Reaper's Word

Isaiah had taken stock of those that had come into the house. This group didn't seem so bad. It looked like there might be a few that could be fun. He'd pegged four that would do whatever it took to survive. Including killing the others. He could see it in their minds. Six more were easily killed and one was already dead. He didn't put much stock in the other five for much entertainment, just substance.

There were two others who were wildcards. He couldn't read their minds so he wasn't sure how easily they could be killed off. Or what they would do to survive. One was a male close to thirty, and the other was a female in her mid-twenties. She'd been the one standing near the door when he'd appeared. So close to grab but just out of reach. He liked the ones that were a bit of a mystery. He got really fucking bored stuck in here. Had to find something to kill the time.

‘They are scattered and hiding. Fun.’ Alpha spoke mentally coming down a hall toward him. The hellhounds didn't need to feed all that often. They just liked to play with the others, but the full moon was coming. During the week before, they became very lethargic and spent their time in the caves. During the full moon they were hell bent on killing anything they could get their teeth on. Mainly because he was. Magic, he hated it.

Isaiah was also affected during that time. His senses spiking along with every human and inhuman need that he had. It was during this time that they normally killed off most of the humans. It was all part of the magic and what he was. Seeing as he really shouldn't even be on this plane of existence. That was a moot point now wasn't it?

"Try not to kill them off too fast. I'd like to have some entertainment for the next month." Alpha turned and left the room. Well, it would be a minimum of a month. He doubted they'd show sooner with more to keep him alive.

Isaiah looked up at the huge library that he stood in. The books here had been collected over time. Either from things he'd requested or things that those who came here left. He was feeling sporting at the moment, not interested in reading. More in the mood for a game. So instead of indulging in reading, which he'd pretty much read all the books in here twice, he left the room.

He'd find one of the humans to play with. Hopefully they wouldn't be too terrified or too numb to give good entertainment. He moved from the room with quick and easy strides. They really were all over the house. Normally there were a few groups. The humans liked sticking together.

Above him he heard running and judging by the weight and speed, he guessed that it was Beta moving down that hall. He went past the main staircase and then to the first door on the left. He went down the long narrow staircase and at the bottom reached up to the light fixture and turned the little knob there. This place was a maze, and he was very familiar with it. Yet time and again a new passage would show or one would disappear. Not very often, but it did. Magic did the unthinkable.

A panel slid aside and he went into the wall. Even after all this time he was still finding a few new places here and there. Mainly when the humans stumbled upon them. He had to give them credit. They were very good at finding places to get into and hide.

He came out in a room that had chairs around the walls and one wall had several different types of fencing equipment on it. Another wall had swords there as well. He'd been hit a few times by those weapons. Never a pleasant sensation, tended to just piss him off really. Did anyone like getting stabbed? No, obviously.

It looked like it was his lucky day. In here he found three humans. The male that was with the two females reached up to take a weapon and Isaiah lifted a hand. With a simple flick of it the three of them hit the floor. It was always more draining to move living things than inanimate objects. However he had a lot of practice and barely felt the drain anymore. Well, as long as he was full. Which he was.

Still, he noted that the one female didn't quite hit the floor as hard as the other. Not surprising there were those that were resistant. However he didn't sense anything more from her, and that really disappointed him. Michael was always careful. Didn't want to make a mistake did he?

They moved standing up, he recognized the brown haired female. Which was the resistant one. Her mind silent, the blonde with her was a fighter and would also do whatever it took to survive. He'd remember that later when he caught her. He looked at the male though.

"Stealing isn't very kind." He spoke moving farther into the room. The three of them inched toward the door but it slammed shut as did the others around the room.

"Neither is killing, but since you don't care about that. Can't say we should care much about your objects." This was from the brown haired woman. So she had a spine, told him she was a fighter. She and the blonde were both attractive women. Just an added bonus.

"In that case I should just do away with you now. Saves me the trouble of putting it back later." He said moving forward and they moved as well. Taking cautious steps back. Where were they really going to run? The cat had trapped the mice. Those doors were not going to open.

"What are your names?" Silent for a moment. He let out a slight irritated sound. "I asked a question, it's rude not to answer."

"James." The male said deciding it was better to answer than anger him. Isaiah moved his gaze to the brown hair woman. She didn't say anything but the blonde did.

"Laura. Clair." She supplied pointing to the dark brown haired woman.

"I'll tell you what. I'll give you my word to let you leave this room alive if you play a game with me." He said with a very slight smile.

"What's this game? How do we know your word is good?"

