The Spoilt Beauty And Her Beasts-Chapter 558: We are leaving

The path downward curved like the spine of some ancient creature, thin and jagged and coated with pale dust that shimmered faintly when the wind touched it. Isabella walked ahead with her fan in one hand. Osiris walked behind her with the same silent worry he always carried now, even if she refused to acknowledge it.

The mountain stretched endlessly above them. Endless stone walls. Endless jagged peaks. Endless cliffs that dropped into nothingness. It was as if the world was daring her to fall.

But this cliff, the one near the mountain’s entrance, was different.

It was huge. Open. The sky curved across it like a giant dome of silver. The wind here was quiet, almost respectful, like it knew this cliff held secrets.

Isabella stopped when her map blinked the glowing word:

Location Reached

She inhaled slowly. Her heartbeat was steady at first.

Then it wasn’t.

She looked at the task again.

Ghostshade Bark.

Found on the bark of the translucent Ghostshade tree near the cliff edge.

Note: Only a woman who has cried for another’s death can see the tree.

At first, she expected the search to take hours.

She expected to cry out of frustration before she cried out of memory.

But then she lifted her gaze.

And froze.

The tree was right there.

Standing quietly at the very cliff she had spilled blood beside.

The same tree she had leaned against after killing the deer for Glimora.

The same tree she stood under when she first walked onto this mountain.

The same tree she never questioned, never looked twice at, never considered unnatural.

Of course she could see it.

Of course it had been in front of her.

She had cried for the friend she lost long before she arrived here.

A lump rose in her throat so fast she almost choked. She swallowed it down, swallowed the burning ache, swallowed the growing trembling in her hands.

Osiris watched her quietly. He sensed the shift in her energy. He stepped closer, though not too close because Isabella was unpredictable and she might stab him just for existing.

But she said nothing to him. She moved toward the tree, one slow step at a time, as if approaching an altar. Her fingers trembled slightly when she touched the bark.

It was cool. Smooth. Glowing faintly like moonlit glass.

She found the translucent patches easily. She pressed her dagger into the bark and sliced carefully. Slowly. Respectfully. She only took enough. Never too much. The bark peeled away in thin, shimmering sheets that curled in her palms like fragile petals.

She placed them gently into her space.

Done.

She should have walked away.

She should have turned around, lifted her chin, and marched forward to the last task like a queen who feared nothing.

But she didn’t.

Because the moment she stepped back, the mountain wind shifted and the world seemed to tilt. Her chest tightened. Her breath turned sharp. Her feet refused to move.

Her vision blurred.

And then she saw her.

Her dead best friend.

Her laughing face.

Her warm smile.

Her teasing voice.

Her soft hand tugging Isabella along whenever she hesitated.

And then she saw the fight.

The ugly words.

The yelling.

The storm of emotions that neither of them meant.

The way Isabella had walked away, angry and hurt.

The way her friend had chased after her.

The way fate had stolen her away before Isabella could say sorry.

Her knees gave out.

Just collapsed.

She folded onto the cold earth with no grace at all.

Her hands covered her face.

And she broke.

She cried so hard the world shook.

She cried so hard her chest hurt.

She cried so hard it felt like the cliff and the sky and the air were crying with her.

Osiris’ entire body froze.

He had never seen her cry in front of him.

Never like this.

Never so broken.

Never so small.

He moved toward her instinctively.

He hesitated only once, but the sound she made broke every doubt he had.

A quiet hurt sound.

A sound that stabbed him.

He dropped to his knees behind her.

Glimora crawled into her lap, squeaking little worried noises.

Isabella pressed her face into her hands and sobbed harder.

"I never said goodbye," she choked. "I never told her I was sorry. I never told her I loved her. I left her. I left her and she died. She died and I was angry at her. What kind of friend does that. What kind of person does that."

Osiris reached out slowly. His hands hovered for a second. Then, finally, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her gently into his chest.

She stiffened.

She always stiffened when he touched her.

But right now, there was no strength in her to fight.

She melted against him.

Her tears soaked into his clothes. Her body shook violently. She gripped his arms without meaning to, like she needed something to hold onto or else she would fall apart completely.

Osiris lowered his head beside her ear.

He whispered softly.

"You did not kill her."

Isabella shook her head wildly.

"She died angry at me. She died thinking I hated her. I did not even get to say sorry. I did not get to see her one last time. I should have told her. I should have told her everything."

Osiris tightened his arms around her.

"You loved her," he said. "She knew."

"She did not," Isabella sobbed. "She did not. She was alone. She was alone when she died. And she thought her best friend abandoned her. I hate myself. I hate myself so much."

Osiris swallowed. His chest felt tight in a way he did not understand.

"You are not a bad person," he said, voice low. "You are not heartless. You are not cruel. You feel too much. You care too much. That is why it hurts."

She covered her face again, crying harder.

He held her through every tear.

Glimora pressed her forehead gently to Isabella’s cheek, whining softly.

The world around them grew silent.

Even the wind softened.

Minutes passed.

Maybe hours.

Time blurred.

Eventually, the sobs slowed.

Her breathing evened out.

Her trembling faded.

Isabella wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her eyes were swollen, red, exhausted.

Osiris didn’t let go until she shifted slightly. He loosened his grip but didn’t pull away completely.

She stared at the ground.

Quiet.

Raw.

Empty.

Then she whispered.

"...Thank you."

Osiris froze.

His breath stopped.

Isabella had never thanked him.

Not once.

She looked fragile.

Soft.

Human in a way she never allowed herself to be.

Osiris lowered his gaze and nodded once, unable to find words.

The moment lingered.

Quiet.

Warm in the cold air.

Finally, Isabella pushed herself gently out of his arms. She stood up slowly, brushing dirt from her legs. Glimora scurried onto her shoulder.

She took one last look at the Ghostshade tree.

Then she turned toward the mountain entrance.

"We are leaving," she said quietly.

Osiris stood up beside her. He didn’t argue. He didn’t tease her. He didn’t speak.

Not now.

They walked toward the final path together.

Side by side.

A little closer than before.

A little less like enemies.

Not yet lovers.

But something had shifted.

Something had begun.

And Isabella didn’t even realize it.