Enthroned by Amethysts (A Dance with Destiny Book 3) (30 page)

“Yes. Yes, I was, for many months.”

“You say it true, Naga. You denied even the ones you
already
loved from getting close to you.” Munenori lightly placed his hand on her shoulder for emphasis. “Placed
within
you, he would be wherever you happened to be, wherever you ended up, when
his
time was right.” He removed his hand and sighed. “Your precious Guardians haven’t even been able to locate you, have they?”

“No. They have not.”

“No. And tell me this, Naga. What happened to you when your babes were born? What happened
inside
you, in all those broken and shattered places? What did they do to you?”

She stopped walking. “They… they healed my heart.”

He smiled at her. “Yes. And now you have answered your own question.” He took her hand in his. “Time and love are the great healers, Little Fire. Only your lingering humanity allows you to measure things with words such as
never
and
always
. In a thousand years, you won’t see things as you do now. And in ten thousand, well… you’ll be nearing perfection.”

“Ten thousand?” she whispered, more to herself than to him.

“Now come, Kagi Naga. Let me show you what you’ve been given charge over. Let me show you why those gorgeous curls of yours are pink and golden. Let me present to you now exactly what
you
are the Guardian of, Milady.”

Chapter 41

Jezreel

(zhez-REEL)

Jezreel lay flat on her back in the soft grass—chest heaving, arms outstretched, knees bent, soaking up the nurturing rays of the blessed sun.

Her visible wounds were starting to heal and a few of them now itched. She had to keep telling herself not to scratch.

Alastyn had cut her hair. Shoulder length was as short as she’d let him go. She still had many bald spots, but she could already feel the stubble covering most of them. The white of her left eye was still red, but she’d noticed it looked browner today, not so bright.

Perhaps it’ll heal soon.

The external wounds would most definitely heal; scar, but heal. The internal ones she would always carry with her. Those were the truly scary ones. She didn’t dwell on them. Actually, she tried to avoid them at all costs. When they did happen to sneak up on her, Alastyn would find her either curled up in a ball crying her eyes out, or standing in the backyard screaming as loud and as long as she could.

Ever since he had confessed the horrible news about Jenevier, about her death or disappearance or whatever the Guardians believed had happened to her, Jezreel had been slipping further away from him. Further away from reality. Alastyn realized, when he removed Jenevier from Jezreel’s future… he removed her hope. She had nothing left to hold on to, anger ruled her, and madness was fast on its heels. He’d given her a small hatchet the last time he had found her, trembling and hoarse. It’d been the middle of the night. She was standing under the glow of a full moon, half clothed, still screaming. Her voice had left her and the sound emanating from her throat was more like the sound of dried bones being made powder within her pestle. She didn’t even know how she’d made it outside. She recalled none of it.

“Use it on that old fence post over there the next time anger swells inside you. It will help. I promise,” he told her.

That was three fence posts ago. Jezreel now wielded two hatchets, one in each hand.

Sometimes, there just aren’t enough fence posts
, Alastyn thought as he watched her work through this latest fit of fury.

He was putting more wood in the two large stone pits under the bathhouse. She spent several hours a day soaking in the giant tub.

“I cannot get clean… no matter how many times I bathe.”

She confessed those words to him only a few days ago. It had been a particularly bad day for her. Alastyn could tell this was going to be another one.

Sighing as he lit the crackling wood now warming the water he knew she would soon need, he mumbled to himself as he headed back into the tiny cottage they shared. “I have no idea how to heal her. Perhaps it’s hopeless now. I should never have told her about Jenevier. That was the day her light truly went out. Perhaps this is just who she is now, who she must be, simply to draw another breath. Yes, perhaps anything more is hopeless.”

“It’s never hopeless. Especially if you look back at what you’ve both already lived through. There’s
always
hope. This you know.”

The musical voice came from a white-haired man with an ageless face, leaning against the back corner of their rose-covered home.

