Jaylen's expression changed. His eyes turned darker with obvious pain.
"Oh, no. I didn't mean it like that. You're not worthless. You know that, don't you? Jay?"
Instead of responding, Jaylen curled up in a ball and hid underneath the pile of blankets.
She felt terrible. Kato watched him shivering in silence until there was a knock on the door. She went to the door and opened it to see the cook holding out a metal pan filled with heated rocks. "Oh, thank you, Thomas. These will help."
"Is the first mate all right?"
"He will be. Come in, please." Kato lifted up the blankets and slid the pan of hot rocks underneath to help warm Jaylen.
Jaylen actually gave a small appreciative whimper in response.
Kato smiled then turned back to Thomas. "I need to use your pantry tonight for a couple of hours. I know you know about my . . . secret. He's here. He helped out, so I owe him. Jaylen needs the bed to recover, so I need a private place to pay my debt."
"He's here?" Thomas asked.
"Yes. He found me. Please don't tell anyone, Thomas."
"I wouldn't dream of it. My pantry is all yours. I will keep the rest of the crew away."
"Thank you. For now, I am going to tend to Jaylen and prepare for tonight."
"Of course. You know where to find me."
* * *
Kato drank another shot of rum before applying her red lipstick and tying the black rose into her hair, just like Divinus liked it. She never would have been doing this again if she didn't have to. However, she was a woman of her word and it was worth it to save Jaylen. The stars were bright in the velvety sky as she made her way across the deck of her ship then down the stairs into the lower levels. Most of the crew was asleep already while music came up from the lowest level where some of them were dancing and drinking. Kato headed down the narrow corridor between the crates of supplies and additional cannons until she reached the wooden door to the pantry. This was it. She opened the door with a trembling hand.
The pantry had been draped with layers of silk. Piles of ornate red and golden pillows were stacked in the corners and rows of black candles burned, giving off their flickering soft glow. Tiny wrapped chocolates were stacked in pyramids on a silver tray along with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
Divinus was sitting on the pillows, leaning back against the wall. His wings were hidden, but the red halo remained and still accented his otherworldly features. He offered a warm smile. "It is nice to be like this again with you, Kato. I've missed doing these romantic things."
"Candles and chocolates?" Kato asked, her anger and fear almost melting away. "Did you think this would make me feel better about doing this?"
"Um . . . yeah, I guess. More like I hoped it would." He picked up a chocolate truffle and held it out to her. "They're caramel, your favorite. I flew all the way to Cilona to get them for you. I had to sneak in while Carvael was up in Heaven and not paying attention. But I found that little chocolate shop we used to go to all the time together. That's where we had our first kiss ten years ago. You were fifteen and so innocent, so trusting."
"Divinus, why?"
"Because I don't want this to be awful. I want you to enjoy it as well. I want this to be like that first time under the stars with the cherry blossoms surrounding us. I love you, Kato. I always have."
She tucked her bangs behind her ears then joined him on the pillows. "But it was wrong, Divinus. It has always been wrong. Why do you think Sola sent Jeremiah after us? He's bloodthirsty and relentless. He is the one she sends to take out the worst of the worst. You've heard the rumors. They say that even humans can't touch him directly without bursting into flames. Even the normal angels don't talk about him because they're afraid that he will find something wrong and enact his vengeance on them. Jeremiah will hunt us down no matter how long or how far we run. I received a letter from one of my spies today. Jeremiah had just arrived in Wolfekin."
"He came to Aldexa?" Divinus asked. "Since when does Jeremiah actually stay in the human world for very long other than simply passing through?"
"He's growing desperate. You know how he is when he's desperate."
Divinus opened the bottle of wine then poured the glasses full. He handed one to Kato. "I only know what I've been told. I haven't met him."
"Me neither, but I don't want to."
"Maybe we could take our case to the Angelic Court. They could listen to us."
"Listen to us?" Kato asked. "I'm a human woman who seduced a seraph, one of her trusted guardians. You and Jeremiah were the holiest beings in existence under Sola. Then you tricked me into falling in love with you."
