Redeemed by Rubies (A Dance with Destiny Book 6)

by JK Ensley

  Jenevier took a deep breath, nodding her agreement with Michael’s words.

  “And lastly we have Raphael… the epitome of love and devotion.” He laughed. “Sweet Raph isn’t really sweet at all. Did you know that, Kagi Naga?”

  Jenevier didn’t answer.

  “He is the bloodiest Arch of us all. Father uses him much the way He uses you—annihilation. He was once paired up with your beloved Vindicus. That wasn’t his name then, no. You gifted him with that. Even the name Apollyon wasn’t his original one. It was given him after he fell.” He sighed. “But, Vindicus and Raphael together—epic slaughter. Evil never stood a chance, and darkness held no sway in the face of those two.” He chuckled softly.

  “W-what was his given name?”

  “We do not speak it!”

  The sudden spiritual pressure now bearing down upon her was unfathomably, mercilessly strong. Thankfully, it disappeared as quickly as it had come. Yet, the blinding headache it brought her took its own sweet time in ebbing.

  Jenevier shakily touched her lips, pulling her trembling fingers back to reveal proof of the crimson flow. She wiped her nose, but the blood refused to stop.

  “We do not speak it,” Michael continued, as if nothing had happened. “It has been wiped from existence and is no longer recorded, even in heaven.” He sighed again. “I was shocked when I saw how Raphael treated you. Not on your initial meeting, no. That was Raphael—true to form. But… after that… I could scarce believe he was the same Angel… around you. He loves you too much. And he shows it in every possible way. Raphael stands as your protector, your defender—your sword, shield, and mace. He tries to lead you with tenderness, but would slay the lot of us to keep you safe.” Michael shook his head. “He is weak in your regard. Hmpft… perhaps he is more like his old partner than we even knew.”

  Jenevier remained silent, watching the thick crimson droplets still spilling down from her chin… dripping, soaking through her lavender dress… quickly cooling there, slowly chilling in a red-stained spot atop her legs. She waited, yet Michael didn’t go on.

  “And you, Brother.” She coughed, spitting out some of the blood. “How do you teach?”

  Michael laughed softly. “Me? I teach by removing your freewill—keeping you from ever stumbling.”

  “R-removing my freewill?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “But only concerning the things that would cause you to err past saving. For instance, were I to have been given charge over you then, I would have stayed your claws concerning Prince Merodach. Were you placed under my watch, you would never have freely walked into hell. And Munenori…” Michael clicked his tongue behind his teeth. “I promise you now, that would have never happened.”

  “Please, Michael, don’t hurt me again. But… I wish to ask you a question.”

  “Hurt you?”

  When the mighty Archangel reached for her chin, Jenevier quickly closed her eyes so as not to have to look upon his terrifying glory.

  “Kagi Naga!” He gasped loudly. “Why didn’t you say something? When did this happen?”

  “Umm…” She swallowed hard again and tasted the salty, metallic bite of blood. “Whenever you got angry, when your voice became harsh… your heavenly aura would crush me.”

  “Crush you?” He began wiping the blood from her chin and neck. “I had no idea girls were this fragile,” he mumbled under his breath.

  “I think it has less to do with me being a girl, and more to do with you being… Michael—Father’s Archangel.”

  “If that is true, why didn’t this happen when you met my brothers?”

  Jenevier shrugged her shoulders. “Well… when I first met Raphael, he gave me a splitting headache as well. I passed completely out.”

  “Yes… I remember.” He finished cleaning her up and patted her head again. “All better now. Forgive me, Kagi Naga. I did not realize. When we are together, I will remember to keep my essence suppressed. Now, please continue with what you were saying before.”

  She bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. “I don’t wanna lose my freewill,” she whispered softly. “If I can no longer decide things for myself, how will I still be me? I’d be just a shell. I don’t want to ever feel like that again. I’d rather you just go ahead and kill me now, please.”

  Michael laughed loudly. “I can see a glimpse of it now. Uriel was right. You are a curious little thing—absolutely precious.”

  Jenevier furrowed her brow. “Precious?”

