by JK Ensley
“I just caught him off guard. That’s all.” Jenevier took Raphael’s hand as she spoke, squeezing it. “We’re all good now. Right, Brother?”
“Always,” Raphael answered with a smile.
“Careful, Anicee,” Apollyon said. “His wings are bloodier than yours. Trust me in this.”
“Yes,” Munenori said. “Apollyon and Raphael were quite the team… way back in the day.”
When the other Angels began reminiscing about times past, Raphael leaned over and whispered in her ear. “I am so sorry I hurt you, little sis. I never meant to—”
“Shush now,” Jenevier said. “I know you love me. That’s all that matters.”
He tenderly kissed her forehead. “You are the only creature I am gentle with.”
She smiled. “Yeah. I sort of figured that. I mean… after you fried my brain and then killed me, that is.”
They shared a quiet chuckle.
When Jenevier turned back to her guests, Apollyon was glaring at her and Raphael… as were a few of the others. Jophiel was half snarling. Yui was taking deep, controlled breaths. And Gabriel was smiling with only one corner of his perfect lips.
Jenevier hastily cleared her throat. “Very well, then. Let’s see. So…” She glanced toward Gabriel. “…we should go check out Sheol then, right?”
“No.” Gabriel shook his head. “We cannot go there.”
“I will question those filthy Sheol dwellers,” Apollyon said, still glaring at his former wife and his former brother. “You will stay here with Tenshi until my return.”
“There are other places that should be checked as well,” she said. “I cannot simply sit here and—”
“Then I will accompany you,” Tenshi said.
“But… I will be with my Dragon—”
“I was not asking your permission,” Tenshi interrupted. “I have wings, Mama. I will be at your side.”
Jenevier’s bewildered gaze left her son, and found her former husband. Apollyon was smiling, triumphantly.
“That sounds good,” Gabriel said. “We should pair up, search each realm, then meet back here with the sunrise tomorrow.”
As the gathered Angels began leaving in twos, Apollyon took Lala’s elbow and led her out of the room.
“Let’s have a talk, you and I. Shall we?” he whispered.
*****
As soon as Lala shut the door to her room, Apollyon spun her around to face him.
“I smell darkness on you, little one. Tell me. Where has my beautiful granddaughter been spending her time lately?”
“D-darkness? But—”
“Ah, ah, ah. Do not play innocent with me, my child. Before you try to lie to your old grandpapa… forget not to whom it is you now speak.”
Lala couldn’t hold his penetrating sapphire gaze. She looked away, blushing… trembling.
“Come now, little one. Do not fear me. I am not vexed with you. I am… curious.” He turned her chin so that she had to face him. “I thought your heart belonged to the River Spirit. Am I wrong in this?”
“No, Grandpapa. You are not wrong.”
“Then… who is it I smell upon you? How is it you reek of my realm?”
Lala gently pulled away from him and walked out onto her balcony. She tried to quickly brush her tears away before Apollyon could see them. She jumped slightly when she felt his large hand upon her back.
“Lala, my love… you know you are the most precious creature in all existence to me. If there is an Angel yet living who would not judge you, it is I. Confession to one such as me, is like a liberating stroll through the lavender.” He tenderly stroked her raven curls when she looked up at him. “And I promise you this, no matter your sin… I have done a thousand times worse, a thousand times over.”
Lala snorted out a chuckle.
Apollyon smiled. “There now, enchanting Princess. Better?”
She nodded.
“I love the way your sapphire eyes sparkle when you smile,” he whispered sweetly. “The sight makes my tired old heart sing.”
“Oh, Grandpapa.”
Lala wrapped her arms around his waist and cried against his chest.
“Shhh, now, my love. There is no harm that I cannot rectify. Save your tears, my child. Life itself will grant you more than a few opportunities to shed such grief. This is not one of them.”
*****
“Tenshi,” Jenevier whispered, taking him by the arm. “Come with me, Son.”
