《Reaper's Word》


 Chapter 1 : Prisoner of the Manor

    Chapter 1 : Prisoner of the Manor


    He stood at the top of the stairwell. His nails clicking on the wooden banister. They wereing with


    another group. How annoying. He always hoped that they would forget so that he could just waste


    away. Yet they never did. If they did then they would die. So it was a stupid fruitless hope. Still didn''t


    stop him from wishing.


    Isaiah was locked in this damn building. Trapped here by old magic that he had no ability to change.


    They''d been very smart and very stupid at the same time. He was waiting for them to slip up just once.


    To bring him what he needed. Damn them and how carefully they selected those that they brought


    here.


    Every day he pictured the way that he would kill those that had trapped him here. Those that used him


    to stay alive, gaining immortality through him. For them to continue to live, he would have to remain


    healthy and mildly content. The content part they could care less about. However he could at times


    make life very difficult for those chained to him. So they gave him what he wanted except his freedom.


    They would do whatever was necessary to keep him trapped in this mansion. Because the moment he


    got out, he would kill them. Isaiah would tear, shred and dance in their blood. It was the only thing that


    got him through all of these long years. One hundred seventy four years, six months, eight days, twelve


    hours and forty three minutes. Not that he was counting.


    Make that forty four minutes.


    He raised his gaze to the ceiling above him. Someone was moving around up there. The survivor of the


    last group brought nearly a month ago. That one was a quick one and had won several of the games


    that he yed with him. He had to stay entertained somehow. ying with his food was one way of


    doing it.


    Every so often he would get one that was smart and quick. He''d use them as entertainment more than


    once. The longest any human ever brought to him here hadsted was a month and four days. Only


    because he''d yed it smart and stayed away from him. Nevering out of his hiding ces unless


    he needed food or what not.


    That had been some years ago. He had yet to find another that was smart enough to elude him and his


    companions for so long. Next to him arge German Sheppard sat, but it was no dog. This was just


    how it looked during the day if it wished. Daylight was not great for hispanion. She sat looking out


    the huge windows that faced the grand staircase. It was made of dark wood and looked brand new.


    Sweeping out at the bottom to go right or left, with a ck and white tiled floor at the bottom.


    Unlike him, she could go out onto the grounds at night. The direct sun could kill her if left out in it for


    more than a handful of minutes in her true form. She was what humans might call a hell hound. Nearly


    indestructible like her master, there were two others in the house. Well near by the house in the caves


    connected to it actually. He mentally kept tabs on them.


    None of the hell hounds could go far from him. They were connected to him. If he died they died, but


    seeing as there was not much in this world that could kill him, they weren''t ever going to die. Well


    hopefully, unless he did something stupid again. The name he was called when he''d been stuck here


    was Isaiah. He didn''t see a point in calling himself any other name at the moment.


    Isaiah had been alive for a very long time. Though for some of it he''d not been truly living in the human


    world. Not until he''d been summoned by a weak old fool who''d thought himself powerful. Wanted to


    use Isaiah as a weapon. The old man had pulled him from the world beyond and into this one. It was


    quite the physical and mental shock to suddenly have a corporal form. Disorientating and painful to say


    the least.


    Bound by the rules that had summoned him, he''d done as the old man had asked. Then killed him to


    free himself from him. Easy enough, it had been harder to learn how to live in this world. What to do to


    survive. He wasn''t a demon so he didn''t need to feed from souls. He wasn''t a vampire or undead.


    Though he did survive on blood. He was still trying to figure out how to just get the energy from it


    without needing to drink from those humans he needed to survive. It wasn''t the blood, but the energy of


    life in it. He hadn''t figured it out yet. At this point he guessed it didn''t matter.


    He needed the energy and nutrients that a living creature could give him. The best and only way that


    he found worked was to drain them. He guessed he could leave them alive not draining them fully of


    life. Though any he left alive could potentially be his master, and he wasn''t going to allow that. He


    would not be owned anymore by anyone.


    He already was bound here. No need to be bound to one that might escape. There was one exception,


    one thing that could free him. It was also the same reason that he was stuck in here. Isaiah didn''t know


    of any other like him and he''d traveled the world for nearly three hundred years before being trapped


    here.


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    He was subject to the needs of this world and that had cost him his freedom. His nails scared the wood


    as he dragged them over it in agitation remembering that day. He was bound by any promise he made


    until it was fulfilled. If he broke it, it would kill him. Nothing in this world but his own promise could kill


    him as far as he knew. Hence why he never made a promise without a loophole or one that he would


    never have to keep.


    "It would appear that we have..." He took a deep breath. "Ten, no twelve new arrivals." The Sheppard


    next to him made a slight head nod. They couldn''t talk, via mouth. However they were highly intelligent


    and they had their own way ofmunicating information to him. He was so attuned to them that it


    was second nature. He guessed it was a way of speaking, after all he got it and heard it like words.


    Hispanion was the oldest of the three. Alpha, Beta and Zeta. Easy to remember for him, Zeta was


    the only female of the three, and vicious. More so than the males. It was she who sat next to him, her


    brothers resting at the moment.


    "I am annoyed by these rules and technicalities." His eyes were a solid ck at the moment. He was


    also well fed and didn''t hunger. He''d caught and taken care of a womanst night. She''d just given up


    on living anyways. No reason to keep her around anymore. Not that any of them would ever easily find


    a way out. Even if they did, they still had to get out of the grounds with the hell hounds after them.


    "y, we y." Was Zeta''s response to what he said, again no words but he understood the


    sensations and images that she sent to him like she had spoken. She had a quirky personality to say


    the least. Doing odd things. Sometimes ying with a human almost like she liked them, just to kill


    themter. Or she''d hide one from her brothers if she could chase one off somewhere and then tell


    them to go look.


    Alpha enjoyed the game immensely, because Zeta was very good at it. Gave him a challenge to find


    the prize. What else were they going to do in this godforsaken house? Beta was much more sedate


    than the other two, but no less deadly. When angered he destroyed the thing that pissed him off. Not


    just killed it, destroyed itpletely so that there was nothing left of it. In the case of a human, nothing


    but a bloody mess on the floor, walls and ceiling.


    This habit annoyed Isaiah simply because he enjoyed this prison to stay clean and in order. He was


    angered when things were destroyed. Though it couldn''t be helped some times. At least his prison was


    large and had plenty to keep him upied. That and its ability to repair itself. This ce was more than


    it seemed, more than magic ran through the walls.


    "Yes, our guestse to join us." He replied to Zeta. He could smell the human food in the dining


    room. This was the only time that the food was set up like this. He wasn''t allowed into that room during


    this time. Only because his captors were bringing him their offering to stay immortal. Any other food


    brought in for the humans still alive after the first few days was left in the back kitchen area.


    "Let us see them shall we?" Isaiah said and moved down the stairs. It was the grand staircase that


    came out on a marble floor. At the bottom you could go left or right. Rooms to either side and halls


    along the stair case as well. There where huge windows that went up from the floor to meet the ceiling


    giving a view of the garden area with arge fountain.


    This ce never aged, or fell into disrepair. Not so long as he was here and the magic keeping him


    locked in held. Even the grounds stayed in a constant refined state as if there was a gardener there


    taking care of it. This ce was huge and had more rooms and secret passageways than he could


    count. He would like to get out of this house, but never seemed to be able to. Very rarely he could


    manage to get onto the roof. Thank god because all these years of never being able to go outside


    would have driven him insane.


    He wasn''t allowed out of the house. Not unless he wished excruciating pain. He would start to bleed.


    Liaisons opening on his skin and blooding from his eyes and ears. It weakened him greatly and


    those that held him here woulde instantly. In his pain and weakness the hell hounds were


    incapacitated as well. Isaiah would be so drained from it that he would turn feral after the amount of


    time. There was no leaving for him. Trapped by a promise toe here and old magic of a family that


    should have died out long ago.


    He stood at the window looking with his head turned toward the long stoned driveway that tworge


    vehicles came up. He hoped that one of the humans being brought would provide him with better


    entertainment than thest. It was the only thing that kept him sane being stuck here year after year.


    "Fifty three minutes." He said to himself in a kind of depressed sigh. His own mental clock told him.


    Then with a smile moved down the hall to the right going up a different set of stairs that lead to a bay of


    windows which looked out over the front drive area. He liked watching the sheepe to ughter.

 Chapter 2 : Fifteen Minutes

    Chapter 2 : Fifteen Minutes


    ir Tanner''s jaw nearly dropped when she saw the building that was a housee into view as they


    drove up to it. She''d never seen anything like this in her life. Even the picture she''d been shown by


    Michael, their guide, didn''t do it justice. She was eager to draw it. This would be amazing for the


    architectural series she was doing. It looked like a mansion right off the cover of a European magazine.


    The old style of it was incredible. The ce had to be worth double or triple digit or millions.


    ir was an international student studying in Italy. Her major was in the arts. Her favorite subject ever


    since she could remember. She liked charcoal medium over paint or acrylics. She was amazing at


    architectural drawings along with drawing living objects. If she could get this series finished it would


    really help her with the gallery spot she was paying for. She didn''t really listen as their guide told them


    about the building already nning and preparing. However she brought herself around to make sure


    she noted the history. What was art without a back story?


    Apparently it was a mystery as to who originally built the ce. There were over one hundred rooms. A


    garden area both in front and on the left side of the house. It was built into the side of the mountain.


    The front portion sticking out and the left side had a wing that swung out toward the road. Honestly she


    didn''t even know where they were. The drive was rather fuzzy now that she tried to think about it.


    Though she''d been daydreaming most the time. Still she did notice an odd kind of pressure in her head


    that she didn''t like.


    This ce was very far out of the way. There hadn''t been any other signs near here that anyone even


    lived remotely close. ir''s attention was caught by the building again, as the sun glinted off of it to her


    eyes. Like the ce was watching them. There were huge windows in the front that faced the drive and


    mountain area.


    The grounds were immacte and the house itself was a brownish red with white pirs and trim. It


    was beautiful and yet ire felt a sadness there. She was sensitive for a human, but never really


    indulged the talents. Others would call her crazy or a freak, but she couldn''t ignore the sensations


    The front drive came up and under an overhang supported by fourrge pirs. Different pirs went


    around the building as well with intricately carved designs in them. As they pulled up to stop, ir''s


    smile faded. She didn''t like the feel of the ce. It felt wrong, it felt oppressive. They were slowing to


    park therge van. Their little tour group chatting. Laura, her roommate, turned and smiled at her. She


    was a photography student at the same school. She took a picture of ir.


    "See and you were worried this wouldn''t be what you wanted. You''re glowing." She moved with her


    now that they were out. However the pit of her stomach was starting to churn and her happiness driving


    up was fading a bit.


    "It''s beautiful." She kept her feelings to herself. ir wasn''t exactly normal and to tell others that she


    got vibes. Knew what those around her felt didn''t get her far. Nor did the fact that she could move


    things with her mind. She kept that secret tightly guarded and would tell no one. One time she''d shared


    and had nearly been checked into a psyche ward. Never again. Laura turned around with a smile and


    ir looked back out the window as they pulled to a stop.


    She knew one thing for sure, once they were allowed to look around she was finding a quiet spot alone.


    She didn''t much care for thepany of others and Laura would just ruin her concentration. They


    weren''t all that close, just friends really because they lived together. She also shook off her nerves.


    Maybe the ce was just haunted or something. That made her smile. If only she knew the truth. That


    they were being watched by something far more sinister than a ghost.


    Their guide was going on about the ballroom that was here and a few other things. ir decided that


    she would visit that room first. She loved to dance, loved music and could just picture what this room


    would look like. It was better to just focus on what she was here to do. They were allowed a self tour.


    So she figured the inside was like a museum and set up ordingly.


    She''d brought her supplies with her. All of them, wanting to take as much time as she could drawing


    while she was here. Her solid case was in her right hand. She also brought her own camera to capture


    different rooms and the outside so she could draw themter.


    "If you would all please follow me." The guide said carrying a very old and tattered looking book. ire


    thought it was time for a new one. That one had seen better days. They got out of the vehicle, as did


    the others in the van ahead of them. There were twelve of them in all. Not including the guides and


    drivers. Michael was one of the drivers. The one that had told her and Laura about this ce.


    The foreboding feeling was very strong out here now. So much so she wanted to get back in the van


    and just wait for the others to return in a few hours. She rolled her eyes at herself. No, she hade


    here and no haunted mansion was going to run her off. She needed something new and fresh to draw.


    All the other historical sites had been done a million times. The group here had a mean age of perhaps


    thirty. No young children and that was a relief to ir.


    She liked kids, just not when she was trying to focus on what she wanted to do. She stood next to


    Laura. Laura had gold colored hair and dark green eyes with a stick figure. ir had dark brown hair


    that fell in a wave around her. She twisted it up into a bun now. Her eyes a bright aqua. She was


    slender not overly skinny as Laura was. She believed eating was essential to living unlike Laura.


    "If I could have all of you sign in, and to our agreement." A small line formed and they took turns


    signing it. A few asking questions. Laura went before ir signing. Then handing her the pen with a


    smile when she finished. She moved off taking a few photos. ir looked at the old book. The man in


    front of her was giving her a sense of nervousness and glee. She eyed him. What an odd thing to feel.


    Not that he knew she could tell, but still.


    "What does this say?" She asked, pointing to some writing in anguage she didn''t know.


    "That if you break it you buy it." He said with a smile. "Very valuable things in there. Also our guest list."


    "If I don''t sign?"


    "You don''t go in." He said though he looked at her suspiciously. ir heard a cough behind her. A kind


    way of asking her to hurry up. She hesitated a moment longer looking at the other side of the page and


    then signed her name. However she felt a bit nauseous as she did. Like she''d just given something up.


    She frowned, it was just a book. This was just a site to visit. There were three more after her that


    signed. Then their guide moved to the front door.


    "If you would all please follow me. We will have lunch first and then you will be free to move about the


    house." He turned and ir looked up. She had the feeling they were being watched again and the


    hairs on her arms stood straight up.


    "Come on ir." Laura said, a younger man about their age moved over to stand alongside her. He''d


    been talking to her the entire way. Laura giggled a little at something he said, and turned. ir gave a


    sigh and walked up the stairs.


    The doors shut behind the group. ir felt as if a cold breeze moved over and through her. She wasn''t


    the only one it seemed either. A woman near her shivered and a couple others looked around. While a


    man asked his friend if he''d felt something a minute ago. Okay, creepy.


    "This way please." The guide said and his gaze was moving around very quickly as if waiting for


    something. He took them through a small hall and into a huge dining room with a long table set up.


    There was food and drinksid out for them.


    "Please have a seat." He said and they all moved to sit down sliding in their chairs. "Now all of you


    have heard what me and my coworker have told you about the house. All the different rooms and the


    secret passage ways. There will be signs to tell you more."


    "Yes, what about the caves connected to the house?" A woman asked. "Are we allowed to see those


    as well? They sound fascinating. Integrated into the house."


    "Yes." The guide said and he looked a little pale. "Of course, just be careful." His mouth twitched like he


    found something funny.


    "Enjoy your meal. You have fifteen minutes of safety in here. After that you may go where you please."


    The guide turned and left the room quickly. Most didn''t really pay him any attention looking at the food.


    "Of safety?" One person said with augh. "Who says that? What a weirdo." He added. ir looked


    around the room. She wasn''t all that hungry. She got up and moved to one of the doors. She almost


    reached it when a man came running in the room looking wild eyed and crazed. He nearly knocked her


    over. He was very clearly in a rush. Everyone instantly noticed him as he ripped food off the table,


    shoving some in his mouth. He chewed like he was in heaven.


    His clothes were old and dirty. Stained with what looked like rust, or... blood? Was he hurt? ire felt


    anxietying from him. Plus fear, and joy at the food. It was clear he hadn''t showered in days. More


    like weeks. He came in and had a small bag. He started grabbing things as others looked at him. Some


    stood up. Was this some homeless man in the house? Should they report him? Little did they know


    what this really was.


    "What are you doing? Who are you?" A man asked.


    "If I were you I''d get the fuck out of this room right now. Run and hide, trust me. Or you are going to die.


    Trust no one, grab some food and go." He was shaking and stuffing food into the bag. Taking a bite of


    the food that he picked up. A look of pure bliss hit his face again before he continued on. People were


    still confused and one man moved like he was going to stop him.


    "What an impassioned speech Gregori." ir jumped at the deep male voice behind her. She backed


    up as she turned to find a man standing in the doorway. He didn''te in the room. He did not look


    like a staff member. All possible warning signals went off in ire''s mind. She hadn''t even heard him


    step up to the room, and she''d been by the door.


    "Who are you?" Someone else asked.


    "I live here." He answered. Gregori had backed up looking around the room for an escape that didn''t


    lead to where the man was.


    "Don''t worry Gregori. I give my word I can''t attack you if you leave the room at this time. But you should


    know that."


    Gregori rxed and bolted for the door. They heard his feet hitting the tile and fading. What sounded


    like a huge dog let out a snarling growl. That was all they heard. Those around the table looked around


    and a few stood now, not many seated. That was unsettling.


    "Never said she wouldn''t try." He seemed amused by this. His gaze looked at those in the room. "You


    should take his advice. You have ten minutes now." He made a mocking gesture like he was checking


    a watch.


    "For what?" Asked a woman.


    "To live. Ten minutes I can enter this room." He held his hand up and pushed his hand forward. It was


    easy to see that something resisted his hand. The flesh of his palm appeared to tten slightly like he


    was pushing on ss. Yet it was only air there. Gregori had run through it. What parlor trick was this?


    ir didn''t like this sudden turn of events. Neither did a few of the others who moved away toward


    different rooms. The man standing there was over six feet tall, with solid ck hair and hazel colored


    eyes. t lifeless eyes that sent a shiver down your spine. Was this some kind of joke? Were there


    hidden cameras or something?


    "None of you can leave the house of course, not anymore. Not now that you signed the contract. They


    brought you here to die. That''s eight minutes you have left." He had a humorless smile.


    "That''s crazy. Are you an actor, is this some twisted joke?" A man standing near the other end of the


    room from ir said. Laura was up and moved over by her. Others were seeming to gravitate toward


    those they knew.


    "Don''t believe me, open the door to your left. It leads outside. Try and walk out of it." The man who


    asked reached for the door. Light spilled in and he moved to go. He was sent flying back into the room


    sliding to a stop against the far wall. It looked like an invisible force picked him up and threw him back.


    "Now who would like to go first?" The man asked, and there was an explosion of movement. He just


    smiled and moved from the door. He moved fast too, faster than humanly possible.


    "What the hell is this?" Laura demanded. ir moved to the doorway closest to her. It seemed to lead


    to a kitchen. She didn''t care where it led. She''d never seen anything like that in her life. It was hard to


    comprehend. Had they really just seen that? What was even happening? They were here for a tour!


    "I don''t know but I''m leaving." She said and went into the kitchen.


    "You think this is some kind of show or something?" Laura hoped and a man came in the room with


    them. She pulled up her phone, but no signal. None of them had it.


    "Pretty sick joke. Who was that guy, and just what is going on here?" The man snapped. ir grabbed


    a knife from the kitchen and moved to the farthest door. She put her ear to it and let herself feel,


    nothing was there. She didn''t know how to take this odd turn of events.


    She hoped it was some kind of twisted joke. That they were being taken for a ride. Though her senses


    never lied before. He had been absolutely serious. The man at the door had given off a very angry and


    deadly aura to her. He wasn''t in the hall now though. This area connected to the hall that the man had


    been in.


    "Holy shit what is that thing!" Someone shouted from the other room. ir opened the door and went


    into the hall. There was a door shortly to the right with a window in it. Through it they could see what


    looked like a huge dog looking into the dinning room. The only thing separating them was the odd door


    in the hall, but the creature was not looking their way.


    It was like no dog that they had ever seen before. It was the size of a tiger easily. Had teeth that would


    make a dentist cringe in pain and fear. It''s body was covered in what looked like bristle like fur that was


    a dark grey. It''s eyes were an eerie yellow surrounded by ck.


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    ir didn''t care if the others followed or not she wasn''t staying here. She went down the hall quickly


    but quietly, holding the knife in her hand. This seemed like a very bad dream. Not fifteen minutes ago


    she''d been sitting in a van driving here. She wondered once more if this was some whacked reality T.V.


    or something. She thought that was more of an American thing, not Italian.


    She had a feeling she''d gone mad. Things like this didn''t happen. Michael had said that this ce was


    visited by tourists all the time. Yet as they moved there was nothing in here set up for viewing or like a


    museum at all. They had been lied to. That was bing more obvious by the second. They went


    down another hall. From here they could hear sudden screams. Then the sound of others running from


    something.


    ir opened the first door she came to. There were stairs there and she went down them. The other


    two followed her. They were still hoping this wasn''t real and someone would tell them to stop, it was


    okay.


    However as the hour passed, every attempt to get out of the house was rewarded with an invisible blow


    to the midsection. They started to realize how hopeless and crazy their situation was.


    They moved faster through the house now aftering across arge puddle of blood and drag marks.


    Time was passing at an insane rate to them. Their options were dwindling, the realization they were


    trapped in this ce was starting to really sink in. Just like the setting sun pulling their hope below the


    horizon into darkness.

 Chapter 3: Something Wicked This Way Comes

    Chapter 3: Something Wicked This Way Comes


    Isaiah had taken stock of those that hade into the house. This group didn''t seem so bad. It looked


    like there might be a few that could be fun. He''d pegged four that would do whatever it took to survive.


    Including killing the others. He could see it in their minds. Six more were easily killed and one was


    already dead. He didn''t put much stock in the other five for much entertainment, just substance.


    There were two others who were wildcards. He couldn''t read their minds so he wasn''t sure how easily


    they could be killed off. Or what they would do to survive. One was a male close to thirty, and the other


    was a female in her mid-twenties. She''d been the one standing near the door when he''d appeared. So


    close to grab but just out of reach. He liked the ones that were a bit of a mystery. He got really fucking


    bored stuck in here. Had to find something to kill the time.


    ¡®They are scattered and hiding. Fun.¡¯ Alpha spoke mentallying down a hall toward him. The


    hellhounds didn''t need to feed all that often. They just liked to y with the others, but the full moon


    wasing. During the week before, they became very lethargic and spent their time in the caves.


    During the full moon they were hell bent on killing anything they could get their teeth on. Mainly


    because he was. Magic, he hated it.


    Isaiah was also affected during that time. His senses spiking along with every human and inhuman


    need that he had. It was during this time that they normally killed off most of the humans. It was all part


    of the magic and what he was. Seeing as he really shouldn''t even be on this ne of existence. That


    was a moot point now wasn''t it?


    "Try not to kill them off too fast. I''d like to have some entertainment for the next month." Alpha turned


    and left the room. Well, it would be a minimum of a month. He doubted they''d show sooner with more


    to keep him alive.


    Isaiah looked up at the huge library that he stood in. The books here had been collected over time.


    Either from things he''d requested or things that those who came here left. He was feeling sporting at


    the moment, not interested in reading. More in the mood for a game. So instead of indulging in reading,


    which he''d pretty much read all the books in here twice, he left the room.


    He''d find one of the humans to y with. Hopefully they wouldn''t be too terrified or too numb to give


    good entertainment. He moved from the room with quick and easy strides. They really were all over the


    house. Normally there were a few groups. The humans liked sticking together.


    Above him he heard running and judging by the weight and speed, he guessed that it was Beta moving


    down that hall. He went past the main staircase and then to the first door on the left. He went down the


    long narrow staircase and at the bottom reached up to the light fixture and turned the little knob there.


    This ce was a maze, and he was very familiar with it. Yet time and again a new passage would show


    or one would disappear. Not very often, but it did. Magic did the unthinkable.


    A panel slid aside and he went into the wall. Even after all this time he was still finding a few new


    ces here and there. Mainly when the humans stumbled upon them. He had to give them credit. They


    were very good at finding ces to get into and hide.


    He came out in a room that had chairs around the walls and one wall had several different types of


    fencing equipment on it. Another wall had swords there as well. He''d been hit a few times by those


    weapons. Never a pleasant sensation, tended to just piss him off really. Did anyone like getting


    stabbed? No, obviously.


    It looked like it was his lucky day. In here he found three humans. The male that was with the two


    females reached up to take a weapon and Isaiah lifted a hand. With a simple flick of it the three of them


    hit the floor. It was always more draining to move living things than inanimate objects. However he had


    a lot of practice and barely felt the drain anymore. Well, as long as he was full. Which he was.


    Still, he noted that the one female didn''t quite hit the floor as hard as the other. Not surprising there


    were those that were resistant. However he didn''t sense anything more from her, and that really


    disappointed him. Michael was always careful. Didn''t want to make a mistake did he?


    They moved standing up, he recognized the brown haired female. Which was the resistant one. Her


    mind silent, the blonde with her was a fighter and would also do whatever it took to survive. He''d


    remember thatter when he caught her. He looked at the male though.


    "Stealing isn''t very kind." He spoke moving farther into the room. The three of them inched toward the


    door but it mmed shut as did the others around the room.


    "Neither is killing, but since you don''t care about that. Can''t say we should care much about your


    objects." This was from the brown haired woman. So she had a spine, told him she was a fighter. She


    and the blonde were both attractive women. Just an added bonus.


    "In that case I should just do away with you now. Saves me the trouble of putting it backter." He said


    moving forward and they moved as well. Taking cautious steps back. Where were they really going to


    run? The cat had trapped the mice. Those doors were not going to open.


    "What are your names?" Silent for a moment. He let out a slight irritated sound. "I asked a question, it''s


    rude not to answer."


    "James." The male said deciding it was better to answer than anger him. Isaiah moved his gaze to the


    brown hair woman. She didn''t say anything but the blonde did.


    "Laura. ir." She supplied pointing to the dark brown haired woman.


    "I''ll tell you what. I''ll give you my word to let you leave this room alive if you y a game with me." He


    said with a very slight smile.


    "What''s this game? How do we know your word is good?"


    "I''m bound by my word. Once given I have to follow it." It wasn''t like he was giving them much. He was


    just promising to let them leave the room alive. Once they got into the hall... He didn''t exin though,


    because he didn''t have to. They would misinterpret what they wanted.


    "y a game? What the hell are you?" James asked. Isaiah gave a shrug. It was pretty damn obvious


    that he was not what he appeared.


    "Doesn''t really matter. Do you want to y or not?" He asked, their questions weren''t relevant.


    "Like we have a choice." James mumbled.


    "Good. You two will sit down." Isaiah told the two women. His eyes were solid ck and he clearly


    meant what he said or else. The two sat down. Laura more slowly. ire on the edge of her chair


    closest the door. Smart girl, he liked smart humans. She was a pretty human, added to her too for a


    different game.


    However his game was with James at the moment. They could watch. James looked terribly nervous.


    He also had a smell of fear to him, that didn''t have any effect on Isaiah, as it used to. He was so used


    to it. Or rather the house was full of it at the moment.


    "Since you seemed so inclined to take what isn''t yours, I''ll give you a chance to earn it."


    "What do I have to do?" James asked. He was concerned for himself. They always were. There were a


    rare few that cared for the others around them. But still rarely. He knew that all of them would throw the


    rest under the bus.


    "Show me you can use that, and you can leave. You two are just going to watch. An audience is always


    fun to have." He held up his hand and two of the fencing des came to him. Catching one in his right


    then left.


    "You can have your choice of course if you win." He told James


    "If I don''t?"


    "You won''t have much to worry about then." He held out the end of the one to James, he took it.


    James, as Isaiah knew, did have a bit of skill in fencing. He was d to have picked him. Or rather


    found him in this room. It had been a very long time since there had been one with any skill. So this


    might be fun, something different. He had nothing else to do here. Toying with them in a simple game


    was good to pass the time.


    Isaiah made the customary movement. Graceful and fluid touching his de. James was a bit more


    unbnced but that wasn''t unexpected. They touched des one more time, and began. He wasn''t


    completely disappointed at James''s skill. But he was no match for him. To be fair he did know how to


    use the de. Hence he was bound to let the man have his choice. He was really just feeling these


    humans out. He didn''t hunger at the moment. Just interested in messing with them.


    They moved across the room. Isaiah was fluid and parried all the blows or attempts from James.


    James hissed as the edge of Isaiah''s de got his arm. He jumped back, almost getting hit again by


    Isaiah who raised an eyebrow at him.


    "You''re not very graceful, not your sport I''m afraid."


    "Fuck you." He backed up his footwork not what it should be. Isaiah obviously could move faster than


    the man could. He was dulling himself down to human level for fun. Still kind of disappointed, he should


    have said if he could use the de well. The end of Isaiah''s de hit James in the upper shoulder for a


    final time.


    "You are lucky you can use it. Even if it is not well." He yanked the tip of the de back out of his


    shoulder. James was looking up at him holding is bleeding shoulder. The doors to the rooms opened.


    "I''ll give you five minutes." The women were up and out of the room. James grabbed the one de and


    ran as well. From the far door he saw Beta lope in


    "You may follow if you wish. They aren''t spared your wrath for five minutes." Isaiah turned and moved


    from the room using a different door as Beta ran out into the hall. He''d never told them they were free


    of the hell hounds. That had been mildly entertaining. Now he was going to find something a bit more


    stimting.


    ir rounded the corner behind Laura. They were running to get away fast as they just got out of that


    room. ir couldn''t believe that she just sat there and watched them fence. Isaiah moved smoothly,


    and everything about him said predator. She didn''t trust that what he said was fact. He was just toying


    with them.


    "One of those things ising!" James shouted and sprinted past them down a different hall. He did


    not follow them and clearly didn''t think safety in numbers. The man that had forced them to watch was


    something else. He looked stoic most of the time but there was amusement there as well. He could


    have just killed them, but he hadn''t. That was the scarier thing. Death was not the worst punishment,


    torture was in her opinion.


    Laura and her were moving down the hall they had chosen. Trying to be quiet, the problem was the


    doors were all locked here. They needed to get out of view before that creature showed. Laura was


    ahead by several feet and found one that was open. She shoved it open but mmed it close on ir


    nearly hitting her in the face.


    ir hit the door with the palm of her hand but knew it was foolish to stop. She was not going to fight


    with the door. She hoped that she never met that bitch again. She''d stab her for locking her out in the


    hall. She was locking her out here like a sacrifice.


    ir was looking around as she jogged and saw a chute not far ahead. She hoped to god it wasn''t an


    incinerator or something. At this point nothing would surprise her. The sound of that thing running down


    the hall toward her made her move faster. She could hear its ws as it came around the corner but


    she didn''t look. She grabbed the edge of what she hoped was a hugeundry chute. Swung herself


    into it and started to slide down.


    She used her hands and her feet to stop her from going all the way down. Her hands were on either


    side of the metal as were her feet. Which hurt and pulled skin from her hands as she went down. The


    sound of skin squeaking on metal was audible. Her shoes slipped quite a bit, but she strained her


    muscles so she didn''t go sailing down the chute and free fall to god knew where. At this point she


    wouldn''t be surprised if there was a pit of spikes below.


    There was a loud growl above her and she looked up. The thing had managed to shove its head in but


    she was too far down to reach. It pulled out of the chute but she could still feel it there waiting. She


    couldn''t hang here forever and either A she went down, or B she went up. The thing knew it too, and so


    she knew up was not an option.


    ir looked down and could see a bit of light not far below. She figured that it had to be an opening of


    some kind. She also hoped that it ended as well there, hard to tell it wasn''t far. She pressed her back to


    the wall because she needed a better hold. She kicked her shoes off which was hard but she managed


    to jiggle them off. She slipped a little but her bare feet gave her more traction than shoes on the metal


    wall. Plus she was in a house now. No outside running.


    She carefully repositioned the pack she had on. It was just a small bag. Her art case was long forgotten


    back in the dining room. She wasn''t going back there for it. It was thest thing on her mind. With a


    rough breath she started her way down the chute. She was just above arge grate and used her mind


    to open it. For once she was d to be a freak, but she was careful too. She kept it small in case


    something could feel it. It hurt her head a bit, since she was so used to hiding and pretending like she


    didn''t have talents.


    The grate dropped into the room and she went down falling out and into the room on her back as she


    shimmied down to it. Why hadn''t she thought of that with the doors? She should have mentally opened


    them. However she didn''t practice and she¡¯d ignored this skill. Seemed like a bad decision now.


    Second she was so panicked and not thinking clearly. It was clear she was going to need it. It might


    give her an edge, and something she''d keep secret. It was freakish to the rest of the world right? In


    here it might now put a different price on her head. It might just give her the edge to survive, and this


    wasn¡¯t her only talent.


    iry on the floor as a gun came in her face. She froze looking up at the middle aged man who was


    in decent shape, he eyed her. His brown eyes harsh and clearly not all that friendly. She held her hands


    up looking up from the floor.


    "Where the hell did youe from?"


    "The chute, what does it look like asshole?" ir snapped shoving the gun out of her face. In this room


    were two others, besides the man with the gun. The one was coated in drying blood. The other was the


    wild eyed man from earlier, Gregori was his name right?


    "What are these things, what''s going on here?" ir asked him in a rush. Clearly he knew something,


    he''d warned them. This fun house of horrors was something she wanted to get out of. He looked at her,


    the doors were barricaded at the moment into the room so those in here seemed to feel safe for the


    moment. Gregori gave a shrug clearly not caring about her attitude at the moment.


    "I have no idea, mostly. All I know is that man, Isaiah is his name, he''s not human. He can do some


    freaky shit and those things.... They listen to him, do as he says. I know that he can''t die. I''ve seen him


    get hit by all sorts of things. It just pisses him off so I''d save that gun if I were you. " Gregori warned the


    other man.


    "Nothing? A bullet to the head will kill anything." The man with the gun grumbled but didn''t seem sure


    now.


    "Not that I''ve seen. From what I get is that those people that brought us here, they''ve got some deal.


    As long as they keep him supplied with what he needs, they get immortality. I heard him get into it once


    with one bringing my group. He''s stuck here in the house, can''t leave. Can''t go into the caves, at least I


    think. He cures his boredom by ying with us." ir rubbed her forehead.


    "Then let''s go there. The caves" The woman said.


    "I said I think. Those hell hounds can, and they can go out to the grounds too. Not extremely far, far


    enough to run down anyone that gets out. And I ain''t running faster than them." Gregori took a drink


    from his water bottle.


    "There''s a way out?" ir asked feeling hope.


    "There must be, but I don''t know where. Only one person got out and they were torn apart by those


    things. It was the worst thing I''ve ever seen. I happened to see him round the north side of the house


    by the driveway. Came from out back somewhere. Barely made it ten feet." He pulled some bread from


    his pack and took a bite this time. Gregori seemed to revert inward for a moment at the memory.


    "Well I''m not sitting here." ir said moving to the chute. Maybe there was another way from there.


    She was going to find a way out if it killed her, and it probably would. Whatever, better than sitting


    around waiting to die.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Night is the worst time to move around. Daytime is much better, though I''m not sure that he sleeps but


    those things do. Mostly during the day."


    "Thanks for the tip." ir was thankful for any info that might get her through.


    "Here''s an out." He hit the wall next to him. An opening was there. "Not really sure where those chutes


    go, but handy in a pinch.


    "Thanks." She said and went to it. Yeah she wasn''t excited about climbing into the chute again.


    "Better to stay put most times. Noise draws them."


    "I don''t feel this time I should stay put." She said, and jumped when something mmed into the door.


    Gregori didn''t hesitate. He shoved past her and ran down the small corridor. The door jam broke with


    the next blow to it. What held the door closed exploded into the room as one of the hell hounds came


    in, Isaiah right behind it. There was panic to those here. ir paused only for a moment as her ear


    rang at the loud boom.


    The man with the gun fired. It hit Isaiah in the chest, bright red blood soaking the white shirt that he


    wore. He jerked slightly stepping back with the blow, and looked down touching the wound. Then


    looked up, his eyes were solid ck. So ck they looked like wet obsidian ss. Deep red blood


    coated Isaiah''s fingers. He just looked extremely annoyed and pissed instead of in pain or dying. That


    was enough to make ir a believer that he couldn''t die.


    "Shit." The man said. He moved for the chute and ir didn''t stay to find out what happened next.


    Though the screams told her what must have happened. She went the way that Gregori did to the right,


    the woman ran the other way. The space in the wall was only a shoulder width wide. She was happy


    she was not arge woman.


    ir turned a corner, and caught a glimpse as she did so of a silhouette. Isaiah must have followed


    them into the wall. The faint crunching made her think the hell hound was eating the man with the gun.


    She could feel Isaiah''s angering from behind her. She could feel his need to cause harm. However


    she didn''t know which way he went as she could barely see and she turned a sharp corner in the


    passage. She sent up a silent prayer that he chose the other woman to follow. She did see Gregori who


    jumped over something and kept going. ir ran after him. When she got to where he''d jumped she


    realized her mistake toote, and the floor dropped out from below her. She fell straight down into a


    bedroom of sorts. She fell right on the bed, at least that was lucky.


    "God damn it!" She cursed. She was stuck in a fucking fun house with killer creatures all over the


    ce. Trap doors, chutes, and hidden passages around every corner. She rolled off the bed and ran for


    the door not missing a beat nor staying put. The ceiling above her closed, the spring having shut it.


    However as she fled the room, from the corner of her eye she saw it open again. Someone fell with


    much more grace than she had. Her heart started to m against her ribs knowing it was not a


    survivor.


    Not waiting to see who or what it was, she ran down the hall. Her bare feet pping the ground. She


    slowed trying to not make noise and went up a flight of stairs. She went into a room with a balcony and


    opened the doors. She closed her eyes and stepped outside, nothing threw her back. Okay, she only


    had a minute to think. She was trapped her otherwise. He would catch her and force some twisted


    game on her or just kill her out right. She wasn''t ready to die yet.


    She looked down over the side, but felt something shove her back that time, not hard just enough. The


    house would not let her jump to the ground. She closed the balcony doors quietly and looked up. There


    was a second balcony there and she hopped up on the edge. She''d never excelled in gym and


    climbing the rope, but she was going to do it now. Now her life depended on catching the next rail of


    the slightly higher balcony.


    ir jumped up and caught the edge of the balcony swinging a leg up and pulling herself over the


    edge. Her adrenaline giving her extra power. She fell onto the balcony floor. Scampered to her feet,


    and went to the doors. They were locked. She almost screamed in frustration but just in her head and


    then thought instead of panicking. She blinked and there was a click as the doors unlocked and she


    went in re-locking them. She ran to the door of the room intending to go out but stopped dead.


    It was dark in here. No light was on, and the low light outside from the night didn''t help her see in here.


    However she saw a silhouette out there. A tall man''s shadow against thece curtains that covered the


    windows. She crouched low and didn''t breathe. If she opened the door inside light would spill in from


    the hall and give her away.


    She was sure he would see it, and so she crouched and held her breath like the scared mouse she


    was. She stayed there and prayed harder than she ever had in her life. The shadow out there shifted


    slightly like it was trying to decide something and moved to the right a bit.


    __Isaiah__


    Isaiah was highly interested in this female named ir. He''d seen her in the room with the others a


    moment ago. Fast little thing to have moved down here. She was just upstairs a few minutes ago.


    Hopefully she saw what happened when you didn''t ce nice.


    The one who shot him was dead, throat torn out. Isaiah initially been going after Gregori, this ir just


    between them. Though he decided instead to follow her as she''d crashed through the hidden panel in


    the ceiling of the gold room. There was something off about this ir. Something about theck of


    sense around her. Once she was separated from the group he noted that there seemed to be a void


    around her. Couldn''t hear her mind, naturally protected and that peaked his interest.


    She was quick on her feet this one. Fast to learn to be quiet, he wanted to figure her out because she


    would be a good one to y a moreplicated game with. Please let her be a smart human, one


    willing to y. He was so bored of these other humans. He''d followed her up the stairs at a slower pace


    to see what she would do. To see how her mind worked and how clever she really was. Apparently


    more clever than he gave her credit for. He was not sure where she went and he inhaled but nothing.


    No scent, curious.


    Now he stood on this balcony looking at the doors there. He couldn''t feel her. He could always feel


    them even if he couldn''t hear their minds. It was like she''d disappeared, had he missed a turn? Was


    she still back down in that other room? He didn''t get a psychic signature from her. Otherwise he''d have


    taken note of her immediately. So why did it seem like she disappeared?


    He knew the doors here were locked and there was no sign that it had been forced open. He looked up


    at the next andst balcony. It was higher and she didn''t look like one that was physically that strong to


    pull herself up from a dead hang. This second balcony he could see as it wasn''t as high as this next


    one. This one she only had to jump half the distance.


    He moved to the edge, perhaps he''d been wrong. Maybe she was stronger and she had made it. He


    jumped up andnded crouching slightly and then stood up looking at the blood stain on his shirt that


    leaked a bit but was healing. He needed to feed from that wound. So he moved forward looking at the


    open door of this balcony. Where was the little dove hiding huh?


    He didn''t think that this had been open before, so maybe she hade here. Her scent had


    disappeared down below on the first balcony. Also interesting, a puzzle that intrigued him. He looked


    back down at the second one. He didn''t think that she came here. He trusted his instincts, but physical


    evidence seemed to support it. He smiled, yes this one was going to be fun. He felt a smile, that was


    okay. He didn''t want to kill her yet anyways, he''d find another to feed him to help heal his wound. Then


    he''d toy with this er.

 Chapter 4: Blending In

    Chapter 4: Blending In


    iry curled up in the venting of the building. Well some of it was really the chutes that led all over


    the house. She''d found arge t area in one space and had chosen that to pretty much call home.


    She guessed that this was more of a heating system for the house but the heat wasn''t on. Besides who


    knew? The house was a maze and full of bizarre things. This felt safe and where she was going to stay.


    She wasn''t going to share it with no one.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    She was staring at the metal wall in front of her. A dim light came up from somewhere below. She


    heard a woman scream and didn''t even move or flinch. Five days had passed. Five miserable and


    terrifying days. Time was starting to be irrelevant now. Now it was just surviving and staying


    hidden.


    She had a small stash of food here and a few nkets toy on. She was slowly learning where the


    different chutes went to. It was hard to climb them at first. Her muscles sore and hurting, but it was here


    or out there somewhere. At least here she could fall into a kind of sleep. The hell hounds couldn''t get


    into the vents, and she kept to areas that were to small for Isaiah to possibly get in. Though she had a


    hard time believing that he would follow into the vents. Who knew?


    She''d seen a person torn apart in front of her they other day. Very nearly died herself. It was the small


    voice in her head that spoke to her. It said, ¡®Run ir, run or die here.¡¯


    She didn''t want to die here. When she was forced to leave her safe haven, she would look out the


    windows at the deceptive peace out there. Foolishly hoping for a savior to show, but nothing was out


    there but wilderness. She was sure the ce was shrouded in magic to keep it hidden. Who knew the


    world held such things?


    It had taken two days before she''d managed to fall asleep too. She didn''t know who was left or how


    many, and she couldn''t really find it to care. She''de across Laura once in the kitchen and pped


    her across the face before leaving.


    She hadn''te across Isaiah again since that first night being here and she was doing her best to not


    come across him. She moved around during the day as Gregori had said. It was true, the hell hounds


    weren''t ever out then, rarely if they did show.


    ir was confused as to how they could just bring people here and not have been found out. They


    must be very good at doing this. She''d spoken to Gregori one more time before he''d been killed


    yesterday. He''d said that he and a few of his friends hade up here to party. They''d been promised


    a good time and plenty to drink along with women.


    When they got here there were others as well. They weren''t allowed in until they signed. It was imed


    to be a safeguard for all involved. If one was going down, then they all were. Two had refused and


    stayed back. He said that once they were inside they heard gunshots and all hell had broken out for


    them shortly after.


    She came back to reality as she heard running somewhere below, and then a low growl. She just


    stayed where she was and closed her eyes. Silent tears came down, she didn''t want to make a sound


    or draw attention to where she was. She fell asleep like that. Her body tense and tears running down


    her face.


    When she woke, the world was quiet around her and her muscles were stiff. She stretched and stayed


    right where she was, for the rest of the day. Moving every now and then when she felt cramped, and


    leaving only twice because she had to use the bathroom. Which was terrifying in itself. She however


    had found that one of the chutes led to a bathroom not far from her. Thank god for the small things.


    She wasn''t sure if the day had really passed or not, but her food supply was low. She needed to use


    the bathroom again. She set down her drawing tools. She grabbed them the other day when looking for


    food. Her bag randomly sat in the kitchen like it was waiting for her. The only thing that took her from


    this ce. Whatever, that was the least terrifying thing to happen.


    She drew to take up the time and to keep her sanity. She thought that she should look for a way out,


    but the thought of what would happen just stopped her. Her bravado from the first night was very nearly


    gone. She had just enough light in here from the tap light she had found. She hoped the batteries didn''t


    die fast. However she needed to go out, food, and the bathroom called.


    ir moved climbing down the chute to her left and then over to the right. She half crawled along this


    until she came to where she wanted. The bathroom she used every so often. She tried to keep her


    visits to certain rooms sporadic so it couldn''t be tracked.


    It was hard to maneuver out of it. The angle was ny degrees and the opening was just big enough


    for her to fit through. She''d searched the bathroom the first time that she had used it, and was shocked


    to find very ordinary objects in it.


    There were several unopened toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash. Towels were folded and


    stacked in a rack. In the cab below the sink were medical supplies and aspirin, along with different


    toiletries.


    This was seriously a messed up ce. Who would worry about things like that when they were being


    hunted down? However ir looked at the shower and she did long for one. Just to feel human and


    alive. Sitting on a shelf inside the ornate wed bathtub was shampoo and conditioner, along with


    soap. ir smelled herself and touched her hair, gross. Now she wondered if she had strong body


    odor. Could the hell hounds smell that better? Shouldn''t she kill her scent so she didn''t smell as much?


    ir moved to the door, and cracked it open no one was in the hall. All was silent. She didn''t know how


    such an old house had plumbing or these basic needs. Who was there to even ask, what did it matter?


    However she was feeling a bit more alive today. Some strength returned to her that she had lost over


    the past week. With her heart beating faster, and her deciding her next moves might be worth the risk,


    she left the bathroom.


    ir darted across the hall on bare feet making very little noise and went into the room there. In here


    was a bedroom, and she went to the dresser looking to see what was in there. She found a pair of


    cotton pants. A bit big but they would do for now. Her clothes were grimy, her hair greasy and she


    figured that having a cleaner scent would blend her more into the house. She figured that was a better


    bet to go undetected. She didn''t want to smell like sweat and grime. It would stand out more.


    "If I die, I''m not dyingying in my own filth." She said battling with if this was smart or not. If she was


    about to be that horror movie victim for doing something stupid.


    The house was beautiful, everything in it was ornate and set up like a museum in a way. It was always


    spotless, even the rooms that had damage done to them. You could leave ande back an hourter


    and everything would be back in ce. Magic, go figure right?


    Doors that were cracked or smashed, seemed to rece themselves. Blood stains just seemed to


    disappear. ir pushed the memories away and opened another drawer. She grabbed the yellow shirt


    there. It was button up but that was okay and it looked like it belonged to a man. One that was just a bit


    bigger than her.


    Either way the clothes smelled like the house and that was good. She grabbed a chair in the room and


    moved to the door. She nced out and used her sixth sense to feel around her. She practiced


    constantly to get stronger. Now she could feelrge areas around her, moverger objects with her


    mind. She felt this was going to keep her alive. She did make sure she kept her signature small, or at


    least she hoped she was. If ir was good at anything, it had been fading into the background. The


    one skill she excelled at and practiced.


    ir moved into the bathroom and closed the door quietly and put the chair up against the handle.


    Then she stripped quickly, she tossed her shirt, pants and underwear down the chute. They could go.


    She kept her bra though, and set it with the other clothes. No longer than a few minutes she was going


    to do this.


    ir took the shampoo bottle and opened it. She squished a good amount in her hand and then


    rubbed it in her hair. It was dry but that was okay. She didn''t want to draw attention. She wasn''t going to


    turn the water on until she was ready and even then she wasn''t sure she should.


    ir moved to the sink and turned it on just a little and used that to get ather on the soap. She did


    this a few times and then moved back to the tub, grabbing the conditioner and putting that in her hand


    as well.


    With that she turned on the shower and gasped at the very cold spray but scrubbed harshly and


    quickly. Rinsing her hair and her body. Moving with quick hands and keeping her mind open she felt,


    but nothing came to her. She looked like a crazy person scrubbing herself haphazardly.She shut off the


    water, her mind timing herself less than four minutes. She was sure that if anyone had been watching


    this, it might have lookedical the way that she went about it.


    "Let them be in my position and see what they would do." She said to herself and grabbed a towel. Just


    as quickly drying herself, and squeezing her hair. The thick mass was a tangle right now but that didn''t


    matter.


    She grabbed the cotton pants, which were a ck color and put them on tying the string tighter around


    her hips. Then put the yellow shirt on. She''d find a new one as soon as she could. The color wasn''t


    good for moving around in the dark.


    At least it was the middle of the day. She didn''t have much to worry about right now. Just Isaiah if he


    was up and about. ir slipped the shirt on. It came to just below her hips. She grabbed the hair brush


    and took the chair from the door. She nced into the hall, no one was there.


    Looking back she bit her lip, it felt really good to be clean right now. It made her feel human. Less like


    prey and more like a person, she reached over and snatched the toothbrush and paste. She took the


    chair with her, as she had thrown the towel down the shoot.


    She put the chair back in the room and moved down the hall. She needed to go to the kitchen and get


    food. ir knew a few secret passageways now, and used them to get there quickly.


    When ir arrived at the main kitchen, a man was there grabbing things from the cab. He jumped


    when she came in and she recognized him as James. She was quick to copy him.


    "Still alive huh?" He stated rhetorically to her and she nodded, grabbing a kitchen towel andying it


    down. She tore the package off the toothbrush and put paste on it as she moved through the kitchen


    grabbing food. She brushed her teeth as she looked for food. Not a lot was left and James was doing


    the same.


    "Where did you get that?" He asked her, "Did you shower?" He asked his voice barely a whisper. He


    looked shocked, and a longing was on his face.


    "Very quickly. A bathroom upstairs has supplies." She said to him and put a few items on the towel.


    She spit into the sink and scrubbed a bit more. She spit and took a little water and rinsed.


    "Can I have that?" He asked as she set the brush down near the toothpaste.


    "Have at it." She grabbed her items and bottled water from the fridge and left the room. She made her


    way quickly back to her hiding ce and put her items there and ate quickly. She felt refreshed, still


    terrified, but refreshed. This was a good day, a really good day. Yet she knew deep in her heart sitting


    here meant she was just killing herself slower.

 Chapter 5: The Dance

    Chapter 5: The Dance


    ir gave a sigh, if she wanted to live she had to find a way out of here. Sitting here wasn''t going to do


    it. She climbed out again. It was just past noon now. She found this out as she passed arge


    grandfather clock in the hall. She knew that she had to keep her eye on the clock, and be quick with


    her search. Someone had made it to the yard. She was going to find that way.


    She moved along the outer walls. She tested the windows and doors. All with the same result. She''d


    found an entrance in the basement to the caves and had instantly shut the door. The hell hounds lived


    in there, like hell she was going in that way.


    "Probably where the exit is." She grumbled. She moved out on several balconies and if she got too


    close to the edge she was pushed back. However she realized that the less she thought of escaping


    the farther out she could go or lean. It was like the house could sense her thoughts.


    She''d found a piano room, an archery range. Which confused her as to how or why, but the weaponry


    was gone from it. Not a big shock, there was a library as well. There was one room with a spiral


    staircase made of ss that went up to arge ornate oak door.


    She''d only leaned back to see, not liking how it seemed to be a one way entrance and exit. She''d pass,


    the staircase had metal bracing it to the stone wall. This ce waspletely confusing. There were


    modern things, and truly old things as well.


    It was hard to believe that anyone came in here and fixed the ce up. She was much more willing to


    believe in magic and pure evil now, than she had been before. She left the area with the spiral


    staircase quickly not liking the feel.


    It was starting to get dark now, and she needed to get back. Night wasn''t a good time to be out and


    about. She made her way back toward where she knew she needed to be. She slipped into a darkened


    room as running sounded down the hall. She nced out into the hall through the crack in the door


    watching.


    It was a woman she didn''t know. She was quick to go into a different room farther up the hall. As ir


    looked through the crack in the door, a hell hound came into view moving slowly down the hall sniffing


    at the doors. ir left the door as it was and moved across the room to a different door. She came out


    in a hall with gold carpeting, and here there were three other doors.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Fun house." She said irritated, then chose the door straight ahead. She wasn''t sure where she was


    but this room was huge. There were pirs that went all around the room with carvings of leaves and


    vines that went up them all.


    The ceiling was made of many windows that let light down into the room. candbras were on each


    pir and spaced around the walls as well. Chairs were lined around the outside of the room behind the


    pirs. The pirs made a rectangle area that housed what she would guess to be a dance floor. This


    was the ballroom she figured. It was beautiful, but she wasn¡¯t going to stick around.


    A piano was in one corner, and the color scheme of the room was white and blue. With a touch of silver


    here and there. She moved across the room fast wanting to be out of such arge area, she felt


    exposed. She needed to get back to her little home because it was getting toote.


    She made it near the door in the far left corner. As she moved to it, the door started to slowly close like


    it was on a string. She moved a bit faster but it mmed shut before she could reach it. She tried the


    handle but it didn''t work. The door seemed to be glued shut on her. She was going to just use her mind


    and force it open but a voice sounded behind her.


    "If only you''d been a few seconds sooner." Ice seemed to flow through her veins then. Her heart


    stopped beating in her chest for a moment before mming into her ribs.


    "If only." ir said she hadn''t turned around yet and swallowed. Isaiah was in the room and closer to


    the center. He nced up at the ceiling and then back at her. She turned around slowly to look at him,


    was this it? She figured if it was, she wasn''t going to grovel.


    "I do not mind so much. I was looking for something to upy my time with. Unfortunately for you, I


    happened across this part of our prison too." ir nced around the room, she was trapped and she


    knew it. No point in trying to run. She''d seen him move and he was faster than humanly possibly,


    granted he wasn''t really human.


    "Is this where I make myst request? Or do I get a chance to still live?" She asked, proud that her


    voice didn''t shake. He gave a slight smile. He was amused by her, she could feel it. ir really looked


    at him for the first time since the first day. She studied the man creature she was running from.


    He was near six two or so with a muscr build but not overly so it would seem. He had pitch ck


    hair with hazel colored eyes, at least right now. He wore ck cks, and a white button up shirt that


    wasn''t tucked in. He appeared no more than thirty. If he wasn''t so terrifying she''d have found him


    handsome. Strikingly so, but weren''t all mythical creatures? Seemed like a trend.


    He stood watching her. One hand in his pocket. His pose was rxed and at ease. If one didn''t know,


    he just looked like any ordinary man standing there having a conversation with her. ir knew better


    however. He might look casual and rxed but it was all a charade.


    Isaiah was a proud looking man or rather thing. With dashing good looks. However the part about


    killing people and draining the life from them... it just subtracted away somehow. ir felt a moment of


    laughter inside. Felt the corner of her mouth twitch. She was privatelyughing at her own joke and


    most likely wasn''t leaving this room, ever. Maybe it was really hystericalughter.


    "You have spirit, I like that. A will to live I see." He made a gesture to epass all of her.


    "d to amuse you." She said moving around the piano and cing a hand on it. How was she going


    to get out of this? Was he going to offer her something like others? Was he just going to take? She


    didn''t know, she didn''t like not knowing.


    "You do." He said with a slightugh that was rather dark. "I was wondering if perhaps you had died. I


    would have been rather disappointed if that had been the case, you seemed so... driven to survive


    when I saw youst." His gaze moved over her studying her.


    "I''ll take that as apliment." ir wasn''t sure why she was speaking to him. She wanted to just


    keep her mouth shut. She hadn''t had any real human contact in days. Just passing words with the


    others and none of them were inclined to stay and talk. Neither was she, she''d almost wondered if


    she''d forgotten how to talk.


    "Good, I rarely give them." He kept his gaze on her. She wished he wouldn''t. It was eerie and made her


    more nervous.


    "Then thank you." She replied and he gave another smallugh and smiled.


    "You are quite the enigma. I''m not sure how to handle a conversation without the insults or anger. I


    don''t get five words in before someone is cursing or throwing things." He looked behind him for a


    moment and then back at her,


    "ir is it?"


    "Yes."


    "Do you dance ir?" She blinked at him, the question was very odd. Who cared? Danced? Why


    would he ask that?


    "Yes."


    "You do?" He responded in an amused tone. "Then perhaps you would rather be used for


    entertainment than for food."


    "I can say that sounds far more appealing." ir answered, a little of the tension draining from her. He


    hadn''t made any promises yet, hadn''t given her the demand.


    "What is it that you want?"


    "A dance or two depending on my mood. If you can really dance as you say. I like ordinary things in life,


    even if I''m not an ordinary creature." His smile was full of dark things and didn''t quite reach his eyes.


    She ignored it. She sensed this was one of his games or deals, or whatever. She''d been told he liked to


    be entertained. So she would do her best if it gave her, her life.


    "Only if you promise to let me out of here alive and whole. None of those hell hounds following behind."


    She said with a motion of her hand. He gave her a crooked smile. Like she was in a ce to make


    demands.


    "Of course. I promise to let you leave the way that you came in. With no tag along hell hounds. So long


    as you dance with me." He gave a slight sweeping bow and held out a hand to her. This was probably


    the most surreal thing that she had ever done in her life. She was frozen for a moment looking at him.


    What if she didn''t move forward? This was far beyond anything she''d ever encountered and the whole


    thing just seemed like a bad joke. He wanted to dance? Was he not ying with a full deck of cards?


    However she had the promise so she had to fulfill her part or he didn''t have to hold up his. She knew


    that if you didn''t do as he said, then you were as good as dead. ir moved forward, holding a hand


    out slightly to his, but stopping short. Not touching it quite yet.


    "Didn''t your mother ever tell you not to y with your food?"


    "I don''t have a mother, so no." He kept his hand where it was, and hers shook slightly as she dropped it


    into his. Dropped it into a hand that wasrge and strong, and there was no running now.


    Isaiah could see her weariness. She didn''t let her guard down, or the relief to spread through her at his


    promise. Smart girl she was, very smart. She was willing to y along and do what he wanted. That he


    liked.


    To him she was highly interesting. A puzzle to figure out, and it had been a while since he''d had one to


    make him this curious. He pulled her forward, he enjoyed ying with the humans like this. They


    naturally wished to run from him, so he always forced them closer. This was very close, and he did it


    because of her clear reluctance to go anywhere near him. She was beyond tense. Every muscle in her


    body was tight and coiled.


    She''d managed to avoid him and his hell hounds for an entire week. He wasn''t sure where she had


    found a ce to hide but it was very good. Not to mention her scent came and went. He''d been


    wandering around the house bored just now, and suddenly got a very faint scent from her a moment


    before. So he let curiosity get the better of him. He''d followed it only to have it suddenly disappear near


    where Alpha was. So he''d changed directionsing this way. Looked like the right choice.


