by JK Ensley
He only shot me an exasperated glance, shaking his head. He mumbled, “You watched too much of that horrible thing they call television, didn’t you?”
“Don’t forget the movies.” I scrunched up my nose at him, mockingly. “They were the best… Monsters I’ve never even dreamed of lived up on that giant screen. Blood and guts, guns and knives, roars and screams, devils and—”
“Shall we begin?”
The commanding voice boomed, cutting off my taunting words.
Chapter 14
Vahan
(VAY-hann)
Chattering teeth—they appeared to be the only physical manifestation of my internal tremors. Yet in my heart, deep in my gut, I was shaking so badly Vybius took pity on me. His gentle hands rested upon my shoulders, radiating loving warmth, delivering blessed calm as I stood there before the council head of Vandermil.
“Jenevier Embarr, Vashti, the wait has been long for your arrival,” Vahan said.
“Apologies.” I swallowed hard. “I wasn’t aware… umm, I mean… I didn’t realize you… I had no idea you were expecting me, sir.” Eventually, a single coherent thought, an entire sentence, slipped from my lips.
I was just relieved I didn’t stutter, relieved my voice didn’t crack like a prepubescent boy. It was then that I became consciously aware of Vybius standing behind me, practically holding me up. The elegant sentinel maintained a firm grasp on my upper arms. His body was the wall I now leaned upon, steadying my betraying knees.
Perhaps he’s the Guardian of frazzled nerves. I giggled inside my head at the curious thought. But his mere touch has calmed me many times now. No matter how badly I may resent his familiar appearance, this warrior holds a strange power over me. Perhaps I don’t hate him after all. Well, not as much as I probably should.
I lightly rested my head back against him and wiggled my shoulders. He blew a puff of sweet breath into my curls, sending one falling down into my face, over my eye. I restrained a giggle, bumping his chest with the back of my head. And of course, he immediately retaliated, lightly hitting the backs of my legs with his knees. Seriously, if he hadn’t been holding me up I would’ve fallen. After that, it was all I could do to keep my giggles inside. I wanted to pinch him so bad it was maddening. A real quick pinch right on the inside of his thigh, just a little pinch with a tiny twist, then I’d take off like a loosed arrow.
No… I’m sure he would catch me and scold me. He acts all proper and stiff. But I bet if you could get him to loosen up, he could be sooo much fun, I thought.
Vahan cleared his throat. I jumped.
Jeez, I hate this kind of thing. I sent a mental thank you to my new protector and friend. I wouldn’t be able to stand here without you, Brother.
Vybius’s grip on me tightened slightly, as if he had heard my thoughts.
“All must pass through Vandermil before their reward or punishment can be granted.” The officially robed man’s words echoed around the great hall.
I spoke without waiting to be addressed. “So, you mean when people die, you send them to their Otherworld?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean,” Vahan responded.
I scrunched up my eyebrows as I tried to understand what he was telling me. “Then, I did die after all?”
“No, you were spared.”
“So, why am I here? Are you to kill me now?” My voice dropped to nearly a whisper. “After all this time… why couldn’t you just—”
“No, child. We’re not going to kill you,” he said.
Muffled laughter spread throughout the crowded chamber hall.
“Gratitude, Milord.” I bowed slightly. “Why were you waiting on me, then? What have I to do with you?”
“Because you are Vanir, little one. And, because you have sinned.”
I remained silent, as did what seemed like the whole realm.
I’ve already been punished for that sin, and duly so, I thought. Besides, I’m pretty sure I’m NOT Vanir. I look nothing like them. Vashti looks nothing like them. I cannot even claim to have a job such as theirs, or rather, they cannot do the job I was given. No, I believe I’m something else entirely, something foreign, an abomination perhaps.
“She knows nothing of us.” My regal new friend spoke up on my behalf. “Explain to her properly what is expected of her. Her silence comes from fear of the unknown. Speak plainly with her. She will understand.”
