by JK Ensley
Vittorio’s words trailed off as two of the greatest warriors that had ever lived stood speechless—staring at the blood-soaked ground they stood upon, focusing on nothing, yet seeing more than they ever thought possible.
“Vareilious, Vittorio, thank the heavens I’ve found you. Varick sent me with word. A summons just came down for all Vanir to go to layer six, Dimthe Leard. It appears the demons and fallen ones are gathering there en masse—possessing some inhabitants, attacking the rest. The great warrior King of that realm has called out to God for assistance.”
The message spilled forth from the blood-smeared Vanir known as Varillum. She was gasping for breath, urging her brothers to gather their troops and take to the skies.
Alastyn watched as the silvery-winged giants disappeared into the clouds. He turned back to the ethereal woman who sat upon the cold marble floor of King Merodach’s chambers… holding the torn, lifeless body in her arms as she rocked back and forth.
“Your brothers have gone,” Alastyn said softly.
She acknowledged him not.
He sat down, cross-legged in front of her and marveled at the crystal tears flowing freely from her closed eyes. They sparkled and glistened.
Like moonlight, he thought.
“A woman Angel told them of a summons. She bade them go to Dimt Lerd.”
“Dimthe Leard… And she was no Angel. We’re not Angels. We are Guardians. We are Vanir. Angels are creatures capable of doing deeds such as this.”
The glowing woman looked lovingly down at the beautiful dead man she held close to her broken heart.
“…Never call us Angels,” she whispered.
“I promise to take care of him, Milady. I give you my word. I will see he is as honored in death as he was in life.”
“No, little human. I will see to him myself.” Vinika rose, cradling the limp body in her arms as she stepped upon the stone windowsill. “Do not seek your King’s resting place upon this layer. I will wing him to heaven in my arms. Fare thee well, valiant human.”
Alastyn watched as the enchanting celestial woman carried Merodach’s body into the clouds. He listened as her pain-filled sobs echoed across the heavens.
He made his way back to Tamar Broden.
The road from Wrothdem was littered with the rotting corpses of men, women, and children. None had been spared. He spent days upon his gruesome journey. Burying the ones he could, burning the rest.
He shed no tears. They had dried up days ago. Alastyn didn’t meet another live being from the King’s chambers to his own doorway, to which there no longer stood a door. Once home, he began to quietly perform the solemn task of digging three graves in his small backyard. He was packing down the last shovel full of dirt onto his beautiful little girl’s final resting place, when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
“I grieve with you, my friend. I have not the words you need.”
Alastyn turned to behold a viciously beaten and mangled Jezreel.
Most of her long blonde hair had been torn from her head. Bloody patches now covered her scalp. Her cheeks had been slashed open by what he could only assume were claws—jagged wounds, poorly stitched together. She gave him a weak smile, revealing a few of her teeth had been knocked out. He noticed one of her eyes was filled with blood. He could see no trace of the white.
She slowly approached him. Dried tears had left dirty streaks down her torn cheeks. When she was near enough, he released the breath he felt he’d been holding for days, and wrapped his arms tightly around his old friend. When she returned his embrace, all the bitter tears Alastyn thought had dried upon his journey, burst forth. He wept as a scared child.
“We are lost souls, longing for a peace we will never find,” Jezreel cried. “The time has come for you to harden that big beautiful heart of yours, old friend.”
Alastyn wiped at his dirty face with an even dirtier sleeve. “I only draw breath now because my defiant heart has told me my death would hold no meaning. All whom I love are gone.” He sniffed. “I will continue to breathe because I know not what else to do.” His broken gaze locked with hers. “Have we not suffered enough, Jezreel? Have we not spent our entire lives with broken and destroyed hearts? You know we have, both of us. I would have life as it was. Back when we were young and the world was still beautiful. No matter the cost, I wish it to be so. We have already paid with all we have, all we were. Now’s the time for our reward. I only wish for the undeserved misery to stop and the magic be returned to us.”
