Author's Note: I wrote like a fiend tonight, so here's an extra chapter!
A soft jingling noise snagged Mina's attention and she turned away from the guards to search for the source of the sound. A beautiful young woman walked forward wearing a deep burgundy dress adorned with coins hanging from rows of gold chains. A plunging neckline leading down to a tight corset showed off her womanly curves, dark locks gathered around her head in braids and curls, wrapped elaborately in golden chains to match her gold earrings. Her dark skin blended beautifully with the red pop of makeup drawing attention to her dark onyx eyes.
Mina's eyebrows shot up at the sight of the girl. "Alice?"
The young woman turned back and flashed a sharp smile after taking a moment to recognize the hanyou, her exotic accent teasing Mina's brain as she tried and failed to identify its origins. "Ah, Minako. What a pleasure to see you here. Have you come for the ball?"
"Well, not quite," she stammered, cheeks flushing as she averted her eyes to the ground. "Lord Sesshomaru has business here and I…"
"Oh," Alice nodded. "I see."
They stood in awkward silence for a moment. The guard at the door watched Minako, unconcerned with Alice. He must have known her, or at least sensed her pure bloodline.
"You look so beautiful," Mina said, wringing her hands behind her back. "That dress certainly makes you look more mature."
"Oh, thank you," she smiled, her eyes scanning Mina's body with a furrowed brow. "You look quite the same. Not to say that is a bad thing! You are such a cute little thing, after all."
Mina felt something catch in her throat and she shifted her weight, looking down. It had been a while since they met, but Minako was still wearing the same clothing. How long had it been since she had washed them? In that moment, she saw every hole and stain, noticing the tattered edges and the faded color. She felt dirty and insignificant before this beautiful youkai. How had Mina looked down on her before? Just because the girl was probably younger? She certainly didn't look like a young girl in this dress. And she had been invited to this gathering—no, this ball, while Mina waited outside in her plain travel clothes.
"I am sure someone is expecting you," Mina smiled awkwardly, feeling small and young in comparison to this lovely dragon. "I wouldn't want to keep you waiting."
"Of course, I really should get going. A shame you cannot join us. Well, no matter. You are not missing out on too much. It is not that great, really. These get-togethers are more like obligatory business meetings for the youkai in the area, not much fun at all," she said over her shoulder as she made her way toward the ballroom. The guards opened the door for her and Mina could clearly hear the sound of music and laughter. Alice smiled sheepishly before ducking into the party, "It has been nice seeing you again, Minako."
Mina felt uncomfortably warm. She pressed her back against the wall, playing with the broken hem of her dirty yukata. Why couldn't she be an elegant dragon like Alice? How lovely her world would be if she had been born of two youkai! But here she stood in poor clothes, standing awkwardly outside of the gathering. Oh, she would give anything to be there, to be a part of the elegance and beauty!
But that would mean to be different. Sesshomaru said he didn't want that, right? So then she should be happy with herself, wait patiently for her lord to return.
A storm worked away inside Mina's mind, a terrible chaos of conflicting feelings and desires. What did she want? But more importantly, how did she feel about herself as a hanyou?
Was she happy?
Sesshomaru hated the gathering; everything about it, from the ridiculous attire to the boring mindless chit-chat. They spoke of treaties, mating, and the rights to land. Sesshomaru mingled as much as expected of him, cold enough to maintain his reputation, avoiding hostility in order not to gain any unnecessary enemies. After all, he did plan on building a substantial army at some point, and quite a few of these youkai could work well at certain positions in his empire.
But he couldn't say that they had his full attention. After all, they only required his presence, not his enjoyment of the dolled up meeting. After dozens of times attending this gathering, he had never felt so detached. In previous years, he had actually reveled in the complete absence of anyone less than pure youkai. And now, he looked out with disgust at those celebrating the fact that they had happened by chance to be born of full demon blood. It meant nothing in relation to their potential. Their power did not mean they were any more significant than the dirt beneath his shoe.
And while they celebrated their bloodline, Mina stood awkwardly outside the door. He hated that she wanted to come. If she had stayed with Rin and Ah-Un, he could have let it slip his mind and would have been less annoyed by this whole gathering. But she waited just close enough that he caught her scent every now and then, sensed her presence just outside the door. If he wandered without thinking, he found himself drifting closer to the main doors.
After perhaps his third time turning away from the entrance, he heard a distinct voice calling out his name. Why did she want to bother him? He never understood her affinity toward him. Perhaps she was attracted to the way he left her alone while disliking her from afar. It took all of his might not to sigh as he turned toward the exotic woman he always dreaded seeing.
"Vadoma," Sesshomaru said. "Why are you here?"
"I was invited," she grinned, flashing sharp teeth. "And for good reason, too. I am perhaps the only living wyrm in all these lands. And to bear a child! Who would not want my allegiance?"
"Wyrms hold allegiance to themselves, and no other."
"You are wise beyond your years, Lord Sesshomaru. However, wyrms are capable of choosing whom to aid and whom to use."
Sesshomaru's gaze drifted toward the younger wyrm, standing silently at her mother's side. Alexia had been scanning the room, watching the youkai as they mingled. Feeling Sesshomaru's attention settled on her, she turned and met his gaze. He found her eyes disturbing; they were no longer the all-encompassing darkness that he last saw, but rather a more natural shape, black orbs staring back at him. She had grown out of the dangerous aura. How deceptive.
She almost looked innocent as she smiled up at him. "A pleasure to see you, Lord Sesshomaru."
"She is growing quickly," Sesshomaru noted to Vadoma.
She understood his meaning and nodded, "As quickly as her talent, I would say. She is not without gifts. Perhaps someday she will prove to be willing to aid you, Lord Sesshomaru."
"You speak as though I would want her aid."
"Regardless of your distrust, you are wise enough to seek help when help is needed."
Alexia watched the two as they stared each other. Sesshomaru did not like the way those dark eyes seemed to absorb everything as it happened, stuffing it away in her memory for later use. He hated wyrms and their tricks. He had yet to meet another species more worthy of his distrust.
But how useful they proved! That alone was reason to keep in contact just enough to be able to call upon them when necessary. However, he did not like the idea of one day trusting Alexia to answer his call. Vadoma, she had proven to be different from the others in her race; perhaps the reason why she had survived for so long. In her wisdom, she knew how to control herself. Vadoma knew where not to meddle.
Did Alexia?