“My real name is Jineva.” It came out as a whisper.
Maria’s face paled, and she withdrew her hand. “It is the same name as the daughter of Vitor Barillo.”
Jineva looked at her with sad eyes. “You know, I believe you’re right. What a coincidence.”
“They say that Vitor abandoned the throne and fled the country with his family.”
Diego touched his daughter’s arm, and she gave him a thin smile to say that she was still in control. “Vitor, his wife and son were murdered by men sent by Carlos Salvana.”
“And the daughter?” Maria asked quietly.
“Through the grace of the goddess, she still lives.” Jineva heard Diego chuckle dryly.
A wistful expression crossed the dancer’s face. “I would love to meet this goddess someday, but I suppose...”
“It’s not something you should look forward to.” Jineva replied in an emotionless voice.
“You have met the Goddess Selene?” The golden hazel eyes grew wide.
Diego scowled, Jineva frowned. “You might say that. The goddess wasn’t all that I imagined her to be.”
It was Maria’s turn to frown. “Does she not follow a divine purpose?”
Jineva let out a bitter little laugh. “The purpose behind Selene is certainly not divine. Let’s just say that our objectives coincide at the moment.”
“You would question her divine will?”
“I would question anything that demands blind obedience.”
“That’s sacrilege.”
Jineva rolled her eyes. “I think that we should go now, Diego. This is apt to get ugly.”
Maria’s mother was glaring at them, her father making signs for warding off evil as he reached for his cane.
“I think we’ve worn out our welcome here.” Diego said quietly, rising, picking up his traveling bag and backing toward the door.
“Where do we go now?” Jineva asked, slipping her small duffel over her shoulder.
“I’m not too sure just where we are, to be exact.” Diego replied in an embarrassed voice.
Diego chuckled. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
The room flickered. Although the stars were shining and the night dark, the smell of clover told Jineva where they were. She dropped her bag at her feet and sat in the soft grass, the light dew dampened her fingers and the seat of her pants, but she ignored the minor inconveniences. She looked over at her father who was stretched out on the grass a few feet away, small bag tucked under his head like a pillow. His eyes were shut.
“I could stay here forever.” She murmured to the night sky.
“We had an administrator who sat here for a year after a particularly grueling project.” The voice came from Thallia, who was sitting tailor fashion between Jineva and her father.
“Didn’t he, uhhh, starve?” Jineva asked in a relaxed tone, the soft night air ruffling her hair.
“Your new physiology doesn’t require food or water, or even air to breathe. It is such an advanced design that it can extract what it needs from the air, soil or even water around it, however, as advanced as your new body may be, if you get a sword run through you a few times, or your head cut off, you will die. You will not, however, starve. The administrator in question had mold growing on her when she finally decided to move.” Thallia gave a little laugh. “With very few changes, you could go and visit your other family, the Krathaa, in their own home.”
“I could?” Jineva was wide awake now.
“Yes dear, you could, but that is for a later time. Now you must go to bed and sleep. Even your remarkable physiology needs rest sometime.” A low rumbling snore drifted over to them from Diego. “He knows when it’s time to sleep. So should you.” She reached out and touched Jineva lightly on the forehead with a single finger. “Good night, my dear.” A warm darkness rolled over her.
~~~
The bright singing of birds woke her, warm yellow sunlight streaming in the open window, and for a moment Jineva couldn’t imagine where she was. The linen on the bed smelled freshly laundered and she just wanted to lie there all day, like that other administrator in the field of clover. She remembered now... and groaned. Pulling back the thick white comforter, she stood up and stared at the soft white cotton and eyelet nightgown Thallia had clothed her in. It was the first time in months and months she had actually felt feminine. The scent in the air was reminiscent of lilacs. Staring at her reflection in the long mirror, she noticed that her long dark hair was held back with a blue ribbon, just like the one her mother used to tie in her hair before... She sat down on the edge of the bed and began to cry.
Jineva squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears to stop. >I’m sorry, Meara. I guess I’m just out-of-sorts today. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.>
Jineva spotted her freshly laundered clothes neatly folded and sitting on a chair. Removing the nightgown and ribbon reluctantly, she began to pull on the men’s clothes. They felt as heavy as armor this morning.
Diego looked up from a map he was studying and smiled. “Sleep well?”
“I didn’t want to get up.” Jineva didn’t have the energy to return the smile. “I’m just getting so tired of all this: run here, run there, save this one, fight that battle. I’m scared all the time.”
Her father set the map down, stood, and in two quick steps was hugging his daughter. Jineva resisted at first, and then relaxed into her father’s strong arms. It was the very first time Diego had really hugged her, and it made her feel good in a number of surprising ways. She sniffed and he handed her a clean handkerchief, still smiling. Her smile was tentative as she handed the handkerchief back. “I could have used more of those hugs as I grew up.”
Diego shrugged. “It would have been... awkward.”
She hugged him fiercely. “At least I have them now.”
