Chapter 3
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When the as of yet unnamed heradus returned, Ami was desperate for his attention. Being left alone with death all around her was more than she could bear, far worse than any fear she had of her inhuman abductor. She wanted to talk to him most of all, but her body yearned for him as well. That part she was getting used to, figuring it was all part of being a breeder. Because if I believe that's really me, I'll go crazy for sure.
She called to him, even while he began feeding in the other room. All she got was a somewhat amused feeling with an intense hunger pang with it.
Am I feeling what he's feeling?
Sighing she tried to wait for him, but the loneliness only grew worse by the day.
Looking down she rubbed her belly, it seemed slightly bigger but she was probably imagining things, the Creeper had not made any inclination that she was successfully pregnant yet, and he would know, she was sure of that.
I'm so lonely, and bored here.
You want me to play with you? Came the frightening response. Go outside. Run. I will chase. She could hear him chuckling in the other room.
You sadistic bastard. Why do you do this? I didn't do anything to you.
He didn't respond to that, and Ami sighed again, reaching for another book, but even books were getting impossible to read anymore. She was going crazy, how would she survive nine months of this even if she did get pregnant?
Please tell me your name.
Nothing. Having the mental gift was useless since he only communicated with her when he felt like it. She wondered if he could even tune her out whenever he pleased.
After some time she made the final decision that she was either going to win this creature's complete favor or die trying. Getting to her feet, she bravely entered the "feeding room".
/
Inside she found him sewing up one of the bodies, a ritual that never seemed to end...going on and on like a madness. In fact, Ami was quite certain he was indeed insane, his mind showed many signs of it. She was no official psychiatrist but the subject had been pretty interesting in school, and she remembered a lot of the lessons. All of his little ways and mannerisms read like a book...clearly his mind was not sound...and she figured this mission of hers was probably suicide if she just ended up seriously pissing him off.
"Hey..."
He snorted and jerked around, eying her up and down a bit before his fierce gaze locked solidly on hers. She did not like the way he dropped his tools as if extremely irritated by her intrusion.
Remembering quickly that speaking out loud wasn't necessary and only served to annoy him, she quickly switched to the mind voice. I can't take this much longer. You understand that, don't you?
He stared forever, it seemed, but finally responded.
Bored?
Yes, that too, but the loneliness I mean. When you're gone all I have are these dead bodies and they freak me out. You're the only company I have, so why do you leave me alone for so long?
Hunting. Came the emotionless answer, as if it was the simple reason for everything.
I know that. But I'm asking for more of your attention, that's all.
Something seemed to click with those words. He grinned widely, but Ami felt a strong sense of apprehension at that expression.
More mating? His grin remained as he approached her, starting up that incredibly exotic purring that she could not resist if she tried. Ami stepped back, he wore no pants, only a ratty duster, so his growing arousal was quite obvious. The talk of sex was never a boring topic to the Creeper, in fact, just like a typical guy, the subject was always welcomed.
She shook her head helplessly. That's not exactly what I'm going for here.
Want more attention. You said. He snorted lightly in obvious amusement. Ami wasn't so sure she could share his endless twisted sense of humor.
Ok, look howabout this?
He tilted his head and blinked, a comical gesture at times, but it meant she had his full attention.
We could do...that...more if you'd like. But in return, I only ask for a little conversation.
The Creeper blinked a few more times, then huffed. Talk of what?
Well you of course. I have so many questions.
He seemed to lose interest immediately and got closer, breathing in deep her scents which he so loved, like an obsessed drug addict.
Despite this, Ami didn't struggle as he pushed her against a rare bare spot of the wall and held her roughly, looking anxious and more than intent on devouring her...in an entirely different way.
Are there more of your kind?
He quickly met her eyes again and went still. Were. He looked away, as if remembering something. Some.
Where in the world did you come from? Have you been here the entire time?
Here. My territory.
Poho County?
Names. It is the Old Land. Nothing more. Mine. All of it. You are here, you are mine.
I've gathered that much. Ami was truly fascinated...the Old Land? It was something but what did it mean? She snapped back from her thought as he was removing her clothes, or more like tearing them. It was a good thing he had plenty of spares for her.
Inside, Ami was grinning slightly. She had gotten some answers, so maybe he had agreed to her little deal.
Do you have a name then? Or will you never tell me?
He didn't answer, so she tried something else.
Why do you hang us on the walls like this?
