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EIGHTH BLOOD
Chapter 42: The visitors
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Once upon a time, a governess loved a boy and a girl so much that she planned to steal them away from the trap they'd been born into.
But she acted too late, and in the end, she could only save one. She took the girl and fled, but without the boy, the girl was incomplete. The governess desperately tried to mend the girl's broken soul, and offered up her memories in exchange for restoring her sanity.
The governess' efforts were a success, and the girl led a normal life after that. But although she no longer had any recollection of her past, she still had the sense that something was missing.
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Sesshoumaru sensed the other warlords long before he saw them.
Their youki called out to his and told him they were close. He was standing in front of the eastern gate alone, anticipating their arrivals. He sincerely hoped that the people responsible for the horse waited until the festivities were over to strike again, but he was doubtful that his guests would put them off for long.
He still hadn't decided if he was going to tell the other courts about the threat hanging over their heads or not. It would reflect badly on him if they thought the stronghold had been infiltrated by enemies, which would cause tensions between them if they suspected they were unsafe.
But that wasn't his only concern. There was also Octavia to worry about.
He'd contemplated lying to the other courts and sending her to live with Inuyasha and the miko until after the celebration, but then it would look like he had something to hide. He needed to make sure that she remembered her place around the other courts. The last thing he wanted was to deal with the fallout caused by her burning holes in his allies' chests.
The next five weeks were going to be torture.
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Rin was already gone when she woke up the next morning.
She was dragged out of her dreams by Cyril pounding on the door and imploring her to get dressed. She quickly washed and brushed her hair before clambering into the midnight blue robe that had been delivered yesterday. It was a different style of kimono than what she was used to, reminding her of an old-style ballgown. The fabric below the obi was large and puffy, with stars embroidered along the hem in silver thread. The sleeves were long and cone-shaped – donning the hexagonal flower pattern that was Sesshoumaru's crest, only in silver, not red – and the collar appeared to have been designed to hide the tattoo on her chest. There was also a lone earring that was shaped like a crescent moon, and a pot of magenta powder for her eyelids.
The outfit made a feel like a pet being groomed to match its master, until she remembered what Rin had told her before being introduced to the Western Court all those weeks ago.
Being permitted to wear Sesshoumaru-sama's crest is a huge honour. If you wear it, it proves that you're under his protection.
Maybe his intentions weren't all bad.
She opened the door and did a twirl, much to Cyril's amusement.
"How do I look?" she asked.
"Like you belong here," he replied.
She beamed at him, blushing with gratitude. He didn't have the faintest idea how much his words meant to her.
She fastened the Reikon Blade to her obi and stepped into her sandals, which were encrusted with diamonds.
Cyril's smile faltered. "Are you sure you'll be needing that?" he asked, gesturing to the dagger.
"I'm sure," she said. "Be grateful I'm not taking the Sword of the Firebird, as well."
He sighed. "Just keep it in its sheath."
She glanced around the corridor. "Where's Sou?"
"Sesshoumaru-sama gave him the day off. Therefore, I'm to be your chaperone in his stead."
"Oh, really? I'm surprised he didn't ask Jaken to do it. Then again, he's probably got his hands full with Rin. I just love how I get the exact same treatment as a child."
"Our lord isn't trying to belittle you, Octavia-san. Your safety is paramount. Rin-chama's, too. This place is swarming with Daiyoukai. Including the rulers of the other courts. This is the most danger you've ever been in. Sesshoumaru-sama recognises that. Everything he's done is to protect you. It may seem cruel, but believe me when I say that he has your best interests at heart."
She bit her lip anxiously.
She hadn't considered that as a possibility before.
Cyril offered her his arm. She accepted it in silence, and they walked in the direction of the Great Hall. Her nerves got the better of her as Cyril stopped to greet someone, so she slid her arm free from his and backed into a corner. The weight on her chest lifted when she thought she saw Rin on the other side of the corridor behind a gathering of servants.
She hurried past them and peered around the corner, but it was empty.
It must have been my imagination.