“You do that, poco de amor.” His voice was strangely choked up. “I think that it is about time we find a new place to stay, one a little less reputable and closer to the water.”
“Can you find your way?” Her emerald eyes had a mischievous sparkle.
Diego gave her a level look. “I believe so.”
Two travelers stepped out of a shadow and into a short dim alley a hundred feet from the main street. A thin white dog whimpered briefly, slinking off, hairless tail tucked between its bony legs. Jineva wrinkled her nose at the cloying smell of rotting garbage. Glancing right and left, Diego walked further down the dark alley, finally stopping at a heavy studded door. There was no handle on the outside. He pounded on the door three times, waited a second and banged twice more. A small barred window in the door slid open.
“Olclo sent me.” Diego growled roughly. The whiskered face beyond the window just nodded. There was the sound of bolts sliding, bars being lifted. The ironwood door swung open on silent hinges. Diego passed the doorman a small coin as he and Jineva entered, and the man gave him a nod and a familiar wink.
Jineva had expected a foul smelling dive when she walked in the door. Reality was slightly different. The light from a dozen lamps gave the large plushly decorated room a daylight glow, and Jineva could have sworn she smelled fresh chowder bubbling on a stove somewhere. From their spot at the front door she could see entrances to several darkened alcoves, while at the far end of the room a tall red-haired woman stood waiting behind an ornatel
y carved wooden bar. Her makeup could have been an erotic mask, the red hair sculpted into an intricate tower on her head. Her eyes were smoky. Diego set his bag down in front of her with a thump.
“Hello, Isabela. It’s been a long time.” He gave her a bold look. “You’re looking as good as ever; the years must pass you by.”
“Liar!” She laughed in a low voice. “But I like to hear it anyway. You’re looking—younger if anything.” Her brows furrowed, slightly. “How did you do it? I’d pay good money to find out.”
“I’m sure you would.” Diego chuckled. “Maybe we could speak of it later, over wine perhaps?”
She gave him a smoldering smile. “I look forward to it. Now, what can I do for you?”
“We need a place to stay for a few days.” Bel raised one slender arched eyebrow. “No, not that.” The woman in red shifted her gaze to Jineva. “He’s my, ahhh, nephew.”
“He looks a little, inexperienced.” Her smile was predatory, and Jineva had to keep reminding herself that the woman in red was actually seeing a young man. “I have a young woman on my staff named Valéria who would be happy to teach him all he needs to know, about most anything.” Jineva flushed crimson, wondering if the disguise she currently wore was worth the aggravation, or the embarrassment. Thinking of the times she’d spent in dungeons lately, she supposed it was.
“Just the room and a little information, Bel. You might find that what we have to say is worth more to you than THAT sort of business.”
The woman in red placed a slim hand with red lacquered nails on Diego’s bare tanned arm. “You were always such a prude.” Her other hand produced a green crystal key as if by magic. “You can use the two bedrooms on the left; mine is on the right.”
Diego took the key with a small bow. “What! You haven’t snagged yourself a wealthy husband yet?”
“I keep looking, but the years are passing quickly. I haven’t discovered the key to immortality yet, while it seems that you have.” Diego’s eyes widened involuntarily, and Isabela’s narrowed. “Well well. I’ll be up in a couple of hours with a bottle of wine. Make yourselves comfortable.”
“I’ll see you then, hermana menor. Thank you.” Bel nodded and turned away.
They picked up their bags, Jineva following Diego’s long strides. “Why did you call that woman, that HUSSY, little sister?” She hissed at Diego’s back.
Her father replied in a weary voice. “Because she really is my sister.” Jineva stumbled on her feet.
“What?”
“When my father was dying he divided his assets between Isabela and me.” Diego murmured, opening the door to a large sumptuous apartment. “She chose to open the Silver Garter here in Soledad. I chose to sink my money into the estate and the island of Isla Lemuy. I did well enough to become part owner of the Silver Garter myself when Bel was having financial difficulties twenty years back. Other than Thallia, Isabela is the most brilliant person I’ve ever met. Heads of state visit her regularly just to talk for an hour. It is truly amazing all the information that flows through this place. She deals more in information transfer than anything else.”
Jineva gave him a disbelieving look. “But the whole spectacle at the desk. What about THAT?” Jineva felt her ears turning red.
“We do that every time we meet. If the staff thinks I’m in the market for her ‘other’ services, it keeps the questions down. As far as I know Isabela has never offered her ‘other’ services to anyone else. She might even still be a virgin, for all I know.” He dropped his bag on the floor, sat down on a heavy couch and rubbed his temples. “Kyna told me that Isabela is dying.”
“What?” Jineva sat down heavily beside her father.
“She has a tumor in her brain. Right now she only has the occasional headache, but in a month it will cripple her, in two months it will reduce her to a vegetable and in three months kill her, slowly and very painfully.”
