Chapter twenty: The Najeh

The demon Lord was occupied with the creatures he had encountered when he went inside Rin's mind. He flew as fast as he could towards the isolated hut off to the side of Mount Fugaku towards someone he hadn't seen since he was a young boy traveling with his father.

Rin hands tighten on his fur as he descended towards the mountain, by now the blood had dried onto the side of her face and the dull stinging remained from the recent assault. As much as she wanted to ask where they were going, she was more focused on where they were previously.

The experience felt different this time. The previous encounter felt like a memory, but this felt real, like she physically left her body to go elsewhere. Somewhere they could hurt her. They wanted her dead, they said she wasn't human, but Rin felt very human.

So many questions bombarded her and the faces she saw in her mind before approaching the hut, people she didn't know. All these things she can't remember and the pain before everything went black. These people are dangerous, they were unlike any demons she'd ever seen or even heard off.

Sesshomaru transformed before they landed on the snowy mount top, he didn't bother to set Rin down either. She held onto the back plate of his armor with her legs fastened on his hips.

The demon Lord entered into a stone type of hut that was lit with a small fire and a man inside who had his back to them with crossed legs. He appeared to be meditating in silence, he had shoulder length white hair and a pale green kimono that had seen better days.

"Sesshomaru, it's been a long time. Why have you come to my humble home and with a girl no less." he said calmly, not even bothering to get up.

Sesshomaru's voice was cold, "They've come back."

The man rose to his feet and turned around with a grim expression, "They don't venture here."

Sesshomaru huffed, "They were here for the woman, tell me why."

The man eyed the floor, "How would I know Sesshomaru?"

"They were once your people and they've come to my territory; you tell me." He remarked coldly. If looks could kill this man would've been long gone, Sesshomaru had an obvious dislike of this man.

He tapped Rin's leg, and she slid off his back and walked around to see the man.

He eyed her warily and saw the marks on her face. This man had the same eyes as the ghost-like woman, but his completion was darker.

As she approached him, he appeared to be smelling her and when she got closer his eyes widened. The strange man recoiled back covering his nose.

He bared his fangs at her, "Get that thing out of here!"

Instantly Sesshoamru had him pinned to the wall, "Calm down."

"Do you know what she is?!"

Rin interjected, "I'm human!"

His piercing blue eyes had veins protruding around them now as he glared at her, "You are not human. You may look it, but the facade you wear can't conceal your identity from me."

Rin was angry now as she got closer to the two males, "Then quit acting like a child and explain it to me. I've been clawed at, immobilized, and dragged to an unknown location with what seems to be your people. I've been called a monster in human skin, the traitor's child, and a curse bearer and you will explain these things to me. My Lord, please let him go."

Sesshomaru released him. The man slid down the rocky surface of the stone wall and turned his gaze towards Rin. The veins around his eyes disappeared as he visibly calmed down, but his venomous glare remained.

"You shouldn't exist." he hissed, pointing at her like a spoiled child.

Rin rolled her eyes at his theatrics, "So I've been told."

"What do you want to know?" he responded quietly.

"Everything." came her simple response.

The man sighed loudly, wanting to be anywhere but here as he crossed his legs again.

"My name is Tadski. And you are?" he asked with sarcasm.

"Rin." she replied.

Tadski was silent for a while looking back and forth between Sesshomaru and Rin before finally settling on Rin.

"I'm going to tell you a story and answer your questions out of respect for the Lord whose land I reside in but once finished you are never to come back here."

Sesshomaru leaned against the wall, as Rin sat down on the stone floor.

"Get on with it." Sesshomaru ordered, impatiently.

"Fine." He uttered, "Before demons came into this world it was ruled by the Najeh, the people you met. They had many different abilities as you've seen, they had a vast kingdom that expanded every inch of this planet at one point. They were cruel people who did horrid things to their own kind, something I'm ashamed to admit. One of those experiments led to the creation of demons."

"Why did they create demons? And where are humans in this story of yours?" Rin questioned skeptically.

The man growled at the interruption, "Every empire needs slaves, don't they? Humans were already around but weak and they needed something stronger to build their castles and fortresses. As well as fight in their wars for them because they all had their own domains, not unlike how it split into the East, West, North, and South currently."

