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Chapter 11
I awoke to a great shouting from above me: a sound which chilled the blood. Ghastly and dark, almost growling, which I was sure echoed the full of the house.
I heard a male voice scream in Japanese, "Help! Help! Sesshoumaru, for God's sake help me! Lord Sesshoumaru!"
A door opened and someone ran, alighting the stair and rushing above me. There was sound of a struggle with more growling, then a loud thump.
Thence came the sound of loud weeping.
Roused from my sleep, and, indeed, from my now much familiar dream of myself in the arms of my master, I hastened to find my robe and then to unbolt and open my door. I saw and heard the bulk of the party, similarly out of bed and raised in a commotion over what could be the matter. I was certain all that had been said had been just above my room and therefore the others should not have heard it, let alone understood it.
My master came then, from the third floor stair, and hushed up the matter, bidding everyone return to their beds as the commotion had been only a servant's nightmare. Slowly they returned to their rooms and I shut my door on them and prepared to return myself to bed.
I had just settled back under the sheets whence came a persistent, light knocking on my door. There stood he: my dream lover and master, though I could see in the sparse light of his candle that he was much unsettled.
"Kagome, you have offered your help before and I say that now I need you again: indeed, you are the only one I trust. Will you come?" he whispered urgently.
"But of course, sir!"
"Have you smelling salts and a sponge? Good, gather these."
I did as I was told and returned to the door.
"Are you sickened much by the sight of blood?"
"I shouldn't know, sir, but I should think not."
He took my hand and led me down the gallery hall and to the third floor staircase. It was full dark in the hall yet from the room Mr. Poole did frequent there shined a dim glow and to there did he take me. Inside, I could see a curious second door which had before been covered by the tapestry now secured to the side. He left me at the door and went to the room, speaking in low tones I could not hear before exiting and locking the door behind him. He bid me come to the other side of the bed and there in a chair was the man Hikaru, who was bleeding through the bandages on his shoulder and side. He was murmuring to himself.
My master took my sponge to a bowl of water and wiped the blood that fell from beneath the bandages. He instructed me to do the same as the bleeding came and to revive him as needed with the salts.
"Hikaru, stop your words at once! They do you little good and I will not be held responsible for your fate should you continue speaking. Understand me? Not a word!"
He gave me a lingering look before saying, "I go now to bring a surgeon. Stay you with him and keep him conscious and still; I will return as soon as I can. You are safe here with the door bolted; do not think to alert anyone. We must keep our guests in ignorance or all is lost. I wish so fervently I did not have to ask this of you, my dear friend, but as I have said, you are the only one I trust." And then he left us, closing the door behind him.
What seemed like hours did I attend the man in silence. It was cold in the room and the only light came from the low candle on the table with the basin of water. Knowing the monster, Mr. Poole, yet stayed with only a wall and a door between us, I admit I was much afraid, especially seeing the hard evidence of his violence here on this man's person.
At length he spoke, "This is my fault, you know. Had I not imbibed so much throughout the day, these wounds would be nothing to me," he spoke through his gasping breaths.
"Please, sir, you were urged not to speak. I should not like you to suffer for the effort."
"It is a shame, you know… I see how he looks at you. 'Twould be a great match, indeed: a demon lord and a princess of faerie. But it cannot be."
"Sir, please, I beg you: you speak but nonsense in your pained state. Rest, won't you? I am here and your friend will bring the surgeon soon." I hoped it was soon. I was beginning to tremble in my cold and fear in this place and prayed for my master to hurry.
He gave me a look then, most penetratingly and I was discomfited. "You do not know then? Perhaps that is all for the better."
I took the sponge and wetted it, wrung it out and mopped his damp brow. "Shhh. Be still," I entreated. And he was.
It seemed another hour of long waiting before I heard soft steps on the stair and I sighed with relief. The door was then opened and I stepped back from my patient to allow the surgeon to examine him.
"So he has been stabbed here; yes, it is quite deep but seems to be healing nicely. This wound at his shoulder, however, God! The flesh is torn! This is a bite!" exclaimed the surgeon.
"He said he would drink my blood from my body!" moaned Hikaru.
"And your own fault, too, for coming here at night and alone. I told you I would accompany you in the morning, but that did not satisfy, did it? And see what you have wrought with your foolishness!" said Lord Rochester.
"I am sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru!" he said in Japanese, to which I had now sufficient understanding as to interpret.
"As well you should be!" he responded in kind.
"Come, let us get him down to the carriage and away before the house awakens," said Lord Rochester in English.
My master and the surgeon aided Hikaru's steps and soon we were outside. Lord Rochester went to the door of the carriage and whispered harshly in Japanese, which I was able to barely discern, "Do not think to come here again. You have seen him and settled your mind. It does not do to excite him. I thank you for the intelligence you provided with regard to the girl. I trust you will keep what you have learned in confidence."