“Was that not your job, good Vybius?” Vahan asked.
“It was, yes.” The amethyst Guardian released my arms and began affectionately fondling the many curls cascading freely down my back. “Yet, upon entering my domicile, she slipped into the darkness where she remained until a few short hours ago. There was no time.”
Gasps and whispers spread throughout the room. A nauseating feeling now seeded within me. They were whispering about Vybius. They were all judging him concerning me. How was this even possible? After all he’d done for me, all he had been put through? I was compelled to protect the only friend I’d made during my exile.
“Do you whisper now of this man?” I blatantly put the accusation before the council, before the attendees as well.
I couldn’t stop my words nor did I try to control my rising anger. I knew I only needed but to hold my tongue, yet I couldn’t stomach this gross injustice, this vile prattling concerning an innocent man.
“You are all Vanir, are you not? Who among you stood up to help your brother? Who among you even knows what this warrior had to do for me, what he had to go through just so this meeting could be possible for you?” I narrowed my eyes as I neared the podium, coming to stand before the council chair’s elevated seat. “You, Vahan, you obviously know what it was Vybius did not get to tell me.” My cold eyes scanned the elitist row of self-righteous Guardians. “You all know what needs to be said now. Yet not a single tongue has been loosed with instructions. No, for they are all too busy flapping about unwarranted judgments against your own brother—too busy proclaiming your own value, too haughty to stoop to voicing mere directives. Pride goeth before the fall, Brothers. Take care you don’t stumble over your grossly inflated egos—your nose pointing so high your feet cannot be seen.”
“Hold your tongue, Vashti,” Vahan demanded.
I laughed rather cruelly. “Vashti isn’t here, good Vahan.” Vareilious would be proud of the smirk I now wore. “Best you should thank God she is not. She isn’t real big on speeches. That strangest of all creatures, well, she likes to let her claws do all her talking.”
Vybius’s strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me back against him, gently holding me there as he placed his lips to my crown and began humming. I know not the words to his tune, but it reached my soul, heavenly peace washing all else away.
I sent mental thanks to him and received another quick squeeze in return.
“Let me do now what should have been done upon her arrival.” He bowed respectfully to the council members as he spoke. “Bear with me, Brothers and Sisters. Witness for yourselves this child’s life. Determine in your heart if it be just or tragic. See if she is truly the monster you fear, or merely the consequence of misplaced devotions.” His gentle gaze enveloped me. “The result of too much love. The exquisite outcome of a heart’s simple confusion.”
When his touching words had ceased, my comforting new friend plopped right down in the middle of the floor, smiling up at me as he patted the spot beside him.
“Come. Sit with me, beautiful lady. We have much to discuss, you and I.”
I quietly took my proffered spot next to this purple Angel, nuzzling his shoulder as he protectively wrapped one arm around me. This felt like the most natural thing in the whole world. Sitting here with my brother, being held and comforted, I forgot anyone else was even around.
He held his other hand up before us. “Jenevier, you know me now as your friend, Vybius. But I am also known as the Sage for my people.”
“Oh… like Vareen?”
“No, tiny maiden. Vareen i
s a seer. She sees in visions sent to her directly from God concerning the future, mostly. I am a Sage. I show you visions of the past. She imparts instruction and guidance. I bestow wisdom—provide hindsight, if you will. I am the keeper of legends, portrayer of the moral to every story.” He gave me another little squeeze, accompanied by a reassuring wink.
Vybius’s delicately lined palm began to glow. I tensed, withdrawing from him slightly.
He closed his hand and turned to face me proper. “Jenevier, trust me now. Know that I would gladly suffer through all you’ve had to endure, every single pain-filled moment, if I knew it would spare you even one tear, even one tiny crack in your beautiful heart. Believe me. I will not hurt you, now or ever. I plan to sit right here, holding you, wiping away your tears, dispelling all your past pains. It’s time for you to heal, tiniest Angel. God has need of you now. But to continue on, you must face your past demons. Abolish them once and for all. I can help you with that ardent task, Milady. I will help you. I promise.”
