[CHAPTER 14.1: THE SNAKE AND THE HUMAN]
Early in the morning, Bella asked the servants to prepare her bath water for her and several cleaning cloths. She also asked her breakfast to be brought into her room since she heard Tayen was going to stay in his room the whole day.
After changing into the dress the servants had prepared for her, Bella strode out of her room. Mihaje was already waiting by the corridor, arms crossed.
"Are we going to the lake now?" She asked when she saw him.
"You said you wanted to see the lake." He replied.
Bella smiled when she noticed his hair was still braided like last night. He was not wearing his armor today. Instead, he wore a black sleeveless thin fabric shirt with black leather pants and tall leather boots. His fabric shirt was tucked in his pants, making his slender body look even more slim and tall. If he was human, he would be a supermodel. Bella chuckled quietly at her own thoughts.
"Mihaje," she called out to him when they were walking through the gatehouse.
"Hm."
"Why do you wear a mask?"
"Ugly." He answered, shortly.
"Come on, tell me."
Mihaje paced faster, leaving Bella behind.
"Hey, wait up!"
Bella grunted as she chased after him. He was obviously avoiding her question.
Their destination wasn't too far away from the castle. It only took about probably a few minutes of walking. The lake was in the middle of the dense forest, surrounded by vines and boulders. Wild colorful flowers blooming around it. The water was as clear as a mirror, reflecting its surroundings. Bella's jaw dropped open at the heavenly sight.
"Wow... This place is magnificent!"
"This is the Lake of Infinity," Mihaje uttered, he was about to say more when he saw Bella was already at the undercut bank and was going to jump into the lake. He ran to grab her wrist.
"What do you think you are doing?" Mihaje hissed, pulling her close to himself, "This lake is poisonous."
"Poisonous?"
"If this water enters your body, you will die instantly. But your body will not rot. It will harden and your lifeless body will look the same even after decades."
"What the fuck?"
"The water here is neither for drinking nor bathing. Our people come here to ask for blessings. If you gaze down at your own reflection in the lake, your fate with the person next to you will be entwined, and will be together for many life time." Mihaje explained. He noticed Bella wasn't looking at him as he speaks, but was gazing down. He too, gazed down to see what she was staring at.
They were gazing down at their own reflection in the lake. Mihaje realized he was still holding on to her wrist and he immediately let go of her hand before leaving the undercut bank. His chest was pounding so fast the moment he saw his own reflection holding Bella's hand in the Lake of Infinity.
In the Lake of Infinity!

Bella was mesmerized by the crystal clear lake that she wasn't listening to Mihaje. When she came to her senses, Mihaje was already leaving.
"Hey, wait up! What were you saying about the lake?"
Mihaje heard her running after him. He walked even faster. He felt his cold blood rushing up to his face. Perhaps it was the sun and the hot surroundings. He felt hot all of a sudden.
*****
It had been three weeks there in the Snake Castle. Bella requested Mihaje to train her. He refused at first, thinking that it wasn't right. But she pestered him almost every day that he eventually agreed to her request.
"Do not ever let anyone know about this." He said sternly.
"I pinky promise you," Bella said, with her pinky finger held out to Mihaje.
"What is that?"
Bella pulled his hand to intertwine her pinky with his,
"It means I will not break my promise."
Mihaje thought the weird gesture was kind of funny, so he chuckled silently, shaking his head.
He went to her chamber every morning to train her some of his moves. And he would accompany her for a walk around the castle during the evening.
"Mihaje, why do you wear a mask?" Bella asked again one morning during her training.
"Again, this question. Do you not get tired of it?" Mihaje hissed, he was getting annoyed by her.
"Nope," she answered, "Why won't you tell me?"
Mihaje watched as Bella crawled to her bed, panting. Although she was petite, she gave her all in the training. Mihaje smirked. She is a strong one, he thought.
"Let me catch my breath. I think that's it for today. I'm exhausted."
"Sure." Mihaje got up and was ready to leave her chamber.
"Wait, you're leaving already?"
"Yes, why?"
"Don't go yet. Stay, talk to me for a while."
Mihaje blinked twice, thinking, then went to sit beside her on the bed.
"What is it that you want to talk about?"
"Your mask." Bella grinned.
He hissed in disbelief and annoyance.
"Can you take it off for me? Just once? If you're really ugly, I promise I won't laugh."
Mihaje scoffed. This female is unbelievably persistent!
"There is nothing there to see!" Mihaje leaned back when Bella approached him.
