Page 18 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

Feeling like I’ve regained some strength, I stand up and take a hesitant step forward. My bare feet are cold against the rough stone floor. The cave stretches before me, a yawning expanse of shadows and secrets.

I wrap my arms around myself. The thin ceremonial garments covering my body offer little protection against the chill. My fingers brush against the intricate embroidery, and a wave of bitterness washes over me. This was supposed to be an honor, they said. A noble sacrifice for the good of the village.

Liars. All of them.

My eyes begin scanning the surroundings, and I notice crude furnishings scattered about. The makeshift bed of mosses and furs is in one corner. There are shelves carved into the rock walls, holding an assortment of objects I can't quite make out. It's more... civilized than I expected.

I take another step and wince as a sharp pebble digs into my sole. The pain grounds me, reminding me that this isn't some terrible nightmare. This is real. I'm really here, trapped in a cave with a monster.

No, not a monster. An Umbrath, he'd said.

My gaze darts to the cave entrance, a sliver of moonlight visible beyond. Freedom. Safety. But even as the thought forms, I know it's impossible. I'd never make it past Jytos. And even if I did, where would I go? Back to the village that betrayed me?

A sob builds in my throat, but I swallow it down. I won't give them the satisfaction of breaking me. Not the villagers, and not... him.

I force myself to move deeper into the cave, curiosity warring with fear. My fingers trail along the rough wall anchoring me as I explore. Suddenly, a noise startles me.

A rumble echoes through the cave, and I freeze immediately. Jytos. He's moving, shifting in the darkness. I should go back and return to where he left me. But my feet refuse to move.

Instead, I find myself sinking to the ground, my back pressed against the cool stone wall. I draw my knees to my chest, making myself as small as possible. Tears burn behind my eyes, but I blink them back fiercely.

I won't cry. I won't break. Whatever happens next, whatever Jytos has planned for me, I'll face it with what little dignity I have left.

Soon, I push myself back up to my feet and force my shaky legs to carry me back to the makeshift bed. Every step is an internal battle between self-preservation and curiosity. The moss feels soft against my skin as I settle down on the bed. My eyes soon spot Jytos across the cave and never leave his hulking form.

He's... not what I expected. Sure, he's terrifying - all tentacles and sharp teeth - but there's something almost gentle in the way he moves around me. He hasn't hurt me. Hasn't even tried to. It's unsettling, this clash between his monstrous appearance and his oddly considerate behavior.

I watch as he busies himself with something near the cave entrance, his back turned to me. The tentacles on his arms shift and coil reminding me of snakes. I shudder but can't look away.

"Why?" The word slips out before I can stop it.

Jytos turns, those deep green eyes fixing on me. I shrink back and curse my loose tongue.

"Why what?" His voice rumbles through the cave, sending tremors through my body.

I swallow hard and hesitantly ask, "Why are you being... nice to me?"

He tilts his head, considering my question for a moment. "You're mine now. I value what's mine."

A chill runs down my spine at his words. Before I can respond, he turns and strides out of the cave, leaving me alone with my whirling thoughts.

After what seems like an eternity, curiosity gets the better of me. I creep towards the entrance and peer out into the darkness. That's when I see it in the dim light of the moon.

Jytos stands a short distance away, his massive frame coiled with tension. A creature - some sort of deer-like animal with too many legs - grazes nearby, oblivious to the danger.

In a blur of motion almost too fast for my eyes to follow, Jytos strikes. His tentacles lash out and wrap around the beast's neck and legs. It lets out a strangled cry, cut short as Jytos's teeth sink into its throat.

The violence of it steals my breath away. This is the monster I feared, the brutal killer I'd imagined.

I watch, horrified and fascinated, as Jytos tears into his prey. His movements are efficient, almost graceful in their savagery. This is a predator in his element, and for a moment, I forget to be afraid.

Then his green eyes lock onto mine, and reality comes crashing back. I stumble away from the cave entrance, my heartpounding in my chest. The image of Jytos, covered in blood and looking right at me, burns itself into my mind.

He's a monster. A killer. But he's also my protector, my... owner? The thought makes me sick, but I can't deny the small part of me that's relieved. If I'm his, then maybe I'm safe. From the waira, at least.

I curl up on the bed, pulling the furs around me like a shield. My mind races, trying to reconcile the gentle Jytos who offered me food with the brutal hunter I just witnessed.

Who is he really? And more importantly, what does he ultimately want from me?

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