Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Sorry it has been awhile, but i have been busy fighting off some of the daywalkers. they caught up with me outside of Iowa. I am not going to say where, but that place will never be the same. Those things kill anything that gets in their way. anyway i left off with getting Maximus.

I woke up that next morning with a massive weight on my chest. Turns out Maximus was on top of me. He was also snoring like a freight train. “Get off!” I was attempting to push this huge MUTT off of me. “Max, I can’t breathe.”

He picked his head up and started to lick my face. There was a thumping sound and I froze. Ends up it was his tail thudding against my bed. It seemed Max liked me. “Max, I need to go to the bathroom.”

He jumped off the bed and went over to the bathroom door. He was sniffing around the bottom of the door, I had forgotten about the hand on the frame. He sat up just wagging his tail and looking at me. I guess it was safe.

I started to go about getting ready for the day. When my breakfast arrived, there was a bowl of what looked like raw hamburger for Max. We ate our breakfast together. He wanted to be directly next to me the whole time. I absent mindlessly was petting him while I ate. He was something to remind me of home.

I missed all of the pets I had. All the dogs, cats, birds, and my horse. It was nice to have a pet, even if he was not mine. I wonder if he would listen to me over Simon. After breakfast I needed to get back to my training. I had fallen behind. What was I going to do with Max?

I went and knocked on the door dividing mine and Timmy’s room. “Timmy, am I allowed to go back to training?”

The creaking of the floor told me he was in his room and moving around. I knocked again. Then I heard his front door slam. Was he coming to get me?

I was dressed and ready. Max was at my side basically attached to my hip. He was making moving around my room very difficult.

“He isn’t coming to get you.”

I jumped. “Who said that?” I spun around looking for who was talking to me.

“I did.” I looked around the room again, but there wasn’t anyone here.

“I am standing right next to you, Rose.”

I looked down at Max, who had the goofy grin on his face. He tongue was hanging out of the side of him mouth, just looking up at me.

“Max, are you talking to me?”

“Yes!” His tail started to wag.

“I am able to communicate with your mind. I can read your thoughts. I was assigned to protect you. Simon brought me here after having lunch with you. He felt you needed someone who would be here for you and to protect you.”

“Simon, feels this kinship to you. Before he assigned me this task I was his servant. I am now yours. I will protect you from anyone who would wish you harm.” He bowed.

^^So, I don’t have to speak out loud to you. ^^

^^No, I am able to communicate through thoughts, or out loud.^^

This is so cool. ^^ so you are basically my guard dog.^^

^^ Yes, if that is how you want to look at it. I will keep you safe. I will know if you are afraid, or if you feel you are in danger. As long as you and I are connected I will be able to be at your side in a moment’s notice, or I can just be with you physically all the time? ^^

“I would not mind you being with me. If I have you with my can I go back to training? Because I am pretty tired of being in my room.”

“Yes, we can go to the training room. I am not allowed to interfere with your training unless you are in serious harm. In which case I can only act on your behalf.”

“This is going to be so awesome!” I reached down and scratched behind his ear. I could hear him panting in my head. This is going to be something to get used to, but now I didn’t feel so alone.

My front door was unlocked. ^^it won’t be locked anymore, because you have me. It is a condition that Timothy was not happy with. He did not like the idea of me watching over you. You are very special to him.^^

^^So does that mean I can leave whenever I want?^^

^^you can leave your room whenever you want if I am with you. The door will not open for you unless I am going with you. Another condition of Simon’s.^^

Interesting so as long as I have Max with me then I could roam around at all hours of the day. ^^ Then Max, I never want you to leave my side. I want you to go with me everywhere. Can we go outside the house?^^

^^Yes, WE would be able to go outside, but we are both tethered to this place. If we venture to far, I am not sure what would happen. ^^

^^Tethered to this place. What does that mean?^^

^^Simon tasted your blood yes?^^

^^Yes.^^

^^He has linked you to him. He can sense your presence in and around this place. He will know if you venture passed the allotted area. I am allowed to go outside because well I am a Cerberus. ^^

We had been walking down the hall this whole time. I hadn’t noticed but we had already made it to the gym. I shivered being back here. The last time I was here was only a week ago but I felt like so much longer. I didn’t want to go inside.

^^ it is okay, I will be here the whole time. No real harm will come to you. I will not allow it.^^

Max’s eyes glowed red. I could feel it deep down in my soul that he would do everything to protect me. I pushed the door open and was meet with the sound of clashing. When the door shut everyone stopped and looked at me.

Curtis’s group started toward me. I was shaking. They had real swords, not wood training swords. I had only used the wood training swords. Before they got within 20 feet of me Max was in front of me with his teeth bared and hair standing on end.

They stopped and just glared at me. They didn’t turn around but just walked backwards slowly. Just glaring daggers at me.

^^they meant to harm you. I will not those boys near you. ^^

^^ Can you read everyone’s thoughts?^^

^^no, but when they have that strong of a feeling it radiates off of them in waves. I can sense things that most other hounds cannot. I am a descendant of The First Cerberus, the Guardian of Hell. ^^

I walked over to the instructor with Max watching the group of Curtis’s friends. “You are going to train solo for now. I must evaluate your use of the sword.”

He handed him a huge looking sword that I could barely lift off the ground. How was I going to be able to use this thing?

I dragged the sword over to the battle doll. This thing would move to strike you but would not be able to connect with you. It was what we used to solo train. Max sat down outside the training area keeping watch. For the first time in the gym I felt safe.

