Blessed by Sapphires (A Dance with Destiny Book 2) (8 page)

“No, Milady, I didn’t tend to you like
that
.” The blush on his cheeks was now crimson, quickly spreading to cover the whole of his face. “I only meant… I was only trying to… Please, stop looking at me like that.”

He almost pouted, his bottom lip protruding slightly.
Sooo cute!

His stammering tickled me. I couldn’t help a small laugh. A Vanir, fumbling his words and fidgeting his hands. I never thought I’d live to see the day
I
was the one doing the teasing around these majestic people.

“Calm yourself, Vybius. I was only playing. It was but jest. I must admit. I’m not accustomed to your kind being so gullible. I took full advantage of your embarrassment because I simply could not help myself. Apologies, Brother. I just never thought I’d get the chance.”

He just stood there, frozen, staring blankly at me. I crawled across the giant bed and took his hand, coaxing him to sit back down and relax. That lovely purple Guardian let me pull him down beside me once again. I couldn’t help but touch those enchanting amethyst strands perfectly surrounding his angelic face. They beckoned me, always.

“May I?”

Of course, I hadn’t waited politely for a reply. My hands were in his hair before my words had finished.

He closed those enchanting eyes and only smiled. I took that as a
yes
.

“I don’t want to do this wrong,” he whispered. “I want you to
know
me, Jenevier, truly know me before…” He paused, thinking upon his words. “How can I say this?” His eyes remained closed. “I have waited for you for so long. Your lovely smile remains in my thoughts even when I sleep. I already know
everything
about you, Milady. Now, I want to show you who
I
am, who I
can
be… for you. I need you to understand how I can help you, how I’m
meant
to help you. But, I must be careful. I don’t want to harm you the way Va—” He stopped. His eyes opened wide, regret evident in those magical silver windows.

Like a shot through my heart, my anger flared. “The way
who
? The way Varick did? Or do you speak about Vareilious? Perhaps you were going to say I was also harmed by Vareen or Valadrog or Vinika or Vittorio—”

“Well, were you not?” he interrupted.

I tried, feebly, to rein in my temper. “No, Vybius. Their intent was never to harm me.” My words were forced through gritted teeth. “I brought harm upon myself. Actually, that happened to be the
one
thing they didn’t have to help me with.”

“I disagree,” he whispered.

“Well, do not,” I snapped.

Silence hung in the air between us.

This is perfect. Hate him just enough so that you do not desire him. Do not open your heart to this man. Your pathetic heart is weak and foolish. This you know, Jenevier. This you have always known. And if you cannot hate him, focus only on the things you don’t like about him. Repeat them over and over in your head. Concentrate on his faults, hate will grow on its own.

Alas, all in all, I was just too weary to fight. This poor man had been nothing but kind to me. I knew I was acting like a child. Vareilious would have called my actions a temper tantrum. He would have scolded me for acting like such a baby. I took a deep breath, sighing inside.

This man cannot help how he looks or how he was created any more than I can. I, of all people, should realize how it feels to be judged by something you had absolutely no control over whatsoever, like looks or hair or skin or smile. Why must I always overact? When will I ever grow up and stop being so ridiculous? Besides, who am I kidding? He has no faults. He is perfect. Ugh, I hate him.

I decided to try and mend the fence I had only just broken. “Tell me what you were doing, Vybius, when your eyes were flashing.”

“I was reading your soul,” he said casually.

“Oh, is that all?”

So much for
that
. My control was once again gone, my juvenile temper returned. Vybius couldn’t help but take note of the intense sarcasm dripping off my words.

“You’re upset? Offended?”

“Umm,
yes
. I cannot even begin to imagine anything any
more
invasive and violating as reading one’s very soul, especially without permission.”

“Apologies. That’s what I do.” His answer was flat, dry.

“What’s what you do? You read peoples
souls
?” My voice was growing ever louder. “That’s what you do? As in, your job? Your talent? Your gift?”

“That’s what most of us do here. Please, do not feel violated. It was never intended as such. And I would also like to ask for you to please refrain from questioning me further until
after
I’ve properly taught you our ways, and your new part in them.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “This is exactly what I meant before when I said I did not wish to harm you, didn’t wish to do this wrong. I have been gifted, or perhaps cursed, with a glimpse of your mind during your training in Vanahirdem. I will not make those same mistakes, Milady. I would never harm you so.”