She flashed a chambermaid a bashful smile and was about to reunite with Cyril, when she noticed the strange sheen to the demoness' eyes. She could have sworn that the whites of her eyes were partially black, but when she looked again, they were normal.
"Get a grip," she muttered to herself.
Now wasn't the time to be seeing things.
Cyril wasn't where she'd left him. She reached for his youki with her magic, but the increased number of demons in the castle made him impossible to locate. Cursing herself, she headed towards the Great Hall alone, hoping their paths would cross at some point along the way.
"Are you lost, human?"
She stopped walking and peeked over her shoulder at the owner of the voice.
A young man with hazel eyes and medium-length, wavy hair stared back at her. The yellow markings on his cheeks were shaped like ivy, and his pointed ears were covered in sandy brown scales. His haori was a bright forest green and had been embroidered with a leafy pattern. Her eyes slid down to his brown and yellow obi, where an assortment of blades hung neatly, before returning to his face. His gentle smile caught her off guard.
"You're the girl with spirit magic," he said.
She nodded cautiously.
He tilted his head sideways. "Can't you speak?"
"I can," she answered. "Sorry. I didn't want to say the wrong thing and offend you."
"I see. Sess-chan has trained you well."
Her brows shot up in surprise. Sess-chan?
The stranger chuckled at her reaction. "There's no need to be so tense. I won't hurt you. To be honest, I've been looking forward to meeting you." He bowed low, encouraging her to do the same, then added, "The rumours were true. You really do feel like the Shikon no Tama."
"You know about the jewel?"
"Of course. Who doesn't? It caused many problems during its life. But you probably know that already. The question is, are you here to fix those problems or make them worse?"
"I don't want to hurt anyone," she whispered.
"I think you do," he countered. "Not innocents, per se, but something tells me that you share Sess-chan's views on justice. Even if you don't know it yet yourself."
"What makes you say that?"
His eyes softened. "Power has the tendency to become an addiction. The more you succumb to it, the easier it is to justify questionable decisions. It happens to the best of us. Just be careful. There are some things you can't come back from. You don't look like a killer, but your kind never do."
She heard Cyril's voice coming from the other end of the corridor and turned to see him bounding towards her like a lion.
"Where have you been!" he cried, panting heavily. They couldn't have been apart for more than a few minutes, yet he looked utterly exhausted. "It's not safe for you to be alone, Octavia-san."
"I was just—"
She gasped. The Daiyoukai she'd been talking to was gone.
"You were just what?"
Her heart hammered in her chest.
"Never mind," she said. "Come on. We don't want to be late."
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Cyril opened the doors to the Great Hall and ushered her inside. The crowd waiting there all ceased talking and fixed their piercing gazes on her. Swallowing, she followed Cyril to the centre of the room, where Sesshoumaru was waiting with three Daiyoukai who were the size of giants.
The first was the sea dragon Arashi, who was Lord of the Northern Lands. He was the most graceful-looking of the three, with long ultramarine hair and a heart-shaped face, and pale grey eyes which were reminiscent of Nagisa's. He even had the same gill-like markings on his neck. Octavia stole a glimpse down at his boots and supposed his feet must be webbed, as well.
Next to him was Taiki of the white tigers and Lord of the Southern Lands. Unlike Arashi, Taiki was toned and muscular. He wore his hair in a thick black braid that reached his ankles, and his bronze skin was covered in black and white stripes. They were all over his arms and neck, but the ones on his face were more subdued, reminding Octavia of war paint. His eyes were a fluorescent shade of pink, like raspberry gin. He was also sporting a neatly trimmed goatee. And was that a tail she could see poking out from under his robes?
Which made the third man Susumu, the Lord of the Eastern Lands. His family were tortoises, but they were nothing to laugh at. Especially in their true forms. When Susumu transformed, he was supposedly as large as a mountain. Looking at him now, Octavia definitely believed it. He was built like a tank, with broad shoulders and a massive torso, and his arms were as thick as tree trunks. His face, on the other hand, was unexpectedly gentle. The yellow markings on his cheekbones looked soft against his milky skin, and his earthy hair spilt down his back in waves.
