Enthroned by Amethysts (A Dance with Destiny Book 3) (20 page)

Chapter 26

Alzeen

(al-ZEEN)

Alzeen made his way to the familiar rose-covered cottage he had secretly visited so many times whilst watching over Jenevier as she grew.

“May I help you?” Jezreel smiled brightly as she opened the door.

“I’m on a quest, fair maiden. I seek dark truths from you revealed to me this day.”

Alzeen entered the cottage and removed his mask. Jezreel was shocked. Until Varick introduced himself properly, before resuming his equally handsome Alzeen form.

“What trouble has Jenevier fallen into this time?” she asked with a heavy sigh.

“She seems a magnet for it, does she not?”

Jezreel shrugged her shoulders. “Such is her life.”

“She is heavy with child, Jezreel. And she disappeared before my very eyes.”

“Heavy with child? But I saw her only a few short months ago. How’s that even possible?”

“She is no mere mortal, Jezreel.”

“Is it yours? The babe, are you the father?”

“I am not,” he answered sadly.

“Hmm, you don’t seem too happy about that.” She pondered a moment more. “Was it King Merodach, then?”

“What? What are you saying, Jezreel? Did she lay with him?”

“No. No. Calm down. I only noticed our good King was awfully taken with her still. I don’t accuse my sister of ill behavior. I often speak before I think.”

“Yes, you do.” He gave her a level stare. “Merodach’s intent toward Jenevier was made clear to us all. Yet, it was her husband who came to her. He’s the one who left her with child.”

“I see.” A deep line furrowed Jezreel’s brow. “So, the demon-Angel left hell, did he? I thought such a thing was not possible.”

“Much has happened to Jenevier since last you saw her.”

“So I gather.” She poured tea for them both. “Why are you here? Why is one of her other Guardian friends not seeking her in your stead?”

His hand froze, steaming teacup halfway to his waiting lips. “You are a vile girl, Jezreel. Why would you try to hurt me thusly? I have done you no ill.”

“What right do you have to get angry with me?
You’re
the one who broke her heart. Not me. You’re the man who gave your love to another, took a new
Anicee
,” Jezreel snapped. “I know the truth in this. Jenevier told me herself.”

He took a sip of tea and stared furtively into the dark liquid cooling in his hands. “She was mistaken. She knew not the true reason for the ceremony she was witness to. It was not my marriage. I was forced to tell her where she erred… after she had already confessed
everything
about her time in hell. Everything, in excruciatingly painful detail, I might add.”

“Oh.” Jezreel found the amazing news shocking, to say the least. “So… you mean to say, you never—”

“No. I did not.”

“And… She confessed everything about her and—”

“Yes. She did.”

“Wow… Imagine the weight of
that
guilt,” Jezreel said. “How in the world could she even look you in the eye? I mean, surely you must have hated her,
do
hate her.”

“This is a tale for a different day,” he said calmly. “We forgave each other everything. As I said, much has changed since last you spoke. We are well. She is my Anicee once again. As it should be.”

Jezreel choked on her tea. “Let me get this straight. When she got out of hell she came to see me, knowing not the truth about you. After that, she relived the whole of her missing years with you. Confessed every sin?”

“Yes.”

“And… You forgave her everything?”

“Yes, as she did me. Even swore a vow to stay by my side, always.”

“Really?” she mused. “Hmm, if she was pregnant when she was here, she either didn’t know or didn’t tell me.”

“She was not.”

“I see.” Jezreel narrowed her eyes at him. “Was she pregnant when she made confession to you? When she pledged her vow to stay by your side?”

“She was not. I spoke with her the same day she left you, left Ashgard. Her wings brought her back to me.” A warm smile crossed his lips.

“So… she got pregnant
after
you told her you had not married, had not cheated on her or loved any other.” She shook her head. “Wow. And after all that, she still went and slept with Vin—”

“Jezreel, please,” he snapped viciously. “By all that’s holy. You are completely infuriating. If you have nothing of value to say, please, shut your mouth and spare my heart. I swear I could choke you right now.”

She bit her lip. Curiosity had once again guided her mouth down the wrong path, the painful path. She regretted it. Regretted hurting someone who was already in such great turmoil. Regretted hurting someone Jenevier loved truly.

