EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 14: The shadow

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Octavia was lounging beneath a tree in one of the more secluded castle gardens. Rin and Jaken were hunting for frogs in the grass, whereas Ah-Un was sleeping in a sunny patch of freesias.

Closing her eyes, Octavia leaned her head against the bark and sighed. She was scheduled to begin her training with Cyril tomorrow. To prepare herself, the warlock had suggested that she clear her mind through meditation. Unfortunately, Octavia found it difficult to stay still for long periods of time. Her professor was always reprimanding her for pacing around the studio during exams. Maybe she wasn't cut out to be an artist, after all.

The painting she'd done of Ah-Un whilst it slept did little to change her mind. She could blame it on the ink, but that wouldn't be fair.

Had Warren been right? Should she pack it all in and choose a more stable career to work towards? She'd probably get a higher salary if she went on to manage the shop in her boss's place. Fuck Warren, she reminded herself. She'd sooner die than take his advice. Out of all her past relationships, Warren had easily been the worst. Pig-headed and patronising, it was a miracle she hadn't launched him into the Thames.

She saw traces of him in Sesshoumaru. No wonder the Daiyoukai was so hard to like.

She was so caught up in her loathing that it was a while before she noticed a new presence in the gardens. Kannika strolled down the path alone, freezing when she saw Rin and Jaken playing up ahead. Her head whipped sideways in the direction of the tree Octavia was sitting under. Their eyes met and the demoness glared, making Octavia flinch. Ah-Un awoke from its slumber and lifted both heads, quietly assessing the situation, whereas Rin and Jaken remained oblivious.

Kannika didn't speak. Uncomfortable in the silence, Octavia raised a hand and waved weakly. Kannika's eyes widened slightly at the gesture, before shrinking back to their usual shape. Octavia lowered her hand and swallowed. Should she say something? How did demons greet each other?

"Good morning!" Rin shouted, holding up a captured frog.

Jaken followed her gaze and gasped when he saw the female Daiyoukai. "G-Good morning, milady!" he stammered, bowing low. The frog he was chasing quickly hopped away.

Kannika acknowledged them with a nod. "Likewise," she muttered, sounding unsure.

Octavia's chest felt considerably lighter now. She smiled at Kannika experimentally and waved her over, her manner more confident this time. The demoness readjusted her junihitoe before making her way across the greenery. "Hey," Octavia said when she arrived within earshot.

Kannika towered over her, scowling. "What do you want, human?" she asked curtly.

"Nothing. I just thought you might want to join me."

"Why would I want to do that? You are unworthy of being in my—"

"You can stop with the I'm-better-than-you act now. I know you don't really believe it."

Kannika's frown deepened. "I beg your pardon?"

"Cyril told me about your uncle. I'm sorry you had to go through that. It sucks when the people who are supposed to take care of you decide you're not worth the trouble. It must've been hard."

Kannika stiffened. "Know your place, human," she hissed. "You have no right to bring up personal matters such as those."

"Does Sesshoumaru have any siblings he doesn't hate?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"That's what you and Kanetsugu are, aren't you? Touga raised all three of you. Doesn't that make you, like, step-siblings or something?"

"Of course not. That would imply we were equals."

"Aren't you? You and Kanetsugu are Daiyoukai, too."

Kannika averted her eyes. "Don't be absurd. We might be Daiyoukai, but we're not highborn."

Octavia took the opportunity to study her. Like Sesshoumaru, Kannika was stunning. Her blue-black hair had been left loose to spill down her back like a waterfall, shimmering in the sunlight, and her eyes were the colour of soil that had been rained on. She wore a minimal amount of makeup, which made the markings on the side of her face stand out like henna, and the outer robe of her junihitoe was covered in gardenias. Her wings shifted in the breeze.

"What?" Kannika snapped impatiently.

"You're beautiful," Octavia murmured.

The demoness looked outraged, though the red that blossomed in her cheeks suggested otherwise. "Shut up," she snarled, glancing at the painting of Ah-Un on the grass. "And before you ask: no, I won't be your muse. I refuse to be swayed by your talent."

"You think I'm talented?"

"For a human, yes. Magic has its perks, doesn't it?"