    He took her hand in his and the other on her waist. She ced her other hand on his shoulder. Her


    scent was clean and mixed with that of the air inside the house. He noted that she had changed her


    clothes and it looked like she may have showered or something of the sort.


    That was appealing. He didn''t much care for those in the house once they were here for a while. They


    weren''t concerned with hygiene. Isaiah nced over to the right side of the room, and he felt her jump


    slightly with the sound of music. It was loud in the quietness for a moment.


    "You have music?" She said looking around like it was a very odd and disturbing thing.


    "I don''t believe that dancing has much of a point without music. Why shouldn''t I have it?" What a stupid


    question.


    "How do you get it?" She asked, he moved leading and she followed. He knew most of the dances that


    there were. If there was something he wished to learn from the outside world he took it from the minds


    of the humans he met. A great way to stay up on the exterior world, and learn things at the same time


    without the fancy technology that was developing.


    "From those that keep me here. Or those that I need to survive. What they bring in stays here." She


    was graceful in her movements and knew the dance he chose. Even if he couldn''t remember the name.


    It was the moves that mattered. If he changed it, she picked up on it instantly and followed suit.


    Graceful, that was a point in her favor. She was also staying calm, how nice. Not a stiff mannequin


    most were half the time.


    "You are clean." He said turning her. Her scent was strong this close to her and he really liked it he


    found. She looked a bit thin at the moment but healthy. Which told him she was still taking care of


    herself. Still driven to do what it took to survive.


    "So, I like to be clean." She said stiffly. He brought her back to him much closer so their bodies


    brushed. He felt her tense, but she didn''t try to pull away. This made him smile, what a fun human to


    y with. So determined to y the game right. He also noted how soft her body was, he definitely had


    needs. It was so hard to find one that could meet or sate the urges he had. All were bitter


    disappointments and left him unfulfilled. But he enjoyed the feel of her brushing against him.


    "Much better than the others. I almost regret making the promise to you." He said judging by the steady


    beat of her heart and her scent. she would most likely have a very strong taste. He''d guess it to be


    more like citrus than sweet. Women tended to always be a sweet coppery taste where men tended to


    have a kind of sharp spice.


    "Then I''m d I took the deal." ir said. She wished he wouldn''t bring her so close to him. It made


    her want to run, and she was nearly against him. There was a kind of regal air about him. Very proper


    the way that he moved and spoke. She couldn''t see him not being the graceful predator he was. Not to


    mention the fact that he felt really solid, but she pretended not to notice.


    She was d that she knew her dances as he moved through them. Taking the movements from one


    and matching it to the next as a transition. She didn''t really see how some of the dances matched but


    he made them, and it was a smooth movement. The music that yed also matched what he did. If


    she''d been able to have a partner like him, she''d have done very well in herpetitions.


    However she''d always been stuck with a less thanpetent partner, and hadn''t gone very far with it.


    Waltz, salsa, tango, fox trot... did he even know which one he was choosing at what time? She heard


    the music change a few times. She didn''t mention it or ask to leave. She didn''t know if that would nullify


    the promise or not. She should have asked, stupid of her. Then again wouldn¡¯t have really changed


    anything.


    He moved a little faster suddenly and she kept pace with him. She kept her gaze on his shoulder. She


    couldn''t meet his gaze. To afraid that it would be hypnotizing or something. She would never get out of


    here. He turned her quickly bringing her back just as fast and it was almost dizzying. He moved a hand


    to her lower back and bent her backward.


    This movement brought her into full contact with him and she very nearly shoved to get away from him


    but managed not to. She didn''t think that would be a good thing for her life. Plus she doubted that it


    would do anything to help her get away from him. He was a solid muscr wall pressed along the front


    of her body. While her heart beat faster with fear, an odd little flip happened in the pit of her stomach


    too.


    "Next time I catch you, I think I''ll modify the terms of your release." He mused. She froze as his tongue


    slid over the side of her neck. It was slow and sensuous the way that he did it. Right over the fast


    beating pulse to just below her jaw.


    Her heart couldn''t have beat any harder. It was very nearlying out of her chest. Her skin prickled


    and a sharp cold feeling went down her spine. What was more dreadful was the fact that a small part of


    her reacted as a woman. Like it had no control, but the stark fear far outweighed it. He pulled her back


    up and let go of her. A very slight bow to her. He had a kind of evil smirk about him. She didn''t know


    exactly how to respond to what had just happened.


    "You are free to go." He said with a wave of his hand. The door popping open. She hadn''t expected him


    to actually let her go. He was clearly not done ying with her. If he was going to toy with her, well that


    gave her a chance didn''t it? Catch and release was fine with her at the moment.


    ir didn''t need to be told twice though. She felt a horrid flush take over her face as she turned and


    bolted out the door. She didn''t care if she made noise, she was terrified of that man. She felt that she


    might have jumped to the top of the food list with thatst little movement. She didn''t miss the soft


    masculineughter that followed her out the door as she ran.

 Chapter 6: Filling a Need

    Chapter 6: Filling a Need


    Isaiah felt a very strong desire tough louder. It had been a very long time since he''d done that. Her


    reaction was mostical. A little different than normal. She''d bolted instantly, where others that he''d


    done that to had stood there staring at him for a moment. Like they couldn''t think.


    It was always helpful to control those that you fed from. Especially when they could be very inventive in


    ways to attack you. He felt pain, more than a human would, he felt any physical sensation far more


    intensely than a human would. However, he was capable of pushing past it better too.


    Even so he was never truly pleased, nor satisfied by anyone or anything, and he''d tried. Oh did he try.


    It was frustrating. Frustrating to have this human body and be unable to take care of every need, every


    desire, every pleasure to his inhuman body. Really his body was two. He had his human body and


    trapped inside was what he really was.


    The part of him that didn''t seem able to enjoy the same things that his human body did. Like right now,


    he knew that it would be simple to please his human side. His other half, not so much, it never was.


    There was a long list of rules and constraints on his other side. Only one time had it really felt sated. He


    just felt the faint smile he had starting to fade thinking about it. Also the reason he was stuck here.


    Isaiah moved down a hall, to go to the west wing of the house. He wanted to go into the greenhouse


    there. The most interesting nts grew in there. One it was a good calming area. Two he felt a


    presence there that he could use. He was hoping to run across another human, preferably a woman.


    Having had ir so close, his sex drive was revved up at the moment. Isaiah gave a sigh thinking.


    He was stuck here until he got what he lost back. Which wasn''t going to happen. What he lost was very


    specific and his captors, the Grietio family, were most determined to never let that happen. Their eldest


    son had a certain annoying talent, he was a rare psychic human. At least a true psychic, he could


    control his talents.


    Michael was his name, and it was his father that had made the n to get Isaiah trapped in here.


    Michael cross checked each humaning in the building. Made sure that none of them were truly


    psychic, in that way would cause a bit of a problem for them. Though a male psychic not so much.


    Isaiah had run across a couple male psychics over the years and they hadsted longer than the


    others, but no psychic females.


    At least one that had real control of her talents. That was the critical point, she had to be able to control


    her talent. On a level that he could. He kept hoping that one would slip past Michael, but like Michael


    Isaiah was capable of sensing talent. No one was able to hide their signatures, it was an unheard of


    ability to be honest. Masking one''s psychic signature. That took time and practice, a lot of it. It was a


    learned skill and no human was capable ofpletely doing it. At least from what Isaiah had seen. So


    it was a moot point he guessed. Michael had never slipped up even once.


    Michael''s sister Athena had been a psychic too. She was the reason he was stuck here. She''d been a


    very strong and powerful one, able to go into the minds of others and change their memories. That had


    been what had drawn Isaiah to her in the first ce. However she was dead and he was stuck in here


    helpless to get at those that had stuck him in here. He hadn''t even cared about the woman, just the


    thought of what she could provide. Yet here he was, chained to this damn ce.


    Isaiah heard a soft movement not far ahead. His mind picked up every detail now and narrowed down


    the who, and what it would be. Definitely a woman, good, very good. He liked women, he didn¡¯t


    respond to men. Men were just items to feed from.


    He was thinking that perhaps the next time he caught ir he would use her. She might provide far


    more pleasurable entertainment than the one he came upon now. There were a lot of good signs there,


    but he also wasn''t in the mood to kill what was most entertaining human to him either.


    "Hello Laura." Isaiah spoke and she whipped around holding a knife in her hand. There was blood on it,


    and by the smell it was Zeta''s. She would be looking for this woman toe and kill her personally.


    Zeta never took it well when a human managed to wound her.


    "You just stay right there." She said pointing the de out, she looked a bit wild eyed.


    "I don''t think I will. You failed in ourst meeting. I¡¯m here to collect. I don''t have to keep my word." He


    told her, no games for her this time. He had a few needs that had to be met right now and she was it.


    He was surprised by the sharpness of which he needed to feed. The fact that he needed a woman''s


    body. It had been a long time since such a strong urge had struck him, but what did it matter? He had


    in front of him what he needed. His human arousal could be taken care of by her. Not that she was


    going to do anything for his other half. It had already closed down just seeing her. All it thought of was


    prey to consume.


    "You said..."


    "I know what I said, and you failed to hold up your end of the bargain. I''ve decided to collect now." He


    moved toward her his eyes going solid ck. His needs riding him hard. He didn''t know if he could


    really control himself to not kill her before he took what he wanted from her.


    "But you let me go." She said backing up and moving toward the exit of the room they were in.


    "I said you could go, not that you were free to go." She looked panic stricken now. Blood always tasted


    so much better with that spike of adrenaline running through it. It was such a terrific high. Nearly as


    good as feeding during sex. He could get both in a minute.


    She turned to run but he was in front of her quickly. Isaiah grabbed the wrist with the knife, with a twist


    the bones snapped and she cried out in pain. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back through


    the room dragging her by it as she fought with him. He knew she was going to. She was going to try


    and stab him and things. So he broke her wrist and took her weapon. Her mind was weak, easy to


    read.


    "No!" She shouted, "Wait please I don''t want to die!" She wasn''t really talking to him but it annoyed him


    anyways. No one was going to help her. They were all just d when they heard screams, that it


    wasn¡¯t them.


    "Should have thought about that before making a deal that you couldn''t fulfill." Her good hand was


    gripping his wrist where he had a strong hold of her hair. Her nails dug into his wrist, tearing the skin. It


    was an irksome pain but he ignored it.


    He opened a door to a room just down the hall and pretty much tossed her inside. She got up but there


    was no other exit she could see. Isaiah came forward and took hold of her by the throat. He was


    already sifting through her memories to see if there was anything he cared to take with him from her.


    His mind absorbed the information as he pulled it from her mind. A bit of blood trickled from her nose.


    She was roommates with the one name ir. Though no love loss there. She''d shut ir out to die,


    better her than Laura. He was only interested in the memories she had of ir to figure her out. His


    personal puzzle at the moment. Though they weren''t much help. ir it seemed was normally a very


    shy and quiet person. A wall flower that seemed to go unnoticed. That just added to the puzzle. That''s


    not what he saw when he looked at her. There was a fire in ir that Laura could see. He let it go for


    the moment looking at Laura.


    "How about this?" He stated still holding her by the throat, but not overly tight. He forced her to step


    back and sit on the edge of the bed. "I''ll give you a second chance, fail this time and I''ll kill you


    instantly." She held his wrist applying pressure with her good hand but she couldn''t hope to match his


    strength.


    "I''ll even give you four days immunity from me and the hell hounds, to roam where you please."


    "Okay, yes, yes." She gasped, not that she really had a choice to ept or not. He was going to do


    what he was going to do. The only difference would be if she was alive at the end of it. He had no faith


    that she could give him what his body needed. She just didn''t have what it took to satisfy him. No one


    was even going to try, so he gave incentive. Just once it would be nice.


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    He forced her back, his mouth over hers just to keep from killing her before he finished. He didn''t have


    consideration for her. Really it was more of a simple fix, she couldn''t very wellin when he gave


    her a chance to live.

 Chapter 7: The Full Moon

    Chapter 7: The Full Moon


    ir found that the next week she saw very little of the hell hounds and was a bit more free to move


    around and search. Isaiah was a little harder to avoid, but she managed it. She was always making


    sure to stay open feeling for him. The second she felt anything that might signal him she ran.


    One thing was for sure she was very d for the toiletries in the house, and for the absence of the hell


    hounds. She didn''t think that being a woman at certain times of the month and their sense of smell


    would work so well. ir found out that there were only five left. Including her, of the original twelve


    that hade here with her.


    She was also in better shape than them, emotionally and physically. She thanked god for her talents


    because they were really the reason that she was doing as well as she was. They were just growing


    stronger and she learned a new thing about herself as well. She was far more athletically inclined than


    she had ever thought possible.


    She should be after two weeks of living here. The outside worlds seemed like it was a glorious fairy tale


    she''d once been told. As if out there was the unrealistic book, and in here was the truth of reality. This


    house was her world now. She took to learning what she could, it meant that she would just be that


    much better off. Somehow it seemed like she''d always been here. Like she''d always be here, this was


    her tomb.


    "At least it''s a beautiful tomb." She said moving with her sketch pad and items to find a ce to draw.


    She kept going up when she found the stairs. She came to a set of stairs that were wooden. Here she


    went up she tried to open the door but couldn''t.


    So she used her mind and it popped open easily, and she stepped out onto the wide expanse of roof.


    She moved around it, there were other doors as well here, but very few. Perhaps only three of four. She


    moved across the roof to where she found arge pyramid of ss.


    Looking down she could see the design on the ballroom floor now. It was an intricate pattern and


    looked like a mosaic. The rose across the floor with silver lining all the edges couldn''t be seen unless


    you were up here. She stared at it for a minute before deciding what she wanted to do.


    After all there wasn''t much to do but wait. Wait to be caught, wait to get away, wait to die, or for an


    answer that wasn''t going toe. So ir found ways to pass her time. Something she could escape


    into for a while. She was tired of sitting in her wall.


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    She pulled out her sketch pad and started to draw. It was close to ten in the morning, so she had plenty


    of time. Not to mention she hadn''t even heard the slightest movement around the house from anything


    that might try to take a bite out of her.


    ir touched her neck at the thought. She could still feel it like he''d just done it. Just slid his tongue


    over her skin. It annoyed her that at times she would dwell on it. That this rush also seemed to start to


    happen thinking about it. An ufortable womanly need. She immediately shut it out. No, that was


    so very wrong, horribly wrong. She pushed the thoughts away of what he did, and how he''d held her to


    him.


    The sun moved slowly across the sky as she drew. It was cool out now. She''d found a sweater and


    taken it to use yesterday. It was over sized but warm. A ck color, she''d found jeans in her size and


    was wearing them as well. Still she was trying to bring as much as she could in here.


    As the sun neared the mountain tops she got up and hurried to the closest door and went down. She


    knew where she was then and moved to find her hiding ce. Tucking the drawing into her pack she


    climbed into the chute and went up.


    It was much easier now as her muscles were getting used to this. She went up to where her stuff sat.


    She hit the little tap light there. In her ten foot by ten foot space. She had a storage bin for food, and


    another bin for clothing and personal care products.


    It had been hard to get the stuff in here, but she''d managed to rig something with a bit of rope and


    extra muscle power. Sheid down putting her head on a pillow that she''d found and looked up at the


    ceiling. She had a drawing of the night sky with trees edging it and she would stare at it. Trying to


    remember what freedom felt like.


    With a sigh, she hit the tap light and she was thrown into darkness. At least now she knew if she


    wanted to really look at the sky or breathe fresh air, she could go to the roof. ir closed her eyes and


    tried to think of peaceful calming things. Things that she missed. For one, to sleep in a bed would be


    nice, and to see her adoptive parents again. With these thoughts she fell asleep with a sigh, and a


    slight burn to her eyes.


    ir was startled awake by a horrible screeching noise. She hit the tap light and looked around


    thinking that something had gotten into the vents, but no. The sound came again and it was a bit farther


    away. She sat listening for a moment, breathing slow and not making a sound, she pushed her mane of


    hair out of her face.


    She wanted to know what was going on. It wasn''t a noise that she had ever heard before. ir looked


    down the chute to her right and then up the shaft to her left. She couldn''t see any light from either of


    the two main entrances above or below.


    ir hung a small sh light around her neck and started her climb up. Trying to be quiet. The metal


    here was fairly warped from her constantly climbing it. However as she chose the smaller opening to


    the right, the metal popped slightly and she stopped moving.


    She gave it a minute and didn''t hear anything. She continued on a bit more slowly, she heard growling


    coming from everywhere, like the house was alive. She found herself looking through a grate finally.


    She was looking into a bigger room, it looked like the piano room.


    There were three pianos here along with other instruments, but that wasn''t what held her attention. The


    three hell hounds were weaving back and forth in front of some creature. It looked skeletal in nature,


    skinny, nothing but skin and bones. This she had never seen in the house before and her eyes


    widened.


    Its hands were long and slender, so were its feet. The toes looked longer and the feet looked more like


    bone as well. No light was on in the house it seemed, just the glow of the moon outside. In the room


    two people were near the windows. She recognized James and he held the weapon he''d won from


    Isaiah, the other was a woman.


    ir looked back at the creature. It looked to her like the skin might be a midnight blue color or ck.


    Sprouting from its back were two huge wings tattered and frayed at the bottom. They swept up in a


    curved motion with ws at the end. It brought the wings down and hooked them around its throat


    giving it the appearance of a cape. Like the wings didn''t exist. Making the creature look wrapped in a


    ck cloak.


    It made a motion and slight noise and the hell hounds stopped moving. Just standing still. There was a


    sudden shrill whistle and then it felt like someone punched ir right in the head. She felt the urge to


    come out of the grate and reveal herself. It was so strong and she just about did it. This sound, it was in


    her mind, she knew that. She was also powerless to stop it.


    Her hand reached up but she pulled it back, death was waiting on the other side and she wasn''t going


    to him. Two doors opened and another man came in. They waited a bit longer no one breathing,


    nothing moving and then the doors mmed shut. That sound... it had been apulsion to show


    yourself, and the others hadn''t resisted it.


    ir put a hand to her mouth. She thought that there were five of them left, right now it looked like four


    and soon to be one. Whatever spell had been weaved it seemed over. Those that were in the room


    with the creatures snapped out of it.


    James held the sword he had out, as it was the only weapon that he had. That it appeared any of them


    had. The winged creature stepped forward and shed its hand across the t part of the de. A


    secondter the de fell to pieces from where the creature''s ws had cut.


    Then the three humans were scurrying to get out of the room to find anything that could save them.


    The others attacked, going after one human a piece except for two of the hell hounds that went for one


    of the three humans together. ir couldn''t watch, didn''t want to hear. She forced down the sickness.


    Using the sounds of things being torn apart plus the screams, ir moved fast through the vent away


    from it all.


    She went back up to her little hiding spot and curled into a ball. She''d thought she''d seen the worst of


    it. Where had that creaturee from? There was no way to even hope to fight something like that.


    She could still hear the horrible sounds, screams for the next few minutes and then it stopped.


    ir had her hands over her ears and was curled on her side. What had Gregori said? Did he say


    anything about this? She racked her brain and remembered a small something. Something about the


    moon and never leaving where you found a ce to hide. The full moon was most dangerous.


    There were three eerie howls that filled the house. The howls of hunters that had caught their prey.


    Everything went quiet and then she heard them, running through the house tearing things apart. Things


    crashed everywhere, the sound of smashing and ss breaking.


    Sometimes she heard it like they were on the other side of the wall. Other times it was quiet as if they


    had moved to a different part of the house. Twice more she heard the shrill whistle wing at her mind


    trying to take hold but then it would stop.


    Once she''d heard her name. She was positive about it. Like someone spoke it right in her ear. It was a


    question, asking where she was. Wanting her to speak but she didn''t. It sounded like Isaiah''s voice and


    she wasn''t going to answer it, not if he was that thing. Was that what he truly was? Did the light of the


    moon cause that? She cried quietly from fear, from hopelessness, from sheer exhaustion.


    For the next three nights she had to endure the horrible destruction of the house. The shrill whistle and


    her name being called, called toe and meet her death. She stayed right where she was and only


    left during the day. She grabbed more food than she could carry along with water and other supplies.


    She wasn''ting out until others were brought and the attention was off of her. She didn''t think this


    ce could get worse, she was wrong.

 Chapter 8: Last One Left

    Chapter 8: Last One Left


    Isaiah woke looking up at the ceiling of his room. He sat up and was wearing nothing, not that it


    surprised him. He was always like this after the full moon. Didn''t recall much from the three days. He


    did remember an anger at not being able to find something. What was new? He hated how his memory


    suffered during the moon. That he was more a beast than a rational thinking being.


    He moved getting up, stretching slightly and rolling his neck and shoulders. His back itched horribly, the


    skin there still healing.


    "Annoying." He mumbled, knowing that for the next day it would be that way.


    Two nights before the moon, the wings came and he could not control it. Then the night of, he lost


    consciousness as he let what he truly wase out. Only the hell hounds seemed to be able to


    coincide with the beast. He just wondered if he''d gotten them all this time or not. The humans that was.


    Since he''d been trapped here, he¡¯d lost the ability to control himself during the moon.


    He slipped on a pair of ck cks and then a ck shirt, pulling it over his head. He was feeling a bit


    more dark today, and what color was better than ck? He moved from where the bed was through


    two wooden sliding doors into a room where there was a long couch in front of a huge firece.


    He''d never had a fire in it. He just liked the way that it looked. All the stone that went around it and up


    to the ceiling. The ceiling here was ss and it looked like rain today. He moved across the ck tiled


    floor here after going down one step and moved to therge oak door. The only way in and out of this


    room. That was of course unless you fell through the roof, but this part of the house was higher than


    the rest of it.


    He went out the door and then down the spiral ss staircase. He always found that interesting. The


    ss looked so thin, and they weren''t connected, just held to the wall with metal. Then again this ce


    had a lot of odd and interesting designs.


    Isaiah was barefoot at the moment, but his feet made no sound as they touched the ground. Silence


    was how he liked to move about, so silence it was. Beta wasying near the bottom and raised his


    large head. He was a German Sheppard at the moment. The sun was up and this form gave them a bit


    more protection.


    ¡®You destroyed a lot.¡¯ Came the statement from him. No words of course but that is what he would have


    said if he could out loud. It was in his head as normal.


    "Did I?" He asked raising an eyebrow. He went into the hall there, Beta following him. He was surprised


    to find the walls still scored from him, but as he watched the walls were already mending themselves.


    ¡®It was fun, so much to destroy, not so many humans to y with this time.¡¯ Beta mentallymented


    following him and giving a yawn. His teeth curved and not quite natural for the dog beside him. Isaiah


    looked at different rooms that he passed, he stopped and looked in the plush room.


    It looked like someone had caused it to snow in there. Not one piece of furniture was left. He could also


    see a bit of blood.


    ¡®One of the male humans. Dragged him around for a day or so until Zeta could no longer stand him and


    killed him.¡¯ Beta informed him.


    "Ah." He said. "Are none left?"


    ¡®I have not seen nor smelled one, not even the odd human.¡¯ He nced down at Beta. Isaiah gave a


    sigh and nodded. He didn''t think that any of them would, they normally didn''t. The only reason that


    Gregori had thest time was that his group had been brought during the moon change. So they


    demolished most the group and then those that were left he yed with.


    Though it wasn''t so bad. Normally it was only the crafty ones that were left. He was however very


    disappointed that the female ir hadn''t made it. He just expected a bit more he guessed. She


    seemed wise, a fighter. Guess he was wrong, damn and he didn''t get to enjoy her. He''d been looking


    forward to that one, making a deal for pleasure. He was sure she''d have put effort into it.


    "We have another five days at least before they may bring in more. I''m sure that they will. I wonder


    where from this time. What excuse they will use to get them here. Never the same thing twice in a row.


    I give them credit they are very good." Isaiahmented and went down to the piano room. Beta


    trotting alongside him.


    This room looked fine nothing wrong with it, did they miss this room? As if sensing what he was


    thinking Beta responded.


    ¡®First night, those that answered the call.¡¯ He gave a nod, this was normally what happened.


    They tended to ignore the room where they first killed most the humans in or rounded them up. The


    humans would avoid that room like the gue after that. He moved over and sat down behind the


    grand piano and tried to decide what he''d like to y.


    ''Something calm.'' That was always what Beta liked and Isaiah obliged him, picking Moonlight Sonata


    by Beethoven. He liked ssical music though he would listen to anything really. He''d found an I-pod


    during thest group''s stay and was still trying to figure it out. He kept forgetting to search the minds of


    those that came afterward.


    ___ir___


    ir opened her eyes as music came to her, she knew this song. Moonlight Sonata. It was calming to


    her and she let the music soak in and she hummed it to herself.


    Did this mean that the nights of that creature were over? She hadn''t moved in two days and now she


    felt stiff and a bit sore. She got up and moved finding the music. She found herself looking in the piano


    room.


    From here she could see Isaiah sitting at the grand piano and one of the hell houndsying on a chase


    lounge here. As she watched two others came in andid down. It was such an odd sightpared to


    the one that had been there before.


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    Isaiah seemedpletely absorbed in ying the song, and he seemed musically gifted. Then again


    she couldn''t think of something that he didn''t seem to excel at. irid her head down on her hands.


    To her the music felt more like a cleansing of what had happened. A kind of peaceful send off to those


    that had died. Even if he didn''t mean it that way.


    "I do believe you are right." Isaiah said and she looked around for a moment until she realized he was


    talking to the hell hounds that looked like German Shepherds. She wasn''t fooled. He started a different


    song she thought might be Chopin though this one she wasn''t that familiar with. The hell hound that


    ir could tell was the only female moved over and jumped up on the piano andid down as the top


    was closed.


    "Scratch it, I''ll take you out back and skin you." The hell hound made a kind of sound and Isaiah gave a


    sigh.


    "Not literally out back, not in the mood to bleed all over the ce." This was interesting. It was kind of


    annoying to only be privy to one part of the conversation. Also so at odds to see him in this role. He


    looked almost human, a man with his dogs. She memorized the image, it would make an interesting


    drawing.


    She was also running low on her supplies for that. She''d have to see if she could find an art room.


    There had to be one, her case was nearly out. She hadn¡¯t brought much with. Why would she? She


    hadn¡¯t nned on an extended stay.


    "Several days yet before the next group. There weren''t many left anyways." Isaiah said, the music soft


    as he yed. There was only music for a bit. No talking, and it was kind of lulling her to sleep. She


    shook her head and kept watching.


    "Do you know for sure they were all killed?" Isaiah said, then paused. "Thought as much." He kept


    ying and this time ir did nod off. When she woke no one was in the room and it was growing dark


    outside. She moved back to her ¡®home¡¯ and gave a sigh. Early tomorrow she would go out and find


    some supplies and perhaps a ce to draw.


    Though it might pay to spend the time watching Isaiah and his habits.


    From what she''d seen he seemed to prefer the right side of the house for the most part. Where the


    piano room was and the ballroom. He moved through those rooms and several of the rooms that were


    set up for various things, quite often.


    She watched him over the next two days to see his habits first before going for supplies. It was hard to


    keep up with him in the vents and walls of the ce but she managed it most of the time. There were a


    few rooms that she couldn''t follow without revealing herself.


    He wasn''t picky about where he seemed to find to a ce to rx. Though he seemed to move toward


    the back of the house at the highest part of the day. Toward where she''d seen the ss spiral


    staircase. She made a note to avoid that area at all costs, he seemed to frequent it.


    On the third day she finally got up the nerve to leave the walls and vents. She''d seen him move off to


    the spiral staircase. She listened for the very silent click as the door shut. She moved off quickly and


    quietly. ir was proud of herself and her time to spy on him and learn his habits. One more thing to


    help keep her alive, and she was learning the hell hounds habits too.

 Chapter 9: Another Arrival

    Chapter 9: Another Arrival


    ir knew that the hell hounds were down in the caves. She''d heard him mention something to the one


    named Beta about taking things down there. The hell hounds had eaten everything left in the kitchen


    now that they had no humans to snack on. ir was d for her small stash that she had.


    She moved toward the left wing where she hadn''t explored much. Here she found many more


    bedrooms than actual rooms of use. This was why he stayed toward the right side of the house. Not a


    lot on this side it would seem.


    ir went down a short set of stone steps and a stretch here had only windows. She looked out at the


    day and touched the ss. Snow wasing down. It wasn''t sticking to the ground yet but it was so


    soft and pretty. It made her feel a kind of bubble inte in her chest. Today wasn''t such a bad day, she


    just needed to keep Isaiah ignorant of her being alive. It wasn''t so bad then.


    She found a kind of greenhouse as she opened a ss door at the end of the stone hallway. ir had


    on a tighter fitting turtleneck that she had found. It was a dark red color and made her hair appear


    almost ck. She still wore the pair of jeans that fit her as well. She was hoping to find a better bra


    though. This one wasn''t doing the job all that well anymore. It was hard to run and do physical activities


    when you had arger chest. Not that she was huge, but she had enough there.


    She looked at the nts growing in here. They were all different shades of green with some reds and


    purples, one nt was hot pink. Flowers of every color were in here, and she instantly wanted to draw


    it. She looked at the hot pink nt with its spade shaped leaves and the dark red veins that it had.


    "Beautiful." She didn''t touch it, probably poisonous.


    ir moved on though and felt the temperature drop as she left the green house. Along with the


    humidity. She went down the hall here looking for anything that might be an art room. She went down a


    flight of stairs and was growing discouraged until she opened the second tost door at the end of the


    short hall.


    The room wasrge and square with a huge table in the center and stools. There were easels against


    the wall and what looked like closets. Along withrge filing cabs and drawers built into the walls.


    She stepped into it and was in awe of the supplies here. Anything she could possibly want to work with


    was here. Once again she wondered at this ce. She went to the cabs in the wall to see what was


    in there. Three were drawers with different types of drawing paper. Special types of other paper for


    different media.


    She moved to the next set of cabs and opened the top drawer. All different types of pencils,


    depending on hardness or softness. They were covered by a sheet of ss that popped up when


    pressed. There were also colored pencils here and from lead to charcoal. The next drawer down held


    contie crayons,pressed charcoal, and oil crayons. She looked down the next three drawers and


    was amazed at the things in here. It reminded her of her case, but on a bigger scale. She thought


    about this, there was no denying magic ran through the house. Could it create things once it made


    contact with them? Refresh them or make a room with them? The one thing she noticed didn¡¯t


    regenerate was food. This ce was wild.


    No way that someone just thought to stock something like this. Not to mention the shape that they were


    in. Perfect like no one had ever touched them. If she were going to have a studio it would be this one.


    She grabbed an easel and stool and then pulled a little cart to her to grab what she wanted. Before


    sitting, ir checked the hall and locked the greenhouse door. All was silent.


    Heading back to the room she looked at it. She was going to draw, it kept her mentally sound. Today it


    would be charcoal and some white contie crayon. With nothing else to do, and no where to really go


    she pulled up a seat. She felt pretty safe, this part seemed very neglected.


    ¡°If Anyone is listening.¡± She stared up at the ceiling feeling a tear try to escape. ¡°Let me just have this


    one moment. This one space.¡± She looked back at the items she picked. She sighed, and for a moment


    she thought the room might feel warmer but she ignored it.


    ir started in on the picture and worked for a good amount of time. She was coated in charcoal by the


    time she felt that she was finished and set the picture aside. It looked excellent, one of her best she


    thought. It was the image she''d memorized from the Piano room.


    Isaiah and the three hounds. She moved forward and fixed a couple things and yed with the gum


    eraser in her hand cleaning it. She was inspired now and wanted to do a second one. While it was


    going to be a bit darker she still wanted to do it. The image was burned in her head.


    She started to draw and everything else fell away from her, dangerous considering where she was. Still


    she felt that this part of the house was extremely neglected and unused. So it gave her a bit of security.


    She worked through the night on the images and set them next to each other looking at them.


    She tipped her head. Her hair was pulled back and bits falling around her face. She kept going up to


    them and fixing things or adding a bit to them. In the end she had two very life-like pictures. One that


    gave a calm and peaceful look, the other anger and terror.


    The second drawing she''d done was of the hell hounds as they really were. Moving around Isaiah as


    she figured he must be the thing from the three nights. In the picture were the humans, James holding


    the weapon up and the other two in poses ready to flee.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Normally one would think this picture with the man facing down the demons and would want him to


    triumph. But the picture was dark and gave a feeling of helplessness as well. That created a kind of


    sadness. As if you knew the end was not a good one.


    She found some fixative and thought perhaps she shouldn''t use it as it smelled a bit. She shrugged,


    why not? She sprayed the two pictures and then put them in the empty closet space to hide them but


    kept them so they would stay t.


    ir cleaned up and left the room making her way back to her home in the walls and crawled over the


    nkets and grabbed her pillow falling asleep as the first rays of light came over the mountains.


    The next four or five days, ir was losing count now, she made her way down to the art room. She


    would lose herself in drawing. This was her escape. This was her haven in the house, Isaiah and the


    hounds had the other side.


    She''d taken her music yer with her. She had a plug for it and it was in her smaller bag of art


    supplies. She drew the house, the gardens. She drew the green house and different nts. Sometimes


    she would paint or use acrylic crayons.


    She tried all the media, all the different paper and styles. She kept everything neat and tidy in arge


    drawer with different separatingyers. Every time she left and came back it seemed that the room


    cleaned itself and renewed the media. Everything was spotless and replenished.


    There was a calm and weing air to the room. As if it was happy to be used, like being neglected for


    so long had caused it grief. She felt safe down here, and she had yet to even see Isaiah move in this


    direction. She did spend a few hours everyday watching him. Making sure he wasn¡¯t doing anything


    she should worry about.


    He was growing a bit lethargic, the color of his eyes slowly turning cker. They were nearly solid


    ck now. She thought that perhaps she should hold off going down to the room but she just couldn''t


    help it, she kept going. She also kept a closer eye on his movements.


    "I''m running low on food." ir said to herself. She took a bite of her gran bar and took a drink of


    the water looking at the hell hound picture she had just drawn. She had done one for each of them.


    Learning their names from the conversations that Isaiah had with them.


    She kept Beta''s a bit more calm and subdued. His was a side profile with his head down as if he found


    something very interesting on the ground before him. He was simply moving through a rather


    nondescript room. Keeping him the subject. Keeping the feeling that he was the calm center.


    Next was Zeta, and from what ir had seen she was fierce and had a temper. Hers was a side profile


    as well, but the hair on her back was raised slightly and her head was low and looking at the viewer. A


    great deal of work had been put into the eyes. To make them intense, her jaws slightly agape with


    something dripping from them.


    Alpha camest, he had a regal air about him. The way that he sat there a three quarters view. His


    head turned toward the viewer but not so focused as she''d made Zeta''s. His gaze was more general as


    if he was taking in the viewer and all that was around him. Hisrge tail wrapped around his side and


    his body was stiff and straight.


    "Perfect." She said to herself. All of the hell hounds had rather nondescript backgrounds too. When


    looking at it, it felt as if they were nowhere, but somewhere at the same time. Just where they should


    be. Herst hanging there was Isaiah. They were after all her main subjects in the house besides the


    house itself, and she was slowly drawing different rooms.


    Isaiah she had a harder time with, unsure of how to portray him. She picked a side profile for him. He


    stood looking out a window and his front was easily illuminated. She had caught the casual look of how


    he wore his clothes, the way that he stood. At first nce there was a rather thoughtful expression on


    his face, but it was the eyes that changed that.


    They were very focused on something, like he knew exactly what he wanted and was fixed on it. His


    gaze was at odds with the uncaring way he held his body. She kept the hair unruly as he seemed to


    wear it. A bit more tamed in this picture to give a refined grace about him as a few locks fell over his


    forehead.


    "There''s something messed up with a person who drawers their killers." She gave a smile and then a


    bow to the pictures. "I do say that I am quite talented. why of course you are." She spoke to herself.


    ir put the drawings into therge cab in the closet. She''d missed this one the first few times


    she''d been in here. It pulled out sideways and had separatepartments that snapped together to


    hold the art work up straight and t. She had the drawings and paintings separate in each section and


    then by subject. They werebeled, greenhouse, general house, I.Z.A.B.


    She put her things away and thanked the room for the good session and left. She was almost up the


    stairs when she felt a shiver go down her spine and a warm sensation rush over her skin. Someone


    wasing, she didn''t know how but she knew.


    ir ran to the front of the house and tried to look out the front. It was a few minutes before she saw


    several cars pulling up. She tried to move forward but there was an invisible wall there, she touched it


    and it was solid.


    She moved to a different part to get past but couldn''t, she was trapped in this part of the house. She


    couldn''t go near the front entrance. She circled back to the kitchen area and found that she could get in


    here, and that it was freshly stocked.


    She grabbed a cloth bag left behind and could see someone walking away from the outside door. Their


    back to her. They must have just been in here restocking...her panicked shoving of things into the bag


    slowed.


    "Others areing." This hit her and she swallowed, but deep inside she felt this was a good thing.


    She wouldn''t have to be so on her toes. She could be a little less terrified that she would be found by


    Isaiah and torn apart or drained dry.


    ir stuffed her bag and opened the fridge. Fresh fruit was there and she needed that, needed


    vitamins. She''d found a bottle of them but this was good. She grabbed a peach and ate it and then


    grabbed an apple eating that too.


    ir hadn''t realized how starved for good food she was. She rummaged through the fridge and


    grabbed some of the deli meat and then bread and made herself arge sandwich. It was going to be a


    while before she got this again. She also continued to nce at the doors and feel around her. She


    wasn''t going to be caught when she made it this far.


    The sound ofughter and arger crowd came to her. She moved toward the kitchen door and peaked


    in. The dining room table was gone and instead the room was set up for what looked like a gathering of


    some kind. Not a party per say, but then she noted the stuff on the tables around the room.


    "Drugs?" She said to herself in shock. There was definite drug paraphernalia. While she''d never


    touched the stuff, there was enough there to tell her that a small fortune had been spent on it. She


    wasn''t going to waste her breath on them. One it would go unheeded and she''d expose herself to


    Isaiah. She moved back and took her bag of food, eating her sandwich and holding a container of


    orange juice. Honestly she needed to slow down, her stomach hurt. However it felt so good to be full.


    As she came to the hall that connected to the main staircase she heard Isaiah''s voice. A different man


    too, she nced around the corner. Isaiah it seemed couldn''t reach the man but it was clear that he


    wanted to. She''d never seen such a feral look as right then and there. She listened only for a moment,


    before slipping away unseen.

 Chapter 10: Cunning Prey

    Chapter 10: Cunning Prey


    Isaiah looked at the group filing in. Arge group, twenty plus. He and the hell hounds were starving so


    this was a good thing, If they had been healthy humans. He''d have to drink the tainted disgusting blood


    and push the drugs out of his body.


    "You bring me the worst kind to feed from?" Isaiah said. "Perhaps I simply won''t feed." He challenged


    and the look in his eyes was fairly serious. The man who looked no older than Isaiah red at him.


    "You will or we will continue to bring you this low level scum. Thest group were all healthy, and had


    intelligence. It is hard to get such groups without being noticed." Which was the truth.


    "Let me out. You won''t have to worry about it." He would have no worries. Isaiah would kill him in a


    heartbeat.


    "This is what you get. We don''t care so long as you are fed."


    "If I want to feed." He said in a dangerous tone.


    "You''ll feed because you''d go crazy if you don''t and you know it. You can''t stop yourself forever. You''ll


    turn feral and kill the first one you can get your hands on for blood. I know your game."


    "I can hold out long enough. Long enough for a few of you to die from the starvation of it." The man


    looked at Isaiah. Isaiah might let himself get so weak that magic would start to break for those in the


    family connected to him. They both knew if he got angry enough he''d do it. The number attached to


    him was also a reason he had to have so many to feed from.


    "But I won''t." With that he turned and Isaiah pped the unseen barrier in anger with a snarl. Then he


    looked at the group. He let out a loud and odd sound. Instantly Zeta, Beta, and Alpha came down the


    stairs.


    "Just take what you need no more. We must let this group dry out." There was a low growl of


    disapproval from the three of them.


    "Agreed." Isaiah hissed.


    Isaiah waited watching the group. Disgusting, but he was starving and needed it. Why couldn''t one of


    them have survived from before? Then he couldst the days it would take for this group to use their


    drugs and dry out.


    This was going to be a very dull month. Plus none seemed all that bright, perhaps it would get better


    once they were over their needs. The barrier came down as the safe time passed, and he moved


    forward. Walked in the room and picked the one least on a high. Right in front of them all bit into the


    man''s neck and pulled the energy and blood from him. There were stunned looks and not a lot of


    movement at first as they watched what looked like a vampire feed from their friend.


    His blood was tainted with what he thought might be cocaine. He was also slightly drunk. Just great,


    just what he wanted to push through his system. It wasn''t until the hell hounds grabbed the ones that


    they wanted did the others start shouting and running from the room. Unsteady though it was, and


    ridiculous to see the way they acted.


    Isaiah felt the weakness and tiredness leave him. His senses going instantly sharp and he stood there


    for a good five minutes. The hell hounds ate their fill of the humans leaving very little bone or flesh, but


    a good bloody mess. He on the other hand was waiting for the moment the drugs would push back up.


    What his body would reject.


    Isaiah turned and marched from the room into the kitchen and was violently sick in the sink. Toxins did


    not mix with him. If left in his body it would deteriorate him to nothing but a feral beast and he''d rather


    be a rational thinking killing machine than that.


    He dry heaved a few times but straightened up, and turned on the water. He rinsed his mouth from the


    taste there and spit it out. He turned and could hear the group running around looking for a way out.


    Isaiah moved to the room he''d just been in and grabbed anything that was a drug.


    He went back to the kitchen, opened the door and tossed them outside. He mmed the door and the


    ss shattered out of it but was already fixing itself a secondter. The hell hounds had moved off


    going to watch the humans scurry about. There was something oddly funny about watching humans


    like this group. They were very low on the intelligencedder in his opinion.


    Walking to leave the kitchen from a different door, he nearly tripped as he came to such a sudden stop.


    It looked like he''d been tripped by an invisible wire for a second. Isaiah took a few steps back and took


    a deep breath moving around the kitchen. It wasn''t possible they hadn''t felt or smelled anyone in the


    house. But for one second he smelled it, and it was like being hit by a freight train. A clean scent


    among the filth.


    But it was there, the faint smell of citrus and flowers. So unique like the woman that it belonged to and


    he apparently had greatly underestimated her. How had she managed to go unnoticed this entire time?


    It had never happened before. He moved down the hall but the scent wasn''t there just briefly in the


    kitchen.


    Just what triggered her to leave the smell behind? Was it really that or a phantom smell, wishful


    thinking? He took another breath, no it was there. Clearly she didn''t give it off all the time. Now he was


    extremely curious and pissed at the same time. She''d been here the whole time while he''d grown weak


    and had to feed from those in the other room?


    He wanted suddenly to wrap his hands around her slender throat and punish her for it. He didn''t care if


    it was survival for her. He was sure she was there, and he''d had to feed from trash. How had they


    missed her? How was he going to track her with no scent? No signature he could find! Where the hell


    was she hiding!


    He tore through the house like a madman looking for a hint of the smell, but nothing. It was starting to


    drive him insane. He knew that he''d smelled it, was positive. Maybe it really was just a false phantom


    smell. Zeta looked at him as he darted past where she was.


    He ignored the humans he dide across. He needed to know if he''d been fooled for more than a


    week by a human. He slowed thinking, maybe this wasn''t such a bad thing after all. He wanted a


    challenge, didn''t he? It was what he enjoyed to pass the time. ir had given him one without even


    realizing it.


    Isaiah continued moving through the house trying to find the smallest hint of her. Looking for anything


    but it was like she was a ghost living in his home. Perhaps that was exactly what she was, but he


    wouldn''t be satisfied until he knew for sure.


    It was near midnight when he found himself in the greenhouse area. He was growing discouraged as


    he entered the greenhouse. Then just barely, but it was there her scent, and he moved forward. He


    moved toward the door in the back. He hadn''t been to this part of the house in years. There was


    nothing down there that he cared to do. Humans avoided it because it was a dead end hall. A trap.


    A few bedrooms along with an art room and dark room. He opened the door and moved down the


    stairs there and turned the corner. He caught it again and this made him more excited. It led him to the


    door nearly at the very end and he opened it.


    The light came on and he stepped into the room, it was the art room. The air was heavy with her scent.


    It was addictive, so strong it hit him like a fist to the gut. He had to stand there for a second letting it


    wash over him. It took a minute for him to calm the rush and need that went through his body. He


    moved forward.


    The room was clean but a few things were moved out of ce, set up differently than he remembered.


    He looked around the room to find what she''d been doing in here. The feeling of the room was totally


    different than the rest of the house.


    It wasn''t depressing or angry, it held a very positive air, a clean and refreshing change for him, perhaps


    that was why it hit him so hard. It made him giddy like the drugs did to those moving through his home


    now. He just wanted to sit in here and soak it in. Better yet wait for her to show up, it was clear that she


    enjoyed this ce.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Then it hit him. It seemed that her scent was only released when she felt a positive emotion. She had


    to be just as starving as he was, as the hell hounds had eaten all the food. In the kitchen she would


    have been excited and happy to get food. He was confused about what it was in this room she enjoyed


    so much.


    The more he thought to wait, the more a weight seemed to press down on his chest. Interesting the


    house was acting of its own ord on her behalf. He had ignored this room, and she hade in and


    set up shop clearly giving it her attention and care. It wanted to keep her around, this was odd. Humans


    didn''t tend to find things to upy their time in this house. She was interesting, a freak of a human.


    Isaiah opened the different drawers and doors. He came to one closet that had her scent on it stronger


    than the others and he opened it. He slid open the cab there and looked at thebeling on it.


    Greenhouse, general house, I.Z.A.B. He grabbed the greenhouse one first, opening it and moving to


    the table. He pulled out the papers in it. He was amazed by the detail and skill in these pictures. Some


    of them he would have thought were photographs.


    He knew where each of these nts were located above him and he was really intrigued now. He put


    them back and grabbed the next section, in here were drawings of the house. One was of the rose on


    the ballroom floor. She had been on the roof. It was the only ce to have seen this. He flipped them


    over and on the back he saw a neat and scrolling hand written note.


    Ballroom floor- Mosaic Rose.


    He put it back and grabbed thest one. He wasn''t sure what the letters stood for but he didn''t think


    that he would be unimpressed by whatever she had drawn in here. Everything else was so real and


    life-like. He couldn''t remember meeting someone with this kind of skill. Though he''d never really looked


    before. No one did anything but hide or fight in this ce.


    He pulled the first drawing out and stood frozen in ce. The one that he''d pulled out first was the one


    where he''d been ying the piano. Zeta was on top of it and the others wereying down. Beta on the


    chase lounge. It was so real, and such a feeling in it that he could almost believe the drawing was alive.


    He pushed the drawing back in and snapped the hanging file closed. He moved from the room opening


    the door.


    "I''m not going to do anything to them." He said as he felt that oppressive weight again it was harsh and


    almost painful. He''d never been attacked like that before by the house. The magic here made it a living


    thing. The weight was instantly gone at his words, and he moved with quick and graceful movements to


    his part of the house.


    Isaiah went up the ss staircase and into his room. He shut the door and moved over to push the


    couch out of the way. He unsnapped the portfolio and pulled the pictures out one by oneying them on


    the floor. He now knew what I.Z.A.B. Stood for, she''d been watching them all this time and none of


    them had known it.


    He looked at the two of the piano room first. The images so different. One felt hopeless and almost evil


    while the other felt peaceful and calm. She''d seen what had happened. She''d been there but they


    hadn''t known it, how? How was she moving through the house? Because they would have seen her in


    this room.


    Isaiah looked at the portraits of him and the hell hounds. She caught each of the hell hounds perfectly.


    Exactly what their personalities were. He didn''t need to look at the back to know who was who. He


    looked at his own portrait staring at it. He didn''t know what to make of it. Couldn''t have been more like


    him unless he held a mirror up.


    "These are exceptional." He said and he wanted to be able to do this. To draw with such skill and


    passion. It was clear that she had a passion for this. The emotions in the images were crisp and clear,


    how she saw the objects. However he could not read her mind, couldn''t take from her what he could


    others.


    ir might have just bought herself an extended amount of time to live, if he could catch her. She was


    clearly far better at this game than he had originally thought. He moved to the door and opened it. He''d


    already known that Zeta, Beta, and Alpha were there. They came in curious as to his mood and


    attitude. They shifted over to the drawings and stared at them. Their perception of them was different


    but each knew which was theirs.


    ¡®I like.¡¯ Zeta said mentally and the other two concurred with her.


    ¡®She lives?¡¯


    "Yes, and she is ying a very good game. Perhaps without even knowing it." This was exciting to him.


    This human was quick, smart and talented. When he caught her, he was going to enjoy it immensely.


    "If you find her, bring her to me. I don''t want her killed yet." He ordered and the three nodded moving


    off to go and do as they pleased. He looked down at the drawings, looking at his own. He gathered


    them up and put them back in the folder and ced them on the couch. It was time to go hunting, and


    his prey was clearly the cunning sort.

 Chapter 11: Cat and Mouse

    Chapter 11: Cat and Mouse


    This was probably one of the most frustrating and challenging things that Isaiah had ever done. He


    should be happy about it, but he wasn''t. The task he''d put himself to doing had sounded simple. If not


    requiring a bit of thought, but it was far more than that. Several times he''d stood in the garden area and


    was positive that ir was down in the studio. Yet he could not get into the door that led to that part of


    the house.


    It seemed that she had managed to do something to the house without meaning to. He''d never run


    across such a thing before. He figured it was due to the fact that this part of the house was rather


    neglected. She had given it use.


    After all the house was more than it seemed. Responded to outside stimuli, it stood to reason. It did


    things to defend itself and it responded to him, but it had never responded to one of the humans.


    Maybe it was doing this to him on purpose, fucking curses.


    One time he''d managed to get into the hall simply because he''d had the thought to not obtain her. Just


    to see what she was doing. He''d managed to go down to the studio but could not go through the very


    last door that separated her from him. He could hear her speak at times. Like she understood the


    house was really more alive than not.


    When she wasn''t in the studio he could go in. Always could go to any room in that entire section as


    always. Any door opening for him even if it was locked. This ce might be his prison but it was his


    home, he was part of it and always would be. You didn''t get bound by magic, and bleed for a ce and


    not be tied to it. Still, this part was not cooperating with him.


    So he had to resort to trying to either catch her on the way here or somece else. He''d returned the


    drawings the same day that he''d taken them. It seemed that she hadn''te down to this part of the


    house in days shortly after that.


    However he was fascinated by her work, her depiction of things. He could stare at them for hours.


    Wasn''t like he could go out and see a gallery. So this was fresh and different. Something new to look at


    and puzzle over. He felt that her work with pencil and charcoal was better than with any other form of


    media. He desired to simply watch her work, to see how one such as her could create such vivid and


    real drawings. There were some drawings now that weren''t from here. Memories or thought up images.


    Currently from what he''d seen, as he would look when she left the room, the house letting him in. She


    was working on some bizarre image. One that he thought he''d seen somewhere, in a memory or in the


    house somewhere. There was a gallery not far above here. If he wasn''t mistaken it was an image by


    M.C. Escher. Stairs moving every which way.


    Isaiah turned from the garden area. Waiting wasn''t going to work. Annoyed and feeling like taking his


    anger out on something, he moved to leave the area. There was still a good week plus before the full


    moon and he wanted to catch her before then. Just in case she didn''t make it this time.


    __ir__


    ir pinched the bridge of her nose as she stared at the door to the garden area. It wouldn''t open


    again no matter what she tried. Sometimes this would happen and she felt that it was more of a


    protective measure toward her. She let her mind go and felt the reason this time. Isaiah was beyond


    the door.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    This had happened before and she didn''t know the reasoning this time. She moved back to where she


    knew there was a staircase in the wall. Then went up. Thanking the house again for keeping her from


    him. Look she was not above thanking an object.


    She was pretty damn positive the house was alive anyways. She nced into the hall from her


    passage. Here there was nothing, she felt several people a good distance down the hall and Isaiah


    below her.


    She sprinted with light feet down the hall and to another set of stairs. She went to a trap door and into


    the wall. There she went quickly through the house ted that she had managed to get away again.


    She came out near where her home was and stepped out.


    No one it seemed was here. She didn''t know how many were left in the house. A lot this time and it


    seemed that the hell hounds and Isaiah were keeping from this group a bit more. Not that she could


    me them. She didn''t think that druggies could taste all that good. Some it seemed were drying out.


    Others still had some drugs on them.


    The odd thing was that those that supplied Isaiah with people, had brought another group a few days


    later. She was confused by this. Why were they bringing so many? One night she''d listened to a group


    and understood slightly.


    It seemed that one of the groups wanted what those that keep Isaiah had, immortality. By keeping him


    locked here and bound to them they were immortal and would always be so. As long as Isaiah was


    stuck here. No wonder Isaiah was so pissed all the time. She would be too trapped against her will.


    Which she was so she understood totally. At least he didn''t need to worry whether today was going to


    be hisst.


    Those in the house with her were crazy, ult nuts made up half. It seemed the ones who directly


    trapped Isaiah had wanted to get rid of and had brought them here. Her estimation was that there were


    close to forty people in the house. Growing a few shorter every day.


    She stayed far away from a man named Gustav. He seemed a leader of some group and those with


    him were seriously devout. So much so, one had just walked right up to one of the hell hounds at his


    request and was killed. These people were insane. At this point she should really just stop asking how


    they got people constantly, and just ept what was.


    This Gustav though. He was also a drug user of some kind too. So now she had to keep her eye out for


    those running through the house and the more deadly upants. ir came around a corner deep in


    thought, and nearly ran into Beta who was walking there with his head down. She felt so stupid, she


    should have been paying attention, not lost in her own thoughts. Her brain immediately started nning


    where she should run.


    ir froze and it took him a second to realize she was standing there. ir grabbed the door next to


    her and pushed going into the room as he lunged. He hit the door as she was trying to close it. He


    tumbled into the room, sliding to a halt, but ir was out the room instantly mming the door closed


    running for her life up a set of stairs.


    She heard the door splinter and his ws scratching on the wooden floor as he tried to catch traction.


    She was to the end of the hall as he was bounding up the stairs. Her worst nightmare happened as she


    turned the next corner. Isaiah was at the very end of the hall. She had to act quickly or she''d be caught.


    ir bolted the other way as fast as her legs would carry her. Hitting the swinging door she knew was


    there, as it was part of the wall. She fell through it to the room below. d that she hadmitted so


    much of this time to memorizing they out of the house. They wereing after her. She knew it,


    could feel it, both of them had an ted air about them.


    irnded in a crouched position on the sofa below and ran out of the room and around the corner.


    She felt rather than heard Zeta in the hall to her left, unaware of her approach. Why were they out at


    such an early time? She¡¯d gottencent in the routine when no one was here.


    She took her chance and went past the hall and Zeta could never resist the chance of one that was


    running. She went into one of therger rooms. There was a small group of people here and she ran to


    the other side. A distraction, good she could maybe get away so she shouted.


    "They areing!" She snapped at them, and this group darted every which way as Zeta appeared in


    the room. ir was no match for the speed and agility of Zeta. When she leapt, ir was driven to the


    ground. The air was driven from her lungs for a moment at it.


    ir didn''t let the fact that the air had been driven from her, stop her from trying to defend herself. She


    curled into a ball as Zeta''s nose jabbed her in the arm covering her head and neck. Zeta opened her


    jaws and closed them over ir''s upper arm.


    It hurt but she was surprised, yet still terrified, as the teeth barely broke the skin. She was pulling ir


    with her across the room now. ir struggled trying to free herself. Zeta stopped pulling and turned her


    body stepping on ir''s midsection. The weight of the animal hurt and the message was clear. Keep


    struggling and she''d not be so kind.


    All of this happened in less than a minute and Zeta had a very giddy and joyous air about her. Oh no,


    was she taking her back to Isaiah like some kind of hard won prize?


    "That''s her, the one that knows how to avoid the demons so well!" Someone shouted, well she wasn''t


    doing so good now was she?


    "Gustav wants her, he wants to know her secret!" Great out of the group she had to encounter it had to


    be the small one that was part of Gustav''. Still that was the least of her worries.


    "Kill it!" Someone said and Zeta let go of her arming over ir as she curled up again to try and


    stop damage to anything vital. Zeta out a loud growling bark, snapping her jaws. ir chanced a look,


    those in the room were moving toward them. They clearly thought the could take her as a group.


    If they freed her from Zeta she would do whatever they asked. She''d even shoot up or cut herself or


    whatever freaky shit they were into. She would be alive not mauled to death. The things you were


    willing to do to survive... these were thoughts that ir would never have thought herself capable of,


    but now she knew.


    Zeta crouched lower over her. Her fur brushing ir, she would have thought that the fur that looked


    spiky would be hard and bristle like. It was soft. Soft like down and Zeta had the strong smell of ocean


    to her, how odd.


    Zeta lunged leaving ir, no more than two minutes now had passed since she started running, but


    Isaiah and Beta would being as well. She could feel them, and she didn''t look. She knew they


    were in the room. She ran for it. This was a sitting room and over in the corner was adder that went


    to a second level. Right where ir wanted to be as the exit there led her to a grate she could get into.


    She grabbed a wrung, but fate didn''t seem to be on her side this time.


    She was jerked to a stop. The wind driven from her as the steel band of an arm came around her


    midsection. ir went wild, she was not going to die like this! She was lifted off her feet, she scratched


    and wed. She bit the hand that came up to her face. He pulled it away and the other grabbed her


    throat with an intense amount of force. It didn''t break or crush her neck but it did cut off her air.


    "Not today ir." She recognized Isaiah''s voice and she felt tears flooding her eyes. There was


    growling and shouts, from behind them. No, no, this was it? She''d been doing so well.


    "Are you going to behave or do I have to take care of you right now?" He loosened his grip so she


    could talk. The Hell hounds pushing the others back, ready to attack.


    "Behave." She gasped out dragging in a lung full of air. There was chaos in the room as Beta and Zeta


    circled the others, but they were off to the side.


    "Good." He turned her toward the door that they hade in. They moved forward. He moved his


    hand to the back of her neck leading her. She could feel that he was really happy all of a sudden. ir


    nced to her left and stopped in her tracks, Isaiah walking into her.


    "Oh god!" She choked, not caring that he was holding her and she turned from the group. One was


    holding some kind handmade explosive. She tried to move and protect herself seeing it. She felt


    Isaiah''s grip loosen as he too saw it too.

 Chapter 12: Narrow Escape

    Chapter 12: Narrow Escape


    Isaiah couldn''t believe his eyes when he saw the dark mane of haire around the corner. Then her


    green eyes met his. He took off after ir as Beta rounded the corner. He hadn''t expected that, and


    had very nearly plowed right into him. As it was, it caused him to lose bnce. That had slowed them


    both down, skidding to a halt.


