EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 10: The warlock

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Octavia awoke the next morning and was surprised to find that she wasn't in the forest anymore.

She was in a large double bed with a wooden frame. If not for the silk curtains that hung from the posts, it would have felt like a cage. She scrubbed the sleep from her eyes. She was still wearing yesterday's clothes. They were crumpled and covered in grass stains, which had transferred onto the crisp white sheets. Pushing back the curtains, she climbed out of the bed and examined her new surroundings. She was in a rectangular room that had two exits. One was a wide door made of cedar wood, whilst the other was a shoji screen that seemed to lead outside, judging by the sunlight streaming in through the paper. The wall behind the bed contained a detailed painting of a mountain range. The fresh greens and soft blues contrasted with the otherwise warm colour palette of the room.

Smiling, Octavia wandered over to the low table opposite the bed. The surface was home to powder pots, tubs of rouge and kohl, sweet-smelling glass bottles, expensive-looking jewellery, and more. She reached for a glowing blue vial and gave it a tentative sniff. It smelled like gingerbread. Shrugging, she tapped a couple of drops onto her wrists and rubbed them together. She marched towards the shoji screen and slid it open. She was greeted by a gentle gust of wind. The room opened out onto an engawa several storeys above the ground. Below was a little pebble garden, and beyond that was a winding river full of koi fish. A red bridge curved over the stream, leading to a second garden that was wilder than the first, complete with statues and a hedge maze. In the distance, Octavia saw an enormous bay beyond the walls of the stronghold. Ships bobbed about in the water like titans, their sails dyed orange by the sunset. How long had she been asleep?

Someone knocked on the door, dragging her attention away from the scenery. She exited the engawa and paused in front of the door. Her hand hovered over the handle. She contemplated not opening it at all when the knocking grew louder, and a familiar voice echoed through the wood. "Octavia-san? It's me, Rin. Are you awake?"

She breathed a sigh of relief and turned the handle. Rin beamed at her from the hallway. Octavia's eyes widened. She looked so different. Instead of the sullied, unkempt hair of a girl who lived in the wilderness, Rin's hair was smooth and glossy, and her ponytail no longer resembled a horn. She wore a junihitoe with a blue outer layer and a purple train. Her eyelids had been coloured magenta – just like Sesshoumaru's – and her lashes were packed with kohl.

"Wow," Octavia said. "You look beautiful."

Rin's cheeks turned pink. "Thanks. It feels like I'm wearing loads of heavy blankets, though."

Octavia stepped aside and invited Rin into the room. She hoisted up the many kimonos she was wearing and waddled inside. Her brows quirked in surprise as she passed Octavia, before she smiled and said, "You smell like wildflowers."

"Do I?"

"Uh-huh. And do I detect a hint of melon?"

I thought I smelled like gingerbread.

"Sesshoumaru-sama told me what happened. I'm kinda jealous, Octavia-san. I've never seen a yosei. What was it like?"

"Pretty rude, to be honest," she answered.

Rin giggled.

"Where is Sesshoumaru, by the way?" Octavia asked.

"He's with Cyril-kun. He's the warlock I told you about."

Octavia's pulse quickened. "Do you think he'll be able to help me?"

"I don't know. I hope so." Rin picked up the vial of liquid that smelled of gingerbread and pulled off the lid. She grinned and tipped some onto her wrists. "This stuff is called torikkusutā," she said. "Sango-sama told me a bit about it, but I've never come across any myself. It's a fragrance that copies your favourite scent, so it smells different to everyone."

That explained the gingerbread scent.

Rin returned the vial to the table and turned her head towards the engawa. "Have you been outside yet? The ocean is so pretty at this time of day. Sesshoumaru-sama is lucky to own such an incredible place, isn't he?"

"He owns all of this?"

Rin nodded. "Being the Lord of the Western Lands sure does have its perks."

"You can say that again."

Did that mean there were other Daiyoukai that owned vast stretches of land like Sesshoumaru? If so, how many of them were there? Was there a demon emperor, as well? Her head swam with a hundred different questions, with the most prominent being: where did Rin fit into all of this?

"Why did Sesshoumaru make you his ward, Rin?" she asked as the girl motioned for her to sit, then dragged a comb through her knotted hair. "How did you meet?"

Rin's cheery expression faltered. "I lost my family when I was very young. I lived alone in a village that wanted nothing to do with me. Not that I could blame them. I was a menace and a thief. It wasn't the beatings that bothered me, though. What bothered me was how insignificant I was. No one would've missed me if I died. No one cared."