Alastyn didn’t give much notice to the man’s odd features. He was just relieved to see another walking, talking, breathing human. There were so few of them left.

“Hello, stranger. Welcome to Tamar Broden. If you’re weary, come inside. I was just going to make some tea. You are more than welcome to join us.”

“Us?”

“Yes, Jezreel and myself—”

Alastyn’s words were cut off when the broken woman’s beastly screams began tearing from her battered throat once again. He didn’t turn toward her. He simply closed his eyes, trying to deny his tears their desperate escape.

The stranger looked over his shoulder at the enraged young woman swinging the dual hatchets.

“She’s in so much pain,” he whispered.

Alastyn slowly opened his eyes and saw that the man staring at Jezreel was looking at her with pity and sympathy. Not disdain, as he’d feared.

“Yes, great pain. Almost immeasurable.” He turned to look at his shattered friend. “And, I’m at a loss as to how else I may help her.”

“There is nothing you can do, my friend. Only time can heal wounds such as hers.” He paused a moment, then added, “Time, yes. And perhaps a bit of magic.” He placed his hand on Alastyn’s shoulder. “Shall I help with the tea?”

He released a heavy sigh as he led the stranger through the back door. Alastyn began heating the water and setting out the cups. The other man watched Jezreel through the window.

“She has fire in her.”

“You have
no
idea.” Alastyn laughed softly at the memories of their tumultuous past. “Jezreel is a rare creature. She is one of very few who could have lived through such horror.” He looked up to see her attacking another post with uninhibited rage. “She’d live through it just to spite the devils.” He smiled as he went back to setting the table. “My name’s Alastyn, by the way. And that fiery young woman out there is Jezreel.”

“She looks like she could be your daughter,” the stranger whispered, mostly to himself.

Alastyn chuckled. “Don’t let her youthful appearance fool you. A fierce dragon hides behind that lovely, ageless face. But that’s a story for another day.”

“My apologies.” The man turned and bowed slightly toward Alastyn. “I am Kias.” He extended his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Alastyn.”

“Very nice to meet you as well. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’d better go see if I can convince her to join us.” Alastyn nodded his head toward the backyard. “But don’t hold out too much hope in that regard.”

“Allow me, please,” Kias said.

Alastyn looked at him warily. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. Walking up on her when she’s like this is dangerous business. I wouldn’t suggest a stranger go anywhere near her. Not right now.”

“The love you have for your friend is admirable. But I would much prefer to meet her in the yard, as opposed to surprising her inside her home.” He smiled at the hesitant, emerald-eyed man. “I have room to run away out there.” He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder toward the hacking sounds ringing through the air.

“Whatever you do, just don’t sneak up on her… I’m tired of digging graves.”

Kias laughed and waved his hand as he went out the door. Alastyn stood at the window, waiting for the storm.

The snow-crowned man kept his distance as he watched an exhausted Jezreel slow her weary swings and collapse onto scarred knees. He stayed several paces away, squatting down so he wouldn’t seem as imposing when he spoke.

She heard his knees pop with the action, but chose to ignore him.

“You’re rather good with an axe, Maiden. I’m impressed not only by your strength, but by your passion, as well.”

Jezreel stayed on her hands and knees but turned to face the stranger. “Why are you in my yard?”

He wanted to smile, but thought better of it. “I was invited, Milady.”

“I am no lady. Who invited you?”

“I beg to differ, Milady. And, Alastyn invited me.”

“Differ all you like. I don’t give a damn. Your useless opinion won’t change the facts.” Sweat dripped from her nose and she spat upon the ground. “Do I look like Alastyn to you?”

“No, Milady. You are much fairer than he.”

“Sharpen your tongue with me, good sir, and you may find it removed.” The sweat stung her eyes; she ran the back of her arm across her forehead. “If you’re here to see Alastyn, why are you keeping company with me?”

“I came to fetch you.”