He paused, for a moment, then snorted.
No more questions.
Then you will not have me. It was a brave and very much stupid response, but Ami had to test this out, and she pulled away from him in a manner he truly did not expect. Grunting with a slight snarl, he whirled around to grab her arm but she managed to duck away and crouched into a small hole in one of the walls where he could not reach her. She had seen that hole, but before would never dare use it. Now however, it was all or nothing. She just hoped she hadn't made a huge mistake.
The creature howled in anger and raked his claws on the stone near the hole, his eyes narrowed and dangerous as ever.
Come out!
No.
Come out now!
NO.
The head crest rose, and he screamed even louder, a gawd-awful piercing roar that forced Ami to cover her ears. After a few minutes all went silent. Ami held her ground and would not come out. She peered up to find him...grinning again.
Play game. Little mouse. Tempt the cat.
Huh?
You are seducing me. Clever. Not so dull-witted.
This was not quite the response she hoped to achieve. Not knowing how to respond to this she debated whether to come out now or stay where she was.
Playing hard to get.
I said I wanted answers to questions. This is not playing or seducing. I am saying you must answer more questions or I will stay here.
He laughed, making her feel so insignifant as usual, like it truly was all a funny game to him. You stay there...you will starve.
Well...yeah but-
Must come out, or die. I will kill you.
Ami froze in fear, his words had changed from mirth to a dark seriousness, although he was still grinning somewhat. But she had to play him at his own game. If she was so important as a breeder, killing her would just be foolish.
What if you kill me and kill the baby?
No baby. Not yet.
Them maybe you're wrong. Maybe I'm not a breeder.
Not wrong. Smell it. Wonderful smell. Smells like...meat. Good.
Please stop tormenting me like this. If I'm going to be around a long while, we should be more than just...well whatever we are.
He suddenly came close to the hole, catching her off guard since she had crept forward a bit, and reached in, seizing her arm and roughly dragging her out.
"Ow..."
No more games. Tormenting...of course I torment you. I torment all humans.
But why?
You hate. I hate back. He growled, fierce and angry now.
What are you talking about? I never said I hated you.
Your kind. Hated Goliathus. Tormented him. He whirled her around nearly twisting her arm out of its socket as she gasped in pain, not yet registering the name he had revealed to her. Snarling still he pointed to the hanging bodies, all expressing scenes of their horrible deaths. I preserve torment. That's why they are on walls. I look at them and remember their suffering.
Ami went pale, trembling and feeling weak as her blood pressure dropped. She felt like she was going to faint any second.
See now? Know now? No more questions, pet. Little mouse, who squeaks and hides in holes.
He forced her down onto the floor in a swift maneuver and plunged himself inside of her, grunting as he thrust hard. Ami nearly did pass out, she had not quite recovered from those last, chilling words about torment. The pain from him being more rough than normal didn't even register. Nothing registered. She found her breath getting weaker, and suddenly everything went black.
/
Wake up, mouse. Food. Eat.
Ami struggled hard to get her eyes opened. Her head was still pounding and she felt slightly woozy, but was rather surprised to find herself in the creature's lap. He was sitting on his tall stool near that horrible, bloody table and staring down at her with a strange look in his eyes.
What happened?
Foolish of me. You are weak. Eat now.
He pushed her off of him and onto her feet, causing Ami to nearly fall and fight to keep her balance, her head still reeling. He grabbed a grocery bag, apparently a new one, filled with more food. This one even had bags of peaches and some celery sticking out of the top.
Eat now. Mother.
Ami was gratefully taking the bag and getting ready to sit in her usual spot when she quickly met eyes with him.
Did he just say...?
Mother?
Yes. Seed has taken. Eat now, I must go. He turned to leave, but she quickly grabbed his arm, her own action greatly surprising her.
Don't leave me again, dammit.
Must hunt, stupid human. Hunger is pain.
The way he said this was both anger and sadness, but Ami was moved by it. She never thought his cursed hunger was something painful, but then again, there were still a lot of unanswered questions. Like searching for buried treasure, she would have to keep digging.
Well I'm tired of you leaving me for so long.
Don't care. He snarled lightly as if warning her.
I'm carrying your child now, you wouldn't dare kill me.
He spun around, growling with intense, wide eyes.
I could torture you! No need to kill.
