Reaper's Word

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 the caves." Her head snapped

hadn't meant to say that,

can go most

to get out of reach. Not that he would grab her, wouldn't do so well for him. However the temptation was

through the house to the right side where he chose a flight down and took a left. The hall grew odd and stony here,

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

a crevasse or hole, you will

said though her hand on his

to get very dark for a little bit. 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

did as well. A couple

and they moved a bit faster. Clair didn't hold so tight to him anymore and then she could hear the roar of a waterfall. They came out on a large ledge that

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

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

entrance to the house. It was open and two of the hell hounds were down there curled up. Where they were led to

was staring at the center island where two statues stood. One was a dragon its 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 the tip was near her right ankle,

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

far do the

what I want you to draw Clair. Because I want an image of this room in

her just sitting there petting Beta. Beta had been letting her do it. Neither of them had realized he'd been

looked down. She shook her head again and moved to the far side of the ledge near where Alpha and Zeta

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

the wall. "You have till nightfall." He turned and went back through the tunnel to the house. Clair just

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

bit more difficult but she felt very satisfied by it when she finished it, and 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.

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 often one

perhaps she could fix a few things,

to look at her. "I... I need an opinion please." She requested. From here

five minutes later Beta came from the tunnel and loped over to her. From where she sat she turned the board and

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 at where they had

She put it back up as this was what he seemed to want. He made a slight sound again. His large

at the image. After a minute the other two moved and laid down on the ledge too, watching her. She pulled out the fixative and sprayed it.

saved." She said and they quieted. After a while she rolled it back up and took another sheet of paper out, and secured it

waterfall and pool. She'd put some colored materials in as 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.

was different, it wasn't good or 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

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

raised and her hand out. He raised a paw and hit her wrist. She glanced