Bella couldn't take it anymore. Her curiosity was killing her day by day. She clasped his face with both her hands, intending to take off his mask. Mihaje's eyes went wide in shock and he immediately grabbed her hands that were on his mask.
"No." He said coldly, sounding slightly threatening, yet his eyes foreshadowed the anxiety within him.
"Shh. Just let me see your face."
Mihaje's grasp on Bella's hands became tighter. Bella could hear he was starting to breathe faster.
"My face is so ugly, it is revolting." He gulped when Bella leaned even closer. He could feel her fingers crawling to the back of his neck, untying the knot of his mask.
"I want to see it... Your face."
Mihaje gasped when he felt his mask falling off his face. He pursed his lips tight. His eyes narrowed to the side, avoiding her gaze.
"You're..." Bella's mouth parted open. She was lost for words.
Mihaje's...
Mihaje is Tayen's twin!
*****
"You have done great work. Both of you." Gaharu praised. The corner of his lips curved into a smirk.
Sepatu and Igu had come up with a great weapon. Something far greater than sieges or any weapon they had made. Igu really have an amazing head, Gaharu thought. He was crazy, to be able to have such a knowledge on all sorts of earthly materials. And to think of mixing these earthly materials could create such a weapon... Was really an eyeopener.
"The weapon can still be developed, my lord." Igu bowed his head, grinning wide, proud of his new invention.
"Good," Gaharu tapped on Igu's shoulder before turning his face towards Sepatu, "The fortress construction is going well, I see."
"I will not let you down, my lord."
Gaharu then switched his attention back on Sora who was testing the new weapon.
Dooom...!
Sora laughed as he watched the ore pellet propelled far after the weapon in his hands let out a loud explosion.
"Did you see that, my lord?" Sora pointed out in the direction the pellet had flown, "Look at how far it went!"
"Amazing, is it not?" Gaharu laughed along.
Soon.
Very soon... I will destroy every last one of you with this.
Just you wait, Tayen. I will have my revenge.

*****
"You're..." Bella blinked several times. Those thin pale lips, that tall perfect nose bridge, that sexy jawline...
Mihaje was Tayen's identical twin. They have the exact same angelic handsome face.
When he saw the shocked look on Bella's face, Mihaje nervously leaned back and tried to put his mask back on,
"I apologize if I revolted you."
What?!
Bella stopped him by clasping on his face and forced him to look at her.
"Why do you wear a mask?" Bella's face was close. Too close.
"Stop."
Mihaje leaned back again, he was close to lying down on the bed. Bella was leaning too close that she ended up being on top of him. She didn't realize she was pressing herself against him.
The terrified look in his eyes. It was something new. She had never seen such look in his eyes before. It was quite heartbreaking.
Why is taking off his mask seems to frighten him? Why is letting his face be seen scares him?
She could smell the musky earthy smell from him. His pale lips trembled slightly.
Subconsciously, she moved forward to seal his trembling lips with hers. His lips were icy cold, but her kiss was warm.
"You're not revolting." She murmured in between her kiss.
Mihaje's breathing stopped for a few seconds. He was dumbfounded. What was she doing to him? Mihaje felt warm in his chest and stomach. His eyelids slowly closed and his hands automatically crawled on her waist, pulling her against himself.
Strangely, she kissed him without thinking much. Bella pulled away and stared deep into Mihaje's eyes. The look in his eyes had calmed down. She smiled.
"You can take that damn mask off when you're with me. I don't know why you have to wear it all the time, but you can be yourself in front of me." Bella whispered softly before she pressed her lips onto his again, as her hands wrapped around his neck.
*****
Loud noises in distance. Some were echoing. Screams and painful cries.
He looked around, panicking. He couldn't see his mother and father. Beasts running from all directions, some even stomped on him. He was lucky he didn't break a bone. Beastmen in black leather armors chasing after all the remaining villagers, swinging their swords, throwing their spears, and shooting arrows, laughing hysterically as if taking lives of the weak and innocent were justified.
He ran without direction, calling out to his mother and father. He remembered they had told him to run and never look back. Tears streamed down his chubby cheeks. The hut he used to call home was now gone, burnt into ashes.
Fire.
Fire everywhere.
He stumbled over a carcass. He whimpered as he glanced around. There were carcasses of dead tiger beastmen scattered everywhere, all around him. He recognized them... The uncle who taught him how to hunt. The neighbors whose cubs were his best friends... They were all dead. Most of their throats were slashed open. Some died of Blood Snake's venom. He was terrified, he didn't know what to do. But he knew that he must save himself, so he mustered all his strength to get up on his small feet.
