The hidden beast inside - Closed

Caleb smiled weakly, offering her his hand, "Pleasure to meet you Alma," he said softly. He opened the cell door, and made his way upstairs, through the several iron gates, that usually blocked the corridor. "All these gates are designed to keep my master out of the lower levels, which is why I've settled you down there," he commented quietly.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma took his hand hesitantly when he offered it, offering him a faint smile. She followed him up the stairs, a little slow because of her ankle, although it was feeling much better. She frowned as she looked at the gates, shuddering as she remembered the monster that had brought her here. "What is it? I've never seen a monster like it.."

Caleb smiled weakly when she took his hand. He looked at her, "he's pretty intense, I'd say wolf like, a giant feral wolf, driven by some sort of madness," he conjectured lightly. He paused as they reached the top of the stairs, and headed through a massive wooden door with great iron fittings. On the exterior side there were several deep claw marks in the wood.

The door opened out into a large chamber, with a huge table set in the middle of it.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma frowned a little as he described the monster, her fear only growing when she saw the claw marks in the door. "What could he possibly want with me? If hes just going to kill me, why not do it already, get it over with?" She sighed in frustration, looking around the large dining hall.

Caleb looked at her lightly, "I'm not sure what he wants," he said truthfully. He smiled and kept moving through the room with her, "well, think positively, it seems he doesn't want you dead, just stuck here for some reason," he said lightly.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

"Being a prisoner isnt a positive." Alma frowned as she followed him. "A life spent living in a cage isnt worth living, especially when your captor is some sort of bloodthirsty monster."

Caleb nodded, "well, it's better than being eaten alive, I would argue," he said softly. He lead her through to a large library.
He looked at her, "besides, anything you could ever want, can be found, it may take a couple days, but you just have to ask," he said.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma shrugged slightly, ready to go back to sulking in her cell when they walked into the library. Her eyes lit up when she realized how many books were in the massive collection, limping over to one of the bookshelves to look over the various titles.
"Not anything." She corrected as she looked over the books. "I want to go home, but you cant give that to me."

Caleb looked at her, and sighed softly, "Maybe in time, you'll be able to go home," he said softly. He touched her arm, gently, "when we know it's safe," he added. He truly just wanted her to like him.

He stepped back, "but for now, I'm sure its safe if you spend some time in here, whenever you want to, it's nicer than that cell," he said.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma looked over at him in surprise when he said that she wouldn't be restricted to her cell anymore. "Really...? I can stay up here?" She asked curiously, looking around the library with wide eyes. If she could be up here more often, she might be able to find a way out..

Caleb nodded softly, "of course, during the day though, my master can make into this room when he's here," he said lightly. He moved over to one of the shelves, and pulled out a book.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma nodded, moving around the room to look at the various books, before taking a seat on one of the tables. "I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you for your help, Caleb... I can't give you much, but is there anything I could do for you?" She asked curiously.

Caleb smiled gently, and moved over sitting across from her. "Just having someone to talk to, is such an amazing gift," he began. He looked her over again, "please, just don't be afraid of me, and know I would never hurt you," he said softly.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma nodded a little as he spoke, returning his smile. "Alright.. I suppose that's fair.. But if you think of anything I can do for you, just let me know, ok?" She asked as she stood, pressing a kiss to his cheek before heading over to pull a few books from the bookshelf that she wanted to look at before returning to her seat across from him.

Caleb nodded, "of course, I'll let you know," he said. He was stunned, and sat frozen for a moment after she pecked his cheek. He sat back in the chair, "and as always, if you need anything just ask, I'm sure your getting tired of the same old meal every day," he said.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma nodded as she sat and began to look through the books. "I don't mind the meals.. You're a decent cook, even if you can only make one thing." She teased, glancing up at him before returning her attention to the book.

Caleb chuckled, "well that's good," he said softly. He remained sitting watching her for a moment, "I'll leave you to it, aye," he said softly.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma looked up at him when he said he'd leave her, nodding a little. "Alright... Should I go back to the cells when I'm done?"

Caleb nodded gently, "just before night, if you're out of the cells after dark, my master can reach you, probably best to close all the gates on the way back too," he said.

@ katahdin

@ A Drop On the Window

Alma nodded, giving him a kind smile before turning her attention back to her book. "Alright, thank you." She said, beginning to really read in earnest.

She was so wrapped up in the books that she didnt realize how many hours had passed, and before she knew it, the sun had set and the moon was beginning to rise into the night sky. She panicked when she realized she'd forgotten his instructions, and hurriedly tidied up the books before moving through the halls toward the cells, although in the unfamiliar house she took a few wrong turns, and ended up a bit lost.