18. Jytos

18

JYTOS

I stand at the entrance of the cave and watch Bella as she explores the nearby clearing. Her curiosity is endearing, but it's time to show her more. "Bella," I call out, my deep voice echoing off the rocky walls. "Come here. There's something I want to show you."

She turns, her brown curls bouncing as she makes her way back to me. I can't help but admire the graceful way she moves. As she approaches, I extend a tentacle, gently wrapping it around her waist to guide her inside.

"What is it, Jytos?" she asks, her eyes wide with anticipation.

I lead her to the back of the cave, to a hidden alcove I've kept secret until now. "It's time you learned more about my people, the Umbrath," I say, my voice low and serious. "We weren't always confined to caves like this one."

With a swift motion, I push aside a large boulder, revealing a small chamber filled with gleaming objects. She gasps, her eyes widening as she takes in the sight.

"These are artifacts from my people," I explain, picking up an intricately carved crystal sphere. It catches the dim light, casting prismatic reflections across the cave walls. "We once lived in great cities, high in the mountain ranges. Our civilization was... magnificent."

I hand her the sphere, watching as she turns it over in her hands, marveling at its craftsmanship. "It's beautiful," she whispers.

"That's a communication device," I tell her. "We used it to speak across vast distances. Much more efficient than your human methods."

Next, I retrieve a long, curved blade made of a dark, iridescent metal. "This," I say, running a tentacle along its edge, "is an Umbrath war blade. Forged in the heart of a volcano and cooled in the blood of our enemies."

Her eyes dart between me and the weapon, a mix of fascination and apprehension in her gaze. "You were warriors?"

I nod, a smirk playing at the corners of my mouth. "We were everything. Warriors, scholars, artisans. Our race was... unparalleled."

As I continue to show her various artifacts - scrolls written in our ancient language, jewels infused with powerful magic, tools of impossible complexity - I can see the questions forming in her mind. But she doesn't ask about our downfall, and I'm not ready to reveal that part of our history. Not yet.

Instead, I focus on the glory of our past. "We lived in harmony with the mountains," I tell her, gesturing to a tapestry depicting a sprawling Umbrath city nestled among snow-capped peaks. "Our cities were built into the very rock, rising higher than any human structure you've ever seen."

She runs her fingers over the tapestry, tracing the outlines of the buildings. "It sounds incredible," she says softly. "But... why are you here in this cave now?"

I tense slightly, my tentacles curling involuntarily. "That's a story for later," I say, my tone brooking no argument. "For now, know that these artifacts are all that remain of my people's legacy. I've kept them hidden, protected from the waira and other threats."

I turn to her, cupping her face with one of my hands. "You're the first to see them in... a very long time."

She leans into my touch, her warmth seeping into my cold skin. "Thank you for sharing this with me, Jytos," she says, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

I nod, feeling a swell of possessive pride. She's mine now, not just to keep safe, but to share my world with. As I lead her back to the main chamber of the cave, I can't help but feel a flicker of hope. Perhaps, with her by my side, I can reclaim some small part of what my people lost.

The fire crackles, casting dancing shadows across the cave walls. Bella sits close, her warmth a stark contrast to the chill of the night. I stare into the flames, my tentacles twitching with restless energy. It's time.

"You want to know why I'm here," I say, my voice low and gravelly. "Why the last of the Umbrath lives in a fucking cave."

She nods, her eyes wide and attentive. I take a slow breath. The memories flood back like a tidal wave of blood and ash.

"We were titans among insects," I begin, my fists clenching. "Our cities touched the sky, our magic bent reality itself. But power breeds envy, and envy breeds war."

I pause, watching the flames lick at the air. "The other races united against us. Humans, elves, dwarves - all of them, too weak and pathetic on their own, banded together like rats in a sewer."

My tentacles lash out, grabbing a nearby rock and crushing it to dust. She flinches but doesn't move away.

"They sieged our cities, poisoned our wells, corrupted our magic. For years, we fought back, slaughtering them by the thousands. But they kept coming, an endless tide of mediocrity."