“Fetch me?” She snorted and laughed at the same time. “You expect me to believe Alastyn sent you to
fetch
me?”

“No, Milady. He warned me not to.”

“You should have listened to him. I’d think a gentleman as fine as yourself would’ve learned to heed good counsel by now. Obviously, you have not.”

“I wished to meet you properly, Milady, before we sat down to tea.”

“Is that so? Now, why would you want to meet me? And why in the hell did you think I’d have tea with you?”

“You misunderstand, mi Sharna.
I
wished to have tea with
you
.”

“And you felt the need to have tea now? Out here? Like this? Do you take me for a fool?”

“In all honesty, that kitchen’s terribly small.” He motioned toward the house. “I would rather face your wrath upon the lawn, where I might just stand a chance.”

At that, Jezreel muffled a laugh. Kias rose and held his hand out to her. She waved him away, standing on her own.

Her laughter, even though it was sarcastic, brought a smile to Alastyn’s face. Only when he let out a sigh did he realize he’d been holding his breath.

“Gratitude for the odd invitation, Kias. But I’ll not go inside until after I’ve bathed.”

“Shall I bring the tea to you, then?”

Jezreel looked at his smirking grin. She didn’t feel like playing. “I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you wish to keep all that beautiful hair of yours.”

His look turned from teasing to serious. “Your hair is more radiant than sunshine.”

Jezreel slammed both hatchets into the top of the post at the same time. “Now you’re just trying to piss me off.” She pushed past him, making her way to the bath house.

“How’d it go?” Alastyn asked knowingly as he heard the back door open.

“One step forward and two steps back, I suppose,” Kias said.

“Looked more like
three
steps back from where I was standing.”

Alastyn tried to stifle his laughter. He could not.

Chapter 42

Naga

(NAH-gah)

“Munenori?”

“Yes, Naga. What is it you wish to know now?” His soft laughter was neither warm nor cold, just odd. “Your mind is racing so fast, it’s proving hard for me to keep up.”

“Tell me of Angels.”

She almost ran into him as he stopped short. He turned and bent down to look directly into her now crimson face.

“Tell you of Angels?” He snorted. “Were you not bonded in marriage to an Angel? Did you not give birth to Angels? And are you not an Angel yourself?”

She stiffened her shoulders and raised her chin. “I have been told that, yes. Yet no one has ever been able to explain Angels to me properly. I know
you
are an Angel. I tasted it upon your neck.”

“Yes, you did. I was extremely surprised by your action, Naga. Tell me. Just how do you know what an Angel tastes like?”

She paused. “I’m not certain. I just know.”

He huffed out a short chuckle. “What you did to me was a terribly dangerous thing for you to do, Little Fire. Did you know that?”

“No,” she whispered. “I did not.”

“What caused you to lick me?”

“My brother, Vareilious. He taught me how to taste people. I can glean nearly everything I need to know about someone through but one tiny little touch of the tongue.”

He cocked one mossy lavender eyebrow. “Hmm… Well,
people
, perhaps. But you should never do thus to Angels. You challenged me, Naga. Did you know that?”

“Challenged you? But none of the other Angels I’ve tasted ever said such a thing.”

His eyebrows lowered and the smirk returned. “Other Angels? You mean Apollyon? Of course he didn’t see you as a challenge. At least, not after he’d bedded you.”

She flinched at his crude words. “I wasn’t
talking
about Apollyon.”

“Then, you must be mistaken, Little Fire. Name the Angel you have tasted.”

“Well, the first Angel I ever licked was Ahriman. But I knew not he was an Angel at the time. My dark husband goes without saying. And then, Jago and Cashiel were—”

Her remaining words were muffled when Munenori placed his hand over her mouth.

“Cashiel?” His eyes went wide. “You have seen Cashiel?”

Jenevier crossed her arms over her chest and just stared at him, until he finally lowered his hand.