    She was fast. Faster than she had been some weeks ago, and she moved with more knowledge of


    how the house worked. mming into the panel in the wall and jumping down. Beta hit it first and went


    through after her. Then Isaiah went down.


    He heard her shout something as she went into a room not far away. He knew that Zeta was there as


    well. She wasn''t going anywhere now. Finally he''d catch her and that excited him greatly. He sprinted


    down the hall and came to a stop in the doorway. Zeta was crouched over ir.


    ir was curled up on her side, and a small group of humans wished to get their hands on ir as


    well. They wished to know her secret. Gustav wanted to know. Isaiah knew that Gustav was a psychic,


    and fairly strong. Able to read minds. He couldn''t read ir''s and wanted to know her secret. Yeah well


    that made two of them didn''t it?


    When Zeta had lunged, ir had hopped up like she had springs on her feet and run for thedder in


    the room. He was there in an instant grabbing her. His quarry wasn''t getting away from him this time.


    She''d fought like a hellion, he was shocked at this side of her. She was giving off so much fear that he


    didn''t need to read her mind to know she thought that she was going to die.


    His hand was bleeding slightly from the bite she''d given him. He held her still as he spoke to her, letting


    her breathe so she could speak. He took a deep breath pulling in the scent of her. He craved the smell


    of her like a drug. It was the scent of something he had to work hard to get, and it was satisfying to hold


    it against him. His body reacted to that immediately, oh please let her be worth it. He''d turned to take


    her from the room. He was slightly lost in thoughts when she had stopped moving, and his front came


    against her back.


    "Oh, god!" He turned his head as she spoke. Saw what had caused her rm. One of the humans was


    holding some kind of small explosive. Shit, he didn''t think this group was that smart. Looked like he


    was wrong.


    Isaiah turned away just like ir, as the human tossed it at Beta and Zeta. He gave a shout to them to


    move and they obeyed without question. The explosion wasrge for such a small thing. No one was


    able to move very far. The st shot most of them in different directions. He let go of ir as he was


    tossed backward along with her.


    He hit the wall not far from them cracking it, and causing a hole. ir hit the bench like chair and tipped


    over with it sliding to the wall stopping against it. She didn''t move but he knew she wasn''t dead. Isaiah


    stood up brushing the debris from him. He wasn''t in the mood for this, but if he had to kill a few to make


    a point then he would.


    The fires in the room were instantly put out. The room swelled with anger at the attack, fed by his own.


    The house was not happy and as it was an entity the air grew ice cold. Isaiah would have to move the


    chemicals around so this didn''t happen. Nothing could be truly destroyed from the house, but it could


    be moved around to different locations. Once in the house, always part of the house it would be.


    Isaiah looked to Beta who stood up shaking himself. It was Zeta that didn''t move. She wasn''t alive at


    the moment. When she came to, there would be hell to pay. Blood was soaking the floor below her and


    in her fur. Isaiah was angered by the sight, but not nearly as much as Beta was.


    Alpha darted into the room and caught the sight of his sister and the hell hounds yellow eyes grew


    brighter. He tipped back his head and let out a howl. There were four humans in here, and none of


    them were leaving this room.


    "Leave the one that threw it for Zeta." Isaiah decreed. His eyes ck and all the doors in the room


    mmed shut. The one that threw it was unconscious at the moment, and when he woke he was going


    to wish that he had died in the st.


    Isaiah stood there letting the brothers have their revenge and content to watch as they moved in. He


    didn''t even flinch at the blood that hit him from those that Alpha and Beta tore apart. Beta was vicious


    at his angriest, he could make


    Zeta cringe and back off. He hoped that the rest that had ducked out paid attention.


    Beta moved to thergest male. He was edging away from him to thedder. Beta was on him before


    he could climb. The man''s screams were loud but short lived as Beta tore into his throat. He shook him


    and then started tearing pieces off the man. Blood soaking everything near him and flinging around


    when he shook his head. Isaiah looked at Alpha who was more content to sit and hold the human by


    the neck killing him. Avenging what they did to his sister.


    When they got to thest human who wasn''t the oneying face down on the floor they went at her


    together. Isaiah moved to the unconscious man and grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward


    Zeta letting him fall to the floor. He felt something wet hit his side but ignored it. Beta and Alpha were


    very close to him ying tug of war with the woman. He wanted to see the fear in the man''s eyes when


    he woke. When he realized he was going to die. He''d thrown a bomb at him and the hell hounds, so


    he''d wait.


    The woman''s screams were annoying but once again short lived. Isaiah moved over to where ir had


    fallen to make sure she didn''t try something when she woke. His solid ck eyes scanned the spot and


    moved slowly over to the door not three feet away. She was gone and the door was open.


    He felt a tic work in his jaw. He was more than pissed right now and punched a hole in the wall turning.


    He told himself to remain calm. He didn''t like to be frenzied but his most desired prey just escaped,


    Zeta was harmed, and he was seething.


    How the fuck did she get the door open?! He must have not paid attention after the others were caught.


    He rotated his neck and shoulder which cracked from the tension building up. He felt with his mind, but


    as always nothing.


    "Fuck!" He shouted, losing his temper.


    Isaiah turned and moved toward the hell hounds. Fine, he was going to enjoy the death of this human


    even more. Beta and Alpha nuzzled Zeta''s still and lifeless form, as he approached. They backed up as


    Isaiah came forward sensing his mood and they didn''t want to risk his anger so they gave him space.


    "Drag him to the caves Beta." Beta grabbed the man by the leg. The sound of bones crunching with the


    force of the bite had Isaiah turning his head.


    "Don''t break it off, leave him for Zeta." He said coldly.


    ¡®Yes. But he will wake first and can be in pain.¡¯ Isaiah turned to Alpha. His voice very calm and very


    controlled, never a good sign.


    "Go and see if you can track ir down. I don''t know how she got the door open. Bring her back to me,


    unharmed understood?" Alpha gave a bob of his head and padded from the room. Isaiah reached


    down and picked Zeta up. She weighed close to four hundred pounds. She was the size roughly of a


    small tiger. Alpha was thergest at nearly five hundred pounds in his real form.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Isaiah carried her to the caves andid her down. These caves were unique a kind of magic running


    through them. It was the reason the house was built here. He very rarely came down here. Unable to


    move very far in them. He gave it to the hell hounds as a ce they could be away from him if they


    wanted or the house. Just as they never came into his room without permission.


    He looked at Beta. The man wasing around and Beta had his face very close to the humans. This


    brought a cruel smile to Isaiah''s mouth. It also relieved some of the tension running through him. The


    man opened his eyes and jerked his head against the ground as Beta bared his sharp and wickedly


    curved teeth. Ignoring the two for a moment Isaiah nced across the way.


    He looked at the waterfall not far from him. Light spilled in from the hole where the water came down.


    Large amounts of vegetation hung down from it. The pool it fell into had a bright blue green color. There


    was a statute near the waterfall. A dragon in great detail, his tail curving around the ind he sat on.


    His face tipped up,ing to a point as he looked with stone eyes to the opening.


    Standing near him in the circle created by his tail was the figure of a woman. She had one hand on her


    face tipped down her stony hair falling around her. One arm straight out into the darkness, her palm up


    as if waiting for something to fall into it.


    "What do you think of that?" He asked the human not looking at him and pointing to the statue. Then


    sweeping his hand toward the waterfall.


    "I... just... I...don''t understand." Beta growled, and Isaiah saw Zeta''s chest rise slightly. Her ribs


    mending themselves, only a short time now.


    "I''m asking what you think of the scene before you." Isaiah knew that the walls around the waterfall


    were carved with different mythical creatures. The woman was the only human thing in this cave


    besides the one about to die. This was a primal source of magic.


    It was also the spot where Athena had been sacrificed tying him to the house. This was the root of it all,


    and the dragon ever vignt of the opening above. It would tell him if someone tried to climb it. Tried to


    escape. So he brought this man here so the house could watch too.


    "Nice." He gasped out looking at Beta.


    "Has she moved?" Isaiah asked really looking at the statue now. If memory served him right he was


    sure that in the past her hands had both been on her face. The tail wasn''t that close to her. It looked


    like the tail had shifted closer to the woman to wrap around her or something. Why was her hand up?


    He wasn''t sure he liked it. Chances were it was an effect from ir being epted by part of the


    house. He needed to find her and reverse what she did.


    ¡®Yes. I haven''t seen it move though.¡¯ Beta mentally spoke to him. The human was confused and looked


    at Zeta thinking it was her he was talking about. He didn¡¯t hear Beta speak.


    "You have made me very upset human." Isaiah hissed ignoring the statue now. Things in this ce


    rarely stayed the same. Constantly changing with the moods of the house or cave and those that lived


    here. That waterfall was the only exit out of here for the humans. The only way to get out truly. Though


    it brought you back through the yard and the hell hounds knew instantly the moment a human stepped


    out onto the grounds. The soul of this ce was watching the exit. Anyone trying to escape was a


    danger to him and it.


    "I''m sorry." Isaiah looked down at the pitiful human that had cost him catching ir. He thought about


    breaking his jaw. However he still had a chance to catch ir again. He''d killed Zeta so he would let


    her have the right to kill him. Still didn''t change the fact he was seething inside.


    "Not enough I''m afraid. She''s going to make you wish you had died." He said, indicating Zeta.


    "Please, is there anything I can do? Please, I''ll do any task." He stuttered, looking at him, terror in his


    gaze.


    "I''ll let you go," Beta gave a growl at that, but the look from Isaiah silenced him. "if you can tell me


    where the woman I had in the room hides. I give my word. Seeing as you cost me catching her." He


    made this promise because he knew the man wouldn''t know.


    "I, we don''t know. It''s why we wanted her. We''ve noticed how she seemed to ghost around the ce."


    Isaiah stood from the crouch he''d had, and heard Zeta take a shallow breath. Beta moved away from


    him. The man was in pain but too scared to make a sound.


    "Then you are of no use to me." He stated. Then looked back at the swirling green pool and the design


    of the cave. He looked down at Beta.


    "Do you think she could draw that? The movement?" Beta turned his head in contemtion. Of the hell


    hounds he was the one that enjoyed the novelty of art and music most. You didn''t have to be human to


    enjoy certain things. Just intelligence.


    ¡®Challenge.¡¯ He thought and looked back at Isaiah. He sent Isaiah the desire to see more of her


    drawings. To him the art in the house had always been there. He had not understood how it hade


    to be. Now he wished to see it created.


    "I have the same desire. We may have had it if this one hadn''t screwed us over." Zeta moved with a


    slight whine as she was in a bit of pain. Her body battered and bruised. With a fresh meal she would be


    healed within the hour.


    "You''ll get yours." The man said angrily.


    "I''ve already gotten it, you are not the only one trapped. Not being drained to sustain others'' lives."


    Isaiah held his hands out to indicate his prison.


    "I''m just waiting for the reward now." With that he turned and left the man there with the two hell


    hounds. Zeta sent him a gleeful and thankful feeling. Which he returned. These three creatures with


    him were the only things that he did have caring feelings for. He really didn''t feel himself capable of


    caring. It wasn''t an emotion he felt benefited the kind of creature he was. A dealer of death, pulled from


    the other side to use.


    Isaiah went into the house. The door sealing behind him and a muffled shout came to him. He went up


    the stairs his eyes still a solid ck. He needed to find something to kill or to destroy for himself. The


    humans in the house wereying very low right now.


    He was patient, they''de out when they felt it had calmed down. The house was giving off a vibe


    that wasn''t all that kind either. It would give the humans up without a problem. All but one human and


    that annoyed him even more. However it was best she wasn''t the one he found first. He thought about


    that and a slow smile spread over his face.


    Perhaps it would be best that he found her first. At least for the others, there was more than one way to


    work off tension and anger. Some far more pleasurable than others. He''d already decided he would use


    ir, fantasized about it. It was just a matter of time. He''d first learn what he wanted from her because


    he knew she was going to fail at truly pleasing him like the others had. Right now thought he needed


    something to focus on, to calm the seething anger.


    Isaiah moved into a room and went to a locked cab. He pulled out a set of knives. He turned looking


    across the room and tossed them in rapid session, hitting each of the stone heads that were set up.


    His uracy precise, as it always was. He didn''t know how to fail. He learned it and then did it. The


    only talent he didn''t have to truly learn had been to y music. He could y any instrument that he


    put his hands on. An odd talent but one he enjoyed immensely.


    He held out his hands and all of the knives came back to him. He tossed them again harder, sparks


    flew as the knives slid into the stone. They were imbued knives and wouldn''t break. Besides the house


    would just fix them if they did. He was struggling to not let his frustration get the better of him, and this


    was not helping yet. No! He''d had what he wanted right in his hands and it slipped away!


    He held his hand out and one knife rotated in the air above it. He stared at it for a moment and then at


    one of the statues. It shot right into it with a thought. He looked at the room and walked over to one of


    the head statues. He grabbed one and walked to therge window in the room. Still not happy, this


    wasn''t taking his mind off of it. Or her, that ghost of a woman living in his house. Thinking she could run


    away after he caught her.


    "I need this." He said more to the house than anything else, it knew. It always did. He tossed the head


    through the window. Then with a movement of his hands all the ss smashed out therge window


    and then fell to the floor of the room. Isaiah moved through the room, any of the items that held ss


    exploded and then he went into the hall.


    He''d not been bested like this before by anyone. Except the time he''d been stuck in here. It struck a


    nerve, he''d vowed that would not happen again, and look! Maybe it wasn''t exactly the same with ir,


    but it was getting there. Part of the house was protecting her damn it.


    Doors he passed cracked and snapped open. He kept going down the hall at a slow pace turning and


    going into a dark room whose door was now open. He stood in the center of it and the light came on. It


    was a curved room with mirrors and they all exploded out shattering and falling to the floor around him.


    He stood there for a second and turned when he thought he heard movement. Let it be some stupid


    foolish human. He''d take his anger out on them.


    Isaiah turned and stepped toward the door and looked out into the hall. No scent came to him, nor


    sound. For a second he swore that he heard the movement of clothing. However, not sensing anything,


    he turned back into the room and looked at the shattered ss.


    He closed his eyes and every small shattered piece rose in the air. He cleared his mind to concentrate


    and held out one hand pointing at the very first frame that a mirror had been in. The mirror pieces shot


    into it, creating a spider web like effect. As he moved his hand each frame in turn filled and started to


    mend the moment it was back together.


    This was finally calming to him. He didn''t enjoy being in a rage because he liked to be calcting and


    in control. Managing to center his mind again, he finished with the mirrors and left. Destruction helped


    with the anger, and concentration on putting it back together centered his mind. He would catch his


    desired prey. There was no escaping this house, it wouldn''t protect her that much.

 Chapter 13: Helping Touch

    Chapter 13: Helping Touch


    ir had woken to Isaiah telling Alpha and Beta to leave the man who''d had the bomb. She inched her


    way to the door near her, not making any sudden movements. His back was to her and she used her


    mind. Taxing as it was to do. Seeing he was holding the door closed, and she very carefully put


    pressure on the handle with her mind watching him for any tell that he noticed. He was focused on the


    scene, not her. Intently focused and that was her luck.


    She got out and moved quickly. Once she was far enough away she ran and ran fast. She went to a


    bathroom on the third floor to deal with her wounds. Her arm had bruising and teeth marks in it. Her


    right side was horribly sore and starting to bruise. She had a few cuts here and there. It was hard to


    breathe and she sat down on the toilet cleaning her wounds and soot from her. She still had some of


    the art supplies on her. The bag lopsided and had banged against her side as she ran.


    ir set her head back against the wall and passed out for a few minutes. She jerked awake looking


    around. Putting a hand to her chest she stood and realized that she didn''t really hurt so much anymore.


    It was odd because just a couple minutes ago she''d been incredibly sore, and bleeding. She lifted her


    shirt to look at the wounds again.


    She looked at her arm, the wound was almost gone. The bruising yellow looking days old. She could


    breathe easier too. She knew what this was from, she didn''t know how but she knew.


    "Thank you." She said feeling that she should never look a gift horse in the mouth, and touched the


    walls of the bathroom. This house was alive in ways that she couldn''t understand but was d it


    helped her at times. She jerked her hand back when she felt a kind of electric jolt go through her. She


    gave a startledugh.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "That was unexpected." Perhaps a few weeks ago she''d have passed it off. Thought herself crazy for


    just believing the house was alive with magic and dark things. But not now, kind of hard when the


    evidence was right in your face. ir went back out into the hall and went to the nearest vent. She


    wasn''t far from her home now. She only moved a little ways and felt rather tired. Shey in the vent for


    a bit not moving looking at the room in her view.


    There were several cabs in the room and it had a kind of red and white appearance. She noted that


    at least four statue heads were in the room. She wondered what they were for. It looked odd to set up


    like that at one side of the room.


    She was just about to start moving when she heard someonee into the room. She looked to see


    Isaiah was there. He moved to one of the cabs she couldn''t quite make out and got something from


    it. She watched him toss the small silver des. He threw them hard and straight. Anger clear in every


    line of his body. She stared in awe when he hovered the one de and it shot across the room. She''d


    love to have that kind of control, but more practice she guessed.


    Then he''d moved saying, "I need this." He smashed the window in the room, then moved on. ir had


    scooted out of the vent and followed. Curious as he went down the hall. Doors mming open with


    untold force and cracking, anything with ss seemed to shatter. She saw him go into one room and


    then she heard what sounded like a thousand vases smashing on the floor.


    ir moved past the room after a moment. Then went into a chute and climbed up finding a very small


    grate that let her see in the room. He was standing there looking out the door and she was worried that


    he might have heard her.Then he moved back and the pieces of floating ss filled the spaces in the


    wall like puzzle pieces.


    When he was done he turned and left the room. His eyes were notpletely ck anymore, but she


    felt for the first person he came across. She recognized this as a very dangerous time to be out in the


    house.


    ir went to her little home andid down. She ate some food and then put in her music. She always


    charged it while she was down in the studio. Humming to the tune ying she fell asleep like that. It


    was nice to have the sound of music in her ears because it drowned out the screams.


    The next day ir woke and was kind of angry. She couldn''t really go anywhere now for the next few


    days. She wasn''t going to go around the house with the scent of blood on her. She wasn''t suicidal and


    she knew that the hell hounds had a great sense of smell.


    "Fuck being a woman." She was just grateful for the supplies she had and over the next three days she


    stayed where she was eating and drawing in her space. She didn''t even dream of freedom anymore.


    She dreamed of drawing and bloody things.


    To be honest the outside world was just fading from her and these walls were what she considered


    safe. What she considered her home now. It was all a game. A game of how long could she live? She


    wondered if she could make it a year, that would be a feat. She had barely made it two months. It was


    really just a month and a half. She wasn''t sure how long anyone had eversted, but she was going to


    last as long as she damn well could.


    She''d given up on trying to find an out, no reason to. She wasn''t going anywhere. On day four she


    thought it okay to leave because she wasn''t really bleeding anymore and she wanted to look at her


    drawings in proper light. She rolled them up and tied the stic tube she had to a rope and hung it


    down the right shaft.


    ir climbed down with expert skill and went out the swinging grate after checking that no one was in


    the hallway. She reached back in and grabbed the tube. Closing the grate she moved down the hall to


    a room near the back of the house. It had windows on all sides but one.


    She rolled them out the drawings and stared at them. She''d drawn Isaiah with the ss floating around


    him eyes closed. Then she''d drawn him with anger in the motion of throwing one of the knives.


    "Not so bad." She said. "For the darkness, hard to draw. What do you think?" She asked the house.


    Feeling like she had apanion. Maybe she was going crazy but at least she didn''t feel totally alone.


    There was a kind of warm touch to her skin, approval, and she smiled.


    "Thank you." She remarked and then reached back into the canister and pulled out a third drawing. It


    was of the house as a whole. From what she''d remembered froming up.


    "This was from memory so sorry if I didn''t get it right, but it''s for you." She held it out to the room that


    was empty. Again the feeling came to her but stronger.


    "You''re wee." She said rolling it up. "I''m thinking of putting some color into it. Do you think that


    would be a plus or minus?" She said tucking the pictures away. She felt a cooler touch this time.


    "No? Okay it''s your picture. I''d pin it up but I''m not sure where it could go that it wouldn''t be destroyed.


    There was no response. "Well, perhaps I''ll find somewhere to leave it out and you can do with it as you


    wish." A warm feeling, she was getting good at thismunication thing.


    "I don''t suppose you''d help me leave." She said sadly. There was a very cold touch but then a warm


    one right after.


    "It''s okay." She said the small hope she''d told herself not to feel was still crushed.


    "Will you help me stay alive?" She asked quietly. She didn''t feel anything at first but then she got a


    warm touch. She felt it on her face.


    "You''ll try." Another warm touch, she gave a smile. "Thank you, I will try not to destroy anything in the


    house, just for you." She got a kind of flipping feeling in her stomach. She''d never felt that from


    nowhere before. Then there was a warm touch. She was d that she was able to feel the sensations


    so well, and her talents helped with that. It was much more than an added bonus.


    ir touched the wall and went to move to the door but it pulled out of her hand and shut. She felt


    around her and turned back into the room. He wasing this way, so was one of the hell hounds. A


    panel slid aside and she ran to it. Going in she turned to put a hand out.


    "Wait!" But the panel closed. She''d left the canister in the room. Well at least the house had kept its


    word. Or she was going crazy.


    ir moved down the wall and stopped at a mirror that had been in the room along the wall with the


    door, as it was the only wall. She could see into the room and she stopped. She heard the door open,


    and in stepped Beta.


    He loped around the room sniffing the air and then stopped at the canister leaning against the sofa. He


    picked it up with his teeth and moved toward the door.


    "What do you have?" She heard Isaiah say. She stayed still, unfamiliar with this passage and where the


    creaks and moans were.


    Isaiah stepped into the room and unscrewed the cap of the canister. He was only wearing a pair of


    jeans. ir however didn''t need his shirt off to know that he had to be pure muscle. It was still shocking


    to see it, ripped, serious he could probably bench press a house and not even get tired. ir didn''t


    know what he''d do once he looked at the images. He''d know she''d seen him, been where he''d been


    and he''d missed her. Would he figure it out?


    ir moved off when he pulled the pictures out. She felt the drop in his amusement as she made a


    quick escape. A panel moving for her and she was in the hall. She took off thinking it best to give him a


    bit of space until he calmed down. Well at least not do something like this again. She didn''t want to be


    caught again. She didn''t think she''d make a second escape.

 Chapter 14: So Close

    Chapter 14: So Close


    Isaiah moved down the hall and Beta came toward him. He stopped his nose going up and his ears


    perked up in a very canine manner.


    "Hear something?"


    ¡®A voice, female.¡¯ Beta''s mental voice said. Isaiah came toward him curious. He didn''t hear anything.


    However he thought that perhaps there was a soft click of a door. Beta moved toward a door not ten


    feet from him. Isaiah opened it with his mind for him.


    Beta went in with an easy stride and by the time Isaiah came to the door he had a ck canister of


    some kind in his mouth. It smelled of ir, the room did. She''d been in here and not long ago, minutes.


    He nced around, she must have heard them and left quickly. Which told him there was a


    passageway in the wall in this room he didn''t know about. She must have left in haste leaving this


    behind.


    He opened the canister and moved to therge ss table in the room. He looked inside and saw


    paper. Her favorite pastime and he was interested to see what she had drawn this time.


    "What do we have here?" He asked and Beta gave a whine and mental question.


    "Drawings." He answered Beta''s question for him. He was in dog form right now. It was just after


    sunrise and the sky was cloudy so the light didn''t bother him so much yet. Not in this form. He pulled


    out the three drawings. The top one was of the house.


    He touched it. He could barely remember what it looked like he''d been inside so long, but this looked


    very close if not perfect. He moved it to the side and froze, not breathing as he saw the next one. It was


    him holding the silver knives, his arm extended. Anger was in on his face. The muscles in his arm


    defined and the de just an odd blur in the air. He moved it away and he found that he didn''t really


    care for the fact that she seemed to be able to watch him without his knowledge. That she was doing it


    constantly and she was avoiding him so well.


    He looked at the floating ss. His eyes were closed in this picture unlike thest one where his eyes


    were solid ck. Where the fuck was she hiding that she could see these things? He turned to look


    around the room. He moved toward the wall. There was a passage here and he knew it. He wanted to


    find it and look around them.


    He felt the wall but it was unblemished, nothing to tell him that it would open. He moved along it


    looking. He took a deep breath, her smell was here so close but it ended at the wall. She''d be


    scared and that made her scent disappear. What a unique defense mechanism. It made him question


    her capabilities, but he''d had his hands on her. She didn''t give off a psychic vibe, what a


    disappointment.


    He stared at the picture and then to the mirror tapping his finger against his chin. His eyes were solid


    ck but it wasn''t anger he was feeling suddenly thinking. The eye color always happened with


    extreme emotions. No it was desire, he wanted what he seemingly could not have. It was starting to


    drive him insane. She was always so damn close yet far away it would seem. He just wanted to catch


    her and y with her. It was hard to decide if he wanted to just end this cat and mouse game with her,


    or let it keep going.


    "I''m not sure that I will have much time to y with her when I catch her." He said to Beta who blew air


    out of his nose. He was thinking that perhaps they should wait to catch her till after the moon. It was


    only five days away, but Isaiah wanted. So he would take. It also meant that he personally had three


    days before the change started and his memory seemed to suffer.


    "There are fifteen left in the house. We will leave them all for the change. I want to catch her before that


    happens, understood?" He gave a head bob and left the room. Isaiah walked up to the mirror looking at


    his reflection and then put a finger to it. There was a passage here, and he was going to get into it. His


    intuition told him the mirror was one way.


    The ss cracked and then shattered to the floor, there was a space in the wall here, the mirror wasn''t


    full length but he lifted his leg up and managed to get into the crawl space putting the mirror back


    together so it would mend faster.


    "Sorry." He said when he felt a slight annoyance, and pressure from the house.


    "You are helping her." There was no answer and he clenched his jaw. He moved down the passageway


    and out into the hall. He went to every room he knew she had seen him in, drawn him in. Two had one


    way mirrors. Isaiah knew he''d heard her that night in the hall. Was she just following him around?


    That made a kind of sense, she had to be monitoring his movements so she could learn to avoid the


    ces he frequented. He hadn''t seen her near the piano room and those that surrounded it since the


    dance. He hadn''t scented her either. Then again she seemed to have a natural defense that made her


    near invisible. It had happened before with a human, but not so well as it did with ir. He just walked


    slowly down the halls but no sign of her. Of course, so he stopped thinking.


    He stood looking out a window as light kes fell down the grounds were covered with the white snow.


    He was thinking about different things and the one upant who was extremely elusive to him. Which


    was curious, he was trying to decide just what he was going to do about this. Good entertainment was


    hard toe bytely. However his ability to deny himself what he wanted was really hard too.


    Maybe one task when he caught her the first time. Then let her run again, thest catch well that one


    wasn''t going to be a nice one for her. That was probably a good way to do it. The most amount of


    entertainment while still getting what he wanted. There was a whisper of movement to his left, but he''d


    been aware of the approach long before.


    "If you throw that at me I will not take kindly to it." He said, turning his head to see a man standing there


    holding arge de. His grip on the knife was like a death grip. He clearly meant harm but it wasn''t


    going to kill Isaiah. He read the man, they could y a game. See if this one was as witty as his


    favorite hidden human. Most likely not.


    "Do you have good aim?"


    "Not bad." Isaiah looked in the man''s mind. He did have good aim. He could also do a few interesting


    things with a de too. Well if he couldn''t have what he most wanted, then he''d have something else to


    upy his time.


    "I''m looking to be entertained. I''ll make you a deal if you wish. A chance to live past the next five


    minutes." The man cleared his throat. The man didn''t like hiding and running. He wanted to kill Isaiah


    or die trying. Guess which one was most likely? The thought made Isaiah smile.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Does it include those things? You made a promise to Jeff then one of those things got him. Right


    outside the room." The man''s voice was gruff and had the edge that a smoker did to it.


    "I''m feeling charitable at the moment. One day free of the four of us."


    "Okay." He said, the man was grubby looking with a beard. Isaiah moved toward him.


    "Follow, and don''t get any ideas. It''ll just piss me off. If you want to know what it''s like to have every


    bone in your body broken before you die then be my guest and try to stab me in the back." He


    motioned and the man followed him. They both knew the man wasn''t going to get away. The human


    was tired of it anyway. If he¡¯de to search out his death, Isaiah was not going to deny him. Isaiah¡¯s


    eyes slid ck with a smile.

 Chapter 15: Winter Slumber

    Chapter 15: Winter Slumber


    iry in the ballroom. She looked up through the ss to the stars. No light was on. It had stopped


    snowing somewhere around three. A clock in the hall chimed the hour as five. She didn''t feel anyone


    around and she''d slept the day away. So here she was in the danger of the night, but she was just not


    in the mood to hide in cramped spaces. She sat up though and sighed looking about.


    She decided that she was going to get some food and walked to the kitchen grabbing what was close.


    No one was moving around, she felt nothing. ir paused at a kind of chill that went down her spine.


    She frowned for a moment. She went to go through the dining room and walked into an invisible barrier


    there she touched it and realized what this meant. She forgot that thest time it happened too. An


    awareness of a spell and the arrival of those that kept Isaiah. They had to be bringing more people?


    But why?


    ir moved into the hall feeling pushed out of the kitchen and dining area. She pushed at the barrier


    with her hand but it was solid. She guessed that as long as the ones that kept Isaiah were in the house.


    She couldn¡¯t enter those rooms. The sound of a couple doors opening came. She heard ws running


    down the hall on the other side of the wall. Then she moved to where she could see what was going


    on. The man was back, and Isaiah was looking at him. He was also with a couple others. This time the


    people that they brought in were unconscious. She was just down the hall and stayed near the wall.


    "We had to travel far to get these ones, this time no drugs. We know how winter sleep works. So no


    tantrums this time." Isaiah just looked at them. He hated this time of the year. His home was overrun


    with humans. The smell of them was horrible. Right now with the fifteen minutes in ce he couldn''t


    touch any of them. Even if they walked right up to him and stabbed him.


    "When." He finally said.


    "Seven am, you''ll be out like a light. We''ve brought you plenty for when you wake." ir heard others


    moving in the kitchen. She nced back in there and saw people stocking the shelves and the


    refrigerator. She looked at them but they ignored her, like she wasn''t even there. One did nce at her


    and gave a sneer.


    "Yeah fuck you too buddy." She snapped and tossed the can she had. It hit him right in the side of the


    head. She hadn''t expected it to go through the barrier but it did and she felt satisfaction.


    "Fucking bitch." ir jogged back but he couldn''t pass the barrier that now blocked the kitchen. He was


    on one side and she was on the other.


    "That''s what I thought. Why don''t youe in here and try to live?" She recognized him as the main


    guide that had brought them here. He didn''t recognize her, why would he? She was just a thing left up


    here to die so he could have immortality. She nced for Michael who originally told her of the ce.


    She had a thing or two to say to him. However he wasn¡¯t there.


    "You''ll be dead soon." He said touching the side of his head the can had cut him there.


    "Mnov just leave her be. She''s the walking dead." ir had a righteous anger filling her.


    "You''ll get yours, and I''llugh the day you do." She chuckled. "No matter where I am, burning in hell,


    or stuck on this earth. I''llugh my fucking head off the day all of you are ripped apart by the thing


    you''ve created. I hope I get to see him rip you into tiny pieces." She felt justified in saying it.


    "How about we have a niceugh right now and I shoot you." A different man said and pointed a gun at


    her. She stood her ground.


    "Go ahead." She dared him not blinking.


    "Probably be doing her a favor." She flipped the man off and he gave augh, moving back to fill the


    kitchen. If she was counting right they were down to ten minutes.


    "You don''t have the balls." ir dared him. The man pulled the hammer back moving toward her again.


    "Want to bet?" He said.


    "You know the rules, and you couldn''t shoot her through the barrier anyways. The house won''t allow it


    to pass. Nothing that can kill." ir jumped and hit the wall. The man with the gun dropped it and


    looked uneasy. Isaiah stood there right behind her. He looked at ir like he wanted to grab her but


    she noted that he was keeping a short distance from her.


    "Better run little girlie. You only have eight minutes before he cane at you again." Isaiah looked at


    the man. ir edged away from him and took off down the hall. Isaiah gave her a slight nce feeling


    very frustrated. Of course he¡¯d find her when he couldn¡¯t touch her.


    "She''ssted far longer than any of you could." He said, because he knew they grew nervous when a


    humansted for more time than they should.


    "How long?" The man with the gun asked.


    "Nearly two months. Haven''t seen her in weeks till just now."


    "Should have shot her." Mnov said and they went to exit the kitchen.


    "Yes you should have, then I could havee in there and killed all of you." If they took what was


    offered to him, well that was a breach in the magic wasn''t it? Then he could enter the room. Mnov


    just gave him a look and went out to the waiting car. The kitchen was fully stocked to keep the humans


    that fed him healthy. So that he in turn would remain the same way. He was affected strongly if his


    source of nutrition wascking.


    He wondered where ir had disappeared to. He had greatly enjoyed her rage at those that had


    tossed her in here. Her words were anger filled, just like his. Being stripped of your freedom and


    treated like an animal would do that to you. He felt the barrier break but he wasn''t interested in food.


    They had brought in twenty unconscious humans.


    Isaiah had two hours before they put everyone in this ce into a deep sleep for several months. They


    couldn''t get up here once the snow started toe down. So they would put him to sleep and his food


    source.


    Then they would follow suit shortly after. They were connected like that. They had to slumber if they put


    him into a slumber. Isaiah moved toward his room, might as well getfortable he was going to be


    asleep for a very long time.


    It was November now. He wouldn''t be woke until May or June, depending on when the snow melted


    and they could get up here. When he woke he would be overly hungry. Worse than during the moon,


    hence why they had brought him so many. He''d need at least four of the humans to feed, and the hell


    hounds would need more like five. Though if it got desperate they could go out to the grounds and hunt


    something that strayed by.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    He went into his room andid down. The darkness was starting to grow lighter as a clock somewhere


    chimed six.


    "One hour." Hemented, he hoped that they woke him after the full moon. Not just before. He knew


    ir would survive the initial wake up. He wanted his chance to thoroughly y with her. He should


    probably be concerned about his fascination with catching her. That it was starting to develop


    dangerously and his sureness that she''d survive the wake up.


    Isaiah turned over on his stomach andid t. After taking the shirt from himself and then his pants.


    He wasn''t going to be looking human when he woke. The months asleep would starve him unlike the


    humans. He was well fed this night as the man with the knives had failed to do as Isaiah had asked.


    "Such is the way of the world." He grumbled. As the clock chimed seven he felt the breath leave his


    lungs and his eyes closed. Hisst thought on how he hated magic.


    The house grew silent, the ticking of clocks slowed and stopped freezing in time. The temperature


    dropped sharply. Those that were up slumped over or fell where they stood. The house growing more


    like a tomb every minute. The lights going out. The breath leaving the living upants. iry on her


    back in her home not moving as she sumbed to the spell.


    Isaiah could have passed for the deadying on therge bed that was made of deep rich browns.


    Here and there in different rooms people slept. Some on beds, floors, sofas, a few in cramped hiding


    ces.


    Near therge dining room the three hell houndsy curled up waiting to be awoken. To move to the


    next room where their preyy sleeping. Damage from those that had been awake and alive not ten


    minutes ago was repaired. The sudden sound of doors mming all over the house was deafening in


    the silence.


    In the caves the waterfall seemed to stop turning to instant ice. The roots and vegetation hanging down


    covered in frost and ice as well. The pool freezing over. The dragon''s head still looked to the eerie grey


    ring of light. His tail closer to the woman, the tip curving up near her ankle.


    Her hand was still out stretched and her other hand on her face. If one looked closely it wasn''t being


    held there so tightly. Like a possible smile on her lips. A secret knowledge that the beast did not know.


    Outside the wind blew once, and clouds boiled overhead. A few kes fell and then more, soon after it


    came like a white curtain. It hid the house from view covering the world in a sheet of


    white.

 Chapter 16: Wanted Survivor

    Chapter 16: Wanted Survivor


    ir opened her eyes, blinking them. She felt really groggy and she took a deep breath. Her lungs


    hurt, like they''d forgotten how to stretch with the iing air. She sat up and felt stiff and sore. She


    was also very hungry. She moved and grabbed some of the canned food and opened it with her can


    opener.


    "Mm, peaches." She said and downed the whole thing. It felt like she hadn''t eaten in months. Her


    stomach growled. There were a few gran bars there that she ate and they were a little hard, still


    good though. She downed a bottle of water.


    What time was it? Day or night? She felt disorientated. The air around her felt stale and old and the air


    was a little cool. She dropped her head over the edge on the right side. Judging by the color of light she


    would guess day time.


    She pulled her head back as she heard the first scream. She had to use the bathroom really badly.


    However If there was screaming going on she sure as hell wasn''t going out there. There was a lot of


    running around the halls and doors mming. It sounded like utter chaos out there.


    At one point she heard something tearing down the hall near her home. Then she heard shouts and


    screams near the wall that was part of her metal one. Something hit it with extreme force and dented it


    in.


    ir jumped back but didn''t cry out. She watched as the minutes passed and nothing else happened.


    The wall popped back out fixing itself. She could feel Zeta there and she undoubtedly killed someone.


    After a short bit she was moving away. It was another twenty before ir decided to move. She felt


    around and didn''t feel anything bad. At least not close so she took her chance to go out and use the


    bathroom.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    She would have used a bottle or something, she had before but she didn''t have anything suitable up


    here. She went up to the top floor and picked a bathroom there to use. She scrubbed her teeth


    because her mouth felt absolutely gross and washed up a little. She''d just did her quick shower method


    the other day and her hair was still clean and she didn''t feel all that grimy. Still smelled like the house in


    her opinion. Not like a scared filthy human living in their own fear and waste.


    ir left the bathroom and moved down the hall, she stopped at a window, putting a hand to it. This


    window looked out over a rose garden. She knew where she was. It was what she was seeing that


    stunned her. It made her freeze in ce at the sight.


    Flowers were in bloom, the sun was out and there was no snow. Judging by what she was seeing she''d


    guess they''d skipped right over winter. She ran to several other windows just to see if she was wrong


    but no. It was spring outside.


    "How long was I asleep?" She said to herself and got a warm feeling. She instantly felt better not so


    alone once again. That silentpanion there, whether made up or not.


    "Morning." She said. "Did...did we sleep through winter?" A warm feeling, she gave a sigh.


    "I guess, how would they get up here in the snow to feed him? He''d start tearing chunks out of you."


    That odd stomach flip came to her and then the warm feeling. She thought that the feeling in her


    stomach might be humor. They were high in the mountains at the moment, and thinking about it she


    didn''t really know where. It had been a long drive when they''d brought her group here, hours really.


    "Are you really alive? Am I crazy?" She said to herself. She got a warm feeling first and then a cool


    one. "I guess if I was, I''d answer that way." She felt the humor, ir sighed. Whatever, what was she


    going to do? If she wanted to survive, she learned she had to roll with the punches.


    "Starved for attention hey? Well if it''s been months. Then I am out of practice and need to draw." She


    took off for the studio and got there meeting no one. She smiled, this would help dispel the depression


    that threatened toe in.


    "Well, hello studio." Instant warmth, she sighed. "It''s outside today. May I take some things with me?"


    Warmth. "Thank you." She grabbed a bunch of items and was going to the roof she decided. Maybe it


    seemed stupid to do what she did, but really what else was she going to do but sit in the wall and wait


    to die? This kept her sane. She wasn''t living in the wall. As long as she kept her mind listening she was


    okay right?


    She moved a bit slower as she moved down a hall that looked like T-Rex had gone down it tearing up


    the floors and walls. Blood was sttered here and she turned and went a different way. She had a


    water bottle with her and filled it in a bathroom. She went out into the hall making sure to feel for


    anyone nearby.


    ir got the feeling of someone around the corner here, but not Isaiah and so she didn''t care who it


    was. She went around the corner and found a light haired man with a light beard growing. He was


    standing there with a very terrified looking woman. The two of them looked a bit stressed, but who


    didn''t in this house? She couldn''t be more than twenty five. A year or so older than ir.


    "Ah, the one that lives." ir mentally kicked herself, this was Gustav. She''d had yet to meet him, she''d


    just seen him. Should have thought more about her personal radar. He was one she wanted to stay


    clear of. Way to go ir, way to not care and be cocky.


    "I''m d we''ve met, please have a chat with me." He said pointing to a room they were standing by.


    Yeah because chats were what they had time for in this house. Well she was drawing so... crazier


    things had happened. Still she''d rather be alone. It was safer, others were dangerous.


    "I think I''m good, I don''t like to stay in one spot too long."


    "We''d like to know how you do it. Hide from him, you were here before us." He said and she thought


    that she felt an odd pressure on her mind. Gustav was frowning at her. Was he psychic and trying to


    read her mind? That was what she thought might be happening. Didn''t look like he could. Good, stay


    the hell out of it.


    "I run the second I think he''sing. I keep to myself and keep things stored for the full moon." She


    didn''t think that he was in his right mind, he felt off. He felt wrong in a way that didn''t have anything to


    do with drugs and things.


    "Hope to see you again." She turned to leave them. Which was a lie, she really didn''t.


    "Wait, where do you stay?"


    "Like I''m going to tell you." She responded. What a stupid thing to ask.


    "Hence why I''m alive." the door to her right opened and a man came out. He reached for her and she


    jumped out of the way. ir pulled out a knife she had shing at him. It was a good thing she never


    put her guard down. What could they really want from her? She''d be gone if she had the answers they


    wanted. Did they think she wasn''t trying to escape because she liked it here?


    "Stay away from me, I trust no one." She said, Gustav looked at the man, they spoke in anguage she


    didn''t know.


    "You see, ir," How did he know her name? She''d never told them her name. "The man that lives


    here has offered a few of us things if we give him you, or tell him where it is you hide." ir swallowed,


    she just bet it irked Isaiah that she kept getting away from him. Control freak. She''d been following him


    around for weeks, she knew his character alright. She eluded him, she was sure that alone got his


    attention. Probably bruised his ego. Clearly no one else seemed to do it so well for so long.


    "Well the only way you are taking me is dead, so fuck off." She said and edged around the Goliath of a


    man.


    "Grab her Mario." Gustav demanded and ir moved to run. He caught her by the hair and she turned


    shing at him. He didn''t make a sound, his eyes were dted and she thought he might be hyped up


    on something. Drugs were stupid. It just lowered your chances of survival, but what they did, didn''t


    concern her.


    ir shed at him as he held her hair. He caught the arm with the knife and twisted holding her still.


    She had to drop the knife with the hold. Gustav came over and looked at her. She kicked out but


    missed and Mario had her arm bent behind her and a harsh hold on her hair.


    "Don''t you take me to him, he''ll just kill you anyways."


    "He''s already made the promise to a few of us. Though he did say only the one that brought you or


    found you out would get it." Her wrist was staring to burn and her head hurt from being jerked back.


    "Just let me go, is it really worth a day?"


    "You''re very pretty." He said looking at her. ir narrowed her eyes. Oh he better get his mind out of


    that gutter and fast. She had a few surprises up her sleeve. She hadn''t yet used her talents, because


    she didn''t want others to know. It was the one ace up her sleeve. If she had to though she would.


    "Thanks, now let go." Gustav looked at her.


    "Just tell us how to avoid him. Clearly you know something we don''t." Yeah she had talents they didn''t,


    that help out immensely.


    "I told you just now."


    "You lie, bring her back here. We can force it out of her. Perhaps she knows a way out."


    "If I knew that I wouldn''t be here!" She shouted. Mario turned her pushing her toward the door, and


    Gustav pped her hard.


    "Keep your voice down." He snapped, in a tone that said he would not be disobeyed. The only one that


    could pull that was Isaiah because she was terrified of him. He''d do much worse than they could.


    "Let me go!" She said in a louder voice and mmed the door closed with her mind. Those standing


    there looked around. They clearly thought it was the house or Isaiah with their looks, no one realizing it


    was her. When Isaiah didn''t show they rxed. She kicked out and got Gustav right in the chest. The


    woman backed up, moving into the room with the other door still open. Mario mmed ir''s head into


    the closed door and she felt the burst of pain, and stars formed. Gustav, looked at her.


    "Bring her in, we''ll make her beg us to take her to that man by the time we are done." Clearly he didn''t


    like being disobeyed or bested.


    ir let out the loudest scream that she could and kept going at it. Thrashing and the doors near her


    mmed shut and the windows exploded. The air in the hallway got really cold and the house seemed


    to be reacting to her outburst as well. Mario held her and had let go of her arm. She turned and kneed


    him right in the crotch and he let go of her. She started to run but Gustav tackled her. All of them were


    panicking now with all the noise and the fact that it would draw the most unwanted attention.


    "We need her if he shows!" He said and ir felt something sharp slice her arm. The knife just grazed


    her. She wriggled out from under Gustav and kicked him in the face. Blood erupted from his nose. The


    woman was suddenly there and racked her nails over the side of ir''s face drawing blood.


    ir shoved her and ran down the hall, entered a trap door and then kept going. She didn''t stop until


    she found the stairs that led to the roof and closed the door. She waited a minute listening but didn''t


    hear anyone and only slightly rxed. She slid down the door to sit and shook like she was going to


    cry. Sucking it in, she looked up at the sky and stood up.


    ir marched across the roof and stopped near her supplies. She paced back and forth for a moment.


    Once she moved to her items, she set them up with harsh jerking movements. She just stood there for


    a moment radiating anger and stomped her foot into the roof and ground it there for a moment.


    Then she stopped and hung her head and started to cry. She tipped her head up to the sky and let out


    an angry and loud scream. Then she reached down, hating life, hating everything that she now was


    and had be. Hating this ce and what she was forced to do daily. A moment before had


    reminded her of the reality that was this ce.


    She let the sun warm her because inside she was dead and cold at the moment. ir looked at her


    arm and made an annoyed sound. It was just a long thin scratch and she touched her face, a bit of


    blood there. Great now they had something to smell. She felt a warmth spreading through her and she


    gave a sigh.


    "Thank you." It faded from her and she felt the strength to go on fighting another day. She looked at her


    arm, the cut was sealing. At least she had one benefit of befriending the house. She just pushed this


    from her mind because there was no point in holding on to it.


    ir stepped up to the edge and looked down. She was tapping her pencil to her lip and thinking. She


    liked the yellow roses growing in the corner of the garden. She also liked climbing vines. She looked at


    the fountain and conjured an image in her mind.


    She drew the fountain, she was going to draw life in the middle of death. Nothing but devastation would


    surround the flowers and fountain. It would be a barren and uglyndscape. She grabbed her drawing


    board and sat on the edge of the house.

 Chapter 17: Surprising Find

    Chapter 17: Surprising Find


    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 ir.


    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 y with when they were mindless. He also didn''t


    like the thought that he might have ir.


    She was his property to y with, not Gustav''s. If he found the man and ir 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 toe. 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 havinge 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 nced to the right and saw ir 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 nced around unsure for a second that something wasn''t


    hiding in wait. Then looked back at ir. 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 randomlye 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.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    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 contemted 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''te 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 particr. 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 herst. 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 particr. 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 itical that she would talk to herself this way. ir


    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."


    Her head snapped around to him, and her face paled but she didn''t scream orsh 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 and could kill them.


    "Thank you." She said, 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 nced 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 anything stupid.


    "I''m not going to kill you, yet. If I''d wanted to do that I would have done it while I watched you draw." He


    told her. Just so it would keep her from trying something ridiculous.


    "How long?" She asked in a quiet voice. She seemed to be fighting a bit of a tremor, but she sounded


    steady.


    "Nearly the entire time. 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 from?" Her pale face colored slightly and then a bit


    of anger came to it.


    "I''m not telling you that. Find out yourself, or do you think you can''t, and that is why you are asking me?


    A game you can''t win." She yed 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 than him, but she sure was tempting.


    "I''ve killed for less than that."


    "You kill for simple boredom." Her voice was quiet but strong. ir didn''t know why she spoke to him.


    She 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. It made her more scared of what he might want from her.


    "This is true." He reached over and took the board from her and the drawing. He looked at it, his gaze


    moving over it.


    "How do you draw so well?"


    "I always could." She answered him.


    "I have something I would like you to draw for me." He stated. He wanted a drawing of it to have to


    disy. A kind of cruel yet unknown joke to those who saw the image she would draw for him. She was


    going to draw the only exit the house had. An unspoken chance, just to see if anyone was crafty


    enough, and also a game with her. Just to see how smart ir actually was.


    "What do I get if I draw it for you?" She asked, he smiled. So quick.


    "Follow me ir." He said standing, he knew she would. She''d want to do it on her own, not being


    forced. She grabbed the drawing items and moved to follow him. He held the board and drawing. She


    looked 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.


    "I ask that it be done in charcoal. Grab whatever you need for it."


    "You haven''t told me what I will get for this. 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 he could safely go in.


    "Two days, full immunity from me, Beta, Alpha, and Zeta. I see that you know their names." She just


    gave a nod putting material into a stic case.


    "Where did you learn mine.I never told you."


    "Gregori." He recalled telling the man. Interesting that he''d told others. Not that it mattered.


    "Their images, I would like to take them. I only put them back so you would not know."


    "Tried to catch me in here?" She asked not looking at him.


    "Didn''t work so well." She nced at him but didn''t say anything. She moved to the cab, and pulled


    out the folder with I.Z.A.B on it.


    "Three days." She said holding the folder. "I have a feeling I might not enjoy what you will have me


    doing."


    "Oh you will." He said with a smile. "Just for fun I''ll give you your extra day." He replied. Isaiah decided


    that he didn''t want her dead or gone yet. He liked trying to figure her out. He hadn''t found where she


    was hiding yet. He wanted to know the answer and she wasn''t going to tell him. So at the moment he


    had several ideas of what he was going to make her do besides draw.


    She held out the folder to him and he took it. He''d keep these for a very long time, long after she was


    gone. A kind of memory 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 her yet.


    He noted that she still hadn''t said okay. She was a smart one and probably wouldn''t say okay until he


    told her 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 minuteter, Alpha came running


    down the hall toward them. ir stiffened and he smiled at her.


    "Nervous?"


    "Wouldn''t you be?" She asked still in her quiet voice.


    "Do you know which one this is?"


    "Alpha." She answered. He held out a hand for her things and she gave them to him. Alpha opened his


    mouth and took the strap and box in his jaws. ir listened while this time he spoke in anguage she


    didn''t know. Alpha turned and ran from the hall.


    "What am I drawing?"


    "You can''t draw it until tomorrow. You need the light, your eyes aren''t that good." He said, and motioned


    for her to move forward. She did but was watching him.


    "Where are we going then?" She asked and he sensed the spike of fear in her. Still she did nothing to


    attack, didn¡¯t even sound snide. So very refreshing for him.


    "I feel that you will have to earn your three days a bit 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 went down


    the halls and across the house. ir found this surreal, just walking with him.


    "What else are you talented in ir?" She nced at him as he opened the doors to the room.


    "Such as?" she asked.


    "How about music. Do you know how to y?" 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 feel good.


    "A little." She said. "Piano and guitar." There was a slight hesitancy in her voice as well. He noted it


    instantly. Even with how subtle it was. He would know everything about her. She would tell him, he¡¯d


    find a way to make her.


    "I think there is something that you are not telling me, embarrassed?" He was very used to others being


    completely silent or screaming around him. Terrified to the point they couldn''t move. He liked that she


    managed to keep calm enough to speak to him. Good conversation was hard toe by, civil


    conversation was impossible. Obviously he killed things, and the rest were terrified of him. She wasn''t


    acting like the others, but he knew she was nervous.


    "I... just don''t want to be asked to do it." She said with a sigh. Knowing that now as she said it he would


    ask her too. The doors closed as they entered the room, and she felt very trapped. His presence was


    nearly overwhelming. She had no idea how much time was left on her life standing here. Even not


    knowing, she wasn''t going to spend them acting like an idiot. She knew when to fight and when to give


    in.


    "And that is?" She kept her gaze from him. She didn''t meet his eyes much he noticed. It was slightly


    irritating, he liked to see the emotions passing through the eyes. It made it easier to understand a


    person. Especially one whose mind you couldn''t read.


    "Singing." He smiled at this.


    "Is that so?" She just gave a nod. "Then you will know what I ask." She gave another nod. She looked


    up meeting his gaze for a moment. Her demeanor and posture were always so deceptive with what her


    eyes said. When she looked at him he saw a very strong personality and will. Unlike her submissive


    pose. Isaiah reached down and took hold of her forearm and raised her right hand.


    "Who marked you?" He asked, she gave a shrug.


    "Doesn''t really matter. I got away and they would have just dragged me to you anyways after they were


    done." That narrowed it down a lot. He''d asked three people in Gustav''s group.


    "The names ir." She tugged at her arm a little but he held on to it. He gripped her chin and pulled


    her head to the side. Angry red marks and bruises were there but healing. That said how the house


    was epting of her. It was helping her heal. She was unique wasn¡¯t she?


    "Again I ask why it matters. I''m still alive for you to killter. To y with." His gaze moved over the


    slender column of her throat. For one second he thought about leaning down and sinking his teeth into


    the soft flesh. It excited him, but he pushed it down. Not yet, didn''t want to break his favorite little


    mouse yet.


    "Because I don''t like what belongs to me damaged. You don''t fix like this house does. Whether your


    mind can get over the fact or not. The moment you signed your name, you signed your life to me. I own


    you and therefore I will dictate what does and doesn''t matter. The names if you will, of those that have


    damaged my property."


    ir didn''t want to be the reason that they died. However he was serious and she could sense it. Being


    told that she was property was pretty depressing as well. Kind of like being a ve. Now she knew how


    they must have felt every day of their lives. Fearing that someone could take it for no reason at all.


    "I don''t know the woman''s name, she did this." ir said touching her cheek with her free hand. He let


    go of her chin and she was relieved, but he still held her wrist. She looked away from him at the far wall


    debating with herself.


    "You don''t know them. They would trade your life in a minute." He was perplexed by her. He''d pretty


    much just told her how worthless her life was here. That she wasn''t much more than property. She''d


    been attacked by someone she didn''t know and wasn''t willing to say his name. He didn''t think that he


    would ever figure her out.


    "Gustav?''


    "He was there. I just got a nice p from him. Tackled me to try and stop me from leaving." She made


    a kind of unbelievableugh. A sheen of tears in her eyes. What did she have to be sad about?


    Perhaps it was because she realized how little her life meant. He found that he wanted to hear her say


    the names. That being humane, being nice here was not how it worked. She needed to learn that, and


    he''d break it into her.


    "And?" She met his gaze. She knew the name of the one that had bruised her wrist. She might very


    well be bruised on other ces below her shirt that he couldn''t see.


    "Did it ever ur to you that some people don''t want to be responsible for others'' deaths?"


    "Like your roommate Laura, or those that you don''t share your hiding ce with?" She was a bit


    surprised that he knew who Laura was. Or remembered.


    "I never handed anyone over to you or the hell hounds. That is first degree murder." She looked away


    from him. The things moving behind her eyes he was unable to see now. It frustrated him even more.


    "I''ll tell you what." He wanted to know. He''d asked and her refusing to speak was very close to pping


    him in the face. He didn''t do well with disobedience or being denied. He had enough dead bodies to


    prove that. Not to mention he''d once killed Alpha for disobeying him.


    "You tell me and I''ll just kill him. Don''t tell me I''ll go right now and find all three I asked. Plus whoever


    else Ie across bring them in here and make you watch while I kill them." She stiffened then and


    hung her head defeated. Why was he so bloodthirsty and cold? What was he really?


    "Mario." She said very quietly and he gave a slight crooked smile. He was slowly going to figure out the


    best way to manipte her. What she would or wouldn''t say no to.


    "Not so hard was it?" He said, dropping her arm and looking at her bent head. Then she raised it. She


    didn''t answer. Just seemed to resolve herself and pushed whatever it was she was thinking away. How


    frustrating not to know.


    He looked at her, this was the first time he''d managed to get a hold of her since she''d danced with him.


    He remembered that vividly. He''d liked the feel of her, the way that she moved, fluid, graceful. He was


    very attracted to things like that. She was clearly a graceful creature.


    She was thin, but they all were here. They didn''t eat well. The fact that she still looked overly healthy


    with her two months of active living told him that she was trying to see to all her needs. She had a


    womanly figure that was harder to see at the moment with the loose blue shirt she had on, but the


    jeans she wore were tighter. A very soft and flowing form. How he''d enjoy it when the time came, just


    not quite yet. Isaiah moved to the bench and sat down. He motioned to her and she moved over to him.


    ir hoped this wasn''t going to be painful.

 Chapter 18: Kiss Me Like You Mean It

    Chapter 18: Kiss Me Like You Mean It


    "Sit." Isaiah ordered her and she sat down next to him as he indicated. "I will y, you will sing until I


    say it is okay for you to stop."


    "Yes." She said. ir took a deep calming breath. She wanted to get up and run, but where was she


    going to go? She wasn''t ready to reveal what she could do. She was saving that for a desperate time.


    Right now she was given an obvious chance. She was sure that his talents were stronger than hers. He


    started a song and she was grateful that she knew it and waited until the right note to start.


    She was relieved that her voice didn''t crack and that she hit all the notes perfectly. She didn''t think he


    would enjoy someone who sang badly. She didn''t think that her voice was all that amazing. She was


    very self-conscious and never sang in front of anyone but her music instructor. Though he had


    constantly been at her to sing in concerts with the band.


    ir sang through several songs before she had to ask if she could have a drink. Her throat was dry


    and sore. He let her, Beta seemingly came from nowhere carrying a bottle from the kitchen. She didn''t


    know how theymunicated but it was eerie.


    Beta sat on her side of the bench and watched them as he yed and she sang. He seemed pleased


    by it and moved to go andy down after a while. ir was starting to fight to stay awake. She''d been


    up the whole day and now the night. Not to mention her nerves were shot with being watched and next


    to Isaiah.


    "You need sleep." He stated and she nodded. He stood and motioned for her to follow.


    "Beta." He called and Beta got up and followed after them. ir thought that she heard others moving


    down the hall fast away from them.


    "Apparently you have some that enjoy your voice. It was calming and hopeful to them." She saw that


    he was amused by this.


    "It wasn''t too bad." She supplied keeping her gaze down.


    "You have a very lovely voice ir. Just like your talent to draw. You are veryplicated and have yet


    to disappoint me. I like the puzzle you are."


    "That is a relief." She said meaning it, though not meaning to say it. He gave a kind ofugh and she


    looked up as they passed the ss staircase and into the hall beyond it. He stopped in front of the door


    there. Taking hold of her shoulders he ced her back to the door. He let go of her and put his hands


    on either side of her head.


    "Now," He said looking at her and she nced at Beta who was sitting watching. "You will stay in this


    room. There is only one way out and in. You are a very hard human to track down. I''m not in the mood


    for you to slip away on me."


