Page 19 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

Jytos finally enters the cave carrying cooked portions of the animal he slaughtered. He holds out his hand in my direction, a piece of the meat dangling from it. I stare at the offering in his outstretched hand. My stomach starts to churn. The meat is still warm, steam rising from the freshly cooked flesh. My mind flashes back to the brutal scene I witnessed earlier - Jytos tearing into that creature with savage efficiency. I gulp hard, fighting the urge to retch.

"Eat," Jytos rumbles, his deep eyes fixed on me. "You need more strength."

I hesitate, my fingers trembling as I reach for the food. The scent of cooked meat fills my nostrils making my mouth water despite my uncertainty.

"I..." My voice cracks, and I clear my throat. "Thank you."

I bring the warm food to my lips, acutely aware of Jytos watching my every move. The first bite explodes with flavor on my tongue, and I have to stifle a moan. It's delicious and tender. But with each chew, I can't help but picture that poor creature's final moments.

"Is it…okay?" Jytos asks, his voice oddly hesitant.

I nod. As I eat, I study him from beneath my lashes. There's no trace of blood on him now. He must have cleaned up while Iwas lost in my thoughts. The juxtaposition is jarring - the brutal hunter and this... strangely accommodating captor.

"You're still afraid of me," he states.

I swallow my mouthful of food quickly. "Can you blame me?"

His tentacles coil tighter against his back. "No," he admits. "But I promise I won't hurt you, Bella. You're mine to protect now."

A shiver runs through my body at his words. "And if I don't want to be yours?"

Jytos's eyes narrow, a growl rumbling in his chest. "You have no choice. The humans gave you to me."

Anger flares within me, hot and sudden. "They had no right!" I snap, surprising myself with my vehemence.

For a moment, Jytos looks taken aback. Then his expression hardens. "Would you rather I left you to the waira out there in the forest?"

The fight drains out of me as quickly as it came. I slump, suddenly exhausted. "No," I whisper.

Jytos is quiet for a long moment. When he speaks again, his voice is softer. "Finish your food. We can talk more after you've rested."

I nod, too drained to argue further. As I finish eating, I can't help but wonder - what does the future hold for me now? One thing is for certain - nothing will ever be the same again.

Soon, I curl up on the makeshift bed and pull the furs tight around me. The cave's chill seeps into my bones. My mind races, replaying the day's events in a dizzying loop.

Jytos's massive form looms in the shadows across the cave. His deep, even breathing tells me he's asleep, but I can't shake the feeling of being watched. Those piercing green eyes seem to follow me even now.

I close my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep, but rest eludes me. How can I possibly relax in this strange place, with this... creature nearby?

And yet... he hasn't harmed me. He's fed me, given me a place to sleep. It's more than the village did in the end. The thought sends a pang through my chest. How could they just... throw me away like that?

I toss and turn, my emotions a tangled mess. Fear, anger, confusion, and something else I can't quite name swirl inside me. Jytos is a monster, there's no doubt about that. I saw the savage way he hunted. But he has also shown kindness, in his own strange way.

"You're mine to protect now," he'd said. The words echo in my mind. Part of me rebels against the idea of belonging to anyone. But another part... a small, traitorous part... feels a flicker of relief. At least I'm not alone out here.

I sigh, burying my face in the soft furs. Will I spend the rest of my days in this cave, a captive of this Umbrath? Or is there something more to this arrangement that I don't yet understand?

As exhaustion finally begins to claim me, my last thoughts are of Jytos. His terrifying appearance, his surprising gentleness, the intensity in those green eyes when he looks at me. I drift off into an uneasy sleep.

10

JYTOS

Iwake the next morning with the first light filtering through the cave entrance. My senses instantly on alert. Bella is still asleep. Her chest rises and falls in a gentle rhythm. I watch her for a moment, fascinated by her delicate features, so different from my own.

As I stretch, my tentacles unfurling behind me, I catch her sweet scent. It's invigorating and I relish it for a moment. Soon, my stomach growls. It quickly brings me back to reality and the task at hand. We need more food.

I move towards the cave entrance, my steps deliberately heavy. Let her wake. Let her see me leave. I want her to know I'm not keeping her prisoner, even if the thought of her trying to escape makes my blood boil.

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