Nightly Lessons Book III - The Book of Brotherhood
A breeze blew through the stately trees which dotted the eastern courtyard of Warlord Dimitrius Rastline's grand keep. The chilly climate and rocky soil was not an immutable fact, but rather a challenge which the man had gladly wrestled into submission, building his grand, richly-furnished home out here in his solitude. Protected by the elements and steep cliffs, it was more than just an old building, it was the seat of power for the House Rastline, one of the great Vampire Houses of their Coven, which stretched across half the world.
Looking over that courtyard, at those trees dancing in the chilly breeze, and certainly not doing her chores, was the youngest member of said House, Alice Victoria Rastline, nee Harker. Youngest not only in her days as an immortal blood-drinking abomination - for she'd only been bitten a few years prior - but also in physical age. In these more civilized times, children were an unnecessary casualty of war, and yet the girl had been turned during her tender teenage years.
Alice's young dog, Klonoa, was allowing himself a brief moment of relaxation while he gnawed on a heavy bone from yesterday's supper. He sat at the foot of Alice's bed, wondering when the girl was going to get herself to the laundry room so he could hunt in the dark corners of the smelly old chamber for interesting things to eat, roll in, or both.
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