EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 11: Discovery

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The moon was still out when Octavia was roused by a muffled crash. She jolted up in bed and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Apart from the pounding of her heart, the room was silent. She slowly climbed out of bed and pulled out the Reikon Blade. It might not be able to cut anything physical, but it would hopefully be enough to give someone a scare.

She tiptoed over to the table with the cosmetics and found a tub of rouge lying on the floor in pieces. The red paste flowered outwards like a bloodstain. What had caused it to fall? The shoji was closed, so it couldn't have been the wind, and she couldn't recall it being close enough to the edge to topple over by itself. No . . . It was as if something had brushed past it in a hurry.

Her heart stopped as the door leading out into the hallway suddenly swung open. She pointed the tip of the dagger at the doorway, waiting for a ghostly spectre to appear in the empty space. But no one came. Striding over the smashed tub of rouge, Octavia crept towards the door.

A shadow was lurking in the hallway. She spotted it by a corner and immediately aimed the dagger at it. The shadow fled. Octavia chased after it, intending to give whoever the shadow belonged to a piece of her mind, when she sensed a subtle surge of youki close by. She forgot about the shadow and quickly changed directions, practically sprinting back to her room.

Unfortunately, a member of the night guard blocked her way. Shit. Rin had warned her about the youkai who roamed the castle whilst everyone else was asleep. She couldn't be seen by them. Sesshoumaru had made that absolutely clear. She wasn't even supposed to be out of her room. He'd have her head if he learned she'd been out chasing shadows.

She tried to tread quietly as she backed away from the guard. He hadn't noticed her yet, but it was only a matter of time before her scent drifted his way, exposing her. She had to be fast—

A giant paw covered her mouth from behind, silencing her scream before it could even form. She craned her head sideways and met her attacker's cold gaze. It was a large black bear dressed in an imperial uniform. Her eyes bulged in horror at the rows of blades she saw in its mouth.

Think, Octavia, think.

She willed herself to be calm and felt for the guard's youki. Once she located it, she grabbed it by the shoulders and dragged it into her body. The guard growled in her ear as she fastened her hand over its paw and pressed down hard, burning away the soot-coloured fur.

The guard howled in pain and struck her over the head with its other paw, knocking her unconscious.

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When she came to, Octavia found herself inside an enormous room with a dome-shaped ceiling. She was on her knees with her arms folded behind her uncomfortably. Peering over her shoulder to see what was preventing her from moving, she saw the guard from before physically restraining her. He tensed once he realised that she was awake, which purged the fear from her body and nearly made her laugh out loud. The guard's expression wavered when he saw her smile.

"What exactly have you brought us?" asked a deep, masculine voice.

Octavia tilted her head in the direction of the voice.

There was a small crowd gathered in front of her by the dais steps. The crowd consisted entirely of demons, and each one looked at her with revulsion.

All except two. There were two winged humanoids standing the farthest away from her atop the dais. Their silhouettes were large and imposing; even more so when Octavia noticed their sharp claws and pointed teeth. Brown-skinned and beautiful, the pair were almost identical except for their sex and differing hair colours. The man had long, cobalt hair that he'd fastened at the nape, whilst the woman's was a shade between navy and pure black. They were dressed like royalty, and their faces were patterned with dark umber markings. The man's snaked up from his neck and around his right eye, whereas the woman's encompassed her entire left jaw and cheekbone, curving around her face like a crescent moon. Their eyes were a slightly darker shade of brown and had vertical slits for centres. Their wings, however, were made of a dark and slightly furred membrane. Daiyoukai.

She struggled in the guard's hold.

"I found her sneaking around near Sesshoumaru-sama's quarters," the guard answered, unfazed by her attempts to wrench herself free. "I believed she was human, but this suggests otherwise."

He lifted his paw and revealed what she'd done to him. The majority of his fur had been stripped away, and the flesh underneath was sporting an eight-pointed star. The other demons snarled and fixed their bloodthirsty gazes on Octavia.

The male Daiyoukai sauntered down the steps. "Do you sense it, too?" he asked the crowd as he passed. "It would seem that Sesshoumaru-sama's new toy is not what she appears."

Octavia bit her tongue.

"Who are you?" he asked, crouching before her.

She scrunched up her nose. "Why should I tell you? You're not important. If you were, I'd know who you are. I should be the one asking that question. Not you."

He chuckled. "Our lord likes them unruly, does he? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised. And a human, as well! The stronghold has never had a human concubine—if that is even what you are."

"I'm not a concubine," she said with a frown. "But if I was, I wouldn't be his."

"No? Why else would you be so close to his bedchamber?"

"Our rooms aren't even on the same floor! I don't know where he sleeps. I don't even know if he does sleep. Besides, he hates humans. He'd sooner die than fuck one. Ask anyone."

The other demons muttered amongst themselves, appalled by her language. What a bunch of prudes, she thought sourly.

