Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6) (24 page)

“I have come to make report, Kagi Naga.”

Jenevier didn’t turn toward the tiny whisper coming from the far corner of her room.

She gritted her teeth. “If you are ever watching me, you slimy little son of a hell-damned snake, then you heard my warning. I will
not
repeat myself.”

“I did not abandon you, Naga,” Rixx said. “I could never do such a thing. As soon as the Arch seized you, I sought help. Alas, there is not a creature within this universe who can undo Raphael’s spell, save the Angel himself. So… I did the only other thing I could do for you.”

“Which was?”

“I went to Ashgard.”

Jenevier sat up then and looked at the Nephilim.

“And?”

“And… I interceded… on your behalf, Milady.” He bowed slightly.

“Interceded? Why would you do such a thing? I thought you were…
neutral
.”

“I am. I mean… I
was
. I just… I just couldn’t bear what they were doing to you. So, I took up your part… sort of.”

“Meaning? Tell me, Rixx. What exactly did you do?”

He held his hands up, palms out. “I didn’t kill anyone. I didn’t even hurt anyone. I just… well…” He paused.

“Go on. You just… what?”

“Well, I watched them. The ones you care for, that is. I listened in on their war council—helped answer the questions they could not, found the secrets that remained hidden from them.”

“What did you do, Nephilim?”

“Like I said… I helped. I could see where the other troops were set up, and I would circle such on their maps. Or, when I heard of a plot about this or that from the enemy… I would whisper such to a soldier—see that they made report of it.”

“Is that all?”

“No.” He blushed. “I snuck into the Southern camp a few times… played a bit of mischief. Just to ensure the Ashgardians safety, mind you.”

“How so?”

“Well… once, I tainted their drinking water—ensuring they could not fight back because they were otherwise
indisposed
. They all had severe belly aches as soon as they woke.”

Jenevier half smiled.

“Oh, and I dug a large hole just west of the enemy’s main encampment. When they went to sleep that night, I slipped in and stole their weapons.” He snorted out a laugh. “I managed to unarm over half their troops in a single night. They still haven’t found where I buried those swords.”

Jenevier put her hand over her mouth, muffling a laugh.

“And when I finally found out where the Southerners were hiding all those stolen supplies, I drew a map and slipped it inside that dark Elf’s quiver.”

“Baytac?”

Rixx nodded. “He’s a sharp one, that guy. He knew something was up, but he never caught me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.” Rixx smiled. “All I had to do was leave the tiniest of hints here or there, and that strange Elf would pick up on it… just like
that
.” He snapped his fingers for emphasis. “So… what Gabriel told you was true, Milady. Your people remain whole, and the rebels truly are all but squashed.”

Jenevier wiped at the fresh tears trickling down her cheek. “…Gratitude, Rixx.”

He blushed again. “Just… don’t tell anyone. Promise?”

Jenevier nodded, softly smiling. “I promise,” she barely whispered.

Chapter 16

Michael

(mick-ELL)

Jenevier sat atop a cliff overlooking the main battlefield.

“Rixx was right,” she mumbled. “As far as wars go… this one is pretty dull.”

I would think you would be pleased with such, Little Fire.

“I am, Dragon. I’m just…” She shook her head.

Just… messed up inside?

“Yeah, Nilakanta… messed up inside.”

Your friends did not mistreat you, Guardian. I kept vigil outside. I would have killed anyone who harmed you… family or no.

She leaned over against him. “I love you more than I should,” she whispered.

No, Little Fire. Never more than you should.
He chuckled.
I am a jealous creature. I want all of you. And why shouldn’t I? After all, I am Dragon. I deserve nothing less.

Jenevier giggled as she gazed back out upon the battlefield.

She had made sure she was far enough away to go unnoticed, yet close enough so that she could clearly see her old friends.

She smiled. “Alastyn looks so regal in all his royal garb. Don’t you think?” She sighed. “I wonder what life would be like for me now—had I not screwed up with the one intended for me. That would be my beautiful husband down there, Nilakanta… father to our many happy children.” She gently stroked his scales as she spoke. “I would be Queen of Ashgard, and naturally growing old with the man I loved. Ahh… a normal life—kissed with just a hint of magic.”

Nilakanta snorted and bumped against her.

She laughed again and hugged his sapphire neck. “Of course… if I had made all the
right
choices, I never would have known you… or Varick or Finnean or—”

“Apollyon.”

Jenevier quickly turned toward the unfamiliar voice right beside her.

The man chuckled. “But that would not have been such a bad thing, in retrospect. Now, would it?”

When she tried to look upon the smiling man now sitting next to her, Jenevier suddenly felt dizzy, nauseous, discombobulated. She gasped, grabbing her chest. Focusing instead on the nearly quiet battlefield below, Jenevier tried to rein in her racing heart.

