by JK Ensley
She blushed. “Yui… stop. To hear you speak like that…”
“Speaking isn’t our normal form of early-morning conversation.” He sighed softly. “When Gabriel announced to meet here at sunrise, my chest tightened. I knew we would have to forego our special time.”
“Angels love the sunrise,” she whispered.
“As do I.” He tightened their embrace. “Now that you wake within my arms.”
“Yui… you know I don’t actually sleep anymore, right?”
He chuckled. “Then what are you doing all night, Mistress?”
“Gazing upon your flawless face.” She blushed again.
“I see,” he whispered. “So… that is why your desire is so ardent at dawn. You have spent the darkened hours thinking about all the things you wish to do to me… all the things you beg me to do to you.”
When Jenevier giggled, Apollyon noisily cleared his throat. She then heard Yui’s teeth grinding slowly behind his closed lips.
“It seems not all of your brethren heeded my warning,” Yui said in a low voice, before turning to face the imposing sapphire Angel.
Jenevier quickly took Yui’s hand. “Yes, well, that one there… he seems to have problems in the whole follow the rules arena.”
“Much to his chagrin, I am sure,” Yui said, half smiling. “Very well. If he chooses to ignore my words, then he cannot be upset when he sees, or hears, something he wishes he had not.”
Apollyon stared coolly at the lovely ninja with his arm wrapped around the woman who would always be his Anicee. Never breaking their icy glare, the exquisitely terrifying blue Angel smiled with only one corner of his mouth, then turned and left.
“Yui… do not goad him, my love.”
“Tonight,” Yui whispered as he turned back to her. “I shall have to punish you for taking his side, Naga. And for not telling me he was standing there.”
“Not telling you? How could you not sense him? His essence is all-consuming.”
“For you, perhaps.” He slapped her bottom. “I am not cursed thusly, Mistress.”
Jenevier smiled. “Well, if there’s one thing I am, it is cursed.”
“And loved a thousand times more.”
Jenevier giggled as her beloved Shinobi playfully kissed her cheek before leading her toward the large council room.
“Dearest Yui, if you keep acting thusly—all jealous like—I might start to believe you care about me… a little.”
“Care about you, huh?” He reached for the large door handles, guiding her through them with his hand at the small of her back. “Perhaps I do… just a little.”
She scrunched up her nose at him. “You are sooo cute when you try to tease me.”
“Is that so?” He smiled with only one corner of his mouth. “Well, we’ll just have to see how cute you think I am, tonight… when the moon rises.”
Jenevier was blushing crimson as she stepped through those gilded doors. Yui, on the other hand, wore an extremely satisfied smile.
*****
“Let us begin our reports,” Gabriel said, setting his empty teacup back on the saucer. “Raphael and I visited the Other realms.”
“Yes.” Raphael nodded. “The effect can be felt by all. Yet the cause remains a mystery.”
“I went to Sheol,” Apollyon said. “The obvious thinning is causing quite a stir, yes. As for the culprit… he resides not in that Underworld.”
“I see,” Gabriel said, his brow softly furrowing. “Although, that is good news, I suppose…”
“The truth of it is a bit troubling,” Raphael added.
“…Yes,” Gabriel said. “Troubling.”
“Jophiel went off on his own,” Uriel said, casting his brother a sideways glance. “I met up with Michael. We questioned the Grigori, then scanned the high places on each layer.”
“And your findings?” Gabriel asked.
“We are stumped,” Uriel said, sighing loudly. “Yesterday’s search left us completely empty-handed.”
“Tenshi and myself… we went to Vanahirdem,” Daichi said. “Vareen could divine no coming evil. Yet, upon our departure…” He paused.
“The whole city was stirred up,” Tenshi added.
“Of course it was,” Jophiel said with a sneer. “Where your precious Naga is concerned, those silver-haired Hounds of Heaven will always make a racket… unseemly as it is.”
“Unseemly?” Daichi snorted. “At least those hounds can be counted on when the need arises. What of you, Jophiel? Where were you hiding while the rest of us were out—”
“Trying to save the universe?” Jophiel said, cutting Daichi’s words short.