I studied his sincere expression. “You mean… the humming thing?”
He touched the tip of my nose with his, smiling warmly. “Yes, the humming thing. It helped, did it not?”
“Yes, it helped very much,” I whispered. “Gratitude, Brother.”
“Very good, tiny maiden. Besides, it’s not all bad. You must be filled in on what all you’ve missed while you were away.”
Those were the words I feared would come. I knew I couldn’t handle these truths. “No… Vybius, please… no,” I begged.
“Shhh, I will only show you what is absolutely necessary, or whatever else you may ask of me. I’m right here. Trust in me. I will not reveal what isn’t important, and I won’t leave you. Let me prove my loyalty. Let me show you to what end I will go just to see you healed, just to make you smile, just to hear those sweetest of all giggles.” He tenderly kissed my forehead. “Please, Jenevier, just trust me.”
I stared at his gentle smile. “So, you already know everything you’re about to show me, don’t you?”
“Yes, Milady, the whole of it. I have watched it over and over, replayed it countless times throughout the years. I know your story well, little sister. I know you well.”
“Sweet Vybius, if I hold any worth to you, any value at all, then promise me one thing.”
“Anything.” He gave me a reassuring squeeze.
“You have read the whole of my new soul,” I began.
“Yes. I count it as my greatest blessing.”
“Then, promise me. When you know something is going to be particularly painful for me, tragic for my heart, detrimental to my essence… you’ll start the humming thing before I even see it.”
Vybius laughed softly. “Of course, my dear. You didn’t even have to ask. I promise to start the humming thing long before pain can master you.” He took my face in his gentle hands and lightly kissed the tip of my nose. “Are you ready, tiny Angel?”
I sighed and closed my eyes, resigning to see this through. “No, but let it begin.”
“Good girl.” He pinched my cheek and gave it a little pat. “We will start with what you already know and remember.”
Chapter 15
Viatrix
(VEE-ah-tricks)
“I can still remember exactly how that felt,” I whispered, as the surreal picture played out—me slipping from my bedroom window, feeling the dew-soaked grass between my toes, realizing my error… my first of many errors.
When Vybius’s palm began to glow, a shining orb appeared and the vivid movie of my life was clearly displayed before me. I was racked with so many different emotions I had to keep reminding myself to breathe. Shocked at how young and fragile I looked, I wanted to shout out warnings to that naïve little girl. She had no idea the horrors awaiting her.
The picture jerked and then changed. There stood my beautiful friend, Jezreel.
I was wholly entranced by the vision and slowly moved so I was perched upon my knees before this magical orb of my life, gaping at the tiny movie playing out before me. How can I possibly describe to you this enchanting experience? I was looking at ghosts from my past, long dead, reincarnated for me now within an ethereal ball of light. I could clearly see the tears streaming down my young friend’s cheeks.
“She’s gone.”
Hearing that tortured, pleading cry, sent me falling backwards onto my bottom. I tried to scamper away. Strong hands halted my retreat. I looked up to find my self-proclaimed Guardian, that perfectly sculpted blue sentinel was smiling sorrowfully down at me.
“I felt your fear, little one,” Vindicus said. “I knew you needed me.”
“Apologies, Jenevier. I should have warned you,” Vybius said. “Not only will you see your life, you will hear it as well. I know this is a great deal to ask. Proof to us all the terror rising within you may be too much for you to handle, is the fact that your Guardian came to you. He will protect and comfort you now. Nothing in this universe can harm you. Not with Vindicus by your side.”
The enormous blue-haired warrior sat down and crossed his legs before the past-displaying sphere. He turned to me, holding out a giant hand.
“Come, tiny Angel.” He patted his legs, offering up his lap to serve as my front row seat. “Your throne, Milady.”