I turn to her, my green eyes blazing with centuries-old rage. "In the end, it was betrayal that sealed our fate. One of our own, a coward named Zyraxes, sold our secrets to the enemy. Our defenses fell overnight."

The cave trembles as my voice rises. "I watched my people burn, Bella. I saw our great libraries turned to ash, our artifacts looted and destroyed. And I swore I'd survive, no matter the cost."

I stand, pacing the length of the cave. My tentacles writhe with agitation. "For centuries, I've lived here, alone. I've fought off every pathetic creature that dared to challenge me. Waira, humans, even the occasional dragon - all of them fell before me."

Turning back to her, I see a mix of fear and fascination in her eyes. It stirs something in me. "This cave isn't just a shelter. It's a fortress, the last bastion of Umbrath might. And I am its guardian, its sole defender."

I sit back down, my massive form dwarfing hers. "So now you know. The great civilization of the Umbrath, reduced to a single warrior in a mountain cave. But make no mistake - I am more than enough to ensure our legacy endures."

She reaches out, hesitating before placing her hand on my arm. "Jytos, I... I'm sorry. That's a terrible burden to bear."

I grunt, shrugging off her touch. Her pity is unnecessary. "It's not a burden. It's my purpose. I live, I fight, I survive. That's all that matters."

But even as I say the words, I feel something shift inside me. Her presence has changed things. I push my thoughts aside momentarily, focusing instead on the fire and the familiar comfort of my solitude.

The silence stretches between us, filled only by the crackling of the flames and the distant howl of the wind.

I watch her, this human woman who's managed to infiltrate my existence, carving out a space for herself within my solitary world. Bella. She's become more than just a sacrifice, more than just a passing curiosity. She's become... necessary.

I stand, my tentacles rippling with a restless energy that mirrors the turmoil within me. "Bella," I say, my voice low.

She looks up at me, her brown eyes wide and expectant. "Yes, Jytos?"

I take a step closer, my shadow falling over her. "I need to tell you something."

She tilts her head, a silent invitation to continue. The firelight dances across her skin, and I'm momentarily distracted by the softness of it, the vulnerability that it represents. It's that vulnerability that has stirred something primal within me, something protective and fierce.

"When I first saw you," I begin, my gaze never leaving hers, "you were just a... a transaction. A deal made between your people and my existence. But now..." I trail off, struggling to articulate the tumult of emotions that have taken root within me.

She waits, silent and patient, as I gather my thoughts. "But now," I continue, "you're more. You've seen me, the real me, and you haven't fled in terror. You haven't cowered or begged for mercy. You've shown strength, curiosity, and a kindness that I didn't know I fucking needed."

Her lips part slightly, a whisper of surprise escaping her. "Jytos, I?—"

I hold up my hand, stopping her mid-sentence. "Let me finish," I say. "I've spent centuries alone, content in my solitude. But now, the thought of you not being here... it's unacceptable. I need you like the air I breathe, Bella."

I drop to one knee before her, bringing us eye to eye. My voice softer, I say, "Let me protect you. Let me be the shield that stands between you and the dangers of this world. I may be a monster, but I swear on what's left of my honor that I will keep you safe forever."

She reaches out, her fingers lightly tracing the lines of one of my tentacles. The contact sends a jolt of electricity through me, a reminder of her power over me, despite her fragile human form.

"I've been afraid for so long," she admits, her voice a whisper. "Afraid of the waira, afraid of my own people. But with you... I feel completely safe. I feel strong."

My heart, a muscle I thought long dead, throbs painfully in my chest. "Then let it be known," I say, "that Bella, is under my protection. Any who dare harm her will answer to me, Jytos of the Umbrath."

She smiles, a genuine, heartfelt smile that transforms her entire face. "And let it be known," she replies, her voice growing in strength and conviction, "that Bella, stands by Jytos, the last of the great Umbrath. Together, we are stronger than any force that seeks to tear us apart."

I lean forward, capturing her lips with mine in a kiss that is both a promise and a claiming. She melts into me as she returns the kiss with equal fervor. We are two souls, scarred by our pasts, finding solace in each other's arms.