Page 17 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

She lets out a horrified shriek that pierces the stillness of the cave. I growl in frustration. My tentacles coil around her trembling form instinctively in an attempt to settle her. Her fear, once intoxicating, now grates on my nerves. Why the fuck can't she see I mean her no harm?

"Stop shaking," I snarl, my patience wearing thin. "I've given you food, shelter. What more do you want?"

She pulls away from me, backing up against the cave wall. "I-I'm sorry," she stammers. "It's just... this is all so..."

"So what?" I snap, looming over her. "Frightening? Overwhelming? Grow a fucking spine, human."

She whimpers, and I feel a twinge of... something. Regret? Impossible. I'm Umbrath. I don't regret. Why can’t she see I’m trying to be… what? Kind? Fuck, I don’t even know anymore.

"Look at me," I demand, cupping her chin with my hand. Her brown eyes, wide with fear and hopelessness, meet mine. "I am not your enemy. Your village cast you out. I took you in. Remember that."

She swallows hard, her pulse racing beneath my touch. "I know, but... you're so... different. I don't understand what you want from me."

I bare my teeth in frustration. "What I want is for you to stop cowering like a frightened rabbit. You’re here now. You're mine. The sooner you accept that, the better off we’ll both be."

Her breath hitches. "I'm trying," she whispers. "It's just... I've never seen anything like you before. You're... very intimidating."

I can't help but preen a little at that. "Good. I should be. I'm the last of the Umbrath. The most powerful creature you'll ever encounter."

She nods, her curls bouncing with the movement. It's... oddly endearing. Fuck, what's wrong with me?

Her eyes trace the lines of my body, from the tentacles that move with a life of their own to the black skin that covers my muscular form. There's curiosity there, beneath the fear, and it ignites a spark of satisfaction within me. She should fear me, but it pleases me that she also seeks to understand me.

My tentacles soon twitch with the urge to explore the soft skin of her body again. But every time I try and reach out, she shies away. Fuck. This isn't how I wanted things to go.

"Stop that," I growl, frustration building in me. "I'm not going to hurt you."

I turn away, unable to look at her anymore. Why is this so hard? Why can’t she just submit to me? I’ve never had trouble dominating others before. But this fragile creature, she’s really getting under my skin in ways I don’t understand.

She inches further away from me, backing herself into a corner. "I'm sorry, I just... I can't help it," she whispers.

I run my hand over my face. My claws scrape against my rough skin. This human is driving me utterly insane. I want her so badly, but I can't have her if she's terrified of me. The thought of forcing her makes my stomach turn for some odd reason. What the fuck is going on with me?

"Fine," I snarl. "I'll give you some space."

I stalk towards the back of the cave, my tentacles lashing behind me in agitation. This is going to be more challenging than I thought. But I’m not one to back down from a challenge. I’ll make her see. I’ll make her understand. The cool, damp air does little to calm my racing thoughts. I can still smell her fear, her uncertainty. It's beyond maddening.

"Eat the food I gave you," I call over my shoulder. "I didn't bring you here to watch you starve to death."

I hear her shuffling behind me, probably reaching for the dried meat. Good. At least she's not completely stupid.

I start to pace the back of the cave. My claws scrape against the stone floor. What am I doing? I'm Umbrath, the most feared creature in these mountains. And here I am, fretting over some human girl like a lovesick pup.

But I can't deny the pull I feel towards her. It's more than just hunger or lust. There's something about her that calls to me, something I can't explain.

I turn back and watch her from the shadows. She's nibbling on the duskbear meat, her eyes darting around the cave nervously. Even in her fear, she's simply beautiful. Her brown curls catch the dim light framing her face like a halo.

"Is it good?" I ask from afar, my voice louder than I intended.

She jumps at the sound, nearly dropping the meat. "Y-yes," she stammers. "Thank you."

I nod, satisfied. At least she's eating. I won't let her die, not when I've just found her.

With that, I stride out of the cave, leaving her amidst the shadows that have been my only companions for so long. But as I step into the moonlit night, I realize that the darkness doesn't feel as absolute as it once did. There's a warmth in my chest, an ember kindled by the presence of the human I've claimed as mine.

9

BELLA

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