  “I cannot actually remove your freewill, Kagi Naga. That was an exquisite gift from Father. No… I just make sure you don’t make the wrong decisions. That’s all.”

  “And how can you possibly ensure such as that?”

  “With this,” he whispered.

  Jenevier still had her eyes closed and didn’t dare open them, but she heard a soft click… then felt the delicate coolness around her neck. She hesitantly ran her fingertips over the intricately spun metal lace.

  “A collar?”

  “Yes.”

  “But… how is a collar going to keep me from erring?”

  “With this.”

  When he said that, Jenevier slowly opened her eyes and focused on his large hand in front of her. A tiny shimmering strand, thin as a hair, was wrapped around Michael’s pointer finger. When he wiggled it, she felt a gentle tug against her neck.

  “A leash?” She felt her temper rising, but didn’t try to stop it. “You wish to treat me as a dog?”

  Michael laughed. “Oh, don’t think of it that way. Just think of it as a friendly… brotherly reminder. When you start to go astray, I will lovingly guide you back to your path. That’s all.”

  “Take it off,” she hissed through gritted teeth.

  “No,” he said flatly.

  “Michael… Take. It. Off.”

  “Kagi Naga… No.”

  She sighed then and glanced back out over the battlefield. “Please take it off?”

  “No. It is my gift. And it looks lovely on you. Even better than I had imagined. Well… it is partly thanks to Raphael and Apollyon.” He chuckled softly. “When Raph accidentally killed you and then Apollyon healed the deep gashes on your throat… those lovely sapphires there make my lacey golden necklace shine all the more. Accept it with grace, Kagi Naga. Be thankful for my love and guidance.”

  “Gratitude, Brother. Now… take it off.”

  “No.”

  Her shoulders drooped forward. “…Please?”

  “No… and if you continue to ask, I will become vexed with you.”

  Nilakanta growled. Jenevier gently stroked his scales until he calmed.

  “Very well.” She wearily rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. “Gratitude for the generous gift, Brother.”

  “You are welcome. Oh, and it truly does look lovely on you,” he whispered softly.

  She unconsciously fingered the cool metal again. “…Thank you.”

  “Don’t be mad at me, Kagi Naga. You have suffered through each of my brothers’ types of training, to no avail. Well… little avail. Will you not show me the same courtesy? Will you accept my form of guidance with an open mind? Please? If I cannot help you, dearest sister, I will remove the collar. On my honor.”

  She smiled a closed, tight-lipped smile. “Yes, Michael. I will do as you ask.” She smiled a little wider. “Only because you absolutely scare the holy bejeebers outta me.”

  Michael chuckled. “Whatever it takes to make it. Eh, Sis?”

  She nodded. “Yes. As it should be.”

  He patted her head again. “Well met, Kagi Naga.”

  “You can just call me Naga, ya know.”

  “Ahh… but I prefer your full name. It suits you.” He gently bumped her with his shoulder. “And… I just like the way it sounds.”

  A comfortable sort of silence passed between them for a few moments.

  “We’re gonna butt heads, aren’t we?” she finally said.

  “More than likely, yes. At least… in the b
eginning.”

  “Promise not to make my nose bleed anymore?”

  “No. Promise not to make any more mistakes?”

  “Nope.”

  He gently took her hand. “We’re gonna make it, Kagi Naga. One day… it will all be worth it.”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Varick is waiting for me. Anything is worth that.”

  “Well met, little one.” He ruffled her curls. “Now… onto the business at hand.”

  “Which is?”

  “The news Gabriel delivered unto you that day in the Iga village. Have you deciphered the clues yet? Have you any idea what is now required of you?”

  “Apologies.” Jenevier shook her head. “Alas, I have been asleep from then until now.”

  “Yes, I suppose you have. Hmm… Well, would you like to share with me your quest?”

  Jenevier shrugged her shoulders. “Gabriel said I already had the answer.”

  “How so?”

  “I’m not sure. He simply said… I possess a power that no one else does. Oh, and just because I possess the power… doesn’t necessarily mean I actually wield it.”

  “Hmm… Only that you already possess it.”

