Page 22 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

"Come on, I'll show you."

I hold out my hand, and after a moment's hesitation, she takes it. Her skin is so soft against my rough palm. I have to resist the urge to pull her closer to me.

As we walk deeper into the cave, I can't shake the feeling that everything has changed. Bella isn't just some human sacrifice anymore. She is mine forever.

11

BELLA

The air grows cooler as Jytos leads me deeper into the cave. My heart races, a mix of fear and curiosity pulsing through my veins. The rough stone beneath my feet gives way to smooth, worn rock. Soon, I can hear the faint echo of water in the distance.

"Where are we going?" I ask, my voice low.

He glances back at me, his green eyes gleaming in the dim light. "You'll see."

As we round a corner, my breath catches in my throat. Before us stretches a vast underground lake. Its surface is as smooth as glass. Bioluminescent fungi cling to the cavern walls, casting an ethereal blue glow across the water.

"It's beautiful," I murmur, unable to hide my awe.

He grunts in agreement, settling himself on a flat rock near the water's edge. He pats the space beside him, and I hesitate for a moment before sitting down.

The silence stretches between us broken only by the soft lapping of water against stone. I steal glances at him, studying his alien features. The tentacles on his back twitch slightly, and I wonder if they have a mind of their own.

Gathering my courage, I clear my throat. "Jytos... can I ask you something?"

He turns to me, his expression unreadable. "What?"

"I was wondering... about your past. Could you tell me more about it?"

He is quiet for a long moment, and I fear I've offended him. But then he speaks. His deep voice rumbles through the cavern.

"I am Umbrath," he says. "Once, we were many. Now, I am the last."

My heart aches at the loneliness in his voice. "What happened to the others?"

"War. Disease. Time." He shrugs, his massive shoulders rising and falling. "We were not meant to last forever."

I lean forward, captivated by his words. "How long have you been alone?"

"Longer than I can remember," he admits. "These mountains have been my home for centuries. I hunt, I survive. That is all."

"But surely you must have encountered others? Humans, or... or other creatures?"

A growl escapes him. "Waira. Vicious beasts. I kill them when they come too close."

I shudder, remembering the howls that haunted my village. "And... humans?"

His eyes narrow. "They fear me. Leave offerings. You are the first to speak to me in... a very long time."

My mind reels with this information. How long has he been up here, alone and feared? The village elders spoke of him as some sort of god, but he's just... a survivor.

"It must be lonely," I say softly, surprising myself with the sympathy in my voice.

He turns to me, his gaze intense. "It was. Until now."

I watch as his tentacles curl and uncurl, remembering the strength I've seen in them when he hunts.

"When you hunt," I begin, hesitant, "it's... brutal. Efficient. Have you always been that way?"

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