I used the whole training day just trying to get the sword off the ground. By the end I was able to lift it about to my waist. I had completely soaked my clothes in sweat. I was exhausted. Even with my added strength I couldn’t lift this sword.

I dragged the sword back over to the entrance and laid it against the wall. My arm felt weak and numb. Max was following behind me. Everyone else had already left for the day. I felt like a failure. The instructor stopped me at the door. “You did far better with that sword then Curtis did.” With that he left.

That was Curtis’s sword or at least the one he trained with. Why would they have given me that one to use? It is only going to make his friends angry. Max pressed his head against my side and whined. ^^Let’s go back to our room.^^

I drew myself a steaming hot bath to soak my tired body. Max laid next to the tub and slept. I started to drift in and out. The water was warm and I was so tired. I drifted off to sleep feeling safe.

I woke up being pushed under the water. I could hear the muffled sound of Max barking and growling. ^^Max go get Help!^^

^^Who do you want me to get? Simon or Timothy?^^

^^Either one, just get help quickly. ^^

I was fighting. Whoever was holding me down was extremely strong. The only good thing was I could hold my breath for a long time. I couldn’t see who was attacking me, but I had my suspicions. I could hear banging on the door and barking again.

“ROSE!!!” Timothy was screaming and banging on the door. “Rose, I am coming.”

My lungs were starting to burn. ^^Max, Get Simon.^^

^^I will bring him here.^^

^^Hurry.^^

The banging was increasing. Why hasn’t the door broken yet? I was scratching this person’s arm and hand. I know that they were bleeding because there was blood in the water.

The next thing I knew the door exploded. In strode Simon, Timothy, and Max, but I was alone and coughing up water. Timothy grabbed a towel and covered me. I was naked and I could feel Simon staring at me. Timmy then help me out of the tub.

“MAXIMUS!!!!!!” Simon boomed. “What happened?”

“Simon, I was asleep next to the tub and when I awoke I was on the bed and the bathroom door was shut. The next thing I heard was her struggling and splashing. I do not know who it was.”

Simon kicked Max across my room. I could hear bones break. I was clinging to Timmy and crying. They had both seen my naked and I know that Simon wanted me. I felt sick. Now Max was dead. He was just lying there and I couldn't tell if he was breathing. “Timmy, thank you for trying to get to me.”

I collapsed.

I came to in my bed, with Timmy and Simon arguing about my welfare.

“Rose, is mine and I will care for her. She doesn’t need to leave. Plus you already gave her a damn Cerberus against my wishes. We both know if that thing thinks I am a threat it will try to kill me.”

“That Cerberus even failed to protect her and whoever it was that was here, used a powerful cloaking rune. I am having difficulties with tracing it. Those DAMN RUNES are not permitted to be used here. I want to know who is breaking MY RULES!”

“Until I figure out who it was she will be safer closer to me. You couldn’t even break down the door. How can you keep her safe, when you cant even get to her in a time of need?”

“Excuse me, Simon. But I don’t want to change my living arrangements.”

They both stopped yelling and looked at me. Timmy was smirking. Simon on the other hand was fuming. I could see the smoke coming out of his ears.

^^You should have just stayed quiet, Rose. Simon is not going to let you tell him what to do when it comes to your safety.^^

^^Oh, Max I thought he had killed you. The last thing I saw was you just lying on the other side of the room. Where are you?^^

Simon was saying something but I was more concerned with Max.

^^I am lying down next to your bed. I am not supposed to be on the bed with my master. If I get up there Simon will be very angry^^

“Rose, ROSE!!!! Are you listening to me?” Simon was walking toward me.

“No, Simon I was not. I was talking to Max, whom you kicked and hurt. He is MINE!!!!!” I could feel my hair standing on end. What was this power I could feel radiating from me. It was making my skin tingle.

Max was now standing next to my bed, and growing in size. He was now the size of my armoire. He had also grown two more heads. Simon stopped moving.

“You hurt what was mine, Simon. I will not let you tell me what to do. He is mine and I am staying in this room with Max.” With that said the power I was feeling started to dissipate and max shrunk back down to his normal size.

“I think she is going to be capable of taking care of herself. What do you think, Simon?” Timothy remarked. He had a huge smile on his face.

“What the hell was that? Maximus did you bond with her?”

“Yes, she and I bonded on the first night. She held me while she slept. In her dreams she wished for us to unite. Her will is my will. I will only serve her from now on.”

“Well then, I am just going to have to move down here. There is no reason for me to have to be so far away when I am most likely going to have to rescue her again. I will deal with you later, Maximus. Your betrayal will not go unpunished.”

With that Simon disappeared. Timothy walked over and hugged me. “That is now twice that someone has tried to take you from me. I am glad that Maximus has chosen to bond with you. That means Simon cannot control him anymore. Maximus, please watch over her.”

“I will not let her come to harm. She has claimed me has hers and that is what gives her the power to call my true form out. I am a direct decedent of Cerberus the Guardian of Hell. I have his power and her will.”

Timothy got up to leave. “Timmy, I am sorry for everything.”

He looked back with tears in his eyes. “No, Rose I am sorry for failing you.” He walked back to his room and closed the door.

I called Max up on the bed and snuggled in close to him. ^^Max, do not leave me side. ^^

^^Rose, I am not going to be able to. The only way for me to leave you is to die.^^

I hugged him close and fell asleep. Listening to his snoring and feeling him breath in and out. Knowing I was finally safe.