"Yes, it was my fault. But I didn't know that she would send my counterpart to hunt me down. The position of seraph was so secretive that even the seraphs didn't know each other. I never met Jeremiah, but we both worked to help souls. Now he is coming after me? I didn't know I was getting you into trouble. Honestly, I didn't."
"But now I'm facing consequences as well. Carvael is-"
Divinus took the glass of wine from her then put his arm around her waist. "Shh. Don't talk about Carvael here. Don't talk about Jeremiah or Zeriel or Tarael. They don't matter. Tonight, only you and I matter. Stay with me, Kato."
"I shouldn't. I need to get back to Jaylen. He's-"
"He's asleep. Let the boy rest." Divinus took her hand then sensually dragged his fingernails around her palm and up her wrist, sending shivers up her arms. He leaned in close until his lips were nearly touching hers. "Don't do this for me. Do this because I know you still have feelings for me. Jaylen can't give you what I can give you. You care for him. I see that. But he will never be the man you need. You will never have children with him. He can't satisfy you. He will be a virgin until the day he dies. Don't you get that? The love you have for Jaylen is the same love you had for your brother."
"That's not true. I love Jaylen. I want to be with him."
"Like this?" Divinus kissed her, running his hand behind her back and unlacing her corset with practiced proficiency. "Only I can be with you this way."
She wanted to give in, but fear held her back. "Divinus, what about Jeremiah? He will find out about this and use it against us. He will place all the blame on me and claim that I seduced you. Please don't do this."
"You don't sound like you don't want me to do this."
"But I'm the one who made you fall painfully from Purgatory to Aldexa."
"I would fall again a thousand times if it meant I was falling for you."
* * *
Kato sneaked back to her cabin like she used to do when she was younger at the orphanage, fearing her brother's reprimands for staying out so late. She opened the door then knew that she was in trouble. Jaylen was sitting behind her desk with two candles burning as he held a parchment map up and studied it. "Oh! Jaylen, you're still awake?"
"Yes. I was double checking our coordinates for tomorrow."
"W-why would you do something like that?" Kato asked, closing the door behind her.
"Because I know you're not stupid. You told me that we would be passing through a straight today, but we didn't come anywhere near land of any kind. Turns out, we're going in almost the exact opposite direction." Jaylen set the map back down on the desk and glared at her. "Do you want to tell me the truth, or do I need to confront you with all of my newfound evidence?"
Newfound evidence? "I'm not hiding anything from you."
Jaylen set a gold key on the desk. "I found the key to your desk. If you are going to abuse the power of the key around your neck, then I will abuse the key you value so much. Now, I want answers."
"I still adamantly believe I've done nothing to you. And how dare you talk to your Master like this? If you make me, I will beat you into submission."
"Is that so? Well, why don't we discuss this ledger of yours?" Jaylen asked, opening a leather book and slipping a new pink form from inside the pages. "More specifically, this bill of sale. With my name on it."
&nbs
p; "Oh, Jaylen . . . no. I didn't want you to find out like this. Not like this."
"Who is James? My new Master? We're going to the slave markets in Tivareshen, aren't we? I've been there before. I've been sold there before. I know the horrible things that go on there because I've lived it." Jaylen's anger was replaced with hurt and tears swelling in his bright blue eyes as he got down on the floor and crawled up to her, clinging to her legs. "You lied to me. You promised that you would never sell me. What did I do? I'm sorry, Master. I'm sorry for arguing with you and for being too prideful. I'll do better. I swear it. I will clean and I'll sleep on the floor. I'll do anything. Please!"
"None of your begging and apologizing will change my mind. I am selling you. That's final. I just can't do this anymore. You will go to a good owner. I promise."
Jaylen's sobbing stopped. He stood up straight and looked her directly in the eyes. His normally respectful and submissive voice was now stern, harsh, and unwavering. "No. I gave myself to you in a binding and time-honored traditional relationship between Master and slave. You agreed to the terms set by that contract. Now you dare to go back on that? Masters are supposed to protect, provide for, and control their slaves. But you haven't been doing those things. You sent me alone on a mission in the middle of the night into a dangerous city where you knew they would be looking for me. I almost died, Kato. Then you made me punish Raul and left me there alone with the people you knew would want to hurt me. I don't know how I survived or how I got out of the water. I've learned not to question things like that. But I will question your ability to be my Master. Because you don't deserve it anymore."
