[CHAPTER 20: THE HUMAN AND THE EAGLE]
It started to snow. He glanced over the carcasses covered in thin white fabrics that were lying on the ground and placed into two rows. He then gazed up at the darkened sky. He had heard from his subordinates who had reported to him about the sudden deaths of several villagers.
"Has general Sutakin been informed?" Garuda turned to the raven soldiers, Kin and Saroshi, who reported the matter.
"Yes, general. He wanted us to tell you to be careful not to engage with the villagers. We do not know who else is infected."
Garuda drew in a deep breath, pursing his lips tight. It is happening again. Garuda's hands clenched into tight fists, feeling his own claws piercing into his palms. Five years ago, when the snow days began, there was a sudden illness that occurred in eagle mountain, killing numerous of them eagles. While the eagles were at the verge of extinction, they were attacked. And that ferocious attack had eliminated the whole clan. All except him.
Why was he the only one that was spared? He often wondered why.
But why his clan? Was it because of the incident eight years ago? Was that tiger really that ruthless to hold grudge over such trivial matter? Who never suffered in this world? Everyone suffered. But no one holds grudges like that despicable tiger do.
"Should you not kill me as well? After all, I am an eagle too." He spoke silently to himself, as he stared blankly into the sky before he spread open his magnificent pair of wings. He turned to his subordinates,
"I am going to the west village to meet with general Sutakin before heading back to the castle. Burn all the deceased and evacuate the area."
*****
It was cold at night. She could not see the snow through her window because it was dark outside her window.
Bella had sobered up from the liquor. She stared at the ceiling of her chamber. Only one torch was burning at a corner and her room appeared dim.
Borius had asked her to be his female earlier. She asked for some time.
Seriously, why was she considering? Shouldn't she reject immediately? It's not like she liked him.
Urgh! Make up your fuckin' mind, Bella Montgomery!

Why does all these beastmen she encountered want her to be their mate? Things wouldn't be this complicated if she was in the human world-- her world, where everything makes sense.
The guys in her world would never look at her as though she was the only woman exist, because there were plenty of pretty girls aside from her. Prettier, even. But here...
It was totally different. Here, she was the center of attention, a feeling which she disliked the most. She was often viewed as the weird and preferred to be alone type.
Bella jolted when she heard a knock on her window. She got up to see and yelped when Garuda's face popped out from the slightly opened window.
"What the fuck, Garuda!" She scolded, "What the fuck were you doing outside my window?!" She smacked him hard on his arm when Garuda made his way into her room through the window, grinning.
"I was flying in the snow. It was so cold, my wings were freezing." Garuda chuckled.
"So you decided to come in to my room through the window?" She said mockingly, shaking her head.
"Are you not happy to see me?" Garuda wiggled his wings to get the snow off him. Bella squinted her eyes at him, hissing when several cold drops sprinkled on her face.
"You're disturbing my thoughts." Bella mumbled, averting her eyes when she saw Garuda taking off his armor, "What are you doing?"
"Taking my armor off, why? Oh, you have not seen me naked before." Garuda flashed out a naughty smirk.
Bella scoffed at his words. This damned eagle was really as shameless as Gaharu. She watched as Garuda took off the last piece of his armor and tossed it on the floor. He then threw himself on her bed, making himself comfortable.
Bella stared at Gaharu's legs when he kicked his high leather boots off. She noticed how huge the size of his boots were. His lower body looked very much normal, but he had yellow scales from his lower calves to his anisodactyl feet. He had four huge talons that looked so sharp as if it could pierce into anything.
Why bother wearing boots? It must be uncomfortable, with feet like that. Bella wondered, yet she didn't ask.
"Shouldn't you be in your own room?"
"I want to be with my female." Garuda nonchalantly said.
"When did I become your female?!"
"If you are not, then why did we do such an intimate act earlier?" Garuda came close, his tall perfect figure along with his enormous wings casting a huge shadow on Bella.
Bella gasped and took a step back when Garuda bent down slightly to look her in the eyes. His striking yellow irises seemed glowing as his pupils dilated. He let out a soft chuckle as he raised a hand to pinch her chin gently. Her face was so adorably small, even his palm was way bigger than her face.
"It is your fault, you know. Why do you keep appearing in my head? I have to punish you for hindering me from conducting my responsibility."
Bella's face twitched in disbelief. What the fuck? What kind of lame pickup line was that?

"Garuda, stop messing around, go back to your own chamber. I need my sleep, it's fuckin' cold and-"
Before she knew it, Garuda had pressed his lips onto hers. Bella withdrew a shuddering breath in between the kisses. Fuck, I'll be damned... He's undeniably a great kisser.
Bella felt Garuda's hand crawl up to cup the back of her neck as he sucked her lips dominantly. He slipped his tongue in when she parted her lips to catch her breath. He had never done it before, but he did it so naturally. He was surprised by his own action as well, on how his body moved naturally according to what he was feeling.
