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EIGHTH BLOOD
Chapter 57: Monster
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"Sesshoumaru-sama, have you seen Octavia-san?"
The Daiyoukai opened his eyes to see Rin looming over him with a curious expression. He leaned his head against the tree trunk behind him and replied without thinking, "Not since last night."
If Rin found his answer strange, she didn't show it.
"She wasn't in her room, and Cyril-kun said she was supposed to meet him after breakfast for her lesson, but she never showed. Do you know where she is?"
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes in perplexity. It wasn't like her to be tardy—not when it came to her lessons with the warlock.
"I'll ask Jaken-sama to help me find her," Rin said when he didn't respond. "I won't bother you again, Sesshoumaru-sama."
Before she could run off and locate the little imp, Sesshoumaru's hand shot out and grabbed her arm. Her eyes widened and she stopped in her tracks.
". . . Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Why bother bringing me back to life if it wasn't going to belong to me anymore?
"I am sorry if I have been dismissive of your feelings," he said. "It was never my intention to belittle you. If you do not wish to be a noblewoman, I will not force you."
She looked crestfallen. "I'm the one who should be sorry," she muttered. "I shouldn't have yelled at you."
"You had every right to."
"It wasn't very nice, though. I didn't mean what I said. About my life not being mine. I wouldn't have one at all if it wasn't for you. You've done so much for me. I was only a child when we met, so I had nothing to offer, but you protected me all the same. I'll never forget that."
"You are still a child," he said softly. "Stop being in such a hurry to grow up. It is not all it is cracked up to be."
She smiled faintly.
Sesshoumaru released her arm and averted his gaze elsewhere.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing you need concern yourself with."
". . . Is it about Octavia-san?"
There were times Sesshoumaru was certain that Rin could read his thoughts. How else could she know the things she knew? He avoided meeting her eyes.
"It's okay to care about her. I love her, too. She belongs with us."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because she's happy here. We make her happy. You, especially."
He arched an eyebrow.
Rin giggled. "I'm just teasing."
Sesshoumaru knew full well that she wasn't.
"Well, I'd better get going. I've kept sensei waiting long enough."
"You call the new tutor 'sensei'?"
She shrugged. "This one's not so bad."
She smoothed the wrinkles in her dress and tucked her hair behind her ears. She'd abandoned the side ponytail and scraped it to the back of her head instead. It made her look older without completely losing the impression of youth. He often forgot that it had been years since she found him in the forest. Even though she was growing up before his very eyes, she never looked any different to him. No matter how much time passed, she would always be that little girl with the missing teeth and gargantuan heart.
"Nagisa-sama went to replace the flowers on Taro's grave in case you were wondering. She said she'd be back later. Maybe Octavia-san went with her."
He supposed that was a possibility. "I will investigate her whereabouts," he said, rising from the base of the tree.
Rin beamed up at him. "Thanks, Sesshoumaru-sama."
She walked away with a spring in her step.
Sesshoumaru set his sights on Octavia's balcony. He closed the distance with a single leap. Rin was right. She wasn't there. And from the smell of the room, she hadn't been there for quite some time. He followed what remained of her scent through the castle until the trail went cold. There were too many other scents mixed in with hers, making it impossible to pinpoint her exact location.
"Sesshoumaru-sama!"
The Daiyoukai craned his head back and saw Kanetsugu rushing towards him. The bat demon sank to his knees when he reached him and bowed his head.
"Speak."
"Someone has ransacked the old study. We think it was the human."
Sesshoumaru's eyes shrunk in scrutiny. "Why?"
"Her scent is faint, but it's there. I thought you ought to know."
Sesshoumaru left Kanetsugu on the floor and tore down the hallway. Once he reached the study, he ordered the demons inside to leave and observed the extent of the damage alone. The contents of his father's desk were strewn across the floor, and one of the bookshelves had snapped, disturbing the books that had been resting there. There were also two gaping holes in the floor.
He examined both holes and found a folded piece of parchment hidden in one. Octavia's scent was on it. He picked it up and opened it, recoiling when he saw who it was from. Fighting the urge to destroy it with his poison, he read Izayoi's letter to his father. The final two sentences made him feel sick.
May the gods watch over you, my love. I know they will return you to me.
He released his grip on the letter and watched as it floated to the ground.