"Will you tell her, then?" Hikaru asked.
"No, there is no occasion to do so." He then slapped the carriage and said, "Away, then!" and the driver took off.
He turned to me and seemed to remember my presence. Then, smiling, he said, "What would I do without you, Kagome?"
I smiled brightly at the praise, happy to be of help to my master, happy more to be valued in his eyes. And then did I recall that he was to marry soon and I was to leave and my face fell, so, too, did my eyes as I looked at the gravel of the drive. "What would he do without me, indeed," thought I. "Soon he will be without me and what then?"
My master's knuckle found my chin and raised it so our eyes met. "You were a great help to me tonight, Kagome. Tell, me, did Hikaru say aught during the time I was away?"
"Nothing but nonsense, sir. He must surely have been in great pain."
"And so it must have been." He looked at me for a long moment in that way he used to before the party came and I felt a pang of nostalgia for those times. He seemed to notice my shivering then for he said, "But you are cold! It is early yet. Hurry back to bed and catch what sleep you may. Do not worry yourself for promptness for your pupil's sake for I say you have earned the extra rest. Good night, Kagome, my little friend, and put the events of tonight from your mind."
"But sir, will you find your bed as well? I should say you had less rest than I."
"No. I shall not be able to sleep after this excitement."
"Shall I keep you company then, so you do not brood?"
"Sweet Kagome, you possess the finest and best of hearts. Come, then, walk with me a moment and let us view the sunrise in the orchards." He took my hand in his arm as if I were a lady and led me through the spring-kissed boughs of soft blossoms. The wind picked up in a gentle breeze and sent them flying around us as in my dream.
He led me to a tree, and, also as in my dream, situated me between himself and the trunk. I felt a giddiness of spirit to live this scene which I so often found in sweet repose. I thought to pinch myself to test it, but decided the cost too great to find out I yet dreamed; instead I watched him intently and felt my heart beat in my breast all the faster for the excitement.
"How find you this sunrise, Kagome?"
Of the twin suns in his eyes were my only thoughts. "I find it spectacular, sir. My favorite of my life."
"You have had a strange night. Were you afraid to be left alone there?"
"I was much afraid of what lurked in the next room. Will Mr. Poole yet remain here at Thornfield?"
"I should say so. He serves a valuable purpose."
"But you are not safe while he remains, sir."
"Do not think on it. I can well take care of myself."
"And of the danger you perceived last evening? Does it persist?"
"Once Hikaru is safely on a boat back to Japan, I will say such is the case."
"I worry for you, sir."
"My sweet little fairy, you have no cause to worry. All will be well. If not now, then soon." He looked searchingly into my eyes and said, "You have a look like you experience a déjà vu. Well, then, Kagome? Have you been under these boughs with a man before?"
He had a teasing sound to his voice which gave me pause, yet I felt compelled to answer, "I have done in a dream."
"Will you not tell me of this dream? It sounds interesting."
I blushed violently and shook my head in the negative. "No, sir. The unconscious visions of a lady are not fodder for conversation."
He had the barest smirk on his face as he said, "Pity. That natural rouge you now wear most definitely piques my interest. I wonder what sort of lover a passionate woman such as you would imagine. Is he dark and handsome, thick with muscles? There! Your eye wanders to the right! I see I am wrong! How curious, then. I am perplexed, I admit, Kagome. A blonde dandy then, with feminine limbs and sweet words? No again! Please, you must tell me."
I was growing annoyed by now and showed it in the scathing look I gave him. "You mock me, Sir! Is it so impossible for someone like me to hope for a someone some day? If you repay this friendship of mine you claim to value with such teasing, I declare I will desert you and find the peace of my bed!"
His countenance was instantly contrite. "Please, my dear Kagome, I was thoughtless. I only meant to inspire you to honor me with your confidence."
"Then you have failed miserably for why would I impart confidences on someone whom would then only seek to torment me?"
His hand came to cup my cheek and his brow lowered to press to my own. "Please, I tell you I am sorry. You are all in the right and I all in the wrong. Let us be friends again, please. I cannot bear you to be cross with me."
"I think sometimes you play a game with me, sir. One to which I have not been imparted the rules."
His thumb stroked my cheek as he rubbed his face on my brow. "I must constantly remind myself how innocent you are. You are so well learned and so decided in your opinions and convictions that you seem at times much older than you truly are, more worldly. And yet you remain just a girl at the first bloom of womanhood, long ensconced in a dark tower and only recently delivered from its oppression. Fear not, my dear friend, for my time of games is near over. I, too, tire of them and I think I may yet win what I have set out to gain." He kissed my brow then and stood away from me. "Come. I would see you get some rest ere the household rises."
He escorted me to my room, my hand on his arm, and bid me goodnight as I closed the door.
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