Destroyed by Onyx (A Dance with Destiny Book 4)

by JK Ensley

  Their combined laughter only made Munenori roll his eyes again.

  “Watch him over there,” Jenevier whispered. “Have I ever told him how much I hate when people do thus?”

  You have, he said with a ringing chuckle in his unspoken words. And it was quite entertaining.

  They fell silent for many heartbeats while Jenevier just leaned against her Dragon, tenderly rubbing his velvety snout.

  Naga, I saw your memories of last night, and this morning, and just a little while ago.

  Munenori cleared his throat uncomfortably, blushing brightly at the Dragon’s bared words.

  Are you truly okay with what happened between the two of you? he asked softly.

  “I’m not sure. I mean, I’m not upset about it, if that’s what you’re getting at.” She shrugged her shoulders. “He made me feel good, truly special, loved. I enjoyed it. Actually, if something hadn’t been nagging at the corners of my mind, warning me away from him, I would enjoy him like that every night and day and morning as well.”

  More than your skin has changed, Kagi Naga. Much more.

  “That’s what I keep saying, Brother. I’m not Jenevier. She died. I’m someone else.”

  Don’t be too quick to kill her off, Little Fire. She is an amazing creature, as are you. I look forward to seeing how this all plays out. And do not be mistaken, tiny Guardian. You are Jenevier still… just a darker version, perhaps.

  “You two do know I can hear you, do you not?” Munenori said, unable to hold his tongue any longer. “I’m an Angel, not a stone.” He moved closer to her. “If you wish me to share your eternal bed, Naga, I will, gladly I will. I would love nothing more than to bring you joy every night, day, and morning as well. Take my manacle and let us see what happens.”

  At the word manacle, Jenevier looked to the black tattoo covering her left hand.

  “Manacles are a bad thing,” she whispered. “I do not recall why, not exactly. But, no, thank you. I do not wish a manacle of any kind.”

  The Angel and the Dragon both fell silent.

  She looked from one to the other. “What? What happened?”

  “Naga.” Munenori spoke softly. “You will live for eons, perhaps. That is a terribly long time to spend all alone. Trust me in this. And you have way too much love inside you to think you could live as a solitary creature. We all need ties, things that bind us to one another. We thrive together, Empress. Alone… we fade.”

  Or go mad, Nilakanta added. Naga, no man who truly loves you will go an eternity minus your commitment. All creatures need security. That’s what a manacle will give them. They’re not a bad thing, little one. They are a blessing.

  “Well, that settles it then,” she huffed. “I’ve already more blessings than I can handle. I’ll not willingly take on another. Manacle or blessing, keep them. I’m all full up.”

  “Naga, my love, open your ears,” Munenori pleaded. “The one who will stay with you minus this binding promise, he isn’t someone you would really want in your life. He will hurt you, Little Fire. If a man will not commit to only you, he does not truly love you.”

  “So… you truly love me, Munenori? Is that what you’re saying?”

  He blanched at her bluntness, his cheeks flamed.

  She only nodded her head. “I thought not. Yet you offered me your manacle thingy. Is it a temporary thing?”

  It is not, Nilakanta said. No promise or commitment should ever be made lightly, whether a manacle is involved or no. Hearts are not temporary things and they should never be played with.

  “I was not playing,” Munenori said. “I do love you, Naga. If you accept my manacle, we would be together always. This I vow.”

  “Gratitude, Brother,” she said with a soft smile. “But I don’t think I’d like being bound to anyone, least not always. I like just being me.”

  A manacle will not change who you are, little one.

  “Well, I believe it would.” She cocked her head to the side, contemplatively. “If I am bound, then… I’m not free.” She shook her head decisively. “No thanks, Brothers. I prefer freedom.”

  We all need a constant in our lives, Naga. Someone we can always count on. Someone who will stand up for us and behind us, no matter what. If you are truly loved, there is no more freeing feeling in the universe. Love may bind you, but it will not shackle you, Little Fire. Just think how horrible it would be to look back, a thousand years from now… and have no one to laugh about your past with?

  “No worries.” She smiled and hugged his snout. “I have you, Nilakanta. You will be my constant.”

