Reaper's Word

Chapter 19: Three Days Earned

Clair was on her stomach when she woke, and she had slept remarkably well. She figured it was the soft bed that had made the difference. Her dreams had been fairly messed up and twisted. At times she hadn't even been sure they were truly hers, but Isaiah was in all of them. How could you dream about a man that terrified you? Dream about him doing things to you? She buried her face in what she thought was the pillow for a second unsure if she wanted to laugh, cry or scream.

There was a strong smell of sandalwood and clover in her nose and something soft was against her face. Her arm was over it as well. It felt like fur, Clair came fully awake and sat straight moving away from the hell hound who lifted his head looking over his body at her. He yawned, his jaws gaping fully. How she hoped those teeth never got hold of her. Jesus had she been cuddling the thing? And it had let her? As if life here couldn't get any weirder.

"Sorry." She apologized sitting there with her knees up. She didn't know what time it was but seeing Isaiah wasn't here yet it must still be early. So she must have slept only for a few hours. A few good hours that made her feel refreshed.

Beta jumped down and sat scratching behind his ear or trying to. It was very odd to see him do this. Like an ordinary animal, he let out a breath of air and tried to scratch again. Clearly it wasn't doing the job. He lowered his head to the floor and tried to rub it against the carpet. The sight of it was so ordinary, so normal that she could almost believe him to be a real dog. Granted a very large and deadly one.

Clair felt the laugh come up and out of her. She hadn't laughed since the day she'd been brought here. Nothing real at least, just a smile or two that she honestly felt. His head snapped up and he seemed to glare at her.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." He looked away from her and tried to scratch again. Clair took pity on him. He hadn't chomped on her while she slept so she guessed she could help him out.

"I could get that for you. I promise not to do anything foolish or try to harm you." He stared at her and then jumped up on the bed. He sat down right next to her, his large head facing her. She felt her mouth go dry and fear prickle down her spine in a wave. Beta was huge up close and his jaws mere inches from her, she reached forward.

"Okay, you want to make a sound when I reach the spot?" He gave a head bob and she found it very odd and slightly funny to be talking to an animal, then again she spoke to the house.

She reached behind his ear and he made a sound when she moved it slightly down. She sunk her fingers in his fur and half scratched half rubbed. His eyes closed after a moment and his head lowered. She kept a firm circular motion. His one foot moved slightly and then faster, a purr almost coming from him.

His leg stopped moving and she dropped her hand. He pawed her hand his eyes narrowed. She gave a shrug and did it again. He closed his eyes and Clair put her other hand on the other side and rubbed along the sides of his neck. Beta's ears lay flat against his head and he moved slightly closer to her. Clair found it funny but just bit her lip instead of laughing. She didn't think that laughing would be productive to her health.

She moved her hands to the front of his neck and chest. He raised his head letting out a low kind of howl, it was very quiet. She kept up the kind of massage she was doing and he left his head like that.

"You like that?" She asked him in a calm tone.

"Yes he does, very much." She jumped letting go of Beta. Turning to look at Isaiah who was standing in the doorway, just leaning against the frame.

"You continue to surprise me Clair." Beta jumped down. She moved off the bed keeping her gaze low.

"Isn't my job as your property to provide entertainment?" He thought he heard a bit of bitterness in her tone but he just gave a smile.

"Yes it is, that and sustenance." Her hair was slightly disheveled and her clothes askew. It just added to her appeal. Beta moved over to him, there were waves of contentment and something close to happiness coming from him.

‘Let's not kill her just yet.’ He said via mind and Isaiah looked at him.

"No, not yet." He moved for Beta to go out. He was hungry and having Clair next to him all night long hadn't helped the need. Though it seemed she wasn't as much as a desire to the hell hound as she was to him. Isaiah couldn't help but look her over. The clothes she was wearing did not do her justice.

"How do you talk to them?" She asked her gaze still not meeting his.

"In my own way, very complicated creatures they are."

"Nothing is ever simple. The moment you believe you have figured it out something unexpected comes along." She commented in a kind of sigh.

were sent to me." Isaiah agreed. "Come, we are going to the caves." Her head snapped up and

the look it seemed she hadn't meant to say that, but she moved forward to the

go

the grounds." Clair said, moving past him into the hall. He noted that she made a quick movement around him to get out of reach. Not that he would grab her, wouldn't do so well

He ordered and she did. They went through the house to the right side where he chose a flight down and took a left. The hall

to him and he pulled her close to him but then turned around. He placed her hand on

hole, you will stay very

her hand on

she moved with him, it did get very dark. And soon she couldn't even make him out in front of her. She used one hand to

she did as well. A couple times

hold so tight to him anymore and then she could hear the roar of a waterfall. They came out on a

the edge and she looked in awe around the cave hall. It was massive and there were ledges and tons of odd stalactites and stalagmites, all different colors and sizes. The waterfall didn't look that large but it

a lake was brilliant shades of blues and greens. Vegetation was coming down and over the large hole above and growing along the walls of the cave as well. She saw small

flat area and what looked like a door in the cave wall. Another entrance to the house. It was open and two of the hell hounds were down there curled up. Where they were led to the

the cave where light spilled in, illuminating the island at the moment and water. Its tail was very

down and her hair veiling her face. The other arm was bent outward from elbow to shoulder but her left hand hovered level at her down turned face. It was an odd scene. Like she was waiting for something, an instruction to twist around or move. The dragon while it looked up seemed very

far do the caves

still very active. This is what I want you to draw Clair. Because I want an image of this room in the

noted that she sounded excited, her scent spiking slightly as it had in the bedroom. When he'd opened the door he'd found her just sitting there petting Beta.

mumbling to herself and shaking her head slightly then looked down. She

to draw this. She seemed to get excited about drawing. How he got excited about music. To each his

the wall. "You have till nightfall." He turned and went back through the tunnel to the house. Clair just gave him a glance. She could do this in less than that time. She just had to make sure that it met his

back her hair and started. She really emphasized

sticks along with white contie crayon to give extra contrast. The waterfall was a bit more difficult but she felt very satisfied by it when she finished it, and moved on to

on the drawing for hours. She wasn't sure what time she started, but there was still a good amount of light. Looking down she noted that the hell hounds were all there

was worried that even though she was satisfied with it, though she felt perhaps she could fix a few things,

an opinion please." She requested. From here it was hard to tell who was who but one turned and darted off. Then the other

wanted, she just needed one and she preferred it to be Beta. She tinkered with it while she waited and not five minutes later Beta came from the tunnel and loped over to her.

promise was being upheld. Zeta looked at the lower right corner

She put it back up as this was what

padded over to one side and laid down staring at the image. After a minute the other two moved and laid down on the ledge too, watching her. She pulled out the

and they quieted. After a while she rolled it back up and took another sheet of paper out, and secured it to the board. There was still plenty of time that she was

focused on where the waterfall entered the pool catching the ripples and splashing. The waterfall was white and grey with a slight dark blue tint behind it. The pool was a sharp green with

the dragon's head looked ever so slightly lower than earlier. She stared at the woman statue

You couldn't be this close to such a predator and not feel

paw and hit her wrist. She glanced at Beta who was

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