"Hm..." A soft moan escaped Bella's mouth when one of Garuda's hands glided up on her ribcage, reaching for her chest.
The hand that was cupping her head slid down to her buttocks before sweeping her off her feet. Bella let out a short yelp when Garuda lifted her up. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Bella..." Garuda's voice was low, it was soft but sexy at the same time. As he placed her on the bed, he hovered above her before leaning down to kiss her again.
"Wait, I'm not ready for whatever that's in your mind right now..." Bella stopped him, placing her hands on his firm muscular chest, slightly pushing him away.
Garuda stared at her face for a while, figuring her facial expression. She was blushing a delightful shade of crimson, even from the dim light of only one burning torch, he could see her clearly.
He smiled at her before leaning down to brush his nose on the side of her face. He was already hard and everything, but if she didn't want to do it, he would not force her.
"Mind if I stay for the night?" He asked as he rolled over to her side.
"Um, sure...?" She answered it hesitantly.
Garuda pulled her close to himself, letting her head to rest on his arm as he embraced her.
"Did something happen?" Bella asked. She realized that he wasn't being himself. He looked disturbed all of a sudden.
"It was nothing. I just suddenly thought about the past. It happens, sometimes."
"Regarding what?"
"I had a brother, but that brother turned against me."
Bella raised her face to look at Garuda when she felt him sighing softly.
"I thought you're the only eagle left."
"I am. He is not an eagle, but a beast from a different clan. He was my sworn brother."
"I see... So, he's still alive?" Bella asked again.
"I wish he was dead."
Bella stayed quiet for a while. She could feel the hatred in his voice. Whoever that beast was, he had surely caused a great pain to Garuda.
"Then why do you still think about him?" She questioned again after staying quiet for several seconds.
"I just cannot understand how someone could change so drastically? He used to be so kind and cheerful."
Bella's eyes moved to watch Garuda's expression again. There was disappointment and anguish in his eyes. Even with the dim light, she could see it clearly.
"Perhaps you didn't know that he was hurting inside, alone. You probably don't know what he has been through."
"Everyone has a past. Everyone had suffered. But that does not give you the right to take lives of innocence."
Well, he's right...
"That brother of yours must've killed a lot of innocent lives to make you hate him so much..."
"He killed my whole clan." Or what's left of his clan. Half of the eagle population had succumbed to the illness.
Bella blinked several times, trying to process his words. The one who killed the entire eagle clan was Gaharu, wasn't it? Wait, is he talking about... Gaharu??
"You were... Friends with Gaharu?"
Garuda turned his face to stare at hers. She looked shocked.
"He was my sworn brother. We grew up together."
"Whaaaat...?!"
Garuda then told her how he had found Gaharu hiding in a small cave when he was out wandering around the mountain as a fledgling. He had no friends, his family was killed when the snake clan attacked his village. He and Gaharu suffered the same fate and so they had become friends. But years later, Gaharu was caught, and he was not allowed there as he was a fugitive. He was thrown away from the eagle mountain and Garuda was heavily punished. Garuda then was forced into labor. Years after that incident, they met again when Gaharu led his army of leopards and tigers to conquer the eagle mountain and killed the remaining eagles. Back then, Garuda was a commoner. He stood no chance against Gaharu who had become very skilled in fighting. He was wounded, but unharmed. He knew Gaharu had spared his life. Even in their previous battle by the river in Ra territory, Garuda knew that the tiger had spared him. That tiger could have killed him easily if he wanted. Gaharu had wounded him severely in their last fight, yet he avoided hitting Garuda's vital points and internal organs.
Bella thought long after listening to Garuda's story. No wonder there was a similarity in their way of talking. From his tone of voice, Garuda's feelings towards Gaharu were more to disappointment than hatred. Bella's delicate hand reached out and gently stroked his firm muscular chest, as if comforting him.
"Do you hate him?" She asked.
"I detest him. He is my mortal enemy. The next time I see him, it will be his demise."
Bella silently scoffed. Garuda was obviously lying. Firstly, he couldn't possibly defeat Gaharu. There was a huge gap in their strength. Secondly, even if Garuda was capable of defeating Gaharu, he probably wouldn't do so.
Garuda was softhearted compared to Gaharu. She realized their differences.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Garuda asked when he noticed Bella was staring at his face.
"Nothing."
Garuda flashed his naughty smirk as he spun around and trapped her underneath him. He immediately leaned down to kiss her delicious lips passionately.
Bella once again placed her hands against his muscular chest to push him but Garuda caught one of her hands and slowly pulled her hand down to his crotch.
He was very hard and hot.
Feeling his erection in her hand made her blood go rushing up to her face. Bella immediately gasped.
"Garuda! You shameless-"
Garuda didn't give her the chance to curse. He chuckled as he playfully bit on her lower lip, before kissing her again. His kiss was so domineering, it made her whole body turn limp.