Octavia could feel a lump forming in her throat.

"I first encountered Sesshoumaru-sama in the forest next to the village," she continued. "He was injured, so I tried to help him, but he refused to eat the food I brought him. At first, I wondered if he was even real. Anyway. One day, the village was attacked by wolves. I tried to get away, but some of them chased me into the forest. I ran so fast . . . But the wolves were faster. When Sesshoumaru-sama found me later, it was too late."

Octavia's eyes bulged. "You mean you were—"

"Dead? That's right."

"Then how are you . . ."

She couldn't bring herself to finish the question.

Rin understood what she was asking. "Sesshoumaru-sama saved me," she whispered. "He brought me back to life. He has a sword that can resurrect the dead. It can only be used once, though. After he revived me, we started travelling together. That was about six years ago. He's been protecting me ever since."

Octavia's heart pounded. So that was why the Reikon Blade had been drawn to it. A sword that could resurrect the dead. She tilted her head and met Rin's detached gaze. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that."

"Do you have a family, Octavia-san?"

"I used to. I got separated from them when I was a little girl. I wish I knew what happened."

"Who took care of you after that?"

"Lots of people did. None of them stuck around, though. I have that effect on others."

"I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to leave you."

Her vision blurred with tears. Why am I crying? I'm not the one who was mauled to death by wolves. Rin saw the tears through the mirror and wrapped her arms around Octavia from behind. Neither of them spoke. Octavia laid a hand over Rin's and closed her eyes, causing warm tears to spill down her cheeks and dampen her collar.

"Wow. You're an ugly crier," said Rin.

A broken laugh flew out of Octavia's throat.

Rin smiled. "That's better." She released her from the embrace and carried on combing her hair, which was matted and dull. "Let's get you cleaned up. You can't meet Cyril-kun with snot running down your face. And these clothes will have to go. They're a mess and they smell."

"They can't be as bad as your feet."

"You're cold, Octavia-san."

"The coldest," she agreed.

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Sesshoumaru resisted the urge to sigh as he stalked through the castle. Cyril had agreed to meet with the human to deduce whether she was worthy of being taken under his wing or not. Sesshoumaru doubted that Cyril would refuse her, but if he did, Sesshoumaru would not force him to train her. That was why he was waiting to introduce her to his court. There was no reason to stir them all into a frenzy if she wouldn't be staying.

He waited until dark to retrieve her from his mother's old quarters. On the way, he passed through a courtyard and stopped by a fountain. The night sky was reflected in the rushing water, reminding him of the rivers from his mother's homeland. He could count the times he'd been to Moon Country on one hand, but he'd never forgotten the rivers of liquid night. A breeze danced in from the sea and made his hair sway like tall grass. His eyes slid closed as it twirled around him. The wind was an old friend. It had been six years since Kagura's death, and he resented his inability to save her just as much as he had then. At least if he was ever killed in battle, he could count on the wind to avenge his death as he'd avenged hers.

The human was drawing closer. When he opened his eyes, she was standing on the other side of the fountain. She hadn't noticed him. He gazed at her through the water and saw that she was wearing his mother's layered turquoise kimono. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of round spectacles with tinted lenses. This wasn't the first time he'd seen her in them, yet he hadn't been able to figure out what their purpose was. She said they were called sunglasses, but nothing about them reminded him of the sun. If anything, they were like a starless sky.

"You look ridiculous in those," he said.

Her hand shot to the dagger but slowed when she realised who he was. She scowled at him through the water. "I thought they'd make me seem less conspicuous."

"They do not. Rid yourself of them at once."

She huffed and secured the spectacles to the folds of her kimono. "You never let me have any fun," she grumbled, walking around the fountain to stand beside him. The scent of rain clung to her, despite it not having rained in days. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant change from her normal stench.

"I don't recall giving you permission to leave your quarters."

"I got tired of waiting for you."

"What if someone had seen you?"

"Relax. You would've found me before anything bad happened. I'm quite the screamer." She winked at him.

His eyes narrowed at the lewd implication.

"So, am I meeting this warlock or not?"

He bit back a sigh and said, "Follow me."

They walked towards Cyril's workquarters in silence. Sesshoumaru concentrated on extending his youki to subdue the human's scent. He didn't want anyone waking up and smelling her. "So," she said, breaking the silence. "How much does this Cyril know?"