“Perhaps this devastating ending will one day turn into a miraculous beginning.” She tried to smile. “I secretly harbor within my destroyed heart the hope that my sister will return to us. Then we can all just start over.”
He closed his burning eyes and sighed. “It’s a most beautiful dream, Jezreel, one which can never be.”
She placed her hand upon his shaky chest. “You’re normally the infuriatingly positive one in our pair. Even now I see the darkness engulfing you.”
“Yes, a darkness delivered to me via glistening wings.” He drew in a ragged breath.
“Mince not your words, old friend.” She let escape a half-hearted chuckle. “My mind hasn’t yet claimed stability.”
“I was at the palace.” He took another deep breath, lifting his eyes toward the heavens. “I was standing by the window, watching the giant warriors Jenevier counted as her family. They slew every vile creature dumb enough to yet remain. A woman of their kind, she came to them… bade them follow her to another place, another layer.”
He turned then to Jezreel, pity and sorrow the only things now showing upon her once lovely face. She swallowed hard, yet spoke not.
“I looked for her, Jezreel. I longed to see those beautiful golden curls or those tinkling ruby locks. I cared not which. Alas, she wasn’t among them.” His silent tears did not halt. “They have lost her, Jezreel. They believe…” He couldn’t continue, fearing if he gave it breath, said it aloud, the horror would come true.
“What do you believe, Alastyn? What do you feel in your heart?” She touched him there. “Has her infinite pull left your longing chest?”
“I know not. I cannot feel. I cannot think. I am numb. I only breathe because I know not how to stop. I cannot tell you what I believe, for I’m not sure I can still trust my trembling heart.”
“I’ll tell you what I believe.” She waited until his eyes met hers. “I believe evil has always existed. I believe ghastly things happen to innocent people. I believe life goes on. No matter how badly we wish it did not.” She ran the backs of her fingers down his tear-stained cheek. “I also believe good yet reigns supreme in this universe. And I still believe love triumphs over all. There’s not a single living creature that doesn’t have a purpose. I refuse to believe my purpose, the reason for my existence, was to be fodder for a devil. The universe has a much more elaborate plan for me than something as mundane as all this. What we are witness to this day is a tragic hiccup in a much grander destiny.” She saw a tiny light flicker in those gorgeous emerald eyes. “Those creatures may have claimed my body, beaten me bloody. But they did not, could not, break my spirit.”
“That’s because you’ve been strong since birth, Jezreel.” He smiled and placed a hand upon her shoulder. “It’ll take more than a few demons to break you.”
“True. And yet I am merely mortal. Not made of the enchantingly magical things my lovely sister is. Magic was once a mighty force in this universe, Alastyn.” She half smiled. “Do not count her out so easily.”
The wind picked up softly, blowing away the sickening stench of decay surrounding them.
They both breathed deeply of the fresh air, filled their lungs with the pureness of the gentle breeze. The healing taste of hope blessedly mingled with it.
“Yes. I believe in magic. I believe in love. And I believe in destiny,” he whispered.
Alastyn closed his eyes and smiled.
Chapter 36
Jenevier
(ZHEN-ah-veer)
Jenevier rolled over and gazed at the majestically beautiful Angel sleeping next to her. She ran her fingers through his curly sapphire locks, rubbed the tip of her nose against his. When he opened those sparkling blue eyes, her heart swelled with pride, near to bursting with love.
“No mother has been so blessed as have I. What did I do to deserve two perfect Angels of my very own?”
Tenshi closed his eyes and snuggled up against her, which muffled his words. “Because, you are perfect, Mama.”
“You have grown so fast, my love. You will soon be the size of Vareilious. You very nearly already are.” She chuckled. “I’ll not be able to keep you hidden away forever. Your heart is as big as all creation, Tenshi. It would be a shame to keep it locked away.” She ran her fingers through his lovely hair again. “I dread the day maidens are allowed to look upon your beauty.” She pretended to growl. “I’ll have to hurt them or scare them away. I don’t want them to touch my baby Angel.”