"Jaylen . . ."
"Shut up." Jaylen grabbed the key on the necklace around her neck then pulled it off forcefully. "You don't deserve this key. You broke your side of this contract. I don't want to be a free man, but I will be if you refuse to play your part. Yes, I am being extremely disrespectful and I would normally be punished severely for speaking to you this way, but you have to earn your authority before I will submit. I will not be sold."
"Please let me explain."
"No. You don't get to explain." Jaylen reached behind him to the top of his pants. In a flash, he was pointing Kato's blunderbuss at her chest. "I will not be sold."
"You insolent, ungrateful, selfish slave!" Kato reached out and took the gun from his hand then tossed it on the floor. "You are so attractive when you stand up for yourself."
Jaylen gasped, but his mouth was quickly sealed with a kiss. Kato pushed him against the wall and began kissing him more passionately. But he was not going to be outdone. Jaylen wrapped his leg around hers, tripping her and sending her backwards onto the bed. He crawled on top of her with his legs on either side of her waist as he continued to kiss her. As he twisted her hair in his hand, he forced her up to kiss him and held her there.
Jaylen looked into her eyes, feeling his heart fluttering and every inch of his body jumped to life like it was coursing with electricity. "Don't sell me."
She squirmed in his grasp. "It's for your own good. I can't let them hurt you. They'll find us, Jaylen. When Jeremiah finds you, he will take you Carvael and you'll die."
He let her go and stared down at her. "Who is Jeremiah?"
"One of Sola's peacekeepers. He is a seraph. He lives and works in Purgatory where all the souls are sent to await their fates after death. Jeremiah helps them cope. He is also the one Sola sends to hunt down anyone who poses a risk to her and to the balance of the universe. You and I are both on Jeremiah's list."
"I see. And us being together poses too much of a risk, right?" Jaylen asked.
"Exactly. James, the man whose name is on that bill of sale, is my brother. I was going to take you to a small town outside of Tivareshen where he lives and give you to him for safekeeping. I knew he could keep you safe. It wasn't to get rid of you. I love you, Jaylen."
Jaylen froze, his mouth falling open. He stared at her for a few seconds, taking in the slight sheen of sweat on her blushing skin, her messy black curls spread out on the bed, and the rise and fall of her chest. "You love me?"
"Yes. I can't tell you, but I gave up something tonight. I was asked by someone who I used to be close with to be with him again, but I declined. The entire time, I just kept thinking about you. I told you I would be chaste just like you from the day I took you as my slave and I intend to keep that promise."
Jaylen's eyes turned orange and his grasp tightened around her arm to the point of bruising it. His voice was not his own. "Nice try, Kato."
"Divinus, I didn't think you were possessing him again yet. Don't hurt me."
"Selling Jaylen in order to get rid of me? Clever, but oh so dumb. I'm sure you remember how vulnerable and defeated your poor brother was after I was done with him. I broke him. I used his body for so many things and ravaged that ragged soul of his until it was nothing more than pulp. And you would lead me right back there to be with him?"
"To protect Jaylen, yes. I will do anything to keep Jaylen safe."
"Hmm…" Divinus growled with lust as he pressed her deeper into the bed. "Or I could use Jaylen's body and soul the same way I used your brother's."
"No! Don't. Not Jaylen. He's too weak. You'll ruin him. You'll destroy him. You will push him too far then there won't be anything left."
"Oh? Let's try it out." Divinus removed Jaylen's tunic and pants then began punching Kato. "I know you like Jaylen. So enjoy this, Kato."
"No!"
There was a rapid knocking on the door to the cabin. "Captain? Are you okay? I'm coming in." One of the sailors kicked the door open and rushed inside, only to slide to a stop by the bed. "You there, get off of the captain!"