    "I thought you liked a challenge." ir stated feeling bold.


    "Don''t push me." He responded though he was amused by herment. "Beta will be staying with you


    just to make sure you don''t meander off." He said and she paled a little. Waking a little more.


    "With me? Not outside?" She asked, sounding a little panicked. He gave a smile that he felt.


    "With you. I don''t trust you because I know your talent to slip away." He wondered at that talent. Was


    she just that lucky or was it something else?


    "Oh, and tomorrow?" She asked.


    "I will show you what I wish for you to draw."


    "Have I earned the three days then?"


    "Nearly, you haven''t epted the offer yet nor have you drawn the picture."


    "Before is say yes or no, is that all? You haven''t said exactly what I''m to do. Just draw?" Isaiah stepped


    very close to her, taking up her space. Enjoying the way that she pressed herself against the door to


    get away from him. He leaned forward and took a very deep breath. Pulling her scent into his lungs,


    she smelled so good. No other human could or would ever smell like her.


    "I love the way you smell. A mix of citrus and flowers, very feminine." She was very tense. Then again


    he would be too if their positions were switched. Her life was his to take and destroy if he wanted.


    "Th...thanks." She stammered staring at his chest. She felt one of his hands move and touch her hair.


    "How soft, and so well groomed." He seemed perplexed by this. He was a good head taller than her


    and she was happy to not have to look him in the eye. He had to be feeling the fear and anxietying


    from her in waves.


    "I promise to give you three days full immunity from me and my hell hounds, so long as you draw what I


    show you and you kiss me." Her heart stopped beating in her chest. Oh god she couldn''t do that. She


    could barely take him touching her without freaking out. His hand moved to the side of her neck, his


    thumb by her ear. He didn''t force her to look up just waited for her decision.


    Isaiah had no idea if she would ept his offer or not. If she didn''t then he was going to have her body


    right here and now. If she did, then she''d get her three days and he''d have to wait for that pleasure.


    More than likely he''d have to hunt her down again. But that was the fun of it. Either way he doubted


    he''d be really disappointed.


    "What happens if I don''t?" She asked.


    "I''m waiting for an answer." He replied and that very clearly told her that she wouldn''t enjoy what he


    nned to do if she said no.


    "Yes." She finally said after several long silent minutes. "I''ll take your offer." She couldn''t tell if he was


    disappointed or not. Now he forced her head up to look at him. She was a little scared by what she saw


    there. Terrified as a whole, but this just added to it. There was a mix of things in his eyes, she just


    looked at him for a moment.


    "You are failing to hold up your end of the bargain." He chided. ir moved her head not wanting to


    fail. She was too scared of what would happen if she did.


    She hesitated for just a second very near his mouth. She felt his light breath on her lips and she


    shivered slightly. He didn''t move his head to hers, he''d said that she had to kiss him. She wondered


    what happened to him if he failed to hold up his end of the bargain.


    "Like you mean it ir." He said before she touched her lips to his. It was light and she didn''t know


    exactly what the kiss had to be to count. He was unnaturally still, more so than normal for him. She


    pressed her mouth a little more firmly to his and figured that a quick one did count. He never specified


    what it had to be. Just that she had to do it.


    It had to be like she meant it. Oh god what did that mean? She opened her mouth against his and his


    lips were already parted. She slid her tongue into his mouth and the second that her tongue hit his he


    gripped her hair and pulled her head back.


    He took over that kiss and brought his hand to her neck. She tried to pull away and he made a very


    threatening sound in his throat. She stayed where she was and allowed him to kiss her. He tasted like


    mint, very strongly of it. His perfect firm body pressed to hers and it felt like he was pulling the air from


    her lungs.


    He lifted her suddenly and nearly mmed her into the door forcing her legs around him. He pressed


    hard against her. His hips grinding into hers, she gasped into his mouth and he made a deep sound


    into hers. ir''s fingers dug into his shoulder. While she felt incredibly tense, she also felt heat rush


    through her entire body. Not the reaction she was expecting at all.


    Isaiah had never experienced anything quite like this. She was so hesitant to kiss him, to let him touch


    her. When all the others had been more than eager to prove themselves. To try and please him. To let


    him do as he wanted to them, so they could get what they wanted. He wanted to do a lot to ir. She


    had tried to pull away from him to deny him. Not until he threatened her did she stop. It wasn''t


    eptable in his mind.


    Her body belonged to him. It was his, she was his to have. He wanted to fuck her so badly and was


    angered at the clothes in the way. His body was painfully hard and only this human woman was going


    to satisfy the need riding him. She was so soft, and it was so easy to get a hold on her. His hand dug


    into her thigh. She fit perfectly, it would be sweet to sink his body into hers. He was sure it would be. To


    hold her down and feel her soft smooth skin slide along his.


    He felt it from her, the arousal that she tried to fight. She didn''t want to respond to him but she was.


    She was attracted, whether she wanted to admit it or not. He wanted her to crave him the way that he


    was craving her right now. This reversal of need was maddening. The whole exchange was extremely


    fast and heated. However he suddenly tasted blood in his mouth. His nails started to dig into her skin


    dangerously from his excitement.


    Beta let out a loud growling bark. Isaiah suddenly had to drop her and step away.His breathing was


    irregr and there was pain all over him. He looked down but didn''t really need to. He already knew


    what had happened, he''d very nearly broken his promise. He was truly immortal, nothing could kill him


    but if he broke a promise.


    The only reason he wasn''t in more pain, nor have truly broken it was because she hadn''tpleted


    her end entirely yet. He knew it was mostly from him starting to dig his ws into her. Which would


    cause her pain. He''d said full immunity from any harm. Should have left a loophole there, damn it. Then


    he could still have her pinned against the door and feel more of her body.


    Liaisons had opened all over him, a warning to stop. He felt the tears of blood rolling down his face.


    Also from his ears and most likely nose. The taste was also in his mouth. She was looking at him in a


    kind of shocked horror. He closed his eyes for a moment and waited.


    ir watched Isaiah, his eyes were solid ck. Not a hint of color or white, they were like obsidian


    ss. There were tears in his skin and he was bleeding from them rather harshly. Several thin streams


    came from his eyes.


    She''d tasted the coppery hint of blood with a tang of licorice in her mouth and had thought it was her at


    first. He looked very inhuman at the moment. A slight twist to his features. She could still feel his hard


    body pressed to hers. Every hard muscle and his arousal pressed between her legs. She could still feel


    that most of all. ir couldn''t help the heat in her face. What had she gotten into here?


    After a moment he opened his eyes. The wounds closing on his body. He looked a little more in control


    and she wondered what would have happened if Beta hadn''t lunged at them barking. Isaiah moved,


    coming back very close to her. A growl low in his throat. He crowded her space, but not really touching


    her but nearly so. Her heart was beating a mile a minute.


    "How I wish I''d given you a task you could fail. So I could just fuck you." She was shocked at the


    crudeness of the words. She was d for the promise and once this was done she was never going to


    show her face anywhere unless she absolutely had to. She didn''t think this little episode was a one


    time thing. What he said terrified her. She spoke the first thing that came to mind.


    "How I wish I never signed that book." He was in her space again but not touching her. The smell of


    him filled her lungs. A kind of spearmint smell, close to his taste. She was trying to not think about that.


    He made a kind of agreeable amused sound and then stepped away from her.


    "I will be here to collect you in the morning, if you are not here..."


    "I''ll be here." She said quickly. She wasn''t going to leave. Not when she knew what he''d do if he found


    her after this. A slow smile spread across his face.


    "You realize that you are stuck here." He raised a hand holding up four fingers. "Four days that I can''t


    really touch you. Including the drawing day." She stared at him, she knew.


    "I n to run like hell." She hadn''t meant to say that. It always just came out.


    "Oh, ir." He said with augh. "I have your scent and your taste burned into my memory. Along with


    the soft feel of your body against mine. There is nowhere in this house you can run to that I won''t find


    you. No ce you can hide that I won''t eventually get to you."


    "So you think."


    "So I know, make me angry enough and I will tear apart each and every room until I find you. Tear the


    very walls apart. I''m giving you one time to run. Next time you won''t get that chance." His gaze moved


    over her body. He''d nevere across such a situation before like with her. He enjoyed it, yet felt it


    was kind of twisted in a way that he couldn''t exin.


    "Would you give me warning? I''d like to count my days left as a blessing." He blinked and his eyes


    went from ck to very near normal in a second.


    "You confuse me." He smiled. "You have your three days. After that the moment I catch you there isn''t


    going to be any deal but one. No one has ever managed to make good on it. I never have to keep the


    promise I make with that deal." It was true. What needed and wanted satisfaction was his inhuman


    side. The side that was truly him. What he was, not this mortal facade he''d had to take being brought


    here.


    ir gripped the door handle and turned it moving to go in. He watched her and Beta padded over and


    into the room. She would much rather have him in the room than Isaiah at the moment. She closed the


    door and looked at the bedroom. She crawled into the bed andid there unsure of what to feel,


    terrified, relieved, sad, d, depressed? She scooted very close to the wall. She felt the bed depress


    as Beta jumped up.


    "I don''t suppose you''d give me space? Like on the floor?" His answer was to lie down with his yellow


    eyes staring at her. She should have been more disturbed than she was. Her encounter outside the


    door had seemed scarier than this.


    "Didn''t think so." She grumbled andid there staring at the wall hoping she could sleep. She got an


    actual bed tonight, she prayed she could enjoy it..


    ___Isaiah_____


    Isaiah moved from the room ir was in before he did something stupid. He hunted down Mario in


    record time and gave him the chance to live by physically beating Isaiah. He lost spectacrly and was


    now a broken mess that Zeta was eating. It felt good to take out his frustration at having to leave ir


    alone on the man. Plus he had marred her perfect skin. Marked her like he had a right to.


    Then from his memories he hunted down the woman. Apparently ir had also been sliced by a knife


    and mmed into a wooden door. Not eptable. He was more than relieved that she wasn''t


    damaged in any other way. That they hadn''t gotten the chance to do what had been in Mario''s mind. If


    he''d touched ir, used her body before Isaiah could, he''d have done worse to Mario.


    He found the woman involved in attacking ir. Gave her the same deal that he gave Laura and


    others. If she could satisfy him he''d let her live for the time being. He already knew it was going to be a


    failure. His inhuman side wasn''t even remotely finding her interested.


    No, that it seemed to only focus right now in regards to ir. He needed some kind of relief. ir had


    his body raging and it wasn''t going away. This woman named Lina barely scratched the surface. His


    human body barely got relief. He was better off just taking care of his human body himself and thinking


    about what he wanted to do to ir. Wishing to make her do it.


    Isaiah moved up the stairs to his room. Ufortable and unfulfilled. He stared at her door for a


    moment with ck eyes and a closed fist before turning and going up to his room. First he took out the


    drawings that he''d asked from her and looked at them. He stared at his own images and the way that


    she seemed to see him. Then he''d moved over to his bed andid down staring up at the ceiling his


    eyes still ck. His vision was extremely sharp and colors a bit more dull when they were like this.


    God damn it his body would not rx. Relieving himself would be much better than what Lina had


    given him so instead he justy there. Justy there picturing that human woman and the feel of her


    body. How he hoped she was as good as she felt. That she would give him something very close to a


    real release. He''d had strong reactions to women before, but not that strong. In the end however it was


    always the same. If they did not fit the need of a reaper then he would be left with nothing.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    His human body craved, and so would his other side. The side that was never satisfied by anything or


    anyone. Only one time had it felt sated and that had been Athena. Isaiah closed his eyes and pushed


    away the thoughts of a woman long dead that no longer mattered to him. She''d never really mattered,


    but he was stuck here because of her. A moment of weakness.


    Instead he reced her image with ir. ir beneath him while he took her body. The sounds she


    would make and how good it would feel. He craved her, wished he could march down the stairs right


    now and drag her up here. Use her until she either pleased him or failed. The thought of tasting her


    blood just made it worse. It would be a worthy prize. He''d enjoy the taste immensely. Enjoy the feel of


    her vivacious life flowing into him. That thought made him smile. He was already counting the hours.

 Chapter 19: Three Days Earned

    Chapter 19: Three Days Earned


    ir 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 tough, 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, ir 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 veryrge and deadly


    one.


    ir felt theughe up and out of her. She hadn''tughed 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


    re at her.


    "Sorry, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean it." He looked away from her and tried to scratch again. ir 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, hisrge 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 circr motion. His one foot moved slightly and then faster, a purr almosting 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 ir put her other hand on the other side and rubbed


    along the sides of his neck. Beta''s earsy t against his head and he moved slightly closer to her.


    ir found it funny but just bit her lip instead ofughing. She didn''t think thatughing 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 ir." 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


    happinessing 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 ir 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, veryplicated creatures they are."


    "Nothing is ever simple. The moment you believe you have figured it out something unexpectedes


    along." Shemented in a kind of sigh.


    "Hence why I think you were sent to me." Isaiah agreed. "Come, we are going to the caves." Her head


    snapped up and she looked at him rmed.


    "You can go there?" From the look it seemed she hadn''t meant to say that, but she moved forward to


    the door.


    "I can go most everywhere."


    "Except the grounds." ir 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 for him.


    However the temptation was there.


    "Follow me." 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 grew odd and stony here, she could smell damp earth after a


    moment. The light also faded. Isaiah stopped and turned to her.


    "Your hand." He said holding out his, she gave it to him and he pulled her close to him but then turned


    around. He ced her hand on his side.


    "If you don''t want to fall into a crevasse or hole, you will stay very close to me and not let go.


    Understood?"


    "Yes." she said though her hand on his side trembled slightly.


    "It''s going 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 shirt and the other holding his side.


    ir stayed very close to him, nearly brushing him as he walked. When he moved to the side she did


    as well. A couple times she had to turn sideways as instructed. She could feel that the tips of her toes


    hung over nothing.


    There was a sudden grey light ahead and they moved a bit faster. ir didn''t hold so tight to him


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


    overlooked a huge cavern.


    ir moved around him to the edge and she looked in awe around the cave hall. It was massive and


    there were ledges and tons of odd stctites and stgmites, all different colors and sizes. The


    waterfall didn''t look thatrge but it was deceiving.


    It was the size of a small rivering down from above into the cave. The huge pool that could have


    been more like ake was brilliant shades of blues and greens. Vegetation wasing down and over


    therge hole above and growing along the walls of the cave as well. She saw small things fly in and


    out every now and then.


    To her left and below was arge t 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 water.


    ir was staring at the center ind 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 ind 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, almost touching.


    She had one hand outstretched and up. Her head was 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 aware of the woman statue. It''s tail waiting to strike out should


    she make a sudden movement.


    "How far do the caves go?" She asked.


    "Miles and miles. Unexplored and still very active. This is what I want you to draw ir. Because I want


    an image of this room in the house."


    "I 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 been


    ashamed at all.


    She moved around the ledge and he watched her. 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 and Zeta could be seen.


    "Here will do I guess." She said and he could feel that she was excited to draw this. She seemed to get


    excited about drawing. How he got excited about music. To each his own, he guessed.


    "Your items are here." He said pointing against the wall. "You have till nightfall." He turned and went


    back through the tunnel to the house. ir just gave him a nce. She could do this in less than that


    time. She just had to make sure that it met his expectations.


    ir also found a board here. She wasn''t sure when that had been brought down but 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 the statue, as that felt like the center.


    She used her fingers and blending 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


    the statue¡¯s details. She found it odd that even as the light shifted the woman always seemed to be in


    shadow. She would bet her life that it was a center of magic, it seemed alive.


    She had to have worked 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 now.


    Though every so often one would leave and return shortly.


    ir wanted 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. It appeared deep and mysterious.


    "Hey," She gave a shaky shout. The three heads down there turned up to look at her. "I... I 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 did as well.


    Not what she wanted, she just needed one and she preferred it to be Beta. She tinkered with it while


    she waited and not five minutester Beta came from the tunnel and loped over to her. From where she


    sat she turned the board and held it up.


    "Is this what he wants?" Beta sat down as the other two came in and ir 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 just been. In the image the three of themy down there.


    Beta made a kind 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 waterfall.


    Beta gave a small snort and Zeta padded over to one side andid down staring at the image. After a


    minute the other two moved andid down on the ledge too, watching her. She pulled out the fixative


    and sprayed it. They made disapproving noises.


    "It''s how the image is saved." She said 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


    stuck here until nightfall.


    She drew another image just of the waterfall and pool. She''d put some colored materials in as wellst


    night, and used the blues and greens. She really focused on where the waterfall entered the pool


    catching the ripples and sshing. The waterfall was white and grey with a slight dark blue tint behind


    it. The pool was a sharp green with blue ents the waves and reflections of light.


    ir set it aside and just sat there looking around the cave. She was starving and felt a bit tired. The


    air here 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 was there and did it again.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    "Yes?" She said feeling a tightness in her throat. You couldn''t be this close to such a predator and not


    feel small and weak.


    She had her arm raised and her hand out. He raised a paw and hit her wrist. She nced at Beta who


    was watching a tip to his head.


    "Do you want to be scratched?" She was confused by this. Beta must have really enjoyed it to have


    told the others. They didn''t seem like the kind of beings that would like to be touched. His head bobbed


    and ir turned raising her hands.


    "As long as you promise not to bite me when I do." His head bobbed again and ir sank her hands


    into his fur. His reaction was much the same as Beta''s.


    Alpha sat but scooted a bit closer to her. There was a low rumble from his chest as she massaged his


    neck and throat. She also moved to his shoulders for a bit. His head tipped up as she rubbed his upper


    neck. ir jumped when Zeta emitted a kind of irritated sound. Alpha dropped his head and looked at


    her. She thought she saw annoyance but he got up and moved off. Zeta wanted the same thing and


    ir did it to her as well. She, like Beta, at one point had her leg moving very rapidly and she gave a


    short low howl that echoed in the cave.


    After a while, and having petted Beta again she moved to get up and stretch. The three of them let out


    low growls of different pitches. She lowered herself back down to the floor as they had moved circling


    her. The second that she sat back down they calmed.


    Beta was the first toy down but he put hisrge head right on her left leg nudging her hand and she


    scratched the side of his head. Zeta and Alpha followed suit. Zeta on her right side had her head along


    ir''s right leg facing her stomach. Alphaid against the front of her legs his back to her. Clearly they


    wanted attention. She kind of felt augh wondering if Isaiah spent time with them like this. Probably


    not, she didn''t even think a hell hound would like attention.


    She alternated between petting each of them, rubbing and scratching. Beta was half curved around her


    back. His eyes closed, and he seemed to have fallen into a light dose. Zeta''s eyes moved around the


    cave, closing when it was her turn to receive attention.


    ir''s arms were sore and she was just d that their fur was soft and not coarse as it looked. She


    gave a sigh and was staring off into space. So used to her rotation of petting, that she was half


    unconscious about it. She didn''t stop. Too worried about what they would do if she did.


    "Finished?" She turned her head and looked at Isaiah who stood watching her, his gaze moved to the


    hell hounds. Alpha raised his head and with a yawn got up and moved past Isaiah with a lope. The


    other two just looked at him. He raised an eyebrow at them.


    "Yes." ir said. "Can I stop with the rubbing now?" He looked down at the two remaining hell hounds.


    They thoroughly enjoyed her attention. It was rxing to them and they wanted it, but they were


    content to leave her be for the moment. Interesting, that was all he could really say. ir was


    interesting and clearly caused odd reactions in others.


    "Yes." He answered. "The drawing." He demanded wanting to see what she had done. As much as he


    would prefer her to have failed at it, he doubted very much that she would. Now he just wanted to see


    what she created because he enjoyed the way she drew.


    "First." She stated standing and holding the canister. "I want you to promise to take me back to the


    house. I don''t trust you to just leave me sitting here for the next three days." Isaiah wasn''t going to lie


    the thought had crossed his mind. He wouldn''t be breaking any of the rules so long as she had food


    and drink.


    "If you don''t give me the image you''ll fail to hold up your end."


    "And if you don''t take me back I''ll just have three days to wait for the same end." He looked at her


    slightly amused. She was a hard one to trick. He liked this game they had started, even if it annoyed


    him with her ability to get away. He didn''t have to, but he was going to because it was much more


    satisfying if the game was yed right and fairly. He had all the time in the world anyways.


    "Alright, I promise to take you back as you are right now."


    "Thank you, I ept that." She said just to make sure the deal was sealed. She opened the canister


    and the two hell hounds had moved off down the tunnel. She pulled out the drawing and handed it to


    him. He unrolled it and looked at it.


    "eptable?" She asked mentally crossing her fingers.


    "More than." He sighed, the image was perfect. "I want that one as well." He said pointing to the water


    drawing." She nodded and rolled it up putting it in the canister. Then he handed her the cave drawing


    and she slung it over her back.


    "Come." He motioned and moved down the tunnel, ir hurried after him taking hold of him as she had


    before. Staying very close, she tried to memorize the twists and turns but gave up. There were too


    many of them.


    Isaiah could see in the darkness. It was pitch ck in here but with his eyes it was clear. He wasn''t


    using light to see the tunnel before him. It wasn''t quite a tunnel. There were a fewrge spaced areas


    that they moved through.


    He moved differently than he hading in. He wasn''t giving her an easy way back to the caves. If


    anyone had the slightest chance to escape it would be her. He''d chosen the most difficult way to it so


    she would be discouraged toe back.


    She was holding very close to him. Her grip tight in the dark but her breathing was even. How irritating


    to have her holding on to him but unable to touch her. His promise gave her full immunity which meant


    that she had three days that neither he nor the hell hounds could touch her, for anything. Not for any


    reason. Of course she could touch him just not the other way around. He could prompt for the touch,


    but she had to move first. Very careful nned out loopholes.


    He was trying to not breathe in through his nose, to stop him from feeling this need to break the


    promise. He still had over a week and a half or so before the moon was in full. Plenty of time to get a


    hold of her. Didn''t mean he would, but he was determined this time not to fail. They came back to the


    house. He held his hand out for the images and she handed them to him.


    "You are free to go ir." He said. Her green eyes met his with relief and she scooted around him to a


    staircase and disappeared up them. His gaze tracked her the entire way. He was counting the hours


    until he could catch her again. His hand tightened around the canister. Then a dark smile spread over


    his face. Well he might not be able to harm or touch her, didn''t mean he couldn''t follow her or be in the


    same space. That made his smile widen a bit and he moved forward.

 Chapter 20: Not Really Free

    Chapter 20: Not Really Free


    The first thing that ir did was to take a real shower. She stood in the bathroom with the chair


    pressed to the inside handle and scrubbed like she''d never scrubbed before. She did everything to feel


    normal and clean. She also found a pair of scissors and trimmed her hair the best she could. She


    thought about chopping it really short but didn''t.


    ir had found some fresh clothes that fit her well. She wasn''t so sure that the house hadn''t prepared


    that for her. These clothes were a pair of ck dress like pants and a white turtleneck. It was still cool


    in the house and this wasn''t so bad. She didn''t need to worry about being totally hidden. Though she


    wasn''t going to change her habits for three days.


    She brushed out her hair and fingered it. The wet mass was heavy and had a slight curl to it. She


    scrubbed her teeth, flossing and rising. She felt so good to be clean, and she was always normally a


    clean freak. She would have done a bit more for him if she could be allowed one day every week to do


    this.


    ir tossed her bad clothes into the chute. She knew that the chutes all came out somewhere in the


    basement. From there she didn''t know what happened to them. She went out the door after checking


    and went to the kitchen for food. She had a quick dinner. Happy to have milk for the first time in months


    and that it was fresh. She ate some of the fruit there as well.


    "Thanks." She said to the house and moved off. There were actually three kitchens in the house but the


    main one had most the food and it was huge. She passed two peopleing to find some eats and


    they looked at her,.


    "How are you so clean?" The one woman asked.


    "Showered, I won the game I yed with him." She looked envious. The other woman already slipped


    into the kitchen. She left ir and ir moved off down the hall. She wanted to learn more about this


    ce now that she had time to do it.


    However she grew more tired and moved off to find a room out of the way to sleep in, she wanted a


    bed. ir found one on the third floor in the left wing. Sheid down, a chair against the door and she


    fell asleep. Was it going to stop Isaiah or the hounds? Not really but she''d get warning and it would


    stop the humans.


    Morning came and ir opened her eyes, she nced at the clock. It was almost ten. She''d been


    asleep for nearly nine hours and it felt good. She felt good, felt like a great weight had been lifted from


    her shoulders. Now that she didn''t have to be so careful, she could explore andmit more to


    memory than she already had.


    ir meandered through the house looking at everything, and testing for hidden doors. She found one


    that she hadn''t known before and it led to a room that had no doors at all. It seemed the small crawl


    space led right in here and to nowhere else. The room was simple and square oddly it had a stereo


    system setup with speakers along the walls. She moved to the stereo and looked at the CDs there and


    shook her head. She didn''t know how these things got here but they did.


    She tested the walls and found one to be a false wall that opened to a closet with different gowns and


    suits. Sheughed a little, this closet had no exit. She looked at some of the intense looking gowns that


    had to be years old but in pristine condition.


    There were far more modern ones as well and some she would never have dared to wear in public.


    She looked at the tuxes and dress clothes for men. The shelf above had hats and gloves and she took


    one that reminded her of the gangster hats in the fifties. She put on a tie letting it hang loose and tipped


    the hat, she grabbed a pair of shoes from the floor. It took her a bit to find one that fit her. In the end


    she found a pair of closed toed shoes with high heels on them.


    She put them on and grabbed a cane from the closet and feeling that she should make the most of her


    time, she went to the stereo and put in a CD at random. She let it y and moved to the panel with the


    crawl space. Out in the other room the music couldn''t be heard. She went back in and twisted one of


    the speakers that led her right into a hall. No sound out here either.


    She went back in the room and put in a CD she knew and danced to it. A solo routine she''d learned


    long ago and enjoyed. After it was done she moved back to the closet and pulled out different dresses


    and tried them on. Looking in the full length mirror there. This was fun, and she''d always loved dresses


    but no where to wear them.


    "Not bad." She said standing in a tight midnight blue evening gown that fit to her body like a glove. It


    hugged her chest making it look bigger than it was and the soft re to her hips. A slit in the dress went


    all the way up to her hip.


    "To bad I don''t like to show my butt." She said swishing the back of the dress to show skin. She gave a


    laugh and took it off, pulling out a few others and trying them on. She couldn''t get the ball gown toce


    up in the back all the way but it was a gold color and made her hair very dark. She tried a pink dress


    that was so short she didn''t think that she could sit or bend without exposing herself. She took it off and


    grabbed a white one.


    This one had a tie around the neck and the straps connected right to the part of the dress that covered


    her breasts. She tied it up and if she hadn''t had her bra on. She wasn''t sure how she would have even


    stayed in the dress. There was a lose tie around the waist and it had a kind of handkerchief bottom,


    though the front under skirt cut off mid-thigh and the back fell farther to the floor.


    ir was curious to see just how this dress would hold her without the bra so she reached back and


    took it off with a bit of work pulled it out from the dress and fixed it properly.


    "Eek, no quick movements I guess."


    She turned in the mirror and looked at the back. It cut down in a v to her lower back. It was a pretty


    dress but one she didn''t think she could ever wear. She picked up her bra and turned looking at the


    other dresses. Facing out into the room she sighed and undid the dress she wore. Putting on her bra


    she grabbed the hanger and put it back up.


    She touched several of the other ones there, which one, which one? The music was still ying and


    she sang along to the song that was going. What she was doing was strangely fun and made her feel


    very light.


    "Just one more and then food." Maybe she''d go in the dress just for fun. Why not, right now was her


    chance to feel safe. To feel good for once in what felt like forever.


    There was a ck one that she pulled out made of a soft material and another rather clingy one. She


    put it on and it was very nearly see through. Most the dress on the bottom hung to one side. The dress


    coming all the way up to mid-thigh. It had a tight part for the upper chest and no straps, she turned in a


    slow circle.


    "Think I like that blue one." She said and took it off pulling on her normal clothes. She was going to the


    kitchen to cook herself a meal, a real one, and was going to sit down and eat it like a normal person.


    Not shoving it in her face.


    ___Isaiah___


    Isaiah watched through the one way mirror as ir left the closet. He''d chanced upon her moving


    through the passageway. He''de to a sudden halt as he''d glimpsed the movement. She stood there


    in nothing but her underwear sorting through the dresses.


    He''d decided right then to stay and watch her. He''d leaned back against the wall his arms folded, nails


    biting into his arms, digging into skin. At one point, he was pretty sure he drew blood, but didn''t look


    down to see.


    The sight of her slender body in those garments and how she moved in them... A woman made to wear


    such tight fitting things. If he''d only been able to touch her. He''d have gone right in that closet and


    dragged her to the floor. As it was he continued to shift as his body grew hard and ufortable. The


    most he saw of her was when she undressed.


    He had a growing irritation at the small bits of material that covered her without the gowns. Any time


    she removed her bra she always put it back on not facing the mirror. He wondered if she was ashamed


    of her body. He couldn''t see how she possibly could be.


    He moved now as she left through the wall and out into the hall behind him. He turned the corner as


    she disappeared around the opposite corner herself, he went into the room. The scent of her thick in


    the air. He moved to the closet and her scent was strongest here. He nced at himself in the mirror,


    his eyes were dark, very dark, but not solid ck yet.


    Isaiah had decided that he didn''t much care for ir in the normal clothes that she wore. He wanted


    her in these garments. The ones that hugged her body and offered a glimpse of soft expanses of flesh.


    He moved from the closest, memorizing the ones he''d liked most on her. Then he went to the hall and


    followed where she had disappeared to.


    He followed down the hall at a slow pace. He felt others moving around a few of the rooms, and


    listened to what they were doing. He nced at the ceiling, Gustav was still alive. His mind hard to


    read but he was a maniptor. His ability to read minds was very helpful as well. Currently he moved


    swiftly down the hall in the opposite direction above Isaiah. The man was filling the heads of those that


    he could get to listen with ridiculous nonsense.


    There was a strong smelling from the direction of the kitchen. A smell that had never filled the


    house before. At least while he''d been here, it was the scent of human food cooking. Curious he


    moved down to the kitchen to see what it was.


    ___ir___


    ir didn''t make anythingplicated. Just shoved a frozen pizza into the oven. Then made noodles


    boiling them, and heating sauce in another pan. Alfredo sauce. She wondered how old the frozen pizza


    was. Couldn''t be that old seeing the hell hounds ate everything in the house once the humans were


    gone. She wondered why they would even bring something like that, but she was d at the moment.


    "Why they would think anyone would use this, oh well d it''s here." She felt a kind of warmth from the


    kitchen to her. It was happy to be being used. Just like the room she''d stumbled upon today.


    "You cook as well?" She jumped and grabbed the knife near her turning. "No need for that, can''t touch


    you." Isaiah said and she rxed a little. Yeah well he wasn''t the only one that might attack her. She


    didn''t trust the others in this house either.


    "I was taught to be self-sufficient."


    "Fascinating." ir didn''t want to take her eyes off of him, but she knew he had to keep his promise.


    She went in the cupboards looking for a strainer. She got one and set it in the sink. She stirred the


    sauce and then dumped the noodles.


    "Is there some reason you are here?" She asked looking over her shoulder to where he stood watching


    her, his eyes dark. What could he possibly want with her, when at the moment he could do nothing to


    her?


    "The pleasure of yourpany." She eyed him suspiciously, he gave her a smile that didn''t reach his


    eyes. "You, I am still trying to figure out." She took the sauce off the heat. He''d never watched a human


    prepare food before.''


    "I''m sure I''ll know when you do."


    "Will you?" He mused as she dumped therge amount of pasta he was sure she could not eat into a


    large bowl, and then the sauce over it.


    "Yes, I''ll be dead." He gave a lightugh at that.


    "And that is what perplexes me so. Ready for your death but fighting so hard against it."


    "How did you get stuck here?" She asked suddenly. "I mean why haven''t you ever tried to leave?" She


    asked curious as to how one like him got stuck in a house like this. It was clear that he wanted to leave,


    and he had to have been here for a long time. He was always willing to make a deal and she was


    wondering just what it would take to release him. If the price to help was her freedom too.


    "Oh I''d leave if I could, trust me. I made a promise that caused this to happen. I''m much more careful


    when I word the things I say now."


    "What will it take to free you? I don''t suppose it''s something anyone here can do." She stirred the


    noodles as she asked not looking at him.


    "I would have offered you your life if you could free me." Well, he probably wouldn''t kill the one that


    could free him as that one was permanently going to be bound to him. In exchange for his freedom


    they took being bound instead. They would be bound to him. Cause and effect, that''s how magic


    worked. How science worked too, kind of funny how close the two were and no one even knew it.


    Seeing Athena was the reason, it also had to be a woman. Not that that was aint to him.


    "What does it take?"


    "You don''t have what I need, so it doesn''t really matter. There is a very specific set of rules and


    requirements for my release and you arecking one very important one."


    "Oh." She sighed and grabbed a smaller bowl to put her pasta in to eat it. She moved back to the stove


    and opened it. It was a strong but notpletely disagreeable smell. She grabbed a te and moved


    to grab a knife. She cut the pizza and took a piece moving to the next room to the table there and sat


    down. A ss of milk already there, he followed her.


    "I thought I was free of you for three days."


    "Free of me doing anything to you. I''m allowed to be in any space of this house I wish." She took a bite


    of her food and he moved to the table sitting across from her. She seemed perfectly calm in his


    presence at the moment. So he would see just how calm she could remain with him here.


    "Are you waiting for my time to run out? Following me, that''s obsession."


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    "Perhaps." He responded. He noted that she still didn''t meet his gaze. She always fixed it to a spot


    near his shoulder or past him.


    "Over a human, who''s not worth much in the way of life ording to you."


    "This is true, but tell me ir, do you not value certain objects you own more than others? Not desire to


    use certain ones more often or more than once?"


    "Yes."


    "Your value at the moment is above the others in the house. It''s really your ticket to keep living."


    "Until you break your toy." He could hear a few moving in the kitchen and he understood now why she


    made more food than she was going to eat.


    "I hope not to break you too soon." She looked down at her food. "Why don''t you ever meet my gaze


    for more than a few seconds?" He asked suddenly annoyed. He wanted to know what she was


    thinking. See her reactions, but she hid her eyes from him and he couldn''t hear her mind.


    "Why do I need to?" She retorted, he looked at her bent head. He''d had more conversation with her


    than he''d ever had with anyone in years. It was nice in a way, different.


    "Because it annoys me that you don''t." He snapped not meaning to but he couldn''t very well take it


    back. He wanted to read her the way that he could others, but she was very hard in more ways than


    one.


    "Sorry for the inconvenience." she said in an almost snide tone. Different from her normal quiet and


    almost respectful manner.


    "Are we feeling a bit jaded, orfortable with your current condition?"


    "No, notfortable at all. The longer one has with their freedom the more you tend to forget that you


    are not truly free."


    "Very smart." He stood.


    "You don''t ever have to give a human the chance to live. Why do you?" This time her eyes met his. He


    was silent for a moment and felt a few urges rush up so he stood. Best to leave, he knew himself too


    well.


    "I get bored, and I like to y games. Goodnight ir." He said turning to leave, because he needed to


    leave her presence. Or do something he''d regret.


    "Goodnight Isaiah." He looked over his shoulder at her, but she wasn''t looking at him anymore. He


    didn''t know how to feel about her calling him by his name, it felt personal. He thought that he saw a


    slight smirk on her face.


    She was ying with him and he saw it right there. This was such a hard choice. He moved down the


    hall thinking. He could keep her around, enjoyment was hard to find as ofte. She provided him with a


    good amount during her time here. Unfortunately his desire was far more than his need to keep her


    around. He''d want her blood and when she failed he wouldn''t be able to stop himself. Isaiah gave a


    harsh sigh still thinking.

 Chapter 21: Unlucky Fighter

    Chapter 21: Unlucky Fighter


    ir moved around only for the first part of the next day, but Isaiah and the hell hounds were moving


    around a lot. She didn''t like the thought of the contract being up before she could get away. She went


    to her home not having been there in a few days and straightened it up. The day passed by and into


    the next and she was right back to hiding from Isaiah and the hounds.


    She knew this frustrated him to no end, but she took a kind of pleasure from thwarting him. It was


    getting harder to avoid him. She''d given up trying to go to the studio as she just didn''t feel right going


    there. She apologized to the house and it gave her a kind response as if it understood.


    Three days had passed since the end of her bargain. She was proud that she had managed to avoid


    Isaiah and the hell houndspletely. It was still a week to the full moon. The hounds weren''t as active


    anymore, and she was starting to hear less of them.


    Isaiah on the other hand seemed to be everywhere at once. She dreaded having to leave her home.


    She knew he was waiting to catch her. She kept no routine, never visiting the same ces. She''d


    needed something to upy her time and she''d found the library and taken the biggest books she


    could find to read. Which others were milling around in there, so she made it fast.


    ir was out of water today and needed more. She sighed and headed toward the bathroom closest to


    her to fill the bottles that she had. She did it quick and put them in the basket. She closed the grate


    feeling the presence of someone human. She didn''t trust those in the house and she didn''t want them


    to stumble on her going into the venting system. Then her secret would be known. She could feel they


    were about toe around the corner so she moved.


    ir went down the hall and into a secret passage way. She moved through it and was going to loop


    back now that she went up a level. She heard Gustav talking in a room next to her. He and a few others


    were making some n. She shook her head and kept moving, they didn''t give up did they? It was


    better to just face the facts. No one was leaving, they needed to figure out how to live here.


    She stepped over a loose board and was almost past the room where Gustav was hiding in and talking


    when the passage into the room opened. A woman stepped into the crawl space and blinked when she


    saw her. Clearly not expecting her. Neither of them were expecting to be seen. Simply pure chance as


    the woman had been leaving their little meeting in that room and chose the secret passage.


    "Here she is!" ir turned and bolted down the small space. Here she was? What the hell was that


    supposed to mean? ir wasn''t sticking around to find out because it was pretty damn obvious that


    they wanted ir for whatever reason. She didn''t think it was to simply hand over either with what they


    were talking about. Sounded more like a sacrifice, or bait. Yeah, no.


    "Grab her! We''ll use her to sacrifice so we don''t have to die!" ir was quicker than they were, and


    what the hell did they think killing her was going to aplish? The woman didn''t go over the loose


    board and fell through the ceiling. ir had a brief moment to think about that. Since when did the


    house have a loose board?


    There was a warm touch to her. Okay then perhaps it was a little bit more to that. The other two that


    came after her along with Gustav went over it. Why did it have to be this group she was still stuck with?


    Bunch of crazy brain fried druggies. She didn''t think that between all of them they had a whole brain.


    But they were obvious survivors havingsted this long.


    She went out a panel into a hall and hit something solid flipping over it. There was a yelp and she


    realized that she had tripped over Betaing out of the wall. Damn it, why did she have to have the


    worst luck when running? Her luck never held it seemed once she was in trouble.


    He looked at her and there was a sudden sharpness to his eyes. She moved back and he came at her.


    No doubt he would drag her to Isaiah or call to him. One of the men came out of the wall. A knife in his


    hand and lunged at Beta who hadn''t expected the other man. His focus having been on her. After all


    ir never stayed with a group, always alone.


    ir pointed but the man was fast and strong. The knife going into the side of Beta''s head and his


    eyes went nk as he crumpled to the floor. It was a damn good strike, and pure luck in ir''s opinion.


    "I got one!" That had been an incredible stroke of luck on the man''s part that Beta hadn''t reacted in


    time. Now they were in worse trouble with that stupid move. ir jumped up.


    "What the fuck is wrong with you!" ir shouted pulling the de out. "Do you know what will happen


    when the others find out! They probably already know! We''re going to be bloody chunks on the walls!"


    The man wasn''t paying attention to her as the other two came out.


    "Nice work, get her. We need her. She survived longest, the ritual will work and we can get out." ir


    threw the knife and it hit the man, who''d stabbed Beta, in the leg. She turned and ran down the hall and


    the other two were after her. She heard snarling down the hall and a scream.


    She thought it sounded like Zeta. ir looked at the chute in the room, and she''d never crawl into that


    fast enough. She chose the hidden door and went back into the walls. Gustav was right behind her and


    so was the other man.


    ir turned the corner and Gustav was a few steps behind her. She went to jump the hidden opening


    in the floor when Gustav managed to snag her shirt. Her right foot missed the beam she needed tond


    on and they crashed through the floor which really was a ceiling.


    Gustav''s heavier formnded on her driving the air from her lungs and pain exploded in her head and


    back. His elbow hade straight down on the top of her head. She nearly ck out, he rolled off of


    her and dragged her off the bed by the hair.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "Get down here!" He said and the other man jumped. ir punched Gustav in the stomach hard and


    wed him. He tossed her into the nightstand. The edge mming into her ribs, he pulled her away


    from it by her foot.


    "She''s a fighter." The other man said.


    "Fuck you." She snapped and pulled a flip knife from her jean pocket and stabbed him in the foot. He


    let out a loud scream of pain. Gustav kicked her in the back and she made a sound of agony as well.


    The other man dragged her up off the floor.


    "This better work Gustav, like I can run now with a knife in my foot."


    "It will." Gustav said and the man hit ir hard enough in the side of the head to knock her out. More


    pain than the elbow to the head this time before darkness consumed her vision. The man with Gustav


    put her over his shoulder and they moved quickly from the room, the man limping, ir''s weight wasn''t


    much and he was d for it.


    ___Isaiah___


    Isaiah stepped into the room that he''d heard people talking. He looked down at a sheet of paper with


    ritual writing on it. A tic worked in his jaw, those idiots. He''d find and kill them for sure. This ritual wasn''t


    going to work in the way they thought. Had he known they were going through those books in the


    library...


    The ritual would make him turn feral. They''d be free alright, free in death. All of them at once. He''d be a


    mindless creature until it waspleted. No, that he would not allow. Clearly they didn''t understand it


    at all. Messing with shit you didn''t understand was how people ended up worse off, or stuck like he


    was. He heard running in the wall and then a loud crash. Isaiah went into the passage and started


    down the hall. He heard a distant yelp and then a cry.


    He heard ir''s voice shouting at someone, "What the fuck is wrong with you!" She continued to shout


    at the man, but it sounded like they were moving. He had a bad feeling. He couldn''t feel Beta in the


    house at the moment. Well they''d just signed themselves to death, no games for them.


    He moved faster now and heard Gustav call out to go after her. Then he heard Zeta and the cry of a


    man. Isaiah came out in the hall and looked at the bloody mess, and Beta''s still form. Blooding


    from the side of his head.


    ¡®I have it.¡¯ Zeta said and Isaiah didn''t stop he just kept going. It cost him a few seconds to catch the


    scent and direction. As he was seeing in red right now with what was going on. He went into the room


    that ir and Gustav had, and went then into the passage. The sound of fighting came to him along


    with three voices. A cry of pain that was a woman''s.


    By the time he went down through the ceiling they were gone, and there was blood in the air not ir''s


    though. He moved from the room, there was a breeze in the hall and he saw that a window was open.


    That was smart the scent of them scattered. Not truly enough though. He nced at the window and it


    slid closed with a thought.


    He felt for the men he wanted, they were moving quick. Had already gone up to the third floor and were


    moving back along the house. Isaiah turned and went up the first flight of stairs. Alpha appearing and


    following him. If they had ir and did something to her, or killed her there was going to be serious


    destruction in this house for it. They would not take what was his from him. They had no right to deny


    him what he wanted.


    "I fear we will have no one left during the moon to y with." Alpha made a regretful sound. There were


    ten humans in the house right now including ir. He found the floor that he needed and once again


    the window here was busted open. But there was more than one way to track a person.

 Chapter 22: Caught

    Chapter 22: Caught


    "She''s waking." A man said and she tried to look around. Someone took her arm and was holding


    something in their hand. ir felt herself beingid down on a hard floor. She was feeling very


    disoriented.


    "This will keep her calm enough." She felt a sting in the crook of her arm and burning. She made a


    sound of pain and tried to jerk away. It felt a lot like a bee sting, what had happened again? Her


    memory started toe back slowly but now mixed with odd things. It was hard to tell how much time


    was passing.


    "He''sing!" Someone shouted into the room. The needle in her arm was removed.


    "We''ll save the rest forter. Lock it and leave her we have to go. There is no time. He''ll stop for her so


    we can scatter." Gustav said and there was a lot of movement in the room as at least four people


    scampered out. ir was starting to feel very tired and everything was kind of far away.


    It felt like she was just floating there on the floor. Her tongue glued to the top of her mouth, it wasn''t so


    bad. Nothing seemed to really matter at the moment. She could justy there and sleep. Sleep that


    sounded so good. She felt something though. Something angry and dark and it wasing toward her.


    Not so good she needed to leave. It meant something to her, and so she moved to sit up and the room


    spun. She gave a hystericalugh. Looking at her hands like they were new to her. Trying to clear her


    head, she moved to stand. She had to leave, she grabbed the bedpost her vision blurred and she was


    swaying on the spot. How did one walk again? Wow this was not fun, what had they stuck her with?


    The door to the room opened and someone was standing in the doorway. She blinked trying to make


    the figure out. She moved her hand from the post to rub her eyes but that was a bad move and her legs


    gave out. The floor rushed to meet her, but she felt a strong arm catch her around the middle. She


    smelled spearmint. In her head where she seemed trapped she knew this was bad. It was only Isaiah


    that smelled like that.


    Isaiah had tracked them down, ir''s scent he got just faintly. They would use her in their little ritual.


    He found the room and opened the door with his mind, and standing in the dark of the room was ir.


    Not exactly the one he expected to be standing there. Which told him something was wrong with her,


    plus the way she looked.


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    He could hear the others trying to get away as fast as possible. He smelled the scent of a drug in the


    room. Her arm that held the bedpost had blood trickling from it a clear needle mark. That was probably


    the worst thing he could have imagined them doing to her besides using her body.


    She couldn''t focus, and when she went to rub her eyes she nearly crumpled to the floor. He moved


    forward and caught her around the middle. He lifted her up as she couldn''t possibly walk. He set her on


    the bed for a second in a sitting position. He made her look at him, but it was obvious that she couldn''t


    focus long. The lights in the room went on and she winced, making an incoherent sound. Her eyes


    were dted and she smelled of the drug and the scent of another man was on her clothing.


    "ir do you know where they went?" If she knew it would save him time.


    "I..idona ill''mbet..no." He had no idea what she was trying to say, and he pulled the hair from her face.


    He could see red marks and the beginning of bruising on her temple and jaw. She took a deep breath


    and in a slurred tone but understandable he got what she was saying.


    "I don''t know, I didn''t kill beta."


    "He''s dead." Isaiah said both about the man who''d killed Beta and Gustav. He''d just polluted ir with


    drugs. He wanted to be able to taste her without such things. It was clear that she put up a fight and


    since she didn''t do it to herself, the anger was not at her. However he would still have to wait,


    aggravating to say the least.


    Isaiah picked her back up carrying her to a bathroom. Setting her down, so she could lean over the


    bathtub. And none too soon, she was violently sick a few secondster. Judging by her scent he didn''t


    think that there was that much in her system. That was good to know.


    It seemed that her body was trying to quickly flush it out, and she threw up twice more though it was


    mainly dry heaving. He turned on the water and let it run while he rummaged in the cab for


    something to use. He grabbed the cap of the mouth wash and used that to give her water.


    She drank it, though she half spit the first few out. He picked her back up as she was still unsteady and


    unfocused. Isaiah hadn''t pictured getting a hold of her like this, but he had her now and that was bad


    luck on her part. He liked the game they had yed, but he wasn''t that nice. Wasn''t going to let her go


    just because others had been the reason for him to get his hands on her.


    He moved with meaningful strides down the hall and then down a flight of stairs, Beta appeared. He


    looked rather miffed and scented the air looking at them both. Isaiah was shown what happened, ir


    had pulled the knife from his head. She hadn''t done anything to harm him. Besides the man that had


    was now dead.


    "Go find them. I''ll be there shortly." Beta moved off and Isaiah went up the ss staircase with ir.


    Her eyes closed at the moment and she wasying against him rather limply. The drug would have to


    work it course. He figured that it would take perhaps a couple of hours if that, to work it out from her


    system. He knew the house would help the process move faster.


    Moving into the room he walked over to where the wooden sliding doors were, and went up the couple


    steps that were there. He put one knee on the bed andid her near the middle. He knelt over her legs


    and made her sit up for a second. He took the shirt from her and bra, then let hery back taking the


    rest of her clothes. He didn''t want to deal with it or fight her on it when he came back.


    He kept his gaze on her face however because he had a few things to do before he came back here for


    her. Isaiah leaned over her and took hold of her hair turning her face toward him. Her eyes were slightly


    open and she was trying to focus. He knew that she''d pay attention. If she was not here when he came


    back, anger wasn''t going to cover what he felt. He made sure she knew it too. If he had to hunt her


    down again, he wasn''t going to look human when he did it. Trust him, no one wanted that.


    "If you leave this room ir. I will hunt you down without mercy. I''m not ying with you this time. I''ll


    drag you back here and first make you decide how I slowly kill the person of my choosing. You will


    watch. Then I will cause you so much pain you''ll beg for death, understood?"


    "Uh, huh." She said in her slurred voice, tears in her eyes. He knew she wouldn''t risk his threat and


    that was why he''d made it. Even if she was incoherent. He moved from her and to the door mming


    it.


    "You better not let this door open, or I''ll damage you again." He said to the house, and he wasn''t talking


    about the walls. He would go straight to the heart of this ce. The ind with the statue. He''d done it


    before trying to break it, obviously hadn''t won, but he had managed to cause it pain. The house walls


    had started to bleed.


    However he got a calming sensation. This part of the house was his. This section would do what he


    wanted and protect him more. Good that calmed him, she wasn''t getting aid this time. His eyes slid to


    ck, he found a chute and tossed her clothes down it. Then he searched for the hell hounds who''d


    found a few of the desired humans. This hunt was going to be vindictive. They touched and defiled


    what Isaiah wanted most.

 Chapter 23: Your Body or Your Life

    Chapter 23: Your Body or Your Life


    ir passed out with Isaiah''s words ringing in her head. Why was he being so harsh with them? Where


    had he taken her? She woke sometimeter, looking up. It appeared that the sun was about to set. Her


    head was a little sore but otherwise she felt okay.


    Everything that happened came back to her, well most of it. She recalled Isaiah taking her to a


    bathroom. That he''d told her not to leave this room. She sat up feeling a bit chilled and realized she


    had no clothes. She pulled the covers from therge bed and wrapped herself in them. She didn''t want


    to go looking in here for clothes.


    The bedroom area had arge four poster bed in it. Which was against one wall. The end facing the


    sliding wooden doors and the rest of the room. In here were two doors. One that went to a bathroom


    and the other a closet. The room past the bedroom area had a huge firece and a very long sofa in


    the center. The ceiling was mainly windows, and to her left was a door. The only one in the stone walls


    and to the right was a round alcove with window seats.


    ir moved over to them and sat down pulling her feet up and the nket closer to her. This room felt


    like Isaiah. It was where he stayed when nowhere else in the house. She knew without a doubt that this


    part of the house would act for him, not her. When she''d looked at the door, the oppressive feeling that


    hit her felt like a crushing weight. She knew she would regret trying to even touch the door. This part of


    the house was not her friend.


    She looked at the darkening grounds from her seat. From here the entire yard was visible toward the


    gravel road that brought people to their death. The mountains a backdrop. She thought to try and leave


    again. Inside she knew that if she did it would cause something far worse then she would face shortly.


    She''d rather face it head on, not like a coward. Besides, what was she waiting for anyways? Living a


    couple more days until he caught her again? Right now she didn''t want to feel like this anymore or


    trying. She wasn''t sure if it was all her, the drug or a mix.


    She heard the door open a short bitter as she was lost in her thoughts. She kept looking out the


    window. A helplessness settling in her. She didn''t think that she was going to be leaving this room alive.


    She closed her eyes for a moment pushing back the tears and anguish.


    She''d done so well and to now lose because someone had gotten a stupid idea in his head. It all just


    felt hopeless at that moment. No reason to prolong it she guessed so she hadn''t tried to run this time.


    Maybe it also had to do with whatever she''d been stuck with, but notpletely she knew it.


    ir finally turned her head and looked over to where Isaiah was standing. Near the end of the sofa


    farthest from her. He was watching her, from here she couldn''t tell if his eyes had color or not, but he


    didn''t feel upset or angry. More relieved, excited.


    "Come here ir." He spoke after a moment and she looked up at him.


    "If I say no?"


    "It''s your choice as to how I deal with you." ir kept the nket around her and stood, moving over to


    him. She stayed about five feet from him and looked at him. He pointed for her to move up the steps to


    the bedroom area and she turned, figuring she''d rather walk than be dragged.


    He followed behind her removing his shirt and dropping it. The top of his pants were undone but he


    didn''t take them off yet. ir turned looking at him, her gaze taking him in. Even if he''d been human


    she''d have had no hope of even trying to fight him. He was solid muscle, his arms chest and stomach


    defined by it. It was deceptive when he wore clothes as he looked to be more slender than he was.


    "I have a proposition for you ir."


    "It''s going to be thest one isn''t it?" She asked not wanting to be yed with. Not wanting any false


    hope no matter if it would make her feel better.


    "I guess to be fair. I already told you that this one has never been truly fulfilled. I''ve yet to meet one


    here that evenes close." Isaiah looked at her, she looked small and terrified with the nket


    wrapped around her hiding her body from view. He let her have the small moment to feel an illusion of


    safety. As it was clear she was ready to face her end.


    "Then what is it you''d have of me?" She asked and he stepped forward and took hold of her chin,


    forcing her face up to look at him. She didn''t flinch away and she looked at him. There was this real


    deeper excitement he felt at how her gaze met his. She didn''t look truly afraid in that moment. Maybe


    anxious nor did she flinch from his touch. She was something.


    "I want you ir. I could have you without giving you anything but I feel that an incentive makes it


    better. Drop the nket ir." She hesitated for a moment and let go of it. This allowed him to step


    closer to her, and there was panic in her eyes then but also a cold determination. He lowered his head


    his cheek brushing hers as he moved his mouth next to her ear. He inhaled just for a moment to take


    her scent in.


    "If you can fully satisfy me ir I will give you one week free of me and mine. Immunity from any real


    harm we might cause you. You would be free to go anywhere in the house that you please. Take or do


    anything you please from it."


    "So much for one thing." She said with an unsteady voice. "And all I have to do is give myself to you.


    Let you do to me as you please to my body?" She didn''t know what she could possibly do differently


    than any other before her, but there wasn''t much of a choice. Either she took it, or she didn''t have a


    chance no matter how slim. Obviously they were talking sex. She was not experienced in it, she had no


    idea what he was expecting.


    "Yes." He felt the anticipation build in his body. He didn''t doubt that she would do a very good job in


    pleasing him, just notpletely. She would let him do what he wanted, or what he told her. He was


    sure of it. That other part of him, what he really was, was impossible to satisfy it seemed. It just didn''t


    like any of the females. It had found Athena pleasing, but she fit the bill perfectly. ir felt very simr


    yet different. So his inhuman side was paying attention.


    "Okay." She said feeling tears choking her. She was going to let him use her so she could live. So she


    could have a few moments of peace. God how she wished to be anywhere but here. Anywhere but this


    moment in time where she felt that she had finally sunk to her lowest. She never thought she''d say yes


    to a man like this, that was for sure.


    He turned his head slightly bringing his mouth closer to her lips. He removed his pants stepping from


    them. His mouth moving to hers and tasting the sweet tang of it. He lifted his mouth looking at her, she


    met his gaze briefly. He slid his hands up her sides for a moment feeling the smooth curve before back


    more to her hips.


    Isaiah lifted her, dropping her to the bed anding over her. She scooted back and he followed over


    her. His gaze moved over her body. He gripped her left hip, stopping her from moving anymore. He


    brought his gaze back up to hers. His desire to have her was so strong he honestly didn¡¯t know why


    her.


    She took a deep breath for a second. He saw that it affected her as well. Good, the more willing she


    was, the better it was for both of them. He couldn¡¯t honestly remember ever feeling so aroused by


    another. No thought to it, and it was so very exciting to him.


    ir felt his desire, she pulled it to her so she would have something to hold onto. To focus on and


    make her body respond. She was very d for her talent to sense what others were feeling. She let it


    affect her this time. It was strong, his want, need, and arousal. It was shocking in its intensity enough


    that her own body responded to it. She didn''t expect him to feel that excited or aroused by her. She


    wasn''t special and it wasn''t like he couldn''t do this to anyone. She was sure he wasn''t deprived,


    probably did this to a good number of women. That this was just another game to him, but the feel


    around him said otherwise.


    She didn''t know what to expect from him. He wouldn''t really care what she was feeling inside or how


    her body did. Just that it was her he was taking. He brought his mouth close to hers. ir met his gaze


    this time because it was something he wanted. Whatever he wanted, silent or not, she was going to do


    she decided. She had to satisfy his fantasy, not hers. It help to arouse her body pulling his need into


    her.


    "Spread your legs for me." He said so she did as he asked. He crushed his mouth to hers as he


    mmed his body into hers. ir cried out into his mouth in pain. She hadn''t expected such a sharp


    slicing and burning pain. It hurt horribly. He was arge man and she wasn''t exactly one hundred


    percent aroused. More scared than anything else. He was clearly a zero to sixty kind of person and


    there was a slight groan into her mouth from him.


    However she forced herself to rx. Forced her body to respond. She tried to push that pain to the


    side. It was hard, but she again focused on his desire and used that to make her body rx. Nothing


    that he did not want and she kept her senses feeling what he desired. He reached a hand between


    them touching her near where they were joined and she jumped. An unexpected moaning from


    her. She felt his joy from that, along with her own body''s reaction which she was d for. Fighting it


    would just make it worse.


    Isaiah pulled his body from hers slowly. His mouth moving over hers like he was starved for the taste of


    her. He brought his body back into hers rather forcefully but not as harshly as the first time. ir


    couldn''t help but gasp as he did this. He''d moved his body from hers again slowly and mmed back


    into her. Her muscles gripping him tightly. She closed her eyes for a moment trying to ignore the pain


    that was still there. Trying to change the feelings in her. She felt herself tensing again so she rxed


    which helped a bit.


    He raised his head looking down at her his eyes ck. He wanted to watch her. So she didn''t look


    away from him. His body moving faster in hers. She felt the need to touch him suddenly. She was


    aware that justying there wasn''t going to satisfy him the way he probably wanted. ir moved


    slightly, bending one leg holding it against his side. She took his one hand and moved it down to the


    side of her thigh. Her mouth moving over the front of his neck softly. Not needy or desire filled. Just


    feather light to the side of his neck.


    His fingers dug into her thigh immediately holding her to him instead of the other way around then. His


    grip was harsh, and just added to the thick hard feel of him inside of her, using her. She let out a very


    soft moan. Her hand moved up his chest to the side of his neck opposite of where her mouth skimmed.