Fresh tears welled up in Ami's eyes, she could quite literally feel his malice and hatred coming on like a fierce and fiery storm. She absolutely hated when she did that to him, it was not her intention to anger him and risk everything. Quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, she took a brave step closer
I'm sorry, I don't mean it like that. Just...don't be gone so long this time, ok?
He truly looked confused by her, even shaking his head. Then he suddenly grabbed her and took her outside. In an instant, they were airborne.
/
They were soaring through the air at an incredibly fast pace, and Ami could see nothing as it was night and there were clouds all about. They were very high up, and her scant clothing was hardly sufficient to keep her warm from the chill. She shivered, and the creature seemed to notice and dropped in altitude, heading for some mountains. She could clearly see some homes with little chimneys and smoke lazily trailing up into the sky.
Good hunting here. Many tasty humans.
Ami tried to pretend she didn't hear him, but he had been talking more to her lately, wanted or not.
You're going to wipe them all out eventually.
He snickered in a very cruel fashion. Good. This is old-fashioned town. They think I am a god. Leave sacrifices. Virgins. He chuckled again, Ami could even picture his toothy grin as she gazed down below.
No other breeders? Ami wasn't sure why she had asked that question.
He went silent for a while, the only sound being his wings whistling through the air before finally answering.
No. Hard to find. Rare.
You know, when you first found me, I'm sure you were going to eat me. You didn't sense it right away?
He let out another chuckle. I knew. Love to torment. Wanted your fear. Never planned to eat you.
Ami was going to say something else when he suddenly angled down and dropped like a stone, causing Ami to clutch her stomach and try to prevent heaving. They landed with a jarring motion and he released her. Somehow, she managed not to fall on her ass from that one.
Now stay, mouse. Stay here.
She could only watch helplessly as he walked away. They had landed not too far from a small row of cottages, and the Creeper was sniffing the cold air noisily as he headed left. What am I going to do? How can I stop him from doing this?
Ami had been thinking about that for a long time, but it seemed impossible. He was so dead set on hunting...and almost without ceasing, that Ami wondered if he was ever not hungry. All he ever did was eat, eat, and eat some more, and work on those bodies, tirelessly sewing and preserving and then dragging them up into their horrid, final resting places.
It was then she looked over to her right and saw the dog in the grass. A dead dog. Curious she walked closer to it and the body, while definitely in the stages of rigamortis, was slightly warm in some areas. This dog had only recently died. Why, she wasn't sure, but a rather crazy thought entered her mind. She stood by the dead animal and waited for him to return.
About an hour later he finally did, dragging the body of a young teenage girl with him. Her head swung about in a sickening fashion, clearly broken.
Virgin. He grinned, poking at her belly. So they thought. But she was not virgin. He poked again at her belly.
Ami stood like a stone, staring at the poor, unfortunate girl. She was so young, so beautiful. She had long rusty blonde hair that looked like it went down to her hips, and a model-like face. The fact that she had been pregnant didn't even matter, Ami was so overcome with sadness at her death it was all she could do not to give out a mournful cry.
I suppose... she started, struggling against the tears. You'll eat her...?
The Creeper answered by taking long, drawn-out breaths of her midsection, then tossing her down.
No, nothing good.
Then WHY did you kill her?
He snorted, digging out a blade from his duster as he knelt by her corpse and began cutting off one of her fingers that had a ring on it. No reason not to. Will look pretty on wall. She is good art.
That was it, Ami truly felt her sanity breaking. Then she saw the dog, and remembered her idea. With every bit of mental strength she could find, she held onto her last thread of sanity and got his attention again, remembering her idea.
Look at this.
He tilted his head, eying the dog, then huffed.
What of it?
It died very recently, plenty of good things in there, I'm sure. Why don't you eat the dog?
Ami expected the creature to laugh or snort in disgust, but it did neither.
Never tried.
You've never eaten animals?
He thought a long while on this, then shrugged. Don't remember.
So try it then, what could it hurt?
The heradus eyed her, clearly suspicious. But he seemed to have made up his mind and went over to the dog, not showing much enthusiasm as he tore into it and went for all the choice organs. After he was done, Ami held her breath. She hadn't expected him to go for it that easily.
So..?
Interesting. Good enough, but nearly tasteless.
Humans are better? Her heart sank.
Delicious. Came his reply, and with that answer he added a chilling purr in his remembered pleasure. Ami didn't know what else to say. The Creeper could eat animals, but apparently he found humans far more appetizing.
