by JK Ensley
Forget not who it is you are smiling at, Naga.
I know, Dragon. I know. Do me a solid, Brother. Continually remind me of that very thing.
You never even had to ask, Little Fire.
“Now.” Ahriman clapped his hands together. “What say we get you cleaned up a bit while you fill me in on what your plans are?”
The impossibly enticing soul-eater took her by the hand, swinging their clasped fingers back and forth, leading her to the river as if they were on a jolly holiday and not in the middle of a war intended to utterly annihilate this entire world.
“What do you remember of your childhood, lovely lady?”
“Almost the whole of it. Why do you ask?”
“I know nothing of you… prior to being cursed by Merodach, that is. Tell me. Did you recite nursery rhymes with your friends at school?”
“Vybius, my family knew nothing but stories and nursery rhymes. My mother was a traveling story teller. And our family… we were healers by trade and by blood. You would be hard pressed to find a legend or old wives tale I haven’t recited with my friends at school.”
He smiled. “I would love to have known you as a child.”
“Pfft. If I had met you even one day sooner than I did, I should say I would never have made it to adulthood.”
“Not so, fair Princess. I would have seen you grown, if for no other reason than to devour you. A soul like yours… I could feast upon you for eons, my love.”
Jenevier swallowed hard again, no longer hearing the happy dark Angel’s continuing words. A tiny tremor ran down her spine, causing a visible shudder. Vybius didn’t notice. He was too busy laughing and talking about the past.
“If you have heard them all, tell me. Do you remember the one that went…
One fine day in the middle of the night,
Two dead boys rose up to fight.”
She giggled when he paused, picking up where he left off.
“Back to back they faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot one another.”
Ahriman nodded. “And then the end went something like…
And the narrator with his story untold,
Meekly whispered loud and bold.”
She touched his lips then, ceasing his words so she could finish the poem.
“The beginning words to the meetings end,
You, my enemy, are now my friend.”
“Yes, tiny Angel. That last line reminded me of us, withdrew the recollection from somewhere deep inside me.” He wrapped his arms around her and sighed happily. “This reminds me of our time in Vandermil—carefree, comfortable, completely at ease in each other’s gentle embrace.”
“Yes… you trying to drown me during my bath, munching on my soul while you fed me ambrosia tea.”
He lightly kissed her cheek. “Supporting you during the council meetings, listening to your sweet stories as you tucked me into bed, holding hands while we gazed into the looking glass as we watched your lovely skin and curls transform.”
“…Yes.”
She sniffed as he lovingly brushed away her tears.
“I remember all those wonderful things as well,” she whispered. “I felt a blood tie with you, dark brother. Stronger than I could have possibly imagined.”
“That’s because we are the same, you and I. Oh, look.” His smile grew. He turned her around to face the rolling waters. “We’re here.”
The mountain river was so cold, her teeth began to chatter almost immediately.
Ahriman laughed. “You look like a baby kitten, Princess—soaked and trembling and completely helpless.”
“J-j-just hur-rr-reee u-uuup, Vyy-beee-usss.”
He laughed again as he scooped up some more water and cleaned her back.
“Where in the universe did you manage to acquire a tattoo as exquisite as this one, tiny Angel?”
“J-j-in-nnn.”
He chuckled. “Well… it is enormous, but it suits you.” He traced the intricate scales with his fingertips. “It seems you become more rare by the day. There is not much left of the girl I once knew.”
“Ssshheeeesss sttillll herrre, on th-thee in-ssii-iide.”
Ahriman only laughed again and kissed her trembling cheek, wrapping his arms around her, warming her from behind as he whispered, “Have you ever read any of Carroll’s writings, my love?
Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!
If I didn’t know better, I’d believe he was talking about you, little one.”
She tried to smile. “Yeeeessss. Thaaaat’s one of mmmyyy faaavooorites.”
“Mine too,” he whispered, and kissed her again.
