “I want to wear the blue one.”

Yui bit his lip, then sighed. “Very well, Milady. As you wish.”

He headed toward their chamber, but she stopped him.

“Yui,” she said softly. “I can manage to get ready all on my own.” She gently stroked his cheek before kissing him there. “Go. Your chariot awaits you, Milord. And believe you me, Dragons are not the most patient of creatures. I will be just fine—dressing myself. You spoil me, lovely ninja.”

“As you say, Milady.” He kissed her then, a
real
kiss. “I will anxiously await my beautiful wife.”

“I will be there.” She smiled. “Promise.”

*****

As Jenevier slipped on her sparkling sapphire shoes, she turned to admire her reflection in the mirror.

“I am honored,” Apollyon said, as he quietly entered her room. “
That
dress on
this
day… you give me too much glory, Anicee.”

She smiled. “I like the way I look in this dress. I like the way it makes me feel.”

“Is that so? Well, I like the way it makes
me
feel,” he whispered, lightly kissing her cheek. “In
this
…” He slowly ran his fingertips down the jeweled bodice. “…you are truly my Sapphire Princess.”

“Yeah.” She glanced back at her reflection. “I don’t think Yui was too happy with my adornment choice. Yet to his credit, that beautiful husband of mine didn’t say a cross word about it. He
did
sigh, though.”

Apollyon didn’t speak, only gazed at her reflection as he quietly stood behind her.

“Tell me, Vindicus. Why am I honored with your glorious presence here at the palace? Should you not already be partaking in the pre-Kougai festivities? I mean, you
are
the honored grandfather of the main attraction.”

He smiled when she chuckled. “I was in the village, yes—awaiting the ceremonial reveal—when I
overheard
the Emperor tell Tenshi of your return.”

“Overheard, huh? You mean… you were eavesdropping, right?”

“Call it what you will.” He waved his hand, dismissively. “When I heard you were here, I knew I would get the chance to speak to you…
un
accosted.”

Jenevier snickered. “Is that so? Well, I guess it’s true. Your fan club around here is pretty slim.”

“You could say that, yes.”

“And…” She turned to face him. “What’s on your mind, darkest of Angels? Have you come to scold me for some unintentional transgression? Or did you plan on trying to steal me away from my perfect life?”

“Both… and neither.” He smiled and reached for her sapphire curl. “I have come to discuss an uncertain issue, Anicee, one that has me troubled.”

“Uncertain?” She furrowed her brow. “Why? What is it? I cringe when something is capable of troubling
you
. Tell me. Is something wrong?”

“I fear something soon will be, yes.”

“What do you mean?”

“I am not one hundred percent positive. Not yet. But… there seems to be a disturbance in Sheol.”

“In Sheol?” She visibly shivered at the word. “What kind of
disturbance
?”

“
That
is the part I am uncertain about. The walls have, how should I put it… thinned.”

“Thinned?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “I was passing through the Nether a few weeks ago and I heard a queer sort of mumbling.”

“In the Nether?”

“I heard it in the Nether, yes, but it wasn’t coming
from
there. I neared the individual portals and found that I could hear faint murmurings coming from each. Yet, it was louder, stronger near the entrance to Sheol.”

“And… that’s an unusual sort of thing?”

“Yes, Anicee. As you know, there is an entrance to each Otherworld in the Nether, yet they do not blend. One realm never bleeds over into the other, even within the Nether.”

“So… what does it mean?”

Apollyon shook his head. “Nothing good, that’s for certain. Tell me, lovely Angel. Have you noticed anything amiss?”

“No. I have been spending my time watching over the mortal realms. Since I do not escort, I rarely have cause to know the comings and goings of the Otherworlds.”

He took her hands and gently squeezed them, smiling. “As it should be,” he whispered softly. “Very well then, worry not over this, my love. I will see to the bottom… while you remain at the top.”

“Do not tease me, Vindicus. I am far from the fragile, naïve little girl you once knew. If something is stirring, I would like to know the truth of it
before
I am blindsided.” 

“I would never let that happen,” he whispered. “If I discover the cause, you will be the first person I come find… even if you are in the clouds.”

Jenevier’s eyes widened. Apollyon winked, one corner of his perfect mouth turning up in a knowing smile.

“Now, come,” he said. “Our granddaughter awaits us.”

Jenevier smiled then. “
And
my husband,” she chirped. “He will be sorely vexed if I am late.”

“Yes, your husband…” Apollyon glanced away. “I am still uncertain about the man. Not in his devotion, no. He seems to love you madly—worships you, even. It’s just…”

When he didn’t go on, Jenevier prodded him.

“It’s just what, Vindicus?”

“It’s just… he doesn’t act
scared
of me. Not even a little. I don’t think I like that.”