    She slid her tongue up the side of his neck just like he''d done to her so long ago. He clearly liked it with


    the response she got. The bite of his nails and the way he started to move his body in hers again.


    She could feel how tight the muscles in his shoulders were. His body slid against hers holding her


    tighter to him. She bit her lip slightly for a second. He was so forceful and intense, but a twisted part of


    her was starting to take pleasure from it. Her body really was starting to respond now. Her breathing


    odd and the harder feel of his body against her brought an awareness into her that she hadn''t had


    before. She felt a thick wet rush and she was so happy for it. It let this feel better for her, let him slide


    even more into her.


    ir''s mouth moved to the side of his neck again. Her tongue lightly swirling over the steady pulse in


    his throat. He drove into her harder pinning her hips down. A dark sound deep in his throat. ir lightly


    bit the side of his neck. She didn''t know if she did right or wrong, but his hands came up and mmed


    her down to the mattress. She just did what she felt she should, what she felt he''d want. It was what


    she was to do right? She stared up at him, her already fast beating heart mming against her ribs


    now at his look.


    He pulled out of her and gripped her hips with both of his hands. ir dug her nails into his shoulder as


    he took her body again with deep hard strokes. Really deep, it felt like he was in the back of her throat.


    She gave a cry as her body responded of its own gripping him.


    He lowered his head and his mouth moved over her neck this time. The scrape of his teeth made her


    body react. Her body felt like a tight coil, and her womb clenching. What scared her most was that if


    she didn''t feel the initial pain there she would enjoy this. She''d really enjoy this. The pain was starting


    to be easier to ignore. The feel of his stronger body along hers was stimting and felt good.


    Isaiah wanted to taste her so bad. He couldn''t drink from one he''d made a promise with unless they


    said it was okay as it was direct harm. Her body was so tight. It gripped him hard, milking him as he


    rode her. She moved her hips encouraging him on. She felt so damn good. So right below him like she


    fit there, and he enjoyed it immensely. Her slick hot channel just grew more so. Growing wet and


    clearly bagging him to use her. This was what he''d been craving.


    The rest of her was soft like a woman should be. He couldn''t help the way that he gripped her. Didn''t


    feel like he could move fast enough nor get deep enough and it was maddening. Her body was a


    perfect haven to m his into. Her sweet little gasps or moans were music to his ears. He could tell by


    the way she started to rx, how she spread her legs just a bit more she was enjoying this.


    His teeth scraped across her neck. Her moan caused his gut to clench. His body just swelled a bit


    more. She made the softest sounds, each time he entered her forcing her to take all of him. It was


    pleasing to hear and her body was so sweet. His own felt like it was nearly in pain it was so aroused.


    He was really close to releasing in her. He bit lightly at her throat, but didn''t break the skin. There was a


    sharp anger in him. How he wanted, how he should be able to. He wanted every goddamn part of ir,


    hated that he couldn¡¯t. One hand dug into her and the other up by her head nearly tearing into the bed.


    "Isaiah," She gasped out. "Taste me." She gasped and for a moment he couldn''t believe his ears. He


    didn''t think that he''d heard her right. The fact that she seemed to know surprised him slightly, but what


    did it really matter? She was giving a yes.


    "Do it, take what you want from me. I belong to you don''t I?" It sounded like tears in her voice but at the


    same time pleasure. He brought one hand over, tipping her head back. His hand cupped behind her


    neck and his thumb moving over the pulse on the other side of her throat from his mouth.


    "Every part of you ir." He said breathlessly to her.


    He bit into her and he felt her tense but she didn''tin or pull away. In fact she held his head to


    her with one hand. Hot blood filled his mouth, and she cried out arching against him. He moved an arm


    to hold her body like that, pressed tightly to him. Her reaction was incredibly satisfying. He loved the


    feel of her body pressed up along his. Her hips pressed harshly to his and her soft breasts against his


    chest. She was a perfect little female in his opinion. Her body gripping his like tight silk just added to it.


    He wanted more and he wasn''t even finished with her yet.


    Isaiah felt her body ripple around him as she came. Her tight slick heat already wet and gripping him so


    nicely grew more so. Nearly painfully tight, and he felt the first wave of his orgasm. His human side was


    sated by hering for him. But he was still hard. Still in need but his movements slowed slightly. She


    really did feel amazing to him, more so than any other had.


    He raised his head because he couldn''t take anymore of her rich sweet blood than he had without


    crossing a line yet. He felt the need to stop. That he wouldn''t get much more from her. He was so used


    to this being where it ended and no matter what he did or tried he''d be left with the hard on. Besides,


    the thought of taking the rest of her life into him made him feel like he just might tip over the edge


    again. So maybe draining her of life would. If just once he could have it. He''d take it any way he could


    get it. He slowed his movements nearly stopping.


    "No." ir said rather forcefully. She gripped his hair tightly nearly painfully. Her mouth was near his


    ear and he let out a low warning sound. He''d never had one suddenly do that, or be aggressive with


    him. It caused a sharp anger in him. Like she had a say or was in control. She was here to do what he


    wanted. She clearly needed to be reminded of her ce.


    "I''m not satisfied. Stop and we both know it''s you not me." Her voice was haughty and his nails sliced


    into the bed. He wasn''t the one who was supposed to please, she was. ir wanted to learn a lesson


    did she? He took hold of her hip lifting her. Moving a little faster again at her voice. He didn''t like the


    tone she used. She didn''t decide what he did or how. She''d please him how he saw fit.


    "It doesn''t matter what you want. You are here to please me." He hissed his words. He felt wound far to


    tight and she felt so amazing below him. He wondered just how hard he could take her. Use her without


    breaking her. The thought made his body painful and the craving just got worse.


    "So? I don''t think you can truly make me scream with pleasure. I haven''t yet." ir kept her tone t


    like she could care less. Like what he did didn''t matter. Inside though she was torn. She felt like she


    was up on the highest high. Her body was in pain and pleasure at the same time. Felt like another knot


    was forming low in her stomach.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    He was being very aggressive now. He felt more than she could take to be honest. She felt less than


    whole at the moment but if he stopped it was over. She felt the part of him that was far different at the


    surface. That was the part she knew she needed to please. He took hold of her hair and pulled her


    head back to stare at her. His head was just above hers, his eyes like ck ss.


    "You''ll scream, be it pleasure or pain." He wasn''t nice about taking her. Not that he''d been before but


    even less so now. The tips of his nails dug into her. Holding her there so he could take her fully each


    time like a mad man. Demanding didn''t describe the way he brought his body into hers.


    ir felt her body building in pleasure, yet torn with the pain of it. He was rough, she reached behind


    her to take hold of one wrung on the head board as she nearly slid into it. ir really did cry out this


    time from her orgasm. She didn''t think you could be in this kind of pleasure and pain at the same time.


    He lowered his head to her ear.


    "Louder." He demanded and her stomach clenched. She moaned slightly, feeling tears.


    "I can''t... I can''t even breathe." She couldn''t, not with the way he brought them together. He was


    marking her in a way she hadn''t been before. She''d never forget the feeling of him against her or in her


    she knew it.


    "Louder!" He snapped in her ear and he lifted her lower body from the mattress. She tipped her head


    backing again she felt hot tears run down her face but she called out. Crying out his name. He''d


    grabbed the wrung she held just above her hand and he gripped it so hard that it snapped.


    He fully buried himself in her and she felt hime again. There was a tightness to his body. After a


    moment a slight shiver going down his spine. His muscles rxing a bit. He was breathing harshly and


    so was she. He dropped his head slightly and brought one hand to her hair gripping it for a second


    painfully, while burying his face in it with what sounded like a growl. After a moment he gave a slight


    almostugh and raised his head.


    "You have yet to disappoint me ir." She closed her eyes at the words. They were a relief to hear yet


    made her feel depressed at the same time. He moved so he was fully over her.


    "Look at me." He said darkly and she opened her eyes slowly.


    Isaiah had never felt so good in his life. Not even with Athena the only other woman to fully sate him,


    and she had been very good. Athena had been well versed in how to please a man. ir was in a


    league of her own to him though. His body was in a state of pure bliss. There was just something about


    ir. Something inside of her that clearly spoke to him. He was going to keep her for some time so


    long as she continued to serve him so well.


    "Have I earned my life?" She asked almost sadly.


    "Yes you have." He said looking at the bright red mark on her neck a slight bruise to it. He didn''t want to


    release her just yet though. No, not now that he realized what she could do. He had a lot of ideas in his


    head.


    "Give me another hour with you and I''ll give you two weeks." He could see that she was torn, and it


    looked like she might decline. If she asked to go he would have to let her right now. He found that her


    hesitancy made him crave her even more.


    "I don''t..."


    "Three weeks." He cut her off, and she closed her mouth. She was silent for a moment.


    "Okay." She said and he lowered his head to trace his tongue over the salty tears that stained her


    cheeks. He leaned up and pulled his body from hers. His hands moving a little lower to rest on her hip.


    He moved his gaze studying her. The shape of her and the marks that he left. He couldn''t pick any


    other word but satisfied. It was how he felt looking at her, utterly andpletely. He brushed his fingers


    over the slope of her breast and then slowly down her stomach. She felt a shiver go through her as he


    did so.


    "Tell me ir, how many have used your body?" He asked. He felt a darkness shift inside him. In his


    opinion one was to many. She belonged to him. He''d have to wipe the traces of them from her. He''d


    more than enjoy doing it too. How many she had use her would tell him just how many times she


    needed to be marked or taught a lesson.


    She flushed and looked away from him. That didn''t bode well he thought, and the knowledge just made


    him more angry. He didn''t care if it happened before here. His inhumane side saw what was his. Which


    meant that was always how it should have been.


    "How many have you let fuck you ir?" He asked moving back over her, a hand on the side of her


    throat. His thumb moving over the front of it nearly pressing down. He felt her swallow and steady


    herself to answer him.


    "I''ve..." She started and sounded a bit angry but then her voice dropped to a soft whisper. "I''ve never let


    anyone have my body before." And she never wanted to again, it hurt so bad. Now that the pleasure


    was gone. She just wanted to curl up andy there. Yet she''d said yes, she was going to let him do it


    again.


    He made a deep satisfied sound. His mouth brushing the corner of hers. Isaiah looked down at her,


    and the sheets of the bed were ck. Still he could now smell the blood and it was no small amount. To


    be honest he hadn''t paid attention at all, why would he? Obviously he wasn''t exactly the nicest or most


    caring creature. He shifted a bit lower to really look at her.


    There was some blood on her legs, but he''d been rather rough with her. Which could cause it too. Not


    just because she hadn''t. She would be in pain right now and the fact that she wasn''t saying anything or


    comining, that she''d pleased him through it. He''d give her something in return. Though it was slightly


    selfish as well he guessed.


    Isaiah reached down and touched her, two of his fingers sliding into her. She bit her lip and a few silent


    tears slid down. He didn''t think she would be able to please him in the next hour if she was in pain. So


    he eased it and she gasped suddenly.


    ir felt something like ice touching her. She jumped but he held her where she was. It grew colder


    and she felt his fingers moving slightly. After a minute or so he withdrew them. The cold feeling leaving


    her, but it had felt good and soothing at the same time. Enough that it made her bite her lip because it


    had started to feel arousing, and her body reacted. He had a darker kind of smile too knowing that


    she''d started to respond. She just looked away from him.


    "You are going to be sore but not intolerably so." He moved from the bed and opened a drawer of the


    dresser. He pulled out a shirt there. Long sleeved and came over to her. He twisted it up and she


    moved watching him.


    "Put your wrist together." She did as he asked and he tied them tight and then to the post of the head


    board.


    "I don''t trust you not to run off. I will return shortly for my hour."


    "I won''t leave." She promised as she was kneeling there. He gripped her hair and brought his mouth


    close enough to brush her lips.


    "I like the thought of you tied to my bed. You will remain so until I deem it unnecessary." One of his


    hands slid between her legs as he kissed her touching her. She gave a sharp inhale and tensed for a


    moment. He let go of her and put on a pair of pants and nothing else.


    "You are a beautiful woman ir." He said looking at her. She had a bit of that fire in her eyes again.


    He liked seeing it. So much better than some mindless drone, or hollow shell.


    "Thank you. I guess that adds to my value." Her tone a bit darker and sarcastic.


    "It helps." He answered. "I will return shortly." He said and left her tied there to his bed, waiting for him


    toe back. She needed a moment, before he had her again. The hell hounds told him that they had


    caught the prey he''d told them to find. A quick distraction and he''de right back here to enjoy


    her.

 Chapter 24: Learning a Lesson

    Chapter 24: Learning a Lesson


    Isaiah went to where he had heard Zeta call from not a minute ago. Before going to ir he''d tracked


    down Gustav''s group. He was no longer in the mood to let them keep living. Not with what they had


    tried to do and poisoned ir with. Lucky for them the house and its magic helped her, but Isaiah was


    not the forgiving kind. All but Gustav had been taken care of. He knew the sound meant that they''d


    found him and Isaiah was more than ready to be rid of the human.


    He went down the hall and then turned to go up the stairs. He was on the roof now and moved with an


    easy stride to where the three hell hounds had Gustav standing near the edge of the house. He saw


    Isaiah walking toward him and he looked panicked. Isaiah on the other hand felt remarkably good, and


    rxed. A great amount of tension had been let out of him with the use of ir, and the promise of


    being able to do it again. He knew she wouldn''t risk failing an agreement with him and the room


    wouldn''t let her out. So he had the time to take care of this human trash.


    Zeta moved aside making room for him and he faced Gustav who had one foot behind him like he


    might jump. It would be his way of control to do that. He wasn''t going to allow his life to end in any way


    other than his choosing. From this high up he would probably die hitting the ground. Ornd in the


    garden, so the house didn''t try to stop him.


    "I''m surprised you managed to stay alive so long.'''' Isaiah said to him and nced at the drop to the


    ground. Gustav''s dark hair was matted and his brown eyes darted around. Unkempt and looking like a


    stray animal hoping for an escape.


    "I have strong survival instincts."


    "Or you just put others in front of you. I doubt you''d actually fight when push came to shove. Unless


    they were weaker than you. What happened to your nose?" Isaiah asked, it was crooked and slightly


    discolored.


    "I was hit in the face by that slip of a woman you''ve been looking for." He answered. "Tried to get her


    for you, but she was a bit wild." Isaiah raised an eyebrow. Who did he think he was fooling?


    "Tell me Gustav, do you like when someone messes with your property? Do you enjoy finding what


    belongs to you in worse condition than what you left it in?"


    "No, I don''t." He said. He was still hoping for an escape. Isaiah could practically hear his heart


    pounding from here. The hell hounds were just sitting staring and waiting for themand to attack.


    "I should thank you. It was very hard to get a hold of ir. However I did not enjoy the fact that you


    tainted her with drugs. Second, we both know you weren''t keeping her for me." Gustav swallowed


    noticeably.


    "We had to keep her calm, she was kicking and screaming and we didn''t want them to show up." He


    gestured at the hell hounds, "and you have her now I''m assuming."


    "You''re missing my point. She wasn''t in the condition I left her in, and you were nning on doing away


    with her." Isaiah felt extreme irritation at the man.


    "Wouldn''t you want to find a way out if our positions were reversed?"


    "But they aren''t so I don''t see a point to the question. However I do like a good game." He said taking a


    few steps forward and Gustav stepped up on the ledge.


    "I''m not going to die like the others." He nearly shouted and teetered on the edge for a moment. Isaiah


    tipped his head to the side looking at him and smiled coldly. The man didn''t really want to die. Isaiah''s


    entire existence had been made to sense and help death. But desperate people did desperate things.


    "You don''t have to die at all if you manage what I ask." Isaiah said and Gustav edged along the ledge.


    The hell hounds just watched him as Isaiah walked alongside of him. Their heads moving in perfect


    harmony watching the man like a scurrying bug.


    "What''s that?" He asked stopping when Isaiah took a few steps ahead of where he was edging to.


    "Read my mind, tell me what you see." He looked at him.


    "That isn''t a game, you know I can''t."


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    "I''ll let you in." Isaiah supplied with a twitch of a smile.


    "Just have to read it?"


    "Yes." He said, eyeing him at the strange request. He still didn''t see how that was a game at all. If he


    knew anything, nothing was as it appeared with Isaiah. However it seemed like a simple thing he''d just


    have to be careful.


    "Okay, easy enough." Wrong, Isaiah knew what looking into his mind would do to a human. His mind


    didn''t work like a human''s and there were things there that no human couldprehend. The ce


    that he had existed before being brought here. A ce where energy was a living thinking being.


    Where pain and pleasure were a mix of one. The same with wonder and horror. He was not going to be


    able to reallyprehend what Isaiah''s mind could.


    Isaiah felt the moment Gustav''s mind brushed his and he just let the man in. At first the human images


    showed. Things that Gustav could understand. Though like a thick ink, what he really was spread over


    that trapping Gustav''s mind in it. What a creature of death and destruction was and it gripped Gustav''s


    mind like a steel vice not letting go and enjoying the pain as he was trapped mentally for the moment


    unable to find his way out.


    Gustav''s body went slightly limp. Isaiah reached forward to stop him from going over the edge, not just


    yet. The hell hounds were no longer on the roof but just below as Isaiah had told them to go when he


    started the attempt to read Isaiah''s mind. Gustav was screaming in his head and only Isaiah could hear


    it. Screaming at the things he saw, and chaos no human could hope to understand. A thin line of blood


    rolled from the corner of the man''s eye before more came from his nose. Isaiah released him mentally


    and their eyes met for a moment.


    "Well?" Isaiah inquired and Gustav''s mouth couldn''t form words for a moment. He found it funny, did


    the man realize just how small and insignificant he really was?


    "I..." It was the only thing he seemed able to say. There was a strong wind and a sound of thunder


    came from not far away. Isaiah looked up, and then back down at Gustav.


    "Have you learned your lesson about defiling others'' property?" Isaiah asked, his eyes ck. His grip


    on the man''s shirt was harsh. To think they''d have done worse. That they''d have taken ir''s life


    before he could realize just how well she could serve him. It pissed him off that nearly missed chance.


    "Yes, yes I''ll never do it again."


    "Good." Isaiah let go of him and since his weight was mostly behind him he toppled over the side.


    Isaiah looked down. Gustav let out a cry and part of the fencing below stuck through his shoulder and


    one calf. The hell hounds were moving toward him. Looked like he was lucky, the fence broke his fall.


    Isaiah felt humor and a half smile on his face as he called down to the hounds.


    "Help our friend down would you? Don''t be too kind. I don''t think he''s really learned his lesson." Isaiah


    turned walking away from the edge as Beta''s jaws mped on Gustav''s arm pulling. His screams of


    pain and terror grew more as the others joined to pull him from the fence.


    The sounds were silenced as Isaiah entered the house and the door closed the roof off. One problem


    was taken care of and he had at least one hour to do as he pleased with ir.

 Chapter 25: Living With a Choice

    Chapter 25: Living With a Choice


    ir''s hands gripped the sheets in front of her. Isaiah''s arm around her waist, his breath against her


    ear. She was shaking slightly. He took a deeper breath pulling her scent into his lungs and closed his


    eyes for a moment. He felt an almost purr in the back of his throat at how he was feeling and his scent


    mark hers. He reached up and bunched her hair slightly in his hand just gripping the thick mass for a


    moment.


    Isaiah pulled his body from her slowly savoring the feel. ir bit her lip slightly. She was sore and tired.


    She just wanted toy down, he hadn''t allowed her one second since he''de back. However his


    hour was up and she was d for it. She wasn''t going to give him more, even if he asked. She just


    couldn''t. Even if he offered her a year she didn''t have another hour in her.


    Though her body had enjoyed itself more than she thought. She didn''t know how she felt about it to be


    honest. She guessed inside she just felt numb. ir stood up, wishing to grab something to pull around


    her. It was just the sense of security that she wanted. She didn''t want to let him look at her anymore.


    He got a hold of her chin and made her look up. She only met his gaze for a second before looking


    over his shoulder.


    "Lay down ir before you fall down." He told her letting go of her jaw, and she felt the amusement


    from him. A satisfied amusement. What would he do if she just smacked him? It was no harm right? No


    real harm, she just pursed her lips for a moment, to many loop holes. She was sure he left himself one.


    "What if I don''t want to here?" She said defiantly. He''d moved toward the end of the bed and looked at


    her. His gaze sliding down her body and then raised an eyebrow knowingly.


    "The door is right there." He said pointing to it, but she saw the challenge there. He''d wait just to see


    what she did. ir didn''t trust her legs to allow her a quick or graceful escape so she turned around


    half sitting on the bed. He gave a kind of smile moving toward the bathroom.


    "Didn''t think so." She narrowed her eyes. Fuck him.


    ir waited till he disappeared around the corner before she reached down and grabbed the shirt


    there. She slipped it on and moved to grab the nket on the floor. She managed to walk over to the


    sofa with steady feet. Sheid down on it wrapping the nket around her. She didn''t hear him move,


    but she sensed him.


    "You amuse and annoy me ir." He said and she closed her eyes. She was staying right where she


    was. Too tired to move, too tired to care.


    "I''ve done as you asked, now I will do as I please. That was the deal." She said. She knew that he was


    most likely watching her but she didn''t care. She was tired, exhausted and hurt, both physically and


    emotionally.


    Isaiah looked up. Rain wasing down rather hard now. He couldn''t remember when it had started.


    He''d been far to focused on ir. For now he would let her have her little retreat. He himself was tired.


    He thought back to when he had sleptst. A few days ago if he remembered right.


    He slipped on a pair of pants and moved back over to where iry on the sofa, he stared at her for a


    moment. Then he moved over, leaned against the wall and watched her. Studying her. He saw the


    moment that she truly slipped unconscious. Her body going from tense to ck. She was out cold after


    a couple minutes of deep breathing. His head tipped to the side and his gaze was ck for a second


    taking in ir still form.


    Isaiah moved over to stand looking down at her. He thought for a moment. He decided he wasn''t done


    with her yet and reached down and picked her up. She was far beyond exhausted he thought. She


    didn''t even stir when he picked her up. Heid her on the bed pulling the nket from her. Her head fell


    to the side a hand moving to meet it. She frowned in her sleep, he noted the shirt that she had put on.


    She was determined to hide herself from the world and him, unless forced not to. He tossed the


    comforter up to let ite back down on her.


    Itnded cockeyed but he didn''t really care. It was over her as she wanted and he''d told her she could


    have whatever she wanted. He could just manipte it depending on the want or desire, and he could


    touch her still. He worded everything he said very carefully. It was all in the way you phrased it, your


    intention behind it. He didn''t give her full immunity, just immunity from real harm. So anything life


    threatening really as he looked at it. Plus she hadn''t verbally said she wanted anything at the moment.


    So he wasn''t breaking any promise.


    Isaiah moved onto the bed over ir looking down at her. He made a frustrated sound and then moved


    to fall next to her. He looked up as a sh of lightning went through the sky. Exactly how he felt, the


    weather was perfect. He''d given her three weeks of technical freedom. More than any other, but it didn''t


    matter so much to him. He could still get what he wanted from her.


    He turned facing her and with one arm pulled her against him nket and all. He liked the feel of it, she


    was something he''d had to work hard to get, and probably still would. He didn''t see a reason to dispose


    of her. he just wasn''t sure after her three weeks if he''d really give her anything else now knowing both


    sides of him could enjoy her.


    ___ir____


    ir woke, the room was a dull grey color at the moment. She sat up and heard the sound of rain


    above her. She was alone in the room. She didn''t know where Isaiah was, and thought it best to leave


    before he showed up. She got down off the bed and winced slightly. She was sore everywhere but her


    hips hurt most of all.


    She moved to the mirror in the room and turned to the side looking at herself raising the shirt slightly.


    She had dark bruising around her sides and on her hips. She could make out the impression of his


    hand on her left side, but just barely. It was healing and she wondered what that looked like several


    hours ago. At least he wasn''t here now.


    "Geeze, couldn''t have gone a bit easier on me?" She said feeling a bit tearful. This might have


    bothered her more if it had happened anywhere else. She was alive wasn''t she? She had three weeks


    to herself. She had something that he wanted. She had to look at it that way or she would break down.


    ir moved from the room and searched the first bedroom that she came to. She found a ck skirt


    with frayed ends. A good pick for today, she wasn''t feeling jeans. She put on the first shirt she grabbed


    out of the drawer a rose colored t-shirt.


    She searched the top drawers for at least a bra, nothing. She moved to the next room and found one


    that was nearly her size and she put it on along with her new rose colored shirt. ir looked at herself,


    and she felt... hollow.


    ir marched from the room, she refused to let this eat at her. She was going to enjoy her time damn


    it. She needed to just rage at the world for a moment. To scream at the top of her lungs to smash and


    break something. Vent everything that was in her so she could move on and try to forget. Or at least


    make peace with it. This was her world, this was the reality of it and she had made her choice. He''d


    have just taken if she hadn''t agreed so she was better for it.


    Up the stairs she went that she knew would lead her to the roof. She gripped the door and shoved it


    open. The rain was pouring down but she stepped out into it. ir shut the door and moved to stand in


    the middle of the roof looking up at the turbulent grey sky. It was a cold rain, but she didn''t mind so


    much. She just opened her mouth and screamed at the top of her lungs in rage. Then turned and


    marched over to pick up the bigger rocks on the roof. She wanted to break something, smash her


    anger out.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "I''m sorry, forgive me." She said and mmed down the rocks with the force of her mind into the ss


    above a room she had only been in once. She didn''t want to suffer more, and felt like the house knew


    that. It didn''t really give a response at what she did and the rain hid her tears.


    She did this again and again until the ss was nearlypletely gone out of the windows. She was


    soaked now, but it didn''t bother her. Held out a hand wanting to try what Isaiah had to see if that


    helped. She pulled the ss back up to the roof. With her mind''s eye she pictured it how it was and the


    pieces fit together and started to mend. With that few minutes of intense concentration she didn''t have


    to think about anything.


    She moved on swinging her arms in anger and started to sing at the top of her lungs in an angry voice.


    She picked Amazing Grace, she liked the song and it bubbled out of her. Her voice cracked slightly as


    she screamed the words. It fit her current mindset.


    ir reached the end of the roof. Her clothes stered to her body. She turned and looked down at her


    hips. The bruising was nearly gone. She could feel the warmth from the house touching her. The pain


    easing just not the emotional one yet. She turned and found Beta standing there looking at her with a


    quizzical expression. His presence aggravated her again.


    "Did he tell you to watch me? Afraid I might throw myself from the roof? Not let him "fuck" me again?"


    She snapped at the hell hound.


    His head tipped to the side but his gesture was a no, and she calmed slightly. She moved over the


    rocks digging into her bare feet but she didn''t care. She found onerge puddle and jumped in it


    mming her feet down hard. She ignored the pain in her body. Easier to do as she''d been aided in the


    healing.


    She ran to the next and did the same thing. This time however Beta copied her as if trying to figure out


    what was so fun. She darted to the next and did the same thing. He copied her but now he seemed to


    be looking for another puddle before she could find one.


    ir let the challenge take hold of her. She went one way and he went another. She jumped from


    puddle to puddle counting them off. He was moving a little faster than her jumping in them. It was kind


    of odd and therapeutic at the same time for him to do this. ir moved to go inside, she felt chilled and


    she was dripping wet, he just looked at her.


    "I''m cold." He made a sniff and moved to jump around the roof for a bit longer. She went down the


    stairs and found the first bathroom she could taking a long hot shower.

 Chapter 26: What He Really Is

    Chapter 26: What He Really Is


    Over the next two days ir moved around the house unimpeded. She noted that there wasn''t really


    anyone left just her. She was worried about the full moon. She didn''t know if her deal with Isaiah


    counted during that time and she wasn''t going to go and seek him out.


    Hell fucking no. She was avoiding him like the gue. If he even remotely came toward her part of the


    house she ran for it hiding in the vents. She wasn''t letting him near her until she had to. Even then she


    didn''t want to.


    Those that kept Isaiah here had yet to bring him a new supply of humans since waking from the winter


    slumber. She wasn''t sure how well he was doing or if he needed. She felt the house and there was no


    presence she could find but him and the hell hounds. Since yesterday it seemed to be just her really.


    Isaiah and the hell hounds were nowhere to be found today, but she knew that it was full moon. She''d


    been watching and the moon would be up shortly after sundown. She was in the piano room ying a


    song on the grand piano when she felt the trickle down her spine. She hadn''t felt Isaiah or the hounds


    approach, but this was a different sensation. One she knew well now.


    ir got up and looked out a window. Two white vans showed and they were pulling people out of it.


    She wondered where they managed to get suchrge crowds, but these ones were a little different.


    Most were bound and tied. Sure didn''t look like they came willingly.


    She stayed where she was. She was just going to wait until they left to see what this group had been


    told. To see where they were from. Her growing hate for the group that had brought her here rivaled her


    desire to run from Isaiah. ir saw them finishing up and started to move to the front of the house.


    ___Leonardo and Michael___


    "Do you feel any left alive?" Michael looked at his father Leonardo Grietio. He shook his head.


    "It is silent, he and the others are to weak at the moment toe and greet us."


    "Excellent. Unload these things and let us be on our way." Leonardo was finding it harder to get people,


    but easier at the same time. He could always buy them. Always offer a poor soul on the street that no


    one would miss the chance for shelter and food, with a day''s work. Then lock them up until he needed


    to feed the beast that gave him and his family immortality.


    This group was one such group. He''d kept most of them in cells deep below his family home, they were


    well fed and cared for. Just kept to bring here. Leonardo liked his immortality. He liked the power and


    riches he had, that his family had.


    So he would take others to sacrifice to Isaiah so he could continue to live, him and his family. So long


    as none of them crossed him. He was however keeping an eye on his one son, something was up with


    him. The family should know that if they tried to do something. Tried to usurp him or change the hand


    of power concerning Isaiah, he''d send them to die.


    They had been very lucky the day that they''d caught Isaiah and locked him in here. Incredibly lucky.


    He''d killed his daughter for immortality and then climbed out of the cave trapping him. Him leaving


    these wretches was nothing to him.


    "You''ve checked them all, thoroughly, and the women." He asked every time. They could not risk one


    that was like Athena getting in. Yes it was incredibly rare, and they hade across a couple but either


    left them alone or killed them if they knew to much. No woman that could rece Athena was getting in


    this house or they were all fucked.


    "Have I made a mistake yet?" Michael snapped. Michael checked everyone for psychic talent. It really


    didn''t matter about the men. It was the women, and a lot had a touch of talent. That didn''t count, they


    had to be a fully developed psychic. As far as they were aware it was just not possible to hide it.


    Michael could always sense it.


    "Don''t growcent. You could overlook one that hides it well." Michael gave a sneer and pulled a


    woman from the back of the van lifting her and taking her into the house. She was looking around


    scared.


    "Everyone gives a signature. I haven''t missed anyone." It was his talent to sense if they were talented.


    He might not know with what, but he could feel the strength. His sister had shined like a beacon. So he


    knew what he was looking for.


    Leonardo looked up at the house, his family''s old house long ago. It looked bigger now. Like it had


    grown over the years. Which it had, it was no longer his house. It was Isaiah''s and would do for him


    what it would never do for another living soul.


    They would have to go in soon and get blood from Isaiah to reinstate the ritual. To make sure the


    binding didn''t grow weak on them. He didn''t think it ever would, but he was going to be positive. Never


    take anything for granted. There was a reaper of souls in that house. No one wanted him to get out.


    The world had no idea what he trapped here.


    They unloaded the humans. Most if not all would be dead by dawn and they would have to bring


    another group that much sooner. Michael woulde and check in a few days to see how many were


    left. They traveled far and wide to gather groups. It was too dangerous to get them from the same ce


    too often, or the same method. This house was a three hour drive around the mountains to find, not


    easy. It was also encased in magic to hide it.


    Leonardo sighed, he was content to do this however. If he could kill his own daughter he sure as hell


    could toss people that he didn''t even know into a house to die. Athena, he''d loved his daughter. He''d


    just loved what he could get from her lover more.


    Athena had taken Isaiah to her bed more times than Leonardo could count. The little whore enjoying


    her reaper lover. She''d even gotten herself pregnant by him. Not an easy thing to do as there were very


    specific needs for that to happen. However he''d found her notes, saw what she was doing. That she


    had taken a different route to immortality. She was trying to get his favor, his blood by a child. She was


    trying to willingly get the gift from Isaiah. Leonardo decided to take it by force.


    He''d found out about Isaiah and the n had been set in motion. Isaiah promised toe back for her


    the following night after she''d told him of her condition, and so he had. Leonardo had killed Athena to


    seal him in the house and his life to feed their immortality.


    Easy enough with his spawn growing in her. He''d dragged her to the caves, and the natural magic


    there to kill her and the unborn child to trap him. He''d say it worked like a charm but there had been a


    bit of a blood bath with the ones who were still in the house. Oh well it wasn''t him. He¡¯d been using


    others to extend his life already. So all it took was a few modifications.


    Leonardo was sure that Isaiah was a reaper. A bringer and bearer of death. It wasn''t just what he did to


    humans, or how he enjoyed killing. Reapers were always bound by their word once given. However


    they were masters of maniption as well. The world nowadays had no real knowledge of them and


    what knowledge there was was mostly verbal. In this house there was information. Athena''s journal


    was still in the library. Didn''t matter Leonardo knew what to do. He¡¯d searched for anything else, but


    couldn¡¯t find it. Fine by him, no information meant less toe from the outside.


    It was extremely dark and powerful magic to pull a reaper from the other side and make them human.


    To his knowledge only one other reaper had ever existed and it was dead now, or rather sent back to


    the other side. It had failed in its promise. He wasn''t sure if that truly killed them or sent them back to


    theher.


    "Let''s move out, it''s getting close to dark!" Leonardo called out and the others moved quickly from the


    house. They all got in the vans and drove off quickly. If they were lucky they wouldn''t have to visit for


    another two months, but doubted it. It was a full moon and half were bound, unable to run.


    __ir__


    ir came to the room where they always dropped others off and found twenty one bound and


    struggling strangers. They never skimped on the numbers that was for sure. She helped free them and


    then those that were freed helped the others as well.


    "Where are we?" One asked.


    "Is this another prison? I''ve been stuck in that damn cell of theirs for months." There was talking going


    on and one moved toward the door. ir was sure that they had a system set up to keep people.


    Whether this family was the one directly watching them or not.


    "Don''t do that!" ir called as one tried to go out the door and was thrown back. They had all signed


    the contract. The room grew silent and everyone looked around, a few others tried the door with the


    same effect. ir rolled her eyes.


    "Listen to me!" ir snapped and most turned to look at her. "Your best chance to live is to run and


    hide, and hide well. There are things in this house that will tear you apart the moment they find you


    when the moon is full. They have left you trapped in this house to be used by monsters.¡±


    "Bullshit!" Someone said.


    "I''m serious, I''ve been here for a while now. I''m lucky to be alive. Listen to me, just give me a couple


    minutes and then you can do as you wish." she exined as best she could about Isaiah and the hell


    hounds. Only a few seemed to believe her, the rest shook their heads.


    "You''re crackeddy. This is just a human trafficking ring. Are they going to hunt us down? Creatures


    aren''t real, human monsters are." Both were true.


    "Remember that when they are tearing you apart. My advice, stay alone it''s easier to hide." With that


    she turned and left the room. She needed to find a ce to hide as well. Well she knew where she was


    going. The others now moved around the house. She still wasn¡¯t sure why Isaiah or the hounds still


    hadn¡¯t shown. It worried her, how close was the moon?


    ir went down the hall and took a turn to the left, heading toward therger chute she knew was in


    the wall. She nced at the window, the sun had sunk below the mountains to the west and it was


    growing dark fast. She''d stayed out too long, though she was sure that the moon wouldn''t be up for a


    bit. She''d watched its crescent shapee over the mountain peaks for a week to learn when it would


    rise.


    She turned to go into the room with the chute and the door mmed in her face. She jumped and


    looked around, no one was there. However she heard doors starting to m all over the ce and


    people calling out in rm or pounding on the closed doors.


    ir took hold of the handle in front of her and pushed with her mind. She was rewarded with a sharp


    jab to the middle of her chest by an invisible hand. She stumbled back. The house went silent the


    moment that a loud blood curdling screech filled it.


    Her face paled, she could remember the sound of that thing from thest moon. She wouldn''t ever


    forget it not until the day she died. Then three low howls echoed behind it and ir ran to the window.


    No the moon wasn''t up yet, she couldn''t see it.


    "What the hell was that?" Someone said running down a hall near her and appearing around the


    corner. It was a man with light brown hair. He was pulling a woman along with him. She looked a whole


    lot like ir. So much so that ir had to do a double take as they ran at her. The two seemed to have


    recognized her from earlier.


    "Hey you, what was that?" The man asked.


    "It''s him." She said. "Like I told you they are nothing but killing machines during the moon." ir said,


    turning and running down the hall to try and find a hiding ce. Or a vent she could get into.


    "But the moon isn''t out." The woman said as they followed her.


    "I know, I don''t understand. I''ve been watching it rise over..." She slowed slightly and felt like an idiot.


    "It''s when ites over the horizon not the mountains."


    All around the house the doors did the opposite now. Flinging open and this time they would not be


    closed. ir turned around she was going back to the room she knew was a vent that would fit her.


    The couple following her.


    "What are you doing?" ir asked.


    "Following you, you lived here for a while. Clearly you know something to stay alive." ir didn''t want


    to share her hiding spot, not at all. However she couldn''t very well just leave them here to die. It would


    be heartless of her and she wouldn''t be heartless like Isaiah was.


    "Okay, follow me I''ll try to get you somewhere he won''t look. I don''t think that they go into the secret


    passages. Though I wouldn''t put it past them to rip into the walls." She went into one room and then


    into the wall. The couple followed her and they went down a ways before going up.


    "Wait, I hear something." The woman said. Whose name was Leanne her husband Carlos was behind


    her as they leaned against the walls.


    "Shh." ir said and all three of them put their ears to the wall. The sound of nails clicking on the


    hardwood floor told them that something was on the other side. ir turned her head and looked at


    them, she mouthed, ¡®Don''t move.¡¯ They gave silent nods and several tense minutes passed until the


    sound moved off.


    She took them to a small room that was only essible through the ceiling of one bedroom. She told


    them to stay there. It was a better hiding ce than most and as ir stepped down from the dresser


    she crumpled to the floor as the high pitched whistle sounded.


    "What is that!" Carlos shouted to her, moving toe down.


    "No don''t!" ir warned. "Just ignore it, don''t listen to it. No matter what it makes you feel." He gave a


    nod but seemed to desire toe down. ir left the room.


    Her hands over her ears and tears streaming from her eyes. It wasn''t all out loud. It was also in your


    head. It scared her to think what Isaiah would be capable of if he wasn''t trapped here.


    It stopped abruptly and then she heard them. The screams, they started and one of the women that


    must have been in the room was shrill and loud. Her scream was cut short. ir ran down the hall


    toward the grate she knew she could use.


    The screams sounded much closer down here, but her own ears where still ringing. It was hard to


    really tell where they wereing from. As always her luck seemed to crumble if she didn''t leave when


    she was supposed to. The door to her right exploded open out into the hall. Just as she was going to


    pass it.


    She put her arms up unable to really stop and hit the door. Five people with blood sttered on them


    piled out of it. ir rolled to get up and covered her head as one man was driven to the floor right next


    to her. Zeta on him.


    ir heard the crunch of bone and felt something wet hit her arms and some of her face. She got up


    while Zeta was upied with the now nearly dead man. She focused her gaze on her target, even as


    bile rose in her throat.


    She''d never actually watched all of it as they killed a person. Just the start, just hearing the screams.


    As much as she wished she hadn''t, ir had got a good glimpse of torn flesh. Blood poured from the


    ragged wound on his shoulder and neck.


    Three people came from around a corner, blocking her escape route. She slid to a stop near them and


    saw why. The ckish blue creature that would be Isaiah stood in the hall moving toward them. Its


    eyes didn''t really seem to be there, just ck ssy looking pits.


    "Holy fuck!" One guy shouted. He turned to run down the hall to where ir wanted to go. The moment


    he ran, so did Isaiah. It was more like a blur of movement really and the talons on his hands sliced into


    and down the man''s back and he dropped to the floor. Isaiah reached down and picked him up by the


    neck.


    The woman standing near ir and another man started to scream as the thin line that had been


    Isaiah''s mouth opened. Needle sharp teeth showed. His ck eyes looked at them as he bit into the


    crook of the man''s neck.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Her scream had unfrozen ir and the man. There wasn''t time to feel shock or revulsion or fear. Just


    time for adrenaline and running. Coming at them down the hall was Alpha and ir ducked as Alpha


    launched himself at her and the man.


    The man followed her example and was only clipped by Alpha''srge body, sending him into the wall.


    The woman wasn''t so lucky. She was hit full force by Alpha. Beta darted past the two of them and took


    hold of the woman as well.


    ir wasn''t going to watch the gruesome tug of war between them. The woman''s screams were bad


    enough as it was. She and the man were up again running. They reached the end of the hall. The


    choice was left or right. They didn''t get to make the choice. Something fast moved around them and cut


    them off.


    Isaiah stood in front of them. The massive wings touching the ceiling and floor in here as he pulled


    them very close to his body. The two of them didn''t move. ir was just slightly ahead of the man, but


    closer to the room on their right.


    "I''m really sorry about this, I hope you understand." The man said and shoved ir hard. She stumbled


    forward a hand going to the floor to stop from falling as he slipped into the room and mmed the door.


    Clearly, it was working again.


    She felt a tight grip on the back of her neck, as her head was still bent down. Her head was snapped


    back harshly. One of the talons nearly sliced the flesh of her neck. He dropped her like he''d been


    burned. A lip curling and a deep unearthly sounding from him.


    The creature''s gaze moved from her as if she was no longer there. He stepped toward the door. ir


    scooted away. She thanked her lucky stars that she had been promised immunity from him. Apparently


    it worked in this form as well.


    She ducked as the door was torn from the hinges and mmed into the wall above her head. It just


    missed her as it fell. Two huge chunks were missing from the face of the door where Isaiah had torn


    into it.


    The man that had shoved ir was sent into the hall a momentter. Hitting where the door had fallen


    onto and into ir. He moved to stand and run, not sparing ir a nce. Isaiah was far too fast and


    as ir was getting up he caught the man.


    ir had to get around him to get away from this. She hugged the wall scooting around them not


    watching. Whatever Isaiah had done in the next second sent blood flying. It hit ir across the face


    and chest. That was all it took for her to turn and was sick all over the ground. Next thing she knew she


    was running down the hall and closing herself in a bathroom.


    She didn''t know how long she stood there, but she scrubbed her face raw listening to the destruction of


    the house. The piercing whistle as Isaiah and the hounds looked for more victims. ir was shaking


    and by morning she managed to get into a vent and to her hiding ce.


    She stayed there till the end. She didn''t know how much blood stained her hands or clothes. Just that it


    wasn''t on her face. It was in her hair but again she just didn''t want it on her face. She shook as shey


    there and night fell again. The sounds of the house being torn apart came to her. However there were


    no screams this time. Not until what she thought might be thest night did it sound like someone had


    been caught again.

 Chapter 27: Game of Cut-Throat

    Chapter 27: Game of Cut-Throat


    Isaiah woke to light streaming down from above and put a hand over his face. It was near midday. He


    let out his mind and felt that there were at least thirteen people in the house. That was a lot for being


    delivered during the moon.


    He sat up and reached over one shoulder to scratch his back. The twin lines there were red with


    irritation and slightly scabbed over. He stood and grabbed a fresh pair of clothes. He felt really well fed


    which told him that he''d been more focused on that, then killing during the moon. Always a plus he''d


    rather kill them for substance than for the hell of it.


    He also mentally felt to see if he could catch something from ir. Of course he didn''t but what was


    new? He''d been lucky the first day she''de with the group to have felt her. He wondered what had


    changed in that time. Leaving the room he padded barefoot through the house moving toward the


    grand staircase. He could hear voices there. Curiosity led him to see what humans might entertain him.


    "Smash it out."


    "If you can''t go out a door. How the hell can you go out a window?" A woman''s voice said, it was a bit


    more high pitched. Kind of annoying really. Didn''t really flow all that well.


    Isaiah came down the hall and looked down the staircase. A blonde haired male was holding a chair


    and near him were two others. A light brown haired male and a dark haired woman. He had to do a


    double take because for an instant he thought ir was standing there. There was a disappointment


    that he pushed away. He''d find herter.


    "I''d prefer you didn''t smash the windows in my house." He said. "You can''t get out that way, but you


    should know that already." They spun around to look at him. The woman had been staring at the


    picture on the wall at the bottom of the staircase, ir''s picture of the caves. He was wondering where


    that ended up. He''d seen it moving around the house a few times along with other drawings she


    seemed to leave out. Like the house enjoyed them too.


    "Who are you?"


    "He''s that thing that ir told us about." Isaiah sighed inwardly. ir would warn them, probably had


    helped a few hide. By now she should have learned to just look out for herself. That little female was a


    perplexing thing and it just added to her. That and a few other things he could definitely name.


    "And where is ir?" Isaiah asked.


    "We haven''t seen her since the night we got here." Isaiah came down the stairs. The three looked


    panicked as he was holding them to the spot. He was well fed and they had weaker minds that he just


    went into. He didn''t want them to run yet, but it was draining. He was better at it in his other form.


    However if he changed he''d be feral. Fuck this ce and the restraint it put on him.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    There was a sudden re from the woman. Like a sharp jab to Isaiah''s mind. A defensive reflex from it


    and he immediately focused on her. His eyes narrowed and he pinned her with a harsh stare. He


    forced his mind into hers instantly searching it. For one second he''d had a sudden excitement and


    possible hope. She had a psychic signature, he however felt a curl to his lip for a moment.


    She made a cry of pain as he tore through it tearing down her barriers. He let her go with a bitter


    disappointment. She was psychic alright, just not what he needed. She wasn''t anywhere near the


    strength that he required and her blood type was wrong. Useless, fuck, he nearly walked over to snap


    her neck just for the fact for one second he thought Michael had failed. No, but she was useless. Her


    mind didn''t have the capacity to expand and train her talent. She was just food.


    If only he could take that signature and give it to ir. He''d bet his fucking life if ir was given a


    chance she''d learn. She''d get stronger, but she had no signature. However she had one hell of a


    mental block on her mind. Still if she was psychic she should have used it against him by now. ir''s


    blood type was right, he knew the moment he''d scented it. She had to be psychic or she would not


    survive what was needed. He pushed thoughts of her back. ir was starting toe to his thoughts a


    lot he realized.


    "What are your names?" He more demanded looking them over.


    "Leanne."


    "Carlos."


    "Giovanni."


    "Tell me Giovanni. Do you really think you''ll get out that way? Not worried even if you got out you


    wouldn''t hit the ground a broken mess. Or one of the hounds wouldn''t follow you, tear you to pieces?" It


    was clear that he hadn''t thought about the hounds, and he swallowed.


    "I''m willing to try." He answered, still holding the chair. Isaiah''s gaze moved over the couple and then


    back to Giovanni. Stupid, he wasn''t getting out.


    "You break the window and I''ll break both of your arms." Could they not feel the slight pressure from


    the house to stop? Of course not, humans were getting worse as the years progressed. However,


    Giovanni knew that Isaiah was being serious. He set the chair down as Isaiah was not in their heads


    controlling anything now. The three of them went very pale, as behind Isaiah two hell hounds walked up


    rather nonchntly. Isaiah looked at the hell hounds.


    "Full?" Beta gave a nod, Zeta gave a shake.


    "Do you y pool?" Isaiah asked and the three looked very confused. He never got tired of that


    reaction. They always expected him to just jump on them and rip them apart. Listen, blood lust and


    such got very dull without a bit of sport first.


    "N..no." The woman said. "I don''t know how." His gaze moved to the two men. He already knew the


    answer to his question.


    "Yes." Was the answer from both.


    "Good, d neither of you lied. Not that it matters I''d have made you y anyways. Follow." Isaiah


    looked over his shoulder. "Don''t force me to make you either, or I''ll let them have at you right now."


    They went down the hall to a set of stairs and went down. He waved his hand and a door opened. They


    went in and two pool tables were there, one green and one red.


    Zeta and Beta followed them in having been behind the humans forcing them forward. Zeta jumped up


    on the green one. Both of them in the form of dogs at the moment. Still the humans looked nervous.


    The door shut and Isaiah moved to a cab pulling out a deck of cards.


    "What are we doing?" Carlos asked.


    "I get very bored in this house. Do you know how long I''ve been stuck in here?" He didn''t wait for an


    answer. "A very long time, and I get little groups of humans to y with. I caught you and you belong to


    me now. You signed your life to this house, and to feed me and mine. You''re going to y my game,


    refuse and I''ll kill you anyways."


    "So you''re going to kill us when it''s done? What the hell''s the point?" Giovanni nearly shouted.


    "Do you know what happens when I make a promise?" Isaiah asked, looking at Giovanni who had


    spoken. "I have to uphold it."


    "Two of you are going to leave this room alive. One of you is going to feed Zeta." Zeta''s head perked


    up and the humans were giving off so much fear it was feeding the three of them. Speaking to the


    predator in them.


    "How do we do that?" Leanne asked with a shaking voice.


    "You''re going to y each other for it. Ever y cut-throat?" Both men nodded.


    "Excellent, I''ll give you your numbers. And then you can have at it. No speaking what your numbers are


    to others." He said looking at the couple. "All three of you will y."


    "But she doesn''t know how."


    "Then she better learn fast." Isaiah said. "And she better hope that you don''t go after the ones that are


    hers." Giovanni and Carlos would be evenly matched, and Leanne was not good. However it would


    also be two on one. He didn''t doubt that the couple would find a non verbal way ofmunicating.


    Leanne was an empath, he would find it interesting. Not a very strong one, but fear had a way of


    amplifying them. On a normal day she probably would never be able to control it or even realize it was


    there.


    "This is twisted."


    "Hence why I find it entertaining." Isaiah said with a quick smile. "Nothing better than watching one


    battle for their life. You''d be surprised how intense such a simple game bes when the oue is


    dire." The three of them grabbed a pool stick. Carlos handed one he thought would suit Leanne best.


    He quickly told her how the game was yed and they stared at each other worried. Isaiah gave them


    their cards with the numbers that they were.


    "Giovanni can have the break." Isaiah said and then they started the game. Zeta watched closely


    though she didn''t understand how the game worked. She loved seeing the tension and concentration


    on the faces of her prey.


    Isaiah stayed quiet watching them from where he leaned against the wall. He liked things like this to


    figure out the human mind as well. He listened to them mentally. The more he did so, the easier it was


    to manipte them. To learn how to read one when you weren''t in their head. He saw the way that


    Leanne and Carlosmunicated with looks and gestures so small that it was hard to tell. However


    Giovanni was very good, he knew pool very well.


    It was a rather good game, but also fast as the two men were good. Carlos had two balls left, while


    both Giovanni and Leanne had one each. Zeta had shifted to what she really was, but none of them


    noticed as they were so engrossed in the game. The concentration of the yers was immense. Their


    whole world revolved around that rectangr ying field.


    It was Carlos''s choice, and he was looking at the two that weren''t his. The two and the eight ball. He


    was staring at the eight ball as it was the best shot but he didn''t know which Leanne''s was. Leanne


    gave off a desperate and oppressive feeling as Carlos looked at the eight ball and he instantly switched


    to the two ball. Isaiah gave a kind of half smile, how quaint.


    Carlos took very careful aim and he knew that it was Giovanni''sst ball. However he was fine with the


    man being dinner rather than the woman. He was just buying them a few more days of life as far as


    Isaiah was concerned. Still in the back of his head Carlos never thought he''d have to make a choice


    like this. That he was capable of it, and now he realized that he could choose. He could pick a life over


    another and not feel much for it. That was survival wasn''t it?


    He hit the cue ball and the two rolled to the side pocket. For one second it just teetered on the edge


    and then went in. The three of them stood there for a moment. Giovanni looked like he was going to be


    sick. The fact that Isaiah really meant what he had said wasn''t sinking in yet. This was all still new, still


    sinking in.


    "Carlos and Leanne as promised you may leave unimpeded. You are free to go." They jumped, no one


    had been talking all this time. The two of them had spotted Zeta and were extremely eager to get out of


    the room. Giovanni moved but Isaiah spoke.


    "You lost, don''t worry she''s not in the mood to y with her food today. That''s lucky for you." Zeta stood


    on the other table looking at Giovanni.


    "You can''t do this kind of shit!" He said as Zeta lept down and moved toward him, Giovanni slipping


    around the table as Isaiah moved toward the door. The man looked ready to fight but he was going to


    lose.


    "I can do whatever I want." The couple was already far down the hall at a dead run.


    "Should have just left the window alone. I''d have made the two of them y each other instead." That


    really would have been an interesting game.


    Zeta jumped up onto the red table. There was no ce for Giovanni to go, and he backed up. Isaiah


    went out the door and walked down the hallway. He''d left the door open. There was a snarl and the


    sound of breaking wood. Then the scream of pain that was short lived. Guess Zeta really wasn''t in the


    mood to y with her food today.


    Beta was still in the room and simply would wait till Zeta had filled herself before seeing if he wished to


    join. Isaiah went up the stairs, he felt the spike of fear from those that were near where the man was


    that had screamed. Everyone knew what pain and agony sounded like. Isaiah mentally checked those


    around that he could feel. A couple with decent mental blocks but nothing psychic. He let out an


    annoyed sound thinking.


    Michael had messed up, the first time by letting Leanne in. However to his credit it was very hard to tell


    that she was even psychic. It came and went from her, nothing reliable. He needed someone on par


    with Athena. She had had unbelievable control of her talent. He should really stop thinking Michael


    would fail. He''d had years of practice at his talent. No young mortal was going to have the skill level to


    compare to either of them. That would be like catching lightning in a bottle.


    Isaiah was feeling in a rather good mood at the moment despite this. He''d had a rather entertaining


    afternoon so far. He was well fed, and there were plenty of humans still in the house to y with over


    the next twenty seven days or so till the next full moon. In terms of good days for him, he considered


    what had gone on today to be pretty high on the list.


    No one had tried to stab, shoot, or maim him in any way. That always pissed him off. The humans he''d


    yed a game with had done so with little to noint or force. However he did desire more to add


    to it, and that was why he now hunted for a trace of ir. Hunting her down put a smile on his face that


    was hard to shake.

 Chapter 28: No You Cant, Yes I Can

    Chapter 28: No You Can''t, Yes I Can


    ir found the next two days to be rather, uneventful. Though that was fine for her. She''d gone to the


    library to try and see if she could figure out just what Isaiah was. Doing so, she''d heard a man scream


    somewhere as she walked down the halls.


    She''d been eating toast with peanut butter. Hadn''t even paused in walking until three steps after the


    scream had stopped. She''d given a rather depressed sigh. She was getting so used to it. It didn''t shock


    or terrify her anymore. It just let her know that it wasn''t her and about where they were. This group was


    a little better than thest. Some looked at her with distrust and disdain, fine with her. Others badgered


    her for long periods of time asking her about the house. About Isaiah and the wolves. Which she


    corrected them, they were hell hounds.


    "All I can tell you is that if he makes you a deal take it. Even if it''s unfair or not very promising.


    Otherwise you''ll just be dead where you stand."


    "What deals have you made with him?" One had asked her and she''d looked at them. An odd


    sensation going through her.


    "I don''t make the deals. I just do what he says to the best of my ability." With that she''d turned and left


    them. The thought of what she''d done still made her face burn. Her mind started to dwell on a sharp


    conflict inside that she refused to let eat her. So she''d left and going through a few of the corridors had


    ran into a couple more people. Carlos and Leanne being the two and they were looking a bit pale and


    withdrawn. The short chat that she''d had with them, they''d told her of the pool game.


    "But we''re alive." Carlos said. ir had given a smile and a nod. They''d only bought themselves more


    time in hell. Just like ir was doing. ir went to a portion of the house she knew wasn''t visited all


    that often. She did this a lot, because all the rooms wanted to be used. Any reason would do. She


    already knew that befriending the house, or giving it purpose pleased it. Which gave her perks, just like


    doing what Isaiah wanted.


    She went into arge bedroom. It had an attached bathroom. She took a chair and put it against the


    bedroom door. Then she moved to the bathroom. All it had was a stand up shower, sink and toilet. The


    floor was a peach colored sto tile. The shower right ahead with frosted ss and curved silver


    handles.


    The walls were tiled white as was the decent sized shower. She closed the bathroom door and locked


    it. Then stripped quickly and grabbed a towel moving to the shower. She pushed the door open and


    then stepped in closing it with a click. This was the best. ir hated being grimy and this was better.


    Besides Isaiah seemed to remark on it. If she was caught she didn''t want to displease him, she saw


    how that went.


    She flipped the towel onto the metal bar and looked at the shampoo and conditioner here. This stuff


    was scented unlike the rest of the bathrooms she''d been in. She figured that she didn''t have to rush,


    but should be quick about it. After all she had Isaiah''s word. She saw what happened when he broke it,


    or was close to. Clearly something happened, so that gave her a slight sense of security.


    "Ooh tangerine mango, how interesting." She said taking a smell of it, "Not bad."


    ir turned on the water but stepped out of the shower for a second and brushed the thick mass of


    hair untangling it. She looked at herself for a moment. No bruises marred her skin anymore, which was


    nice. She just studied herself thinking.


    She thought that she looked a bit healthier too now that she could eat and drink with more choice.


    Rather than a gran bar here, a box of juice there. She was still on the thinner side though, but that


    was a good thing to a point. It let her get into ces that were a tight fit.


    ir got back in the shower and scrubbed. She started to wash her hair, counting the time she spent


    here. She didn''t want to stay more than ten minutes. She could always find a different bathroom to


    finish up in.


    She had a song stuck in her mind at the moment and sung it very softly feeling a weight lifting just a bit


    off her shoulders. She had three weeks, well drawing closer to two now. Still that was a long time. She


    wasn''t even thinking about the after, she did sigh though because she would never celebrate a birthday


    again. Her birthday was January seventeenth, she''d slept right through it.


    Not wanting these kinds of thoughts to dampen her mood, she finished up. Shutting off the spray and


    squeezing out her hair. She was humming to herself now and grabbed the towel pulling it around her.


    ir pulled the door open and gave a small cry of rm. Isaiah was just standing right there. She


    hadn''t heard anything, and she hadn''t felt anything.


    She mentally kicked herself. She hadn''t been keeping her guard up as her mind wandered. Son of a


    bitch, she''d wanted to avoid him as much as possible for the three weeks. It had only been a few days.


    She felt her mouth go dry. Why was he in here? Her heart started to beat harder.


    "What are you doing here?" She asked the grip with her one hand on the towel was very tight as was


    her hold on the door handle. She''d have mmed it in his face if that wasn''t trapping her in the shower.


    That would just be a stupid move. She should have put the chair on the tile. She''d have heard it then.


    Clearly the carpet hid the sound with running water.


