Author's Note: Yes, well it looks like these will now be shorter chapters… :P Thanks again for reviewing!!!
In the stifling silence, a lone figure padded silently down the hall, taking care not to disturb the tables and hangings as she passed. Naga glanced over her shoulder; nothing.I feel as if I am being watched... there is a strangeness to this place now.
When the slave had awoken, she had noticed the slight difference in the atmosphere; as she had entered the great hall Naga had noticed that a long low table had appeared, set with white dishes and mats all round.
It was as if the palace was expecting something... those invisible servants, or whatever they were, had only once before made their presence known; when the lord was residing in the fortress.And I believe he may return shortly. It has been so long since I last saw him... Things would only appear like this if Lord Hiten command them to.
Quickening her pace, Naga finally reached the small alcove that was her refuge. Setting herself down on the thin sleeping mat, she reached for the small box in which she kept her meager belongings; carefully she grasped the long bronze hairpins. In the half-light, the points gleamed wickedly as she withdrew them from the box.
Turning to face the bit of glass propped against a wall, she combed her fingers through the dark think mass of hair, and deftly wound it into a high bun at the back of her head. Carefully grasping a pin by the bit of green stone at the blunt end, she inserted the metal, securing the knot.
Naga leaned down and picked out another length of metal; turning back to the bit of mirror, she held her hands poised to thrust the sharp thing into her hair when something touched her.
The pin sliced a red line across the palm of her left hand, causing Naga to gasp in pain as she whipped her head around to see who had touched her. To her surprise, there was only a strange lingering scent-- more remembered sensation than tangible smell-- and a strange knowledge; the master had returned.
As soon as his feet touched the rough stones of the outermost courtyard the fortress, Hiten cast about himself for her; the reason he felt the impulse to find his one and only slave? He was not sure he wanted to know the answer. It would merely be a waste of time to go and run down the little mortal creature. No lord should have to go and search for his own slave to come and serve him. Yet... I find the idea not unpleasing... If only for the pleasure of the hunt.
The metal bound doors swung inward as the youkai lord turned towards them and with a cool dignity walked between the two halves. As he surveyed the practical inner courtyard lined with a few age gnarled trees and plants put there by some long since forgotten individual, he allowed himself a faint smile of satisfaction.
Turning back to the small army still awaiting his permission to enter his domain, he smiled again, this time a slight upturning of the mouth as he surveyed the lesser lords and their underlings around them.
"You lords and your entourage are welcome in this place," Hiten spoke with a calculated coolness, a tone that invited no argument. "A nights stay at the Fortress of Thunder is seemingly small extension of my courtesy. I trust you shall enjoy your brief stay." With those words, he spun on his heel and entered the place that he mocking referred to as 'home.'
Within the dim corridors that lead off from the vaulted main entranceway, his eyes covertly searched for signs of the slave girl he had left a turn of the moon ago. As Hiten lead the lords towards the great hall at the heart of the palace, his senses picked up faint traces of her scent... old and dissipated in the air.
Leading his guests deeper, into the heart of his palace, the youkai had a strange sense of emptiness, as if the spirit of the place had been choked. After showing the lords the way, he split from the group and headed towards the one place he thought she might be. As he came closer, he thought he caught the slight smell of blood… human blood.
Author's Note: Ack! Sorry… still trying to crank it out!!! Please hold on!