The breathtaking blue Angel jerked free. “What needs to be said, needs to be said here… with these honorable people as witness.”
“Tenshi, I—”
“Let me speak first, Mama.” He held up his hand toward her. “I am not a child, and I will not be scolded.”
Jenevier just stood there, gaping, wide-eyed.
“You offended me,” Tenshi said.
“Offended you? How in the world did—”
“The way you were giggling and grinning while you spoke of how King Dofarel made you feel.”
Jenevier furrowed her brow, but didn’t speak.
“You have already been with far too many men. And I will not—”
“Tenshi!” Jenevier inhaled deeply. “How dare you!”
“How dare me? How dare you, Mama! What about these people—your family, your brothers?” He motioned toward the remaining guests with a wave of his hand. “How do you think your juvenile behavior affected their hearts? By all that is holy, Mother! Your husband was sitting right next to you. How can you even smile at another man, knowing Master Yui is waiting for you at home? Waiting. Patiently. Always.”
“But I didn—”
“And what of Daichi? By the gods! How can you be so callous to the only person in this whole universe who was created especially for you?”
“I did not err in my dealings with the Elf King!” She narrowed her gaze. “You go too far, boy. I know you think you are all grown up, but you need a few more life-lessons under your belt before you are worthy enough to stand in judgment of me. I did nothing wrong! Whether you are offended or not, is of no consequence.” She took a single step toward her beloved son. “Where is this insolence coming from? Did your father fill your head with—”
“This has nothing to do with Father, and everything to do with you!” Tenshi’s chest heaved, blue power rising to the surface of his skin. “After you came back from Suou’s battle on Earth, after I found you all but destroyed in that open field, after I saw clearly in your mind what had happened with Ahriman… I determined then—you need my help.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Ahriman… seriously? What were you thinking? You swore to throw everything in your life away for that damn soul-eater. What the hell, Mama? Everything—me, Lala, Daichi, every single person in this room, on this layer and every other—all for Vybius!”
“The fault was not hers alone,” Jophiel said softly. “It lies within her powers, and his… combined. It is such an unexplainable th—”
“Shut it, Arch!” Tenshi growled at the speaking Angel before turning back to his mother. “When the realization of what you had almost done finally hit me… my chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe. The total, devastating finality of it…” He shook his head again. “I can scarce even speak on it without exploding.”
Jenevier’s right eye twitched. She crossed her arms. “Are you quite finished?”
Tenshi glared at his defiant mother. “Not even close.”
“I disagree,” she said indifferently. “I believe everyone here well understands your position on this—the amount of disdain and lack of respect you now feel towards your mother.”
“It’s not like that, Mama. That’s not what I was saying. You need my protection.”
“Perhaps that is not what you were saying, my son, but that is most definitely what we all heard. Now, I will state my peace. Take it as you will.” She moved to stand directly in front of her angelic blue son. “I do not need your protection, or overprotection, more like. What I do need, did need… was yo
ur love, your loyalty, your trust. If these have become a burden unto you, Prince Tenshi, then you should turn your attention elsewhere. Protect your wife, your daughter, your family.”
“You are my family, Mama.”
Jenevier turned her head. “If we continue down this path, words will be spoken that should never be given breath. I will say this, and be done with it forever. I am not a whore, nor am I a saint. I am not a fallen Angel, nor am I a pure one. What I am, Tenshi… is what I have always been—me—flawed, scarred, terminally inadequate. These things I know… and I own them. Yet, I refuse to be labeled by lies and accusations.”
“…Mama.”
“Hush, child,” she whispered, walking away from him. “Yui, my love?”
“Yes, Mistress?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes, Naga. Always.”
She turned to face her fair husband. “I will never betray you.”
“This I well know, dearest beloved.”
“Daichi?” She looked toward him as she spoke. “I cannot even begin to ask forgiveness where we—”
“Shhh, Naga,” Daichi said softly. “Our story is our own. There is no mark against you in my heart. And I know the same holds true for you as well.”
