Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 42

"Shhh..." I said shakily, still backing away up the marble steps.

Where were the servants? Where was everybody? They should be up by now!

When I hushed the dog, it growled even more, sharpening its eyes directly at me, evilly. He was on that defensive stance of his, where his front body was leaning forward, his head nearly reaching the floor with backside shooting straight up and claws curling out. As if nothing could get any worse, he started running like he was going to tackle me.

I gave out a blood-curdling scream, running up the stairs while I was looking at him over my shoulder as to not feel like he'd kill me when my whole back was turned to him. I slipped and fell a few times but adrenalin backed me up. And then, just as he was nearing the staircase -- he slipped.

No, he didn't slip. He practically glided like a spinning doggy aeroplane around the hall, out of my vision, howling!

I heard a crash, like he hit a door pretty hard, and then he yowled. If he weren't so scary-looking, I would've thought he was ridiculous and started laughing at him, but I didn't. Because my heart was still racing.

Just as I was about to get up fully to the second floor, Michael was standing at the top of the steps in his boxers. "Why were you screaming?" he demanded groggily.

"You didn't tell me you had a pit bull," I gritted, my hands gripping the black balustrade, hard. "That dog could've killed me! You could've had the decency to leash it."

Michael rubbed his eyes with a fist, then he blinked at me vigorously, as if he was seeing the light for the first time. "Dog?"

"Yes!" I practically snapped. "It's greyish-black, has a white belly, silver eyes, and a metal collar that's practically a chain! He's large, tall, has plenty of muscles, and his ears are cropped. Ring a bell?"

Then it dawned on him, a grin spreading his unwashed -- but still unbelievably handsome -- face.

"Slippy!"

"What?"

"Slippy," he said brightly, going down the stairs half-naked and barefoot. "My dog. They finally brought Slippy back from being babysat in the country while I'd been away!"

He crossed the main hall, going to another one where I could hear some whining and howling.

I followed him reluctantly, keeping my pace slowly and cautiously when I saw the oddly named dog trying to get a shirt off its head by shaking it furiously. He bumped into a coat closet, that's what.

Michael cooed and took the shirt off the beast's head, then he knelt down and rubbed the neck and ears. He licked his master's face, making Michael laugh.

This was supposed to be a very romantic moment, a super cute reunion for the two boys, but I was there, glaring at the two of them.

When the dog sniffed something, he turned his head to me, then the menacing snarls began again with him whistling through his nose in defense.

I backed away.

"He's not going to hurt you," Michael assured blithely, patting Slippy's head affectionately. The dog instantly sat down and licked his face again.

I jumped. "Step into my shoes and speak for yourself! You're his master; I'm just new here. He could rip me into pieces!"

"Slippy?" he asked dubiously, glancing at the dog, at me, then at the dog again. "Never. He'd slip first and hurt himself and then ripping you to shreds, Keller."

Oh, how very comforting. And that was what I said aloud to him with sarcasm dripping in my voice like acid.

"No."

"Come on, love," he said happily, oblivious to my horror and Slippy's menace.

"No," I bit off.

"Keller," he said, exasperated, "if you just touch the dog's head for five seconds, you'll see that it's not so bad touching her."

"Her?" I exclaimed. "That beast's female?"

He laughed. "Course she is!"

"Um...no, I still don't want to touch her!" I ground out, stomping my foot in frustration and flinging my arms in the air.

Michael sighed as he shook his head. He was about to bring the dumb dog out of my way but then Slippy rushed toward me, barking. My knees shook uncontrollably like I was doing some freaking Elvis leg jiggle without doing it on purpose, but I was too late to run.

The beast leaped up and pushed me down onto the ground with such force, I had to huff out because the wind was knocked out of my system.

"H-h-help!" I tried to gasp out.

Then, Slippy licked my face. Everywhere.

I never had a dog, so I totally didn't expect this.