Octavia blinked. "I didn't do this with magic."

"No? I suppose that explains the many imperfections. Sesshoumaru-sama would take one look at it and deem it the work of an amateur."

"I'd like to see him make something better."

"His mother was the artist, not him."

Was she? Intrigued, Octavia patted the ground beside her, expecting Kannika to decline the invitation with a sneer. She struggled to conceal her surprise when the demoness lifted her long train and sat gracefully on the grass.

Content that the danger had passed, Ah-Un lowered both heads and resumed its nap.

"Is she dead?" Octavia asked.

Kannika shook her head. "No. She returned to Moon Country after the affair became public. Her clan resides in the Floating Citadel, at the heart of the Lunar Mountains."

"Does she visit much?"

"Not since Touga-sama's passing. She and Sesshoumaru-sama aren't particularly close."

"They aren't? How come?"

"I don't know. I suspect it had something to do with his feud with Touga-sama."

"What was the feud about?"

"A sword, I think. He inherited the one called Tenseiga, but the other – which was supposedly the one he really wanted – went missing. I wonder if he ever found it." She stared down at her lap and twisted her fingers together anxiously. "They were just rumours, though. I don't think anyone believed them. Sesshoumaru-sama was his heir. He would have wanted him to have it."

Octavia's brows knitted together in thought. Inuyasha had a powerful demon sword like Sesshoumaru did. Could the Tessaiga be the one he'd coveted over his own?

"What if he didn't? What if he left it to someone else?"

Kannika frowned. "You don't know what you're talking about, human."

"Don't do that."

"What?"

"Call me human. I have a name. It's Octavia."

"It would be inappropriate to call you that."

"Why? No one's around."

Her eyes surveyed the area. Rin and Jaken were preoccupied, and Ah-Un was out cold. Kannika frowned harder. Her face was flushed when she mumbled, "My brother wouldn't approve."

"Is there anything he does approve of? Why does he hate me so much?"

"He doesn't hate you. He finds you unnerving. Your scent is oddly pleasing for a human."

"Koga mentioned that. He said it reminded him of the Shikon no Tama."

"Sesshoumaru-sama did say that yours and the jewel's magic is the same. If that's the case, it makes sense for you to have the same allure. Power can be very captivating."

"He's never said anything about it to me, though."

"That's probably because it doesn't work on him. The jewel wasn't able to tempt him, either."

Interesting. Somehow, Sesshoumaru was completely immune to the pull of spirit magic. Was it a case of flawless self-control or did he possess something that everyone else didn't?

Rin shrieked behind her. Octavia leapt to her feet and spun to see shrubbery being ripped from the ground by a violent whirlwind. The sky had been clear a moment ago – turquoise and without a cloud in sight. Now, the air was dense, and a grim, grey filter had enveloped the gardens.

Jaken had been picked up by the strong gales and was being tossed about like a ragdoll. "Aieeeee!" he screeched, somersaulting over flying hedges. "Somebody help me!"

Ah-Un woke up and soared towards the terrified little imp. The dragon managed to catch him in its jaws, but a rogue tree struck Ah-Un from below and made it lose its balance. Ah-Un crashed to the ground with Jaken's legs still trapped in one of its mouths. Rin rushed over in an attempt to free him, but the earth beneath her feet untethered itself and was sucked into the cyclone.

"Rin!" shouted Octavia, scanning the cluttered sky for her.

"This is bad," said Kannika. "Really bad."

Octavia whirled on her. "What are you waiting for? Go get her!"

"I can't."

"Why not! You have wings!"

"I can't fly in bad weather!"

Rin screamed in terror. Octavia craned her head to look for her and spotted her hurtling towards the castle roof. Ah-Un wasn't moving, and Jaken hadn't managed to pry himself free, meaning they were both out of commission for the time being.

"Go get help," she told Kannika, shucking off her kimono and sandals.

The demoness blushed at the sight of her in only her undergarment. "What are you—"

"Now!"