Jenevier chuckled. “I have known him since he was a boy, and I can tell you under no uncertain terms… I have never seen that beautiful man scared of anything. I mean, for instance… when that Nephilim landed on our balcony,
I
was the one to scream out. But not Yui, no. He didn’t even bat a lash. He just whipped his hair out and—”

“Nephilim?” Apollyon squeezed her hands harder. “When did you see a Nephilim? How do you even know what they are?”

“Wha—” She furrowed her brow again. “Wait. What’s wrong?”

“I thought they were all dead,” he mumbled to himself. “I haven’t seen one in centuries. How did that vile little creature remain hidden for so long?”

“Tell me, Vindicus.” She forced him to meet her gaze. “What’s wrong?”

“Why didn’t you say anything before now, Anicee? When did the Nephilim come to visit you?”

“He didn’t come to
visit
me. Yui and I were out on the balcony—not long before we were married—and some strange… I don’t know,
smoke
monster
was just perched there, watching us.”

“Before you were married? That long ago… and you never even thought to mention it?”

“I didn’t know what it was, Vindicus. I mean, if I mentioned every weird-looking creature I’ve ever crossed paths with, I’d be doing nothing but
mentioning
all the time. It was a smoke monster. That’s all I knew.”

“A smoke monster? You mean… it looked like Vashti?”

“Hey! I am
not
a smoke monster. Vashti is delicate and beautiful and fluid. This thing… it was dark and sinister—had glowing red eyes.”

Apollyon nodded. “…Like Vashti.”

“Dammit, Vindicus—”

“Wait.” He furrowed his brow. “If you didn’t know it was a Nephilim then… how do you know now?”

Jenevier blushed. “Because… I just met him.”

“Met him?”

“Yeah. Only just.”

“Where? How? And why the hell are you acting so calm about it?”

“Where—I met him as I was leaving layer eight. How—he floated right over to me and started speaking. And as for why I’m not scared.” She snorted out a laugh. “Why the hell would I be?”

“Ugh… damn Death Angel,” he mumbled under his breath. “What did he speak to you about?
Why
did he speak to you?”

“Well, apparently… he’s my stalker.”

“What do you mean,
stalker
?”

“Just what I said.” She sighed, exasperatedly. “I was stressing over losing track of time. The Nephilim decided to offer me some
insight
, I suppose. Anyway, while trying to reassure me… he let slip that he had been following me, been watching me.”

“Where? When?”

“For years, apparently. He said he first saw me here—on Jinn, during your epic freak-out.”

Apollyon grabbed her shoulders. “Do not speak thusly, Anicee. I need you to be serious. Your language skills have suffered greatly. You are too close, too familiar with the mortals. Now, speak properly and tell me exactly what he said.”

She started to roll her eyes, but stopped when he growled at her.

“Very well.” She sighed. “He said he first saw me here, during your… vengeful war.”

“That long ago?”

She nodded. “And apparently he has been following me ever since. He said he was in the Mangladune forest on Ashgard when Trelaina ambushed me… stole my soul. He followed me to Val Hal. There, he watched during my time minus my essence, and then after as well—while I was with Finnean. He even admitted to spying on me when I visited Syadar on Byzantha.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I guess… Rixx has made every step I have since the day I lost Varick… until now.”

Apollyon growled. The icy, lethal sound made Jenevier’s skin tingle.

“This isn’t good,” he said. “Nothing about that creature is good. I know him not, but I
do
know this… he has not spied upon you out of the goodness of his heart, no. Nephilim do not possess
feelings
. If he watched you, it was because he was commanded to do thus.”

“Commanded? By whom?”

“
That
I do not know. Yet, I will not rest until I find the answer. Tell me now, Anicee. Think… did he saying
anything
that could point us in the right direction?”

She shook her head. “I’m not certain. Like I said, we only just spoke. I haven’t had time to dwell much upon his words. I
did
try to reap him, though.”

Apollyon’s eyes went wide. “Is that so?”

“Yeah, but he vanished.”

“Vanished?”

She nodded. “Then when I flew back to the palace, Yui was on his way out. I have had only the Kougai on my mind since then.”

“Yes.” Apollyon nodded, his brow still furrowed. “First things first. Come, my love.”

When the breathtaking dark Angel, Prince of Hell, extended his arm, Jenevier took it with a smile.

“Let us see to our family now,” he said. “This trouble can wait until tomorrow… Lala cannot.”

*****

“Is there something troubling you, Empress?” Hanzo whispered, as he leaned over toward her.

Jenevier turned from the colorful festivities and glanced toward the Elder Shinobi seated to her right.

“Is it that obvious?” She smiled and looked back out upon the traditional Iga parade. “No need to worry, good Hanzo. I am becoming almost used to my seemingly constant state of confusion.”

He lightly touched her arm, regaining her attention. “Confusion concerning what, Madam Empress?”