CHAPTER 16

"You're going to die."

Nyx's eyes peered deep into Alya's. Those words struck her, and at that moment, her heart stopped.

Confused, she tried to speak, but her words were caught in her throat, and she wasn't sure what to say.

Alya's face made Nyx giggle at the sight, paling Alya's face the more.

"We're not going to kill you....." Nyx eased, but she paused in the middle of her sentence. She waited for Alya to calm down for a moment.

Alya's heart slowly started beating again once she heard this. She inwardly gave a sigh of relief as she took a moment to register what Nyx had said. And once she did, her once pale face slowly started to regain its color.

Alya assumed Nyx had just scared her for a tease, and as she thought this, her gaze darkened, but she didn't mutter anything, she still had to stay cautious.

Just as she sighed once again in relief, Nyx's voice echoed once again.

"But Brother John will..."

"Eh?"

Alya's once glaring face contorted, confused. Who was Brother John?

Before she could ask, Nyx gave a swift but dreadful answer.

"Brother John's the bear you stole from….." Nyx's sadistic smile was unmistakable.

Her straight and clear words felt like a gunshot. Alya's colored face instantly paled again.

"How unlucky."

Nyx gave a dejected sigh, hinting at her dismay, but one could tell by her apathetic gaze that she wasn't sad for Alya's sake.

Suddenly two dainty arms firmly held Nyx's. Nyx's aloof face simmered down at Alya's desperate one. She glanced at Alya's reluctant but despondent expression. Alya's next words were bold, but her face showed her reluctance

"You said you'll help me with things like this."

Inwardly she hoped they would protect her, but staring at the two, they didn't seem to be the type to help a stranger.

Alya waited for a response from Nyx, but there wasn't any. Nyx's aloof face remained the same.

Nyx didn't mind helping out, but she stayed silent to see Alya's reaction.

"It's your problem."

Nyx was blunt, but to her surprise, Alya didn't retort.

After moments of silence, Alya gave a response.

"Just mine?"

"Huh?" Nyx's brows slowly raised.

Alya's voice was stern and clear, not what Nyx had expected. Slowly, she lowered her gaze, halting at Alya's arms.

Shamelessly rubbing on hers.

It was just earlier today Alya had used her newly bought perfume, though mild, had a distinct scent.

Both girls' faces briefly stayed in silence. Alya's scented arms still rubbed Nyx's. And Nyx still stared. The silence was choking.

"I stand corrected...."

"I guess it's ours now…" Nyx conceded, pulling her arm away from Alya's grasp and then caressing it.

Though Nyx's face stayed aloof, Alya on the other hand, had a face of relief. She looked across the detached old man behind them, still drinking his tea.

The old man ignored Alya's stare. Instead, he took notice of something else. Still, with the cup in his hands, he grunted,

"It's burning."

His words interrupted Alya's stare, in a panic, she darted towards the fish. She swiftly but carefully took them out of the fire, then etched each stake firmly to the ground. Fortunately, it was still okay.

After taking them out, she gutsily peered up at the brown, crispy goodness in front of her. Her mouth couldn't help but water as her eyes lingered. The tempting aroma of the fish did not make things easier not to gobble one up. How long ago had she tasted fished over an open fire? She couldn't remember.

She could not wait to taste such things again. At that moment, its size didn't face her or even matter, her stomach paid no attention. She was about to grab one, with both arms ready to latch onto its large body, but before her fingers could even graze it, Nyx, out of nowhere, suddenly appeared right next to Alya and snatched them away, all three of them.

"Nice."

Nyx's hand grasped the three large sticks of fish with ease. Then without a word more, Nyx zoomed off to meet her master and handed one over to him, all done before Alya could react.

As soon as she did, a glare glinted in her eyes. She turned to Nyx, who was already casually flailing the other two giant stakes of fish in the air like some sort of flag.

"You're aware one of those is mine." Alya was irked. Still waving the giant fish, Nyx innocently took a glance at her.

"Oh?" she hummed.

Alya's glare deepened, but Nyx playfully retorted.

"Well shame on you.....to think you would eat a meal you've just stolen."

There was a short pause.

Alya was taken aback.

Nyx's lips formed a small smile once she spoke this. With her one hand still waving the fish, her other hand instinctively resting on her hip, she spoke again.

"Well, that's why I'm here I suppose…"

Nyx strolled around aimlessly, her eyes still on Alya's figure as she continued.