The female Daiyoukai glided down the dais steps. "If you're not his lover, why are you here?" Her hairpins glittered as she walked. She came to stand beside the other Daiyoukai, unfolding her wings in an effort to intimidate her prey. "And how did you do that?"

Octavia followed her gaze to the guard's naked paw. "I'm magic," she answered curtly.

Her nostrils flared. "I don't believe you."

"Why would I lie?"

When she received no response, her eyes shifted to the other Daiyoukai, who was studying her carefully. "Prove it," he said.

Without hesitating, Octavia grabbed hold of his youki. Her eyes flashed purple and she opened her mouth to reveal barbed teeth instead of blunt ones. Her audience recoiled at the sight. Even the two Daiyoukai seemed stunned by the transformation—wary, even. Pleased with their reactions, Octavia released the youki and felt her teeth shrink in her mouth.

The male Daiyoukai narrowed his eyes. "How did you do that, little mouse?"

She failed to grace him with an answer.

"Kanetsugu, what was that?" hissed the female Daiyoukai. "What did she do?"

"I thought I was imagining it, but there's no denying it now . . . She has the Shikon no Tama. I sensed it the moment I laid eyes on her." He shifted closer to Octavia, catching her by the chin and forcing her to look into his eyes. "But how can that be? I heard the jewel was destroyed."

"It was," said Octavia. "I assure you; I don't have it."

"You're lying. Why else would Sesshoumaru-sama have brought you here?"

I wish I knew. She could hardly tell him that. What would Sesshoumaru want her to say? She took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound as convincing as possible.

"I was born into a clan of powerful magicians," she lied. "I came here because my clan was killed in cold blood. I'd heard stories of a warlock that served a demon warlord, so I crossed the sea to find him. I wasn't able to complete my training, you see, so I was hoping he might be willing to tutor me. My only aim now is to enact vengeance upon those who have wronged me."

There was a possibility that she'd hammed the last part up a tad too much, but the crowd of demons were apparently satisfied with her explanation. The two Daiyoukai, however, were not.

"You still haven't told us what Sesshoumaru-sama's involvement is in this," growled 'Kanetsugu', letting go of her chin. "What does your vengeance have to do with him?"

"He agreed to let me meet with Cyril in exchange for my allegiance."

Kanetsugu laughed. "Now I know you're lying. Our lord would never accept a human as an ally, regardless of how powerful they claimed to be. Which brings us back to my question from earlier: what were you doing in that wing of the castle? What kind of obedience did he want from you?"

"For the last time, I'm not a fucking whore!"

The word hung in the air.

The female Daiyoukai's eyes widened with disgust. "How dare you speak to my brother like that. I understand that you're a human, but have you no sense of decorum? Why, we ought to—"

"Enough, Kannika," Kanetsugu interrupted her. "She has obviously never been put in her place before. It's time we changed that. Don't you think so, gentlemen?"

The other demons nodded eagerly.

Octavia's heart thumped in her chest. She hoped they couldn't hear it. "I wouldn't if I were you," she whispered, trying to keep her breathing steady. "I'm assuming you've met Sesshoumaru's ward, Rin. Well, you see, she's very attached to me, and if I got killed, she'd be awfully upset. I have to admit, I don't know much about demons, but I do know one thing. And that's – don't mess with the people who matter to them. Otherwise, you'll meet a harrowing end."

"Are you threatening us?" asked Kannika.

"Yes," she replied honestly. "Why? Is it working?

Kanetsugu rose to his feet and cracked his knuckles. His eyes darkened and his mouth curved into a smile as he answered, "No."

He wrapped his fingers around her throat. She reacted to the feeling of his claws pressing into her skin by taking hold of his youki again. He grunted and sketched a thin line across the column of her throat, drawing blood. Gritting her teeth, she ignored the pain and concentrated on using his youki to free herself from the guard's grip instead. It didn't take long for the youki to pour out of her palms and scorch the guard's clothes. The guard snarled but refused to let go.

The doors behind Octavia flew open suddenly and a strong gale rushed into the room, silencing her tormenters. Kannika shrieked and scurried backwards, whilst Kanetsugu lowered the hand that was painted with blood in defeat. His jaw was tensed, and his posture was rigid. Intrigued, Octavia twisted her head and peered over the guard's shoulder at the figure in the doorway.

Sesshoumaru strode into the room like an angry weather god. His face was long and misshapen, and the whites of his eyes were pure red. He burned with rage, but the fire wasn't for Kanetsugu or the others. For some unfathomable reason, the fire was for her.

Kanetsugu bowed his head in greeting. "I hope we didn't wake you, my lord."

"What is the meaning of this?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"This human claims to be an ally of yours."

"She is."

Kanetsugu looked disappointed. "I see," he said, feigning ignorance. "Forgive me, my lord. I didn't know. I was afraid she might have been . . ."

"What? Finish your sentence, Kanetsugu."