*****
When Duhrias had touched the last blade—imbuing it with his magic—he turned and clutched his chest, almost bending over double from the action.
Suou grabbed his shoulders. “What is it? Was the strain too much? Have you been drained to the point of illness?”
Duhrias looked up, blood trickling from his eyes as tears. Prince Suou gasped.
“We must make haste, Your Highness,” Duhrias said. “Something’s wrong. Something is horribly, horribly wrong.”
“What is it? Are you injured?”
“This is not my blood,” he rasped. “It’s hers.”
“Hers? …Naga’s?”
Duhrias stood, inhaling deeply. “Yes. Her sweet blood flows through my waters. Your Highness, we can either attack now, or I break my sworn vow and leave your side. One way or the other, I will make it to her before the moon rises this night.”
*****
Jenevier watched absently as the blood-tinged water eventually flowed clear around her. Her ministering dark Angel was still chatting away merrily, filling her in on all the spectacular battles he had been in… all the innocent souls he had devoured.
“Vybius, I know you are trying to help, but you must know how disturbing your stories are… for one such as me.”
“Apologies, Jenevier.” He poured the clear water over her head and helped her from the river. “I got carried away. Forgive me.”
“Let’s just not talk about it right now, okay?” She tried to manage a small smile. Or think about it, even, she thought.
I second that, Naga. I can say, and without reservation, this beautiful man tending you now… is the darkest I have ever known.
Yes, Dragon. I know.
Ahriman took her hand and gently squeezed it. “You, Milady,” he whispered his warm words against her chilled skin. “You have taken a soulless monster… and turned it into a man.” He tucked some of her sodden curls back behind her ear as he kissed her there. “Into a man who wants to live… live to see you happy, live only to see you smile.”
He gently stroked the side of her face as he stared deep within her celestial pink eyes. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he slowly leaned in and left a sweet, gentle kiss upon her cold, trembling lips.
“Now then,” he said softly. “Let’s get you warmed up. Shall we?”
Ahriman had to tug on her hand twice before she even realized what he was doing, before she came back to herself. Only then did she realize she was obediently following him through the woods.
Naga, get a hold of yourself, Nilakanta said. Remember Apollyon’s words concerning the soul-eater. This is what he does. This is his power. Temptation, lust, desire—he is their master.
Yes… I know.
She tightened his warm cloak around her shoulders, breathing in deep his enticing scent. It was delicious, encompassing, consuming.
But for some reason, Dragon… I keep forgetting. Wait… what were we talking about? Lust? Desire? Or was it poetry and love? I can scarce recall.
Nilakanta’s growl ran through her mind, but she barely noticed it. Ahriman’s mesmerizing voice captivated her, cradled her heart and comforted her soul.
“Vybius,�
�� she whispered.
The soul-eating dark Angel stopped and turned to face her, a joyful smile across his face and jovial words still falling from his lips.
“What is it, Jenevier?” Concern immediately replaced his carefree joy. “Do you still chill, my love?” He rubbed her arms and tightened his cloak about her even more.
She didn’t answer. She could only stare at him while everything else in the whole of creation fell away around them. Jenevier watched as his perfect lips seemed to move in slow motion. She could no longer hear his words, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered, was her fast growing desire—a hungry, ravenous desire that gnawed away at her, threatening to devour her from within.
Everything seemed as a dream. She was standing in a dream, floating above the ground. Gentle sunlight filtered down through the leaves, sporadically sparkling around her like drunken fireflies. She was weightless. The world was soundless. Her every desire stood flesh before her. That’s when she realized… she would sooner die than be parted from this man.
“Vybius,” she whispered again. “Vybius…” The name became her prayer, her mantra, the only word left in her transcended mind. “…Vybius.”
*****
“Did you feel that?”
“Feel what?” Uriel asked Jophiel via their shared Arch connection.
“Yes, Jophiel,” Raphael said with a snort. “The war has started. Our little sister is sending demons back right and left. Apologies, Brother, but I haven’t really had time for feelings.”