Jineva sat up straight in the couch. “You and Aunt Isabela; it really feels strange to call her that, anyway, you and Isabela are my only human family. I could no more let her die than I could let you die. If Meara is willing, she can twin herself into Isabela.” She let out a small sad giggle. “We have a very unique family.”
Diego just sat and stared at her. “You would be willing to do that... for someone you don’t even know?”
“If you remember, you received Kyna before I ever knew that you were my father. I trusted my heart in that case, and I’ll do the same now.” Jineva took a breath. “Does Aunt Bel know that she is dying?”
Diego looked off into space for several moments while he spoke with Kyna. “Bel spoke with a physician about her headaches.” His voice was distant. “He told her he thought it might be a cancer, and she would know if her headaches got worse. They got worse. He gave her some pain medications, but she has been reluctant to take them. Kyna says that on the outside Bel’s strong and hard, but on the inside she is very very frightened and alone.”
His daughter gave him a small smile. “Not for much longer. I guess the biggest question we have to ask ourselves now, is whether we tell her before or after we do it.” Her smile became devious. “I opt for after, and so does Meara.”
“Since Kyna hasn’t stopped laughing, I guess that makes it unanimous.” Diego’s face became serious. “Having you for my daughter is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He gave her a long look. “You need a shave.”
She rubbed her hand over her jaw. “How can you stand the itchy dirty feeling of needing a shave all the time?”
Diego gave her an even look in reply. “How do you handle what happens every month? We both just deal with it.”
She gave her jaw a final rub. “Yuk.”
“Go shave if you don’t like it.”
“Shave?” Jineva’s eyes widened. I’d peel the skin off my face if I tried.” Diego just shrugged.
Although her plumbing was female, Jineva finally decided, with Diego’s supervision, to shave her masculine face. Thanks to Meara, the bleeding stopped almost immediately, but Jineva never put a blade to her face again.
It was an hour later when Isabela finally arrived with two bottles of wine. She set them on the low table with a little smile. “Please give me a few minutes to remove my mask.” Bel grimaced as she touched the almost solid foundation on her forehead and cheeks.
The person that returned to the sitting room many minutes later looked totally different. The six inch difference in height must have been due to the high-heeled boots she wore under her long dress, Jineva guessed, and the dark shoulder length hair that was tied back with a red ribbon must have been hidden under an elaborate red wig. The younger woman noted more than a few silver hairs mixed in among the black. The older woman’s face was smooth, however, and her eyes clear. She must have been several years junior to Diego.
Diego poured the wine as she entered, and held out a glass to her. “Please sit, Isabela. There are many things I have to tell you.”
With the mask of makeup gone, Jineva could see her worry. “And there are things which I must tell you.” Jineva bit her tongue. Her father gave her the briefest of nods, and his daughter reached out with one hand, and laying it lightly on the other woman’s arm, changed Isabella’s life forever.
“Aunt Isabella.” Jineva felt the older woman start with surprise. “I have a confession to make. I am not your nephew. I am your niece, and my name is Jineva. My mother was Livia Barillo. I believe that you are acquainted with my father.” Jineva could feel the male disguise evaporating off her like fog rolling across your skin. Isabela’s already pale skin turned the color of chalk, her eyes rolled up in her head and she slowly toppled over, to land in Diego’s lap. Her spilled wine dripped off the table, like dark blood.
Chapter 12
Bel muttered something under her breath and opened her sapphire eyes. She saw Jineva and blinked. “Hello? Do I know you?” Her dark eyes lost focus for a moment, and Jineva was sure that Ailill was introducing himself, Meara and her host, Kyna and her host. Diego reached over and took Isabela’s hand. “It’s all true then?” For a moment Bel sounded like a lost little girl.
“Hermana menor, I’m afraid so.” He gave her a devilish grin. “I’m also afraid that you will have to go on living for a few more centuries, despite your best efforts.”
“I’m...” Bel began to shake and Diego held her close. “You cured me? I’m not going to die? The doctors said a cure was impossible.”
“You are not going to die of the cancer, now or ever, or of any other sickness.” His voice was soft and gentle; he was well aware of Isabela’s current vulnerability.
“How did you...?” Her question faltered, as somewhere deep in her mind Ailill supplied her the answers to her questions. Her full red lips twitched up in a wicked smile as her eyes fixed on Diego. “You scoundrel. Your illegitimate daughter will someday become queen. You should be proud.”
Diego laughed right out loud. “I am proud, very proud, but Jineva’s destiny is not to become queen. You might say that her paygrade is several steps above that.”
Isabela frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“If Thallia is available, perhaps you could explain things better over dinner tonight.” A crafty smile played on Jineva’s lips. “I seem to remember that you prepare a terrific feijoada.”
“That’s a favorite of mine.” Bel exclaimed brightly. “Why didn’t you ever prepare it for me?” Her face fell. “Ohh, I forgot.” She bit her lip gently. “Didn’t Vitor ever suspect what was going on?”
Vale of Tears: A Thalassia novel Page 15