Sesshoumaru's voice was like thunder.

"I meant no disrespect—"

"Don't lie."

Kanetsugu's expression faltered. ". . . I merely wish to understand. We all do."

"The human speaks the truth. She is no thief in the night. I brought her here myself."

"But why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I do not have to explain myself to you. However, if it will ease your worries, know that it was my intention to consult with Cyril first. Had he been unwilling to accept her as his apprentice, it would have rendered a public introduction meaningless."

Blood ran down Octavia's throat and chest, but she couldn't bring herself to tear her gaze away from Sesshoumaru, whose eyes were pink around the edges.

Kanetsugu dipped his head in remorse. "I hope you don't think I was doubting you, my lord. I was simply concerned on your behalf. It is my duty to protect this court. I was worried that you may have fallen prey to the same trickery as your father—"

Sesshoumaru's irises turned blue and his upper lip curled into a snarl. "I am not my father. I suggest that you remember that, unless you and your sister intend to end up like your father."

Kanetsugu and Kannika flinched.

"Forgive us, my lord," Kannika whispered. "We were foolish."

"That we were," added Kanetsugu. "Your power exceeds your father's tenfold. You would never allow yourself to be compelled as he was, and certainly not by a revolting human. You are stronger than him in every way. You truly are the greatest Daiyoukai that has ever lived."

Suck-up, Octavia jeered silently.

The other demons held their breaths, anticipating their lord's response.

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and growled softly, "Ensure that you do not forget it."

His face returned to normal. Octavia watched his elongated snout shrink and regain its fleshy colour. The stripes on his cheeks were no longer jagged – their edges smooth – and when he reopened his eyes, they were white and gold again. The tension in the air dissipated and the guard restraining Octavia loosened his grip on her, allowing her to slip free.

Her fingers grazed the cut Kanetsugu had made and she winced in pain. Sesshoumaru heard the sharp intake of breath and took notice of the wound. His eyes narrowed ominously. Hypocrite, she mouthed. Although it hadn't scarred, she remembered the feeling of his claw slicing open her skin so well it was almost lucid. What was it with Daiyoukai and going straight for the neck?

"No one is to lay a finger on her," he declared. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," the crowd answered simultaneously.

Kannika squirmed. "Pardon my boldness," she said timidly. "But why did my brother sense the Shikon no Tama's presence? Wasn't it destroyed?"

"Save your questions for when the magistrates are gathered," Sesshoumaru replied. "I will tell you everything I know then, and only then. Am I understood?"

She nodded. "Yes, my lord."

"Good. Now, get out. And do not speak a word of this to anyone."

Kanetsugu and his sister vacated the premises. The crowd waited until they were a certain distance away before following them out. Octavia swayed on her feet as more blood spilt down her front. The cut wasn't overly deep, but because of where it was, it reopened every time she moved. She covered the cut with her palm in an effort to slow the bleeding.

Sesshoumaru barely looked at her as he headed towards the door, expecting her to accompany him. When she didn't, he stopped and turned to stare at her. His face was as unreadable as always. Not wanting to pass out and be carried without her consent, she trudged after him.

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"That is twice you have left your room without permission."

"I thought I saw something," she mumbled, remembering the shadow.

"No living being is capable of breaching the barrier around your room. It is indestructible. Your paranoia almost cost you your life, human."

"I'm not paranoid. And stop calling me that! It's not like you don't know my name. And besides, if anyone's to blame, it's you. What took you so long? Those twats almost killed me!"

"That was your fault for goading them."

"Wow. Way to blame the victim. How fucking progressive of you."

"Victims rarely threaten their attackers."

"So, you admit they were out of line?"

"You were all out of line."

Mercifully, they arrived at her door. Instead of immediately reaching for the handle, Octavia balled her fists and glared at him. "You're insufferable. It makes sense, though. Everyone's too scared to give it to you straight, so you've never been held accountable. It's why you're such an arsehole."

"That is enough—"

"It's not nearly enough! You can't treat people like this! I don't know how you've convinced Rin and the others that you're this perfect hero, but you're not fooling me. When I look at you, I see someone beautiful on the outside but hideous on the inside. It's a joke. You're not a hero . . . You're just a coward."

Sesshoumaru's true face emerged. "Control your tongue!" he boomed, colossal fangs poking out of his mouth. "Else I will remove it for you."

"You wouldn't dare."

"You haven't the faintest idea of what I would and wouldn't do."

"Rin would never forgive you if you did."

Octavia's throat burned where her cut was. Sesshoumaru's fangs decreased in size and the red left his eyes. However, his expression remained cold and unfeeling. After a minute's silence, he turned and walked away. Thinking that was to be the end of it, Octavia reached for the handle, but before she could turn it, Sesshoumaru paused and shot her a spiteful look.

"You will never belong here," he said nastily.

He might as well have plunged his hand into her chest and ripped out her heart.

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