Kanetsugu appeared in the doorway. "What happened, my lord? What did she take?"
"Get out," Sesshoumaru said through gritted teeth.
"My lord?"
He spun around and snapped at the bat demon. His eyes were red with sapphire centres and his teeth were enormous. Kanetsugu flinched and backed away. Sesshoumaru's face was long and twisted, and his hands had become giant paws with talons the size of knives. Despite how he looked on the outside, inside he felt like the boy he'd been when he'd found out about his father's involvement with a human. His chest felt tight, like someone was standing on his ribcage, and his brain burned with the memory of Octavia walking away.
"Yes, my lord," Kanetsugu said quietly, and left as quickly as he'd arrived.
Sesshoumaru saw his own reflection in a kabuto on the floor and froze. He picked the helmet up and held it in his paws, studying his face in it. Was this why she'd left? No, she'd known he was a monster right from the start. She wouldn't just leave . . . Would she?
You're right. There's nothing human about you.
But that's why I like you.
For the first time in centuries, Sesshoumaru felt his heart hammering away in his chest.
Why hadn't he gone after her?
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When Octavia came to, she felt the bed beneath her shaking. Annoyed and confused, she opened her eyes to see what was going on, only to find she was in the back of a boat. Her stomach sank as she remembered what she'd done. She dragged herself into a sitting position and scrubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Welcome back," the Dressmaker cooed. "You missed the sunset."
Octavia looked up at the sky and saw a river of bright stars stretching from horizon to horizon. She thought about the Cowherder and the Weaving Princess. She imagined them standing on opposite sides of the Milky Way, staring out at the water as they waited for the day they would meet again.
"How much longer?" she asked.
"We're almost there," replied Asuka.
Octavia shifted her attention to the Dressmaker, who was stabbing sewing pins into a piece of pink fabric. "How did you do that with the sail?" she queried.
"Haven't you ever seen anyone draw a mitama mark before?"
"I drew one once," she whispered. "But I don't remember doing it."
"Were you dreaming?"
"I don't know. I think so. Why?"
The Dressmaker's eyes shone despite the darkness. "We're never more vulnerable than when we're dreaming. It's like a door is opened. Anything can wander in."
A chill took root in Octavia's soul. "Sometimes I dream about moments I wasn't there for."
"You have the dagger to thank for that."
Dagger? Octavia stuck a hand up the bottom of her robe and slid the Reikon Blade out of its sheath. She saw Asuka steal a glimpse at it before returning her gaze to the ocean.
The Dressmaker cocked her head to the side and smiled. "This belonged to a friend of mine. There's something different about it, though. It looks heavier."
"You can tell just by looking?"
"You can't?"
Asuka rolled her eyes.
"Was your friend's name Midoriko?" Octavia whispered.
"It was."
Her eyes widened. Exactly how old was this woman?
"What's different about it?" she asked, studying the dagger for clues.
"Something has been added," said the Dressmaker. "It came from a child."
"What is it?"
The Dressmaker took the dagger and weighed it in her hands. Unsatisfied, she brought it to her lips and ran her tongue along the flat edge of the blade. Asuka saw and grimaced, but Octavia scooted closer. "Well? What is it?"
"A tooth."
Octavia nearly laughed in disbelief, until she remembered Cyril's dream. Nidawi had asked for a tooth. Bring me one and I swear your son will live.
"It's Sesshoumaru's," she breathed. "Isn't it?"
The Dressmaker scowled and returned the dagger. "Does it matter who it came from? It's spoiled a once magnificent weapon. Poor Mi-chan must be turning in her grave." Her puce eyes slid to Octavia's and narrowed menacingly. "How did you acquire this?"
"It was given to me by an oracle called Nidawi."
"For what purpose?"
"She wouldn't tell me. No one will."
"Do you know why?"
Octavia shook her head.
"That's enough," said Asuka, interrupting her before she could answer. "The Commander wants to be the one to tell her, so shut it. You're talented, sure, but you're not irreplaceable."
The intensity in the Dressmaker's eyes settled and she relaxed her posture. Even so, her limbs still appeared stiff, like a marionette in a resting position. Octavia glared at Asuka and silently cursed her for depriving her of the answers she so desperately sought.