“Ahh, dark brother,” Jophiel said sardonically. “That has always been your biggest problem—admitting your feelings. Especially where that little curl-covered bundle of trouble is concerned.”
“My hair may be dark,” Raphael said. “But my intentions are pure, especially concerning that curl-covered bundle of trouble. Can you say the same?”
Jophiel only laughed.
“What did you feel, Jophiel?” Gabriel asked, ceasing their bickering.
“At the risk of being chastised by the great Raphael again,” Jophiel quipped. “I am almost certain I felt a fracture. I mean, that’s what it felt like.”
“What are you talking about, a fracture?” Uriel asked.
“A fracture in her… gift,” Jophiel said, barely whispering that last word.
“Which gift?” Gabriel asked.
“Her funnest gift,” Jophiel said teasingly. “The delicious one we two share.”
Raphael growled. “Are you saying she is seducing someone? Right now? Right in the middle of a bloody war? You cannot be serious.”
“So what if she is?” Jophiel said. “You jealous?”
“Jophiel,” Uriel scolded. “Pay attention. What did you mean when you said fractured?”
“I’m not certain.” Jophiel’s voice was no longer playful. “I felt her gift, felt her power surge. Then it… I don’t know… it shimmered, maybe.”
“Shimmered?” Gabriel said. “What do you mean?”
“That’s just it,” Jophiel answered, exasperated. “I cannot tell you what I mean. I cannot describe it properly. I felt it. Her powers glowed… her spell was cast… then it just sort of shimmered a bit and…” He paused.
“And what?” Raphael demanded. “Get on with it, Jophiel, or I swear I’m gonna—”
“I don’t know.” Jophiel’s voice was soft, distant. “I felt it… change.”
“Change?” Uriel said. “Change how?”
“That’s the part I’m not certain about,” Jophiel whispered.
*****
His perfect lips had stopped moving. His smile was gone. Jenevier wanted nothing more than to touch him, wanted to feel his soft flesh beneath her exploring fingertips. She wanted to kiss him, stop the movement of his perfect lips by covering them with hers. And… she did. Gently at first, a long, sweet, soft, tender kiss.
Ahriman didn’t move when their lips finally parted. He was frozen in her embrace. His breath, gone.
“Vybius,” she whispered again before she lightly licked his top lip, and then caught his bottom one with her teeth, tugging gently. “Vybius…”
She was already holding him, already had her arms wrapped about him, but it wasn’t enough. She couldn’t press him close enough, could not possibly kiss him deep enough to ever be sated.
“Vybius…”
Still he did not answer, did not move.
“I am yours,” she whispered against his lips as she briefly released them, only to claim them once more.
Those three little words broke his trance.
Jenevier smiled when his touch matched her own, when his deepening kisses surpassed hers. Never had she been so single-minded, even when delivering death. Never had she been more focused.
His strong arms around her felt like heaven was holding her, rocking her, caressing her. His sweet kiss upon her neck was like Dragon Fire. Her whole body burned for this glorious man.
Jenevier slowly bent her knees, gently pulling him to the ground with her. Lips entwined, she lay atop him in the leaves, his cloak draping around to cover their entangled forms.
She kissed his smooth chest, grazed her teeth across his sensitive nipples, and cupped his sharp hipbones in the palms of her hands.
“Vybius,” she rasped. “Are you mine?”
He did not answer immediately. He could not. He was struggling just to breathe.
“I always have been,” he half whispered, half moaned. “Since before you knew me.”
Her lips covered his once more, still gentle, still worshipping.
When she looked back into his glittering amethyst eyes, they took her breath away.
“If you are mine,” she whispered, never breaking their gaze. “Then I shall have you now.”
His eyelids fluttered at her words—long lashes dancing like dark butterfly wings back-dropped by a glowing moon.
Ahriman moaned softly before grabbing her wrists, ceasing her tender advance.