“Wait… So I’m here to be trained? Is that what you’re saying?” I let out an exhausted sigh. “What for this time? What will my new cursed role be amongst you fair people? Am I to be another pariah, another outcast living amongst the perfect?” I narrowed my eyes, set my jaw, holding my mouth in a hard line. “I will not lie to you, Vybius, and tell you this pleases me in the least.”

“I know, you cannot lie. I saw that as well.” He smiled.

Ugh, I swear I hate him. Or… I soon shall.

Chapter 12

Vybius

(VYE-bee-us)

It had been
days
since I’d gotten to enjoy a really good soak. I’d relaxed in the blissful warmth for nearly an hour. So, I wasn’t shocked when Vybius opened the door, begging permission to enter and speak.

“Do you mind? We have much to discuss, Milady.”

I rolled my head to the side, looking at the gentle man bowing his way into the room. “Of course not, Vybius. You
tended
to me for days and then read what’s left of my soul. I’m pretty sure my bare flesh won’t even come close to shocking you.”

I knew I was being childish, but it was my only current form of defense. At least, that was how I was justifying it to myself, and also how I was trying to rationalize away the coldness I was heaping upon the only person who had shown me warmth. I am sooo ridiculous.

“I begged your forgiveness. Did I not?” His voice sounded so small.

“Yes, you did.” I sighed. “Apologies. Come in and have a seat. I can talk and soak at the same time.”

I motioned toward the chair and smiled. Well, I sort of smiled. My heart wasn’t truly in it.

“Upon your waking, I was prepared to answer the many questions you must have. Why do you tarry?”

I cocked one eyebrow, yet chose not to meet his puzzled gaze. “Oh really? I thought you just asked me to
refrain
from questioning you?”

“Only refrain from questioning me personally, Jenevier. I don’t want to rush through our formalities. They are needed and necessary, if we wish to have a lasting bond.” He looked at me almost apologetically, with a bit of sadness in his lovely eyes. “I want that more than anything, Jenevier… a lasting bond with you. I have stirred from my slumber countless mornings with the dream of our sweet friendship still playing through my mind.” He suddenly seemed to remember himself and hastily cleared his throat with a nervous cough. “No, I meant, umm… Why haven’t you questioned me about Vandermil, or why you’re here, or what your purpose is? Why haven’t your questions been about
those
things? Are you not curious?”

“I will admit to you now, Vybius. I did not learn all I could have, nor did I learn all that I should have, during my laborious training in Vanahirdem. Yet, there was one lesson I received far too often. And it was that asking questions only leads to pain. I am weary now, Vybius. Weary of heart, weary of mind, weary of absent soul.”

He didn’t speak.

“To answer you plainly, I ask not because… I fear what your answers will be. I have roamed the whole of layer eight for
years
and had only just found the very first ray of happiness… when I was instantly snatched from that place. The same as when real happiness found me on Ashgard—the moment I met Alastyn, my world ended. And again, in Vanahirdem, when I finally accepted Varick’s manacle, my life ended. Even in Merodach’s made up world, as soon as I let Dante in my heart… poof, it was all over. So, I will look no further for answers of the heart. It appears my fate wasn’t to
never
know love, peace, and happiness. On the contrary, Brother. I have been blessed with them all, and in abundance, no less. No, my Fate is a far crueler mistress. My Fate is to
know
them, truly know them, only to have them torn from me, over and over and over again. No, not any more. Now, I choose to live absent such things for fear of losing them… along with what little remains of
me
as well.”

“What’s there left to say, tiny warrior? You have chosen to close your eyes to spare your heart.”

“No, Vybius. I have chosen to close my heart to spare my mind. I fear I will soon be absent clear thought if I allow entrance to even one more thing, to even one more person. After all, I’m long dead and wish now only for the peace that should accompany it.”

“If you were truly dead, you wouldn’t be
here
. Vindicus would have escorted you to the Otherworld upon your arrival. The fact that he
tasted
you instead, should prove beyond a shadow of a doubt. You yet live, Milady.”