“As I was saying,” she huffed. “I tasted Cashiel and knew him for what he was when he tried to sacrifice me to some goddess.”

“You are mistaken.”

“I am not.”

“He has been lost for centuries. You are mistaken.”

“No… I… am… not.” She met his level glare with her own. “If you’re actively seeking him, you should stop. He no longer resides upon the layers.”

“What’re you saying?”

She sighed. “I was on Praetoria. Cashiel and Jago were in with a bunch of demons who called themselves
The Thirteen
. I killed them. And don’t look at me like that. They left me no choice. They were intent on slitting my throat, draining out all my blood so their night people could drink it and have lots of little night babies. At least, that’s what I took their words to mean. Nevertheless, they are ash.”

Munenori just stared at her. She felt uncomfortably naked before him.

“Enough with the big eyes, Angel. I asked you not to look at me like that. Besides, they tried to kill me. They left me no choice. If you were intent on harming me or my sons, I would have done the same to you.”

He started laughing then. “You are just too cute.”

“I am not cute! Why do you laugh?” She stomped her foot in frustration, balling her hands into fists at her sides.

Munenori only laughed harder.

“Pray, tell me. Just exactly how would you have killed an Angel of God, Little Fire? With absent claws?”

He continued to laugh. She pushed past him, stomping off in the direction they’d been heading.

I hate him… I hate him… I hate him.

Before she realized it, he was standing before her. She slammed into his chest. His eyes glowed purple, then green. Or rather, they glowed lavender, then moss. She longed to don her flashing rubies so she could match his angelic glare. Still, she refused to back down.

“Why did you come to me, Angel?” she asked. “Why are you now dragging me through this valley and away from my family? It is certainly not because you care for us. Why put yourself out so?”

Her questions were only met with his silence. She stared deeper into those magical angelic orbs and concentrated.

Her eyes narrowed. “You need me…”

“I need you not,” he snapped.

She cocked one eyebrow. “An Angel can lie?”

He sighed. “You are the most exhausting, most frustrating, and most…” He paused, searching for the right word.

“Most what? Glamorous? Enchanting? Radiant? Enticing? Magical? Shall I go on?”

He shook his head, muttering to himself.

“Is that a
no
?”

“Infuriating,” he snapped.

“Yes, I like that one, too. Infuriating—such an all-encompassing word. It can be taken either way, you know—compliment or insult. How do I infuriate you, Angel? Pray tell. I wish to continue to live up to your great expectations of me.” She curtsied, mockingly.

His shoulders slumped forward as he sighed again. “Very well, Naga. We will play it your way, for a time.”

She smiled triumphantly. “So, you will tell me of Angels?”

“No, we haven’t the time for that. Not now.”

He turned and headed up the trail. After a moment, she followed him. Side by side, they strode on in silence. His mind was locked down tight. Hers drifted to Varick.

I wish he were here with me now. He would love this place. Perhaps here, we could remain hidden from the universe for a time. This could be the very place we re-connected our hearts and finally found the long overdue chance to enjoy just being newlyweds. It’s so peaceful here. I want to see the sun reflecting off his beautiful hair as we swim together near the waterfall. I want to lay with him by the hot springs while we stare up at the most glorious moons in all creation. I want to feel his lips upon my bare flesh and get those painful little goose bumps where his fingertips brush across me. I want to spend time alone with Varick. I want to show him just how much I love him, how precious I hold his majestic heart. He deserves so much better than me. Ooh, what I wouldn’t give to feel his arms around me right now. He gives me strength I do not possess, love I do not deserve, and hope I would die without. Where are you, Varick? I am not, can never be, whole without you.

Jenevier turned her face so this odd Angel wouldn’t see her tears. She wiped them away but could not stop their ceaseless flow. She jumped when Munenori cleared his throat.

“Angels are solitary brothers,” he said. “Does that make sense?”

She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat. She didn’t want her voice to crack when she answered.

“No, not really. You mean… you’re like family that chooses to live apart and alone?”

