Reaper's Word

Isaiah moved down the halls of the house. He'd heard shouting and screaming somewhere. He figured that some of the humans were fighting or something. That would happen from time to time. The scream had been female and he thought that he recognized it. He found where the screams came from.

Isaiah stood looking at a shattered window. It was mending at the moment, to which he raised an eyebrow. A few specks of blood that were slowly fading into the woodwork told him who was here. He smelled Gustav, Mario, an unknown female, and Clair.

Had it been her that had screamed? He opened the door to the room but it was empty and recently so, Gustav and his little followers. He was thinking of killing the man quickly. He found him rather annoying in his control of the other humans. Not much fun to play with when they were mindless. He also didn't like the thought that he might have Clair.

She was his property to play with, not Gustav's. If he found the man and Clair wasn't in perfect condition there would be hell to pay. He didn't scent her anywhere else near where the group had headed to. He surmised that she must have gotten away from them. He was pretty sure that it was her blood that he smelled, because normally he wouldn't have caught her scent. Now that it was there, she most likely wasn't with them.

Good, he'd be a bit disappointed if she'd managed to get caught by the lowly group of humans and not by him. He moved down the hall and just let his feet take him where he wanted to go. He was completely full at the moment.

As were the hell hounds. They were now short twenty two humans. Which left a whole twelve wandering around the house. Though he wouldn't be all that hungry for some time to come. Not with the way that he'd fed, and he'd fed from more than just four. He left their bodies for the hell hounds to have. He just kind of aimlessly wandered from the scene. Not really thinking he was going to find anything interesting anyways.

He found himself looking up a set of stairs that went up to the roof. He hadn't been up there in a long time. Sometimes he could go out, sometimes he couldn't depending on his thoughts. He figured why not try it today? He was well fed so if he started to bleed it wouldn't be so bad. He had the urge to do so.

He just wanted something new. A different view, different air. He wasn't looking to leave. He reached the door and opened it. He stepped out into the bright light and blinked his eyes trying to adjust. The air out here smelled so much cleaner. It was a relief after the months of not having come outside.

Isaiah looked at his arms, no liaisons. He touched the corner of his eye and looked at his hand. He was relieved that there was no blood. So he could be out here today and have nothing to worry about. He moved along the roof and heard what sounded like scratching.

Then a voice, a feminine one and he recognized it. He glanced to the right and saw Clair sitting on the edge of the building. A board and paper in her hand and she was going at the paper like it had wronged her. He stood there for a second because this was not what he expected to find.

Nor that the house hadn't hindered him. He glanced around unsure for a second that something wasn't hiding in wait. Then looked back at Clair. Isaiah took a second look around the roof. He almost felt like this was a joke. It felt too easy and that made it surreal. He could but stand there for the moment. Did he just randomly come across her, how simple.

"Should have stabbed the asshole the second I saw him." She said to herself. "Hope the other guy limps for a week, not to mention that woman." She reached up and touched her face and then sighed. She kept at the paper and her movements slowed a bit.

Isaiah was highly interested now. She seemed absorbed in what she was doing. He moved around and behind her on the roof, making no noise. He was standing just behind her looking down over her shoulder. His head tipped to the side slightly as he contemplated the drawing and her.

He watched as she drew the fountain from above. He saw no reason to disrupt her and wanted to watch. Wasn't like she was really going anywhere now. He had nothing but time in this house, and she was an enigma at the moment. Besides, he felt satisfaction watching her and she didn't know. Just like she'd been doing to him.

Her hand was fluid over the paper she used both hands. One holding a pencil and the other a white paper stick of some kind and eraser. He didn't move just stood there watching the image on the paper come to life. He was easily consumed by watching her draw. There was something mesmerizing about it to be honest.

It was fascinating to watch her work. There was clearly something more to drawing than just a natural skill. It was how she perceived things. She had the fountain drawn and moved on to the roses, but she changed it a bit. The fountain still had water in it but it didn't come from the top like down below. Instead she had vines growing around and over it.

She was quick with the flowers, a practiced hand. Then she started around it. He was stunned by the devastation that she drew around it. Like a city that was in ruins and burning. It gave a very deep feeling of hopelessness and yet it was serene.