"I'm bound by my word. Once given I have to follow it." It wasn't like he was giving them much. He was just promising to let them leave the room alive. Once they got into the hall... He didn't explain though, because he didn't have to. They would misinterpret what they wanted.

are you?" James asked. Isaiah gave a shrug. It was pretty damn

want to play or not?" He

we have a choice."

will sit down." Isaiah told the two women. His eyes were solid black and he clearly meant what he said or else. The two sat down. Laura more slowly. Claire on the edge

could watch. James looked terribly nervous. He also had a smell of fear to him, that didn't have any effect on Isaiah, as it used to. He was so used to it. Or rather the house

what isn't

rare few that cared for the others around them. But still rarely. He knew that all of them would throw the rest under

You two are just going to watch. An audience is always fun to have." He held up his hand and two of the fencing blades came to him. Catching one in his

of course if you win." He

"If I don't?"

then." He held out the end of the one to James, he took it. James, as Isaiah knew, did have a bit of skill in fencing. He was glad to have picked him. Or rather found him in this room. It had been a very long time since there had been one with any skill. So this might be fun, something different. He had

wasn't completely disappointed at James's skill. But he was no match for him. To be fair he did know how to use the blade. Hence he was bound to let the man have his choice. He was really just feeling these humans out. He didn't hunger at the moment. Just

was fluid and parried all the blows or attempts from James. James hissed as the edge of Isaiah's blade got his arm. He jumped back, almost getting hit again by Isaiah who raised

graceful, not your sport I'm

human level for fun. Still kind of disappointed, he should have said if he could use the blade well. The end of Isaiah's

are lucky you can use it. Even if it is not well." He yanked the tip of the blade back out of his shoulder. James was looking up at him holding is bleeding shoulder. The

the room. James grabbed the one blade and ran as well. From the far door he saw

spared your wrath for five minutes." Isaiah turned and moved from the room using a different door as Beta ran out into the hall.

behind Laura. They were running to get away fast as they just got out of that room. Clair couldn't believe that she just sat there and watched them fence. Isaiah moved smoothly, and everything about him said predator. She didn't trust that what he said was fact.

them and clearly didn't think safety in numbers. The man that had forced them to watch was something else. He looked stoic most of the time but there was amusement there as well. He could have just killed them, but he hadn't. That was the scarier thing. Death was not the worst punishment, torture was

hall they had chosen. Trying to be quiet, the problem was the doors were all locked here. They needed to get out of view before that creature showed. Laura was ahead by several feet and found one

of her hand but knew it was foolish to stop. She was not going to fight with the door. She hoped that she never met that bitch again. She'd stab her for locking her out in the hall.

and saw a chute not far ahead. She hoped to god it wasn't an incinerator or something. At this point nothing would surprise her. The sound of that thing running down the hall toward her made her move faster. She could hear its claws as it came around the corner but she didn't look. She grabbed the edge of what she hoped was a huge laundry chute. Swung herself into it and started

hands as she went down. The sound of skin squeaking on metal was audible. Her shoes slipped quite a bit, but she strained her muscles so she didn't go sailing down the chute and free fall to god knew where. At this point she

looked up. The thing had managed to shove its head in but she was too far down to reach. It pulled out of the chute but she could still feel it there waiting. She couldn't hang here forever and

had to be an opening of some kind. She also hoped that it ended as well there, hard to tell it wasn't far. She pressed her back to the wall because she needed a better hold. She kicked her shoes off which was hard but she managed to jiggle them off. She slipped a little but her bare feet gave her more traction than shoes on the metal wall. Plus she

It was just a small bag. Her art case was long forgotten back in the dining room. She wasn't going back there for it. It was the last thing on her mind. With a rough breath she started her way down the chute. She was just above a large grate and used her mind to open it. For once she was glad to be

shimmied down to it. Why hadn't she thought of that with the doors? She should have mentally opened them. However she didn't practice and she’d ignored this skill. Seemed like a bad decision now. Second she was so panicked and not thinking clearly. It was clear she was going

face. She froze looking up at the middle aged man who was in decent shape, he eyed her. His brown eyes harsh and clearly not

hell did you

asshole?" Clair snapped shoving the gun out of her face. In this room were two others, besides the man with the gun. The one was coated in drying blood. The other was the wild eyed man

he knew something, he'd warned them. This fun house of horrors was something she wanted to get out of. He looked at her, the

his name, he's not human. He can do some freaky shit and those things.... They listen to him, do as he says. I know that he can't die.

head will kill anything." The man

keep him supplied with what he needs, they get immortality. I heard him get into it once with one bringing my

let's go there. The caves"

the grounds too. Not extremely far, far enough to run down anyone that gets out. And I ain't running

a way out?"

I don't know where. Only one person got out and they were torn apart by those things. It was the worst thing I've ever seen. I happened to see him round the north side of the house by the driveway. Came from out back somewhere. Barely made it ten feet." He pulled some bread from his pack and