  She nodded in response to his musings.

  “Well, what is something you have that no one else does?”

  She shrugged her shoulders again. “Diamond wings and claws? The ability to reap? Sparkly scars and colorful hair? I don’t know.”

  Michael tried to muffle his coming laugh. “Your wings and claws are unique, yes. Yet… you wield them. You are not the first, nor will you be the last, Death Angel. And although your scars are yours alone—Apollyon was stingy with his talent—I do not believe your magical sapphires are the answer. As far as your hair goes, remember you not your vision in hell? No, Kagi Naga. All Angels are blessed with defining locks.”

  “Speaking of which.” She almost turned to him, but caught herself. “Why is Raphael colored thusly? Why are his hair and wings a lovely warm chocolate color, while the others are painted with gold?”

  “Do you not prefer golden tresses and feathers? Most people do. But not you, huh? You dote on the darker ones, don’t you, Kagi Naga?”

  Jenevier only snorted, didn’t answer.

  Michael bumped her with his shoulder again. “As I told you before, Raphael and Apollyon were made for a different purpose. And as such, the darkness of their coloring matched the darkness of their task.”

  “But… Vindicus is not dark. He is a vibrant, beautiful blue.”

  “He is now, yes.” Michael nodded. “Yet, the same did not hold true in the beginning. Raphael was how you know him to be. But Apollyon… his tresses were as black as a moonless night in the depths of winter. Ahh… he was a sight to behold—more splendid than even now.”

  Jenevier felt the painful burn of her coming tears.

  “Above us all,” Michael whispered. “He was most glorious—pristine, sparkling, raven-black. When we were gathered, he among us was the center of attention—easiest to spot, most wondrous to behold.”

  “…He liked that, didn’t he? All the attention.”

  “Yes,” Michael said softly. “And that great pride…” He paused.

  “It was his undoing,” Jenevier whispered.

  “Yes, it was.” Michael gently patted her head again. “You love him too much, still. Never forget this, little sister… he was the creature who ended your bliss. No matter how sweet his current words may sound, no matter the adoration he may currently shower upon you, always remember who he was… when he thought you weren’t looking.”

  She blanched. “When he thought… I wasn’t… looking…” She began to tremble, harder with each halting word she whispered out.

  Little Fire… Nilakanta rubbed against her, lending her needed support.

  Jenevier quit trying to hold back her tears then, she openly let them flow. Michael was right. His simple statement hit her like a war hammer.

  “How in the hell did I forget that?” she mumbled, mostly to herself. “Why? Why did I forget that? Dammit… I hate that Angel—hate him as much as I love him. He killed Varick, my beautiful, precious Varick. And…” She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. “He tried to kill my son—our son. Why? Why did I forgive him? He is a monster. I knew that. I knew, and yet…”

  Michael placed his hand atop hers, interlacing their fingers. “The heart is a magical thing indeed. Eh, Kagi Naga? Within it lies a very fine line between love and hate. Oft times… that line becomes blurred.”

  Jenevier swallowed back the rest of her words, but they didn’t go down easy.

  Michael waited until her tears had dried. “Feeling better, Kagi Naga?”

  She nodded. “I will sort that all out on a different day.” She sniffed. “I will need to do thus in private.”

  “I suppose you will.” He sighed. “Now then…” He gently squeezed her hand. “Tell me. What do you possess that no one else has, and no one ever will?”

  Me, Nilakanta said.

  Jenevier chuckled and bumped against him with her shoulder.

  Why do you laugh, Little Fire? My words are true. You are my Guardian—the first and only creature I will ever bond with. No one has ever possessed me, and no one save you ever will.

  Jenevier just stared up at him… blinking, silent.

  “Of course.” Michael chuckled softly. “There is your answer, for there is no greater magic within the realms than that of a Dragon.”

  And there is no greater Dragon than I, Nilakanta added.

  *****

  When Jenevier landed upon her balcony, the gathered Angels and her family turned towards her. Yet, no one spoke.

  She took a deep breath before parting the sheers and entering the room.