“W-who are you?”

Nilakanta protectively wrapped his tail around her so that the triangular tip was between his beloved Guardian and the glowing stranger.

“I am your eldest brother, Kagi Naga.” He lightly patted the top of her head. “It is nice to finally meet you.”

“My eldest brother? I… I don’t…”

Her throat began to close, stifling her words. Nilakanta growled, and then bent his head down toward her. Jenevier greedily wrapped her arms around his soft snout, burying her face there.

“My name is Michael,” the man said.

“M-Mick…
ELL
…”

“Yes.” He nodded. “Don’t tell me my brothers forgot to mention me.”

Jenevier didn’t respond… couldn’t. She was too focused on trying just to
think
clearly.

“Tell me, Kagi Naga.” He placed his large hand upon her head. “Why is it you refuse to look upon me?”

“H-how can I?” Her words were muffled against her loyal Dragon’s nose. “When you remain in my peripheral, I can almost make out your profile. Yet, when I turn to face you… I cannot focus on you properly.”

“Explain it to me, Kagi Naga. When you try to behold my face, what is it you see?”

“Nothing clearly.” She swallowed hard. “You are… everyone and… no one. Blindingly beautiful, yet ferociously hideous at the same time. You are as everyone I have ever met… and everyone that I never want to. You are the epitome of my most magical dreams… and the full summation of my most terrifying nightmares. As I said… you are everyone… and no one.”

“Ahh… so you can see me as I
truly
am.” He chuckled. “That is a rather unique way of putting it, though—everyone and no one. I quite like it. I am glad you see me as I am, Kagi Naga. Most creatures… they see me as they want to see me, and that is how I am to them.”

“I don’t understand. You
like
being everyone and no one? Hideous
and
beautiful?” She snorted. “Perhaps
you
should explain
yourself
.”

Suddenly, the very air around her was heavy. Michael’s celestial essence claimed such power, it became as tangible weight. Jenevier could feel her form giving way under the sheer pressure of it. She was slowly being crushed, and it was terrifying.

When the mighty Archangel beside her began to calm, the unbearable burden began to lighten. She was now panting, gasping for air she didn’t even need.

“F-forgive me, Br-Brother,” she rasped. “I did not m-mean to offend you.”

“You are forgiven,” he answered flatly.

When his oppressing spiritual essence had fully lifted, panic swept through her like a tidal wave. Nilakanta wrapped his tail ever tighter around her.

“Do not try to flee, Kagi Naga,” Michael said coolly. “I came to break words with you. You will
not
run from me.”

“Y-yes.” She swallowed hard. “As you say, M-Michael.”

“Well met, little sister.”

Jenevier could hear the smile in his voice, but dared not try to turn and see it for herself.

Michael sighed as he looked out over the littered battlefield. “Long before the dawn of man—as you now know him—long before the creation of the third layer of this universe… strife was already a bitter part of life. Wherever creatures shared a piece of land, they fought and warred over power and resources. Man proved no different, Kagi Naga—displaying a perverse fascination with violence. As civilizations grew, as the layers began to pile upon each other, man became ever more
innovative
with the ways in which he could take another human’s life.” He paused. “There are more ways of killing a man than there are ways of making shoes, making dinner… making love. And while
those
things can often be quite limited… Death never has been. Tell me, Death Angel. Do my words ring true?”

Jenevier didn’t answer.

Michael ran his hand down the back of her curls. She flinched.

“I have come to help you, Kagi Naga. It is time.”

“Why?” she whispered. “What did I do wrong?”

“What have you
not
done wrong?” He openly laughed. “Ahh… forgive me. That was but jest.” He sighed. “I heard the bitter words you whispered upon the wind, Kagi Naga. I beckoned them to me—hold them still within my heart.”

“My bitter words?”

He nodded. “The ones you spoke before you came to Ashgard. Shall I repeat them for you? I have seared them to memory… All whom I love… every last one of them… they
all
betrayed me—”

“N-no.” She shook her head. “They are still fresh within me.”

Michael sighed heavily. “When you err, Kagi Naga, you
spiral
. You must know the words you formed were unjust toward your loved ones. Yet your pride… ahh, your damnable pride… it will not let you fully recant them.”

Jenevier did not speak. She knew better.

“My brothers have all failed in your regard. Even Golden Prince Gabriel himself.” Michael chuckled again. “Now… the time has come for
me
.”

“W-what will you do to me?”

“We Archs… we each have our own way of dealing with things. You are our only little sister. Father is extremely fond of you. Our precious little Princess—Kagi Naga.” He lightly patted the top of her head again. “And as such,
we
have been given charge over you.”