    "Looking for you. I was listening to your voice. I enjoy the sound of it." He said his gaze moving over


    her and she wished badly for the clothes on the counter. He noted her quick gaze over in that general


    direction and his knowing smile just made her feel angry. It must have shown on her face because of


    his next words.


    "What a quick temper you have." Though he was clearly amused.


    "It''s just you, nothing personal." She responded in her calm quiet tone. Though he knew she was being


    sarcastically rude. He couldn''t do anything to her to harm her, and they both knew it. However he knew


    that she was thinking of immunity like the first time. That wasn''t what he''d said, he''d said from any real


    harm and to him real harm was life threatening wounds. He stepped forwarding into her space.


    ir took an involuntary step back, his hand came up taking hold of the back of her neck.


    "What are you doing?" She asked her voice shaking slightly. He didn''t stop his forward movement until


    her back hit the tiled wall and he pressed against her. His mouthing down on hers. He ripped the


    towel away from her tossing it. His hands moved to touch her sides and she felt her skin prickle at the


    sensation.


    ir refused to give him ess to her mouth, but his hand moved to slide between her legs. She


    jumped as he touched her. His fingers ying with her and she let a gasp escape. He took advantage


    of that, his tongue sliding over hers. She felt her body respond and was mad at it that it did so. What


    was wrong with her? She felt confused, why was he able to touch her? He shouldn''t be able to touch


    her right? Shit what had he actually promised?


    He continued to touch her, y with her. His thumb sliding over her most sensitive spot while his


    fingers stretched and toyed with her. He was pressed to her keeping her there. While he was


    aggressive, he wasn''t moving fast either. She felt the rush between her legs and her stomach clench


    tighter along with her lower body. It was apanied by that wet needy rush as well. He raised his


    head from her moving it to her neck. His tongue moved over her skin, and fast beating pulse.


    "You''re not supposed to be able to do this." She said as he took her hands and forced them t to his


    stomach. Then pushed them down to the edge of his pants. He made a darker amused sound against


    her ear before his head lowered a bit. ir felt her mouth go dry. Why? Why was he so fascinated with


    her? There were other women in this house.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    "Of course I can." He said his teeth scraping across her neck. "I said I''d give you immunity from any


    real harm. I''m not causing you real harm by doing this. Even your body says so ir, responding to my


    touch." She swallowed, and cursed her traitorous body, why? Then again it was probably best it did.


    He brought his left hand up to cup her breast and his thumb rubbing over her sensitive nipple. It was


    taught and hard in moments. He moved lowering his head to take it in his mouth and she bit back the


    moan unsessfully. How could he get such a response from her when she didn''t want him? Didn''t


    want him touching her or looking at her? Yet she responded, her body growing needy, growing wet


    wanting him. At least it was what she told herself, but then again maybe she did. Maybe knowing he


    desired her kept her safe.


    "Undo my pants ir." He said putting his hands on either side of her head. His gaze meeting hers, he


    could see how torn she was. How she didn''t want to want this, but couldn''t help it. He grew harder at


    the thought of it. That he''d have her body in moments. Hear her breathless sounds as he drove himself


    deep into her. Her perfect little body giving him what he wanted, and not just a surface need.


    Her hands finally moved and did as he asked pushing them from his hips far enough to free him. He


    dropped his hand to her thigh, taking hold and gripping her backside. It was easy to lift her where he


    needed her. With one hard thrust filled her bodypletely. Which felt so fucking good after such a


    long time of not really enjoying it. Of not being satisfied and being left more than frustrated. It was her


    mistake to think she was free of him touching her.


    She gave a short cry, and he brought his mouth to hers as he started to take her slowly. Every stroke


    deep and hard. He pressed her to the tile, holding her there as his body slid in and out of hers. He felt


    the deep growl in his chest, more it wanted more.


    He just couldn''t seem to take her deep enough, hard enough. Isaiah wanted his body so far in hers that


    she''d never get him the feel of him out. When you went so long with your body in a kind of tortured hell,


    never satisfied, it was incredible to finally have it. Easily addicting, more so than any drug. She was so


    damn tight, and it was an exquisite torture to be honest. Slick hot silk gripping him harshly.


    She moaned softly gripping him harder and he thrust up into her faster. Wanting the feeling of


    completion that only she could give him. He dropped his mouth to her throat, he couldn''t take and he


    felt ire at this. He should be able to take anything he wanted from her. Not with the promise though,


    draining her of blood was real harm. He should really think of these things before he made the deal.


    Her hips moved in time with his own. Her muscles gripping him so nicely. So firmly. Her body tight and


    hot, like a slick silk glove. Fuck it felt amazing, his own body felt like it was wound to tight. His muscles


    all tense. Her body was still wet from the shower she''d just taken and it soaked the shirt that he wore.


    He wanted her skin sliding against his, but he wasn''t willing to stop long enough to remove his shirt.


    "I want to hear you cry my name ir." He said against her ear. Her scent filling his nose. Egoistical,


    yes. Still he wanted to hear her say it. Admit who was doing this to her, and her sounds were clearly


    agreeable. He kept his hands on the back of her thighs using it to hold her in ce and to him, as he


    mmed into her. His fingers digging into the flesh. She had her legs wrapped around him holding


    herself there too. The thought ofing inside of her, what he knew it felt like nearly tipped him over


    the edge.


    She moaned. The sound clearly a half plea, half distress, because she would give him what he wanted.


    Whether it was her desire to or not. He lowered his head back to her throat, his teeth scrapping her fast


    beating pulse. Her body so close toing apart around him. It felt incredible, those little ripples. How


    tight she grew. He bit a little more harshly than he meant to against her neck and her one hand moved


    to the back of his head.


    "Yes, do it. Take from me." ir gasped out and he didn''t need to be told twice. He nearly let go right


    there with the thought of sinking his teeth into her throat.


    His teeth grew sharp and he bit down. She jerked slightly with the pain of it but that wouldn''tst long.


    Only when he took a human like this did they feel pleasure instead of pain. No other time would it feel


    this way. She was no exception, her blood was thick and rich flowing into him.


    ir cried out for him as he had asked, as he demanded. Her body shattering into a million pieces. His


    grip on her grew tighter. She felt the first wave of his orgasm. The sudden swelling of him once again.


    He wouldn''t let go or stop until he sated himself in her fully. His body was still moving at a hard fast


    tempo and it was difficult to pull in a decent breath. She just held on to him feeling her body staying on


    a high. This was far different from her first night. Her orgasm felt so much more intense and she


    enjoyed it. He was still so hard and thick inside of her driving her to peak again and she just let it


    happen. There was no reason to fight it.


    "Isaiah," She said trying to form words but couldn''t. He just pressed her that much harder to the wall.


    Grew that much more forceful taking her. There was a sharp pain mixed in the pleasure now at is pace


    and frantic movement. The sharp sound of their bodiesing together was the only sound for a


    moment.


    "Please." She couldn''t keep this pace with him. He needed to slow or finish. However she knew that he


    wouldn''t stop. So she was pleading for him more to just bury himself inside her ande in her. Just a


    one word plea and he knew what she was asking for. His mouth was near her ear again having taken


    what he wanted from her throat. His tongue had slid up slowly along the soft smooth flesh of her neck.


    "You belong to me ir." He growled in a harsh tone to her. Easing his movements just a bit. He pulled


    from her slowly, but then mmed back into her in a harsh stroke before doing it again. She sucked in


    a sharp breath and let out a deep moan.


    "Yes." She gasped out tears in her eyes. He brought up a hand and gripped the hair on the side of her


    head holding her there with his mouth pressed to her ear. His breath rushed across it and made her


    shiver. Her body clench which he clearly liked as he moved faster again.


    "Only I will do this to your body ir, yes?" It wasn''t truly a question. It was a demand.


    "Yes." The word came out in a rush, at his possessive and dark tone. "No one else, ever." Like she


    could ever let anyone ever touch her after him. She couldn''t picture letting anyone ever touch her. She


    let him because she had to, because her body said yes.


    "Swear it ir." He said his grip moved more to the side of her throat. His thumb pressed harder,


    threatening to make it hard to breathe. It was very near pain, as close as he could get without breaking


    the promise.


    "I swear on my life." She told him. She couldn''t take much more of this she thought. She would just


    crumble a part against him. Her body was soaring high, and her nails were digging into his skin. He


    plunged his body into hers fully holding her tightly against him. A harsh cry caught in his throat. After a


    moment, his body rxing he moved his head back to look at her. His exquisite little female satisfied


    him again. Even more so than thest time. Yet a darker dangerous part of him wanted to cause harm


    if she were to think about taking another. Even if it was survival.


    "I will take your life ir in the most painful and degrading way that I know how should you ever let


    anyone else touch you. Ever let another attempt to please your body. I''ll tear them apart first and then


    start on you. What is mine will not be touched by others." He would not share what was his, end of


    story. He wasn''t going to stand for another defiling her. He wanted her as she was now. His marks, his


    scent.


    ir met his ck gaze for a moment. His threat was well understood but there wasn''t anything to


    worry about. She knew that in this way she would always belong to him. He would mark any kind of


    sexual or needful thought she had. It would be Isaiah that she thought of first. Right now it wasn''t even


    possible to picture a nameless future stranger having her this way. She was never leaving this house.


    His statement was unfounded in her opinion, but they did not see the situation in the same manner


    either.


    "In this Isaiah, whether I want it or not Ipletely belong to you." She might as well say it and admit it.


    Her eyes fixed on the ss behind him. He took hold of her chin forcing her head up.


    "Look at me!" He snapped when she refused to meet his gaze. Her eyes jumped to his. His gaze not so


    ck anymore and it was searching hers. He seemed to find what he wanted. He pulled his body from


    her and let her feet touch the ground but kept her caged against the wall.


    His thumb moved over her lower lip for a moment and then he lowered his head to take her mouth. He


    took his time tasting every inch. Tasting everything that she was, she let him this time and participated.


    Clearly trying to get him to understand as he was her. Yes he would kill just for one wrong nce at her


    from another. He''d marked her and so it was. Isaiah pulled his pants back on, grabbing the towel he


    tossed it to her.


    "Come." He said to her moving from the shower and she followed.


    "You don''t need those clothes." He said over his shoulder and she held the towel to her more firmly.


    Her face was flush from sex, but it grew deeper and he felt body respond slightly. If catching her wasn''t


    so satisfying and entertaining he''d just tie her to his room. He didn''t want to kill that spark she had yet.


    He felt a smilee to him and he moved from the room leading her to where he wished to go. She


    was looking around clearly ufortable in the towel. No one was going toe out and none were


    in this area. He stopped in a hall facing a wall that had no distinguishing marks on it then pushed the


    panel. It popped open and he motioned for her to go first.


    ir went in and found herself in a room that she knew. The one that had no doors. The closet off to


    the left had the dresses in it. This was where he took her. He stood behind her and she looked at all the


    different dresses here. She was slightly confused, why? What did he care what she wore?


    "Pick one and wear it. I much prefer the sight of you in one of those than the clothes you normally


    wear."


    "Maybe I prefer those clothes. You said I can have what I want." She responded more to be difficult. He


    stepped over to her. His hand gripping the edge of the towel for a moment. He pulled her closer looking


    at her. A thousand thoughts running through both their minds at the simple movement.


    "I''ll give you a choice then. Either you chose to wear what I say, or you can stand here as you are in


    nothing." He pulled at the towel a bit. "I prefer as you are, much easier to get at your body. It''s exciting


    to think how easy it would be to just take you." He stated his hand sliding under the towel along her


    inner thigh. ir moved back letting him have the towel as she turned and grabbed the first dress that


    caught her eye.


    He gave a softugh. Isaiah bunched the towel in his hand. The smell of her clung to it and had his


    body beginning to react even more so. His reaction to her just seemed to be getting worse not better.


    However he didn''t feel likeining. He was better at maniption too. If she¡¯d demanded the


    other clothes he¡¯d have had to give them. However she hadn¡¯t, and he knew his words would make her


    do it.


    She slipped on a dark blue one that had spaghetti straps and a slit up the side that went nearly to her


    hip. It fit her well,plimented her well. All of the dresses in here would. The house would see to it as


    no other would wear them and it seemed rather fond of her at times.


    "Satisfied?" She said keeping her distance from him.


    "For now." He replied, his mind was still stuck on her being naked and pressed against him. What a


    delicious thought. A secondter he heard something that tainted the good mood he was in. There was


    the sound of items shattering and Isaiah turned his head. It was some distance away but he could hear


    it. ir couldn''t.


    He turned and moved from the room. ir stepped out following him. He heard what sounded like


    wood being smashed with something. Then he heard the odd musical off key note and clenched his


    jaw. Whichever human was destroying the piano room wasn''t going to be alive much longer. It was his


    favorite room in the house.

 Chapter 29: Death by Example

    Chapter 29: Death by Example


    ir was curious as to where he was going. His mood had just suddenly shifted, and she followed


    along, there was a rigid set to his shoulders and the air around him was rather angry. As they moved


    she could start to hear something crashing, and the breaking of ss. There was snarling and


    shouting.


    "How stupid." She said, Didn''t they know that the key to surviving was being calm,ying low?


    "Very." Isaiah said. He was surprised that she was following him. Normally she made a quick escape.


    "Following me?"


    "I''m curious." She said."Though it killed the cat." She mumbled under her breath. He''d heard that


    expression before. Oddly enough I wasn''t going to kill her. Slowly he was starting to view her like the


    hell hounds. Need he exin why that was probably happening?


    However she had a set time after which he would have to rid himself of her. ir was smart, and knew


    how to hide. That made her dangerous in the possibility of finding an escape. He couldn¡¯t allow that.


    ir was ncing in the rooms they passed. The smell of smoke came to her, and a lot of the rooms


    were smashed and destroyed. It would seem someone was having a mental break.


    "Oh my god." She said. It looked like someone had taken a sledgehammer to the rooms they were


    passing. One had different art works in it and they werepletely destroyed. She saw one of hers on


    the floor that she left for the house.


    "Will they mend?" She asked.


    "Everything mends." He answered darkly. "There is a difference however in the reasoning for things to


    be destroyed and fixed. This is deliberate unneeded destruction." ir could feel the coldness starting


    to seep into her. The house felt cold and angry. The closer they got to the noise the colder it got. To the


    point that she could see her breath.


    ir stood in the doorway of the piano room where a man really was using a sledge hammer to


    destroy the windows in the room. She felt several people running from the area terrified. She saw that


    Zeta wasying dead on the floor. Alpha not far from her also not breathing. Beta was pacing watching


    the man looking for a moment to attack. This man had lost it,pletely lost it. It looked like he''d taken


    out two hell hounds. He was a bear of a man, and he was wounded too.


    The room was destroyed just like the others. All the pianos and instruments in here in pieces. The


    windows and furniture were in hundreds of shards. Isaiah held out a hand almost casually and the


    sledgehammer flew into it. ir didn''t even have a second to turn or call out a warning Isaiah moved


    that fast. To be honest she didn''t feel the need to. This ce was changing her, and the man had


    signed his death certificate with his actions today.


    Isaiah swung once. Not at full strength but enough to shatter the man''s leg and knee as he hit the side


    of it. He then tossed the sledge hammer like it was a useless tool. The man fell to the floor screaming


    in pain, he sounded out of his mind. ir wondered how many had broken like this man had. She was


    also unsure if she should be here now and backed up.


    Isaiah grabbed the ankle of the broken leg and pulled the man no expression on his face. He looked


    more like a man simply pulling a bag of garbage. Beta had his lips curled back and ir now saw that


    he was actually limping. His front right leg bent up and under him. Isaiah pulled the man from the room


    ir stayed where she was but Isaiah spoke.


    "ir, follow you''ll just have toe in a minute." She sighed looked up at the ceiling. She was losing


    her mind in a different way, and moved to follow. They went to a room that was not destroyed and


    large. Kind of like a sitting room. He let go of the man and Isaiah looked at Beta.


    "Healing?"


    ¡®Yes a bit more needed.¡¯ He said in his head. Isaiah gave a nod.


    "Go to your siblings." Hemanded and Beta limped off. ir moved into the room. The crazed


    man''s screaming was starting to grate on her nerves. Isaiah''s eyes went ck and he grabbed the man


    by the throat.


    "Shut up before I snap your neck." The man went instantly silent but it looked like he might be trying to


    scream. ir once again wondered at Isaiah and his abilities. She was d they didn''t seem to work


    much on her. Isaiah moved to a desk in the room and pulled out a pen knife. He took it and jabbed it in


    his own left forearm, pulling up slightly.


    "What are you doing?" ir gasped. He didn''t look at her he just tossed the knife and it hit the floor


    skidding. He walked to the wall and used his right hand to take blood from his left arm with two of his


    fingers. What the hell was this?


    He made a very odd symbol on the wall with his blood and she noted that the hand writing the symbol


    changed slightly. The skin turning a ck blue and his fingers were elongated. ir watched as the


    blood seemed to soak into the wall. It was in a crude circle with odd little symbols.


    "ir." He said and made a motion with his hand. She came forward but reluctantly. She stopped next


    to him.


    "Hand."


    She raised her right hand and he took it. Pulling her closer and raised it to his mouth. He bit into the


    center of her palm and she made a painful sound. Anger contorting her face for a moment. He let go


    and with blood pooling in her palm he forced her hand to the wall.


    "That hurt." She said.


    "And?" Man he was an asshole, and she was stuck with said asshole so long as she wanted to live.


    "Would it really hurt to give a warning first?" She said. "You''re not supposed to harm me."


    "I''m about to give a warning now. This is an exception to the rule as you will see. Besides you gave me


    permission before to bite you. You haven''t taken it back. Nor have we made a new promise." He let go


    of her hand and she felt a trickle go down her spine. He moved back to where the man wasying.


    Isaiah pulled him up off the floor and set him in a chair. He needed a sound smack across the face in


    her opinion. Both of them.


    "I can hear that some in this house are about to do something worse that I don''t want to deal with. So


    I''m going to make a point. I get very tired of repeating myself over and over. The house will bring them


    at my request. I will be heard this time." Isaiah said to her. He did hear it in their minds. They were


    thinking they could break the house, open it somehow. That was not going to happen.


    He was bringing everyone in the house here to him. It would cost him though, it would give them all one


    day full immunity from him. Every time he called in this fashion would give them one day. Mo one could


    resist it either unlike his ability as a reaper to call souls forward. Those in the room already were an


    exception. They were in the magic. ir however already had her three weeks and it was really for the


    man right here. He was going to show them what happened when you didn''t follow the rules. Or touch


    things that belonged to him.


    ir watched as people started to file into the room, looking a little like zombies until they entered.


    Then they looked horrified. None could leave however, and so they kept a far distance from Isaiah.


    Twelve people including ir, were spaced in the room. Two minutester the hell hounds came in,


    looking a little worse for the ware but breathing. They moved to sit behind Isaiah and watched the


    crowd. The doors to the room shut and everyone looked around.


    "Because I''ve done this, called you to me. You all have a full day of immunity from me and mine. So it


    would do if you''d rxed and listen to what I have to say." The man in the chair was looking very pale,


    his mouth a grim line. Isaiah gave a wave of his hand, the man cursed him but didn''t start screaming


    again.


    "I''ll exin this once so listen closely."


    "All of you," he started, epassing the group. "Belong to me, to this house. I decide when and how


    you will die and no one escapes me forever. If I don''t take care of you they will." He pointed to the hell


    hounds.


    "It hase to my attention that some in this group feel that you can reverse your condition, it''s not so.


    Even if someone shows up tomorrow and promises to free you, I doesn''t work. You signed your


    contracts and you can''t be released from it. Burning this house to the ground, or anything else will not


    kill me, but it will kill you." The room was silent and Isaiah took a moment to run through their minds


    and thoughts. Only ir and an older female weren''t readable.


    "I won''t tolerate destruction of this house or destruction of my property. Nor will the house and if you


    think you are going to burn it down, it will respond. I can hear what you were nning, or using magic.


    You think I''m stuck here because I like it? We¡¯re all stuck here. You live longer when you y by the


    rules." These mortals were ignorantly pathetic if they thought they could change what had been done.


    "Is the house alive?" Someone asked looking around. There was an oppressive feeling there. It was


    cold and a horrible angry feeling pressed in on them.


    "Yes. I''m going to set an example right here and now. If you piss me off your death is going to be very


    painful and drawn out. I like control, and I hate humans that feel they are worth more than they really


    are. s several of you seem to think."


    "We didn''t help him do it! He nned to do it no matter what. Destroying the rooms to make them


    easier to burn." A man said suddenly as Isaiah moved to the one that had been smashing up the


    house. He took his arm making him hold it up.


    "No but you gave him the tools, and hoped sacrificing him you''d burn your way out. I suggest you run


    the moment your immunity is up. They will hunt you down for what was done to them." He gestured to


    the hounds who''s eyes were narrowed. They remembered the faces.


    "Watch closely. I want you to see what I will do to you if you try to fuck with the house, hounds or me


    again." With that he snapped the man''s arm like it was a piece of kindling. The scream that came from


    him was horrible and most everyone jumped or let out a shocked sound.


    "I can''t watch this." ir heard Leanne say very quietly to Carlos. Isaiah looked at her.


    "You''ll watch if you want to leave the room. If you don''t then you''ve failed to do as I asked by calling


    you here. Zeta." He said turning his head.


    Zeta moved forward, the man had tears in his eyes. He was swearing and cursing. No one was going


    to step forward and help him. It was quite possibly the most horrible and scaring thing that any of them


    had ever seen. Isaiah had made his point very clear.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    They didn''t know if they should be more afraid of him or the hell hounds. Both of them had torn that


    man apart. Limb from limb and he''d been alive for most of it. His blood coated the floor, and the sound


    of crunching bones was horrid. The moment that they were able to, everyone fled the room and no one


    touched anything in the house either.


    They were too terrified to. To afraid that if they even identally broke something they would be taken


    apart piece by piece. Their bones smashed and broken while theyy dying there. The worst of it was


    the expressionless way that he went about it. Like it was just an annoyance having to do what he did to


    the man. Isaiah looked down at the hell hounds, blood coated their fur and mouths. Not much remained


    of the man who''d been there before.


    "I think I made my point perfectly clear."


    ¡®We should do it more often. The fear smelled so good.¡¯ Alpha shared via mind a shiver going down his


    body. Isaiah could feel the house''s approval. The atmosphere of the ce brightening considerably.


    This was not a ce that mortals ruled. This was a ce where monsters had control and liked what


    they liked.


    "It is however going to be a boring day tomorrow. Though mentally toying with them may be fun." Isaiah


    quipped.


    ¡®Break things around them.¡¯ Beta said sounding excited. ¡®How scared they would be then.¡¯ Isaiah liked


    the way that Beta was thinking. They might not be able to touch them, but they could y with them a


    whole hell of a lot. Breaking them psychologically.

 Chapter 30: The Issue at Hand

    Chapter 30: The Issue at Hand


    ir sadly was not shocked by Isaiah having killed that man. She, like the rest, avoided them for the


    next couple days. However she seemed to recover faster. This was life here and she had epted


    that. So she put her focus on thwarting Isaiah in being caught. She was more careful the next few times


    that she decided to shower. To be honest it was rather entertaining to purposely avoid him. She was


    always in a very good mood when she managed to avoid him for yet another day.


    Those in the house held her in a bit more disdain or possible hate as she could move freely and they


    could not. Though she did bring food from the kitchen and leave it ces. Sometimes Zeta would


    follow her and eat it thinking it was funny. Bitch.


    Their numbers were dropping now and ir was on herst few days of her three week allowance.


    She just wondered what would happen then. Once herst day approached.


    She guessed it would be back to staying more in the walls and being even more cautious of Isaiah. She


    didn''t think that she would get really any kind of promise anymore. It seemed more like he was just


    going to take from her rather than give her something in return. She rubbed her forehead in thought.


    She was starting to fold really fast when he did catch her and let him do what he wanted.


    ir sighed, she however was feeling rather good today. She''d had a decent meal again and cooked


    more than she needed leaving it for the others. She felt that they deserved something better than the


    canned food and what not. This was where they would die. On the dark side she was keeping Isaiah''s


    food source healthy.


    There really weren''t many of them left, and a rather bad storm had been raging outside for the better


    part of yesterday and today. Water was pooling all over the yard and running in rivers down the drive.


    She guessed that perhaps four were left in the house and she was happy to know that both Carlos and


    Leanne were left.


    ir walked down the hallway with a light step and held her hand out in front of her. A small crystal


    rotated in the air above her hand. She smiled and dropped her hand, the crystal staying where it was


    and the exact same distance from her body. She''d been practicing it a lot, wanting to get it just right


    and perfect her skill. When she had nothing to do, she practiced, and practiced. She knew the day was


    coming that she would have to use it. She could feel it in her bones, and keeping everyone else


    ignorant was a must. Her ace, and it sure seemed like no one was picking up on it.


    She brought her hand up and snatched it from the air. She set it down on a table in the hall and went


    into the ballroom. She turned in a quick circle, and then repeated iting out onto the middle of the


    floor.


    She mentally turned the music on flipping it to a song that she felt like dancing to. She was getting


    much better with her talents that was for sure. She thanked god for the one that mattered most, her


    ability to hide herself. One she''d used as a kid since she''d been bullied so much. It helped her go


    unnoticed and be left alone. Can''t hurt what you can''t find right? This ce was a whole different level


    than that of course. Clearly it had given her an up.


    ir spun and moved across the floor, she wore a ck dress today. It had a handkerchief bottom and


    it tied around the neck. She liked the way that it moved and twisted around her as she danced. It was


    just kind of freeing for her and after a while she felt her skin prickle. She became aware of his presence


    but she just did as she pleased. He didn''t speak, and she didn''t acknowledge him for a few minutes just


    waiting to see what he''d do.


    "I''m in a good mood today. I''d appreciate it if you didn''t tear me down." ir stated.


    "Seeing as you didn''t flee the room when I entered I''ll consider it." He said from where he leaned


    against the pir watching her. She moved with ease, fluid and graceful. Just watching her was a


    pleasure in itself. His gaze trailed over her and clearly liked what he saw.


    ir felt rather than saw him move, his hand caught hers as she spun. Then made her reverse and


    spin back to face him. His eyes were still hazel in color. Always a good sign in her opinion. She let him


    lead. One it was customary for the man to do so, and he was a control freak. The thought amused her


    for some reason but she kept the smile inside.


    "I have a slight problem ir." He confided to her. His steps forward matched her steps back, before


    she spun around himing back to take his hand and her other over his shoulder. It didn''t even


    bother her right now, she was on guard if he were to do something. She still had a few more days, so it


    wasn''t like today was the day he¡¯d kill her.


    "Which is?" She asked once again she kept her gaze from his. She did it for many reasons. Her main


    reason was that it was her form of control this time. He could not make her look at him if she didn''t


    want to. He did not control her will.


    "You." She''d half expected this to be the case. After all their situation was on her mind. She knew from


    the things that he said, no human ever lived very long. She had surpassed the expectations. ir was


    the longest lived human in this ce closing in on three months or so. Not including the winter sleep


    that they had.


    "And?" She asked mimicking his uncaring tone. She saw the very slight smile from him. That was a first


    he normally reprimanded her when she did such things. She was close to him, her body brushing his.


    She felt a bit of heat spread through her. God she was turning hopeless. She should be fighting and


    kicking and screaming. No, what did she do? She instead would justy down and take it, literally. If he


    wanted her, she''d let him and they both knew it. She''d do it rather than fight. Just one more thing that


    she had trained herself to get used to. Like the screams and death all around her.


    "And I haven''t decided whether or not I should leave you alive after your three weeks." Isaiah knew that


    the longer he kept her alive the more the chance was that she would get out. She knew the house. She


    moved through it like he did or the hell hounds. The risk was growing, and if she escaped she would


    own him.


    Eventually she might take a chance and try to escape. Any human that escaped the house would have


    direct control over him. That was any human that wasn''t the one needed to free him, she fell into the


    control category. He''d be free as long as that human lived, butpletely subject to their will. Yet she


    was the only one he had found for his needs. He really wasn''t willing to give that up yet and go back to


    being so unsatisfied with the desire coursing through him.


    "At least you haven''t decided yet." She said in that soft musical tone of hers. If anyone had been


    watching them it would have looked as if the two of them had practiced this dance many times. Like


    they werepletely at ease with the one dancing with them.


    The mental turmoil in them both was impossible to see even with a trained eye. They were talking


    about ir''s life like it was a trivial thing. Isaiah was truly on the fence with this decision and that had


    never happened before.


    Athena had been a simple lust filled moment that had ended up with him getting stuck here. He''d never


    been on the fence with her. He''d have outright done away with her if she hadn''t been pregnant. That


    was an odd thing in itself. He''d been unable to kill her with that knowledge, and after it had sunk in, it


    had been almost appealing. However she''d been sacrificed, and so had his unborn child. Their souls


    and magic had fed what was already here and unless he found another to take their ce he was


    stuck.


    ir was in a whole different category though from the lustful moment in the past. He enjoyed so much


    more about her than just her body and that troubled him. Oh, he could still picture killing her. He had no


    difficulty or guilt when thinking about it. However he found that he wasn''t sure that he wanted to. So


    long, so long he''d lived without feeling. Without really seeing the things around him, everything was just


    kind of grey.


    She fixed that somehow. She gave a new intensity to the things he wanted to do. The fact that she was


    exactly the kinds of things he''d want in apanion, if he had one, was the problem. Yes he had the


    hell hounds but it wasn''t the same. They didn''t think or see things the way that he did most times. At


    the end of the day they really were just his loyal pets. She interacted with him, spoke to him and offered


    a challenge as well. He was suffering the needs of the world of the living and hadn''t realized how bad it


    had gotten.


    He''d met others, men and woman that knew a little of this a little of that and had entertained him for a


    while. In the end they just failed to really do anything for him. All so relieved to have something that he


    enjoyed. They just jumped at the chance to please him and do as he said. Not ir, it annoyed and


    angered him at times but it was refreshing in a way.


    "Not yet." He responded after the silent moment. But he did have one idea in his mind. The one


    problem he saw was her mortality. She was not going to stay the same, she''d age and she''d die. If he


    kept her he''d want her as she was right now, always youthful, always holding that spark of life that had


    served her so well these past months.


    "You''re too kind." She said and he felt that amusement re up again. He stopped them and dipped his


    head down to take her mouth. She hesitated for a moment but then let him. There was a sharp gleeful


    part of him that relished that. She was normally very defiant in such things and that small allowance


    was something he''d been desiring. She might let him, but she wasn''t truly letting him. This felt different


    and that excited him.


    He pulled her against him before dropping his hands to bunch her dress up. His hands sliding up the


    smooth skin of her thighs. There was a sudden sharpness in his stomach and she froze. Then a cold


    feeling washing over them. He was forced to step back, the entry spell was in ce. Isaiah moved


    toward the windows on the east side of the house. This wasn''t exactly a normal visit, and he felt


    curiosity.


    ir moved away from him to the other side of the room and shut off the music and then moved to


    leave the room quickly. He let her, he was frowning at this. It was only a group of those that kept him


    trapped here. This visit wasn''t for his blood either. However that would be soon, that was a yearly thing.


    Isaiah moved to the front entrance as the doors opened. He couldn''t get within ten feet of the door.


    Leonardo tossed a man in the house. He went down sliding from the water that soaked him. Two others


    brought a man and a woman in and did the same to them.


    "Have at them Isaiah." Leonardo said. "Do what you wish. I''m sure you''ll be happy to lighten the drain


    on you."


    "Why the gift?" He asked looking down at the members of Leonardo''s family. The one man was his


    third son and his wife. The other man was his nephew.


    "They thought to change certain things." He said and moved out the door. Michael looked at Isaiah a


    moment and nced around. He was probably counting those that were still alive in the house with that


    talent of his.


    "Staying Michael?" Isaiah asked, besides Leonardo he''d love to get his hands on this one.


    "I''d hate to give you the satisfaction." He said moving to the door. "Vince will have to do instead."


    Anyone that had trapped him here would do. Sure the wife had nothing to do with it at all but she now


    leeched immortality from him.


    "There''s one more thing Isaiah. These three managed to bring a hell hound here. It''s yours now


    wherever it is running around here. It escaped the van and ran around the back." They''d brought him a


    hell hound? How''d they manage to get it trapped for transportation?


    If it was lose with no master then it could go where it pleased, do as it wished. He''d have to now track it


    down with the others and tie it to him. He wasn''t in the mood for this. A hell hound could cause Isaiah


    serious damage, he hoped it wasn''t fully grown yet. The doors closed and the three tossed in, got up


    moving away from him. They weren''t going to get far, all three of his hell hounds showed blocking them


    in.


    "It wasn''t our idea to put you in here." The nephew said.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "But you kept me in here, and the four of us have years to make up for. I haven''t fed in a few days. You


    and your family have grown and are wearing me down faster." Isaiah said, which was true he could feel


    it. His hunger was growing. Perhaps killing these three would help some.


    "They''ll bring you more in four days. You don''t need us." Leonardo''s son said.


    "No but I want to kill you." He emphasized the word want. They were surrounded and the second that


    the barrier came down the four of them were on the three. It took no more than five minutes to create a


    very bloody mess over the walls and floors. The blood would soak into the house, feeding it as well.


    Acting like a sacrifice to it.

 Chapter 31: Hell Hound Chooses Mistress

    Chapter 31: Hell Hound Chooses Mistress


    ir chose a plush bedroom to sleep. Tomorrow she would be staying in her old home once again just


    to get in the habit for sure. She had changed into normal clothes and curled up, she fell asleep. Her


    dreams were random and made no sense. At one point she swore that something warm and soft


    pressed to her face suffocating her. Then a burning in her arm. She''d moved herself grabbing blindly


    for a pillow to hug to her.


    She thought that the pillow felt oddly warm but she fell back into a deep sleep. She slowly woke


    knowing that it had to be mid morning. She opened her eyes. The smell of rose and sandalwood was in


    her nose and a good amount of ck fur in her face. ir sat bolt upright nearly flipping off the bed.


    Whatever was next to her darted off the bed and she got up looking around the room.


    "Hello?" She asked stupidly, moving toward the door. There was a sound of movement and around the


    edge of the bed a small wolf-like head poked around it.


    She noted the eyes. They were a brilliant red and scared looking for a moment and then fierce. The


    thing looked very much like a smaller version of the hell hounds, and to ir it was adorable. Deadly


    and scary, but adorable none the less. It had beenying with her, she''d been holding it. Could life here


    get any more strange? She didn''t think so, but if she learned one thing befriending the monsters was


    smarter than freaking out.


    "Okay, did I scare you?" She asked. It seemed confused for a moment making a very low whining


    sound. ir felt something brush her mind. It was a very odd thing, not a voice but a consciousness


    that gave her feelings and images in a jumble. It took her a moment to understand.


    "No? Not me, the others?" The images of Zeta, Beta, and Alpha came to her. The young one was


    terrified of the older ones. There was the image of older hell hounds in a very dark ce that didn''t look


    like anywhere ir had ever seen. The older ones seemed to go for the younger ones trying to tear


    them apart. Only the two parents defending the younger ones against the mass.


    "Well..." ir said crouching down. This was a very odd thing. She looked around the room and she


    got a warm amused feeling from the house. "...maybe..." At that moment there was a howl somewhere


    far off in the house and the little one ran and jumped on ir in her crouchedp. Its head sticking right


    into her armpit and it''s gaze moving behind her as it shook against her.


    "I''m only human you know." She put the images and feelings in her mind that the thing gave her into


    words. You could feel the meaning behind them. A whole different way ofmunicating your


    thoughts. She didn''t fight it, she let it happen. Just like everything else. In her mind ir had a rity


    happen. Heard the hound speak in images.


    ¡®They''ll eat me, I have no one. You have the reaper''s scent on you. He controls them.¡¯ The mental


    communication was going to take some getting used to. Reaper, she didn''t know how that word came


    to her mind but it did.


    "He does as he wishes. I can''t control him." ir looked at her arm. There was a bite mark there


    scabbing over. The thing had bitten her.


    "You bit me!"


    ¡®The reaper will not kill his mistress for now. Safe till I am grown. Then my master may switch.¡¯ ir


    was confused by this, but the shaking little body against her touched her deeply. Even if it would grow


    to be a killing machine. She felt a bit of a connection to it oddly. She looked at her arm. Damn it, for


    once could someone ask first?


    "Well where is your master then?"


    ¡®You.¡¯ Was the mental reply. ir didn''t like the sound of that, what would Isaiah do if he found out she


    had a hell hound apparently attached to her? ir stood holding the little hell hound. It was about the


    size of a small beagle at the moment. Its weight was surprisingly slight as it seemed underweight.


    "Come on." ir said moving from the room and moved through the house to the kitchen making sure


    that Isaiah and the others weren''t near her. They seemed rather worked up and frustrated. She was


    starting to wonder if they knew the little hell hound was here but couldn''t find it. Inside sheughed


    slightly, why she just epted this turn of events she didn''t know. It felt normal. Well as normal as


    things got here.


    "Here." ir said setting down a te of raw chicken from the fridge. She didn''t think it was going to be


    eaten anytime soon.


    ¡®Food.¡¯ It said and moved forward devouring it like a garbage disposal.


    "Do you have a name?"


    ¡®Name? No.¡¯ Came the mental impression.


    "Are you female?" ir got the feeling that it was a female just by the air and sense she had. It wasn''t


    speaking in words but the images and feelings could be interpreted as such.


    ¡®Yes.¡¯


    "Well I guess we should keep up with tradition. How about Gamma?"


    ¡®Okay.¡¯ She didn''t really seem to mind or care.


    "Could go with Kappa or..."


    ¡®Gamma. First I like.¡¯ She mentally answered, crunching on the bones and was done in five minutes.


    "Hungry I see." She sat on her hind legs and tipped her head. Red eyes staring at her. She looked so


    much the loyal dog that it was almost funny. ir felt the othersing this way and she told Gamma


    that they needed to leave. Gamma followed her, and they made their way far from the others. Looked


    like she needed to hide this little hell hound. She wasn''t sure how that was going to go seeing she


    needed to go back into hiding herself.


    Over the next three days she fed and hid Gamma. Though she didn''t think that hiding the hell hound


    was going to work for very long. Gamma was growing every day. Three days and she was the size of a


    largeb. Whatever the hell hound had done while she slept had created something in ir. She just


    couldn''t let her fend for herself or seek out Isaiah and tell him to take her.


    "How long does it take you to grow?"


    ¡®Depends on food.¡¯ Was the response. ir managed to piece together that Gamma was near the age


    of sixty three but was still a young pup by hell hound standards. At age sixty four they were fully mature


    but wouldn''t stop growing until the age of sixty six. That was if they didn''t reach their size first before


    then, or were deprived.


    "Gamma, Isaiah is headed this way." ir said sensing him and they moved to the door. However they


    were in the library and the entryway was across the room, it had no doors. Through this Beta suddenly


    showed. His head down following something he''d scented. She had somehow missed Beta at first. A


    critical mistake.


    ir turned, feeling him just a bit tote. His head came up and he stared at them for a moment. What


    seemed like shock passed behind the hell hounds eyes, and then they narrowed. Beta charged them.


    Gamma darted around ir, she wasn''t even half the size that Beta was.


    Gamma was between the wall and ir. Her head wrapped around ir''s leg and she let out a low


    nasty growl. Beta''s lip curled back showing teeth. Both hell hounds had fur raised along their backs.


    ir didn''t know what she was supposed to do with this. Her heart felt like it mighte right out of


    her chest. This was not a dog fight she wanted to witness. Beta nced at ir, Gamma gave an even


    nastier snarl moving from behind ir in front of her legs.


    "Gamma!" ir snapped. She couldn''t hope to win against Beta.


    Her ears were t to her head and her tail held close to her body. Beta moved forward his snarl leaving


    and he moved along Gamma''s side sniffing her. Jabbing with his nose a couple times. Gamma gave a


    snap at him but he snapped back nearly biting her.


    "Beta." Came Isaiah''s voice. Beta moved off to where Isaiah was now standing in the room.


    "What have you done this time ir?" He said in a dark voice. He sounded exasperated like she''d


    done it on purpose


    "I''ve done nothing. Nothing I wasn''t forced into." Isaiah''s gaze moved to the hell hound, and a frown


    came across his face.


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    "She is yet a pup."


    "Yeah I know." He looked at her. Something passing behind his eyes. "Hence why I was hiding her so


    you wouldn''t rip her apart."


    "I would have tied her to me, not ripped her apart." Isaiah was confused, no pup should be able to


    come through to the other side. She must have been on the verge of maturity to havee through


    then. Just what he needed when he had two males. Zeta being their sister did not set off their drives.


    "You chose a human?" He said to Gamma.


    ¡®I am much bigger now, stronger. She feeds and protects me as a master should. I can change at


    maturity if I so wish.¡¯ This was a very intelligent hell hound. He''d met seven in his life and killed four


    because they were uncontroble. Beta was the only other that had such a cognitive straight forward


    thought process like this one. Zeta and Alpha were a bit more short minded on things and their


    communications.


    "What am I to do with you ir." Isaiah sighed. He looked back down at the young hell hound. "You


    realize that I could kill her and just bind you to me."


    ¡®Yes.¡¯ She mentally spoke. Isaiah got the feeling that this hell hound was surer than he was, that he


    wasn''t going to kill ir anytime soon.


    "She matures in two weeks'' time." ir said, "Her name is Gamma, you''ll have to take it up with her if


    you wish to switch it." Isaiah felt amusement once again, only ir. He''d have killed any other on the


    spot for this or the way she dare talk to him. As if his opinion or desires didn''t count much.


    "I''m not sure I like your tone." He said his eyes growing a bit darker. Gamma gave a growl. Once hell


    hounds had a master they were bound to protect them to the best of their ability.


    "There are three to your one." He said to Gamma. her growl stopped but she watched him.


    "You have one day left ir." Isaiah said rather tly.


    "I know." He looked at Gamma.


    "Follow me Gamma. You have some things to learn and see. Gamma looked at ir and she gave a


    nod. Gamma moved off following Beta who left the room first.


    "Have you decided?" She asked Isaiah wanting to know what he was going to do. Their cat and mouse


    game would change depending on his answer. He looked her over and then moved toward the door.


    "You''ll know soon enough." Isaiah responded. "I''m sure you will give me trouble trying to find you


    again."


    "I''ll try my hardest."


    "I''d be disappointed if you didn''t." He smirked taking onest look at her and leaving the room.


    If he didn''t have to deal with the new hell hound he''d have grabbed her right there and kept her with


    him until herst day was up. However, inside his masochistic side liked the idea of a fair hunt. So that


    was what it was going to be with her. It truly was unfortunate that the hell hound was a more pressing


    matter. It had to understand the magic and tie to the house now. Things ir could not see. ir


    always seemed to get just enough of a chance to get away.

 Chapter 32: Old Habits

    Chapter 32: Old Habits


    ir gave a sigh looking up at the metal ceiling above her. She turned over and climbed out of the vent


    and into the hall. All was quiet at the moment. No one moving around. Granted no one was really left


    except Carlos and his wife. They hadn''te out in days and she figured that was best if they wanted


    to live.


    Gamma was still growing but with the suddenck of food she had slowed down. She always seemed


    to know when ir came out of hiding and would find her. It was no different today. Though she never


    led the others to her.


    Gamma was an easypanion. Content to look around and learn theyout of the house. There was


    an air of anticipation in her as more humans would soon be brought here. She could finally hunt


    herself. Beta it seemed had taken a keen interest in Gamma which the young hell hound didn''t seem to


    mind.


    ir felt the cool feeling sweep over her. It told her that the barriers were in ce for the arrival of the


    new people. Her only thought was to think how long she thought this group wouldst. She moved


    down stairs to see what kind of group they were bringing this time.


    She heard the ones in the kitchen. Good they had practically no food left. The house kept it fresh but


    couldn''t make more of it. The group being brought in she could hear was a tourist like thing again. Like


    she''d been brought in. she could smell the cooked food and so could Gamma. Right now she just


    looked like a ck Sheppard.


    ir went past the kitchen. She saw them moving in there. She ignored them and moved to the dining


    area. She heard someone call after her to stop but she didn''t. Fuck them she wasn''t going to indulge


    them by talking to them. Instead she went into the dining room. A group of seventeen were sitting there


    talking. How normal it looked, how foreign. Gamma could not enter the room and stopped in the hall


    sitting and watching her.


    "Oh are you are guide?"A woman asked.


    "No." ir said. She moved over and grabbed some food eating it. Carlos and Leanne showed up.


    They looked disheveled and dirty, and incredibly happy for the food.


    "Do you live here? Are you two sisters?"


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    "No." Leanne answered and she looked very withdrawn at the moment. Very hollow.


    "Then what are you doing?" A man asked.


    "They are eating. You won''t get a real meal again. I have eight minutes." Carlos and his wife grabbed


    food and ran from the room through the kitchen. It was clear they were not going to stick around for his


    time to be up. ir looked at him, grabbing a few more items while those around the table looked at


    Isaiah. It wasn''t sinking in with them yet. ir didn''t feel like exining anything.


    "I''d suggest you start running. He hasn''t fed in what five days?" ir noted that his eyes were more


    ck, but not the solid color. The hazel was gone. The rest weren''t noticing anything, but they were


    confused and a couple seemed uneasy now. She was counting the minutes in her head and so was he.


    "Something like that." The group looked between them. A few moved to the door the couple had gone


    out.


    "Several of them are perfect, wouldn''t you say?" Isaiah said to Alpha who looked fully hell hound.


    Everyone around the table jumped up. As always one went to try the outside door. Isaiah''s gaze was


    still on ir who moved to the kitchen. She was also not about to stick around, and his gaze felt glued


    to her.


    It had been six days since he''d seen herst and better than a week since he''d been able to touch her.


    It wed at him like a ravenous animal. He was more interested in getting his hands on her than the


    group. However his hunger was starting to outss that need.


    ir disappeared into the kitchen while the new group darted every which way. With the realization that


    they could not get out. Gamma paced toward Isaiah. She was extremely excited and he wanted to see


    how she would go after her prey. She was young and her technique would be different.


    "Two minutes." He said to them and all four hell hounds started to follow those that had run out of the


    room into the rest of the house. Isaiah took onest nce toward the kitchen and then moved off to


    take care of his hunger. First that, then ir so he didn''t do something by ident.


    ___ir___


    ir went into the kitchen and suddenly felt sick. The food she''d just eaten felt far too rich. She should


    have thought of that she was used to simple foods. At least that was what she was pretty sure it was.


    Not to mention the smell of a couple items was nauseating. She was sick in the sink. She''d remember


    this next time.


    She ran from the room, mentally trying to figure how much time she had left and then she found the


    vent she needed and went up. She grabbed her I-pod and put it in to ignore the screams that were


    going to being in a minute. Her stomach was still feeling upset and that made smells sharper to


    her. She just breathed even andid back to rx and just wait.


    It was some timeter when she needed to use the bathroom that she left. Putting her drawing items


    down and climbing out. Gamma rushed toward her looking very pleased with herself. She showed ir


    the human she managed to catch.


    ir felt kind of awkward not sure how to respond, but it was clear that she was proud of how she''d


    done it. ir noted that her method wasn''t nearly as messy but it was still brutal. She''d caught the man


    managing to paralyze him before starting to devour him. He''d been alive the whole time until he passed


    out and bled to death before she started on anything vital.


    "I can see you are a natural huntress." The praise made Gamma giddy, and she ran in a circle before


    bouncing alongside her to the bathroom. ir felt ashamed for giving praise at killing someone, but at


    the same time happy for the hell hound. This ce was definitely changing her, how could it not?


    ¡®My master asked where my mastera was, of course I said nothing. I very much enjoy you as my


    mastera you give me freedoms.¡¯ Gamma¡¯s mental speak was always very precise.


    "You are wee and thank you. You are a loyal and most trusted pack mate." ir said hoping that


    was a good thing to say. She didn''t want Gamma to think she looked down on her.


    "However I will say that if you should betray me..."


    ¡®Never.¡¯ Was her response. ir smiled at that and left the bathroom.


    "I must go back, I''m sure that you have plenty to chase down. To try a different style of hunting." This


    piqued Gamma''s interest and she turned to run off and find another human. ir stood looking at the


    grate before her for a moment. She honestly didn¡¯t feel like climbing in. She nced about and let out a


    sharp breath. How long could she keep living like this?

 Chapter 33: A Reward for a Promise

    Chapter 33: A Reward for a Promise


    ir went back to her home and tried to draw but just didn''t feel like it. She felt a bit mentally off. Living


    like this was just not how she wanted to keep going. She rubbed her forehead.


    She''d been going back to the studio regrly, but now she was holding back on that a bit. She just


    didn''t seem able to focus. She kept thinking about Isaiah and it was growing worse. She didn''t


    understand it. The more she tried not to think about him the more she would. It was horrible, how badly


    she wanted his touch. How badly she wanted to hear his voice and feel the possessiveness of him.


    She put a hand on her face. She was starting to wonder if she had Stockholm syndrome.


    She knew that the condition was where victims started to identify with their captors. They started to feel


    sympathetic toward them. Developed feelings for them. She didn''t feel hate toward him anymore. She


    was lost at what she felt toward him. Yet she knew that her skin crawled with want of his touch. She put


    her head on her knees.


    She was getting very tired of hiding, tired of living like this. It was useless and hopeless. He''d catch her


    one of these times when she slipped up. Wouldn''t it just be better to go to him when she wanted to?


    Really it was her choice. If he simply wished to use her and then kill her it might be better than living


    like this.


    ir was feeling depressed. Her emotionstely had been swinging from one end to the other. She


    knew she was just growing tired of it all. ir moved to the edge and climbed down. She went out into


    the hall to go clean up and dress. Then back into her little home. She''d decided on her next course of


    action. She was going to just hand herself over to fate.


    Justying there thinking she fell asleep. When she woke her mind had not gotten better. Just felt lost


    and needful. Sad and resigned at the same time so she moved and climbed out of the vent and slowly


    walked thinking. She moved to the closet of dresses. Went through them to find what she wanted for


    what she was going to do. She wanted him to be in a good mood. Receptive and her doing what he


    liked got her that. ir stood turning to face the mirror in the room that she was in. She didn''t know


    how he would respond to what she had in mind.


    She wore a white dress from the closet. It was shorter with a deep plunging neckline. She didn''t wear


    shoes, she never did anymore. No point to it, it was easier to move silently in the house without them.


    ir gave a nod to herself in the mirror. Her dark hair fell in soft waves around her, and her eyes were


    tired looking. She felt tired, hence why she was just going to go and find him to see just what he had


    nned.


    She moved down the halls slowly feeling for where he was. As she should have guessed, the piano


    room. He really enjoyed that room. He really enjoyed music period. It was an odd thing, something so


    simple and normal. It just didn''t fit his image of a killer and creature.


    ir had everything set for what she was going to say. With a deep breath she moved to the doorway


    of the piano room. The music was gentle but a kind of darkness to it. She just stood there for a moment


    in the doorway unsure of what she wanted to say now. It just didn''t seem to be right, it had been easier


    on the walk here. His eyes were looking down, but they closed for a bit longer than a normal blink. She


    knew that he sensed her there. He looked up still ying, his eyes hazel as it moved over her.


    "I''m surprised to see you." Was all he said, though she could see that more than one thought was


    going through his head. There was also a critical look. She was sure part of him wondered if she was


    going to attack or something. No one approached him so calmly. There was no turning to run now and


    she knew that.


    ir nced away from him and stealing herself she moved over toward where he was ying. He


    watched her, she could tell that he was truly confused by her approach when she never willingly did


    such a thing.


    "I have something to ask you. Well, more of a request really." She''d haveughed if she wasn''t feeling


    so dower. He looked her over clearly seeing if she had a weapon or something. Which she didn''t, and


    his gaze moved over her a bit differently a momentter. He stopped ying, a slight smile came to


    him.


    "I don''t give things for free you know." He stood to his full height and ir tried to not feel too


    intimidated by his presence. She had made up her mind, and she was going to do this her way. She


    would get her request or she would just rather die now. She failed horribly though at not feeling


    intimidated. Hence she didn''t meet his eyes. However she came here to do this and just get it over


    with, and she wasn''t going to back down.


    "It''s not really a request that I think you''d get nothing out of." ir moved forward standing very close


    to him she raised her hands and hesitated a moment. Isaiah just watched her. Her actions were very


    odd and he didn''t know what to make of them. Always the enigma, he honestly did not know how to


    react to this yet.


    ir put her hands on the top of his chest. A soft touch but one nheless, and he enjoyed even the


    slightest touch from her. She moved her hands closer together taking hold of the front of his shirt,


    where she kept her gaze. He could feel that she was trembling slightly. His desire to see what she was


    going to do kept him from taking action. He felt excitement suddenly.


    "I''m tired, very tired. I don''t feel much like running anymore. Nor do I wish to hide for long periods of


    time ying cat and mouse." He heard it in her voice and a bit of sadness. That was interesting to him.


    ir didn''t tend to be much like this. He wondered what had brought it on. The fact that he thought


    about it. That he found it mattered made him wonder about himself.


    "What exactly do you wish to ask ir?" He questioned looking down at her. She had undone the top


    button of his shirt and moved to the next. Her hands slightly shaky but growing stronger. She nced


    up at him and he saw a bit of that spark that drove her. He still wasn''t sure what she was doing. She


    had to know the second she came near him, he wasn''t going to let her walk away. It had been over a


    week. Near two since he''d enjoyed herst and he wanted again.


    "I don''t know if you''ve made up your mind yet. So, I ask that when you get around to it, you kill me


    quickly. I''d prefer to not have a drawn out and painful death. It''s the only thing that I''m asking." He was


    having a problem focusing on what she was saying.


    He had to really recenter himself for a second because other thoughts were running through his head.


    She''d undone the buttons of his shirt now. Slid her hands against his chest to his side, his body


    responded instantly. He looked at her, his eyes darker now with lust. She really got a reaction from him.


    A very forceful one and all she had to do was touch him.


    "Would you promise me that?" She asked, he didn''t really see why not. To be honest if he was going to


    kill her it wasn''t going to be all that painful with the way he''d do it.


    "Yes, I give my word." She seemed to rx a little and he wondered if perhaps she''de in this room


    with the chance that she might not be leaving it. Actually that was probably her exact thought. He


    wasn''t ready to be rid of her, and he wasn''t sure that he wasn''t going to keep her yet. He¡¯d never felt


    torn on a decision before and he really thought about it now.


    "Thank you." She said leaning forward and pressing her mouth to his chest. He tensed at the action.


    ir had never voluntarily done such a thing, it was always him. He always had to be the one to start it


    to force her hand. Over the weeks that she had been free he''d had to actively hunt her down for this.


    Coax her to participate, and her mouth lightly kissing his chest instantly made him hard and needful. He


    felt transfixed for a moment watching her. She was so very different from all the others. The intimacy


    was real, not a forced thing right now.


    She moved her mouth down his chest to his stomach slowly and even if he''d wanted to speak he


    couldn''t have. His body burned from her touch. He''d had others that had touched him this way, but he''d


    never had such a strong reaction. Never truly wanted their touch. Her though, it felt like a hot brand


    instead of her mouth.


    ir moved her hands from his sides to the edge of pants, sliding them to the front. They were low


    already on his hips and the brush of her fingers was soft and made the skin there tingle slightly. She


    undid the top of his pants. His hand went to the hair at the back of her head. He took a fistful of it and


    forced her head up to look at him.


    "Why?" He asked, not that he didn''t want her to. Or now that she was on her knees he wasn''t going to


    make her continue. She was such an enigma to him. She was actively trying to please him. Just the


    fact that she touched him of her own free will was a thrill in itself.


    "Because as much as I tried not to, I want you." Her gaze moved from him. He saw that it tore at her


    that she could want him. That she did want him not because it would give her time or freedoms, but


    because she genuinely wanted his touch. A deep satisfaction came to him. He felt a very strong glee at


    this. That he''d managed to snare her this way.


    "Besides," She said pulling the edge of his pants down farther. "You don''t give things for free. I''m sure


    you''d like your reward." She brought her head forward and took him into her mouth. He made a low


    hissing sound. Her mouth felt damn good sliding over him. Nearly as good as her body always did. The


    hand he had in her hair tightened to the point of pain.


    The woman was perfect, and his, his perfect little female. She moved with slow deliberate movements


    sucking him. She took all of him too despite his size and her slight reflex. She nced up at him and it


    was sexy as hell her hooded expression. It wasn''t enough though,ing in her mouth would be


    satisfying, making her swallow around him. However, sinking between her legs was what he enjoyed


    most.


    It took him a good amount of effort to move. He pulled her up so she was flush against him, she met his


    gaze. While his was ck hers was a bright aqua. He''d already been very close to deciding how to


    deal with her. Her action right now sealed the deal. He brought his hands up and tipped her head up by


    holding either side of her neck. His thumbs braced under her jaw.


    "I want to hear your voice." He loved the sound of it, even when she talked it was soft and musical.


    "Sing for me." She looked confused, like she didn''t get it. That was clearly not what she''de in here


    for. If it was a thing of his she''d do it. She started to sing, and he moved pulling her with him. He didn''t


    know why nor did he really care. Sound was stimting to him. Especially rhythmic sound, he pulled


    her back to the chase lounge.


    Isaiah sat and pulled her so she had to kneel on either side of him. He bunched the material of her


    short dress and held it to her hips pulling her down onto him. There was a hitch and a very slight pause


    in her song but he enjoyed her reaction. The way her body tensed around him. He brought a hand up


    to the back of her neck.


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    He moved his mouth over the front of her throat. Could feel the soft vibrations against his lips. With his


    other hand he forced her hips to move. Lowered his other hand to have more control over her


    movements. Making her ride him, and what a terrific slick glide she was. She paused again with a


    sharp moan. He ripped the top of the dress so it pooled at her hips and he had ess to her full firm


    breasts. He bit down on the soft flesh nearly breaking skin. It just made her voice hitch again.


    ir dropped her hands to his shoulders and moved with his guidance. Her body felt so good to him,


    so tight and hot. He forced her down harder onto him, and he lowered his head to the side of her breast


    sliding his tongue over it before sucking lightly. She was incredibly wet and grew more so. Her body


    was clearly begging him to do as he pleased, and he suddenly wanted full control. If her body was


    begging to be fucked then he was going to do it proper and hold her down while he did it.


    He took hold of her and turned pulling her below him on the lounge and covered her mouth with his


    silencing her. Isaiah moved his body with a desperate need. She moaned into his mouth, her hands


    digging into his shoulders through the material of his shirt. He ground into her, one leg around him and


    the other braced against his arm lifted higher. She could not help the little sounds she made.


    There was something different about the way that he took her this time. ir just knew it, she could


    feel it. He was just as demanding, just as rough and intense, but it just felt different to her. He ground


    into her, his left hand going to her hip. Then lower on her thigh gripping it and pulling it up tighter to him


    than loosely over him. He thrust into her lifting her hips off the lounge. He lifted his head a slight growl


    emanating from him before moving it closer to her neck and ear.