Kannika squealed and fled from the growing cyclone. Octavia rolled her sleeves up and knotted the hem of her undergarment to keep it closed. The tree behind her groaned as its foundations disintegrated. She sprinted towards it and wrapped her arms and legs around the trunk, clinging on for dear life as the roots snapped, launching the tree into the cyclone. Octavia held on for as long as she could before putting her plan into action. Once the tree was in the right position, she ran the length of the trunk and jumped from the base, colliding with Rin in the air.

Octavia clamped her arms around Rin as the wind propelled them higher. She flailed her feet and made contact with the roof of the highest floor. Adrenaline raced through her veins as the gale pushed her along the tiles. Even after she slowed to a halt, she couldn't bring herself to let go of Rin. They sank to their knees on the rooftop and waited for the cyclone to pass.

"What's happening?" Rin whimpered against her neck.

"I don't know. Everything happened so fast."

"Whoa. Do you see that?"

Octavia followed Rin's finger to the centre of the cyclone. "Where?"

"There! It's like . . . a body."

She squinted her eyes and, sure enough, she was able to pick out a dark silhouette amongst the debris. Finally, the winds subsided, and the debris fell to the ground, revealing a large humanoid shape in the sky. It had no discernible features, and it was wholly black, like a shadow.

She could feel Rin trembling beneath her palms. Eyes wide, Octavia dug her fingers into Rin's shoulder blades and stared at the strange creature before them. It stared back. Eventually, a high-pitched wail erupted from its mouth, which was more of a bottomless pit than a mouth. Octavia and Rin squeezed their eyes shut and tried to block out the sound with their hands, however, their ears weren't all the sound penetrated. It entered Octavia's skin and spread through her like a poison. She cried out in pain before slumping against Rin, feeling utterly exhausted.

Pleased with the current turn of events, the shadow closed its mouth.

"Octavia-san?"

She opened her eyes and groaned. Even though Rin was right beside her, her voice sounded far away.

"Octavia-san?" she called out frantically, cupping her face and shaking it. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks, wetting her knuckles. "What's wrong? Can you hear me? Octavia-san!"

"It hurts . . ." she moaned.

Rin held her close and gazed at the shadow apprehensively. It made no move to strike, but the evil aura pouring out of its body made it clear that it was undoubtedly a foe.

Rin inhaled deeply before tipping her head back and yelling, "Sesshoumaru-sama!"

The shadow tilted its head sideways. Octavia wasn't sure how long it stayed like that. After what was either a minute or an hour, the crack of a whip cut through the silence. A ribbon of green light struck the creature and sliced it in half. Sesshoumaru hovered in the air in front of Octavia and Rin, acting as a buffer between them and the shadow. His light whip floated aimlessly, still attached to his finger in case he needed it, which he would. The shadow wasn't dead yet.

"You came," Rin breathed, smiling at him from behind. "I knew you would."

Octavia couldn't deny that even she was incredibly pleased to see him.

"How did you get past the sentries?" Sesshoumaru asked the shadow. His voice was eerily calm.

No response.

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "Speak or die."

Suddenly, the shadow's severed upper half jerked forwards and anchored itself to Sesshoumaru's left arm. The Daiyoukai grunted in surprise and swiped at it with his claws. "Dokkasō!"

Somehow, the bubbling poison passed through the shadow's body and left it unharmed. Whatever it was, it clearly didn't have a corporeal form. That explained how it had gotten past the sentries.

The shadow cackled against Sesshoumaru's arm. It was a horrible, wet sound that made Octavia's skin crawl. Sesshoumaru growled as the shadow tightened its grip on him and took hold of his youki. His eyes widened and turned bright red. The sight did little to deter the shadow. As it devoured his strength, its sickly-sounding voice echoed through the air.

"Go to the city of crystal tears," it croaked. "If you wish to reclaim what you have lost, you must seek out my master." It withdrew from Sesshoumaru's arm and spoke directly to Octavia, who was slipping in and out of consciousness. "We will be waiting for you, little star."

Octavia's head felt ready to explode. She rubbed her pounding temples and watched as the shadow pulled itself together and flew away. Rin's startled cry alerted her to the fact that Sesshoumaru was no longer airborne. Drained of his youki, he plummeted towards the ground like a missile. She didn't last long herself, collapsing against Rin as she blacked out completely.

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