Daichi growled, but Jophiel only snorted softly and rolled his eyes.
“Duhrias?”
The sell-sword quickly glanced toward Jenevier when she called his name.
She smiled at him. “Did you do as I asked?”
“Yes, Mistress,” Duhrias said. “I took Lala to Iga. She spent the day with her kinsmen while Munenori and I sought answers elsewhere.”
“We were… unsuccessful,” Munenori added.
“I see,” Jenevier said. “And the Shinobi?”
“They are well, Empress,” Duhrias said. “Worry not for them, Your Grace. They are extremely…” He paused.
“Capable,” Yui said, smiling.
When the beautiful ninja gave Jenevier’s hand a reassuring squeeze, she leaned over against him.
“Well, Jophiel,” Yui said, raising a single brow. “Are you waiting for us to kneel at your feet—beg for your report?”
“Hell will freeze over first,” Apollyon mumbled.
Raphael snorted out a laugh before quickly turning his head. Jenevier secretly pinched him, yet he did not turn back to face her.
Jophiel inhaled slowly. “I chose a different path, yes.” He glanced around the table. “I sought out the Nephilim. If he is not the cause of the coming darkness, he definitely knows more than we do.”
“Is that so?” Raphael said. “And just where all did you seek that extinct creature?”
“I searched the whole of Jinn,” Jophiel said. “Every last inch of it.”
“Let me guess,” Yui said, leaning forward. “You found him not. Not even the faintest scent.”
Jophiel glared at the smiling Emperor.
Yui turned toward Jenevier. “Why do you suppose that is, Milady? Do you have any idea why your constantly smirking brother over there, could find neither hide nor hair of your ever-vigilant stalker?”
“Because I wasn’t here,” Jenevier softly said.
“Yes.” Yui looked back to Jophiel. “And the one thing we know about the Nephilim—the only thing—is that he goes where she goes… always.”
Raphael snorted out a chuckle. “What has gotten into you, little ninja? Normally you are bowing your head—refilling your lovely wife’s empty teacup.” He smiled. “I like this new side of our fair young Emperor.”
“Then that makes one of us,” Apollyon said, under his breath.
Yui smiled with only one corner of his closed lips. Jenevier blushed.
“So, Madam Empress,” Gabriel said kindly. “That would leave only you. Where is it you chose to search for answers, Milady?”
“I went back to Ashgard.”
“Of course you did,” Tenshi grumbled.
Jenevier ignored him as she continued, “I went to the palace in Wrothdem.”
“By yourself?” Uriel asked.
“No. Nilakanta was with me.”
“So… by yourself,” Jophiel said.
Munenori chuckled. “Her blue-scaled partner could best us all. Never doubt that.”
Jenevier smiled at her Senpai’s sweet, matter-of-fact words.
“Yes, ‘tis true.” She nodded. “The ancient Mangladune forest is now marked by a scorched swath—absent trees entirely.”
“Why?” Worry suddenly furrowed Tenshi’s brow. “What happened, Mama?”
Jenevier sighed. “I snapped—went all Death Angel�
� right there in front of everyone.” Tears burned the backs of her eyes. “Nilakanta felt it… of course he did. He charged into the forest. By the time he reached my side, desolation lay in his wake. Yet… he wasn’t the only creature to fell a few noble trees that day. I, too, left my mark within the Elven forest.”
Jophiel chuckled. “Are you exaggerating? Or did you truly turn into my favorite little Grim Reaper?”
Jenevier glanced toward him, but didn’t speak.
“Oh, I wish I would have been there,” Jophiel said through a smile. “I love when you do that—lose all reason and become single-minded. Never are you more glorious than when you are Death, Milady.”
“That’ll do, Jophiel,” Uriel mumbled, glancing toward her angelic blue-haired son. “Your inappropriate admiration is well known by us all. If you wish to remain fair and unscarred, you would do well to simply shut it.”
“Did you do thus in front of humans, in front of innocents?” Jophiel’s golden eyes were sparkling wildly. “Oh, I pray you did. Tell me. What happened? Did they faint? Go blind? Cease breathing entirely? Fill in the blanks, little sister.”
