Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 855: A Version Of A Man()

The ruby beast didn’t move.

It didn’t make any attempts to acknowledge that it had even heard a word she had just said. But she knew it had, she knew it understood her perfectly.

Its eyes shown with adamance and a simple message, it wouldn’t be leaving without her this time.

Neveah’s heart sank. She didn’t know what else to say. She didn’t know the right way to convince the beast to give it up...

But she knew she couldn’t leave. Not yet. Not without Eira.

"I meant it," she said again. Her voice was firmer this time, colder. "You need to go. It’s not safe here."

The ruby beast didn’t even flinch. It just stared. Like it saw straight through her cold facade and knew exactly what she was doing.

Neveah gave up the act almost instantly. She stepped closer. "Please... don’t do this. Don’t make this difficult."

Still nothing.

A mix of helplessness and frustration burned in her chest. She clenched her jaws tightly enough, they began to ache. "I’m asking you to leave, not because I don’t want you here... but because you being here puts you in danger."

And her as well...but Neveah didn’t say that. She didn’t know if she could let the beast know about Eira. She still didn’t know much about it except that it was trustworthy.

The beast finally moved. Slowly, but deliberately. It lowered itself down, crouching low with its wings pulled tight against its sides, until it was as low as it could go.

She froze.

It was a strange feeling, understanding its message without a word passed between them. There was just something else. A knowing deep within her, one she could neither doubt nor question.

The ruby beast wanted her to come with him.

Her chest tightened. The word weighed on her tongue even before she said it. "No," she whispered.

The beast tilted its head, like it couldn’t believe her response.

"I can’t." She shook her head firmly. Her voice was stronger now. "I can’t leave with you."

She didn’t say why. She wouldn’t.

Maybe because she didn’t fully understand it herself. Maybe because putting it into words would make it too real that she was right where Alessio and his cohort wanted her to be.

The beast lowered its head slowly. It could have been in understanding. She hoped it was. On the other hand, maybe it didn’t understand. Maybe it was just tired of the back and forth.

Neveah stepped closer again. She was careful this time, her steps slow and cautious.

She wasn’t terrified as she had been at their last meeting. She wasn’t even scared. But that did not change the fact that the ruby beast was fearsome, with spikes running down its mane and horns that glinted sharply.

It could smash her to bits with any part of it. It was like facing an indomitable mountain and she had nothing for protection but her belief that they were acquainted.

Despite a thousand reasons to think twice, her hand reached out before she thought it through, resting gently on its scaled head.

And then, she heard it. A deep baritone, thick with exasperation.

"Took you long enough. I was beginning to think I would have to wait all year."

She blinked. But she didn’t have the time to process its words because, before her eyes, the beast’s eyes widened, and the shift began.

She heard the crack of bones and she recoiled swiftly, lifting her hand to shield her face as a layer of dust rose from the forest floor.

Muscles pulled and reformed. Scales rippled, folding into flesh and giving way for an entirely different form.

A man... something close to it, at least. Still towering, still imposing. But very much a version of a man.

The wings stayed though, jutting out like broken limbs. Some scales also remained, scattered across his skin like wounds that hadn’t healed.

He was no longer a beast, but he was not quite a man either. Like he was stuck halfway between.

His breathing was harsh and labored. His brows were contorted and his forehead shone with a layer of perspiration. The shift had put a strain on him, it seemed.

Then he spoke again,

"Neveah."

It was just her name. But it was more than enough to confirm every uncertainty she had.

Her eyes widened. She hadn’t expected it. The sound of his voice was an echo of something she had heard so many times before.

She exhaled a shaky breath. Just watching, not daring to approach or question.

He took a step closer, or attempted to but he staggered. One leg buckled beneath him. Without thinking, Neveah reached out, catching his arms and steadying him.

He winced visibly, gritting his teeth tight enough she saw the strain in his jaw. His expression told her he was in pain. His eyes shone with it.

Her eyes scanned him quickly, but she couldn’t see where. There was no wound on him, no blood. Just visible pain.

"There’s no time..." he breathed shakily, barely getting the words out. "We need to go. Now."

"You can’t even stand," Neveah argued. "How do you expect to go anywhere?"

He tried to take a step forward, but collapsed to his knees.

She crouched beside him, her brows furrowed in worry. "You’re not well. Don’t push it."

He groaned quietly, his body shuddered visibly. It looked as if he was trying to shift again, or complete his shift and get rid of the wings. But it didn’t work. His form remained trapped in between.

"You’re hurting," she whispered, looking him over again. "But I don’t understand why. What’s wrong with you?"

He looked at her, his eyes dimming. "You don’t remember."

She didn’t answer, but guilt curled within her chest. Like she should have known... like she owed it to him to know.

"I’m not going anywhere with you," she finally said after a beat. "I just want you to be safe... I don’t know why I care. But I do."

It was the closest she could come to the truth.

She shouldn’t have felt this way. She didn’t know who he was, truth be told. But seeing him like this, broken and in pain, stirred something in her that she couldn’t shake off.

Voices echoed in the distance before she could say more.

She turned her head sharply, her eyes going wide. "It’s Alessio’s patrol. They’re coming!"

She tried to help him up but he slumped against her, his breaths still labored.

The color drained from her face. There was nowhere to hide him. The trees were too open, the clearing too exposed. And he was too weak...too weak to face them.

His hand reached out, gripping her wrist. His touch was gentle but firm. "You need to...summon a portal."

Neveah’s eyes widened. "What?!"

"A portal," he said again. "Now."

"That’s not... I’m not a witch."

His eyes locked onto hers, an urgency in them that she didn’t dare argue with. "You have to trust me. You have it in you. Even if you don’t remember."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never..."

"Please Veah," he rasped. "Try."

She hesitated. The voices were louder now. They were getting closer.

She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply.

She didn’t believe him. She didn’t believe she had magic or hidden powers or whatever he thought she was. But she knew what was coming. And she had made him shift...but in this state, he wouldn’t survive Alessio’s wrath.

So she reached within. Seeking something she didn’t know how to find, but there was a raw desperation and determination to protect him.

Something surged suddenly. Not in the forest, but within her.

The forest was not left unaffected. The air shifted and the wind grew still.

When she opened her eyes, a tear in space hovered just beside them, rippling softly.

A portal. It was an actual portal!

Her lips parted, stunned. She didn’t understand it. But it was there.

She didn’t let herself question it. There was no time to question anything.

She slipped her arms around him, pulling him toward it. He groaned, weak and barely conscious.

"You have to go," she said. "You can’t stay."

He didn’t argue. "We... come with...me."

Neveah didn’t respond. She didn’t have the response she knew he wanted. When she got him close enough, she paused.

Their eyes met and his darkened, understanding her intentions. Before he could counter, she pushed him through.

The portal sealed shut instantly, disappearing like it had never existed. The forest returned to its still silence.

A single breath later, Alessio’s voice shattered the stillness.

"Neveah."

She was caught. There was no hiding it. He already knew she had not been unconscious as she pretended to be.

But she couldn’t find it in herself to care.

Neveah didn’t move. Her hands were still trembling. Her chest still ached.

She didn’t turn to face him. Her head dipped low and she let the tears fall.