She barely smiled, slowly nodding her head in agreement before turning to walk out onto her balcony. Nilakanta was patiently waiting in the field below.
“Mama!” Tenshi started toward her. “Don’t leave things like this between us. My words were born from love.”
“No, my son,” Gabriel said, grabbing the younger Angel’s shoulder. “Your words were born from fear.”
“Yes,” Raphael agreed. “A righteous and protective fear, ‘tis true. But, fear… nonetheless.”
“My Dragon will be my partner,” Jenevier called out over her shoulder. “Pair the boy up with someone else. Perhaps he wishes to stand at his father’s side for a bit.”
“Mama, stop it!”
Jenevier ignored all the voices now clamoring in the other room.
“Come, Nilakanta.”
She raised her wings and her arms as her Dragon rose up to meet her where she stood atop the balcony railing.
“Wait, Mama.” Tenshi pushed Gabriel aside and rushed out to stand next to her. “If you leave things like this between us, I will follow you.”
“That would be a mistake,” she whispered to herself.
“Tenshi, Brother,” Daichi said in a low voice. “Leave the remains for another day. Now is not the time.”
“If not now, then when?” Tears filled Tenshi’s eyes. “Why won’t she listen, Daichi? Why won’t she even look at me?”
Is everything all right, Little Fire?
“Yes, Dragon. All is well.”
Nilakanta looked from her son back to his bonded Guardian. Yet, he held his words.
“Mama, I love you. More than anyone else in the universe—I love you.”
“The council decided we should pair up and search for answers within every realm,” Jenevier said, ignoring her son’s cries. “You’re with me, Brother.”
Of course I am, Naga. Nilakanta’s gaze was fixed upon Tenshi. Are you certain all is well?
“No! All is not well!” Tenshi said, lunging for her before she could take flight.
“That’s enough, boy.”
When Jenevier heard Apollyon’s voice, she turned a hardened, narrow glare toward the Angel now holding her son back. She didn’t speak, but both men felt the ice in her stare wash over their prickling skin.
“…Anicee?”
Jenevier hissed when the Prince of Hell whispered that name. He flinched.
“Mama, please.” Tenshi stopped struggling. “Don’t go like this. Not by yourself. Something bad is stirring. I can feel it. Aren’t you scared? Please… let me go with you.”
“Scared?” Jenevier chuckled as she turned back to face her Dragon, rubbing his soft snout. “Nilakanta, do I look scared to you?”
The Dragon snorted out hot air. Like I said before… you cannot scare fire.
“That’s right.” Jenevier smiled as she kept petting the majestic blue creature. “How lucky am I that I am not broken by what has happened.” She snickered. “And luckier still that I am not scared of what will happen.”
That’s because you are fierce—strong enough to weather your storms, Kagi Naga.
She chuckled. “Yes, I am. And if the day comes when my fierce strength should fail me… still, I will not be scared. Neither will I weep.”
“How can you say such a thing, Mama?”
“Because, my son…” She looked at him then. “…like us all, a piece of me will remain. You are that piece, Tenshi—perfect and powerful and the light of my heart. When this destiny of mine has been fulfilled, I will open a new door, begin a new journey. Do not think separately of this life and the next, my son, for one is born from the other. Now, my most glorious Angel… what, pray tell, is scary about that?”
“…Mama… I am so sorry. I just—”
“Hush, child. This day will not be spoken of again. Ever.”
And with that, Jenevier mounted her Dragon and headed for the clouds.
Chapter 10
Mangladune
(MANG-lah-dune)
“Come, little Kali. I wish to show you something,” Baytac said, taking her tiny hand in his.
The Elven Princess giggled. “I’m not so little anymore, Brother.”
Baytac stopped short. Kaleeska almost bumped into him. He held his words until their eyes met.
“And I am not your brother, Princess.” He smiled. “And I give thanks for that.”
Kaleeska blushed brightly. “As do I,” she softly whispered.