“No maiden can steal me from you, Mama.”
“Perhaps… for now.” She tickled his ribs. “Your body may be that of a man’s, but you are yet my little Tenshi on the inside.”
He grabbed her hands, holding them still until his laughter ebbed. “Why do you compare me to Vareilious and not my father?”
She was taken aback by his question. “I know not. Perhaps your broad shoulders brought him to mind. Your curls are mine. Your coloring is your father’s. And your eyes are your own. I did not compare you to your father because… I know I shall never see the two of you together. Yet one day, I hope to see you stand next to your warrior brothers in Vanahirdem.”
“Then name me Vittorio, Mama.” He shot her a teasing wink. “I like the way your heart races when you think of him.”
“Tenshi, that’s not so. And it isn’t nice to make fun of your poor mother.” She lightly tapped the tip of his nose. “Surely I taught you better manners than that, young one. I am gloriously happy to be eternally bonded with Varick. This you know.” A distant look clouded her eyes. “I love him without question. I always have. I would lay my life down for that incredible man… as he would me. And besides all that…” She kissed his forehead. “My heart only races for you and your brother now.”
“You cannot hide such things from me, Mama. You love Vittorio. I know you do.”
“Yes, as I love your father and my precious Varick, as well.”
“And that raven-haired boy,” Daichi said as he entered and sat down on the edge of her bed.
“It’s not right for boys to pry into their mother’s heart, pulling buried ghosts from proper tombs.”
Daichi cocked one eyebrow. “Why are they buried? The men yet live, do they not?”
“I know not, Daichi,” she whispered. “But I hope they do.”
The beautiful blue Angel kissed her cheek and then her forehead. “Now then, are you feeling better, Naga? More like yourself?”
“Yes, Daichi. I’m sorry you had to shoulder my tears, son. I wished to never burden you so.”
“My shoulders exist for no other purpose than to bear your burdens and bring you peace.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “And I will kill him, Naga. He will most certainly die before we leave this layer.”
“Don’t bloody your lovely hands, my son. Mine are beyond cleansing. I will see to the deed myself… if it is right that I should do so.”
“Right or no, Musashi will die,” Tenshi snarled.
Jenevier was shocked to hear such venom in his normally timid voice.
Daichi chuckled. “Well, well. It seems my big brother has teeth after all.” He could never pass up the chance to taunt his meeker twin. “Why don’t you put such threats into action and take up your sword? You will never become a warrior if you remain coddled in your mother’s bosom.”
“I prefer Mother’s company to yours, Brother. You’re always so cold and harsh, while she is warm and loving.”
Tenshi snuggled against her once more, keeping his eyes closed but not able to contain the smile teasing Daichi brought to his face.
“Oh, so those fantasies about Mika… are they because she is so warm and loving?” Daichi countered.
Jenevier stiffened at this little revelation.
Tenshi looked up and saw the horror cross his mother’s face before she hurriedly pushed it away. He growled at Daichi. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“What? Do you think your desires are hidden from Naga? Silly boy, she knows everything. Where is your little girlfriend, anyway?” Daichi yawned, falling onto the bed beside them. “I only came in here because I couldn’t find her.”
Jenevier jumped up, wild eyed, panicking. “Did you say Mika was gone?”
Daichi rose up on his elbows. “I did not say she was gone, Naga. I only said I couldn’t find her. What’s wrong? What do you sense?”
“I sense nothing, that’s the problem,” she said. “Have you ever lost Mika before?”
“No. I only assumed she and Tenshi were hiding again.” Daichi cut his eyes toward his brother, a wicked smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.
“Jealousy does not become you, Brother,” Tenshi said lazily as he rose from the warm bed. “I’ll go find her, Mama. She’s probably just playing by the waterfall again. Sometimes it drowns out the thoughts.”
Jenevier followed Tenshi outside, watching as he lithely dove into the pristine waters and swam to the other side. She let out a little squeak when Daichi snuck up behind her, lifting her into the air.
