Upon arriving in one of the many guest bedrooms of the palace, Sesshomaru crossed the marble flooring and laid the woman onto the mattress of the canopy bed. And reaching a clawed hand to a silver tassel, he unbound the azure curtains, shrouding her from sight.
He turned to Jaken, whose eyes stared disbelievingly at him. "Until my father has returned, this girl will remain here. As a guest. See to it one of the serving attendants looks after her… No, not just any attendant will do," He said and paused briefly to consider the options. "Have Mei-Ling look after her."
"S-serving attendant? But, my liege… that is a human! What are you thinking of bringing that filth here—" At the sight of his lord's glare, Jaken cleared his throat and said, "Ahem… I mean… of course…"
Before the toad demon could exit the room, Sesshomaru narrowed his gaze. "Jaken."
"Y-yes, my liege?"
He turned and accessed the creature before him, a toad demon that barely stood above his knees. While growing up under his mother's care, he was not unaware that Jaken often reported to her, despite his faithfulness to him. In fact, it was his mother who gave this attendant to him, not simply to educate but also to keep watch on his every action.
A spy.
"I'll trust that you'll not breathe a word of anything concerning this girl. Not a word to mother," He said, stressing the name with loathing disdain. "Should I learn of this, I'll not hesitate to rip out your tongue and toss you outside our borders to fend for yourself. Am I clear?"
Jaken's back stiffened at the threat, and he nodded his head vigorously. "Y-yes! But of course! N-not a word, my liege! I'll silence the palace with your instruction! Not a word of gossip will escape these walls!"
Sesshomaru dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Good. That will be all."
As soon as his attendant exited the room, the doors clamoring loudly at his exit, his gaze shifted to the gem in his palm. The aura permeating off it was familiar. It was the same scent he had followed earlier. So, his endeavors to uncover what it was had not been wasted.
But why was it connected to the girl? Who was she? And what was the strange smell clinging to her entire being? Human as she appeared, something foreign and unfathomable surrounded her.
"Such strange power… Is this girl truly human?"