Beastly Beauty

Chapter 32 : Déjà vu

"Cubs! Where's your mother...? I have a surprise for her..."

Nix asked the cubs.

"Mama...? She go, after Nix go... Mama still don't come back."
Cino answered honestly.

"What?!! Why didn't any of you find me sooner?! Damn you blondie! Why did you let her go alone?!!"
Nix hissed angrily at Iyasu.

"But she didn't... I saw the scaly admirer tailing her. I'm sure he'll keep her safe."
Iyasu said without guilt.

"NO!! No angry at Pretty Papa!"
Cara stands in front of Iyasu, shielding him from Nix.

"If anything happened to her. I'm taking her away from all of you. You hear me?!"
Nix looked at them with disdain.

They didn't know what she had been through... if only they see what he saw, experience what she felt... They'll understand why he was being so overwhelmed whenever she's out of his sight, alone.

"What's all this yelling about...?"
Aethon's deep voice interrupted.

"Papa! Nix angry at Pretty Papa!"
Cara ran to her father's side.

"I heard everything... Nix you go find her. I'll take them to our new home. Let's meet there... I trust you."
Aethon calmly talk to Nix.

" . . . . . "
Nix just nod at Aethon and fly away.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Helen!! It's already dark! I need to get back now! My family will be worried!"
Rhea was pacing back and forth while biting her fingernails.

"It's already dark, and the weather is very bad. It'll be dangerous to cross the sea right now... Just sleep here for the night. I promise we'll move when the hills glow... Okay...?"
Helen pleaded.

"Please stop biting your... nails. You'll hurt your fingers. Bite this instead..."
Yuu shoved a stick of smoked fish into her hands.

"Don't blame me if it's not good. I didn't make that one! He did it himself!"
Rocco chimed in.

"HEY! NO FAIR! I WANT ONE TOO! MAKE ONE FOR ME TOO, YUU!!"
Helen yelled at Yuu.

"I... I'm just trying. I'm sure your mates can do much better than me."
Yuu answered shyly at Helen's request.

"Hmph! Fine! Husbands~ I want to try eating that blackened fish stick too. Make some for me."
Helen said at her mates.

"Don't bother asking me to teach you guys. Just take it from the fire and pay me later. It's easier for you and me."
Rocco stated annoyingly.

Rhea relaxed a bit looking at the lively conversation. She ate the fish in her hand. It's not as good as Aethon's cooking but it's bearable. She innocently snatched some more from Rocco's fire... But Rocco didn't seem to mind. With a full stomach, she slowly felt sleepy and curled up into a ball to sleep. They're currently camping out in the open near the beach after Rhea refused to stay at one of the Queen's places as guests.

"Haaa... I missed seeing them making silk! If only we're not in a hurry..."

"What's the problem? You can always come here next time. They already know you anyway!"

"Shhh! Don't fight. She's just about to sleep..."

"Hahaha... I'm glad someone is so dedicated to the quest."

"You're the only one playing around with this delivery thing! Everyone is depending on us! Take more responsibility in doing it right!"

"Okayyy... Enough. Let's sleep."

* * * * * * * * * *

Nix who had previously asked around for his mate's whereabouts, anxiously waits nearby the shore for his partner to return. The sun had set and he saw dark clouds hovering over the island but Rhea was still nowhere to be seen... He guessed that she won't be back until tomorrow. He decided to sleep there to welcome her home...

The next day, the weather was still cloudy but thankfully it was still tolerable for Helen and her groups to cross the sea. Nix woke up from his slumber and saw the group from afar but decided not to disturb the harmony. Once they were safely on shore, he saw Rhea escorted hurriedly by Rocco and a dark bluish horse back to the village, leaving some gaps from Helen and the rest of the group. Nix was burning with hatred seeing the alligator with his mate but he's reluctant to appear before her and spoil her mood so early in the morning...

Suddenly, Rhea collapsed to the ground from behind the dark bluish horse back. Luckily Rocco swiftly caught her in his arms, so nothing serious happened. She hiss for a moment before struggling to free herself from Rocco. Nix quickly flew to her side, feeling a déjà vu... He pinned her to the ground to avoid anyone from hurting. The startled alligator and horse tried to separate him from Rhea thinking it was just plain jealousy on his part seeing them together with her. It all happened so fast, the next thing they knew, Rhea had attacked the horse who was trying to help her to her feet! She was on top of him, hissing and snarling at the confused horse beastman.

"Get back! Get away from her!"
Nix yelled at the horse while struggling to be free from Rocco's grip.

"Hey, calm down... we're only..."
Rocco's grip on Nix tightened.

"MOVE! Hold her down!"
Nix yelled again at the horse who was now entangled in a wrestle.

"Arghhhh!! She bit me!"
The horse wince in pain.

Nix quickly pushed the distracted Rocco aside and jumped on Rhea. He tried yelling at her to snap her out of daze but it only causes her to respond violently, clawing and kicking... Having seen what she saw in her trance before, Nix was lost on what to do... he loosened his hold on her just enough for him to hugged her tight... whispering in her ears calmly while rocking her slowly...

"Rhea... I'm here love... It's okayyyy... I'll never leave you alone... You can tell me anything... I'm here for you..."

"It's my... special day... yet the one I wished for... isn't here..."

"Shhhh, it's okay love... I'm here for you. I'll listen to you... Tell me anything... You're not alone..."

"I'm... sad... Please, don't be angry anymore... I feel lonely... It's so dark... and cold here... I'm scared..."

"Awwww love, I'm not angry... I'm worried if something happens to you...
Let's go home... Aethon, Iyasu and the cubs are waiting for us..."

"You promise to... always be here... But you disappear.."

"Love... I'm here now. Even if one day I'm not here anymore... My spirit will continue to protect you..."

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Hello everyone! I'm back from my hiatus... A very special thanks to shawnabowman40 for giving me the nudge that is very much needed to wake up from my nightmares... Thank you to all readers that have continued to read, comment, vote and even saved this story in your libraries... Your support is what has helped me through my darkest hour... Thank you! 🥰