Jaylen screamed in surprise as the sailor lunged at him, tackling him to the floor of the cabin. "Stop. I didn't do anything." He continued begging to no avail as his arms were tied behind his back. "What are you doing? Kato? Kato, tell him I didn't hurt you."
"If you didn't hurt her then why are your clothes off?" The sailor asked.
"What? I don't know. I didn't take them off."
"And why is she unconscious?"
Jaylen was pulled roughly to his feet. His heart nearly stopped when he saw Kato's bruised body on the bed. She was breathing, but as if she was in a deep sleep. "Kato! Kato, wake up! Kato! Sola help me. I didn't do this. I couldn't have done this."
"There's no one else here." The sailor dragged Jaylen out of the cabin just as the healer rushed inside and began helping Kato. "You will be punished like the rapist you are."
"Rapist? No. That's not true. It's not true. I didn't do this. I'm innocent!"
Chapter 4
The tiny golden bell above the door to the apothecary's shop emitted a pleasant ringing sound as the tall skinny man with pale blond spiky hair that was shaved short on the sides, bright hazel eyes, and young flawless peachy skin stepped inside. His heavy leather boots with the bronze metal buckles stomped on the floorboards as he brushed the snow from his long grey canvas coat and from his deep purple tunic and slick black leather pants below it. His necklace of a large ruby carved into the shape of the setting sun was heavy against his chest. The four diamond studs in each ear glittered in the soft yellow mage-glow that lit the front room of the shop as if it had been a warm spring morning in Fayng. The man stepped up to the counter, but quickly had to pull a handkerchief from his pocket as he sneezed a few times.
The apothecary's assistant raised an eyebrow and tried to cover his laughter. "Sir, can I help you? Seems like you came to the right place. Allergies?"
"Yes. I had some pills made for me specifically. They were supposed to be ready . . ." He pulled a very rare and expensive golden pocket watch from his coat and checked the time. "Uh, about now?"
"What's your name?"
"Jeremiah."
The assistant went to a cupboard and rummaged through the various packages and vials until he found a large glass jar. He pulled the slip of paper off of it and scanned over it. "This is it. Peppermint, gold flakes,
red clay, bone meal, grape seeds, yellow forest mushrooms, and fermented limes. What a strange combination of ingredients. What exactly are you allergic to?"
"Humans."
The young man nearly dropped the bottle as shock spread across his face. He bowed. "Holy Angel. Wait. Jeremiah isn't an angelic name."
Jeremiah held out his hands as a purple halo danced above his head and glowing white wings appeared on his back. He stretched them out then everything vanished again. "I am a seraph."
"A seraph?" He stepped backwards, slightly more fearful. "The secretive angels of the apocalypse?"
Jeremiah laughed as he pushed his fingers through his hair. "Yes, but I can assure you that this is just normal seraph business. Nothing apocalyptic going on here." He sneezed again. "Other than my sneezing. It's kind of apocalyptic."
"I will not tell anyone in this country your true identity. Wolfekin isn't very keen on having religious people around. Well is there anything else I can do for a holy seraph like yourself? It is an honor, Jeremiah." He handed the seraph the jar of pills then watched in obvious entertainment as he swallowed a few right there. "Better?"
Jeremiah took a deep breath. "Much better. You're a miracle worker. You sure you're not an angel?"
"I didn't make the pills, sir. I'm only an assistant. But I am pleased that they are helping you."
Something glorious, sweet, enticing, and all around magical caught Jeremiah's attention. He sniffed a few times now that he could breathe better and it made his mouth water. "What is that heavenly smell?"
"That's from the bakery next door."
"Bakery?"
"Please tell me you know what a bakery is."
Jeremiah only shook his head.
"They bake cakes, cookies, pastries, bread."
The seraph stared at him blankly.
"You eat bread, don't you?"
"I eat mana. Should I eat bread?" Jeremiah asked.
"You should eat bread. Go get some."
"At the . . . bakery?"
"There ya go. You're catching on."
Angel of Darkness Books 6-10 Page 3
