Author's Corner

Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well! Celebrations are in order, because this fic now has the most favourites and follows of anything I've ever written on this site, so thanks so much for that! Out of everything I've ever posted online, this has to be one of the pieces I'm most proud of, and I'm so glad you guys are enjoying it as much as I am. Please continue to show your amazing support for authors like me because we really do appreciate every single comment, favourite and follow (even the reviews that are literally just keyboard smashes those are my FAVOURITE!) This chapter was a bunch of fun to write so I hope you enjoy it, although there is a pretty evil cliffhanger at the end so don't hate me lol. Heavy action ahead and a few little hints at plotlines to come! Enjoy!

EIGHTH BLOOD

Chapter 32: Truth

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Octavia's hands were raw and bloody from the climb, staining the Bakusaiga's hilt red. "What do you mean we've met before?"

The shadow chuckled and cocked its head sideways. "Fourteen years ago," it said. "The boy wasn't alone. You were there, too."

"What are you talking about? What boy?"

"We encountered him many moons ago, in a village that worshipped our counterpart. He was older then, but we recognised him straight away. He wasn't supposed to escape; however, his desire to live was more powerful than our hunger. The group that you seek belongs to him."

Octavia's heart missed a beat. "He's with the Iwa Faction?" The shadow nodded. "You told me you'd never heard of them."

"We lied."

"Why?"

"The light within you is small. It has dwindled over these past few centuries. You will never defeat the Shadow now."

The Tenseiga surged to life and lit up the rest of the cavern. They were standing beside a huge lake. Shadows glided across the surface like pond skaters, making the black waters bubble and hiss. The ground shook again as something stirred in the depths of the lake. Turquoise light surged at the bottom and made the water lash against the sides. Whatever was down there, it didn't look friendly. The High Priest's arms clamped around Sesshoumaru's torso, locking him in place. Octavia rushed over to him, but a flock of shadows blocked her path. She lifted the Bakusaiga, hoping it would scare them off, but it was the Tenseiga they feared. The shadow laughed as Sesshoumaru struggled in its hold.

The other shadows lunged for Octavia. Nagisa swooped down from above and blocked them with her youki. The energy blew them backwards, but it wasn't enough to hurt them. Only the Tenseiga and the Reikon Blade could do that. Octavia swapped the Bakusaiga for the dagger and shot Nagisa a grateful look.

"We were wondering if you'd decide to join in," the shadows mocked. "You're too late, though. One drop is all it takes. One drop of her blood and he will live again."

Octavia peeked down at her blood-stained hands.

Nagisa's sclerae turned red. "Then I'll just have to keep her as far away from the spring as possible." Her face elongated then, transforming into a snout, and the blue in her hair disappeared. A white mane appeared in its place, which sprouted a pair of silver antlers. Her skin had a slight blue tinge to it as smoke engulfed her body.

Octavia used the unfolding chaos to make a mad dash for Sesshoumaru. She sliced off one of Mamoru's arms and yanked Sesshoumaru free. When the smoke cleared, Nagisa's true form was revealed. Her scales glittered like sapphires, and her irises were two yellow suns surrounded by crimson skies. Her body was long and slender, coiling around the cavern in a serpentine manner, whilst her whiskers fluttered like ribbons. Octavia reached for Sesshoumaru's hand and squeezed it as the sea dragon opened her jaws to reveal rows upon rows of pointed teeth.

Sheathing the Tenseiga, Sesshoumaru wrapped his arm around Octavia's waist and said, "Hold on."

She looped her arms around his neck as he leapt onto a rocky ledge several yards above the lake. Beneath them, Nagisa chased the shadow that was possessing Mamoru around the cavern. She snapped her jaws and slammed her tail against the walls. The light in the depths of the lake seemed to blaze brighter, triggering a violent maelstrom.

"Will she be all right?" Octavia asked.

"She's a Daiyoukai," Sesshoumaru said. His gaze was fixed on the crystal spike jutting out of the rock, just above where he was standing.