“Is it not obvious?” She patted his hand. “Hell has swallowed her up once more. If he came to her when he could not… perhaps he took her when he could not as well.”

“She’s not in hell.”

“You are certain of this?”

“If she were…” He paused.

Jezreel could clearly read the pain on Alzeen’s lovely face.

“Do you ever go to Jenevier like this?”

“I don’t understand. I go to her any way I can. What are you suggesting, Jezreel?” He took another sip of tea.

“Alzeen. Do you ever go to Jenevier as Alzeen?” Her eyes lingered on his fascinating markings. “Don’t take me wrong. Varick is heavenly to look upon, beyond perfect in every conceivable way.” She sighed, resting her chin atop her balled up fists. “But as I sit here with you now, I can see you don’t even realize… Alzeen’s the perfect one. At least, in Jenevier’s eyes he would be. I know my sister well. Heed my counsel in this, dear friend.”

He ignored her words, they almost made him cross. He decided she simply didn’t know how to distinguish the gift from the wrapper.
The treasure is always inside
, he thought.

“Where’s the green-eyed boy?”

“Green-eyed boy?” She furrowed her brow. “Oh, you mean Alastyn. I’m not entirely certain. He divides his time between his home here and his duties at court. Why would you ask such a thing? He couldn’t have taken her. Alastyn holds no magic.” Jezreel looked down to her steaming teacup. “If he did, she would’ve never returned to you,” she mumbled.

“What are you saying? She loves him more?” A growl was mixed in with his words.

“I cannot answer you that. She loves who she loves. We’ve been parted too long for me to know the true intent of my sister’s heart.” She looked back up at Alzeen. “But those two…” She shook her head. “There’s just something about them. The pull’s so intense, so inexplicably powerful. I would dare say it is not of this world. I can’t even
fathom
their strange cosmic bond, much less describe it. One thing I
do
know. Jenevier isn’t with Alastyn.”

“I believe I hate him,” Alzeen said.

“And I should say he feels likewise.” Jezreel chuckled to herself, mostly.

“Are you not worried for your dear sister?” he snapped again. Jezreel seemed to have that effect on him.

“Ah, I have worried for her the whole of my life. Alas, I am but a mortal, a mere girl, one who has proven useless help in the past where Jenevier’s concerned. Show me a favored path to her and I shall take it, Guardian.”

He released a heavy sigh, collapsing back against his chair. “I have wasted your time. She isn’t upon this layer, is she?”

“I believe you knew the answer to that question before your wings carried you to my door.” She studied him closer. “What is it you fear, Alzeen? Do you think she would ever leave her Varick of her own free will? If she did, it would only be so she could run to her Alzeen, the keeper of her shattered heart.”

Jezreel saw the light sparkle back to life in his entrancing two-toned eyes.

“Then… she is mine,” he whispered.

“She is.”

He blushed. “I always knew that.”

“Yes, you did. So I ask again. Why are you
really
here?”

“Perhaps I only needed to hear what I heard.” He laughed softly, shyly. “Apologies, but I am only a man. I need plain speech at times.”

“I do not believe you are only a man, far from it. But I can easily see how you may feel insecure at times.” She took a sip of tea before she continued. “Jenevier loves you truly. Never forget that. Alas, my sister does have a few flaws. She loves too much. She cares too much. And she forgives
way
too easily.”

“I find it funny we should count those as flaws. But in her case, I know the truth in your words. She loved me so much she would’ve killed Varick over me.” Alzeen smiled at the memory.

Jezreel gave him her best what’re-you-talking-about look. “Come again? Are you not Varick as well?”

“I am, yes. But she knew not the truth of it at the time. She loved me so much she would have killed Varick during her training. And she loved Varick so much she tried to kill Apollyon while in hell.”

“And she loved Apollyon so much…” Jezreel paused.

“She would have slain herself, if her sacrifice would have spared him his Fate,” Alzeen finished.

“Yes. She loves too hard and holds back nothing,” she mused. “If you’re lucky enough to be counted in her heart—”

“She would burn down heaven for you,” Alzeen whispered.

