Author's Corner

Thank you for all the new follows! I can't believe we're almost at 500! (A few extra reviews would be nice too hehe.)

I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I've been looking forward to a certain someone finally appearing in the flesh, so I had a lot of fun writing this one and I think it shows lol. Let me know what you think of the way I've portrayed them so far. I'll try to update again before Christmas and New Year's, but in case I don't, have a wonderful holiday season everyone! Hopefully 2022 won't be as sucky as the past few years have been.

EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 75: A princess of Moon Country

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Once upon a time, a princess whose heart was encased in ice met a handsome general who had travelled the world. Winning her affections was thought to be an impossible task, but the general never backed down from a challenge. He showcased his physical prowess whenever he could, recited tales of his adventures across the sea, and even sang to her on several occasions, all in the hope that his efforts would help to thaw her frozen heart. Eventually, the princess yielded to him, but the ice around her heart remained as thick as it had been when they'd met.

She was even colder to their son, who was born in the dark of winter just as she had been. The general found it fitting that their son seemed to have inherited his mother's icy demeanour, since they'd both been born in darkness and snow; unlike him, who'd been born in the height of summer. Although the general loved them both immensely, he missed the warmth of sunlight. Despite its beauty, moonlight was only a pale imitation, after all. The general longed for the tender embrace of life, but all the princess and their son had to offer him was death.

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The rocky, mountainous terrain below gradually changed into open plains and interconnecting rivers, all of which flowed west towards the ocean. The viridian grasses swayed gently in the early autumn breeze, their long blades shining silver. Octavia couldn't help but compare the lush landscape beneath her to the scorched earth around the stronghold, which Tsunayoshi's men had set alight during their violent conquest. It would be years before she forgot that stench.

She stole a peek at Kanetsugu, whose dark eyes were fixed on the horizon. He'd barely said a word to her since their departure earlier that evening. Not that there was anything inherently wrong with that. It was just weird given that he was currently carrying her in his arms. She'd suggested walking, but apparently, it would take two whole days to reach Moon Country if they travelled on foot, so flying it was. Fortunately, Kanetsugu was one of the fastest fliers that the Western Lands had to offer. Unfortunately, it meant spending several hours in close proximity to someone who not-so-secretly hated her guts. At least he had the decency to feel awkward.

Lowering her gaze, she concentrated on the rhythmic flap of his wings, which was surprisingly soothing. It was the only sound for miles.

"Did you know her well?" she muttered, staring at a small glade of trees they were passing over.

"Who?" he asked without looking at her.

"Sesshoumaru's mother."

His brow furrowed slightly. "Yes," he said finally. "My sister and I spent a lot of time with her when we were young."

"So you were pretty close then?"

"I wouldn't say we were close, but she understood us better than anyone else did. Megumi-sama wasn't like the other nobles. She never felt like she belonged, either."

Octavia smiled faintly.

"What are you going to say to her?" he asked.

"I don't know. I'm sure I'll think of something, though."

"Well, you'd better think fast. We're almost there."

She followed his line of sight to a great wall of rushing water. Strangely enough, the closer they got, the less it looked like water. In fact, it was more akin to a thick goo. Holding her breath, Octavia watched as it tumbled down the cliff face and into a seemingly bottomless ravine. She couldn't tell if it was naturally dark or if the colour was simply a reflection of the night sky.

"What is that?" she whispered.

"The boundary," Kanetsugu answered. "Moon Country is just beyond those falls."

"Why does it look so . . ."

"Odd?"

She nodded.

"It's called liquid night," he explained. "All the lakes and rivers here contain at least a drop of it. According to legend, the moon god Tsukuyomi cast a spell on this region's water. Every night, the water would turn to sake, and the locals would get drunk on the finest alcohol in existence. However, the more they drank, the lighter their features became – until they too were as pale as moonlight – and the moon god's brand appeared on their skin, marking them as his servants."

"And is it?" Octavia probed. "Is it actually sake?"

Kanetsugu scoffed. "Of course not. It's just a story. Makes you wonder, though, doesn't it? About Sesshoumaru-sama's heritage."

"What do you mean?"

"Before his mother married his father and became the Lady of the Western Lands, she was next in line to inherit the Floating Citadel and its surrounding territories. As the Moon King's heir, it was her birthright, but she gave it all up for Touga-sama. No one ever really knew why, but I suspect that it had something to do with him being a powerful warlord. She was a very ambitious woman, you see. Sesshoumaru-sama takes after her in that regard."

Octavia's pulse quickened at the mention of a Moon King, but she didn't comment on it. The last thing she needed was for Kanetsugu to find out about the legend of the Star Queen. He already despised her. If he learned that she was destined to kill Sesshoumaru, he'd probably snap her neck himself.