"I beg to differ," the Dressmaker said coolly. Her lips curved into a smile as she added, "If anyone here is disposable, it's you, sweet Second, not I."
Octavia saw Asuka's knuckles turn white as she squeezed the handle of the steering rod. Although they were technically allies, Octavia had a feeling that Asuka didn't like the Dressmaker very much.
No words were exchanged for the remainder of the journey, until a strip of land appeared on the horizon. Octavia leapt out of her seat and rushed to the bow of the boat. Squinting her eyes, she was able to make out the silhouette of a tiny island. As they sailed closer, she saw that it was made entirely out of sand. The wind picked up when they came within range and dragged them towards the shore.
"Hold on!" Asuka shouted over the howling gales.
The boat rocked as it tore over the thrashing waves, taking in water, but Octavia was oblivious to the danger, her attention having been stolen by the strange phenomenon in front of her.
The air around the sandbar was being pulled into what could only be a crack in the fabric of reality. The crack was a pointed oval that emitted a faint blue light. It was exactly like the light at the bottom of the Bone-Eater's Well. Asuka steered the boat towards the crack and they passed through it, entering a bizarre black and blue realm. At first, Octavia thought it was snowing, but the flakes were actually tiny orbs of light, and they were floating up instead of down.
"What is this place?"
"We call it the schism," Asuka said. "It's the darkness between dimensions."
Octavia's mouth was agape. "You call this darkness?"
The boat sailed through the sea of stars, heading for one that was noticeably larger than the rest. It became obvious then that they weren't stars at all, but rips in space and time, leading to faraway places.
According to Kagome, only she and Inuyasha had been able to travel through the one in the Bone-Eater's Well, so not everyone could enter the schism. But why? Had it been because of the jewel shards?
Octavia felt a sudden urge to look upon the Reikon Blade, so she did. When she pulled it free, she saw that it was glowing from pommel to tip. The purple crystal shone brilliantly, almost blinding her, and she wondered if that was the condition for traversing the schism. After all, Shikonstone was spirit given a material form . . . What if the schism was made from that very same essence?
The boat passed through a different crack and swiftly skidded to a halt on the other side. Octavia slid the Reikon Blade back into its sheath as she rose to her feet. Asuka climbed out of the boat and landed on the soft soil below, which was covered in leaves. There were trees all around them, and the sound of birdsong filled the rich, earthy air. Gone was the smell of salt and freshness. Wherever they were, it had to be somewhere inland, far away from the sea.
Octavia turned and looked at the crack, which was calmer now, no longer sucking in waves. She walked towards it and held out her hand, but her path was blocked by Asuka. "Don't even think about it," she said with a frown. "You won't be able to get anywhere without the boat, anyway."
Octavia lowered her hand. "I wasn't trying to escape."
"Of course you weren't."
Asuka strode over to the boat and picked up the basket she'd placed the box in. She lifted the lid to check it hadn't gotten damaged, before breathing a sigh of relief once she determined it was okay. The Dressmaker put away her fabrics and elegantly stepped out of the boat. Octavia gasped as she pulled down her hood for the very first time. She had pale blonde hair that matched her eyebrows, and like her eyes, there was no warmth to it.
"Where are we?" asked Octavia, studying her surroundings.
"Greece," Asuka answered. She pointed west. "Athens is that way."
Greece? Octavia thought, puzzled. Why? But then it dawned on her.
". . . Is this my time?"
"Yes. Only it's been a few months since you disappeared from the Higurashi residence. You missed your birthday, too."
"How do you know about that? And since when do you know my birth date?"
"Because he told me."
"Who's 'he'?"
"The Commander. You'll meet him soon. Come on, we're wasting time."
Asuka set off walking with the basket tucked under her arm. Octavia glanced at the crack before balling her fists and taking several deep breaths.
Contrastingly, the Dressmaker was motionless where she stood, staring at her with those odd puce eyes. "Don't lie to him," she said, lowering her voice so Asuka wouldn't hear. "He'll know if you do."
Octavia nodded and strode after Asuka.
The Dressmaker's eyes followed the pair until they became tiny specks amid the trees. Despite her promise to Midoriko, she made no attempt to catch up to them. Instead, she would bide her time and wait. Thanks to her bargain with Time himself, she had plenty of it. Too much, if she was honest.
It was time for the old gods to die.
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