“Yes, she would. Just imagine what all she would do, what all she would sacrifice, who all she would kill… for the child growing within her.”

He toyed with the dainty handle of his little teacup. “She no longer claims her powers. The pregnancy has removed her mask and her wings with it. She’s just Jenevier now.” His eyes burned with his coming tears.

Jezreel smiled knowingly. “Fear not, my friend, and take heart. She was just Jenevier when she first confronted Vareilious at the gate. She was just Jenevier when she swore to slay Varick, as you just mentioned. And she was just Jenevier when she fought and held her own with Vindicus, the dark Prince ruler of hell.” She looked out the window, seeing only the image in her mind of Jenevier turning into Vashti at this very table where they now sat. “Fire lives within her, whether Vashti does or not.”

“‘Tis true, all of it. Yet without Vashti, she cannot wing her way home.”

“Yes. But as just Jenevier, she has proven she can stay alive until
your
wings find
her
.”

Even though he knew Jezreel was probably right, Varick combed the entire realm of Ashgard before he left the fourth layer. He vowed to do the same upon each until he found her once more… even if it took him an eternity to do so.

Chapter 27

Mikage

(mah-KAH-jee)

Valencia burst through the clouds of layer nine and headed back to the Shinobi village where she’d last spoken with Musashi. She would not be satisfied until she looked upon Jenevier’s ashes with her own eyes.

The moon was eerily full. The still night—deathly quiet. She remained invisible to curious eyes as she vainly searched the tiny village and surrounding forest.

“Are you a soul-eater? Have you come to seek payment for my many sins?”

Valencia looked down from the tree she was perched in to see an aging ninja, cross-legged upon a large stone. She released the limb, landing solidly in front of him.

“I am, and I have.” Her voice was teasingly wicked. “Do you wish to make confession before I cleave head from shoulders?”

“I do so wish.”

“Then I will hear you now.”

“My name is Mikage Abe. I am descended from the mingled blood of Koga and Iga. I am a Shinobi wizard by birth, cursed with death.”

“Go on,” she coaxed.

The old man didn’t open his eyes. Scenes of his past were playing out in his mind as he spoke.

“I loved my brother’s wife and I lay with her, leaving my seed within her womb. Alas, she was a better person than I. She refused to leave my brother, refused to bring shame upon him. She birthed my son as my brother’s heir and did not live to even nurse the babe.”

“My, my,” Valencia quipped. “Continue, old man.”

“I left my people. I lived alone, mourning my destroyed heart. A Shinobi maid was hunting near my home some years later. I loved her upon sight. After many months of proclaiming such to her in secret, she surrendered her maidenhead to me. My seed took hold within her on that same day. Yet I knew it not.”

“What a virile wizard you must be. Is that your ninjitzu? Impregnating young women?”

Mikage ignored her words, continuing his haunting confession. “She returned not to me after that day. I hated her for hiding from me. When I heard she was with child, I hated her all the more.”

“You hated a woman you loved because she carried your babe in her belly?”

“I knew not the child was mine. My jealous heart told me she had given herself to another. I had only known her that once… I refused to believe.”

“So, what did you do? Kill your pregnant lover?”

“I did not raise a hand to her nor did I look upon her face ever again. She, too, died in childbirth and I knew not the babe until a few months past. I have a son
and
a daughter, it seems.”

“Is that the whole of your sins, old man? That your spawn kill their own mothers when they draw breath?”

“It was. But more deaths have now been added.” He finally opened his eyes, meeting his soul-eater’s icy glare for the first time.

“So, you have sired a third murderer, have you?”

“Nay, not by my seed. Still, the death is on my head. I stole a mother from her home and gave her to the Emperor. The next morning her womb burst out of season. I charmed the doorknobs to her bedchambers so no one could get to her. So no one could attend her screams. She suffered much and bled to death.”

Valencia tilted her head and furrowed her brow. “Why would you do such a thing?”

Mikage’s eyes were again closed. He didn’t have to see her glowing face to know she now wore a disgusted look. He heard it plainly in her words.

