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.

why I think you were sent to me." Isaiah agreed. "Come, we are going to

look it seemed she hadn't meant to say

can go most

into the hall. He noted that she made a quick movement around him to get out of reach. Not that he would

the right side where he chose a flight down and took a left. The hall grew odd and stony here, she could smell

his, she gave it to him and he pulled her close to him but then turned around.

a crevasse or hole, you will stay

she said though her hand on

You won't be able to see." He said and moved forward, 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 hold the back of his

walked. When he moved to the side she did as well. A couple times she had to turn

to him anymore and then she could hear the roar of a waterfall. They came out on a large ledge that

the edge and she looked in awe around the cave hall. It was massive and there were ledges and tons

of a small river coming down from above into the cave. The huge pool that could have been more like 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.

to the house. It

head tipped up and looking at the entrance to the cave where light spilled in, illuminating the island at the moment and water. Its tail was very close curling around the woman's feet that stood there. It seemed that

hovered level at her down turned face. It was an odd scene. Like she was

the caves

Unexplored and still very active. This is what I want you to draw Clair. Because I want an image

She told him. He 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. Beta had been letting

She was mumbling to herself and shaking her head slightly then looked down. She shook her head again and moved to the far side of the ledge near where Alpha

he could feel that she was excited to draw this. She seemed to get excited

"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

to herself as she tied back her hair and started. She really emphasized the light on everything. Paying very close detail to the opening and how it looked. Trying to match it exactly. Then the statue, as that felt

on to

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 now. Though every so

it, though she felt perhaps she could fix

need an opinion please." She requested.

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. From where she sat she

but hoped that the promise was being upheld. Zeta looked at the lower right corner and then down at where they had just been. In the

his head that said yes. She went to put it down and Alpha made a sound. She put it back up as this was what he seemed to want. He made a

Zeta padded over to one side and laid down staring at the image. After a minute the other two moved and laid

she rolled it back up and took another sheet of paper out,

well last night, and used the blues and greens. She really 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 blue accents the

bad. It just felt like it was waiting and looking at the statues she thought that the dragon's head looked ever so slightly lower than earlier. She stared at the woman statue and felt transfixed for a moment. Like it meant something to her. She felt a strong nudge to her arm and turned her head, Alpha

her throat. You couldn't be this close

hit her wrist. She glanced at Beta

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