“You tread on the very edge of the line, don’t you, Brother?” Raphael said, before turning to Jenevier. “Why, baby sis?” He took her hand. “What was the cause of your uncontrollable rage?”
Jophiel smiled, devilishly. “Did you enjoy a bit more of that incredible Elvish joining you were going on about?”
“…Pervert,” Duhrias mumbled under his breath.
Tenshi slammed his hands down atop the table. “By the gods! I will kill that pointy-eared King by my own hand.”
“Enough, Tenshi.” She met his enraged gaze. “I didn’t even see Dofarel. That’s not why I went. And don’t let that nearly wicked Angel over there…” She motioned toward the still smiling Jophiel. “…get you so worked up. That’s what he’s trying to do. You’re giving him what he wants.”
“Then why, tiny Angel?” Raphael whispered. “Why did you go there, and who was it you spoke with?” He squeezed her hand. “And what ignited your delicious fire, Milady?”
“Ugh!” Jenevier sighed loudly. “It seems I fan flames… even when I am dousing them.”
Jophiel chuckled. Jenevier cut her eyes toward him, then just shook her head.
“I went back to Ashgard to see the King—Alastyn.” She glanced toward Tenshi and he smiled at her. “I went back partly to seek his guidance, and partly because… I let myself get too upset—all jumbled up inside.”
“…Hurt,” Tenshi whispered.
Jenevier nodded. “I don’t know. I just… felt like going back home, I guess.”
“You wished to return to a simpler time,” Gabriel said softly. “You sought peace and comfort from the familiar—your old friends, your old home… back before all of this.” He waved his hand to encompass everyone around the council table.
“Yeah… maybe,” she whispered. “But… it’s not the same.”
“Of course it’s not,” Uriel said. “You may be able to physically go back home. But you cannot turn back time, little one.”
“…Yeah.” She nodded. “Anyway… I knew there was a vast library at the palace. I had seen it.”
“And the fact Alastyn would be there was a plus as well. Huh, Mama?”
Jenevier looked to her smiling son. She blushed.
“Is he well?” Tenshi asked softly.
“Yes.” She nodded again. “Quite well. He Amalgamated with Izadori, or whatever. He looks good. He was studying the ancient scrolls when I got there. Alas, the library contained not a single word concerning Nephilim.”
“Ha, Nephilim.” Jophiel chuckled. “See, Naga? Great minds do think alike. Huh, little sis?”
Jenevier smiled, but did not meet his teasing gaze.
“Okay, so… that’s why you went,” Apollyon said. “Now, what stirred your rage?”
“Alastyn knew nothing of Nephilim, ‘tis true.” She glanced toward Duhrias. “But he was terribly excited to tell me about a different secret he had uncovered—Urimtheim.”
Duhrias smiled. “So, the Olden found the cave, did he?”
Jenevier nodded.
“And why in the world would you have need of Urimtheim?” Uriel asked. “How do you even know of it?”
“The River Spirit showed me.” She looked back toward him as she spoke. “It’s how I got Duhrias and Cherie here on Jinn. And how I found my little Taka, too.” Jenevier smiled when the little Dragon Pixie began twittering at the sound of his name. “Even though I knew they were some kind of Otherworldly Spirits, I didn’t know if they could travel via the clouds. I didn’t want to chance it. So… we walked here.”
Jenevier blushed when Munenori chuckled.
“And there are those among us who say you are not wise.”
“Gratitude, Senpai.” She crinkled her nose up at him, then continued, “When Alastyn and I neared the cave in Mangladune, the stones were already glowing.”
“What?” Apollyon said. “Another Angel was there?”
“That’s what I thought… at first,” she whispered. “When I had first returned to Ashgard, a few days ago—seeking Dofarel’s wisdom—I came upon a rather unusual Elf… living on his own in the middle of the forest. In truth…” she mumbled. “…he wasn’t very Elvish at all. I would not have named him thus, were it not for his scent. And even that was a questionable thing to me. I smelled Elf on him, yes… but there was an oddly familiar strangeness mingled with it.”
“What do you mean, he wasn’t very Elvish?” Daichi asked.