  As much as it pleases me to hear you proclaim thus, tiny Guardian, I will not always be with you. Your days are numbered longer than are mine.

  “There’s no guarantee of days for any of us,” she said. “I will laugh and remember with you. Okay?”

  Very well, little one. I will be your constant, if that is your wish.

  “Wait.” She looked Nilakanta in the eye. “Does that mean I will have to take your manacle?”

  Munenori sighed, shaking his head. “Perhaps this is a lesson better taught on another day,” he said. “No, Kagi Naga. You do not have to take your Dragon’s manacle. He will be your constant minus that bond, and you can retain your freedom. You are bound to him in other ways already. You do not have to marry him.”

  “Perfect.” She flew up and straddled the Dragon’s back. “That wasn’t so hard, now, was it? So, if you’re going to be with me always, you must come and live at the palace.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Let’s go. Night is fast approaching and I am weary from lack of proper rest.” She raised one eyebrow as she looked toward Munenori teasingly.

  Naga, you do not have a palace big enough to hold me. This is my home. I shall stay here. If you need me, little one, call out to me in your heart. I will always answer you.

  She sat there for one long, silent moment before she flew back down to the ground, disheartened. “Very well, Dragon. As you wish.” She turned to the Guardian Angel of Jinn. “You ready, Brother?”

  “The palace is not my home, Naga. It is yours,” he said, a deep sadness in his voice. “I only promised to mind your kingdom in your absence. You have returned now, Empress. And I have much of my own to tend to.” The Angel turned to go. “I am but a thought away, little sister. If you need me…” he whispered. “…I will know.”

  “Oh, I see…” Her heart felt tiny and cold, abandoned, as she stretched out her wings. “I will take my leave, then. Nos da, Brothers. Farewell, until we meet again.”

  When he could no longer see the glint from her sparkling wings as they slowly disappeared into the darkening sky, Munenori exhaled loudly and plopped down on the ground.

  There is a darkness in her now, Nilakanta said.

  “I know.”

  I see this ending badly, Angel.

  “As do I.”

  She has retained much of who she was… but that darkest of seeds was planted way too deep. Do you know who it was? Do you know whose black heart now lives and grows within her?

  “I do. He was yet with her when we found them.” Munenori rubbed his hands down his face and shook his head. “Oh, Dragon… It was Ahriman.”

  Would that it could have been any creature, save the soul-eater.

  “I know… I know. She has only recalled the fondest memories of him as Vybius. She trusts him. She believes him to be her friend. Her dearest friend, the one who helped her when she was left all alone, abandoned in the Underworld.”

  Well, hell.

  Munenori snorted out a half-laugh. “My thoughts exactly.”

  Tell me your thoughts about how to fix this. How will you help our Guardian?

  Munenori looked the sapphire Dragon straight in the eye. “She denied her Blessing. She even went so far as to try and unbind him from her.”

  Without him…

  “Yes. Without Daichi… there is no Naga.”

  Chapter 29

  Vittorio

  (vit-TOR-ee-oh
)

  She touched down, this time landing just before she reached the palace gates. Jenevier needed to burn off a little anger. She was grumbling under her breath as she made her way through the entrance, ignoring the greetings from her posted guards. Her footsteps rang like thunder as she purposefully stomped up the many steps.

  When she finally reached her room, she slammed her enormous chamber door, opened it, and slammed it again.

  “Dammit. Dammit. Dammit,” she yelled, and then roared at the top of her lungs. The palace trembled.

  Turning, Jenevier roared again, but stopped short when she noticed the delicate little jars sitting atop her dressing table.

  “Here now, where did you come from?”

  The first intoxicating sniff brought back a monsoon of images and people and places and feelings… sooo many feelings. She staggered back, trying to shake the cacophony of confusion. She stumbled into the bath, steadying herself against the cold basin.

  The icy water felt good on her face and went a long way toward clearing her head. She stared at her pale reflection, those huge black eyes. She couldn’t force herself to recognize the strange woman looking back at her.

