Nightly Lessons Book I: The Book of Beginnings

[Peeker]

"Of course not, Master. I would not dare be so insolent as to look unpresentable before your guests. ...thank you. I shall take my leave."

The boy pushed back from the table, replaced his chair, and hurried out of the room to begin his chores. Two hours. Not good.

*~~*

The library had been fairly clean: a quick dusting and some fast rearranging of books had only taken twenty minutes.

The sitting room looked like a warzone. Janus would have to spend an hour cleaning this place up: he wondered what would be worse - being punished for failing to complete his lessons, or for failing to prepare food for Razziel's guests.

He made a mental note to go do the sandwiches as soon as he was done in here.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Razziel however was taking his own time. He believed in hard work builds character in boys and by God he would give Janus character. The boy was just so damnably stubborn at times, although a well tanned hide usually reminded the boy of his place; to be silent, straight laced, and most of all obedient.


He snarled into his coffee cup think back to the pervious year where Aleks beat him to it in aquiring a young girl of about Janus' age, perhaspe younger. A small thing with lovely long chestnut hair. Her clothing was adhored to say the most, but it was something easy to change. He had even thought of a name for her if she had been a Dornell.

Rossel.

He had liked the french feminie version of his own name roll of his lips and would have liked to try training a young lady in his image, but the faiths would not have it. No... his past 'childhood friend' had won the courts favor and as for as he knew the girl still carried her orignal mortal name. Harker... He scuffed at the name. It had no elegance like that of Dornell.

Still, he wasn't too unpleased. Janus had been a catch of his own, the youngest boy to be turned in their history. The average fledgling had lived at lest 20 years of a human life, 18 at the lest, but Janus had only 15 years under his belt before his heart was nearly ripped out by a rouge. Looking into an enchanted pocket mirror Aleks had made him long ago in his early years, he frowned to seeBruja doing her best to help Janus clean, but using her tail to sweep and dragging out the garage bags so that Janus could focus on setting thing in order.

"He still has a bit more time but he has to finish..." He pocketed the mirror. "Otherwise he will be the entertainment for the guests when they arrive."

[Peeker]

He'd dusted, moved, polished, carried, reordered, reorganized, and cleaned out. It was scary how much of an incentive Razziel's cane was. Sometimes, Janus wondered how he hadn't done chores so well when he was normal.

No. Couldn't think about home. Couldn't. Razziel would catch him... he could read minds, or something... he'd get hurt for thoughts like that.

"Thanks, Bruja! you're a life-saver!" Giving the dog a thankful scratch behind the ears, and carefully brushed the dog off. When she was more presentable, Janus hurried out of the now clean sitting room, towards the kitchen.

No. If he made the sandwiches now they'd be awful... ....dammit. He ran back towards his room, and started to write his histories. Today he had to copy some information about Lord Tieus... whoever he was...

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Bruja sat closely to Janus, being his only friend in the damnable place. She was showing her age every day, her black fur turning silver and her red eyes often looking very tired despite her constant activity to help Janus find life a little easier every day. She focused on the clock, fetching random books as he would need them to look up foot notes or strange facts. She had seen it so many times she had come to reconzie which books were what and when they would be needed.

Razziel readied himself too as the clock sighed that there was fifteen minutes untilt eh guests would arrive. Bruja noted as well and gently nudged Janus leg to look at the clock. The easier his day was the less likely he would spent the night needing her to comfort him and just have him pet her gently for company instant.

[Peeker]

Janus leapt from his chair as though burned, when Bruja prodded him. He petted the dog on the head yet again, endlessly thankful for the old girl, and hurried towards the kitchen to make the requested food.

He carefully brushed at his shoulders and chest as he ran, trying to remove any trace of Bruja's fur that might actually be on him.

Now where was that bread?

*~~*

About ten minutes later, a platter of sandwiches was ready for consumption. Janus cleared his throat, picked up the platter, and started walking down the hall. He knew Razziel knew where he was... so sooner or later, the man would approach, criticize him, and tell him where to go.

...hopefully, spank-free. His bottom had finally healed.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Razziel stepped into the kitchen noting how Bruja kept well away from Janus now that he was near food. The old hound was very smart for an animal and knew when to stay clear of everyone. Last thing she wanted was give her master a reason to punish her newest pup, even if she didn't treat Janus as one.

"I see tou;ve finish on time for once," Rizzal started coldly as he checked his poket watch. "Put them in the sitting room and be ready to greet our guest in the main hall."

And that was how he always was. No 'good job' or 'nicely done', but then again even if he had said them, they would sound like an insult to any fledgling ears.

[Peeker]

"Y'know, any other time I would have been relieved... but I'd had a bad feeling about these guests - I'd never met them before... I had no idea how bad this was going to be..."

*~~~

"Yes, Master. Thank you, Master."

Janus did as he was asked, placing the tray down, and assuming his position in the main hall, ready to greet the man's guests. Gabriel and... what was the other one named? Oh no... this would be bad...

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

The ringing of the bell told the two Dornells that their guests had arrived. The first to enter was a tall and thin, almost stickly looking man with grayish blond hair and clounded black eyes. He was old, almost 80 years in appearence and very frail looking. The woman however was younger in appearence, still old, but not by much. She appeared to be 40 with rich thick black hair and a wore a blood red dress that showed off her breast to an almost whorish way. Even Aleks would have frowned at it.

"Lord Gabriel, Lady Carmilla, welcome to my home," Razziel bowed to them and kissed Carmilla's hand. "May I present my ward, Janus Dornell."

[Peeker]

Janus bowed politely, deeply, to the two guests. "My Lord, My Lady. I am honored to meet you.

"This is your latest, eh, Razziel?" Gabriel sneered slightly. "I don't see why we're keeping these younglings. We don't have the resources to comfortably hold many more than we are right now..."

The old man stepped towards Janus.

"You had best remember the charity your Sire is showing in caring for your pathetic self, boy."

"I do, m'lord! I am forever in his gratitude. Master Razziel's hospitality is all that keeps me alive."

"...he's quick, then." Gabriel mused, looking at Razziel. "...at least he speaks as though he has half a mind in that tiny skull."

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"... if there is any mind within him at all," Razziel sneered at Janus and turned to Carmilla. "Truely my dear, you are a sight for the eyes."

"Why thank you, Lord Razziel, you do flatter me so," The woman curtsied to him, an amazing fleat since she seemed very.... top heavy. She then neared Janus and grinned cruelly at him. "But I must say, such a lovely young thing he is though. Pale smooth skin... I could just eat him up..."

She pulled Janus close, almost pressing his head into her chest.

"... unlike Lord Aleksandr's girl. Vial little thing really. So short tempered to say the lest and easy to frighten."

"Really?" Razziel grinned at the little info and saved it away in his mind. He might after all be able to use it later. "Well, for now, let us retire to the stting room. Janus? Lead the way."