Beauty, in the Beast World

To Break the Curse Woven in Tides

The cool night breeze swept across the beach as the sand had finally cooled enough for Lila and Qin to walk comfortably alongside their escorts, Curtis and Isaac. Lila, deep in thought, was startled by Isaac's unexpected question. "Did you ever intend on giving up the female cub?" Isaac asked, his tone careful but probing.

Lila turned to him with a sorrowful frown, her heart heavy with the deception she had employed. "No... I'm sorry that I tricked you," she said softly, "but it was necessary to get Qin here. I couldn't risk her refusing the invitation."

Isaac sighed deeply, squeezing Qin's hand with gentle reassurance. "I suppose we'll have to wait until the curse is broken to conceive our own child," he said, resignation in his voice.

Qin, who had been quietly listening, grew somber at his words, her gaze drifting out toward the vast, moonlit ocean. Her eyes narrowed as something caught her attention. "What is that along the shore?!" she asked suddenly, pointing to a distant glimmer on the beach.

Lila followed her line of sight, squinting into the darkness. In the distance, something rested upon the sand, its surface glinting eerily in the moonlight. "Curtis, take us closer," Lila said urgently, her instincts flaring.

Without hesitation, Curtis lowered his long crimson tail, allowing Lila and Qin to climb onto it before swiftly heading toward the strange object. Isaac ran behind them, keeping pace as they neared the mysterious shape.

As they approached, Qin gasped, her voice full of alarm. "It looks like a merman bubble—like the ones used to transport mermaids!"

Lila nodded in agreement, her brows furrowed in confusion. "But what would a bubble be doing on the beach?" she asked, her tone tinged with unease.

The group came to a halt beside the bubble, which was much larger up close, its surface opaque instead of the usual transparent. Just as Lila was about to step forward to inspect it, a blood-covered hand suddenly pressed against the inside of the bubble, wiping away the filmy layer that had concealed its occupant.

"There's someone inside!" Lila exclaimed, her heart racing. "Curtis, pop the bubble—carefully. We don't know if they're hurt."

Curtis's eyes darkened with caution. "Step back, Little Moon. We don't know if this individual is a threat." His voice was protective as he ushered Lila and Qin a safe distance away. With a precise swipe of his claw, Curtis sliced the bubble's surface, causing it to pop with a quiet hiss.

The moment the bubble burst, the sound of coughing and gasping filled the air. Lila and Qin peeked around Curtis to see a female lying on the sand, covered in blood that seeped from a gaping wound in her stomach. Her long, wavy dark grey hair clung to her skin, and her sharp, jagged teeth glistened in the faint light.

"Help us, please," the female wheezed, her voice barely audible as she struggled to speak. But before anyone could act, her body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

Isaac rushed forward, his hands trembling as he tried to staunch the bleeding. "She's not breathing," he muttered urgently, pressing his hands over the wound. "She's lost too much blood... We were too late."

The others gathered around, hearts heavy with the weight of their failure. Qin and Lila stood over the lifeless figure, tears brimming in their eyes. "We should bury her," Qin said softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Isaac nodded solemnly. "It is the right thing to do," he agreed, lifting the female's limp body in his arms as he began to carry her toward the tree line for a proper burial.

"Curtis, go help him, please," Lila instructed gently, her voice filled with sorrow. Though Curtis remained expressionless, he complied, following Isaac to assist.