  “I hate Angels. I hate Dragons. And I hate men,” she grumbled through gritted teeth. “I hate Angels. I hate Dragons. And I hate men. I hate…” She blew out a long breath through pursed lips. “And above all others… I hate you.” She spat the bitter words at her ghostly reflection.

  Flinging her worn dress over a gilded bench, she trudged wearily toward the bed.

  “And I hate this damn bed,” she said. “It’s too big and too cold. How can anyone feel anything but loneliness in a bed this size?”

  The furrow in her brow deepened when she saw the strangely familiar journal on her nightstand.

  “Who in the holy hell has been in my room?” she hissed. “If Yui thinks he can just do as he pleases, if he thinks it a jest to mess with my head, then I shall have to come up with a ridiculously painful punishment for my beautiful young Hand.”

  She snatched up the book as she jumped onto the bed. A lovely red box slid down against her hip. The embroidery was so beautiful she forgot to be angry about its unexpected presence.

  Laying the journal aside, she sat the box in her lap, slowly opening the lid. She slammed it closed.

  Trembling all over, she stared, unseeing, at the opposite wall. “…Vittorio,” she whispered numbly, the name carrying a dark sorrow with it as it rolled off her tongue. “I need you, Brother.”

  Jenevier wasn’t completely certain as to why, but her tears began to flow as a torrent. Curling into a ball in the center of that giant bed, she hugged the lovely red box to her chest.

  “Aye, Lass. Ye’ve nae idea how long I’ve waited tae hear those sweet words fall from yer perfect lips.”

  She spun around to find the giant Guardian leaning against a pillar at the entrance to her balcony. His eyes put her in mind of a cloudless summer’s day, and his long silver hair was playing gracefully upon the faint breeze.

  “Who… who are you?”

  He had started toward her but froze at her question.

  “Who am I? Ye know me nae?” His eyes plainly showed a deep hurt. “I’m the one ye just called oot for, wee Princess. Dunnae tell me ye’ve forgotten yer dearest friend in the world.”

  “Vittorio?” She whispered the name as the gentle breeze washed over her tear-stained face. She gasped. “Ah… that smell… your sweet scent. I remember it well.” She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. “It smells of laughter and warmth, happiness and comfort. And it’s the heavenly scent of love… sweet, perfect… love. Yours is the very scent that wraps me in its arms and cradles me. How could I ever forget that delicious smell? It’s my favorite aroma in the universe.”

  “Is it now?” Vittorio continued his journey toward her. “I do believe I’ve used nearly the exact same description for ye, mine Angel. But I dinnae speak it aloud for fear ye would punch me.”

  His tender smile… it lit up her soul.

  The ethereal Guardian sat down in the chair beside her bed. “How is it ye dinnae recognize me, Princess?”

  “I know not.” She found herself lost in his gentle eyes. “You are so beautiful. You look to be made of the finest marble. A living statue masterfully sculpted. How could I ever forget one such as you?”

  His chest tightened at her admiring words. “Aye, Lass, ye look at me as if I hung the stars. Ye always were too fond of me for yer own good.”

  “Was I now?” She looked down at the box in her hands. “When I looked inside… the memory of the day I received it came flooding back. It’s my greatest treasure. Yet, your face was withheld from the recollection. I remember your voice, your exquisite scent, the way you make my heart sing. But I knew not your face.” She looked back up at him. “Tell me why I needed you, Brother. Tell me why the absence of you brought me to tears.”

  He softly chuckled. “Aye, Lass, I cannae read minds. If I could, yers would be the only one I’d want tae read.” He winked at her and continued. “It seems ye remember the most important things, even if ye cannae recall why. So if ye cried for me, yer hurting in yer heart an’ need comfort. That was always my favorite job—bringing ye comfort, making ye smile. Tell me, Princess. What happened tae ye today? Were ye with that mossy smelling Angel?”

  She sniffed and nodded her head. “Munenori’s been my constant companion since my return. We went to the secret valley to visit my Dragons.” Her tears silently dripped from her chin. “But they both became rather cross with me, I’m afraid.”

  “Both?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Munenori and Nilakanta, my bonded Dragon.”

  “Tell me what happened tae ye, Milady. Tell me why ye were so angry when ye returned.”