"Is this her?" asked Taiki.
"She's smaller than I expected," Susumu said.
"All humans look small to you," Arashi countered.
Octavia bowed and waited to be addressed.
"Good day to you all," Cyril greeted, bowing his head. "It's wonderful to see you again, my lords."
"Likewise!" Susumu bellowed, lightly smacking the warlock's shoulder. "How are you, Cyril?"
"Quite well, thank you. How about yourselves?"
Taiki grinned. "We're fine, Cyril. Just get on with it already."
"As you wish." His eyes slid to Octavia, whose behaviour was immaculate for once, and shone with pride. "Allow me to introduce my apprentice. Her name is Octavia. She belonged to a clan of magicians from across the sea, who were murdered by unseen foes. She came here seeking my help so that she might someday enact vengeance on the people who killed her family."
"How upsetting," Susumu remarked. "You have my condolences, human."
"And mine," said Arashi.
"What do you get out of this deal, Sesshoumaru?" asked Taiki.
"Her power is unlike anything I've ever seen," he replied coldly. "In exchange for my protection, she swore an oath before my court. Her magic is mine. Her life is mine. She said so herself."
Damn it. She'd forgotten about her promise. She'd suspected at the time that he might end up using it against her later. She should've foreseen this. How could she have been so stupid?
"How does it work?" Arashi quizzed.
Sesshoumaru's eyes landed on Octavia. She blinked. Was he giving her permission to speak? Cyril cleared his throat, confirming her suspicions, then flashed her a reassuring smile.
"I absorb things," she explained. "Well, sort of. It's more like borrowing, I suppose. I drag the energy into my body and my magic amplifies it. It's hard to explain."
Taiki's eyes flashed. "Can you show us?"
A sense of dread washed over her.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Cyril mumbled.
"Nonsense!" Susumu chortled. "I say let her do it."
She locked eyes with Sesshoumaru and shot him a pleading look. If she lost control like she had at the lake, the blast could take out every demon in the room, including him and the other warlords. He knew how dangerous she was. Surely he wouldn't cave in to peer pressure.
"Very well," he said, closing the distance between them.
The other courts watched silently as he offered her his hand. Physical contact wasn't necessary, but she could tell that he wanted to put on a show. His eyes blazed, trying to convey something to her. Her lips parted in shock when she realised that he was asking her to trust him.
Everything he's done is to protect you. It may seem cruel, but believe me when I say that he has your best interests at heart.
She took a deep breath before sliding her hand into his. Youki spilt out of him and into her, like a star hurtling towards a black hole. Her eyes flashed purple and her skin erupted with light, filling the Great Hall like a solar flare. The other courts gasped as Sesshoumaru's youki danced around the room, tinted purple by her magic. She didn't dare look away from him, afraid that if she did, she'd lose control. He didn't seem to share her worries, though. In fact, it was the most pleased she'd seen him in days. Was that a smile she could see pulling at his lips?
She let go of his youki and swiftly snatched her hand back.
He looked disappointed, but the display had been more than enough for their audience.
"Astounding," breathed Taiki.
"No wonder Touga was so obsessed," Susumu muttered.
Octavia smiled and bowed her head in gratitude.
"Are you out of your minds?"
Every pair of eyes in the room whipped to the speaker, who belonged to Taiki's court. The Lord of the Southern Lands frowned and addressed the speaker directly. "What's wrong, my son?"
The prince in question glared at Octavia. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, Father, but she can't be trusted. Think about what she could do with something as powerful as your youki. We'd all be destroyed. Remember what happened with Ryukotsusei?"
"That was different," Arashi said.
"Was it?"
"Don't be rude, Hiroto," his father chastised. "The human is on our side."
Octavia's eyes widened slightly as she stared at the prince. He was the spitting image of his father, only his braid wasn't quite as long, and he was a whole head shorter than the Lord of the Southern Lands. She looked away when he caught her staring, submitting to him. Cyril had warned her about his kind. Unlike normal tigers, which were less likely to attack if you maintained eye contact whilst backing away, demon ones found it insulting if anyone below them dared to look them in the eye for too long, and Taiki's family were known for their brutality.