“Just that.” She shrugged her shoulders. “He was much stouter built—had broad shoulders and long raven hair. Like I said, were it not for his scent, I would not have named him thus.”
“Let me guess,” Jophiel said, sneering. “He took one look at you and fell head-over-heels in love.”
Jenevier snorted. “Quite the opposite. He tried to kill me. Twice, no less.”
“Why, Mama?”
“I don’t know, Tenshi. Perhaps I startled him. He was an intentional hermit, after all. From the first glimpse of me, he wanted me gone.”
“Oh, let me guess this one,” Raphael said. “Your morbid curiosity caused your stubbornness to take root.”
“My curiosity is not morbid.”
Jenevier blushed when every single person gathered around that table began to laugh.
She waited until they had quieted back down. “Not to drag this out any further than it needs to be.” She sighed. “He was scarred—deformed since birth. The Elves could not heal him, even named him Baytac.”
“…Monster,” Raphael whispered.
Jenevier nodded.
“Only the most treacherous darkness can cause harm even an Elf cannot heal,” Apollyon said.
“Yes,” Jenevier whispered. “Baytac said his mother was forcefully impregnated when your war spread over Ashgard.” She met Apollyon’s sapphire gaze. “He thought he was sired by a demon.”
Apollyon held her troubled gaze. “But he was mistaken, wasn’t he?”
Jenevier nodded. “When I saw the Urimtheim glow at his presence… I knew his father was no demon.”
“What did you do, Mama?”
She looked then to her son. “I licked him.”
“So…” Munenori said. “I can think of only one dark Angel who could cause you to lose control like that.”
Tears filled Jenevier’s eyes, yet she did not speak.
“Who did you taste within him, Naga?” Yui softly asked.
“Ahriman,” Tenshi hissed.
“Wait,” Jophiel said. “But I thought… Naga, when last we spoke—”
“There is a fine line between love and hate, Brother,” Munenori said. “Naga crossed it when her senses returned… when his spell was broken and the magic dissipated.”
“As strong as was the love…” Jophiel whispered. “…even more so is the hate.”
“Yes.” Jenevier wiped a single tear from her cheek. “A thousand times more so
.”
“Apollyon.” Uriel waited until his fallen brother met his gaze. “Does the soul-eater know this? Does he know how Naga now feels?”
Apollyon looked back to Jenevier. “No, he does not.”
Chapter 12
Jenevier
(ZHEN-ah-veer)
When the gentle breeze blew past, Jenevier caught his unmistakably divine scent. She inhaled deeply, smiling as she did.
“Aye, Lass. How are ye?”
“Better now, Vittorio.”
She leaned against him as he sat down beside her atop the large stone. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
“What were ye smiling aboot, Lass?”
“Your scent.” She inhaled again. “Out of every creature I have ever crossed paths with, you smell the most delicious. It makes my mouth water. I could devour you whole.”
“Cut it oot, my wee darlin’. It takes every ounce of strength I possess just tae keep from gobbling ye up on the spot. Dunnae say such things, Lass. I am weak where ye are concerned.”
Jenevier chuckled. “Then we remain of like-mind, Brother.”
“I’ve warned ye aboot calling me brother. Do thus again, an’ I’ll have tae punish ye.”
“Stop teasing me, Vittorio.” She crushed another tiny lavender bloom between her fingers. “You know, once we get started… I never want to stop.”
“Aye, an’ that’s my favorite part.” He yanked on her sapphire curl. “What are ye doing, sitting oot here in the middle of this field, all alone?”
“…Thinking.”
“Aye.” He nodded. “I heard aboot the coming darkness. Seems ye dinnae even cause it… this time.”
“Yeah… seems that way.” She snapped off another stem of lavender. “To be completely honest with you, Vittorio, I don’t even sense it. Everything feels normal to me. If it wasn’t for Vindicus mentioning the thinning of the veils, I wouldn’t have a clue.”
“Yer Vindicus, huh?”
“Him, yes… and that damn Nephilim—Rixx.”
“Nephilim? I’ve heard of them, aye. Yet, I’ve nae seen one with my own eyes.”