“How so? What’s your reasoning? A warrior licked me. So what? That same thing has happened hundreds of times before. Never has it been considered
proof of life
.”

“Perhaps not.” He laughed softly. “Well, perhaps not before. Vindicus is a very different kind of warrior, tiny Angel. You have never met one such as him. No matter who or what he reminds you of, trust me… you couldn’t be farther from the truth. Alas, he chose you… of his own free will. He was not commanded to do so. I have been with him for countless eons. Never have I seen him taste a maiden the way he tasted you. Think, Jenevier. Open your eyes to what you have already witnessed. It may not be proof of life, but it’s certainly proof of something, something
far
more valuable.”

“More valuable than life?” I half snorted.

“Yes, to some. At least, to you it is. Think, Maiden. Have you not been chosen before? Been tasted before? You said so yourself, you have been licked
hundreds
of times.” He chuckled, then blushed. “Recall, if you will, your very first glimpse of Vanahirdem.”

“Vareilious…”

“Ah yes, Vareilious. As the Guardian at the gate upon your admittance, it was his right to do so, his right to choose you. Not all Guardians wish such a great burden. Being personally responsible for the life of another isn’t something any Vanir takes lightly. You know all too well the strength of that bond, the permanence of it, the feelings that accompany it.”

“You mean…” I vainly searched for words that wouldn’t come.

“What I mean, fair lady, is that you have been greatly blessed. Not once, but twice. You have been granted a heavenly guardianship without pause or questions from the warrior. God has great plans for you yet. As did Vareilious before, so now too, Vindicus can taste it.”

Now
I
was the silent one. I didn’t ask for this. I wasn’t even sure I
wanted
another Guardian. No, that’s not true. I was sure I did
not
want another Guardian. Only trouble lay down that dark path. I speak with firsthand knowledge.

“Are you ready to hear me now?”

“No, Vybius, I am not.” I turned cold eyes toward the lovely man. “If you speak on, I will go back into the darkness and there I’ll choose to remain,” I warned.

“Do not whine as a babe, Jenevier. You have a purpose, a responsibility, a duty to perform. So as they say on layer eight, you need to suck it up, buttercup. It’s time to start acting like the grown woman you are and the mighty warrior you have become.”

I cannot imagine what the look on my face could’ve possibly been like when next I spoke. “Did you truly just say… suck it up, buttercup?”

Forgive my immaturity, dear Reader, but this is the moment I lost it, bursting into uncontrollable laughter. The very thought of a regal Vanir warrior speaking thusly was the most unexpected, hilarious thing I could possibly imagine. I only managed to stop my incessant laughter when Vybius plunged my head under the water, pulling me back up by my tangled curls.

“Have you gone mad? Have you finally slipped from all sanity?” he yelled.

I managed to hold in all but a tiny giggle, causing Vybius to release me with an exasperated sigh. He collapsed heavily back onto the chair. I looked closely at the beautiful creature sitting before me—head in his hands, ethereal silver and amethyst strands falling around to cover the furrow I’d placed upon his brow.

I bit my bottom lip so as not to release the stampede of giggles that were trying desperately to escape. “If you wished to see me naked, all you had to do was ask, beautiful warrior.” I couldn’t help the smirk in my words
or
the one upon my lips. “You didn’t have to pull my hair.”

He gasped, turning toward me. “What are you saying? I would never—”

“Oh really? Never?” I splashed water at him and had to bite my lip again.

He finally smiled, out of relief I’m certain, and rested his angelic head on the back of the chair, casting me an incredulous look.

“Are you quite finished playing with me, Milady?”

“I have only just begun, Milord.” I splashed him again.

“I am relieved by the sight of your mischievous smile. It’s way past time you found it again.” He stood to leave. “Finish up now. I’ll get you a clean dress.”

I lay back against the tub once more. “You’re no fun, Vybius.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of that fact, Jenevier. I have been told thus many times. I guess you could say
fun
isn’t my forte. Now, make haste lest we be late for the council meeting.”

Then he left me there, soaking.

“But, I’m not on any council!” I yelled through the closed door.

“You’re not
on
the council, silly child,” he yelled back. “You’re on the agenda.”

I released a long breath… and slid back beneath the tepid water.