How would she possibly convince him otherwise?
Speaking of animals, you think maybe you could bring a deer for me sometime soon?
He blinked, but then shrugged again. Human food?
Yes, you could say that.
Back at the liar, the Creeper seemed anxious, hurrying more than usual with the task of hanging up his kill. The woman, true to his word, was not eaten, he merely preserved her and hung her up, keeping her eyes closed to make it look like she was sleeping. He placed her next to a man, with her head slightly resting on his shoulder, as if they were a couple. While Ami watched this, she furrowed her brow in confusion. Hadn't he said he loved to preserve torment?
Mouse. Great, this was now his new favorite term of endearment for her.
She watched him come down from the wall, finished with his work, and approach her with that look that was all too familiar.
Uhm, you've already gotten me pregnant, remember? She couldn't help but peer down and see his erect member, as he slowly forced her back against the wall...again.
Must leave soon. He had lost some of that anxiousness, but was still tense. He rubbed himself against her in a primal sort of fashion. Ami sighed, she wasn't in the mood, but she wouldn't be stupid enough to fight him.
Why? Leaving this horrid place truly sounded wonderful, but Ami doubted the next Lair of Death would be any better. At least, maybe, it would be a bit more dry. She hoped so, anyway.
Need nest, better home. Mother. He rubbed her belly with incredible tenderness. It was enough to melt away some of her barrier of fear that had remained with her for days on end since her abduction.
You seem awfully happy about it.
Yes. Child. He purred.
Ami frowned, feeling little but sadness now of her situation. What happens to me after it's born?
The Creeper looked up into her eyes and stared hard. You will raise it.
Ami laughed, incredulous. You mean YOU will raise it. You don't think I'm going to go out and hunt people for it, do you?
To that, he said nothing. But he was still rubbing against her and Ami actually winced as he suddenly thrust into her, she was sore and her body rebelled.
Surprisingly he was not nearly as rough, perhaps because of his more pleasant mood. His tense body relaxed, as he growled and purred and continued to move eagerly against her.
In the midst of all of this Ami's mind wandered, and she thought of something he said not too long ago. It had finally dawned on her that he had used his name.
"Hated Goliathus. Tormented him."
Goliathus. She thought it again in her mind, thinking it was actually quite a cool name. It seemed...suiting. But exactly who had named him? It didn't seem like something he'd chosen himself, although she couldn't be sure of that.
But he'd been tormented? By who? He was so powerful and strong...a truly frightening, supernatural predator. Who in the world could ever bring him down long enough to torment him?
He continued to pound into her, getting more eager as he neared his climax. Ami winced, trying to bare it all until he finally grunted loudly in his orgasm, flexing those wings as usual. He pulled out slowly, causing the only sensation of pleasure from the whole union.
Too tired to care, Ami didn't move. But he kept looking at her.
What?
You will raise the child. And then...others.
Ami's breath hitched, and then she coughed.
But...you mean...you won't let me go eventually?
He chuckled, exposing those horribly wicked and curved teeth. Let you go? Let you go?
He laughed...long, loud, and raspy like a smoker's bad lungs. No one goes. No one escapes.
But...I... Ami found herself at a loss for words. The thought of being with this creature for the rest of her life...this creature who hated and killed without mercy, who reveled in torment and torture, and who used her like a whore to satisfy his every whim and only cared about her because she was a breeder... was a little more than overwhelming. The tears flowed freely down her face...and she openly wept.
One would think the Creeper would only grin in his usual leering fashion at this, but he stood, staring at her and seeming to lose all his malice. Ami couldn't be sure what this was...she highly doubted he had any compassion in his heart, but this look was odd indeed. This manner of his, that only she seemed to be able to bring out of him.
It was as if she kept pushing open some hidden doorway...slowly and surely...a little bit each time...each day.
They stood like this for a very long, uncomfortable amount of time. Finally, he said something.
You will like new home. Better. More dry.
She nodded, wondering about the new softness to these words.
A bed maybe? No...pile of clothes?
No bed...but could make one. House. Old, old house in forest. Made of brick.
Ami sighed. Well, it does sound better. But what difference does it make? You will take me where you want to.
He nodded, but still stared in her eyes, locking her into mental conversation. Maybe so. But you will like it better there.
Is that...important to you?
He purred again. You are sad. But...little mouse...you do not hate.
