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.

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

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

can go most

noted that she made a quick movement around him to get out of reach. Not that

a left. The hall grew odd and stony here, she could smell damp earth after a moment. The light also faded. Isaiah stopped and turned to her.

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

or hole, you will

though her hand on

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

she did as well. A couple times she had to turn sideways as instructed. She could feel that

tight to him anymore and then she could hear the roar of a waterfall.

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

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 things fly

looked like a door in the cave wall. Another entrance to the

spilled in, illuminating the island at the moment and water. Its tail was very close curling around the

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 aware of the woman statue. It's tail waiting to strike out should she make a sudden

do the caves

I want you to draw Clair. Because I want an

can do that." 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 her do it. Neither of them had realized he'd been watching them until he spoke. Beta hadn't

then looked down. She

excited to draw this. She seemed to get excited about drawing. How

the house. Clair just gave him a glance. She could do this in less than that time. She just

she was grateful for it. She picked her spot, and hummed 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

moved on to the statue’s details. She found it odd that even as the light shifted the woman always seemed to be in shadow. She would

still a good amount of light. Looking down she

an opinion she was worried that even though she was satisfied with it, though she felt perhaps she could fix a few things, was it what he wanted? It looked alive like you could touch the image.

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

while she waited and not five minutes later Beta came from the tunnel and loped over to her. From where she sat she turned the board

this what he wants?" Beta sat down as the other two came in and Clair felt very trapped but hoped that the promise was being upheld. Zeta looked at the lower right corner and then down

of motion with 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 slight sound again. His large head looking up at the

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 fixative

she rolled it back up and took another sheet of paper out, and secured it to the board. There was still plenty of time

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

at the statues she thought that the dragon's head looked ever so slightly lower than earlier. She stared at the woman

throat. You couldn't be

hand out. He raised a paw and hit her wrist. She glanced at Beta who was

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