Now this, this was funny. Here was a mighty sapphire-haired warrior of the unknown, sitting on the floor, smiling like an expectant child waiting for his gift. I couldn’t help but giggle as I took my proffered seat. The rest of the world faded away. Vindicus lent me his awesome strength and slowed my racing heart—calming me, lifting my soul.
I squirmed around until I was comfortable, making a proper chair of this massive lap.
“I can do this now,” I whispered.
Vybius had halted the image on Jezreel’s saddened eyes. The scene began to slowly move again, just as Alastyn read my farewell letter.
“Wow… He is sooo beautiful.”
I marveled at the sheer magnificence of my raven-haired first love. His ivory skin, those dark curls, and those amazing Otherworldly emerald eyes. He was the prettiest human I had ever seen. Bar none. No other could stand before him. I sighed as I gazed upon his rare mortal perfection. As far as the mundane worlds go, this young man surpassed them all.
Vybius loudly cleared his throat, and then a deep growl rumbled from behind me.
“What? What are the two of you grunting and growling about?” I turned my attention back to the orb. “Just look at him. He is so lovely, so beautiful… so perfect.”
Vindicus snorted. “So common.”
“Perhaps compared to a majestic Vanir, but his valiant heart could put all races to shame. And look at those enchanting eyes. I remember well what happened inside me when those raven curls brushed across my face. His was the touch I first desired, his lips the first I longed for. We were given but a few hours, a single breath out of forever. Had we been given only the tiniest chance, we two would never have been parted. I would have happily spent my life within his loving embrace. My heart nurtured. My soul still intact.” A tiny tear escaped with my sigh. “Save for my dark curse, Vybius, you would now be looking upon the smiling faces of our precious children, happily playing in the lush grass surrounding that little rose-covered cottage.”
“Were it not for your dark curse,” Vybius grumbled, “I would not be looking upon you at all. My orb would never have displayed your glorious form.”
“Would that have been so bad?” I said. “Never knowing of other layers, other realms, other people. Had I never looked upon that giant crystal gate, never beheld the ethereal beauty of your people… I would have lived happily content in all my mundane ignorance. Evil isn’t something easily looked upon. This you well know. If I could only have stayed in Ashgard, I would never have known darkness.”
“You jest,” Vybius said with a snort. “How is it you so easily forget, Maiden? Ashgard was where you first met darkness, first looked into the charming eyes of evil. No, you’re where you were always mean
t to be. Here, with us. Vandermil is your rightful home. Ashgard is where you were cursed.”
Vindicus’s breath warmed the curls hanging over my ear as he whispered, “And were it not for your dark curse, my Angel, you wouldn’t now be sitting in the lap of greatness. You would have missed out on crossing paths with utter perfection. That’s just too horrible to think about, is it not?”
He playfully poked my ribs. I giggled.
The scenes sped by quickly, blurring into a sea of blended colors. As my childhood friends faded away, the flying pictures swirled, unfocused. I could no longer tell what was happening. I sent a questioning glare toward Vybius.
“Well, none of the stuff with him was that important anyway,” he said. “I started too far back is all.”
I rolled my eyes at him and smiled knowingly. Men, they’re all the same, no matter their lineage. I shook my head at the thought.
Throughout the rest of that day, I witnessed things within his glittering orb I had only gotten to read about, recorded on the tattered pages of that worn prophetic novel I fished from an eighth layer discount bin.
I saw Merodach comforting his wraiths. Well, pretending to. I watched as his hunter, Mordon, hopelessly tried to track me down.
If I’d not met Vareen when I did, he would’ve surely captured me.
The scenes of my forgotten life played on. The lovely little butterfly, the disgusting old dog, the feisty pink and purple Pixies.
“Ahh… Alzeen.”
I lunged forward, placing my hands upon the magical ball. Wrapping my arms around the ethereal orb Vybius had produced from his palm, I gazed adoringly at the one man who had truly stolen my heart. I had been blessed with much love through the years, but none had been rooted quite so deep, nor felt quite so strongly, as the love I would always carry for this innocent soul I now nearly held within my grasp.
