Chapter 7 Harsh Eyes

Samantha went and sat on the chair indicated by the woman. It was right next to her. Sam put me down next to her chair. The woman loomed over me. " It would seem you finally succeeded in getting a familiar" she said. " I can smell the oil on it from here. Salamander?"

From where I was I couldn't see much. Sam turned her head to face the woman. " Yes Mother. Though I still need to sign a contract with it first." (So this woman is her mother...) I thought. ( That would make the man her Father and those two boys her brothers). I heard the mans voice. " Come now Samantha. Show us your familiar." My stomache lurched as my cage was suddenly pulled upward.

I saw the top of the table now. White silk table top. Everyone was leaning in closer for a look except the woman of course. The man leaned forward eager to pass judgement. " How odd. It has six legs. Most salamanders only have four legs. Does it like fire?" The man turned to Sam

" Yes it does. But it doesnt burn to a crisp like the others. It can handle the heat. It actually lit itself ablaze on the way here."The mans eyebrows rose. "It can self-ignite.... Most Salamanders have low intelligence and lack any survival skills at all." He continued to look at me. " Yet this one watches us like a sylph beak. Samantha. Where did you get this thing?"

" I found an egg in the middle of the burnt fields father."she lowered her head slightly. Almost like a child getting ready to be scolded. The man looked up. I really got a good look at him now. He had a trimmed beard of deep brown that was cut close to his face. His eyes were a stark icy blue. In all honesty this man was the semblance that most woman would fawn over.

" Samantha.... I've told you not to go to the scorched fields many times. They are filled with dangerous creatures. You could have been injured or worse, Killed! Why would you go there despite my many warnings?"

Sam pouted " I went because the possibility of finding strong familiars is higher in dangerous areas. To further my argument. You wanted me to go to the western desert! The familiars are far weaker there than anything I've seen. They probably wouldn't beat Geralds gryphon! Or even Bryants Flaming Boar! Which you gifted them. But I was forced to find my own!" She turned. " Mother I Unfortunately will not be here for Dinner. My apologies for showing my face since I'm the oh so hated daughter." With that she turned, grabbed me, and trudged through the door as her father was starting to yell for her to return that instant.

She started running down the corridor as fast as she could run. The air suddenly felt cold as it rushed past. I turned to see a eagle flying down the hallway after us. It wasnt normal though. It was coated in frost and was a deep oceanic blue color. As it flew frost covered the walls. It almost reached us before the dungeon door opened and we entered the same cold stone hallway as before.

I felt something wet hit my front claw. I turned toward it and sniffed. It smelled salty. I looked up and saw probably the saddest tear-filled expression I've seen in my existence.

" Why? Why don't they understand that I am trying my hardest?" She sobbed as she trudged to her room at the end of the cold corridor and into her room.