Realising what he wanted her to do, Octavia raised her hands and seized control of the crystal. She channelled the part of Sesshoumaru's youki that was still inside of her and used it to send the spike shooting upwards through the rock. Debris tumbled into the cavern below, raining down on both Nagisa and the shadows. Sesshoumaru used the falling rocks as stepping stones. Eventually, the crystal spike ruptured the summit of the hill and made a gaping hole in the garden behind the temple. Sesshoumaru landed on the path and shielded Octavia from the debris. Although the majority of his youki was still in her, the kernels of power that had transferred back to him were starting to show. The crescent moon on his forehead was faint but there, and his hair looked a couple of shades lighter than it had before.

Nagisa flew out of the hole and smashed into the crystal spike. Chunks of crystal broke off and hit the already unstable ground. Meanwhile, her tail whacked against the temple wall, weakening the foundations there. Sesshoumaru picked Octavia up again and clung to the edge of the nearest goddess tower. They watched from afar as the garden behind the temple crumbled and collapsed inwards, taking a portion of the building with it. Nagisa launched herself into the sky and roared.

The clouds split open and the city was drenched in a torrent of rain. Octavia clung to Sesshoumaru's haori as the hill toppled over like a house of cards, extinguishing the light in the depths of the lake. "The tremors," she whispered when it was over. "They've stopped."

"And yet the seal on your magic remains." His eyes darkened. "They're still alive."

She shuddered as an enormous dark mass emerged from the rubble. The shadows had merged to create one giant body that was about the same size as Nagisa's true form. She could feel her heart pounding when she said, "Take us down."

Sesshoumaru did as he was told. They landed in front of the gathering of shadows and unsheathed their respective weapons. The black cloud shrunk away from the combined light of the Tenseiga and the Reikon Blade with a chorus of screeches.

"Why are the Iwa Faction looking for me?" she asked.

The shadows cackled. "You don't remember, do you? How very unfortunate."

"Just answer the fucking question."

"Two halves are required to make a whole."

She frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"

"You'll find out soon. We've seen your kind go to extreme lengths to get what they want, and they want you, heartless girl. They want you like you wouldn't believe. The boy will not rest until he's found you. Not when you're so very precious to him."

Octavia glanced up at the sky. Nagisa's silhouette was visible through the storm clouds whenever a crack of lightning came. Harsh winds swept in from the sea and battered against the goddess towers. "It's over," she told the shadows. "For real this time. Your god isn't coming back. Not now. Not ever."

"You're wrong, little star. As long as you're here, he can still return."

They no longer sounded convinced. Octavia grabbed Sesshoumaru's ring finger and gripped it for support. The black cloud was splitting apart at the seams, growing smaller and smaller as the sun began to rise in the east. "It's okay," she said. "All you understood was hatred. It's time for you to feel something else."

She caught Sesshoumaru's eye and nodded once. The shadows screamed as they swung their weapons in unison, reducing them all to dust. The pouring rain slowed to a drizzle as the sunrise finally broke through the clouds. Octavia's breath hitched as the invisible chains around her shattered, releasing Sesshoumaru's youki. His hair turned silver again and the markings on his face changed from orange to magenta. A green glow covered his skin before disappearing into his claws. Octavia backed away as smoke swirled around him like a hurricane. She watched in awe as the chimney of smoke expanded, before billowing outwards and blowing away what was left of the bad weather.

Sesshoumaru's true form was just as magnificent as Nagisa's. The smoke parted to reveal a colossal white hound towering over her. She gazed into the beast's electric blue eyes and felt her knees buckle. Sesshoumaru's chops twisted into a devilish smirk and he lowered his gargantuan head so that it was level with her line of vision. Holding her breath, she reached out to touch him, eager to feel his silky fur between her fingers.

A lone shadow leapt out from under the rubble and burrowed its way into her chest. Wheezing, Octavia fell to her knees and clawed at her burning flesh. She ripped open her yukata to search for a wound, but there was nothing there. The shadow coiled around her heart and squeezed, making her double over in pain. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as she punched the ground and choked on her own breath. The pain subsided after a while, but the damage was already done.

Sesshoumaru nosed her side and growled. She didn't know that he'd changed back into his sealed form until he lifted her into his arms. Her chest felt like it was on fire. The only consolation was that the sky was full of rainbows.

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