9. Bella

9

BELLA

F eeling 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 heart pounding 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?

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 I was 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.