Garuda let out a quiet grunt as he continued to kiss her endlessly. He moved her hand stimulatingly against himself, perking up the heat within him. He was getting harder and harder by the second. Bella jerked her hand back and tried to push him away but his mouth had no intention of leaving her lips. Instead, Garuda's hand changed its target and was reaching down for her breasts.
Bella gasped when Garuda's lips went for her neck. Her neck was her most sensitive spot. Her weakness.
"Ah..." She accidentally let out a soft moan when Garuda sucked on the delicate skin of her neck.
"Gaharu, wait..."
... Gaharu?!
Garuda froze. He leaned back and stared at her flushed red face. Did he hear it wrong? No, he didn't. He was sure of it. She called out the tiger's name.
Bella bit her lips. Her lips were red and slightly swollen because of his kisses. She was dumbfounded. She didn't just call out Gaharu's name, now did she? This is fucked up. I fucked up. She wouldn't call out the tiger's name if it weren't for Garuda who mentioned him just now. Why the hell did you have to bring him up? I wouldn't have call out the wrong name if it weren't for you mentioning him, and also, can't blame me wholely. Your names are confusing sometimes! 
"Did you... And Gaharu..." Garuda let out a silent scoff. He could not believe what a fool he was. He should have thought of it.
Bella had stayed in Ra for several moons. It only makes sense if Gaharu had made her his female.
There was anger, disappointment, confusion, and frustration in his striking yellow eyes. He looked at her with a painful gaze, as if she had broken his heart into a million pieces.
"Garuda, it's not what you think..." Bella grabbed his wrist when he got off the bed.
She never liked him. And she probably never will. Because she was with Gaharu. How foolish he was.
"It's not what you think," Bella firmly repeated her words, "I'm no one's female."
Garuda remained stiff and silent. He was still back facing her. Bella gazed at his back and his magnificent wings. She got up and embraced him from the back, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her fingers felt his firm abdomen underneath the shirt he was wearing. Her face buried into his wings. The feathers were not fluffy at all. They were hard, smooth, and warm.
"I don't belong to anyone."
I don't belong to any of you, beastmen. ...Not yet.
Garuda spun around and clasped her face, his lips parted open slightly as he leaned down and overbearingly kissed her swollen red lips. He wanted her.
He wanted her so badly, it didn't matter anymore who's side she's on.
*****
"Hm..."
She woke up when the sun stung its light in her eyes. She forgot that she left her windows open last night when Garuda came in through the window. It was so bright outside. The snow had stopped.
Bella rubbed her eyes. It should be freezing because she had left her windows open for the whole night. But she didn't feel cold. Her bed was warm. Bella turned around to find Garuda beside her, sleeping with his tummy down. He was shirtless, and one of his wings was spread open, covering her body like an extra blanket.
When she saw his eyelashes moved, she reached out her hand to touch the side of his face,
"Good morning." She said, beaming her beautiful smile at him.
Garuda didn't reply, instead, he pulled her body closer and planted kisses on her neck and her sexy collarbone.
"Maybe we should start off our morning with a little vigorous exercise?" Garuda turned her around as he hovered above her.
"What vigorous exercise? Do you want to get your dick cut off?!"
Garuda chuckled when Bella shot her murderous glare at him. He leaned down to kiss her sensuous lips before getting out of the bed.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked, stretching his huge wings before he bent down to pick his shirt on the floor.
His sexy eight pack abdomen was alluring. His waist appeared slender, but when he has no shirt on, his abs was remarkably sexy. Bella squinted her eyes as she watched him putting on his shirt and armor.
"I know you did." Bella replied, combing her hair using her fingers.
Her long black shiny hair fell to her back as she brushed her hair over her shoulder. Garuda leered at her neck where he had left his mark last night. She insisted on not doing it with him. But it was alright to leave his mark on her, right?
"By the way, Garuda... Help me with this," Bella went to the bedside table and took out the scroll Raneki had given her before, "what does this say?"
Garuda went to her side and sat down on the bed, his eyes narrowed to where her beautiful slender finger were pointing at.
"Death." He answered, shortly.
"Of course. And this?" Bella pointed at another word.
"The beginning."
Bella stared at the scroll for a very long time. She could read it now. But the problem was that she couldn't understand what it was saying,
... The one who will destroy this world will come. She who emerge from the deepest water. Death will follow after.
Violent catastrophe is drawing near. She will be the downfall, the savior of all. She will end the night. The beginning of light.

Bella bit her lower lip, thinking hard. What the fuck does that even mean?
"This is absurdity." Bella sighed, placing the scroll back to the bedside table.
"I need to get back to the camp." Garuda went to the opened window and peered outside, as though worried that someone might see him coming out of Bella's window.
"Lord Borius will probably head back to the Wolf Palace today. He will want to bring you along, Zov is safer than here. I will see you in a few days, Bella."
He gave her a long passionate kiss before  he dived out of the window. Bella scratched her scalp as she stared blankly at the opened window. Safer? From what?

"Huh...?"
*****