Page 23 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

A dark chuckle escapes him. "It is the way of the Umbrath. We take what we need to survive."

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "And... am I something you need to survive?"

His eyes lock onto mine again, and I feel pinned in place by the intensity of his gaze. He doesn't respond, just continues staring at me like he's trying to unravel some kind of mystery.

My heart thunders in my chest. "I’m not just something for the taking, Jytos."

His muscles tense, and for a moment, I fear I've angered him. But then his expression softens, just slightly. "I know that. I think you are special."

I sit there, baffled by what I’m hearing from this creature who is both terrifying and fascinating.

Here, in this underground cavern with a being straight out of legend, I feel like I’m stepping into a world I never knew existed. And despite my fear, despite the strangeness of it all, a part of me is curious to see where this path will lead.

I inhale deeply, the cool cave air filling my lungs. His presence beside me is both intimidating and oddly comforting. His last words echo in my mind: "I think you are special." The weight of his gaze makes my cheeks flush.

"I... I suppose I should tell you a bit about myself," I say softly. "Since we're going to be... living together."

He nods, his green eyes fixed on me. "Go on."

I fidget with the hem of my dress, unsure where to begin. "Well, I've lived in the village my whole life. It's all I've ever known. But I never really felt like I belonged there."

"Why?" he asks.

I shrug, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "I don't have any family. My parents died when I was young, and I never quitefit in with the other villagers. Always felt like an outsider, you know?"

His tentacles twitch, and I wonder if it's a sign of understanding. "Alone among many," he says. "I know this feeling."

"Yeah," I nod, surprised by his insight. "Exactly. And when the village decided to... offer me up to you, it just confirmed what I'd always suspected. I was expendable to them."

A growl escapes him, making me jump. "They were fools," he says, his voice laced with anger. "To discard something precious."

My cheeks flush even more as I continue on, "I spent my days helping in the village, tending to the wounded, preparing meals. But I always felt like I was just going through the motions, you know? Like I was waiting for something... more."

He shifts closer, his massive form blocking out the dim light. "And now? Do you still wait?"

I look up at him, really look at him. His alien features are no less terrifying, but there's something in his eyes that speaks of a deep loneliness, one that mirrors my own.

"I don't know," I admit. "Everything's changed so quickly. But... I think maybe I've found that 'something more' I was looking for. Even if it's not what I expected."

"You are not afraid?" he asks.

I let out a shaky laugh. "Oh, I'm terrified. But... I'm also curious. And for the first time in my life, I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. Is that strange?"

A rumble that might be a chuckle escapes him. "Strange is all I know," he says. "But perhaps... we can be strange together."

As I sit there next to him, I realize that we're both outcasts in our own way. Both lonely, both searching for connection. And maybe, just maybe, we've found it in the most unexpected place.

"I'd like that," I say softly, daring to reach out and touch one of his tentacles. It's smooth and cool beneath my fingers, and I feel it twitch at my touch. "To be strange together."

His eyes widen at my boldness, and for a moment, I fear I've overstepped. But then his expression softens, and he nods. "Then it shall be so," he says, his voice a low rumble that sends warmth spreading through my chest.

As we sit there, the soft glow of the bioluminescent fungi casting an otherworldly light over us, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. For the first time in my life, I'm not alone. And neither is Jytos. We've found each other, two lonely souls in a vast, uncaring world.

Soon, I find myself studying him with new eyes. The initial terror that gripped me when I first saw him has slowly faded, replaced by a growing desire to understand him.

He no longer feels threatening. Instead, there's an odd comfort in his presence. I watch as his tentacles move gently, almost hypnotically, and I'm struck by how graceful they are.

"Jytos," I say softly, breaking the comfortable silence between us. "I... I want to thank you."

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