"Maybe she loved him," Octavia suggested quietly. "Not everything is about power. Love can be a pretty strong incentive, too."

Kanetsugu snorted. "You wouldn't say that if you'd met her. Megumi-sama doesn't love anyone."

"Not even her son?"

"I doubt it."

Octavia frowned. "I don't believe that. What kind of mother feels nothing for her own child?"

"It's not exactly uncommon. I wouldn't expect you to understand. Human mothers are naturally more attentive than youkai ones. Yours probably sang to you in your cradle, and clothed and bathed you. Based on your reaction, I bet she even nursed you herself."

"My mother tried to kill me," she whispered starkly.

For the first time all evening, Kanetsugu's eyes slid down to meet hers. She averted her gaze and focused on the winding rivers of liquid night below.

"Why?" he asked.

He seemed genuinely curious.

"It's a long story," Octavia deflected. "I won't bore you with the details. But just know that you and your sister aren't the only ones who've suffered."

His eyes narrowed as he said, "Then you should know full well that sometimes, blood really is no thicker than water."

They followed the rivers to their source, which appeared to be somewhere on top of a huge chunk of levitating earth. Waterfalls spilled down the sides like tear tracks. In fact, the island looked suspiciously like a head floating ominously above the Lunar mountain range. It wept silently, flooding the countless dips and valleys with its salty tears.

Octavia gasped when Kanetsugu flapped his wings hard and flew to the summit. Once they'd landed safely, he set her down and marched towards a tall stone staircase, which led to an imposingly large building. The entrance to the shiro was manned by dozens of armed guards, but after studying them closely, Octavia realised that they were also made of stone.

She followed Kanetsugu up the stairs to a plateau with an isolated chaise longue sofa. The red velvet was stiff and cold. She trailed her knuckles down the rusted brass frame whilst Kanetsugu inclined his head to sniff the air.

"She's here," he announced, shifting his attention to the shiro. "I can smell her."

"Where?"

"Inside, I think. I wonder why she hasn't come out to greet us. Her sense of smell is far stronger than mine, so she should have anticipated our arrival."

Octavia could feel her heart racing. "Maybe she's hiding."

"Unlikely," he scoffed. "She's probably hoping to lure us into some manner of trap."

"Why would she do that?"

"Don't take it personally, little mouse. It's just how she socialises. Now, come on. We can't afford to waste time."

Octavia furrowed her brow and frowned. She hated it when he called her that. The moniker made her feel useless and small. It was a miracle that she was able to hold her tongue and trail behind him in silence.

The inside of the building looked relatively normal, except for the array of luminous stones embedded in the walls. They were all a pale, milky blue and seemed to produce their own light. Octavia felt oddly compelled to touch them, but resisted the urge and carried on exploring.

The shiro was disturbingly empty. They didn't encounter a single person as they searched every inch of the place. The bedrooms were all unoccupied, and the furniture was smothered in at least a decade's worth of dust. Even the kitchen – which was the cleanest area of the lot – looked as if it hadn't been used in years. The hearth was cold and lifeless, and the food on the table had rotted so badly that it was flowering with bright turquoise mould.

Eventually, Octavia and Kanetsugu found themselves in a small room with blue walls and white tatami mats. It had a tiny set of drawers and a futon. A battalion of toy swords was propped up against the furthest wall, alongside a half-completed board game. Each piece was coated in dust, and most were either cracked or broken. Kanetsugu exited the room without commenting on its obvious strangeness, but Octavia's eyes were fixed on the little futon and the colourful kemari ball beside it. She crouched in front of the ball and reached out to trace its winding patterns, only to pause when she heard the soft pop of a second door sliding open behind her.

A stunningly beautiful woman was standing on the threshold, staring down at her intently. She was wearing a lavish purple kimono with an outer robe made of cerulean silk, a thick fur shawl, and a large, beaded necklace that housed a huge sparkling stone. Her long hair was as white as fog, and her eyes were yellow like a serpent's.

Octavia's eyes widened when she saw the crescent moon on the woman's forehead. There was no mistaking it – this was none other than the former Lady of the Western Lands.

"A rodent appears to have found its way into my esteemed home," she purred, entering the room gracefully. "It's either very brave or very foolish."

Octavia didn't dare speak as the Daiyoukai circled her like a vulture.

"You smell like my son," she remarked. "How amusing. For someone who supposedly hates humans, he keeps a rather impressive collection."

"Are you Sesshoumaru's mother?" Octavia asked, trying to sound natural.