He heard his mother's cry. Somewhere. He cried, calling out to her. A huge red snake slithered in front of him, sticking out its black forked tongue.
"Do not cry, young cub," it said, "You will be with your father soon enough."
Its guttural voice rang in his ear. Cold and terrifying. He turned around and ran. Several pale skinned beastmen chased after him, throwing spears to stop him from running.
"Run like a little coward you are..." The red snake cracked. Its laughter was sinister.
He managed to avoid the spear that had almost thrust into him. But he didn't stop. He knew that if he did, he would end up just like the other cubs. Taken away. Or killed on the spot.
He didn't even look back anymore.
No. He will not. He will live.
And come back stronger.
*****
Bella soaked herself in the wooden bathtub, gazing blankly into the water. She clasped her own cheeks, groaning loud.
"What the fuck that I just did?"
She groaned again, slapping the water. It splashed onto her face.
Bella turned around when she heard footsteps coming. The servants came in bringing her clothes.
"Lady Bella, Lord Tayen asked for you to join him in mealtime." One of the female servants said before leaving her chamber.
Tayen... She hadn't seen him for weeks now.
Many questions lingered in her head. But she knew she couldn't ask Tayen about it. Deep down she felt Tayen was not who he appeared to be.
Bella got out from the tub and prepared herself to join him for dinner.
Mihaje had left her room hurriedly after that kiss they shared. He didn't show up during her evening walk. It was as though he was avoiding her.
"Why did I kiss him?" She mumbled to herself, "It's not like I'm in love with him or something..."
She liked Gaharu. She was aware of that. Even though he was shameless and bipolar. Even though she didn't want to show it. She knew her heart well.
She somehow felt like a two-timing bitch.
Mihaje's eyes... It was so sad she felt it in her.
What the hell had he gone through...?
Did she kiss him out of sympathy? It could be it.
Bella shook her head vigorously, shaking off her silly thoughts. She then left her room.
In the dining hall.
Tayen was already there. He flashed his polite smile when he noticed her arrival.
"You looked a lot better," Bella said, returning the smile, "how's your recovery?"
"Going well." He replied, gesturing her to sit down.
Bella stared at his face. The skin of his face was now smooth and his perfect facial features could make any female fall hard just by looking at him. If he was in her world, he would be a damn hot supermodel. Strangely, Bella saw a resemblance in Tayen and her ex-boyfriend. Probably because he was Asian-like? Her ex could be brothers with the snake, she thought again, since her ex was just as treacherous as a snake, cheated on her behind her back. With her stepsister!
Although Mihaje and Tayen were identical twins, Bella couldn't see Mihaje in Tayen. The feelings they gave her were both so entirely different.
She felt comfortable being around Mihaje, similar to how she was comfortable being around Sora and Satria.
But Tayen... Even sitting facing him like now felt so distance. She couldn't guess what he's thinking.
After the meal, Tayen had asked Bella to join him for a walk.
"I apologize for not being able to accompany you during your time here." He said while on their walk. His pace was slow, allowing Bella to walk side by side with him.
Bella smiled back, shaking her head slightly,
"It's okay."
"What do you normally do during your free time? Back in your world, I mean."
"Hm... Nothing. I don't have a specific hobby that I like to do. Anything that I feel like doing."
Tayen chuckled.
"Bella," he called, "there is a ceremony of thanking the ancestors being held at the Great Shrine tomorrow, would you like to join me?"
Ceremony of thanking the ancestors... Baghacheroamni?

Bella recalled Abnaki had mentioned that kind of ceremony to her before they were ambushed by Mihaje and his troops.
"Bella?" Tayen called again. He had bent down slightly so that he could see her face better.
Bella gasped when she realized Tayen's face was close.
"What are you thinking? You were not listening." He let out a polite smile.
"Sorry, I was wondering... Will the ceremony have living sacrifices as offerings to the warrior gods?" She asked.
"Why, yes."
"I don't see why sacrifices are necessary-"
"It is. The warrior gods must bless us with more victory." Tayen's voice was stern. But he immediately changed his tone and smiled, "If you do not wish to see such brutality, we can leave before that."
Bella almost scoffed. She then smiled back,
"Sure."
She felt the chill in her bones. What was that? Although it was only split seconds, she was sure she saw bloodlust in his eyes.
*****