Page 16 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

"Why am I here?" she asks again, her voice trembling.

I cock my head, studying her closely. Her brown curls frame a face that's both delicate and strong. Fascinating. "Your people left you for me," I growl, my voice rumbling through the cave. "A gift, I assume. So, I brought you here to my cave."

She flinches at my words, pressing herself against the cave wall once more. Good. She should be afraid. I am not to be trifled with.

"I'm... I'm not just some gift," she stammers. "I'm a person."

I laugh loudly, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "A person? You're prey, little one. Food for the taking." I lean in close, inhaling her scent. "But I find myself... curious about you."

Her breath hitches, and I can hear her heart beating loudly. It's music to my ears. I've never been this close to a humanbefore, never had the chance to truly examine one. And this one... she's exquisite.

"What do you mean, curious?" she asks, her voice low.

I reach out, running a tentacle along her cheek. She shivers but doesn't pull away. Interesting. "I mean, little human, that you intrigue me. Your kind usually runs or fights. But you... you're different."

She swallows hard, her eyes darting nervously around the cave. "I... I don't have anywhere to run to. My village... they sacrificed me."

Her words stir something inside me. Anger, perhaps? At her village for discarding her so easily? Or possessiveness, at the thought of anyone else claiming what's now mine?

"Then you belong to me now," I growl, my tentacles curling around her waist once more. "And I protect what's mine."

I notice that she's still trembling, and it stirs something deep within me – a desire to comfort, to protect. Fuck, what's happening to me?

She looks up at me timidly as I hold onto her. Her lips part slightly as if she’s about to speak, and I can't help but follow the motion with my eyes. Her mouth is a tender fruit, ripe for the taking, yet I rein in the impulse. My desire to possess her wars with the unfamiliar urge to understand her, to learn what makes her tick.

"You must be hungry," I growl gently. I reach for a nearby sack, pulling out some dried meat. "Eat."

She hesitates, eyeing the offering warily. "It's not... human, is it?"

I can't help but chuckle at the thought. "No. It's duskbear. Tough, but filling."

As she takes the meat, my tentacles move of their own accord, brushing against her arm. Her skin is so soft, so warm. Ican't resist tracing the curve of her shoulder, down to her elbow. She flinches but doesn't pull away.

"I... thank you," she murmurs, taking a small bite. Her discomfort is palpable, but there's something else there too. Curiosity, perhaps?

"You're welcome," I rumble, unable to take my eyes off her. My tentacles continue their exploration, sliding along her forearm, circling her wrist. She shivers but doesn't protest.

"Are you..." she starts, then pauses, swallowing hard. "Are you the god they spoke of? The one they... sacrificed me to?"

I laugh again, the sound harsh and grating. "A god? Is that what those fools think I am?" I lean in close, my breath hot on her neck. "No, little human. I'm something far more ancient, far more dangerous."

Her eyes widen, a mix of fear and fascination swirling in their depths. "What are you, then?"

"My name is Jytos and I am Umbrath," I growl, my tentacles coiling possessively around her waist. "The last of my kind. We ruled these lands long before your ancestors crawled out of the muck."

She looks up at me strangely, her body tensing against mine. "Umbrath? I've never heard of..."

"Of course you haven't," I snap, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Your kind has forgotten so much. You cower in your villages, afraid of shadows, while true power walks the earth."

My tentacles tighten around her, pulling her closer. She whimpers but doesn't struggle. Smart girl.

"But you," I continue, my voice softening slightly. "You're different from the rest. You face your fear. You interest me greatly, little human."

She gasps softly, and I can feel her heart racing in her chest. It's exhilarating. I run a tentacle along her cheek, continuing to marvel at the softness of her skin.

"What... what do you want from me?" she whispers, her voice barely audible.

"For now," I rumble lowly, "I want you to stay here with me. To be mine."

---