"One of these demons was favored highly by their King, so much so he became a part of their society. He was the only exception to their rule due to his unique strength and abilities. A mistake that cost the lives of many. He oversaw the making of demons and continued to do so until he had power and enough demons backing him to overthrow the Najeh. Yet, he didn't stop there. "His voice became somber as he continued on.

"He and his army slaughtered everyone they could sink their claws into. Humans, Najeh, even his own demons it didn't matter how old or young. Once it was done, they say he went mad. He continued to slaughter the ones who helped him until a few remained. Those horned people you saw are what's left of Najeh and 'The Beast King' as they called him was your father Melek." he concluded.

Rin narrowed her eyes at the man, "What aren't you telling me. If the Najeh was so domineering and powerful, why was he able to kill most of them? Kingdoms don't just topple in one night. Where do I come into all of this? Why have they come for me now?" she asked, raising her voice.

"He was powerful, extremely so. His abilities weren't just one, they were limitless. You appear human but it won't last. Your smell is already bleeding through as you've become an adult. As for you, you are a direct descendant of him and a human woman. They thought you were dead, we all watched you die."

Rin recoiled at the information, "How?"

"Because I led the assault with the wolves as soon as your existence became known to us."

Rin stood up frozen. 'I lead the assault with the wolves' played over in her head until she lunged forward. Her mother, her sibling, all the death caused by this man leaning against the wall.

Sesshomaru was quick to grab her, but not fast enough as her fist collided with his face. Tadski's head bounded off the wall with a sickening crack, as he screeched in pain. Sesshomaru had wrapped his right arm over Rin's shoulders, trapping both her wrists to her chest with his right hand. Tadski was quick to recover and as he went to get up, Sesshomaru smashed his foot into his shoulder, successfully pinning him back against the wall as Rin flailed in his arms.

He brought his lips to her ear, "Enough Rin."

"He-" Rin yelled, still struggling in his tight hold.

Sesshomaru grip tight painfully around her, "Enough." He growled at her.

Rin looked up into his eyes that turned slightly red. She nodded at him and when he let her go, she backed up.

Tadski snarled and bared his fangs as he attempted to move his foot, Sesshomaru's loud growl resonated throughout the stone hut in a warning as he glared down at the man. Rin covered her ears at the demonic sounds that came from her mate's chest, and at times she forgets just how powerful he is.

Tadski's eyes widened as he stopped struggling and shrunk back against the wall. He swallowed nervously and averted his gaze from the both of them.

A very aggravated Sesshomaru spoke first, "Melek is dead, we don't need a history lesson. You said she wouldn't be human long. Explain."

Rin not trusting herself to attack that man again stayed in earshot a few paces back.

Tadski spit blood to the left of them, "Whoever made her human, it wasn't meant to be permanent. She's already changing back to her original form, it's only a matter of time."

Rin spoke next, "How did Melek die?"

Tadski smiled spitefully at her, "You should ask your Lord, after all he's the one who killed him all those years ago."

Rin remained quiet and glanced up at Lord Sesshomaru, she'd have to ask about this another time. Rin wasn't particularly upset, it's hard to care for someone she'd never known but if this story has even a bit of truth to it…she was almost glad she didn't have to meet him.

After that they left in silence, Rin had seen countless battles involving Lord Sesshomaru and she would be lying if she said she wasn't curious about Melek. The mad man who began a killing spree centuries ago, would she become like that? Would she go mad as well?

Rin stopped abruptly as her thoughts got darker, "What will become of me my Lord?"

Sesshomaru went to her and placed his hand on her shoulder, "I won't allow anyone to harm you Rin."

Okay! So, we have a bit of background now on what is going on with Rin and the appearance of the Najeh. To clarify, the Najeh are not demons, although demons are closely related to the Najeh because they were designed in their image to be slaves. The Najeh are stronger than the demons of that time with the exception of the first demon who was known as Melek.

Anyway, as always let me know what you guys think! If you have any questions about the story or any of the characters, don't hesitate to message me!