They smiled at each other a moment more before continuing on their secret journey.
*****
“You have a guest, My Liege.” The guard bowed low as he spoke.
“See them in,” Alastyn said, not looking up from the scroll he was intent upon.
“As you say.”
The guard went back through the doors. Still, Alastyn’s gaze remained focused on the ancient words before him.
“So… you know how to read?”
Alastyn half chuckled, half snorted. “Yes. I have always known how to re—”
But when he glanced up, no one was in the room.
“Truly? Always? Even as a babe?”
Alastyn jumped, inhaling quickly as he spun around to see the tiny curl-crowned woman perched atop the back of his ornate chair. He automatically grasped his chest as he tried to steady his breathing.
“By the gods…” He panted quietly. “Mind what you do, my love. I am not the young man you once knew.”
Jenevier giggled. “Apparently, I never really knew you at all. I am amazed at how handsome you still are.” She lightly leapt from the back of his chair and now stood before his large desk. “You must be nearly a hundred by now, Emerald Eyes. Hmm…” She drummed her fingertips atop her cheekbone. “You’re not a man at all, are you?”
“Yes, I am a man. As you well know.” He smiled softly. “I am an Olden.”
“Yes,” she said, nodding. “But I don’t really know what that means.”
Alastyn chuckled. “Nor do I. Not wholly. I was just reading up on that very subject… before you graced me with your lovely presence.”
“Oh, am I disturbing you?”
“Not at all.” He moved to stand beside her. “I have missed you, Jenevier,” he whispered, wrapping her up in a gentle hug. “More than you can possibly imagine. You haven’t changed a bit.”
“You have.”
Alastyn chuckled again as he released her. “Is that so?”
Jenevier tilted her head to the side, studying him closely. “Well… not much, I suppose. But you do look… different.”
“Well, I am fifty years older than I was when last we met.”
“True… but that’s not the whole of it, is it? I see a few more wrinkles laced about the edges of your eyes… when you smile.” She
narrowed her gaze. “I was recently told an Olden can live past many lifetimes of that of a normal human. But it’s not just that, either.”
Alastyn reached for one of her curls. “There has been a change in me since last we met, yes. I joined with Izadori—Elven Amalgamation.”
“Ugh!” Jenevier rolled her eyes. “Yes, I heard you had wed that little Elf tart.”
“Elf tart?” Alastyn laughed. “Are you jealous, my love?”
“You know I am.” She crinkled up her nose at him. “So stop teasing me.”
He pulled her back to him. “I still love you. I always have, and I always will.”
“Yes. We are of like-mind in this, Your Grace. Apologies for screwing that whole thing up.”
Alastyn gently kissed the top of her head. “What are you talking about, precious Angel?”
“My Senpai back on Jinn, Munenori… he told me that we were originally made for each other—to be together.”
Alastyn smiled. “Yes, my love. I always felt that truth.”
“But I messed up Father’s plan when I killed Merodach.” She bit her lip, demanding her tears stay put. “One of the results of that epically tragic decision… I lost you.”
He squeezed her tighter. “Although I never heard those words spoken aloud, the bitter truth of them yet lives in my heart. Somehow… I always knew.”
“Yeah.” She pulled away. “Sorry about that. Sorry about a lot of things, actually. But really sorry about that.”
“As am I.” He gently yanked one of her curls. “Alas, all is as it should be.”
“Yes… as it should be.”
A servant quietly entered with a tea set-laden tray. Alastyn motioned for Jenevier to take a seat. He watched her, a sparkle lighting up his mesmerizing eyes, as she added almost twice as much sugar as he thought she would… or should. Jenevier closed her eyes, smiling at the warming sensation of the fragrant tea trickling down her throat.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
Jenevier slowly opened her eyes, their tender smiles matching one another.
“As are you, Alastyn. As beautiful a man as I have ever known.”
He blushed slightly. “Tell me, sweet Angel. What has brought my first love back to me after all these many years?”