    "I want to taste you, so very much." He said against her throat closing his mouth over it, but he didn''t


    break the skin. He couldn''t so long as the promise he''d just made a few minutes ago held. Yet he didn''t


    think she would deny him. All she had to say was yes and he could take again. She put a hand to the


    back of his head.


    "Yes." She gasped out and he bit down instantly. Her cry of pain was sharp but short lived. The hot


    sweet liquid poured into his mouth. The energy in it was what he really wanted. ir was so full of life,


    even in her depressed state she''d been in as ofte.


    ir cried out arching against him. He moved harder and faster, she couldn''t think anymore. It felt like


    he was in the back of her throat again. When he got like this, she didn''t know how she managed to take


    him. He felt like velvet wrapped in steel inside of her with how hard he was. He pulled her body onto


    him as he fully buried his body in hers for his release. He gave a muffled hoarse cry against her neck.


    His tongue moving over her throat before he looked down at her.


    His ck eyes impossible to read. His body sated in one go. He grabbed her arms pulling them from


    him and gripped her wrists in one hand. He pinned them above her head bent slightly near the top of


    the lounge. His body still in her. Hers still rippled around him and he enjoyed the feel. He held her


    pinned there and raised his free left wrist to his mouth and bit down hard. He saw the sudden spike of


    fear in her eyes. She couldn''t go anywhere, and fighting him would be useless. He had her where he


    wanted her and so he''d do as he pleased. She shifted below him, and his body jumped in response to


    how hers gripped him for a moment.


    "Open your mouth ir." She kept it closed. This was not what she expecteding in here. She


    wasn''t exactly sure what he was doing. Just that she knew it would probably be more control over her


    or something. She didn''t want her will stripped away.


    "Open it or I will force it open, even if I have to break your jaw." She hesitated for a moment and then


    opened her mouth. He pressed his bleeding wrist to her mouth.


    "Swallow." He said knowing that the blood was pooling in her mouth.


    ir tasted the warm blood that seemed to pour into her mouth. It was coppery, yet had an odd almost


    licorice taste to it. She didn''t want to swallow because she didn''t know what would happen after she


    did. She hadn''t even wanted to open her mouth, but she didn''t doubt that if he got angry enough he


    really would break her jaw.


    She could feel a little bit of the blood running down the side of her face. He leaned down, his arm at a


    bent angle against her mouth. He still held her wrists. She wanted to bolt from the room to get far away


    from this, but it was far toote for that.


    His mouth closed over the front of her neck and he bit down. Not hard enough to break the skin or


    cause damage but enough to bruise. She couldn''t help the need to make a sound of pain and the blood


    rushed down her throat. He did it to make her swallow the blood. She felt a couple hot tears from the


    pain of him biting her throat. He studied her for a moment.


    "Again." He said to her. Her eyes narrowed but this time she swallowed on her own. "Better." He said to


    her clearly annoyed.


    Isaiah could see the questions and anger in her expression. There was a touch of fear as well but just


    the passion that she seemed to feel everything with. He watched her gaze waiting, it would just be one


    second and he''d know it had been done.


    ir went suddenly very still and the slight sound of a gasp came against his wrist. What he''d been


    waiting for happened. Her vivid green eyes changed like an odd paint spilling over them. The solid


    ck taking over. He pulled his wrist away from her and her eyes went back to their normal color. After


    this they would never change like that again. He looked at his wrist for a moment. The wound was


    nearly healed now.


    "What did you do to me?" She asked. ir had felt ice run down her spine and then her vision had


    grown sharper but duller in color.


    "I''ve made you immortal." He answered like it was a trivial matter. He wanted to keep ir and her


    mortal condition wasn''t going to allow him that. She was immortal. Though not truly like he was. She


    would heal from most wounds and live so long as no one did her any real damage.


    "You...but why?" He could see that she''d clearly thought he''d choose to kill her.


    "I enjoy you very much ir. I want you here until I decide otherwise."


    "I don''t know what to say to that." She said, because she really felt... owned. More like a piece of


    property than before. However she was being given life. She had value and so long as he felt that she


    was valuable. She would have freedoms she hadn''t before.


    "It doesn''t really matter. The same rules still apply to you. They''re always going to apply to you so long


    as you live."


    "What if I get away?" She asked. She didn''t think that she would but she had to ask. His gaze grew


    very dark, he didn''t answer at first.


    "I suggest that you don''t think about it. I''ll kill you or anyone I feel has even a remote chance of leaving


    this ce."


    "Understood." She said. "I just hate being property."


    "So do I." She looked at him. Living here she tended to forget that he was owned just as much as she


    was. Those that trapped him here did indeed consider him to be their property. Their living battery, at


    least they left him alone most of the time. They didn''t have to live in fear every day. Wake up every


    morning and wonder if today was theirst day.


    He lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss wasn''t as harsh or demanding as normal. It was closer to a slow


    and leisurely tasting of her. ir let him, and kissed him back as well. Why she was so torn on this she


    didn''t know. Logically she should never want this, but she did. There wasn''t much she could do about it.


    Isaiah''s head suddenly snapped up and he looked toward the door of the room.


    "Fuck." He snarled and moved quickly getting up and pulling her with him. She had no idea what


    caused his sudden anger and irritation. Plus there was an unease there. What would make him feel


    unease? She also noted the atmosphere of the house changed too.


    "Hide, and don''te out no matter what." Hemanded. His tone very serious. He moved toward


    the door pulling his pants fully up. ir felt a little unsteady and she was confused but she left the


    room, and changed quickly.


    ir was leaving the room to go to the vents when Gamma came running around the corner. She


    came up to ir following her. She had been sent to make sure that she would indeed follow


    instructions. Not to mention the hell hound had to see to her safety.


    From Gamma she managed to get that the family was here. They wereing to find Isaiah to get


    blood from him and to kill her. She didn''t think they could do that, wasn''t that against the rules? But


    what did she really know? Only bits and pieces. What would they care about some woman stuck in


    here?


    "Why?" ir asked Gamma. How did they even know about her, even remember her.


    ''Michael has seen you, he thinks you are a threat to them.'' Gamma mentally spoke. ir remembered


    back to when they were here earlier. She''d heard one of them called out to her. They¡¯d shouted for her


    to stop ande back in the kitchen. She¡¯d ignored them, had it been Michael? ir got into the vent


    and hid. She wasn''ting out until she was sure that the coast was clear. Isaiah was no longer the


    type of danger she needed to fear most. Michael and his family were.

 Chapter 34: Where is She

    Chapter 34: Where is She


    "You''re sure?" Leonardo asked. "If she''s been here that long. He would have done something with her


    by now. Besides, he wouldn''t stop until he could use her to free himself."


    "I''m telling you she''s been here since before winter. I remember her, I personally told her about this


    ce." Michael said watching his mother work an incantation to freeze the hell hounds and Isaiah


    where they were. He typically wasn¡¯t on kitchen duty, but thest time he was. He recognized the


    woman, something about her had stuck with him.


    "You checked her didn''t you?"


    "Yes, she didn''t have what was needed. I''m sure of it. I didn''t even get the slightest sense of her being


    psychic nor the strength."


    "It''s better to be safe than sorry." Michael''s uncle Topaz said. When his mother finished she got back in


    the car. The three of them were going up to the house with a few guns for hire. The guns for hire didn''t


    know that they were going to be left there. A sacrificial trade, they weren¡¯t taking anyone out of the


    house. Just eliminating a few sooner.


    The three of them got into the cars there and drove to meet the men. Then take them to the house.


    What Felicia had done wouldn''t take effect until they hit the property. It was a good time now to


    reinstate the ritual, and it would keep Isaiah froming at them as they killed this woman still alive.


    Leonardo was the one that addressed the men.


    "It''s a good drive, but you can have anything you want on the property and you can do whatever you


    want to the upants. We just need those living there taken care of. Especially a woman living there.


    She has dark ck hair, stands about five eight with a slender build. Kill her and we''ll give the one that


    gets her arge bonus." There wasn''t anything said between the group here, all of them men this time.


    This group had signed. They''d used false names, but the document would change it the instant it was


    closed. It wasn''t the name written, it was the person. They thought it was an agreement so if someone


    turned on the others they would know who. All these men were going to be left since they were going to


    take out most of the food source that Isaiah had. Isaiah had to stay supplied and healthy if they wished


    to live. He would be frozen to reinstate the ritual. Which would allow them a short period of free reign


    over the house and the upants.


    "Michael will drive one van. I have the other." Leonardo said and they got in the vehicles. It was a quiet


    drive though these men seemed excited about this. All of them were the darker half of society. They


    should thank him for ridding them of such dark criminals.


    "Anyone in the house is disposable?" A man asked as they had finally reached the drive that brought


    them to it. It was nearly a two hour drive.


    "Yes, any of them. Take whatever you want."


    "Do we have to kill them quickly?" Another asked.


    "Whatever you want. We don''t really care. Make sure you get any youe across though. I''ve


    already given you half. The other half is when we get back." The two that had spoken smiled at each


    other but it was Leonardo that was really going to have theugh at their expense.


    "Holy shit." A different man said looking at the house. "This ce has to be loaded." There were twelve


    men in all in the two vans. They came up to the front door and the men took out their weapons.


    "They won''t be expecting this. Most the house is dark, leave a man with dark hair and dark eyes alone.


    I need to deal with him personally. He''ll be waiting for us." They all gave a nod and Michael let them in.


    They wouldn''t being back out.


    Leonardo went in and then down the hall to a sitting room where he knew Isaiah would be. where he


    was supposed to be when this happened. He entered the room. His son and brother looking for the


    dark haired woman. They would personally see to it.


    He entered the room and Isaiah''s gaze moved to him though he didn''t move. He sat perfectly still in a


    chair there. The four hell houndsying around him. None of them moved but growls emanated around


    him. Leonardo moved over to him, knowing full well that he couldn''t move or do anything. Neither could


    the hell hounds and so he felt very safe at the moment. There was the sound of gunfire somewhere in


    the house.


    "Turn your arm over." Leonard said to Isaiah whoplied instantly and presented him with his left


    arm. Leonardo took out a syringe, it held an opaque liquid. It was abination of things that they


    needed. With syringes it was so much easier than forcing it down his throat. It caused his blood to run


    thicker and what he was toe very close to the surface.


    Isaiah watched the needle go in, the slight sting. The only thing he could move were his eyes and his


    mouth if he wished to speak. He slowly felt the burn up his arm. The second the liquid hit his heart his


    heartbeat would shoot through the roof. It was painful, like a human having a heart attack.


    "Why have you been keeping a dark haired female alive all this time?" Leonardo asked, and in this


    state he had to answer truthfully to the best of his knowledge. However Isaiah was very good at


    manipting what he was to say.


    "I''ve kept no one alive on purpose." Isaiah answered, which was the half-truth in a way. He hadn''t


    nned on keeping her around. It wasn''t until today that he''d decided to permanently keep her. He


    didn''t think that qualified as all this time.


    "Where is the dark haired woman?"


    "I don''t know, in the house somewhere." Isaiah said and Leonardo looked at him taking a silver knife


    and slicing into Isaiah''s wrist. His heart was beating against his chest like it wanted to escape. It forced


    blood far too thick through his body.


    "Is she what you need?"


    "No."


    "Do you know for sure?" Leonardo asked and he held Isaiah''s arm over a silver funnel. The dark blood


    slid down it and into a silver sk, with markings all over etched into the surface.


    "If she had been what I needed wouldn''t I have left by now? Used her the way that I needed?" Isaiah


    growled impatiently. He was severely annoyed that the man was touching him. He couldn''t just kill him.


    He wouldn''t even drink from him. He''d just like to see it spread across the floor as the man slowly died.


    "She must mean something. What is she to you then?" There was more gunfire upstairs. Isaiah''s gaze


    met Leonardo''s.


    "She is what I want. She does for me what no other human seems capable of doing."


    "That is?"


    "To provide suitablepany, for a multitude of reasons." Isaiah said, his eyes were ck now and he


    could feel his canines. His body was moving toward a very high strung state. He always hated how out


    of control he was once they released him. His skin was darker now as well. His back itched from the


    hidden wings.


    He craved and desired. When he couldn''t fulfill his needs he became more than violent. His real side


    woulde through and he''d tear through the house until he got what he needed. Until he calmed


    himself enough. Which would take a very long time if they got ir or every person in the house.


    "Well we don''t much care for the liking you''ve taken to her. We will be staying until we find her and kill


    her." Isaiah felt a very angry spike in him. Like hell they were. He thought quickly and then he hoped


    that what he''d just thought of worked.


    "Where do you think she is? Can you find her mentally?" Isaiah looked at him. He''d been stripped of so


    many powers when he came in here, but they couldn''t take most of his mental endowments or a couple


    other talents.


    "Yes." He''d used no name so he could find any of the women in the house. Except ir. He just said


    her, pretty nondescript. Leonardo¡¯s problem, not Isaiah¡¯s.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "Then tell me where she is. Her and any other woman in the house." Isaiah narrowed his eyes, he


    knew what Leonardo was doing. He knew what happened to Isaiah. How primal he became and the


    drive for everything basic and simple revved up.


    "She is on the third floor. Fourth bedroom on the north side of the house after the mirror room."


    "Not so hard." Isaiah felt his fingertips tense on the chair. His nails starting to dig into them. The longer


    he sat here, the worse it was going to get for him. His senses were so sharp right now, sight, sound,


    smell, touch... he needed to get up and tear through the house. The energy in him was eating at him.


    Leonardo used a walkie-talkie to speak with the others and told them where she was. Then he had


    Isaiah tell him where all the others were.


    "Don''t worry, I''m leaving a group of well trained men behind. You should have plenty of fun with them."


    With that he turned and left the room. Once he was gone, Gamma stood and nced at Isaiah.


    "No." Isaiah said and she sat back down. If she started after him then the others would know he wasn''t


    in control of her. They¡¯d tear the house apart, not stopping till they found ir. Plus he wanted to be the


    one to kill the man when the time came. Gamma was never going to be able to take them alone. Isaiah


    breathed through his nose and a growl came out of him. He hoped they killed Leanne quickly with the


    couple other women and got out. He couldn''t take this restraint much longer.


    __Michael___


    "Anyone here? We''re here to help you, to get you out!" Michael called moving down the hall. They''d


    gotten one by saying that. It wasn''t working too well this time. However they heard more gun fire


    through the house and knew that they were killing those still here.


    Michael heard what Leonardo said and they made haste to the room where they were told. They went


    up and down the hall toward the back of the house. They opened the door and went in. Michael pointed


    to an opening up in the ceiling. Topaz was the one that spoke.


    "Hello? We''re looking for survivors." There was a slight movement in the opening and then a man came


    down. He looked rough and hollow.


    "You are?" He asked not looking very trusting. Michael cursed he thought that she was supposed to be


    in the room.


    "Yes,e on." Michael said. Topaz was turning to leave the room. There was noise and then a


    woman came from the ceiling. He say the dark hair and smaller stature of the woman. She moved


    climbing down with her back to them as she gripped the edge of the opening to drop down.


    "Carlos," She started and Michael recognized her as the woman from nearly a year ago. He lifted his


    gun and fired. Shot her right in the head and she fell forward against the dresser that she''d climbed


    down from. Topaz turned and shot Carlos. Done, easy as that.


    "Looks like she was in here, that was her right?" Michael looked at the dead woman. The bullet passed


    through the back of her head and front. Her face had hair and blood. Half ruined but he recognized her.


    "Yes." Michael said and looked at the womanying on her side. She had the same dark hair same


    smaller figure. He wasn''t always in charge catching all the people to use. The entire family had to do it,


    he always came outside to at least check for ability. Scanning groups for a psychic signature. He did


    interact more with the tour like groups. That was his method of capture and she¡¯d been in one. They


    moved on to the next rooms and did as they were told. All of them were rather relieved. They didn''t


    take chances where Isaiah was concerned.


    "He''ll think twice before doing this again." Topaz said.


    "Probably thought it was a good game. He''d kept her alive for a long time. Probably just dicking with


    us."


    "More than likely, but he''s fucked now. He''ll only have that group of men to tear through only able to


    feed one hunger. Unless he gets desperate." They both gave a shortugh and moved to find


    Leonardo so they could leave. The men in the house were looting it. While Michael knew there were


    still some left in the house from before it didn''t really matter, and none were female.

 Chapter 35: Relieved

    Chapter 35: Relieved


    ir stuck her head out of the vent looking. She saw a man with his back to her. A pillowcase on the


    floor he was looking through it. One of his guns behind him on the floor. ir held out her hand and it


    zoomed to her noiselessly. She put the strap over her shoulder as she held herself there by her legs.


    She climbed down to her little home and stored it there. Never know when one mighte in handy.


    She went out the other side. There had been no gun fire for some time now and she was starving. She


    couldn''t remember when she atest. She knew that the fifteen minutes were well over. She just didn''t


    know where Isaiah was or the hell hounds.


    She wasn''t really worried about getting shot. She went into the kitchen and made herself some food


    and downed it. She grabbed the milk and was bobbing her head to a tune that only she could hear. She


    moved around the center ind cleaning up her mess. The ck granite counter tops free of debris


    she leaned against the one counter and looked up.


    She was staring at the pots and pans, and thought that it might be fun to draw them in some abstract


    way. Their shadows leaving a very interesting design. She felt Isaiah then, he was moving through the


    house not far from her. He was a jumble of emotions though none really out shining the others. He


    seemed rather worked up for some reason.


    The hell hounds she could feel a cold joy running through them. She didn''t think that the men in the


    house would have guns much longer. ir stayed where she was for a few more minutes, and then


    moved around the kitchen to leave. Isaiah popped up in the doorway and she let out a sharp cry of


    surprise. He must have been moving very quickly through the house to just show up here that fast. He


    just grabbed her lifting her up and moving back set her down on therge center ind.


    He moved very quickly pushing her farther back on the counter with a bit of force and came up after


    her. She didn''t know what he was doing. His eyes were solid ck. She could feel reliefing from


    him so strongly it was infecting her, as was his desire. He felt wild, something she hadn''t felt from him


    before.


    "You couldn''t possibly know how d I am to see you alive right now." He said, bringing his mouth to


    hers and forcing her down. He tore at her clothes like a wild animal. Shredding it and his own, he had


    no care about anything right now. Just that ir was here and he could have her body. He could


    relieve the tension in him, he was more than high strung right now.


    Isaiah, had remained frozen in ce for a good amount of time. The second that he''d been freed he''d


    torn through the house. Found one man, killed him to feed in a rather savage way. Then tore through


    the rest of the house to find ir. Killing wasn''t going topletely relieve the tension in his body. It


    wasn''t going to stop the surge from the drugs and potion they put in him to reinstate the ritual.


    He''d been so relieved to see her. He''d known that she wouldn''t have been caught by them. There was


    still that small part that wondered for sure. He couldn''t know until he came upon her body. They''d killed


    Leanne mistaking her for ir.


    The hell hounds were looking for the men that hade into the house. He could hear the fighting and


    noise telling him they found a few of them. Isaiah shut it out. He just wanted the woman before him. He


    didn''t hesitate to take her either. This would be the fastest he''d manage to calm himself. It would be a


    while before the drug ran its course but he''d be more in control.


    He put both his hands in the thick mass of her hair on either side of her head. His body already moving


    in hers. Why did she feel so damn good? What was it about ir that no other woman seemed to


    have? Her body gripping his so perfectly. The soft moist heat of her felt incredibly good every damn


    time. Like she was made for him. She fit him perfectly and he just couldn''t help the uncontroble


    desire for her that seemed to grow worse every time.


    Her sounds of pleasure just drove him on, desiring more, needing more. His hands dropped to the


    counter above her shoulders. He felt his hands curve slightly, his nails digging into the granite. He had


    ws sharper than knives in his other form and right now they''d sliced into the counter top. He moved


    one hand to her hip raising her slightly to take her deeper.


    Isaiah felt her body contract around his, and she gave a deep moan. The cry caught in her throat. His


    mouth moved over the front of her throat then. He however followed, his release quick and sharp. He


    pulled from her hopping down from the counter. She moved, and seemed rather dazed at the moment.


    He just picked her up, taking her with him through the house. She gave a cry of surprise as he picked


    her up.


    He wasn''t finished with her yet not by far. He didn''t even speak to her as he tossed her in the bedroom


    he stopped at, pinning her face down and forcing his body back into her. This was what he needed right


    now, and she would give him what he wanted. He needed to control the darkness inside of him or go


    feral and ir was the perfect one to use for this.


    __ir__


    ir moved through the library going over the books there. She was frustrated that they didn''t seem to


    tell her much about reapers. After the other day she needed to know more about this ritual. She wanted


    to know more about Isaiah. Just what made him work, she had yet to run into one of the men who''d


    come in and killed off most of those here.


    That had been two days ago. She was rather d that Isaiah was normal again. Well as normal as he


    could get. She''d stayed with him the past two nights. Though the second night she''d been surprised


    when he only wanted her presence and nothing more.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Gamma was downstairsying on the floor. Beta was here as well but he was staring up at therge


    firece like he found the design of the bricks very interesting. She''d wondered what hell hounds did


    with their free time. They tended to sleep or stare at things. She was growing discouraged looking but


    something inside told her she was in the right area now. Her intuition telling her so.


    ir found a book that was very old and had a ck leather cover. She flipped it open. It was in the


    ult section. She''d spent yesterday and the better part of today looking for anything that would help


    her. The moment she flipped this open she knew that she would have at least a little to work with.


    About time, she''d been in here for hours.


    She moved down the stairs and sat down in a chair to read. Gamma didn''t know a lot about reapers


    just that she knew that Isaiah was one. She said that only reapers could tie a hell hound to them with a


    simple taste of blood. Hell hounds otherwise could choose who they wanted as their master. She hadn''t


    wanted to belong to a reaper.


    ir read through the book, it was hard to read as it was handwritten. Still she got a few bits of good


    information assuming that it was true. Reapers it seemed were the personification of death. If brought


    to the human ne they would need to live off the energy of the living to keep themselves sane and


    functional.


    Reapers had many different talents. Able to hypnotize with a look and read the minds of others. Now


    ir knew why she didn''t like to meet Isaiah''s gaze. There was also a small note that once they made


    a promise they were bound by it until it was fulfilled. ir figured that was a big definite to say what he


    was.


    She read on but it was confusing at parts. It looked like some of it might be how to summon a reaper.


    ir would never want to do such a thing. Why would you want to bring a creature that''s sole purpose


    of living was to take lives?


    ir looked in the front to see if there was an author of the book. She noted one name scribbled in the


    corner of the inside cover. Athena Greitio, she had written much about mythical creatures. A few she


    noted that she wasn''t sure they existed.


    There was aplex list of things that one would need to ensnare a reaper. It looked like either you


    called one yourself. Gave it specific instructions so it could find no loophole to kill you. Or you went


    through a veryplicated sacrifice and ritual. This woman had seemed obsessed with them, clearly


    she''d been nning something.


    ir tapped her lower lip as she read. You''d have to trap them with the blood of their own line but not


    directly from them. The blood offering wasn''t enough. You''d also have to kill the sacrifice, with death


    you caught death. Who in their right mind would go through all of this?


    ir closed the book. She didn''t want to read the gory details of how one went about setting up the


    ritual. Or managed to get a hold of the child of a reaper. ir wondered just who they''d used to get


    Isaiah in here. It was no easy thing for a reaper to even have a child in the human world it seemed.


    She''d looked at the description and it was long and specific. So much so she wondered how Isaiah had


    even found a woman like that in the first ce.


    This woman had looked into a lot of different things. She was fascinated by them it seemed and she


    looked to know what she was talking about. Most of it she could see in Isaiah. How aggressive and


    territorial they could be. The looking human but not really.


    She read a little bit more then put the book back deciding to take a walk around the house. The hell


    hounds looked at her but stayed where they were as she left the room. It wasn''t so bad being here in a


    way. You didn''t have to worry about work or money or other trivial things. Just life, just how you were


    going to survive and she thought that she had a good while left at the moment.


    ir needed a bit of time to think about this book and find more. She was stuck here, and she needed


    knowledge. If things were going to keep happening, or that family showed again, she needed to be


    ready for what they might do. She''d also have to avoid being seen.

 Chapter 36: Subtle Magic and Change

    Chapter 36: Subtle Magic and Change


    Isaiah looked down at the dead man. Alpha was dragging him back from the water''s edge. He''de


    down here to run from the hell hounds. He''d gone to climb to hopefully get away. He hadn''t known that


    was the only exit. Luckily Zeta and Alpha had caught him quick and now he was dead. Which he


    should have felt something sooner. Should have gotten a warning from this ce about it.


    Isaiah''s gaze went to the center ind, he frowned at it. It had changed a lot sincest he''d been down


    here. The dragon''s head was turned toward where he stood, and tipped to the side. It''s stony eye


    watching the woman. Her face was up now. Her hands still out like she was offering something to the


    dragon.


    If you looked closely it seemed that stony tears ran down her face. The dragon''s tail wound around her


    legs and waist beforeing up and over her shoulder. This creation was supposed to be watching


    and aware. It fueled the house and magic. It was fed by the souls that died in the house. It should have


    given more warning when the man had started to swim, but it hadn''t. Not until he reached the wall. His


    eyes narrowed, he had a feeling his distraction with ir and her eptance by the house might have


    something to do with it. Great. He meant that sarcastically.


    "How long has it looked like this?" He asked the hounds. The power and magic running through those


    shaped stones was immense. He could feel it from here. There was a significance to them. Magic older


    than he was, the dragon embodied male, immortal, strength and an unyielding sense. The woman


    mortal, passion, eptance, the mental strength to stand with those physically stronger. Honestly it


    was really just a depiction, but that ind was what got him stuck here. What wouldn''t let him leave,


    and yet helped him at the same time. So if it was changing, he wanted to make sure that it wasn''t


    against him.


    ¡®It seems to change every day, though we never see it move.¡¯ Alpha said raising his head. The front of


    his muzzle and chest sttered with blood.


    "I see." He looked back at it. He turned pondering things. What if it was preparing to allow for an


    escape? He didn''t know what drove the magic here. He just wished it would stop working so he could


    get out. His one main concern was obviously ir.


    Isaiah looked at the ind onest time, and then moved into the house. He frowned still deep in


    thought as he went down a hall. Anyone that was here forever had a piece of them in this ce,


    including himself. He doubted that he''d truly be free in the end. The time here and what had been


    done. He was also part of the heart of this ce. At least it wouldn''t keep him though if he got the


    chance to escape, but he was sure he''d end uping back. Magic like this could not be ignored.


    He looked above him, he could hear someone moving. Judging by the foot falls it was a male, and on


    the bigger side. Isaiah didn''t much care for this group now in the house. He shifted to thoughts of that,


    rather than ancient magic and rituals he could do nothing about. These men were ready to fight, and do


    whatever they could to get out.


    He''d stripped them of their weapons, and he''d found that several of them were hard to read. It


    presented a challenge and he didn''t mind that. However the ideas going through their heads were less


    than pleasing to him. They were very set on fighting their way out. Of finding a way to get out of the


    house. One of them had started to focus on ir thinking that she knew.


    However his fear of Isaiah and the hell hounds kept his mouth shut. He didn''t even try to approach her


    with fear of death. This group got Isaiah in the sense that he would kill for trivial reasons. If they


    touched what was his, that was it. The man that thought ir might know something also knew it best


    to stay away from her. He had seen the two of them together a few times now.


    Smart man that one, the others he didn''t think would have such reserves going for her. If they thought


    she knew then they would go for her. So far all but the one were still ignorant of her special treatment.


    He wasn¡¯t sure how long it was going to stay that way.


    This group had formed a kind of odd bond as well. None trusted any of the others, except two men that


    had been together for a very long time. However they knew to get out it was best in a group. They had


    pretty much hunted down the others that where in the house, trying to get as much information from


    them as they could. Isaiah had watched a couple times without them realizing it. Just to see how


    sadistic they were going to get in their pursuit to get out. One man liked to inflict pain and torture to get


    his answers. Isaiah felt a smile, when he was ready that man was going to get a real game he wouldn''t


    enjoy.


    Three from the group before them remained, and none of them said much. They weren''t nearly as


    scared of the group as they were of Isaiah. How could they not be? One from that group had seen him


    during the moon and he''d told the men to run like hell when that day came. It was soon too, the good


    thing about that time was that the exit sealed. There was no way to get down the caves. The house


    wouldn''t allow it. It was only those that survived and proved they were worthy of living that were


    allowed to look afterward.


    Isaiah looked up out a window he passed. Tomorrow he should feel the transformationing,


    tomorrow he''d get his wings. He sighed inwardly, until he lived here he could call his other form at will.


    Though it was much stronger during the moon.


    He had perfect control, able to change at whenever. He could still change at will, but he had no control


    over it during the moon. He even lost memory during that time of what happened. It was of course the


    result of how they''d trapped him in here.


    Isaiah was passing a ss door that led out into the rose garden. He just nced at it. Not like he


    could go out there, he wasn''t allowed to set one foot onto the property surrounding the house. The roof


    was as much of the outdoors he could get and only depending on his state of mind.


    He came to a sudden halt nearly losing his bnce. He turned around and shot back to the door which


    was open and stood in the doorway. ir was standing outside in the garden, he looked around it.


    There was no exit or entrance to the rest of the yard from this garden unless you climbed over the six


    foot walls growing with thorny roses and other vines, some poisonous.


    She was kneeling on the ground pencil in hand and studying a single rose, blood red in color. She was


    very focused on it. He was at aplete loss as to how she had gotten out there. He''d seen others try


    and fail. No one should be able to get outside the house. All were tossed back in. That concerned him,


    what was happening to the magic in the house? How the hell was ir continuing to do things like


    this?


    "How did you get out there?" He demanded and Gamma appeared around the fountain looking at him.


    She must have beenying near by. ir jumped, turning. He could see the nearlypleted rose.


    She was drawing in the moonlight.


    "Oh, uh I just kind of asked." She said looking suddenly very worried. Her scent dropped as it always


    did when panic or fear set in.


    "I wasn''t trying to leave. I just wanted to draw." She said standing up.


    That had never worked for him. He tested it by sticking his hand out the edge of the door for a moment.


    Instantly his skin blistered, slightly splitting blood running down it. He dropped it and looked at her.


    "You just walked out?" What was so special about her that she managed such things? He felt around


    her again, nothing but that solid wall of her mind. He felt a tic in his jaw. He really wished she was the


    one he could use. How was she not special? Look what she was doing.


    "Well it was like walking through glue really, but yeah. Every so often I would feel a tug back toward the


    house. I honestly wasn''t trying to leave." ir said, it didn''t appear that he coulde out and she


    couldn''t very well stay out here. She was just worried about what he''d do if she came over by him. How


    angry he might be.


    She knew that if she tried to leave the house would more than likely somehow drag her back in. If the


    hell hounds didn''t tear her apart first. Besides there was no way to get out of this garden. She knew her


    nts and the roses would tear her skin and the poisoned nts around it would get the toxins in her


    wounds.


    He looked very dark and scary when she''d turned to look at him. She was too scared to go over near


    where he could reach her. She was terrified that he might do something to hurt or punish her for going


    out here. It was just a simple thing.


    "I believe you ir." He finally said looking around the garden. Then at Gamma who sat staring at him


    her head cocked. She was nearly fully grown, her diet was rich here. Well fed and the stimulus of being


    around others of her kind helped. She didn''t have to fear so much for her life.


    "Thank you." She said clearly rxing. Color seemed toe back to her face and skin. He found that


    interesting, she hid her fear and nerves very well. If he hadn''t been able to note the change in her scent


    it would have been impossible to tell.


    He nced up in the sky. The moon was growing closer to being full, just a sliver of a shadow was


    really left now. She nced up to where he was looking and then she moved forward toward the


    house. Dew was forming on the grass and nts.


    "Do I need to hide during the moon?" She asked with a half-smile. "Though I guess you''d answer


    depending on how long you''d really want me around."


    "I suggest you stay out of the way. However I won''t be viewing you as truly being prey."


    "Oh. Why is that?" She asked stepping in the doorway past him and into the hall. Gamma moving


    around them and trotting off.


    "Because my scent is all over you and I gave you blood." He moved down the hall. He found that he


    liked having her around for much more than just her body. He liked herpany. It was nice to have


    another to speak with. Living here so long with none to speak to in simple conversation one could get


    very lonely and boring. He had been suffering from that for a long time.


    He might not be human, but all creatures at some point requiredpanionship. It just depended on


    the species for the reasons or length. He wasn''t exactly normal even by odd standards. He hadn''t


    realized really how much he wanted someone around until ir showed up.


    "Do you know how to shoot an arrow?" He asked her suddenly. She moved after him.


    "I''m sorry what?" It just came out of him, She figured he wanted to y a game. He was clearly a


    competitive soul.


    "A bow and arrow, do you know how to shoot one?"


    "Well, once in gym ss." He nced at her.


    "So you do not know how."


    "I guess not." She said carrying her items. She was confused by his question. Though he did tend to


    juste out of nowhere with them. She wondered at his thought processes. Was it just a scattered


    hodgepodge of ideas and desires?


    "I believe that would be a first."


    "Maybe I''m lying to you." She said following to him. She thought she saw a bit of a smile on his face,


    she had one of her own. She didn''t know why but it was fun to try and y with him. Just a little though,


    nothing that would get him angry or piss him off. Just to amuse him, it seemed to keep him in a good


    mood.


    "I don''t believe you are."


    "You are a very smug and egoistical being you know that?" She said annoyed, not meaning to say it.


    He paused in a doorway to open it.


    "And?" He said stepping inside, "I have yet to be proven wrong in my assumptions of others."


    "Not even of me?" He gave her a slight smile.


    "I do not know what to think of you so therefore I cannot assume anything." The lights in the room


    came on. ir recognized the room though she''d only been in it once. It was a room that was very long


    and had targets at the end. Though thest time she''d been in here there had been no bows or arrows.


    He moved to a ss cab where there were now several bows and next to it a stand with many


    arrows in it. As he approached the ss it opened, and he reached inside. ir looked around the


    room.


    It was empty save the one end with the cab and arrows. Plus two chairs in the room not far from


    them. It was long and tall with walls the color of eggshells. The floor was wooden and she set her items


    near the chair there. The room had to be forty feet long or more with several dark strips of wood on the


    floor at different distances.


    "Here." He said, handing her a bow.


    "You are a very random person."


    "I''m not a person."


    "You know what I mean." She rolled her eyes, looking at the targets. She looked back at him. He was


    just watching her and she let out a tired sigh.


    "I wasn''t lying before."


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    "I know, just wanted to hear you say it." He said with a slight smile. He took the bow which didn''t have


    that many pounds on it and notched an arrow. He pulled it back and ir looked at the target. He hit


    the second one dead center.


    "How do I know you aren''t using your mind or something?" She asked, looking at him suspiciously.


    "I guess you don''t, however it would defeat the point of even using the bow if I did that." She eyed him,


    a kind of grim look on her face.


    "So what is the game you would like to y?" She said a bit of amusement crept into his gaze at her


    ire.

 Chapter 37: If You Want Me, Play Me For It

    Chapter 37: If You Want Me, y Me For It


    "Always straight to the point." He felt humor at her look.


    "Sorry to disappoint you. Though I''m not sure what you could possibly want from me that you haven''t


    already managed to take or have." Shemented with just a bit of a tint to her face.


    "You are a very difficult puzzle to figure out. A challenge that I enjoy very much." He handed her the


    bow and moved around to her left side. He held out a hand and the arrow came back to him. He


    presented her with it and she took it.


    ir knew the basics of it, having shot a bow only a few times in gym ss. She knew how to notch it.


    Her knowledge past that, was pull back and let go.


    "Show me, so I have a chance at this game. Otherwise what is the point? What fun will that be?" He


    hadn''t told her what it was yet but she wanted to have a chance.


    He moved over to her. He showed her how to stand and where to ce her hands. He was so close to


    her she could smell him. The scent was appealing to her, but she pushed it back in her mind. She didn''t


    want distractions.


    He stepped back slightly and she looked down the arrow. Her first shot was high but hit the target. The


    second hit very near the center as did the third. She smiled, it wasn''t so hard to do this. That was


    unless he made her nervous. She looked at him.


    "I''ve got something I''ll y for." He looked at her for a moment clearly trying to decide if he should take


    her up on her offer. Curiosity seemed to get the best of him.


    "I''m listening." She knew he''d want to know what she had to say. He liked a challenge and he hated to


    lose. She''d give him something he most likely wouldn''t want to loseplete control over. Which was


    her.


    "First I''d like to hear what you feel I need to aplish." He was silent for a moment. A kind of odd


    smile came to him.


    "Just for you ir. I''ll give you rules first before the deal."


    "You''re too kind." She said. He moved over to the arrows and grabbed five of them and came over to


    her, sticking them slightly in the floor.


    "Alright, all five either center or first circle out." ir looked at the target. She''d gotten her second and


    third arrows in the second circle but barely. This time there was going to be pressure to make the shot


    count.


    "No cheating from you." She said looking at him.


    "Such as?" He asked looking at her. She stared at him.


    "No purposely trying to make me miss."


    "As you wish." He replied with a slight smile. His smile left him a secondter. "What is it that you would


    like to y for?"


    "Me." She said. "If I manage to do as you ask I can deny you anytime I please." He was very quiet at


    this and looked at the targets, before his gaze came back at her.


    "Worried?" She asked him.


    "I''ll give you one week not forever." She would take that over nothing.


    "Fine." She agreed. Isaiah looked at her. She seemed very determined. He''d decided some time ago


    that if she was set on something the chances were very high for her to seed. He could handle a


    week of her denying him seeing as half that time would be during the moon. She looked at him.


    "I give my word ir." she nodded and reached down picking up one arrow. He was going to watch the


    first to see and then he''d decide how he''d like to handle her challenge. She said he couldn''t purposely


    interfere to make her miss. Which left it open for him to interpret how to distract if she didn''t struggle


    with it.


    She aimed, she was very steady and let the arrow go. It hit the line of the yellow center. Yes, he was


    right. She would get every arrow where she was supposed to. He wasn''t going to let it happen that


    easily. ir picked up the second arrow she pulled it back, and tensed when he stepped up to her. His


    right hand and moved around her midsection. His other on the inside of her thigh. He stepped so that


    he was flush against her. What was he doing? He wasn''t supposed to do that.


    "You''re cheating, trying to distract me."


    "Not on purpose though." She didn''t see how this wasn''t on purpose. She nced at him, and he had


    no welts or anything on him. Crap, she needed to be more specific next time. It must work kind of like


    how she''d gotten outside. He was just doing it in a roundabout way.


    "I''d say it is." She said the fingers of his right hand slipping below her pant line over her hip.


    "Too purposely make you miss, I''d have to touch part of you that you require to shoot or draw the bow."


    He said. She tried her best to ignore him and aimed. Though she was a bit shakier this time. She let go


    and to her relief she hit the red circle.


    She picked up the next one and aimed. His mouth moved over her neck as she fired and she just


    barely hit where she was supposed to. She was finding it harder to concentrate with him touching her.


    His mouth still moved over her neck and up to her jaw. Her body reacted and she let out a slow exhale.


    He didn''t touch her arms or move against her in any way that would force her to move and miss. In fact


    his hold kept her where she was. He held very tight against her. She couldn''t have pushed or moved


    away from him if she wanted to. She could feel his arousal pressed to her backside. His scent filled her


    nose. His hands moved to the front of her pants. She picked up the next arrow.


    "Cheater." She hissed at him, his right hand sliding farther inside her pants with the button undone. She


    tensed again, biting her lip as he touched her intimately. It took her a moment to concentrate, she didn''t


    have to rush. She bit her lip trying to ignore how he was touching her but that was hard.


    She aimed. It took her longer this time to feel steady enough to shoot the arrow, and once again she


    made it but just barely. She made a small sound. Her body felt alive and on edge, and he''d purposely


    done this to her. He was a lot better at maniption than she was, and she needed to remember this


    for next time. Had to be far more specific. Next time she was going to tell him he had to stand in one


    spot, not move or talk.


    "One more." He said to her, his breath in her ear. "Miss and I''m going to take you right here and now."


    He warned, sinking his fingers into her and her breath hitched. His voice was slightly deeper. She


    wanted to win so badly but at the same time she wanted him too. He was getting a reaction from her


    even though she tried to ignore it to win.


    "Not if I say you can''t." She said picking up thest arrow. She aimed shakier thanst time. As she


    started to release he bit down on her neck and she jerked slightly. The arrow hit the target but not


    where she needed it. That son of a bitch, she should have expected him to do something like that. How


    was that not on purpose? Guess she didn''t need her neck to aim.


    He moved slightly, his left hand came up to below her jaw. He forced her head back so he could take


    her mouth. His right hand fully undid the pants she wore to shove them down and make her step from


    them. He took the bow from her, tossing it harshly as she was still gripping it.


    Isaiah turned her and took hold of her hair with one of his hands pulling her head back. His mouth


    moved over the front of her neck. He walked her backward, with several quick steps he had her against


    the wall. Nearly driving the air from her lungs with the way he forced her back. His hands moving over


    her to pull the shirt off and his mouth close to hers.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "Remove mine." She brought her hands forward to free him from the pants he wore. He was overly


    d that she had lost this challenge. He never wanted to be denied ess to her for any reason. If he


    wanted, she better give damn it. His female should do as she was told.


    He lifted her and brought her body onto his. She moaned wrapping a leg around him. She was always


    so ready to deny him, yet she responded to him so quickly. His hands dug into her hips as he pressed


    against her holding her against the wall. His body thrusting into hers. She was practically dripping from


    how wet she was. Did others desire someone this badly they couldn''t think, they had to have them? It


    felt abnormal even for him, and each time just felt better than thest. She brought her head to his


    neck, her lips brushing over the skin in feather light kisses. She had one arm around his shoulders


    holding him.


    "Harder Isaiah." She breathed into his ear her teeth nipping and he obliged her.


    "Take me harder." She more moaned it this time. He didn''t hesitate to do so. She gave short little gasps


    each time he drove into her. His body reacting violently to the sounds. Her breath sliding over his skin.


    Her head dropped back to the wall and he moved his mouth over the front of her neck to the side. His


    teeth scraping over the pulse there.


    ir made a sound of approval and his teeth sank into the side of her neck. The white hot painsted


    only a second. Then she felt the rush of heat through her body. Her response always so quick and


    fierce to him. God that felt good, his hands dug into her as well holding her. She didn''t know how she


    didn''t have permanent marks from him and his grip. Her nails dug through the shirt he wore scratching


    but he took no note of it. He was doing just what she asked for. Taking her in a harsh fast manner.


    Practically felt like he was punishing her body, but she loved it.


    She could barely think. She couldn''t even recognize her own voice as she cried out. His fingers dug


    deeper into her drawing a bit of blood, as her body tightened around him. He raised his mouth from her


    neck and brought it to her lips. She could taste the coppery tang there. It didn''t bother her either that


    taste knowing it was her on his lips.


    Isaiah felt the slight separation of himself. His human side sated the moment her body was, but not


    what he really was. It wanted more of this woman before he could feel the relief in his body. He brought


    a hand up to the side of her head holding her mouth to his. His other hand moving to the back side of


    her thigh, hooking her leg to lift her a bit higher.


    She cried out again into his mouth. His pleasure and satisfaction ran deep as he knew he could do this


    to her. He could make here for him again and again until he wished to bury himself deep inside


    her. Let himself feel his own release. No one was like ir in his opinion.


    Isaiah loved how she felt, how she sounded. He wasn''t going to be able to get enough of her. He pulled


    her flush against him. His body swelling just a bit more. A dark growl torn from him. Her body held him


    deep as she gave a satisfied sound into his mouth feeling hime inside her. Isaiah realized


    something in that moment he wasn''t sure he liked but could live with. He was deeply attached to a


    human.


    It was for more than this and he knew it. There were no emotions to put to it. Just that he knew he was


    deeply and irrevocably attracted to her. He needed and wanted her. Not in all his time on earth had he


    evere across anything even remotely close to this. He didn''t even know this was capable of


    happening to him.


    He knew that humans might call it love or infatuation. He didn''t think himself capable of love so it must


    be infatuation. Whatever it was, it was strong, and he would never let ir go. She belonged to him


    and with him. He''d do far more than kill to keep her, he realized.


    ir was breathing rather hard as her mind came down from the high. He was still pressed against her.


    His head just touching the wall next to her own. His breathing was uneven but calmer than hers. He


    was still holding her rather tightly, lost somewhere at the moment. She could feel it, like he was trying to


    figure something out. She didn''t know if that was good or bad, he sure seemed to enjoy what they''d


    done.


    He brought his head up to look at her. His eyes very dark. Not hazel, but ck, however the whites of


    his eyes were still showing. He brought his hands to her sides sliding them up stopping on her rib cage.


    She tightened her legs around him holding herself to him. He still had her pinned to the wall rather


    solidly. She met his gaze and she couldn''t tell what he was thinking. He seemed to have shut down on


    feeling.


    "You fascinate and please me ir like no other."


    "You''re not so bad yourself. When I don''t have to fear for my life." He gave a slight smile. He moved so


    his mouth was just above hers. His lips grazing hers.


    "Stay as you are and you won''t have to worry about it." He said kissing her lightly. Then moving his


    mouth to the side of her neck to lick the bit of blood still there. She shivered slightly. ir was very lost


    at this point in time. She felt that if she justpletely let go and epted this then she was giving up


    on the things she thought she believed in. Somehow though she thought she might have already lost


    what she''d once been.


    He let her down and forced her head up to look at him. He just studied her for a moment like he just


    couldn''t quite figure it out. What "it" was she didn''t know but she guessed she should be thankful for it.


    "Never hide from me ir unless I say." He suddenly demanded of her.


    "I''ll promise that so long as you allow me the freedom to be evasive." She met his gaze. "I can''t be as I


    am if I''m cagedpletely." No he didn''t think that she would be the same. The fire in her would slowly


    die should he strip her of all freedoms.


    "Then we have yet another bargain."


    "It seems we do."

 Chapter 38: A Startling Knowledge

    Chapter 38: A Startling Knowledge


    ir moved through the kitchen. She was hungry, which now that she wasn''t always hiding she had a


    normal appetite and a healthy one. She grabbed some food that sounded good to her. She wasn''t


    alone in the kitchen today, Gamma and Alpha were with her watching her.


    "I''m making food for myself, thank you." She said to them. She wasn''t as good at hearing the others as


    she was with Gamma. Alpha gave a disappointed feeling, and Gamma sat down giving a kind of whine.


    "Fine." She said and threw them each a good amount of the shaved turkey from the fridge. They ate it


    faster than she could blink.


    "Gluttons." Shemented to them but Alpha just pranced off into the hall happy with what he''d


    received. ir opened the fridge and looked around in it. She saw a container in the back, she cracked


    it open slightly. She took a small whiff and the smell of it made her instantly sick. She actually had to


    run to the sink.


    "Uh." she said looking at it. Inside was some kind of mixed pasta veggie thing. She wondered if it was


    just leftovers brought here.


    "Eat this, gross." She said and set it on the floor. Gamma ate the entire thing, including the stic.


    "You''re not supposed to eat the stic." ir said. She gave the mental equivalent of a shrug. ir


    made herself a sandwich and drank some milk then moved from the room wandering down the halls.


    She thought to look around the ces she hadn''t really been yet.


    This ce was huge and she hadn''t been everywhere. Mainly she''d skipped the basement. As that


    was where the hell hounds spent most of their time. She moved that way, the sun was up in full. It was


    why Gamma had now left her and went to sleep an hour or so ago. Night creatures obviously. She was


    feeling it a bit herself as her living hours were changing too. ir moved down stairs to the lower part


    of the house moving along and staring at the rooms there. More bedrooms, some odd rooms with


    things she didn''t know what they were.


    Down here she actually found aundry room, though nothing was in it. She wondered if the house


    actually used this room or not. She moved on and found several different shop rooms. Tools for


    working with metal or ss. At one end she found arge room that was partly exposed and to her


    shock there was a pool here.


    ir put a hand to her stomach. She felt ill again and hurried back to the bathroom she''d just passed.


    The feeling started to subside and she rxed but then it came back full force. She was sick right there


    in the toilet. Was it something she ate?


    She stood there for a bit and sat down on the edge of the tub. She wondered if perhaps she''d caught


    something. As far as she knew all those that were brought were healthy. She hadn''t really seen or


    talked to thest group brought in, though only four were left.


    She knew that at the moment Isaiah was still sleeping so asking him if he could sense a sickness


    would have to wait. He''d probably have to find them to know. Which he hadn''t fed during the moon all


    that well so the request might be an easy one as he''d need to feed again.


    She was learning more about him as the days passed too. She''d seen the wings and touched them.


    They looked frail and broken, like tattered pieces of cloth. They were tough like leather and flexible to


    boot. Hard to tear or damage as well. As far as he knew only he or another like him could shred his


    wings. Made her wonder what happened to him in the other ce he''d been born. She didn''t ask,


    better that way.


    ir was feeling better now and stood up. She moved to leave the bathroom after first taking a nce


    at herself in the mirror. She looked healthy, didn''t feel like a fever. She rinsed out her mouth and spit


    the water back in the sink. She never really paid that close attention to herself in the mirror. Just


    brushed her hair, her teeth and called it a day. Wasn''t like she was going out for a night on the town.


    She thought that she actually looked healthier though, not so hollow or underweight as before. She was


    still slender but a healthy weight she thought. ir felt like she had a slight headache building now and


    frowned. Figuring she should just get a head of it and some ibuprofen might do the trick. She


    rummaged through the cab there. She was worried, was his blood doing something more to her?


    That it just took a longer time toplete or something?


    She didn''t find any drugs in the top ones and moved on. There wasn''t much in the drawers, just the


    bare essentials down here. She opened the bottom drawer moving a couple things aside, and gave a


    sigh, none. She pulled her hand back and paused as she looked down.


    There were a couple boxes there. One was tampons and that was what made her freeze. She


    suddenly felt very cold and terrified. Her heart nearly stopped. She waste, veryte. ir tried to


    think back, tried to remember when herst one was. Jesus, it hadn''t even urred to her to think


    about it. Oh Jesus, what if this was morning sickness? No, no, no.


    There were a lot of factors that could make itte, stress, which she had plenty of. Diet, which had


    been horrible up untilte. She''d dropped weight as well. Wait, why did she just jump to that


    conclusion? She couldn''t be it wasn''t possible. She''d seen that list, but something inside twisted in fear.


    "Shit." She said to herself.


    ir stood looking at herself in the mirror. It had to be well over a month since herst one. She''d had


    one just before the winter sleep she knew that. After that she couldn''t really remember when herst


    one was. The winter sleep had been a few months ago, right?


    She turned to the side raising her shirt looking at herself, was she bigger around the middle? She


    couldn''t tell, maybe, sort of. Crap she had to be, when did a person start showing? She was starting to


    freak out a little. She felt a slight touch on her shoulder and she turned but no one was there.


    "Hello?" She said looking around but the hall and area was deserted. She got a warm feeling and she


    realized it was just the house. It seemed to have picked up on her sudden mood swing. Maybe the


    house knew. It seemed to know things at times. One missed period wasn''t bad was it? But she had


    more than one didn''t she? She wasn''t using the word yet, no wrong she was wrong. Taking a breath


    she spoke out loud.


    "I don''t suppose you know do you?" A warm feeling came to her and she swallowed. She wasn''t sure if


    that was a "Yes you are," or "Yes I know." Plus she hadn''t expected such a swift response from a damn


    building.


    How the fuck would a building know anyways? Why would she assume that it would know? She felt like


    tearing her hair out all of a sudden, why was life so unfair? She stood for a second gathering her


    courage to ask more pointedly. ir was sure she was losing her mind for sure now.


    "Am...Am. No I don''t want to know." She said what would she do if she was? She couldn''t be, she read


    the list she wasn''t what he needed for that to happen. She had to know, just to put her mind at ease.


    Perhaps it was something else. She could feel the house just waiting for her to ask. She took a breath


    and spoke.


    "Am I pregnant?" A warm feeling hit and she just bolted from the room. She was going to the library. It


    was a freaking house, it couldn''t know such things. However she felt like she was going to have a panic


    attack. No, absolutely not.


    "You lie." she said sharply as she ran. A cool feeling came to her. She felt tears starting to build, what


    would he do if he found out? It wasn''t like she could hide something like that. ir made it to the library


    and got the journal flipping through it. She walked back and forth as she did so at a fast nervous pace.


    It said just what she thought. There was only one blood type that could give a reaper a child. The


    woman had to be psychic and rather well developed. Those were the main two, and then a few others


    were written down as well. The bloodline she came from had to have been linked with previous


    psychic''s. Along with specifics on when the said woman would be born. All of these added to the


    likelihood, but the first two had to be met for even the remote possibility.


    The problem was that ir didn''t know who her birth parents were. She''d been adopted. It did say in


    the book that the first two were a must. The more the woman fit the rest of the list the easier it would be


    for her to conceive.


    "Who the hell would want to?" She snapped angrily, feeling tearful. She''d just gotten used to the idea of


    sharing his bed, now this? ir sent an entire row of books flying with a thought in her anger. She took


    in a breath and calmed herself and marched over to a table.


    ir grabbed some paper and started to write down the things in the book. She checked off the list as


    she went for what she knew that she had for sure. She didn''t know if she''d been born during the full


    moon. She got up going through the shelves until she found a book with moon tables. She knew when


    she was born and the time. She''d been given to her adoptive parents straight from the hospital. After


    about thirty minutes of trying to understand she was horrified to find that she was indeed born during a


    full moon.


    "This is ridiculous, how can so many little things really matter!" She nearly shouted, mming the book


    closed and putting it back.


    She went back to the list. She didn''t think that she had that strong of a talent. She''d been very weak at


    first never having used it. Now it was very strong, her telekinesis, but that wasn''t her main talent was it?


    It was her ability to mask herself. She didn''t even need to think about it to do it. She did it naturally, and


    that meant something didn''t it?


    Plus her ability to sense others, she could do that before she could walk. With a sigh she checked that


    too. Out of the list the only ones she didn''t have marked was previous psychic''s in the family, and her


    blood type. She didn''t know her blood type. Clearly she must have the blood type if she was. Which


    meant that she had pretty much everything on the list.


    ir moved to the firece in the room and burned the paper in it. Then she paced the room thinking.


    Every time she asked, she got the same answer. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought that


    she might very well have a baby bump. Though her mind was so worked up she could be imagining it,


    she couldn''t be showing yet. It was like two months since she''d first slept with him right? No way she''d


    show yet, but she thought she''d gained some weight.


    Then she thought about how Isaiah would respond. She read over what he was. The woman that had


    written it said that chances were they wouldn''t see the child to full term. Their natures weren''t to nurture


    or raise a child, and the child might be seen as a threat.


    However they could use it against them too if that was the case. A child wouldn''t after all be a true


    reaper but it would be a connection to it. A vulnerability until it was old enough to defend itself. Had


    anyone tested that theory? She didn''t know Isaiah''s full story of how he got trapped here, or anything


    else on the matter. She was not going to ask him. How did you even bring something like that up?


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ir was so torn, so lost on what to do here. She was against abortion. Now it didn''t seem like such a


    bad thing. Could she perhaps force a miscarriage. She wasn''t going to wait around for Isaiah to find out


    and then beat her or something. Or what if he killed her? Could she maybe find something to consume


    or she figured trauma to her midsection might do. She felt sick at the idea of doing such a thing, but


    what choice did she have?


    ir moved to leave the room and the door mmed. The coldest feeling she''d ever gotten from the


    house came to her. It was a very clear and deadly warning. She stopped where she was and hung her


    head feeling ovee with tears. The house wasn''t going to let her, and it was clearly going to do


    something if she tried. It was giving her a warning now.


    "I''m sorry, I''m just so scared. I can''t do this!" She put her face in her hands. A warm understanding


    feeling touched her. ir had to leave, she needed to figure it out. How to get out of here. The house


    became quiet around her leaving her and she controlled herself. She had to leave, that was the only


    answer. Especially if the house was going to act against her in other ways. Her thought of leaving it


    didn''t give any kind of feeling.


    ir left the library and started with a serious search and test of the house. There was nothing here at


    all. She couldn''t get on the roof if she thought of escaping. This was going to be a problem. Isaiah


    would know but he wasn''t going to tell her. He''d already told her what he was going to do to anyone


    that tried to escape. Now was the time, she had freedoms. She was not being watched super closely


    by him at the moment.

 Chapter 39: Tell Us What You know

    Chapter 39: Tell Us What You know


    Frustration set in. ir felt that Isaiah was up now moving through the house. He was looking for one


    of the four left. She marched down the hall. Gamma came toward her and she just moved aside for


    ir to move past. Then she turned and seemed to decide that she was going to follow. She was


    focused on ir and her hurried movements. Her Mastera seemed on edge and distracted. Which


    ir was distracted, how could she not be?


    ir was walking by several rooms when something came out of one of the doors and hit her hard in


    the face. It was so unexpected and she just barely caught the movement in time. She''d just managed


    to turn her head enough that she took the main blow of it on her right brow and right cheek bone.


    She heard Gamma lunge snarling anding at her attacker. Whoever it was had thrown her into the


    room and shut the door. She was so dazed and her head hurt so bad she couldn''t focus to attack


    mentally. Someone else grabbed her and led her through a different door. Clearly they had beenying


    in wait to grab her and thought it out.


    She stumbled and was rewarded with another sharp blow to the back of the head. She went down this


    time, ckness creeping into her vision. The sound of Gamma tearing at the door was loud but now


    growing quieter. She must have gotten in the room because there was loud snarling and banging on


    the next door which led into the wall where they were pulling her through.


    "We need her conscious." The one man said picking her up roughly. He grabbed her by the back of the


    neck and then they exited the wall. The man behind her just picked her up as she was starting to ck


    out again. Her head hurt so bad.


    She did ck out for a minute and then they were in a silent part of the house. They went in a room


    she didn''t know. Three men were in here and she swayed when they set her down in the chair across


    from them. ir touched her brow, blood was running from it and her cheek bone bruised badly.


    "That was really stupid." ir humorlesslyughed.


    "Shut up bitch." One of them said, and the bigger man held up his hand.


    "We need to know how to get out of here. Where''s the exit?" What a stupid question. Did they really


    think she was staying here by choice?


    "If I knew that don''t you think I would have left?" She said to them, giving him an angry look.


    "You are his pet, of course you know. His whore. I''ve seen what you let him do." The same man from


    before, he seemed very angry and was looking for someone to take that anger out on. Right now his


    gaze was fixed on her.


    "Amis." The bigger man said. "Look we just want to know, you''ve been here for a while, we know that.


    You have to know something. You can''t be here all this time and know nothing." Clearly ying good


    cop to bad.


    "Look do you think that I enjoy the life I now have? If I knew I''d have left."


