Week 2: Dark, Ring, Court, Hiding spot
Her essence darkened with each step, and Sesshoumaru's agitation grew more potent, even the plant life receding from his path.
She hadn't deserved to die at the hands of those only seeking their own fortune. From what he'd sensed, her soul was as pure as they came. She was a miko, and though he'd seen his fair share of those blessed with holy power use their talents for selfish means, there was no taint in hers.
Upbringing meant nothing if one only sought to better their own life.
She let out a strained sigh, head lolling against his chest, and he ducked into the nearest cave, wishing to at least shelter her from the elements. His grip tightened, and she stirred, blinking as she tried to focus.
She didn't have the strength to fight him, but she didn't seem inclined to, simply raising her head as best she could and gifting him with a smile. "Thank you," she whispered.
His chest clenched, and he settled against the cave wall, keeping her as still as possible. "You are safe here."
A soft snort blew across his robes. "No, I'm not. But thank you for pretending." He raised an eyebrow. The lines of her face were barely visible in the moonlight filtering in through the mouth of the cave, but he saw her lips twitch, nonetheless. "And for keeping me company until the end."
She was so nonchalant in her acceptance.
"You do not wish to live?"
She sighed, leaning against him again, her aura no more than a flicker. "I knew from the start that it was a fruitless endeavour. But at least this way, they won't go after anyone else."
"I can promise you that."
Her smile returned, body slumping against his. "Good." She quickly lost consciousness again, and he should've just let her go. It was the nature of things, and it wasn't his job to interrupt the cycle, but the injustice of the situation burned, and his hands clenched into fists.
He was in charge of the guestlist, so it wouldn't matter if he struck one name from the roster. Power pooled around his fingers, circling it until the tendrils wove together in an intricate braid.
Raising his hand, he breathed life into it, the dark metal turning silver—the same shade as his hair. Grabbing her wrist, he winced at the weak fluttering of her pulse, then placed it on her ring finger, the braid shrinking until it fit her properly.
At first, there was no change. She appeared to give in to the call of death, expelling her last breath as she settled fully against him, but he felt the buzz of her power, unwilling to relinquish its hold on its master. There was a spark, and then another, and the ring flickered like a candle before igniting.
The light was blinding, illuminating the entire cave as jewels formed within the woven fibres of his gift. Shadows danced along the walls before she jerked, sucking in a deep breath.
Her heartbeat was weak but steady, warmth slowly returning to her limbs, though she remained unconscious—or at least asleep. The jewels on the ring shifted from fuchsia to violet, then finally settled on an oceanic blue, matching the hue of her eyes.
Sesshoumaru relaxed. He wasn't sure if the spell would take, considering her humanity and how opposed their powers were in the first place. Not that he had any means of comparison in the matter.
He'd never thought he'd ever use the spell, considering its meaning—and permanency. But something about her had lured him in, which he couldn't deny, considering his headache had abated. Was she the reason for the pressure in his chest as well? That was still present, though much less prominent than before.
He knew they were safe within the confines of the cave, which would give them both time to recover. The energy spent shifting and performing the ritual had taken much out of him, so he allowed his eyes to close, seeking to replenish his power with rest, as she was.
He intertwined their fingers so he could feel the ring, and before sleep claimed him, he idly wondered what the court would say when they discovered what had happened.
The God of Death had bound himself to a human.