“I feared her.” He lowered his head. “She was not of this world. Her magic was unlike any I have ever known. She placed a spell upon me, bound my hands and my words from causing her harm.” He looked up at her then. “I hated her for that, swore vengeance in my heart. So… when I heard her labor cries, I enchanted the doors. I may not have been able to harm her personally, but I kept help from attending her until she was far past helping.”

“And how do you know she died?”

“I stayed until word of it reached me. The soldiers who removed and burned her bedding told me she was bathed for burial with her son. My heart was glad with the news, glad in the knowledge I would never again have to look upon that colorful little Angel. Never again would I be cursed to look into those inhuman pink eyes.”

Valencia sat down upon hearing those words, releasing a heavy sigh.
Finally, it is done.

Mikage continued, “I know the Emperor will come for my head. But I no longer fear my death. Take me now. I am ready.”

She stared at the old man with the resolute look painted over his aging features. A devious thought entered her twisted little mind.

“Very well. I will deliver you unto the one who will judge your soul. But you must speak to him every word of your confession. If you do not answer him everything…” she warned. “…it will not go well for you in the Otherworld.”

He nodded slightly. “I will do as you say. Yet I care not how things go for me in the Otherworld.”

She laughed knowingly. “We shall see. It is easy to speak of that which you do not know.”

*****

Valencia took her sweet time in delivering Mikage to the Otherworld holding place. She flew him to the palace on Jinn and forced him to stay by her side for days until Musashi finally appeared at the gates. When he had finished speaking with the guards, she stepped out from her hiding place, quickly revealing herself to him before returning to the broken old Shinobi’s side.

“Why do you insist on returning here?” Musashi demanded as he approached her.

“The Guardians have been searching in earnest many months for their Princess. I volunteered to comb layer nine. Will I find her here?” she asked innocently.

“What do you think?” Musashi countered.

She pretended to pout. “I know we’re not favored friends, dearest Emperor, but I wished to see you. We haven’t spoken in so long.” She smiled and batted her lashes. “Oh, by the way, I met a man in the forest with a terribly interesting story. After hearing his sordid little tale, I felt an extreme need to stop by for a visit.”

Valencia stepped aside to reveal Mikage sitting upon the ground. His eyes were gone and his body smelled of the death she had already gifted him.

“Mikage, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Musashi started toward the wizard but withdrew when the putrid stench of decay invaded his nostrils. “What have you done, Witch?”

“I only gave him what he asked for. I heard his confession then snuffed out his light.” She casually shrugged her shoulders. “We’re on our way to his judgment now. I just wanted to make this one little stop before we left forever.”

“Apologies, Sire,” Mikage rasped. “I held fast the knob, denying your entrance. In so doing, her death is upon
my
head, the death of the babe as well.”

The Emperor could only stare in silence at the talking dead man.

“Perhaps I should have sought out the old man instead of you, Ronin. His resolve is granite where yours falters.” She leaned in closer to the stunned Emperor. “Tell me this one thing. I’m curious. How did the Angel bind this man from harming her? What trick did she use to accomplish such a thing?”

“I know not. I wasn’t there.” Musashi spoke through a haze. He was trying to process Mikage’s confession and Valencia’s obvious acceptance of it without plainly displaying the truth upon his face.

“She is dead, is she not? You kept her charms and talismans, correct?” She continued without giving him time to answer. “I wish to see them. I am curious as to which gave her such a delicious power as this.”

“All that she had is now mine.” He turned a cold glare toward the heartless woman he now hated above all others. “Payment for black purpose and duly earned. You will not see them.”

“Black deeds you willingly set to purpose.” She chuckled. “You yet live, little Ronin. One day soon,
your
judgment will come. And when it does, you’ll have to answer for your crimes.”

“As will you,” he said dryly

“We shall see.” She tugged on the wizard’s arm. “Let us be off, old man. You have a date with a mighty Angel, Prince of the Underworld. And I can assure you. He will be most interested in your sordid confession.” She winked at Musashi, flashing him a triumphant smile. “Most interested indeed.”

The Emperor watched motionlessly as the loathsome pair disappeared into the clouds.

When they were gone and his breath returned, he ran as fast as he possibly could to the well-guarded top floor of his palace home.