"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to. You obviously know who I am." Octavia fought the urge to ball her hands into fists as Megumi continued to circle her. "Why don't you and I play a game, human? I'll ask you a series of questions, but you can only choose one word to answer. One word only. No exceptions. Do you understand?"

"Why?" Octavia asked, complying with the one-word rule.

"Truth," Megumi replied. "Only liars make long-winded speeches that never end. Honesty, on the other hand, is simple and straightforward." The demoness smiled knowingly, flashing pointy white teeth. "First question: who are you?"

"Octavia."

"And what are you?"

"Human."

"Obviously. Be more specific."

"Mage."

"What sort of mage?"

"Star," she murmured guiltily.

Megumi's eyes narrowed. "I see." Her nostrils flared suddenly, and she glanced over her shoulder at something. "I thought I recognised that scent. It's been so long . . . At least you weren't stupid enough to come here alone. Tell me, what brings you to Moon Country?"

"Sesshoumaru."

"I suspected as much. What is your relationship to him?"

"Friend," she answered without thinking. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth, either. Megumi didn't need to know that, though. She just needed to know that she cared about him.

The demoness exploded with laughter. "Is that so! How delightfully charming!" She quickly composed herself and sneered. "Don't tell me you actually believe that? If you do, you're an even bigger fool than I thought. Exactly what does he hope to gain by befriending a human?"

Octavia's pulse quickened when Megumi leaned in and used one of her claws to trace a line down the bridge of her nose. The scarlet nail polish looked suspiciously like blood up close.

"What does he want this time?" she asked.

"Help," replied Octavia.

Megumi arched an eyebrow. "With what?"

"Ryukotsusei."

"That wretch has been dead for years. What danger could he possibly pose from the grave?"

"Child," Octavia said, cursing the one-word limitation.

"What child?"

"Rayna's."

Understanding flashed through Megumi's eyes. "So they did conceive. We had our suspicions – Touga and I – but we never envisioned them coming true. What are the child's intentions?"

"Revenge."

"Oh? And am I correct in assuming that my son is to be the target of this revenge?"

Octavia nodded.

Megumi clicked her tongue. "That is cumbersome . . . But is it dire enough to ask for the assistance of one's parent? I think not. Has my son truly become so weak? I should have known that he'd gone soft when he stopped trying to kill Izayoi's infant. That abomination may have Touga's blood flowing through his veins, but I will never acknowledge him as family."

Octavia gnawed on her lip.

"Answer me this," Megumi continued. "Why should I waste my energy on someone who can't even be bothered to come and ask his own mother for help?"

"Kindness," Octavia answered fiercely.

Megumi laughed again, except this time it was cruel and vindictive. "Kindness, hmm? How very human of you. Unfortunately, I've never been a particularly kind woman. But I am a fair one. Which is why I'm going to give you a chance." She withdrew her hand from Octavia's face and smirked. "Go on, then. Convince me. That's why you're here, isn't it? To change my mind?"

Octavia opened her mouth to speak, only to be silenced by Megumi's finger.

"Remember," she said. "One word only."

Octavia's stomach plummeted. It wasn't fair. How was she supposed to convince her with just one word? Even if it could be done, the demoness would never forsake her pride by placing her faith in a stranger who also happened to be human. She and Sesshoumaru really were alike. Octavia couldn't help but compare Megumi's cold indifference to Sesshoumaru's first impression of her. In the beginning, he hadn't trusted her, either.

Why was he making her do this?

Her eyes strayed to the band of toy swords leaning against the wall, then to the unfinished board game, and finally to the pristine kemari ball, which didn't have a single speck of dirt on it. She imagined a younger version of Sesshoumaru desperately trying to entertain himself and felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Had the shiro always been so empty? Were there any other children he could have played with? Or had he spent his days here alone and confined to his room? The thought made her clench her fists and grit her teeth, until she surmised that his mother must have spent some time with him, since she'd taught him about botany and how to dance.

Megumi-sama doesn't love anyone.

Despite everything she'd learned, Octavia still didn't believe that. The demoness might not have been overly kind or affectionate, but she obviously cared about her son to some degree. The room they were standing in now all but proved it. If she'd truly never loved him, she would have thrown everything away long ago. That had to mean something, right?

"Well?" Megumi pushed. "What's your answer?"

Octavia took a deep breath, released it, then turned to face her.

"Mother," she said.

Megumi's expression turned hostile. "What?"

"Mother," Octavia repeated, looking her right in the eye.

Megumi's youki bristled. Octavia winced as the air in the room became unexpectedly tense, but she refused to cower and cry like Megumi clearly wanted her to.