She could feel the weight of Hiroto's gaze and suppressed a shudder.
No wonder Nagisa hadn't returned his feelings.
Before the eldest prince could argue his point further, the doors opened, and a familiar face sauntered into the room. "Apologies for being so late," said the stranger she'd met mere moments before. "I lost track of time. What have I missed?"
Octavia's jaw slackened as he walked towards the Lord of the Eastern Lands, with whom he shared many of the same physical attributes. His eyes danced with amusement when he saw the shocked expression on her face. Standing side by side, the resemblance between them was uncanny.
Susumu smiled and planted his hand on the young man's shoulder. "This is my firstborn, Prince Yuudai," he told Octavia proudly. "Son, this human is Cyril's protégé. Her name is Octavia."
The prince bowed and said, "How delightful. Was that your power I sensed just now?"
She nodded.
Cyril nudged her arm.
"Yes," she answered quickly, grateful that he'd intervened. "Sir."
Yuudai and his father chuckled. "That isn't necessary," said the prince. "Just our names are fine. I know you foreigners struggle with honorifics, so don't worry about those, either."
"Oh. I mean, thank you. You're very gracious."
The corners of Sesshoumaru's mouth twitched at her attempts to play nice for a change.
"Since we're on the subject of introductions," Susumu began. "I'd like you to meet the rest of my court." He waved his family closer and started listing off names. "This is my wife, the lovely Noemi, and here is my mistress, Ouka. And then of course we have our daughters – Ahmya, Chiaki, Kazane and Doi. Aren't they darlings? Say hello, my princesses."
Octavia blushed as the demonesses took it in turns to cup her cheeks and gently bump their noses against hers. Kazane, the oldest and most beautiful of the four, startled her by giving her a kiss, which made her blush harder. Everyone else, however, seemed to think it was a perfectly normal way of greeting someone, so she kept quiet and focused on slowing her racing pulse.
"Allow me to introduce mine," said Taiki, gesturing to his own court. "My wife is the Lady Konami, and these are our sons – Toshiyuki, Kosuke, Rafu and Hiroto. We're all very pleased to meet you."
Not all of you, she thought, painfully aware of Hiroto's hostile aura.
Arashi stepped forwards and bowed his head respectfully. When he raised his hand, a woman emerged from the crowd of royal attendants and joined him at his side. Octavia's throat closed up when she gazed into the woman's kind grey eyes, which were nearly identical to Nagisa's.
"It's just the two of us, I'm afraid," Arashi said softly. "My wife and I lost our only daughter many years ago. She was strong and brave. You would have liked her."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Octavia choked.
"Thank you, child," said the Lady of the Northern Lands. "My name is Maiha. Your power is extraordinary. I hope we can be friends."
"Dibs!" Chiaki yelled, throwing her arms around Octavia's neck.
"Don't be greedy, onee-chan!" shouted Doi. "I wanted to be her friend first!"
"Let the poor girl go, you freaks," Kosuke grumbled. "We southerners make for better company, anyway."
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
Sesshoumaru released the quietest of sighs as Susumu cleared his throat, prompting his daughters to glance his way. One stern look from her father was all it took for Chiaki to unloop her arms from around Octavia's neck and take a couple of steps backwards.
"I'm sorry, Father," she muttered.
"It's not fair, though," Kazane whined. "Why should Sesshoumaru-kun get her all to himself?"
"Because he is Lord of the Western Lands," Susumu answered plainly. "And she is his property, not ours. You know better than to touch things that don't belong to you, my dears."
The princesses pouted. "Yes, Father," they said in unison.
Whilst they were distracted, Octavia shot Sesshoumaru a look that made it clear she was anything but his property. She might technically be under his command, but that didn't mean she had to act like another one of his puppets. He had enough of those already. The other courts could think whatever they wanted. All she cared about was making sure he understood that.
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