  “You heard all that, huh?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, we were laughing and poking fun at the Angel. That’s one of Nilakanta’s favorite things to do and I just couldn’t help myself. When I was with that sapphire giant, it felt so natural. Anyway, we must’ve hurt Munenori’s feelings because he grew terribly serious and then told me I should take his manacle.”

  Vittorio quickly inhaled, choking on the breath. “Wha-what did ye say tae him?”

  “I told him I didn’t wish for a tying bond like that with any creature. I spoke my heart to him. Told him I only wanted my freedom.” She absently picked at the golden embroidery on the box as she spoke. “They told me I couldn’t have my freedom. Told me I could not be a solitary creature. They said I would fade minus commitments and ties to others.” Her silent tears now turned into soft, pitiful sobs. “And then, even though they both promised to be there for me always, neither would return with me.”

  “Wee Princess.” Vittorio leaned closer to the bed, resting his arms on the edge. “Tell me something.”

  She wiped her tears and met his kind gaze, expectantly.

  “When I arrived here with yer things… yer Hand was changing yer bedding.”

  “Yui did that?” She shook her head regretfully. “Bless his noble heart. He shouldn’t have been burdened so.”

  Vittorio lightly touched her bent knee. “Was Munenori the reason? Did something happen last night tae cause…” He couldn’t finish the question. He didn’t have the heart to hear her answer.

  “What do you mean, Brother?” She searched his beautiful eyes. “The sheets? Is that what you’re referring to?” She absently ran her hand across the plush bedding as she spoke. “I suppose so. Maybe. I wasn’t really paying attention, I don’t guess. I know not what condition we left the bed in. I mean, we did have sex many times through the night and again with the dawn.” Her chest rose and fell with her sigh. “So I guess poor Yui did me a great favor.”

  Vittorio was frozen, shocked speechless from her casual answer. There was a loud ringing in his ears and his left eye twitched involuntarily.

  “What’s wrong, Brother?” She leaned over and lightly touched his arm. “What happened?”

  “Aye, give me a
moment, Lass,” he whispered. “Just… give me a moment.”

  She lowered her gaze and sat quietly until she heard the Guardian’s strained breathing return to normal.

  “I’m not her.” She glanced up at him and back down. “I’m not your friend, your Jenevier. She died, Guardian. I’m not sure how, exactly. But… she’s gone. I’m only cursed with some of her memories. Alas, they are too shattered to understand completely. I am sorry for your loss.”

  He took her hand in his. “Then tell me. If yer nae Jenevier, who are ye, Lass?”

  “Well… I thought I was Gealach, daughter of the rightful King of Val Hal, and the only intended of my beloved Finnean. But since returning here… I feel like I’m this Kagi Naga person, Empress of Jinn.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It feels more natural, anyway. One thing’s for sure. I’m not her.”

  “Aye, Lass, why were ye with Ahriman?”

  “Ahriman?” She studied the pained look in his gentle eyes. “Oh, you mean that black-winged Angel, Vybius?” She smiled then. “He rescued me in the forest, saved me from Drostan and Valencia.”

  “Aye, did he now? What did he say tae ye, Princess? Did he whisper undying love in yer precious ear?”

  She giggled. The glorious sound made his chest tighten again.

  “Love?” She squeezed his hand. “I suppose he did… a little. He mostly told me how I used to be married to hell’s Prince, but that my soul didn’t belong there.”

  “Is that all he said?”

  “No.” She shook her head as she held his worried gaze. “He told me he had bestowed a rare gift upon me. Told me I could now open the passageway back to my beloved, back to hell, if I wanted. He said I didn’t belong there before. But thanks to him… now I did.”

  Vittorio’s stomach twisted in knots and his chest ached. “Have ye told anyone else what ye just told me, Lass?”

  “No. I mean, I’m not even sure what he meant, not exactly. But, it’s like I told Munenori. I do not wish to be bound. If I have a husband waiting for me in hell, then I’m damn sure steering clear of that place.” She yawned then and rolled her head from side to side. “I am weary, Brother. I crave rest.” She tugged on his warm hand. “Will you stay with me?”