    "Liar." Amis said. "No doubt she enjoys it, bet the perks are nice. Let''s just beat it out of her." The one


    who seemed to be in charge looked at Amis then to ir.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    "I''m sure that that little hell hound went running off to tell him we''ve picked up his favorite y toy." He


    sighed and rubbed his chin. She knew they had attacked others for information. She was sure they


    would do the same to her. Difference was she had a hell hound attached to her. Second Isaiah would


    not like his favorite toy being touched. ir was fine knowing what she was to him.


    "Most likely." ir said. If Gamma couldn''t get to her she''d find someone or something that could. Only


    a couple minutes passed sinceing in this room.


    "Well then we''ll have to move." He said. "Unless you can tell us, we aren''t stupid you don''t live here


    that long and not know. If you really wanted to leave you would have found it and taken it by now. Or do


    you enjoy what he does to you?" ir just looked at him.


    "I can''t tell you what I don''t know."


    "Maybe she doesn''t really know. I mean why would he confide in a human?" the third man said looking


    very nervous.


    "Fine, if you feel that way, leave. We''ll get it out of her." Amis said and the third man moved, he looked


    sorry. She got the feeling that he didn''t really like beating women. He was also terrified of what Isaiah


    would do. The other two were hoping for information to escape before he could catch them.


    "He''s going to tear the two of you apart when he finds out you have her. Look at her face, she''s


    bleeding." He said confirming her suspicions.


    "Just go." The one in charge said. He left the room and the one in charge gripped her throat hard. She


    couldn''t breathe and gasped for air. He shoved something in her mouth and she started to fight wildly


    scratching and wing. Amis came over to help and she kicked him right in the knee.


    "Ah, fuck you bitch." He said and grabbed her throat instead as the other man tied her hands. Amis


    then mmed her head back into the wall. She cked out again. When she came to, they were


    moving again. She saw that they were moving downstairs. Not far from the pool area.


    What was wrong with people? She didn''t know and couldn''t tell them. As for what he''d said about


    finding an exit. Perhaps it was true. She did enjoy Isaiah''s touch, she craved it. Not to mention she


    knew that she''d developed feelings for him against her will. She tried so hard to ignore them. In a world


    that was now far out of her control, she had started to feel toward the one being that was now treating


    her more like a person than a thing. So sue her, it was how she stayed alive.


    "Give her to me." Amis said as they went into a darkened hall and room. The other man gave her to


    him. She felt a little fighte back to her. He dropped her on the bed and she tried to roll to get away


    from him.


    He just took hold of her and sat on her legs. She shook her head trying to get him to understand. He


    took hold of her bound wrists. The other man came over and pulled the gag from her mouth. Amis still


    holding her down. The man in charge patted her cheek for a moment and she red at him


    "Tell us before we have to start trying to force it out of you. Trust me, we know your type. Talk or Amis


    will teach you a lesson first. See what that demon finds so fascinating about you." ir had tears in her


    eyes.


    "You don''t understand! I don''t know, please don''t, please. You don''t know what he''ll do!" She pleaded,


    understanding perfectly how Amis would n to get her to talk. The other man would just stick to


    physical violence, but Amis was one that would do anything to get results. Including forcing himself on


    her. It wasn''t about a need. It was about the torture of it for her to make her talk. That was what really


    excited him, inflicting the pain.


    "We have to keep moving Amis. We stall and have more chance to be found." ir tried to wriggle free


    but Amis gripped her throat and looked at the man.


    "I''ll be quick. If she doesn''t say then I''ll meet you in the next spot. You can take her and try. That way


    we don''t have all our eggs in one basket." Amis said, the man gave a nod and left the room. ir tried


    to get out from under him. She was terrified. Not just of what he nned to do, but what Isaiah would


    do. They''d clearly nned this and thought that she knew, and seemed to guess that she''d be difficult.


    ir hit him with her mind and he was flung from her. Her mind was in so much pain though from the


    constant abuse her head had taken it just added to her pain. He got up.


    "Freak." He said, but came at her grabbing her by the back of the head before she could reach the


    door.


    "Let''s see what he finds so fascinating about you." He grabbed her and dragged her to another room


    and pinned her down.


    "Get the fuck off me!" She shouted at him, and swung her arms hitting him with her fists. He swore and


    pulled out a knife. He jabbed it right into her upper thigh and twisted. ir let out a scream of pain. It


    hurt horribly, the de twisting in her thigh blood gushing out.


    She had to blink back tears to see. He pulled at the top of her pants while she was distracted. That


    made her head clear slightly and then she struggled again. He plunged the knife down into her


    shoulder and she cried out again as he twisted. She thought the knife scraped bone.


    He got up dragging her by her hair down the hall and to a different room not far away clearly trying to


    keep moving and she was making a lot of noise. He went in there. Here they were alone again. She


    was in pain and it hurt to move her one arm. He came over her again just holding her on the floor.


    ir held up her hand, as he tore her shirt. Themp in the room came to her. She smashed it over his


    head and scampered away. He took hold of her ankle, the knife slicing into her calf. He pulled her back


    and under him holding the knife to her throat.


    "If I have to keep cutting and stabbing you until you''re to weak to move I will. Going to tell me yet


    bitch?" He snapped. He moved suddenly yanking her up and turning her so her back was to him. He


    kept the de at her throat. It was nearly cutting the flesh.


    "I''ll kill her I swear." Amis said. ir was now looking at Isaiah who stood in the doorway. He looked


    very calm, his eyes were solid ck. She however could see that his calm demeanor was misleading.


    He was ridged with anger that swirled around him and the room. It fed the already dark air being


    projected here.


    "If you kill her nothing will be between you and me." Isaiah replied his voice eerie. His tone was deeper


    and coarser. ir was more worried about him attacking than the knife at her throat. Her wounds stung


    badly and there had to be severe damage to her one arm and shoulder. She could barely move it now.


    Her right leg didn''t want to support her. If not for Amis holding her up she would have fallen. She could


    feel blood dripping from her wounds. Behind Isaiah she could see Gamma. Her head low and all the


    hair raised on her back. Her lips were pulled back showing teeth a low sounding from her, a


    deadly sound.


    "I''ll give her back if you let me go."


    "No." Isaiah said. He held out his hand and the knife was torn away. Isaiah grabbed it and stepped


    forward into the room. Amis backed up pulling ir with. His human shield, he stopped moving


    suddenly and let go of her.


    ir nearly crumpled to the floor but she managed to take hold of the table there to stay standing. She


    barely saw Isaiah move. He just was there in front of the other man. Amis cried out as the knife he had


    was stuck between his ribs. ir flinched as Isaiah broke the handle of the knife off. There was the


    sound of cracking bone as he used Amis''s ribs as leverage to break it.


    __Isaiah__


    Isaiah had stopped in the hall he''d been walking down the second he heard Gamma snarling and


    attacking something. It didn''t sound like a normal attack and she wasn''t one to make noise when she


    hunted. He''d gone to find her the entire time just knowing that one of those men left in the house had


    gotten in their head to try ir. He''d found


    Gamma as she shot out of a room. She showed him what had happened.


    Instant anger came to him, once again she''d been attacked and was bleeding. His anger this time was


    much more than it had been. He''d moved through the house quickly searching, but those that had her


    were the two men that he couldn''t really hear mentally.


    He''d tracked them downstairs and came to the room where ir had been stabbed first. There was


    blood on the floor and some in the hall. He could hear fighting and the crash of amp. He''d heard


    what the man said and the red hot anger had turned to ice cold hatred in a second.


    Isaiah hade to the doorway, blood was soaking what was left of ir''s shirt and her pants. Which


    were pulled low on her hips. The man had scratch marks on him as well, he jumped up fast. It was just


    the fury at the sight that had rooted him to the spot for the moment. How dare he touch her, it would be


    thest thing he ever did.


    "Gamma." Isaiah said as he grabbed the man by the throat. He was in terrible pain and barely able to


    breath with one t lung and the knife in his ribs.


    "Stay here with ir." He said pulling Amis to the hall with him.


    Beta came down the hall and with one look at Isaiah he moved past him to where ir was. He knew


    that this one was solely Isaiah''s. Isaiah pulled him down to arge room. He could kill the man in an


    instant but he wouldn''t. Not yet. No that would not sate the rage building.


    He set the man in a chair harshly. Isaiah stood looking at him. Isaiah grabbed another chair and pulled


    it over to the man and sat down facing him. The man''s gaze moved around the room. There was no


    escape and the man''s eyes widened. There were plenty of instruments in here that could cause pain. It


    was why he picked this room, psychological warfare. He''d be killing this man with his bare hands.


    "I''m going to kill you very slowly, you know why?"


    "Because of that whore." The man wheezed. This would be fun. He had a bit of fight to him still. It


    wouldn''tst, not once Isaiah really started. Isaiah reached forward and with the strength of his hand


    alone crushed the man''s knee cap.


    The sound of agony that came from him was satisfying but not enough.


    "I don''t like your tone. Try not to insult what belongs to me when I''m controlling how much pain you


    feel." Isaiah warned reaching forward to pull out the de buried in the man''s ribs. He pulled it out with


    a painful cry from the man. He coughed up some blood, as Isaiah did so. Just a bit of metal showed. It


    wasn''t easy to pull out but he used ws to get a hold of it and yank it out.


    "Because of ir." He gasped out.


    "Better." Isaiah flicked the de down into Amis''s thigh. He jerked but didn''t quite cry out. Isaiah found


    the fissure he needed in the man''s mind and went through it. What he''d nned to do to ir added to


    his cold hatred already.


    "I''ll answer your question for you by the way." Isaiah said taking the de back and holding it up to


    rotate in the air between them. Amis''s gaze was flicking to the de and then to Isaiah.


    "Question?" Amis asked his head felt like it was going to split in two. Isaiah hadn''t been gentle while


    tearing through it. Looking at what he and hispanion had talked about. What they spected ir


    was to him and why. What her worth was. Hence the reason that they chose her. They figured she was


    important and would know. She was, just not how they thought.


    "Yes, she is worth her weight in gold. Though you''ll never really know. If only I''d been just a bitter."


    Isaiah dropped his hand looking at the broken de he got up looking down at Amis.


    "Go fuck yourself." Amis spat breathing oddly.


    "Before I start in on you Amis. I''ll give you a choice." Isaiah said. "That de," Isaiah pointed to the


    rotating bloody de hanging in the air. "you can swallow it now or after I''m done and I make you." He


    looked at the de and then Isaiah like he was insane.


    "I''m not swallowing that, and you can''t make me." Isaiah gave a shrug and a very cold dark smile came


    to his face. He looked very much like a demon then with shiny ck eyes.


    "Very well, that was the response I was hoping for. I can make you do whatever I want, now that I can


    get in your head. You will be swallowing that de." Amis was going to wish he''d swallow that de


    himself and made it quick.


    ___ir___


    ir stood in the bathroom. Her shirt off, not that there was much left of it. Both Gamma and Beta were


    with her. Gamma was very upset that she hadn''t been able to get to ir. Beta was angered at what


    had happened to her as well. Apparently he thought of her as part of the little pack they had and it was


    slightlyforting.


    She looked at the raw and bloody wounds that hurt like hell. They were starting to heal already. Faster


    than ever before, and she guessed that it had to do more with Isaiah''s blood than anything else. She


    put her head down. She felt so helpless, so weak right now.


    Gamma rubbed against her good leg and licked the bad one. Her tongue was rough but ir didn''t


    mind. She had a new shirt next to her and had put on shorts so she could easily see her calf. ir


    limped from the bathroom. The shouts and screams had stopped. She couldn''t really find the will to feel


    sorry for Amis. Honestly she hoped that it hurt, and she felt no shame for it.


    ir slipped on the shirt wincing as she tried to get her bad arm through it and failed. She just left it


    how it was and crawled into the bed there. Sheid down on her good side. Gamma hopped up and


    then Beta. ir wasforted by their presence. Still she felt upset and angry, she was more than


    d that Isaiah had shown up, but what if she hadn''t been able to hold her own for that bit of time. Not


    to mention hertest discovery about herself? What would Isaiah have done then?


    She felt tears sliding down her face. She felt defeated, totally out of control and drowning. She felt


    rather than saw the hell hounds jump down. She looked up at Isaiah who was standing there now. He


    was looking down at her studying her.


    "How bad is it?" He asked quietly.


    "I''ll live." She answered. She looked away from him and his dark eyes. She felt vulnerable and knew


    she had to look like it as well. Not something she wanted him to see, predators jumped on vulnerability.


    He moved onto the bed. She noted that he had a new pair of clothes on. No doubt the others were


    coated in blood.


    He reached down and looked at her calf, then to her hip. His fingers moved over the wound. A bit of an


    icy chill settling in it. It was cooling and felt good, he reached for her shirt and she stopped him.


    "Let me see your shoulder ir."


    ir moved her hand. What if he could tell that she was pregnant? Would he be able to tell that by a


    touch? She didn''t think so, but if he really looked at her he had to be able to see the weight gain. He


    only seemed interested in her wound though and she felt the same thing as in her hip. Neither hurt as


    bad anymore.


    "Thank you." She said looking away from him. At least he wasn''t angry at her. She didn''t know what his


    feelings toward her were. They were always so jumbled and she couldn''t understand it.


    "You are wee." Isaiah said looking at ir. She pulled the shirt down moving back on her side.


    She looked extremely depressed and defeated, he didn''t like that. It bothered him. Why it did, he didn''t


    know, and had given up trying to figure out his odd reactions to her. Or maybe he just didn''t want to


    admit why.


    She''d been crying in here. The hell hounds had shown him. Not that he''d never seen or heard a human


    cry, but ir''s tears were for different reasons. Not fear or pain, hers were caused by something deep


    inside. Something he would never understand and could never figure out, yet one more piece to her


    puzzle.


    He moved andy pulling ir against him. He took in the smell of her. The citrus smell mixed with a


    kind of flower. The flower scent was a bit sharper at the moment. He could feel her crying again. This


    was very odd to him yet he waspelled to stay here with her, like it was important that he do this.


    Why shouldn''t he? He''d decided that she was to stay here. Remain with him, which meant he was


    obligated to take care of her. Surprisingly he didn''t mind. She didn''t push him away, she did sink a bit


    more into him. Both of them took a kind of sce in it. Though the moment was silent and neither felt


    like breaking it.

 Chapter 40: The Exit

    Chapter 40: The Exit


    ir opened her eyes. Light was spilling down from above. It had to be near noon, she wasn''t sure


    what time she''d gone to sleep at. Just that time was growing shorter on her. She had a bit of a n


    now but had yet to find the exit over the past few days.


    The day after the attack Isaiah had stayed rather close to her. Immediately demanded to know where


    she was going if she when to leave the room. She kind of liked the sudden protective air, but she


    wouldn''t tell him that.


    Right now she wasying against Isaiah. Her face against his shoulder and one of her legs over his.


    She sighed to herself, she enjoyed the feel right nowying against him. His one arm along her back.


    How she hade to liking this when not so long ago she would have tried anything to run from him.


    She wanted to say that she did it because she had to. Because she had no choice, but that wasn''t


    completely true. She''de here, stayed in his room of her own freewill. At first when this thought


    came she would feel a bit ashamed of herself, but not now. Now she just felt content. Content and sad


    at the same time.


    ir was in love with him, she shouldn''t be. It waspletely nonsensical to be. He could kill her


    anytime that he pleased. He wasn''t the kindest person in the world and he was overly controlling, but


    she still did. It wasn''t the ''oowe-gooey'' kind of love either. She realized it was what the other was giving


    that created it. The safety of being wanted by him and her filling the void he had. She enjoyed how he


    looked at her, and as of recently his treatment of her was far different. He spoke and talked to her like


    an equal. Like she actually had opinions and ideas that mattered and seemed to listen.


    ir moved to get up, he didn''t really move but she didn''t expect him to. He was starting to grow


    weaker and the height of the sun was really starting to affect him. It had been over a week since Amis


    had attacked her and even before that he hadn''t really fed. What he took from her was not enough and


    the drain of him from those that leeched immortality was great. She had been gifted with it from him,


    they had taken it. So she didn''t drain him.


    He''d killed Amis and hadn''t used him for food. Those that kept him here had to being with others


    soon. They would grow weak as well. From what she understood they drained him, pulling energy from


    him to be immortal. The ones left in the house were just two. They were doing a really good job of


    hiding. With Isaiah getting weaker it made it harder for him to track them. So she was sure the family


    would feel this and bring him more.


    If they let him go for a good amount of time those who recently added into the ritual via what they took


    from Isaiah would suffer first. His energy would dip lower and he''d be unable to supply to all of them.


    Those that were the newest additions would be cut off from him. Depending on their age or how long


    they''d been alive they would die aging faster than possible in a matter of hours. She thought about the


    conversation she had with him.


    "What about if you got out, would they die then too?" She''d asked.


    "No, my being trapped here isn''tpletely rted to them gaining immortality from me." She could


    now understand how being held against your will could start to leave a stain in one''s soul. She''d given


    up on being angry about it now. No sense in crying over spilled milk, and she was much more free now.


    ir slipped from the room and paced the house. Today was a good day to search again. Isaiah had to


    know where the exit was that was a given. She hadn''t thought of a way to trick it from him. Gregori had


    said that a man had made it out onto the grounds. He''d run for his life but the hell hounds had caught


    him. It seemed like years ago that she''d spoken with that man about such things.


    She thought about what she knew about Isaiah. He liked to y games with people. He''d have told


    them all how to leave she knew it. It would be fun for him to see if anyone was smart enough to figure it


    out. She was sure that it was extremely difficult to do. Of course once you got out you had to deal with


    the hell hounds. She racked her brain on all the things Isaiah had ever said. He''d be careful, but still


    he''d have done something to show them.


    ir moved to the grand staircase. She paused just to look out the windows from the top. At freedom


    so close yet so far away. At the bottom of the staircase she could see the drawing that she had made


    for him a while ago. She walked down the stairs to look at it. She really was proud of it. She felt that


    she''d captured the mood of the ce well, a kind of desperate hope. As she looked at the image she


    noted the difference. In the picture the stone statues were different than when she''d drawn them.


    The dragon''s head was turned and tipped down looking at the woman now. His tail wrapped around her


    and over one shoulder to hook under her opposite arm. Her head was up facing the light now where


    water flowed in. One hand down and the other held up. The dragon''s snout almost touching it.


    Light spilled on it, it was hard to tell in the image if she was looking at the dragon or the opening above.


    Her hand was bathed in light and ir suddenly understood. How simple yet it was exactly what she''d


    thought. He would. He fucking would make it obvious and yet obscure. Unless you''d been down there


    you wouldn''t know this cave existed!


    The waterfall would make it nearly impossible to get up to the opening, but he''d said you couldn''t leave


    the house.


    He''d never said that you couldn''t leave the caves.


    ir was overly excited now. Yes this had to be it. She touched her stomach and ran back up the


    stairs. She moved down the hall she had to wait now. Had to make her timing perfect. When they


    brought others, that would be perfect, fifteen minutes. Could she climb it in fifteen minutes? She''d give


    it hell.


    She came around a corner and Isaiah was standing at a window his head was slightly tipped down. His


    forefinger and thumb pinched the bridge of his nose. The little amount of blood he took from her wasn''t


    enough to sustain him. She had a feeling he was mentally tracking the others in the house to get one.


    He needed one today or he''d risk going feral.


    ir found that she would like to be around him today. She wasn''t going to be here much longer. Inside


    she wondered how her leaving would affect him. At times she thought that he really did care for her. It


    showed the couple days after she''d been attacked. The way he touched her and checked her wounds


    constantly.


    "They''lle soon." She saiding up beside him. "They have to keep their battery working." she


    said with a smile. He nced at her, his eyes were very nearly fully ck. A bit of a smile came to his


    face.


    "This is true." He stated, he looked up at the ceiling for a moment. There were still two others left in the


    house. They were hiding well and he had been looking for them. He didn''t even consider to use ir.


    Which told him plenty on his feelings toward her.


    There was something about her as ofte that he couldn''t quite put his finger on. Like the knowledge


    was just slipping right past him. She looked far healthier now that she had a few weeks ago. There was


    a kind of glow about her.


    It was appealing to him, she was always appealing to him. Just her presence calmed and pleased him.


    He wanted her around so very much. She lifted a weight that seemed to have hung around him as of


    late. If he were to pick someone to keep forever as a mate it would be her. He didn''t really know what


    his kind would call someone they chose to stay with. They didn''t really do that where he was from, but


    this was his world now. He was subject to its needs.


    He knew however that the only way for that to be such a permanent thing would be to conceive a child


    with said person or being. He had yet to see ir even remotely show him anything that told him she


    was even the slightest bit capable. She had the right blood type, he didn''t sense any psychic activity


    from her ever.


    However he was wondering about that mental block more and more, could that be a talent? Was the


    block hiding something? He''d been thinking to test it more than he had, but it would cause her a great


    deal of pain. Plus he was sure it was just wishful thinking.


    He''d have been stuck with Athena the moment she''d given birth to his child. Stuck with her in the sense


    having his child bonded them. So Kind of like a mate he guessed. However he would have killed her


    anyways. He''d had none of the feelings he had toward ir with her, not even close and the only


    reason he hadn''t killed her right away was because of said child. He was stuck on this ne with no


    one, he needed something more. The idea had kind of appealed to him, having another that might


    understand.


    Isaiah reached up and touched the side of her face. He just studied her for a moment. She seemed in a


    very good mood today. It was slightly infecting him. It would have done more so, if he wasn''t feeling the


    drain so much.


    "What are you thinking?" He asked her, he was curious. He was never able to hear her thoughts. It had


    bothered him so and still did. Though not as much, he found that not knowing what was going through


    her head all the time just added to her appeal.


    "A lot of things. Nothing in particr." She answered as a shiver went through them both. They felt it


    instantly. Her reaction a bit different than his. He dropped his hand because he had too. They were


    coming with others. As long as the entry spell was cast he couldn''t touch any of the humans in the


    house.


    "Good I''m starving." He stated turning from her.


    He moved down the hall and ir followed just for a bit to make sure that he was going to be away


    from where she needed to be. Her only problem was going to be the hell hounds. She knew that they


    would be in the caves. She hoped that they had left. They had to be starved and this would be like


    ringing a dinner bell. They were nearly to the front and she was going to turn and go back, slowing her


    pace. Someone stepped out into the hall between her and Isaiah, when she did so. That gap giving


    them opportunity.


    "Hi ir." He said, she hadn''t been paying attention. She normally didn''t when with Isaiah, a mistake


    this time. This was the man who''d hit her and pulled her in the room with the two others. The one that


    seemed to know Amis well.


    "I was just going to hope for food, but saw you going by. Been waiting for a good moment." He nced


    at Isaiah and stepped toward ir who stepped back. Isaiah had stopped and turned to look at them.


    Something very dark passed through his eyes. He couldn''t touch them right now. ir knew this and it


    seemed that so did this man. The man turned to Isaiah.


    "I''m sure you''ll catch and kill me. I just wanted to take from you what you''ve taken from me." Isaiah


    knew this man had loved Amis like a brother and almost a bit more than that. Right now he could do


    whatever he wanted to ir and Isaiah couldn''t touch him. Neither could the hell hounds, Gamma


    included. It was a protection spell as well from anything non-human.


    A different man came around behind ir. She turned as if she knew he was there and hit him hard


    across the face. He was stunned by the intensity of the attack and she ran down the hall. Isaiah knew


    their names, Neo in pursuit who had been Amis''s brother in arms. With the other man Jax. Isaiah


    followed as well, the time counting down in his head. It was a bit longer than fifteen minutes. Fifteen


    minutes was when the new arrivals entered the house.


    Neo was fast, just as fast as ir. He just barely managed a grip on the back of her shirt, yanking her


    to a stop. They had been running along some windows to the left and rooms to the right. He pulled her


    against him. Tried to get control of her and they were fighting. ir was a hellion and she got him


    across the face too. He wrapped an arm around her to get more control.


    "Knife!" Neo called to Jax and ir kicked him in the shin. He moved but didn''t let her go. The other


    man gave him the knife that was asked for. Isaiah couldn''te within five feet of them as he had the


    intent to do harm. Serious harm, they were going to kill her to spite Isaiah and no other reason.


    "Say bye to the bitch." Neo brought the knife to plunge it in ir''s chest but his hand stopped midair.


    He couldn''t move it any lower. There was a strain on his face as he tried to move his arm. Isaiah and


    the other man lookedpletely lost as to what had just happened. They didn''t see how he was


    unable to stab her, or why he was acting like he couldn''t. They''d both fully expected it, but there was a


    hardness and concentration to ir all of a sudden. Isaiah felt it before it happened. A surge from her


    as her mental barrier lowered slightly with her attack.


    The other man came forward and ir turned her head. Held out a hand and he mmed into and


    through the door there. The mental force on par with what Isaiah could do and he was stunned. She


    also sent Neo into the window behind her. She ducked as the ss exploded and Neo hit the floor like


    a rag doll. This was easy now, she didn''t have head trauma to deal with. Could focus just fine. About


    time one of these ordeals fell in her favor, their mistake thinking she was defenseless.


    She stood and looked at Isaiah who didn''t seem to be breathing. He knew now and she had minimal


    time to leave. Not exactly how she''d nned this, but still. He would try to stop her, but she wasn''t


    going to be stopped. It didn''t matter if he knew now.


    They stared at each other for a moment and all her muscles bunched preparing to run. There was just


    dead silence with the two unconscious men and the two of them seeing the other more clearly.


    "ir," He said in an almost warning tone. He could see it. What she was nning even if he couldn''t


    read it in her mind. There was no signature from her again. She felt like a normal mortal. Fuck, she was


    psychic and had hid it! She turned and ran down the hall. He could get much closer to her seeing as he


    didn''t intend to do harm to her. Still he couldn''t touch her so stopping her was near impossible at the


    moment.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    He was still rather stunned. For her to have such a talent and he never felt it told him how powerful she


    had to be. He doubted that that was her only talent. It all made sense now, how she managed to get


    into rooms that no one else could. How she always just managed to avoid him when he knew she was


    close by. It had to be hidden, just like her scent stopped when she was scared, that was a talent in


    itself. How had he not put it together sooner? How fucking stupid of him. She''d been standing in front of


    him the whole goddamn time.


    ir sent a grate flying from the wall with her mind and she went into the space crawling up it. Well that


    was another mystery solved. She was far better than he gave her credit for. A mistake he wasn''t going


    to make ever again, if he managed to catch her this time. He''d seen it, she knew how to leave.


    He couldn''t let her leave until she was pregnant. He''d be subject to her whims rather than free. Besides


    he needed her now, and he didn''t doubt she''d run rather than stay to realize the control she would


    have. To have his freedom so close and not even have known it.... He felt several choice words stuck in


    the back of his throat.


    "ir!" He shouted but she was up and around a corner of the vent system. She wasn''t going toe


    back this way so he had to follow her by sound. She was being very quiet and she was a floor above


    him. He moved up and had to pause because there wasn''t any sound but that of the othersing in


    the house.


    Her signature gone again and he had to hunt by only sound. This was dangerous on so many levels. If


    she got out everyone in the house that was alive could get control of him, shit. The choice was follow


    her, wait in the caves, or kill all in the house. He couldn''t climb the waterfall, only the humans could.


    The loophole of signing the book. Alpha and Beta appeared, he turned to them.


    "Go down stairs and kill them all the moment that the barrieres down. Have Zeta corral the two


    men passed out in the hall downstairs. They took off and Isaiah waited for the sound to tell him where


    she was. When that didn''t work he searched for Gamma instead but she wasn''t with ir she was


    moving toward the outside it seemed. Isaiah switched tactics and ran toward the stairway that led up.


    The others could drag her back inside if he ordered them to.

 Chapter 41: A Releasing Escape

    Chapter 41: A Releasing Escape


    ir moved fast through the vent. She had one chance and fifteen minutes to do it. She went to her


    little home in the wall and grabbed the gun that was there. It was the only thing that she wanted and


    then she slid down the shaft on the other side. It would deposit her in the basement and not far from a


    door that led to the caves.


    She was sure that Isaiah would hear her ande but he couldn''t touch her so long as the spell held.


    She hoped that was the same for the rest of the yard and not just in the house. She hit the basement


    floor rather hard. She ran to the caves and Gamma came toward her looking confused.


    "Please help me Gamma. I have to leave. Say nothing to the others and don''t speak to Isaiah. I can''t


    stay here. I don''t want to die." Gamma ran alongside her as they entered the cave.


    She ran to the water''s edge. Gamma stopping there making a promise to not speak and she would


    meet her outside. ir swam through the chilled water and to the waterfall. The roar of it was


    deafening. She climbed fast and with little problem, she felt an aide to her. Like something else was


    moving through her limbs and she was thankful for it.


    It felt like the energy of this ce was helping her climb faster and safer.


    It was growing cloudy out and the sun was moving lower in the sky so it should be okay for Gamma to


    meet her outside. Direct sunlight could kill her in hell hound form. So she would have to stay as a


    Sheppard which would curb her ability some. This was the thought going through ir''s head. She


    couldn''t do this on her own, she''d need some help.


    It took her closer to ten minutes to get up the waterfall and crawl out onto the forest floor near the river.


    She turned and ran down the path there. She knew it was the only way that she could go, she could


    feel it. Or she''d be dragged back by magic. There was a kind of presence again guiding her, aiding her


    in the speed she knew it. She ran out into the backyard and Gamma came to her. They ran around the


    front of the house. The yard was huge and she didn''t know how far she could get before the fifteen was


    up. Just a few minutes now she knew.


    She came around the side of the house. She knew that Isaiah watched her from somewhere but she


    wasn''t going to take the time to find him. She could hear the sound of car doors closing as she ran


    around the side of the house and into the driveway. She recognized Michael and the older man next to


    him as they spoke. The two vans were already pulling away, but one mmed on their breaks as the


    driver spotted her. ir ran toward the two men. A few moreing out of the van that had stopped.


    ir was covered in mud and filth from the climb but she didn''t care. She was outside and so close to


    leaving. Gamma moved around the side of the vans going to kill those she found. They got out but


    didn''t see her. ir pointed her gun moving forward slightly.


    "Get out of my way." She demanded. Their car was on and the closest to her and most likely the fastest


    one. Several reached for weapons but she fired, nearly hitting two of them and the others ran for cover.


    There was sudden screaming inside. Looked like fifteen minutes was up.


    However it had nothing to do with her firing and everything with the upants of the house. Over by


    the first van there was shouting and the sound of a short snarl. Gamma moved from man to man


    getting those that tried to run as ir approached the car. They had their hands full with the fast hell


    hound.


    She held out her hand and the weapons that the two behind the car had came to her. She let them fall


    to the ground. She just nced up enough to see that Isaiah was on the roof watching but not


    attempting to do or say anything.


    Gamma had run to the other van not far from her but farther ahead to take care of those there.


    Leonardo and Michael stood facing her as she got to the closed door of the small car. She kept her gun


    pointed at them. They didn''t have a weapon at the ready and their hands were up.


    "We don''t want trouble." Leonardo said, but ir had heard them talking low over here. Leonardo was


    angry with Michael because he''d told them that they had killed her. Shot her in the head. ir knew


    then that they had killed Leanne and Carlos. She wouldn''t hesitate to kill them either. The softer side


    she''d once had was long gone, and these men had fucked her over good.


    "Back away." She said watching them. The sounds of Gamma attacking came to them, the sound of


    breaking ss and other destruction from in the house. They backed up and looked at her.


    "You can''t shoot us to kill us." Michael said.


    "Who said I wanted to kill you? I just want to leave. I''m more than sure that a bullet to the head might


    do the trick though." The car door opened but Leonardo made a motion and it mmed closed. So he


    was talented as well.


    "We can''t let you leave, not without you joining us. I''m afraid we''ll have to kill you otherwise." A man


    came from the first van that Gamma was just moving to. He was a short distance behind ir but she


    was aware of him. Gamma was finishing with thest of the men though on the other side. In a short


    amount of time the other hell hounds would be out here. All of them knew it, and they needed to get off


    the property.


    "Just answer one question. The answer will be whether we kill or let you live." She gave a rude sound,


    she sensed the truth of it. Should she answer right then she could live. However it probably wouldn''t be


    for long. Just long enough for them to do something to her.


    "He can tell if you lie." Leonardo said pointing to the other man behind her.


    "We aren''t getting younger here." ir said opening the car door with her mind again. This time it


    stayed open even when he tried to close it. She had a smug look about her.


    "Better than you thought."


    "You fooled us all." Leonardo said, ncing to where Isaiah was, and she waited. It was Michael who


    spoke next, moving slightly but her gun moved to him and he paused.


    "Do you really want to let him out of this house?" He asked her first.


    "I have less to worry about if he gets out than you do. I don''t mind the thought of him tearing the two of


    you apart." ir answered.


    "If you leave you could release him instead of gaining control over him." ir didn''t understand that


    completely, but then she figured if someone escaped and got control of Isaiah... no wonder he was so


    intense on killing those that even had a remote chance of escape.


    "And?" She said using Isaiah''s tone of voice when she asked questions.


    "If you carry his child you''ll let him out by leaving the property. He''ll kill all of us." There was silence in


    the yard as Michael spoke the words. Really? Well wasn''t that just a kick in the pants? Looked like she


    had less to fear than she realized, and they were screwed.


    "Are you?" He said after a moment when she just stared at them. No one moved. It was like the house


    and grounds even froze waiting for her to speak.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "Am I what?" She asked turning slightly as she watched him. She would dive into the car easily this


    way when she answered. She''d answer too, just to show them how fucked they were when she got off


    this property.


    "Pregnant, you stupid bitch." Leonardo snapped. There was anger in his voice and he wanted an


    answer, though he already had it.


    "Yes." ir dove into the car as the man behind her fired the bullet missed and clipped Michael''s arm.


    She mmed the car door and hit the gas as she put it in gear. She nearly hit Leonardo as he dove out


    of the way. She slowed only enough to let the passenger door open and Gamma jumped in. It was like


    some stunt out of a movie and she felt her heart beat faster. Adrenaline surge and joy skyrocket inside


    of her. Fuck yes she did it.


    Her tires spun up dirt and gravel as she peeled down the driveway. Another in pursuit of her. They''d


    have to kill her to reverse what she was going to do. They''d have to drag her back and kill her to trap


    him again. ir knew the moment she was beyond the grounds of the house. She felt this invisible


    snap in her chest and rubbed it slightly but had a smile. When she hit pavement, she gunned it.


    The car was quick and fast. Faster than otherrger car could ever be. Next to her Gamma was having


    a hard time staying on the seat but she didn''tin. She enjoyed this high speed chase around a


    winding mountain road. ir wasn''t stopping for anything, and she was already starting to loserger


    vehicle.


    __Isaiah__


    Isaiah stood above the scene below, watching, waiting. He could barely breathe as Michael asked the


    question all of them wanted to know. The reasoning for it a bit different. He felt such a sudden and


    explosive relief and joy that he nearly jumped down right then and there.


    He had to wait though, just long enough for her to hit the edge of the grounds. As his thoughts turned to


    leaving he felt the welts forming on his skin. That didn''t matter just another minute or so. She was


    tearing down the drive having gotten Gamma. Isaiah felt the moment that the spell crumbled, everyone


    in the house was dead. None to escape and gain control now that they coulde and go at will. He


    came down off the roofnding in a slight crouch and straightening. Damn it felt good to be outside, no


    pain or invisible lines tearing at him.


    Onerge vehicle had taken off after ir. However his two main targets were still in the yard moving


    away from him and around the side of the house. He followed after them. They wouldn''t get anywhere.


    They were trapped now and the three hell hounds were already outside. The family didn''t get control if


    they got off the property. They weren''t part of the contract, so he wasn''t worried about the one following


    ir.


    Isaiah caught Michael first. His talons sinking into his shoulder, slicing bone and flesh. He tossed him


    forward a momentter to where the hell hounds were pacing stopping Leonardo''s progress. Isaiah


    slowly felt the rush of all that he wasing back to him. The power that he''d lost returning. He''d kill


    these men andugh while doing it.


    Isaiah came up behind Leonardo, and first grabbed him as he tried to get away snapping his arm in


    three ces with ease. He cried out and Isaiah kicked the side of his knee. The bones snapped and


    the knee dislocated, white bone sticking through the skin and he fell. So damn satisfying.


    "Devour him, slowly. Make sure he stays alive for most of it." Isaiah said to the three hell hounds and


    they moved to Michael whom he''d indicated. Isaiah bit into Leonardo''s neck. He took as much as he


    could without killing him.


    He let go, and now he was going to take his time to kill this man. Isaiah knew every single way to kill


    someone. Which ones hurt the most, which ones tore you down making you beg for death. It was his


    job after all, he was the personification of death and he knew what each person''s fear was. At least


    their greatest fear of how they would die. He could hear it all now.


    "You take time to kill us, and she gets away." Michael''s screams were horrible to hear if there had been


    someone with a conscience in the area to hear them. They just made Isaiah smile and the hell hounds


    more worked up. If he had to work to get a hold of her, he knew that no human was going to manage it


    easily. ir wasn''t one to take lightly.


    "I''ll find her, I''m not worried about it. I''d thank Michael for bringing her to me but he''s beyond listening at


    the moment." Isaiah took hold of Leonardo''s throat and held him up. Isaiah was starting to look less


    human now. Leonardo had fear in his eyes for the first time. How good that finally felt. He knew just


    how fucked he was.


    There was nothing that he could say or do to save his life this time and they both knew it. He''d created


    his own hell the moment he''d trapped Isaiah here. Isaiah would first cause so much pain in his body


    he''d wish he was dead. Then shred his mind to where he was a hollow broken shell. Not one piece of


    him was going to be recognizable when Isaiah was done with him. The dark smile he gave Leonardo


    was full of nasty teeth. His ck bottomless eyes held no mercy or caring.


    "How I''m going to enjoy this." He hissed out with glee.

 Chapter 42: Forever

    Chapter 42: Forever


    ir looked around the small house she stood in. It was hers but it didn''t feel like home. It felt shallow


    and fake. She knew that she''d left a piece of herself back at the mansion she''d lived in for months. Well


    more like a year or so if you counted the sleeping time. She felt the pull to go back, not yet though. It


    wasn''t quite time.


    She stepped out the door and onto the porch there to sit down. She sold a lot of artwork. It seemed that


    people really liked what she had. She signed it all as someone else, Leanne Gionivi. No one could


    trace her. ir had looked to make sure.


    ir had been lucky to manage to sell her artwork to a gallery as she had nothing when she left. She''d


    gone back home to America just to see her adoptive parents, but hadn''t approached them. She knew it


    was better if they thought her dead. She''d looked herself up to see what had "happened" to her.


    It seemed that she and her roommate had just up and disappeared after going to a college party. There


    had been no trace of either of them after that. No mention of the tour they had taken. They''d searched


    for them both for a good three weeks and given up.


    ir was sad that she couldn''t talk to her family ever again. She just couldn''t go back to them and


    exin things. She couldn''t show up seven months pregnant and be the same woman as before. She


    was changed forever, everything out here seemed so unreal. The very way she perceived things had


    changed.


    When she left the house she''d lost the one trailing her, and then she''d gone until she couldn''t go


    anymore. Finding someone to buy the car. Then she''d bought a ne ticket and gone far away. She


    checked the news though. At least globally just to keep track of things. Isaiah would be going through


    those over there killing any linked to him. There were killings all over the ce, so it was really hard to


    even know. She knew he''d be looking for her once he was done.


    She touched her stomach. She was wishing the baby would juste. Her back hurt and she was


    constantly tired. Thest doctor she went to had told her that her baby was exceptionally healthy and


    doing very well. She hadn''t wanted to know if it was a boy or girl. Frankly she was surprised how much


    she wanted the child, and she would try to be the best parent she could. She did however hope that her


    child was more like her than Isaiah. It would just be really hard knowing the damage her child could


    inflict if they had no conscience at all.


    She knew that Isaiah would eventuallye for her. Eventually track her down. She didn''t know what


    he would do then. She did have the promise from him that he would make her death as painless as


    possible. Which eased her tension. Quite frankly he owed her, and she''d find a way to make his life hell


    in the afterlife if he did kill her just because.


    However the first month after leaving she''d wake up from a dead sleep holding the gun she kept on her


    nightstand. She was terrified of someone finding out about her. That one of those attached to Isaiah


    would find and drag her away to kill her and her child.


    She looked at the stairs as Gamma came up them. It was nearly nightfall and the yard had plenty of


    trees in it. It was colder now, they said that snow should be falling soon. She was in northern Minnesota


    at the moment. Herndy was nice and lived next door to her. She could see her moving about the


    yard with her husband. They''d taken pity on her being as pregnant as she was. With no husband and a


    German Shepherd for protection.


    Her rent was low and they gave her a bit ofpany. Little did they know that Gamma was all the


    protection she needed from burrs or anything else. Not that out in the middle of nowhere did one


    have to worry about that much.


    "Did your hunting go well?" ir asked and Gamma gave a short nod telling her with images how well


    she''d done. She was lonely as well though from time to time. She missed the others, though Beta most


    of all. ir found it funny, she was pinning away like a love struck child. ir however felt a little the


    same way.


    "Hello dear." Came a soft grandmotherly voice. Mrs. Lewis came up the stairs to stand by her. Gamma


    moved off toy down. Keeping her eyes down so she couldn''t see the color.


    "How are you?"


    "Good." She said with a smile.


    "It''s supposed to get cold tonight. I wasn''t sure if you had enough nkets and I have some hot tea for


    you." She said and ir gave a smile. Just like her to worry.


    "Thank you. I should be okay. I don''t want to take what you may need more than me." ir said and


    Mrs. Lewis clucked her tongue. Mr. Lewis came over and leaned against the low railing on the other


    side looking at her.


    "How is it that a pretty little thing like you ends up out here, and pregnant to boot?" He finally asked the


    question she was sure was burning inside of him for a while. It was strange wasn''t it?


    "Herald!" Mrs. Lewis snapped.


    "It''s okay." ir said with augh. She knew that Herald didn''t mean harm by it, he was angered on her


    behalf. She was surprised he''d held his tongue this long.


    "I felt it was better if I left than to stay."


    "Well someone should find that boy and hang him. You''re such a sweet youngdy, so helpful. Mind


    you be careful in your state to not do so much." ir gave a smile.


    "Well I didn''t give him much choice when I left. There were things he needed to take care of and I didn''t


    want to take part in them." Mrs. Lewis patted her leg.


    "You should just move on then. If he really wanted you he''d havee for you." She advised. "There


    are plenty of other fish in the sea. Plenty of interest in town." ir gave augh at that.


    "Right for a pregnant woman?"


    "Oh, there''s interest from a few." Mr. Lewis said. "Been asked a few questions about you by others."


    She just smiled.


    "That''s nice to know." She gave a sigh. "But I don''t doubt that he will eventually show up for me." ir


    said. She knew that the two thought her just hung up on him, but they didn''t know the things she did.


    Besides no other man interested her at all. She couldn''t stand the thought of another touching her. ir


    touched her stomach as the baby kicked. Around this time of day he or she always would.


    "Kicking?"


    "Yep." ir said and Mrs. Lewis touched her stomach and then moved to go in her house and set the


    items she had down. From where ir was she could see that she also adjusted the heat. ir shook


    her head and Herald just gave a shrug.


    "Thank you both." She said. "I''m d I got to know you." She added not meaning to as Mrs. Lewis went


    down the stairs. The way she said it sounded like a goodbye almost.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    "Are you leaving dear?" She asked.


    "One never knows." She responded standing up with a heavy sigh as she straightened. "But I will see


    youter." She said and moved inside as they walked back to their house. Gamma came over to her as


    she sat down in the living room. Her nose pushing against her stomach until she felt the kick on her


    snout.


    She gave a sneeze and then moved toy down. ir took the thermos and used the cap to drink


    from. It was hot and tasted really good. She enjoyed tea a lot, plus she felt hungry again. She got up


    with a bit of work and moved to the kitchen. She could feel it like the rising sun, he wasing. He''d


    be here soon. She just didn''t know how soon.


    __Isaiah__


    Isaiah stood looking at the small house. He knew ir was here. He could feel her, smell her. It had


    taken him a while to track her down. Next to him was Beta. The others were back at the house. The


    house wanted ir back just as much as he did. It felt that a piece of it was missing. They were all


    bound to it and the magic there.


    He looked through the window on the left. The light was on as the sky was darkening quickly. The smell


    of snow was in the air. The first snow he''d be able to touch and not have to associate with a long sleep.


    He noted that the older couple next door seemed worried about ir and that she lived alone, they felt


    they needed to take care of her. Better than other scenarios that had gone through his mind.


    Isaiah moved with an easy stride. Nearly flowing across the ground rather than walking. He moved up


    to the door. Beta stayed where he was. He nced at the other house, the old woman there noticed


    him. He didn''t mind her noticing him. She also notice Beta who looked like a Sheppard at the moment.


    Seeing this the woman seemed to surmise just who he was to ir. He''d probably wipe their memory


    before leaving, but maybe not. It wouldn''t really matter.


    He opened the door and Gamma was sitting there. She looked up at him and then toward the kitchen.


    He stepped aside as she went out the door. She knew he wasn''t here to cause harm to ir, so she let


    him pass. She went over to Beta excitedly.


    The ce smelled of her, it was everywhere and extremely appealing. He just took it in for a moment,


    enjoying it. Only her and Gamma were the main smell in the house. That was good he''d wondered


    about ir and what she had told him so many months ago. Apparently she''d spoken the truth just as


    he hoped she did. She had not sought out another''spany.


    He stopped in the doorway of the kitchen. Her back was to him, there was a tired but not unhealthy air


    about her. It had been far too long since he''d seen her, touched her. He needed her so much that it


    made his skin crawl that he didn''t have her near him for such a long time. Whatever bond had formed


    was incredibly strong and led him here.


    Her head was bent down her hands on the edge of the sink. She was lost in thought and he moved


    forwarding up behind her. He put one hand over her stomach and the other he sank into the


    softness of her hair. He took a slow measured breath, finally. She didn''t jump nor seem startled at his


    presence. She knew, and had clearly been waiting.


    "You weren''t easy to find ir." He said to her annoyed, pulling the hair from her neck. His mouth


    coming down on the skin there. She was far along in her pregnancy. He enjoyed the fact that his child


    grew inside of her. You couldn''t mark anyone much more than that, as yours. He knew that the


    enjoyment was solely because it was ir.


    "I didn''t want to disappoint you." She remarked. She liked how he felt pressed against her, holding her


    to him. You never realized the things you craved until you were deprived of them. His hold felt


    possessive, and she saw no reason to not ept it. She''d been waiting. She already knew her ce


    and where she wanted to be.


    "I doubt you ever will." He replied with a slightugh. He turned her head so he could taste her mouth.


    He kissed her like he was starving for her. The time did not change his memory. If anything it was more


    satisfying. ir sighed, he made a deep sound in his chest and lifted his mouth from hers.


    "I''vee to take you home ir." He told her, as she turned to face him. She could see that he was


    much more than he had been before. She could feel iting from him, but she didn''t get that instant


    fear that she used to. He was no longer restrained and held down. All that he was was free to him now.


    "I know." She assured him. He kissed her again. She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened


    them they weren''t in the kitchen anymore. She was not surprised he could move somewhere by just a


    thought alone now. He''d brought them back to the house, and she felt it touch her with a warm


    embrace. That piece of her didn''t feel like it was gone anymore. This ce had gotten into her, marked


    her just as the man before her had.


    "I need you, I crave you ir." He growled against her throat as he set her down on his bed. ir kept


    an arm around his shoulders. His hands moved over her stomach before moving lower. She felt like


    crying she was so relieved at the moment.


    She hadn''t realized how badly she felt for Isaiah. How much she herself wanted him. Completely at


    ease with it. She let him strip her of her clothes, before his own and took her body. His mouth over hers


    he moved it to the side of her head near her ear.


    "You''ll never leave again ir." He told her, a dangerous finality to his voice.


    "I know." She gasped out, "I''m yours." Shemented knowing what he wanted to hear. He was more


    than thrilled to hear her say it. He knew that part of him belonged to her as well. ir however was his


    completely, he''d already decided that he wasn''t letting her go. She would always be right where he


    needed her to be. Forever was a very long time, and ir was one thing he desired to keep forever.


    _____________________________________________________


    Love has no shape, no barriers. Ites to us in heat, and leaves us with ice. Forever etched into a


    heart, forever ingrained in a mind.

 Chapter 43: Epilogue

    Chapter 43: Epilogue


    ir held the old tattered book in her left hand. Her voice smooth and fluid as she spoke the words on


    the page. The night was cool, and the sky held a bright full moon. The light making the shadows she


    stood in deeper hiding her and the two with her.


    Not far from them was a tall stone wall that had a small double iron gate there. Inside the walls was


    what looked like a warehouse and several sets of buildings. Music and distant talking could be heard.


    Those inside had no idea what wasing. That death was about to walk among them.


    Thest of the words flowed out of ir starting the binding ritual. The book she held was the one


    she¡¯d signed long ago. However it now served a different purpose and her name no longer adorned the


    pages. Still the magic done bound her and Isaiah forever. She more than anyone understood what had


    to be continued.


    ir looked up at Isaiah as she finished the words. She gripped the ck de that he was holding


    until blood showed. She let go of it and Isaiah took his free hand and lifted up her injured one to bring it


    to his mouth. His tongue swirled over the cut even as her blood dripped off the de. Her wound


    healing. A shiver went down her spine. There was a bit of heat there in his gaze. She never got tired of


    seeing his desire for her.


    ¡°You are sure of this? None will be spared, innocent or not. We will collect them all, to feed us and for


    our home.¡± He warned her and Isaiah¡¯s free hand touched her face. His thumb sliding over her lower


    lip. She knew he asked as he did not want to deal with her getting upset. That ship had long ago sailed


    however. For the most part.


    ¡°Yes, he needs to learn. I know that some will not deserve what is going to happen. However I¡¯m more


    than happy to choose a den of depravity for you to destroy. To collect from and teach our son.¡± ir


    said seriously. Isaiah gave a slight smile and leaned, giving her a harsh but deep kiss. He was never


    going to get enough of her. His perfect female, perfect mate. Isaiah lifted his head and nced to the


    left where a younger man stood.


    ¡°Wait. I willplete the barrier then you will add to it.¡± The young man gave a slight head bow that he


    understood. His eyes were a darker green that were sharp. Isaiah gripped the de adding his blood to


    it and moved forward toward the wall a short distance away. He was out in the moonlight now and you


    could see the color of his skin change along his arm. A hand tipped with talons and he was drawing on


    the wall with his blood and the de.


    ir turned from what Isaiah was doing and looked at her son. He was technically a human adult now.


    However still a child by the standards of a reaper. Very young, and it would take time for him to learn


    and master his abilities. To control himself and the fact he could not always shut off emotion like Isaiah


    could. He looked very much like his father.


    ¡°Zacharias, promise me you will not be cruel to those you kill.¡± ir asked quietly. This was not the first


    time they did this. Finding a ce to trap others in to teach him. To sacrifice to their home and magic.


    This book had tied them to the house and caves, the magic there. It needed new blood from time to


    time. It had to be fed, or they would suffer too. Magic always came with a price. Regardless if you were


    willing or not.


    Zacharias needed to learn and feed, as did Isaiah and the hounds. ir however was given the task to


    choose, and she chose the worst of human society. This ce housed horrible people that enjoyed


    trafficking others. Among other horrible evil acts. There was no shortage of horrible people. So this let


    her sleep at night. Zacharias sighed and stepped up to ir.


    ¡°Mother,¡± He started and reached up to push a bit of her hair from her face behind her ear. ¡°I can¡¯t


    promise something I won¡¯t be able to keep.¡± She of course had taught him that along with Isaiah. It was


    imperative that he never make a promise he could not keep.


    When he was younger he nearly died when he promised to never do something again that ir had


    scolded him for. Neither of them realized how serious his word choice was. Both her and Isaiah had


    thought him being half human would not carry the same punishment like Isaiah, which was death.


    When he¡¯d broken it, he¡¯d began to seizure and then for days after he¡¯d thrown up blood. Some had


    come from his ears and eyes. He¡¯d stopped breathing once but they¡¯d gotten him back with quick


    action. ir had been beside herself with worry for him. Barely eating and stayed by his side.


    ¡°Intentionally cruel to anyone that isn¡¯t one of the criminals in this ring or gang. Just the unfortunate


    ones trapped. That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking.¡± He gave her a smile. It softened his face and made him look


    devilishly handsome. ir sighed inwardly. She loved her son. However he was going to be seriously


    dangerous to the female poption. She meant that in a good and really bad way.


    ¡°That I can promise.¡± She smiled back at him and touched his arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try anything too foolish either. Just because you can heal and are hard to kill does not make you


    invincible Zacharias. I love you but you are too daring sometimes. Never underestimate humans. We


    are a cunning conniving bunch.¡± That made himugh. Zacharias looked ir over. Knew he was very


    lucky to have her as his mother. No other would have nurtured him, taught him like she had. His father


    was beyond lucky to have found her.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware. I hope they are. A challenge is always good.¡± He sounded a bit too much like Isaiah right


    there for ir¡¯s liking. ¡°Besides, if I¡¯m lucky one of these times I hope to find one, like father found you.¡±


    He was aware that his parents were not a society norm. His father was a creature of death, but as such


    Zacharias was going to have the same needs. No normal human woman was going to do. He wanted


    what his parents had, yet it was going to be so very difficult for him to find.


    ¡°Hopefully not in a ce like this. You deserve better.¡± He smiled at her again. She gave an answering


    one.


    ¡°There will always be diamonds hidden in the rough.¡± She raised an eyebrow at him. He had a darker


    light to his eyes, and oddly it made her smile. A darker one too, oh the poor soul that he decided to


    love. ir knew exactly what was in store of her.


    ¡°Zacharias.¡± They both looked at Isaiah who stood there near them. No sound at his approach. He held


    out the ck de to his son.


    ¡°Finish it.¡± Zacharias gave a nod taking the de and walking down where his father had been.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    ¡°You bring him back out to me whole Isaiah or so help me god¡­¡± Isaiah stepped closer to her and slid


    his hands into her hair, tipping her head up to look at him.


    ¡°If god answered you ir you would not be with me.¡± He gave a slight smirk. ¡°So don¡¯t threaten, it''s


    pointless.¡± ir put one hand to his chest. The other at her side holding the book.


    ¡°I mean it Isaiah, you bring our child back to me whole. Or you won¡¯t touch me again.¡± His gaze grew


    dark and he pulled her against him. His mouth brushing hers.


    ¡°Do not think I won¡¯t punish you if you break your word to me. You are mine and I will have you when I


    wish. Touch you when I please.¡± He took her mouth then and kept her there against him. She didn¡¯t


    stop him or push him away. He craved her like a drug and it just grew more so over the years. She was


    bound to him. His heart knew exactly what ir meant to him, even as his mind refused to say it.


    ¡°Let nothing happen to him.¡± ir said when he stopped kissing her. She was aware Isaiah wasn¡¯t


    going to kill her. However if she upset him or ever broke her word he would find another way to punish


    her for it.


    ¡°He wille back fine ir. He has grown stronger. He will heal and this he must do. You know this.¡±


    Isaiah felt irritated, Zacharias was very capable. The two of them had taught him well from a young


    age. However ir loved deeply. The only time ever in Isaiah¡¯s existence that he had ever felt fear was


    when Zahcarias nearly died.


    He knew he cared for his son. However, it was the knowledge that if he lost Zacharias he¡¯d lose ir


    too. She would not emotionally survive the death of her child he realized. Obviously he was going to


    make sure he came back. Isaiah honestly had no idea what he would do if ir died. He couldn¡¯t even


    think about it as a possibility. Just ir, she held a part of him he didn''t even know he had.


    ¡°Promise me.¡± ir demanded of him.


    ¡°I give my word.¡± He stated exasperated. He stepped back slightly and ced his hands on the sides of


    her stomach. The obvious bump there, and he enjoyed the fact immensely. She carried his second


    child and that was why she was staying out here. Noting with them.


    ¡°You have another too worry over ir. Zacharias will be fine. He is no longer breakable like you or her


    are.¡± ir sighed.


    ¡°It does not change how I feel. I feel better now, I have your promise. You always keep your word.¡± She


    gave him a half smile that was a bit darker. He felt the instant response inside of him.


    ¡°That I do.¡± Hemented and turned away from her before he couldn¡¯t. They had a task before them,


    and it was time to feed. To remind mortals that they were not as powerful as they thought.


    Isaiah moved up to stand besides Zacharias. They looked at the smaller gate before them that was


    partially open. Isaiah took the de offered, with a harsh downward motion tossed it into the ground. It


    sank in handle up. Instantly all along the wall deep blood red lines began to crawl like vines as the spell


    took full effect. No mortal creature was going to be able to escape now.


    The two of them stood there and an eerie fog started to roll in that was unnatural. It surrounded and hid


    the ce from view. The magic at work was not just human magic. It was also mixed with the talent


    that Isaiah had, what he was to do and cause. His eyes turned ck like obsidian ss and his


    features less human. He looked at Zacharias whose own eyes were ck as well and a smile on his


    face.


    ¡°Care to teach me how to y a real game father?¡± Zacharias challenged and his smile this time was


    full of dark things. Things his mother would never understand but his father did. The desires that rode


    them.


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    ¡°A game of minds. Teach me how to break a mind.¡± Isaiah¡¯s own smile deepened and it was full of


    sharp teeth.


    ¡°My favorite kind of game. One they never win.¡± The two moved forward into thepound through the


    gate. Both men felt an tion at what they were about to do.


    At the tree line ir watched them disappear into the gate. The fog rolled around the trees behind her.


    Through it fourrge forms came forward. ir didn¡¯t look but she felt them there. The hell hounds


    stood and ir lifted the book up. It opened it to thest page of names where there was space still.


    They waited in their line, Zeta and Alpha on her left. Gamma and Beta on her right. Between the two of


    them was a smaller hell hound with orange colored eyes and an eagerness about it. The first hunt for


    their pup Delta. The eagerness in the hounds to hunt their prey infected ir. It made her feel giddy


    too, but rules were rules. The hounds had to wait a moment.


    ir saw the first name appear across the page and knew the first life was taken. The first sacrifice


    made and collected. She looked up from the book and toward the gate. A slight breeze ruffled her hair


    and she slowly closed the book.


    ¡°You are free to hunt.¡± At her words, Zeta and Alpha sprinted in. Beta and Gamma just a bit slower with


    Delta between them. ir felt an odd smile as she watched them enter the gate.


    ir held her hand up and closed her fist sharply. The gate mmed closed and the red lines snaked


    out from the symbols made to seal the gate shut. Just like the door had mmed closed on ir¡¯s


    mortal life so many years ago. She just smiled slightly and looked at her stomach moving her hand


    over it. This was worth it. What she had was real. Oh so dangerously real, and oh so very worth the


    price.


    _________Quote___________________________


    ¡°He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not be a monster. And if you


    gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.¡±


    -Friedrich Nietzsche


    German Philologist


    1844-1900


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