"To guide you on the right path."

"Starting with having a sense of guilt, then comes redemption, and hopefully reconciliation." She gave a sweet smile as she said this.

Her words only confused Alya, but she was sure what Nyx was implying wasn't good. Her train of thought was cut short by the old man's interruption.

"Hopefully…." He smirked. He had explicitly implied that word in Nyx's statement. A hand held the giant fish upright while the other ripped its flesh.

His words and actions only amplified Alya's uneasiness.

Before Alya could ask what they were implying, Nyx gave her a straight answer.

She stopped her wondering and stood still, also bringing the fish she was waving to a halt, and with the other hand still resting on her hip, she responded.

"Why don't we invite the owner then?"

There was a brief silence. Alya's mind had taken a moment to recollect and process what Nyx had just said.

And once she did, her body paled.

"What!" she didn't have the mind to yell. Her voice was almost a whisper, soft but abrasive. Her voice could only crack as she tried to yell.

Her head was blank as she stared wide-eyed at Nyx, who only smiled at her response.

"Why would I invite the bear I stole from?" her voice was a bit clearer, but still abrasive and small. Her eyes lowered as she asked this, but still showed frightened orbs.

"What other way is given for thieves to reconcile with their master?"

Nyx didn't give Alya a chance to answer, she answered her own question.

"You give back what has been stolen from them."

She continued with her answer.

"And shamelessly plead for mercy." She smiled.

Alya's pupils froze. Her breath had also hitched from shock. Before she could even think, her legs had moved from their original position and had rushed towards Nyx.

With desperation, she yelled,

"Are you mental?!!"

Nyx wasn't fazed in the slightest. Instead, she was amused, she even gave out a chuckle.

"No, I'm doing just fine."

Alya couldn't believe what was happening. And with all the things going on, the old man still stayed in the same position, not bothered by them.

Alya went straight for Nyx, but Nyx playfully dodged, her two tails swayed with her graceful movements.

"Hey, I said I'm fine."

"You're clearly not." Alya desperately pounced again, but Nyx dodged again with ease.

"Brother John would still hunt us down sooner or later, why wait?"

Suddenly, Nyx's ears twitched.

"Oh..... he's accepted our invite." Nyx's grin widened.

Alya's chest clumped more tightly. Her eyes instinctively shifted towards the tall trees.

Her gaze lingered on the bushes, waiting for the leaves to rustle from the bear's steps.

Before she could think, her eyes shifted towards Nyx. Not a moment later, she leaped towards and hid behind her.

"Hey, be careful, I almost dropped the fish," Nyx complained.

Alya couldn't hear her words and was just scanning the trees and bushes around her.

Suddenly her fox ears twitched at the heavy sound of what seemed to be footsteps. Instinctively, she shrunk even more behind Nyx, but Nyx wasn't fazed at all.

"He's here already?" Nyx cooed.

Alya's heart thumped once more. She wanted to run into the woods, but she couldn't. Though conflicted, her gut told her to stay still.

For what seemed like forever, the heavy footsteps grew louder, then stopped. Alya didn't have the guts to look up, but she could tell Brother John was with them. She could hear his deep and heavy breathing.

"Brother John!" Nyx lazily welcomed the massive bear before her.

The bear's response was a horrific and deafening growl, hinting at his utmost rage.

Alya's body shook in horror as she quietly covered her ears.

The bear was over ten feet tall just standing on all fours, so his large body naturally towered Nyx's by a mile.

However, Nyx wasn't intimidated in the slightest, with a smile, she lazily continued as she slowly waved the fish.

"Brother John, we call for peace."

Alya couldn't help but shiver.

'But he came for war.'

"We were not aware our new maid had stolen from you."

'New maid?'

Alya took a long glance at Nyx.

"Unfortunately, she was also stupid enough to eat one."

"Eh?!!"

Alya's hands instantly covered her mouth in panic, then she glared daggers at Nyx's back once again. She was making things worse for her.

If she could, she would stab Nyx's calves.

She then silently turned toward the real culprit with the same glare.

Her face contorted as she sighted the old man. The once humongous, fleshy fish was now just a skeleton. No sight of its skin was left on its giant bones.

'The hell...'

Just then the monster bear grunted menacingly at Alya, causing her to flinch and hold on to Nyx's clothes tighter.

Nyx continued once again, and this time, her words shunned Alya to her core.

"So we willingly give our maid to you."

"WHAT?!!"