Huh?
Hate. Disgust. Does not exist in you. Sad...freedom is gone. But do not hate Goliathus. He trailed a long, sharp fingernail over her face.
He continued before she could even form another thought. I do not hate you now, either. Good breeder. Does not fight.
His English was far from perfect, his sentences always fragmented or loosely put together in his chaotic thoughts, but this was a real attempt at some serious communicating. He was making it clear he didn't hate her...because she didn't hate him. This was something.
A very big something, and Ami knew it. Some of her helpless feeling actually eased off.
Maybe it wasn't so impossible at all...to tame this heradus.
The next day Goliathus was true to his word once again, and was pacing outside of the warehouse door very early, flexing his wings as he kept looking up at the sky where the sun was barely showing past the mountains as it rose.
Hurry human! Take too long!
Inside, Ami was certainly hurrying, running back and forth as her bare feet padded along the floor, splashing into small puddles that were everywhere. She had an old green canvas bag in her arms and was stuffing as much clothes and items into it as she could. When you didn't have anything to your name, not even your own clothes to speak of, everything mattered. She was downright near hysterical at the thought of having to leave any of the precious human items behind, even a saltshaker with no salt left in it.
My name is Ami, heradus, and stop rushing me, would you? You wake me up with a start and expect me to get ready in two minutes? You didn't tell me it would be today, or so early!
Truly Ami was a bit irritated inside, she was still very afraid of him but he certainly had no manners to speak of, and when he wanted to do something, his patience was little. It was so frustrating because she knew she was being treated still as some puny creature under his clawed foot, and only important because of her cursed uterus.
Despite her anger towards him, he did not react as she might have expected. It still floored her how much he was talking lately. All telepathic of course, which was slightly less painful now, but amazing nonetheless. She was becoming more fascinated with him to a point that she worried it might just turn into an obsession.
Inside, she wondered how she really felt about him. He could be so cruel to her and yet...so tender at the most random of times...almost like he was protecting her.
A guardian?
Hey, a question for you.
No questions! Hurry. She could hear him still pacing outside the door, and huffed with a low growl.
I'm almost done, promise...but I need this stuff and you know it. Now..tell me..did you ever guard anything? Like a gargoyle? You really look like one you know...these stone figures we humans sometimes like to put on tall buildings like churches.
She heard him stop, and when she turned to look, he was peering into the open doorway.
He looked down, staring at the floor for a while, his mind whirring again. This was a definite sign she had caused him to go deep into his memories, which he seemed to have trouble remembering.
Cathedral. He said, looking up at her with his cold, calculating eyes.
Oh neat, a cathedral? You guarded one of those? Do you remember why?
The Creeper huffed, still quite anxious and irritated, but he took a deep breath and sighed loudly. I will tell you later.
You promise?
I will promise you nothing, slow and dull-witted human! We go, NOW.
Ami sighed too, but she felt a bristle of fear at his loud mental demand and quickly hurried stuffing a few more things into the bag, then nervously stepped towards him.
Flying was awesome and ordinarily something she would enjoy, but the Creeper's habit of sometimes landing suddenly and making her feel like she was hurtling through the air without a parachute was not something so enjoyable. Still, she had no choice. He would not take no for an answer...that was for sure.
But still, her relentless curiosity persisted as she saw the rusty truck past his shoulder, parked a few yards beyond.
What about your truck?
He looked over his shoulder, and Ami was almost certain she saw a flash of something akin to sadness in his eyes, like he'd be leaving behind an old friend. But it was gone from his face as quickly as it came.
Beatingu will be left here, for now. Child is more important. We go to somewhere very far and secluded, little mouse.
This old house you spoke of? Made of brick?
YES... he sighed again, sounding like a growl and a huff and Ami could tell his patience was extremely thin at this moment. Without any more questions, even though she had a ton, she stepped up close to him and he grabbed her tight up against his chest. The canvas bag, stuffed to the brim, was a heavy weight on Ami's back, but she wouldn't complain, she was thankful he was even letting her bring anything. With an incredible grip like a vice he stepped away from the door and fanned out his impressive wingspan. Ami always felt such thrill at the sight of them, they were so magnificent...great and vast appendages with a hooked claw on each of the bony digits.
He did not run, or head for a cliff. He merely bent his legs, leapt, and was airborne with a few mighty thrusts of his wings.
/
End Chapter 3