She would set things down next to her in a tray. Then grope for the pencil type she wanted while using her eraser or white stick. He didn't know how long they were up here for, but he didn't mind. What else exactly was he going to do? Nothing he hadn't done a thousand times already. This was different and she wasn't going anywhere. He didn't always kill someone the instant he came up on them. This was one of those times. She didn't look anywhere but at the garden a few times and the paper before her. The image was very nearly done as the sun was sinking lower.

"Just a few more minutes." She said to no one in particular. She pulled her hair to one side, tipping her head to stare at the picture. He noted that along the exposed skin of her cheek there was bruising and on her drawing wrist as well.

Obviously she'd had a confrontation with them. He frowned slightly, he did not like that she wasn't as he'd seen her last. If something was going to change about her, he'd be the one to do it. He made a note to find those that had been in the hall and deal with them.

The sun touched the mountain peaks to the west and she made a frustrated sound working at one part in particular. He didn't see what was wrong with it but she seemed very angered by it.

"Damn." She snapped and set it down. He found it comical that she would talk to herself this way. Clair raised her head and looked at the trees. She closed her eyes and gave a very deep sigh. Isaiah moved slightly and crouched down next to her.

"You are very talented."

didn't scream or lash out at him. Then again she was sitting on the very edge of the house. Though he wouldn't put it past a few humans to jump to their death to avoid the way that he would

watching him with a wary eye. He always liked her calm response. She was bracing herself slightly for what he might do to her. He did notice that she glanced a bit around them. He didn't know why she bothered. She wasn't escaping this time. He appreciated that she stayed calm and didn't do

to kill you, yet. If I'd wanted to do that I would have done it while I

quiet voice. She seemed to be fighting a bit of a

I've seen most of your drawings. They are very pleasing and annoying at the same time. Where is it that you seem to watch me

you think you can't, and that is why you are asking me? A game you can't win." She played that card very well. She had figured out a bit of his character. If he forced her to answer him he would admit that she had beaten him. He did not like to lose, especially to a human. She wasn't better

for less than

should just stare at him. Let him think what he wanted. It was disturbing to her to have been watched and not known it. Then again she'd done it to him. She was relieved that he hadn't just dragged her off and killed her straight away.

and the drawing. He looked at it, his

do you draw

could." She answered

yet unknown joke to those who saw the image she would draw for him. She was going to draw the only exit the house

get if I draw it for

up at the darkening sky, and they went to the door that was closest to the studio. She followed him down to the studio room and he stopped outside the door. He pointed to it and the door opened. He handed her the image and she took it.

done in charcoal. Grab whatever

What or why you'd even offer." She said moving into the room and putting the things away. He stayed out of the room in the doorway. This was her room really and when she was in it, he didn't feel that

Beta, Alpha, and Zeta. I see that you know their names."

you learn mine.I

Interesting that he'd told others. Not

take them. I only put them back so you

catch me in here?" She asked not looking

say anything. She moved to the

said holding the folder. "I have a feeling I

liked trying to figure her out. He hadn't found where she was hiding yet. He wanted to know

because he didn't think he could learn her skill. But she still had a bit of time. She had gotten his attention so he wasn't ready to dispose of

exactly what it was that he wanted. She came to the door with her supplies and a new canister with several pieces of clean paper. Isaiah made a low whistle and a minute later, Alpha came running down the hall toward them. Clair stiffened and

"Nervous?"

She asked

know which

and she gave them to him. Alpha opened his mouth and took the strap and box in his jaws. Clair listened while this

"What am I drawing?"

your eyes aren't that good." He said,

then?" She asked and he sensed the spike of fear in her. Still she did nothing to attack, didn’t even sound

more than just doing what you are naturally good at. We are going to the piano room." She just gave a nod. He followed behind her as they

else are you talented in Clair?" She glanced at him as he opened the doors to the

"Such as?" she asked.

to play?" Isaiah was extremely fond of music and sound. Just because he wasn't human, and more than deadly, didn't mean he didn't have joys. Didn't have wants or desires along with things that made him

instantly. Even with how subtle it was. He would know everything about her. She would tell