“The Archs?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “We love you because Father loves you. And… we each show it in our own way. Uriel is stern; much like you would be when teaching a child. He demands that you pay attention—think before you act. This he does out of love, and love only.”

Jenevier closed her eyes, denying her coming tears.

“Jophiel is different. He tries to teach you via teasing and playful temptation. It is his way. Look upon those two as parents—one stern and the other jovial. A stern parent cannot
whip
every child into obedience. Just as one teasing parent cannot
trick
every child into minding. But together… ahh, together they can take care of most any wayward soul.”

Jenevier kept her silence while her mind was playing out the scenes of her past, the scenes containing her brothers, Uriel and Jophiel. With Michael’s wise words, the truth of their heavenly intent was made clear. She smiled.

“Then we have good Prince Gabriel… the most elegant creature in all of creation. He chooses to teach by example. If one were to mimic Gabriel precisely—his words, his actions, his ways—that person would be most blessed of heaven. He is refined, courteous, loving, gentle, strong, and wise. Gabriel is the whole
perfect package
. Alas, even his vast charm cannot keep every soul from stumbling.”

Jenevier took a deep breath, nodding her agreement with Michael’s words.

“And lastly we have Raphael… the epitome of love and devotion.” He laughed. “Sweet Raph isn’t really sweet at all. Did you know that, Kagi Naga?”

Jenevier didn’t answer.

“He is the bloodiest Arch of us all. Father uses him much the way He uses you—annihilation. He was once paired up with your beloved Vindicus. That wasn’t his name then, no.
You
gifted him with that. Even the name Apollyon wasn’t his original one. It was given him after he fell.” He sighed. “But, Vindicus and Raphael together—epic slaughter. Evil never stood a chance, and darkness held no sway in the face of those two.” He chuckled softly.

“W-what was his given name?”

“We do not speak it!”

The sudden spiritual pressure now bearing down upon her was unfathomably, mercilessly strong. Thankfully, it disappeared as quickly as it had come. Yet, the blinding headache it brought her took its own sweet time in ebbing.

Jenevier shakily touched her lips, pulling her trembling fingers back to reveal proof of the crimson flow. She wiped her nose, but the blood refused to stop.

“We do not speak it,” Michael continued, as if nothing had happened. “It has been wiped from existence and is no longer recorded, even in heaven.” He sighed again. “I was shocked when I saw how Raphael treated you. Not on your initial meeting, no.
That
was Raphael—true to form. But… after that… I could scarce believe he was the same Angel… around
you
. He loves you too much. And he shows it in every possible way. Raphael stands as your protector, your defender—your sword, shield, and mace. He tries to lead you with tenderness, but would slay the lot of us to keep you safe.” Michael shook his head. “He is weak in your regard. Hmpft… perhaps he is more like his old partner than we even knew.”

Jenevier remained silent, watching the thick crimson droplets still spilling down from her chin… dripping, soaking through her lavender dress… quickly cooling there, slowly chilling in a red-stained spot atop her legs. She waited, yet Michael didn’t go on.

“And you, Brother.” She coughed, spitting out some of the blood. “How do
you
teach?”

Michael laughed softly. “Me? I teach by removing your freewill—keeping you from ever stumbling.”

“R-removing my freewill?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “But only concerning the things that would cause you to err past saving. For instance, were I to have been given charge over you
then
, I would have stayed your claws concerning Prince Merodach. Were you placed under
my
watch, you would never have freely walked into hell. And Munenori…” Michael clicked his tongue behind his teeth. “I promise you now,
that
would have never happened.”

“Please, Michael, don’t hurt me again. But… I wish to ask you a question.”

“Hurt you?”

When the mighty Archangel reached for her chin, Jenevier quickly closed her eyes so as not to have to look upon his terrifying glory.

“Kagi Naga!” He gasped loudly. “Why didn’t you say something? When did this happen?”

“Umm…” She swallowed hard again and tasted the salty, metallic bite of blood. “Whenever you got angry, when your voice became harsh… your heavenly aura would crush me.”

“Crush you?” He began wiping the blood from her chin and neck. “I had no idea girls were this fragile,” he mumbled under his breath.

“I think it has less to do with me being a girl, and more to do with you being… Michael—Father’s Archangel.”

“If that is true, why didn’t this happen when you met my brothers?”

Jenevier shrugged her shoulders. “Well… when I first met Raphael, he gave me a splitting headache as well. I passed completely out.”

“Yes… I remember.” He finished cleaning her up and patted her head again. “All better now. Forgive me, Kagi Naga. I did not realize. When we are together, I will remember to keep my essence suppressed. Now, please continue with what you were saying before.”