Reaper's Word

Chapter 42: Forever

Clair 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. Clair had looked to make sure.

Clair 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.

Clair was sad that she couldn't talk to her family ever again. She just couldn't go back to them and explain 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 plane 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 place, 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 just come. Her back hurt and she was constantly tired. The last 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 eventually come 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. Her landlady 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 of company. Little did they know that Gamma was all the protection she needed from burglars or anything else. Not that out in the middle of nowhere did one have to worry about that much.

"Did your hunting go well?" Clair 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. Clair found it funny, she was pinning away like a love struck child. Clair 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 to lay 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 blankets and I have some hot tea for you." She said and Clair 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." Clair 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." Clair said with a laugh. 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 young lady, so helpful. Mind you be careful in your state to not do so much." Clair 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 have come for you." She advised. "There are plenty of other fish in the sea. Plenty of interest in town." Clair gave a laugh 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." Clair 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. Clair touched her stomach as the baby kicked. Around this time of day he or she always would.

"Kicking?"

"Yep." Clair said and Mrs. Lewis touched her stomach and then moved to go in her house and set the items she had down. From where Clair was she could see that she also adjusted the heat. Clair shook her head and Herald just gave a shrug.

"Thank you both." She said. "I'm glad 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.

"Are you leaving dear?" She asked.

"One never knows." She responded standing up with a heavy sigh as she straightened. "But I will see you later." 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 to lay down. Clair 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 was coming. He'd be here soon. She just didn't know how soon.

__Isaiah__

Isaiah stood looking at the small house. He knew Clair 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 Clair 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 Clair and that she lived alone, they felt they needed to take care of her. Better than other scenarios that had gone through his mind. Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

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 glanced 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 Clair. 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 Clair, so she let him pass. She went over to Beta excitedly.

The place 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 Clair 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's company.

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 forward coming 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 Clair." 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 Clair.

"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 accept it. She'd been waiting. She already knew her place and where she wanted to be.

"I doubt you ever will." He replied with a slight laugh. 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. Clair sighed, he made a deep sound in his chest and lifted his mouth from hers.

"I've come to take you home Clair." 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 it coming 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 place had gotten into her, marked her just as the man before her had.

"I need you, I crave you Clair." He growled against her throat as he set her down on his bed. Clair 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 Clair." He told her, a dangerous finality to his voice.

"I know." She gasped out, "I'm yours." She commented 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. Clair 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 Clair was one thing he desired to keep forever.

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Love has no shape, no barriers. It comes to us in heat, and leaves us with ice. Forever etched into a heart, forever ingrained in a mind.