“Each Angel is created by Father to perform a certain task, fulfill a certain need. We aren’t created to have families and marriages and children. Yet we’re all connected
inside
with a powerful, undeniable bond, even though we do not live and commune as a race.”

“So, you’re the only Angel here?”

“I was.” He looked at her from the corner of his eye and smiled slightly.

“Why did you not believe me about Cashiel? Do you think I would bear false tongue to you?”

“I didn’t
disbelieve
you. I simply found the story almost too amazing to be real.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “Perhaps your biggest obstacle in understanding what you are… is how you started.”

She looked up at him then. He chuckled when he saw her obvious confusion.

“You can make some of the most entertaining faces, Naga. You wear your feelings right there for the whole world to see. Those enchanting eyes of yours are like an open book.” He laughed and she rolled her
enchanting
eyes. “As I was saying. You started backwards, Little Fire. The first Angel you met was once the greatest among us. But his pride bested him, brought him low. He is worse than you can possibly imagine. Just as there are none more beautiful than he, there are none more ruthless, more vicious.” He paused for a moment, studying upon something. “Do not become cross with me, Naga, but I looked into your mind concerning him.”

“I knew you did. I felt you.” She smiled with only one corner of her mouth. “I
let
you.”

He looked back down at her sideways and huffed. “Be that as it may. The man you knew as Vindicus was an amazing creature. He was like a newborn star. He glowed and pulsed and loved without restraint. It was a truly incredible thing to behold. Even before he fell, never was he as glorious as that. Perhaps that’s why Father blessed him, bonded the two of you, and allowed you your beautiful son.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. They weren’t tears of sorrow, but they were bittersweet and they burned.

“He was amazing,” she mumbled to herself.

They walked a few moments more, minus words, lost in glorious, painful thought. His mind was filled with an ancient heavenly war. Hers was filled with happiness, regret, and sorrow. It formed an uncomfortable ball in her gut, made her nauseous.

She heard Munenori’s intake of breath and knew his words would soon follow. She was no longer sure she wanted her question answered.

“You and Daichi share a common beginning.”

“How so?”

“You were both formed in God’s hand and placed within a womb. That’s a rare thing for our kind. Yet, there is no
normal
way of us coming into this world. We’re all extremely unique, dreadfully different.”

Silence returned as she processed his words.

“You changed your destiny, Naga.”

Those
words caught her full attention. She grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop.

“What do you mean? Do not use metaphors or tease me in any way. Speak plain to me your meaning and do not soften your words. I want to understand completely.”

“Then let us sit. We have enough time for at least this one thing.”

After he’d led her a few paces more, Munenori sat down on a little grassy patch and patted the spot beside him.

“You were created for a specific reason, as were we all. You were formed for the sole purpose of bringing blessed peace to an entire layer of this universe. Once you had fulfilled your destiny, you would have been given charge over that layer, the fourth layer. You would have served Ashgard as I serve Jinn. It was meant to be your realm, Naga.”

“What did I do wrong?”

He laughed softly. “You made
one
wrong decision… and altered the course of the universe. In so doing, you changed the fate of us all.”

“What? I made
one
wrong decision? How in the world can one person cause the entire universe to change?”

“Every person has that ability, Naga. Be they human or Angel, every step you take sends out ripples to the very edge of existence… and back again. Every decision, every word, and every action sends out its own ripple. We matter more than you can ever possibly imagine. People matter more than they know.”

His words left her feeling more tiny than normal. He didn’t fail to notice.

“Come here, Little Fire.” Munenori wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulled her against him. “You may hate me, but sometimes we can all use a little hug.”

She greedily wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

He smiled as he gently stroked her curls. “I will be your safe place through this, Naga. Fear not, Little Fire. I will do my best to explain.” He held her close and leaned back against a large stone. He began. “You were meant to be cursed before your birth.”

She squeezed him tighter.