Read Online The Devil in Jerusalem by Naomi Ragen - Free Book Online Page B

ring. But with a black diamond.”
    Daniella swallowed. Was there such a thing? A black diamond? Wasn’t the whole beauty of a diamond in its whiteness, its dazzling purity?
    â€œJust a moment; I’ll check what’s available.”
    â€œOf course there are black diamonds! Right over there, see? The black and white diamond cocktail ring,” her mother hissed, moving her head slowly from side to side at her daughter’s hopelessness. “They are extremely fashionable and very expensive.”
    â€œLike how expensive?”
    â€œFor a real, unenhanced one of a decent size? Thousands.”
    â€œAnd ‘enhanced’? What does that mean, by the way?”
    â€œIt means heated and filled with a substance that will change the color to whatever color you want.”
    â€œA fake?”
    â€œNo,” her mother said patiently, holding back a sigh. “Real diamond, fake color.”
    â€œDo we carry those?”
    â€œSure. Everyone does. They’re over there, by the fissure-filled rubies.”
    â€œFissure-filled?”
    â€œNatural rubies are pretty ugly. Mostly they fill the holes inside with glass to make it prettier.”
    â€œSo, this is all a big fake?”
    She bristled. “There is nothing wrong with improving on nature. Why should millionaires be the only ones to wear a black diamond or a pretty ruby? Your customers are waiting.”
    They were talking softly but with growing vehemence to each other. When she drew near, they stopped, falling into a sullen silence.
    â€œWe have black diamonds. Enhanced black diamonds.”
    â€œAre they real?”
    â€œYes, they are real, but they get a little help in the lab with their color.”
    â€œOh, I don’t know.” The young woman shook her head. “I wanted a real one.”
    â€œCan I ask why? White diamonds are so much more—”
    The girl cocked her head, staring belligerently.
    Daniella swallowed. “Traditional.”
    The young man spoke up. “Black diamonds come from a supernova explosion that took place even before our solar system was formed. They dropped to the earth like meteorites.”
    â€œThey absorb light,” the girl said. “They don’t give it back. They trap it, hold it, like a secret inside. That’s what I want.”
    Something about what she said startled Daniella. The idea of total blackness secretly holding light. It reminded her of a lecture on kabbalah she’d heard at a National Council of Synagogue Youth conference during tenth grade. Kabbalah had been a big fad at the time, a few girls in her class wearing red strings on their wrists, something she found silly. But something of the kabbalistic idea of ten holy vessels containing God’s primordial light had remained with her as a magical image, like a fairy tale myth.
    She showed them the black diamonds, little one- or two-carat solitaires costing a thousand dollars or less. The girl tried one on. It was way too big for her.
    â€œWe can make it any size you need,” her mother chimed in with her eager merchant’s smile.
    â€œSure,” Daniella agreed, embarrassed she hadn’t thought to say it herself.
    â€œCan we pay out for it?”
    â€œMy mom is the expert on that,” Daniella said, smiling, and taking a step back.
    Her mother stepped up to the counter with a practiced smile, giving them prices, offering special discounts that expired within the hour. The couple seemed convinced, promising to decide quickly and return.
    Once the couple had left, her mother nodded approvingly.
    â€œThat was good. You’re learning.”
    â€œBut they didn’t buy in the end.”
    â€œThey’ll be back.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?”
    â€œBecause she won’t sleep with him until he buys it for her,” she said, yawning.
    Slowly, Daniella learned the business, the value of the gems according to their size, color, and clarity, the cost of