"That's it?" she snapped. "That's your answer? Do you take me for a fool? I won't be made a mockery of by a pathetic mortal girl. How dare you attempt to use my maternal instincts against me. If you knew anything, you'd know that half-witted tricks like that will never work on me." She turned and swiftly headed for the door. "This game is over. Goodbye, rodent."

Octavia couldn't believe what was happening. Her plan had backfired massively. It had been a gamble, certainly, but she hadn't anticipated Megumi storming off like a child. She waited until the demoness was nearly out of the door before muttering, "Coward."

Megumi froze. "What did you say?"

Octavia stood her ground. "I said you're a fucking c—"

Megumi's hands were on her throat before she could finish. Octavia gasped as the demoness shoved her against the wall where the swords were, sending them crashing to the floor. The whites of Megumi's eyes were bright red, and her irises had turned from yellow to blue. Her elongated fangs sparkled with saliva, like knives coated in diamonds, as her hands tightened around Octavia's neck. She ought to have been terrified, but all she could do was laugh.

"Straight for the jugular," she wheezed. "You're just like him."

Megumi snarled.

Still grinning, Octavia grabbed her slender wrists and squeezed, concentrating her magic there—

"Stop!"

Kanetsugu stood in the doorway with his hands and wings raised passively. Megumi's eyes shifted to where he was standing and softened slightly. Her grip on Octavia's neck loosened but didn't completely relent. Exhaling slowly, Octavia reined in her powers and uncurled her fingers from Megumi's wrists. She'd never admit it out loud, but she was grateful to him for intervening.

"Hello again, little one," Megumi murmured.

Kanetsugu dipped his head in acknowledgement. "My lady."

She finally removed her hands from Octavia's throat and strode over to him effortlessly. He was half a head taller than her, but he seemed smaller in her presence. "You've grown," she said. "The last time I saw you, you barely reached my shoulder."

"I got older," he replied. "It happens to the best of us. You, however, haven't changed a bit."

The corners of her mouth inched upwards ever so slightly. "How is your sister?"

His face fell.

"What?" she pushed. "Are you fighting again?"

"No, she . . . He has her. She didn't get out in time, so they caught her, and now she's being kept as a prisoner in her own home. I tried to stop it, but I couldn't find her—I couldn't—"

"Who has her?"

"The usurper."

"His name is Tsunayoshi," Octavia added, rubbing her aching neck. "He and your son are going to fight to the death in six days' time. If he wins, the Western Lands will belong to him, so it's not just Sesshoumaru's life that's at stake, it's everyone's. Including yours."

"What makes you think that?" asked Megumi.

Octavia racked her brain for a reason. "He blames Sesshoumaru for his mother's death," she answered. "The best way to get even would be to kill you. A life for a life and all that."

Megumi glared at her. "I know what you're doing," she hissed. "You must think you're so clever, but you can't manipulate me that easily. My answer is still no, human."

Octavia's shoulders slumped forwards in defeat. Even Kanetsugu looked disappointed, but he adopted a more neutral expression before Megumi could catch on. Despite everything, Octavia couldn't help but feel sorry for him. She'd been so wrapped up in worrying about Rin that she hadn't realised how guilty he must be feeling. They didn't always see eye to eye, but Kannika was his sister, and he was duty-bound to protect her.

Octavia wondered if Augustus had ever felt that way about her.

Megumi placed her hands on Kanetsugu's shoulders and said, "You look exhausted. Why don't you stay here and rest for a bit? You can leave as soon as you've recovered your strength."

He bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you, my lady. Your generosity knows no bounds."

Octavia scowled fiercely. Megumi must have sensed it because she suddenly turned and locked eyes with her. "You can stay, too, I suppose," she muttered. "But do try not to touch anything. You humans leave behind such a foul odour. It took months for the stink to go away last time, although to be fair, there was more than one of you back then. The smell was nauseating."

"That won't be a problem," Octavia said through gritted teeth. "I'll just wait outside. I wouldn't want to offend you with my disgusting stench."

"Don't be rude, human," Kanetsugu chastised, though his tone lacked its usual bite.

She didn't have the energy to argue with him, so instead of lashing out, she marched out of the dreary old shiro wordlessly. If Megumi refused to intervene for the sake of her own son, she certainly wasn't going to get involved to save a bunch of people that she didn't care about. She'd been a lost cause from the start. Kanetsugu had tried to warn her, but as usual, she hadn't listened. She should have believed him when he'd said that Megumi didn't love anyone.

Octavia's eyes widened and her feet ground to an abrupt stop. It had taken her a while, but she finally understood why Sesshoumaru had sent her here. She turned and sprinted back inside.

Author's Corner

Sesshoumaru's mother is the love of my life and I'll be forever bitter that she only ever had one canon appearance.

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