"Enough."

"You might have to clue me in a bit more than that if you want me to lie for you."

"Why would I need you to lie?"

"Why else would you bring me here? I thought it was Rin who'd convinced you to let me tag along with you guys, but she says you decided on your own. I know it's not because of that prophecy. You don't strike me as someone who buys into that bullshit. The most consistent thing you've done since we met is ignore me. So, what could you possibly want from me?" She was cleverer than she looked. "Well?"

"If Cyril agrees to tutor you, you will use your powers to serve me."

"Like hell I will."

"Then I will take you back to my brother's village." She tensed behind him. "That's what I thought. I am doing you a favour, human. You should be on your knees thanking me."

"You'll never see me on my knees," she hissed.

He prayed that Cyril would send her away.

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Octavia cringed as the warlock circled her like a vulture.

He wasn't at all what she'd expected. Cyril was seven feet tall and resembled a saltwater crocodile, only he stood on his hind legs and had hands that looked almost human. His snout was longer than her arm, and his mouth was lined with rows of pointed teeth. He wore a long black kimono with a pale blue haori and navy hakama underneath. His tail was like a whip, lashing back and forth as he looped around her.

"She's a strange little thing," he said to Sesshoumaru, who was leaning against a bookcase. "You say you ran into her by chance?"

Sesshoumaru nodded.

Cyril lowered his head so that his eyes were level with Octavia's. "It is as you said, my lord. This is indeed spirit magic. But there is something abnormal about her. It's hard to explain. It sounds mad, but it's as if she's—"

"Incomplete?" Octavia finished.

"Exactly. Why is that, my dear?"

"I don't know, but I think it has something to do with my memories. My parents went missing when I was a child. I can't remember anything about them or the life we had together . . . I think something bad happened to them."

His eyes darkened.

"So, can you help me or not?"

"That depends. I would have to know what you're capable of first."

She stuck out her hand and gave him a pleading look. "I'm like a sponge," she explained. "When I'm near strong sources of power, it's like I absorb them. I've already burned two people, and I even drained someone's youki. Please help me. I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me. There has to be a way to stop the magic from acting out by itself."

Cyril gazed at her hand before taking it in his. He sent a small amount of youki into her fingers, which caused them to tingle. Her magic stirred and latched onto the youki, pulling it into her body. She gasped as Cyril's grip tightened around her hand. He didn't let go. Not even when his palm began to sizzle, and a pillar of smoke wafted up from where her flesh touched his.

When he released her hand, she saw an eight-pointed star in the centre of his palm. She opened her mouth to apologise, but he beat her to it. "Amazing," he whispered. "If only Touga-sama were here to see this." He turned to Sesshoumaru and bowed his head. "I'll do it, my lord. I'll train her. I've never had a human apprentice before, but I won't let it hinder our progress."

Octavia's eyes widened. "Do you mean it?"

"It would be my honour," he replied.

She flashed him a dazzling smile. It seemed to catch him by surprise because his scales turned a shade darker and he seemed unable to meet her gaze. "Thank you," she said. "I promise I won't let you down."

He scratched the tip of his snout. "The pleasure is all mine," he muttered. "Oh, I almost forgot. Sesshoumaru-sama never told me your name."

"It's Octavia."

She thought she saw him tense. "That's an unusual name."

"So is yours."

He chuckled. "I suppose it is. It's nice to meet you all the same."

"Likewise."

She said goodbye to Cyril and followed Sesshoumaru back to her room. They didn't speak. It took the duration of the walk for Octavia to realise that he was moping. As they arrived at her door, she spun around to face him and said, "You were hoping he wouldn't agree to do it, weren't you?"

His lips pressed into a hard line. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"You could at least pretend not to hate me."

"My opinion of you is irrelevant."

"Then why can't you look me in the eye for more than a few seconds at a time?"

"Because you are hideous to look at," he answered.

Her eyes blazed. "At least I don't dress like Cruella de Vil. Actually, you know what? You're not even worth the breath I waste arguing with you. Goodbye, Sesshoumaru. I hope you fall down a long flight of stairs and die."

He didn't respond.

Embarrassed by her behaviour, Octavia stormed into her room and slammed the door behind her. She threw her sunglasses onto the bed and kicked off her sandals. Her chest felt like it was on fire. The Sesshoumaru that Rin had met as a child must have been a different person altogether.

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