  “Gratitude for heeding my request and meeting with me at such a late hour.” She bowed toward them in her Dragon manner. “I have asked you all here because I am in need of your help.” She held up the large baskets that’d been nestled in the bends of her arms. “Here is the answer to the thinning. We shall replace magic… with magic.”

  “Naga?” Gabriel took a step closer. “What has happened to you?” He glanced over her shoulder, narrowing his gaze. “Where did you go, little sister? Did you head straight to Ashgard?”

  “I did,” she said. “Yet, I did not interfere. I watched only. And even that from a distance.”

  “So you say,” Jophiel said through a smirking grin. “Yet your new trinket speaks otherwise.”

  “My new trink—”

  “And your lovely dress,” Raphael said, almost shouting. “Whose blood is that, Kagi Naga? Is it yours?”

  Jenevier glanced down. “Oh… that… Well, you see—”

  “Show yourself, Michael,” Gabriel said, a little more gruffly than Jenevier was used to hearing him speak.

  “No!” she shouted, before quickly lowering her voice. “I mean… please, no. I asked him to remain outside.”

  “What ever for?” Uriel asked.

  Jenevier grimaced slightly as she unconsciously fingered her new collar. “The headaches,” she whispered.

  “No. No. No. No. No,” Raphael repeated as he made his way across the room.

  Just as the brown-haired Arch reached for her, Jenevier was suddenly pulled backwards a couple steps.

  “That’s enough, Michael,” Gabriel snapped. “She is not your pet. The collar was not meant for such purpose.”

  “Oh, but I beg to differ,” Michael said, stepping through the sheers. “It is meant to keep her from straying.” He glanced then toward Raphael. “And I know well your heart, Brother. I am not only protecting Kagi Naga, but you as well.”

  “Enough!” Jenevier yelled, then automatically flinched, waiting for the crushing pain to start.

  “Fear not, Kagi Naga.” Michael gently patted her head. “I am not angry with you.”

  “You,” Apollyon hissed. “You did that to her.” He pointed at her bloodstained dress.

  “I did, yes,” Michael admitted. “Al
though, it was not intentional.”

  “Not intentional?” Tenshi said, taking her hand. “Did you cut her?”

  “No,” Jenevier whispered. “It came from my nose. It’s not as bad as it looks. I am not injured.”

  “From your nose?” Gabriel furrowed his brow. “But… how in the world did—” He glanced back at the other Arch. “Michael, did you not even try to restrain yourself?”

  “Why would I? She dances around with the four of you on a near daily basis. I had no idea she was so… delicate.”

  Jophiel raised a single eyebrow. “And when you found out… did you stop?”

  “Of course I did.”

  Uriel pointed toward Jenevier. “That is no simple nosebleed. She looks as if she has been to war—held a dying man as he bled-out upon her lap.”

  “I stopped when she asked me to stop,” Michael said. “I didn’t even know there was a problem, until then.”

  “How could you not know?” Uriel said through a growl. “Just look at her!”

  “It’s not his fault,” Jenevier said softly. “I had my head turned. He didn’t know I was bleeding… that he was literally crushing me with his aura alone.”

  “Why did you have your head turned, Mama? Why weren’t you looking at him?”

  “Why?” Jenevier snorted. “You tell me, Tenshi. How in the world am I expected to gaze upon a creature such as him and remain coherent?”

  Tenshi looked up at the Arch in question, then back down to his trembling mother. “I don’t understand.” He furrowed his brow. “He looks like a perfect blend of Gabriel and Uriel to me. What is there about him that would render you incoherent?”

  “What?”

  Jenevier spun back to face Michael. When their eyes met, her knees buckled. Tenshi caught her before she hit the ground. She gagged and coughed up blood.

  “What is it, Mama? What’s wrong?”

  “She can see his true form,” Raphael whispered. “It is as she says, boy. Your mama’s eyes do not behold what yours now do.”

  “Then… what is it she can see that I cannot?”

  “Something… incomprehensible,” Gabriel said softly. “Apologies, Naga. I had no idea. Those lovely pink eyes of yours had no trouble deciding on a permanent form for us. I was unaware that such would not prove true for our brother, there.”