“Jenevier,” he said softly. “Give me but one moment, my love. If you still desire me after you hear my words, I will no longer restrain myself. Or you, for that matter.”
“Vybius,” was all she could manage by way of response.
He smiled sweetly. “Never has my power claimed me along with my intended,” he whispered. “Don’t get me wrong, Jenevier. I have not snared you by purposeful intent… any more than you have me. We are blessed with delicious curses from our beginning. This is why every creature, light or dark, has warned you away from me.”
She softly kissed his speaking lips, stealing his words and his will. Many long moments passed before she withdrew, only to move her attention down his neck. He moaned.
“If I were certain you would not hate me in a few short hours, I would let you continue.” He wound his fingers into her curls. “I have never wanted something so much in my entire existence. Your touch far surpasses even my inflated dreams, Milady. Yet, if I do not find the will to stop you, not only will I break my vow of aiding you in battle… its horrible end will find us still entwined within these woods. This world will burn around us, minus our cares. We will still be making love when nothing surrounds our joined bodies but empty space, the ashes of this realm entangled within your lovely curls. Yet you will notice it not.”
“But, Vybius,” she whispered against his lips. “I will gladly tolerate a world full of demons… to be with this Angel beneath me now. I wish for nothing more than to own his heart completely… to own your heart completely.”
“Oh, but you do, my love,” he said through a smile. “You always have, and only you.”
She kissed him again, cradling his flawless face in her hands. “Then enter me, sweet Angel,” she said softly. “Take what you have always wanted, and fulfill my dreams with the same action.”
His rumbling growl was strained, pained. He rolled over on top of her and clasped her wrists in one hand, restraining them above her head.
“Please, Jenevier,” he begged. “Please quit being so perfect. The
only thing that stays my hand at thoroughly fulfilling your pleading desires is the true love I hold in my heart… only for you. Now, Milady, grant me the needed moment I have begged for and listen closely to my words.”
“But, Vybius… you are worth the monsters you are going to warn me about, worth the nightmares as well.” She smiled up at him. “Trust me in this, my love. I will never be able to hate you again. We are the same, you and I, are we not? You stand as the dark Jenevier, and I am the light Vybius. Two separate creatures with totally opposite purposes… yet completely the same.”
“Yes, my love. Now you see. Now you know why heaven and hell alike feared our union.”
His pained tears fell warm upon her flesh, burned through to her heart.
“Your exquisite powers of attraction are meant to tempt the heart of man,” she said. “Your purpose is to try them, test their soul’s resolve. I own this same power. Yet mine is meant to lull their hearts—render them powerless so that I may reap their souls.”
Ahriman half chuckled. “Yes, my love. And they have the nerve to call me the dark one.”
“They err,” she whispered.
“All of this you realized… and still you beg me claim you?”
“I do. Every wicked cell within me screams out for only you.”
He smiled. “Only the wicked ones?”
She matched his mischievous grin. “Yes. But thanks to your dark gift, they nearly outnumber the sweet ones. And… there are days those same dark cells consume me wholly.”
He chuckled. “I love how you cannot hold your tongue when you look into my eyes. There are creatures great and small that would kill for such a blessing.” He sighed. “Now, I need you to listen closely to me, my luscious little demon. What you felt a moment ago—our similar powers. There is more you need to know. It is true I have the power to tempt man, yes… almost past withstanding. Such is my purpose. But you erred when you said your power was meant to lull humanity to better rend their souls. Your divine scent, your enticing power, it is not meant for the temptation of the fleshly ones, no. Your true magic, my love, is intended for the trails of only celestial beings.” He sweetly kissed the crease now furrowing her brow. “There is a third akin to us as well. I tempt light souls to darkness. There is an Arch who tempts dark souls to the light. And you, tiny Angel, you have the power to tempt the non-corporeal—Angels and demons alike. Be they male or female, born or created, you can lull them all.” He smiled softly. “Now, tell me true, little one. What do you think of your Vybius now?”