“Spar with me, Naga.”
He sat her down and drew two swords from the weapon’s rack near the water’s edge.
“You know I’ve never fought with weapons such as those, Daichi. What if I hurt you?”
“Fear not. The edges have been dulled.” He banged them together for emphasis. “Besides, you need to learn how to swing a blade until your claws return.”
Jenevier took the Samurai weapon, closely examining its edge and point. “These weapons are still so foreign to me. Vareilious’s blade is sharp on both sides. I have to use both hands just to lift it.”
Daichi’s taunting smirk was blatant. “If you weren’t my revered Naga, I could make you blush for using such words to describe his blade.”
“Daichi! How have you come to learn such manners?” She stared, dumbfounded, at her beautiful blue boy. “Is Yui speaking ill things to you when I’m not present? Has he taught you to act as a beast and speak like one as well?”
“Nay, Naga. Yui is always the consummate gentleman. He admonishes me for saying such things.” He flashed a wicked look her way. “My words are my own. They’re naturally born within me.”
“Then I thank the heavens you did not grow up around my brothers. I shouldn’t be able to stand you already.”
“I look forward to the day they can train me proper.” He winked at her, smiling coyly.
She gasped. “You would disobey your mother? You would willingly take up the unguarded vile manners of a warrior against my wishes?”
“Never, Naga. Never would I willingly disobey you. But neither can I deny the creature I am.” He began to circle her slowly. “Now, raise your weapon and defend your lovely face… last warning.”
Daichi was quick and nimble. Jenevier was caught off guard with the swiftness of his blade, barely managing to counter his attack.
“Years of ease have left you rusty, Naga.” He stiffened his back, looking down on her from his great height. “I will not see you at the mercy of any man, ever again. Each new sunrise will find you here, blade in hand. Until I can leave you alone without pause or worry.”
“You would train me?” She laughed. “You believe me an old woman? Minus skill and courage?”
“I have seen the battles of your past played out many times in your mind. What I have not seen is the strength you now claim. But I have seen the confidence you now lack. I know not if it was stolen from you or if you gave it up willingly. Alas, I will not be satisfied until I see the fire rise up ins
ide you once more.”
One corner of his mouth was turned up in a smirk. She knew that look all too well.
“The fire you showed Vareilious at the gate,” he continued. “The fire you burned Varick with during your training. The fire you carried into that little hunting cabin with you. And the fire you rained down upon the mighty Vindicus while in hell. All these things you did minus your mask. Show me this fire dwells within you still. Only then shall I bow down to your great might, Naga.”
“You have a sharp tongue, dear one. Take care you don’t push your old mom too far.”
“Please, allow me, Milady.” Yui spoke as he came up behind her. “Hold the blade like this.” He wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands over hers. “When balanced properly, it should feel light as a feather. Place your fingers like this. Use two hands only when you slice. Like so.” He guided her arms through the precise, fluid movement. “See how much better it feels, Princess? Natural… like a deadly extension to your graceful body.”
Daichi watched his master closely. He had warned him over and over not to touch her.
Jenevier melted back against the gentle Shinobi as she gave herself over to his soothing words and poised movements, absorbing his expert training. She trusted this man above all others. Gone was the boy who supported her during her torturous labor. The years had turned her young friend into a strong man. The chest she now rested upon was firm and masculine. She closed her eyes, felt his voice move through her body. The blade seemed to hum in her palm. His comforting tone lulled her heart as it had once healed her soul. This was the only human who would ever know exactly what she’d gone through. This was the only person who knew the extent of her injuries that night, who washed away the blood, held her when she could not stand on her own. This young man loved and worshipped her no matter what his eyes were forced to bear witness to. He was her strength, and had been since the day she’d first arrived. She depended on Yui more than he could ever imagine. The respect she carried for him bordered upon awe.
As he whispered his instructions in her ear, Yui breathed in deep her enticing scent. His eyelids fluttered.
