Nightly Lessons Book I: The Book of Beginnings

[Peeker]

Jake - Janus - smiled into his bow. Dancing with Alice... it was... incredible. That was all, really. He hadn't been this happy in ages.

Then his Master showed up, and the boy found a strangled gasp caught in his throat as he watched the man take Alice into his grip.

"Lord Razziel."

Aleksandr was standing next to the piano. Janus blinked. He hadn't even seen the man get up - he was just... there.

"I'm afraid the dance is over, m'lord. Perhaps next time."

Janus stepped back - he wanted to go to Alice, he loathed to approach his Sire, and he didn't dare step away from the man, towards Aleksandr or Mikeal - instead, he stepped back into neutral territory, between the two parties.

"...I trust your meetings were a success?"

Once again, Janus blinked. Aleksandr was closer to them now - he hadn't even seen the man walk. Power was building in the Elder Vampire, and he seemed to know something that Janus didn't - this was another power-play of Razziel's... and Aleksandr was here, it seemed, to play.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Oh? Such a shame." Razziel answered although he didn't sound like he meant it. "I must say though, such a lovely gown she's wearing..."

Alice, who up until now had been froze in fear, toe away from Razziel violently and and hurried to Aleks side. She coward into Aleks' chest much like a child who was faced with the school bully.

"that was uncalled for," Razziel sounded peeved, but he didn't near the two, only watched as Mikeal stepped up next to Janus. "as for you Mikeal I am well."

He stood and looked at the two, not bothering to ask if Janus had behaved in while he was away. The smile that once had grace each of their faces before they realized he had arrived told him what he needed to know.

"Ahh, yes, the meeting," He looked at Aleks with a neutral voice which told him that he was very serious. "Yes, they wished for me to inform you of thing as well... shall we go somewhere private? Mikeal you may join us as it may be helpful for you to see how such things work. This isn't a conversation for children to over hear."

[Peeker]

Janus tensed, as he always did when treated like a child.

"We'll retire to my study. Yes."

Janus bowed. "My lords. We will await your return..." His eyes flashed angrily.

Not a child... not a child...

Alek gave a calm smile, as though trying to negate Janus' rage. "Yes. Alice, do behave while I'm gone, hm?"

With that he escorted the others upstairs, the ballroom doors swinging open behind them.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Alice looked almost pleadingly at Aleks not to leave but she quickly moved over next to Janus, taking his hand as she was still shivering on the outside.

"O-of course, Aleks..." She watched them leave but not before she heard Razziel begin to explain. "It has to do with a man by the name of Mathews Valentine..."

'Valentine? I know that name.' Alice turned her head towards the door and pulled Janus with her. "Come on!"


In Aleks' study, Mikeal seated himself as far from Razziel as physically possible, while Razziel filled a glass with Scotch. The man took a good sip from it before turning to look at Aleks.

"I'm sure you recall the exact reason behind how your Alice was amongst the fledglings of her year..." He sat down leisurely. "The court wished for me to tell you they found her attacker, just as they had Janus'."

"I'm sorry?" Mikeal looked lost between them only to recieve an irratated sigh from his pass master. "All the fledlings have attackers, my Lord. We have always known..."

"In normal cases, yes, we do." Razziel answered looking more peeved. "But Alice and Janus are not normal cases. the average age of a human being turned is when they are about 17 or so. It makes their disappearance easier to cover up."

####

Alice pulled Janus into the room next to Aleks' study and pressed her ear against the wall, annoyed that she couldn't hear them well enough. "Do you still know that spell you told me about before?"

She wanted to know what this was about.

"Use it."

[Peeker]

Janus nodded. "How does it go.... I hate enchantments... they're... complicated..."

The boy's fingers wove together, and tensed. A film of irridescent light, like a soap bubble, wavered over the wall, and then...

Aleksandr's voice came through, clear as day.

"The House Valentine had a fledglings which... rejected his education... Matthew Valentine is an animal. He's practically feral. He combs battlefields, travels constantly - he Hunts. Fresh blood nightly. Human. ...its a miracle that he doesn't Turn all of his prey... He only turns children..."

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Indeed," Razziel spat at the mention of the Valentine House. It was know for it's bad eggs. "And our lovely Mathews has a special taste for young girls at times. Alice was one of them."

Mikeal looked at the two wanting to know more. He didn't know how the laws worked for the turning of humans.


"Children like them are exstremely hard to cover up for since their attackers often leave large messes behind and police normally looki into things." Razziel looked at Aleks, guessing his reaction. "I recall your reaction when we were called to look at the small gril. I do believe it was the first time I've seem you blood thristy, and I mean that in the human term..."

"What do you mean?" Mikeal looked at them unnerved.

"Mathew's was trying to rip her apart, limb from limb," Razziel snarled. Although what he himself did wasn't better, the animalistic nature of Mathews' was nothing in compair. "He normal does so with his victums exceppt someone passed and took her to the courts. She had several fatal wounds as well from his claws, which healed after Aleks won her."

Alice looked at Janus with wide shocked eyes. She didn't remember this. Any of it.

"Was Mathews the same who..." Mikeal pressed needing to know.

"no, it was another whom forced our hand with Janus," Razziel looked at the to before him. "You may think of me cruel, but I would never try and tear someone's chest open. however that is besides the point. What the council wishes to know is, what would you, Aleksandr, like done to Mathews?"

Razziel grinned, hoping to see Aleks' cruelty shine through.

Alice however was looking more and more frightened as she listened in.

"I don't believe this... Mathews Valentine," she looked at Janus. "He was my neighbor for three years. i talked to him everyday..."

[Peeker]

Janus took her hand, sympathetic. "I... Oh jeez... Alice..."



Aleksandr's fangs glinted. "I think..." He smiled, tightly. "It would take a great deal of work, but do you think the council would have a very great problem with... reeducating Mister Valentine? A few Bindings so he couldn't use his powers... A spell to reduce his age - you're both familiar with -that- one, I know... and a firmer hand than House Valentine. I'd think the sheer embarrassment of being a fledgling again might drive the man mad."

Aleksandr steepled his fingers. "...either that, or I'm given the right to tear off his limbs and beat him with them before sewing them back on, letting him heal, and doing it all over again..." His hands shook slightly, and he lowered them. "I cannot have any hand in Valentine's punishment, Razziel. I am too invested. I'll kill him. I will, however, speak to the Council... when would they wish me to meet with them?"

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Razziel grinned cruelly at Aleksandr. He loved it when the man showed his anger like this.

"No... I don't believe they would mind at all," He touched the rim of his glass. "In fact you have no need to in form the court. Since it was your Alice that was hurt by him last, the court has given you free reign to do with him as you please. He lives in the town currently so you can do so tonight, although, I must say I don't think you will be a firm hand enough for him..."

mikeal looked at Aleks and smiled. He knew what Aleks was trying to do.

"No, I must agree with you, Lord Razziel. he would not," Mikeal schooled his face to be calm. "But you would..."


###

Alice rose from her spot having heard enough. she stormed down to her room and changed quickly into a Tshirt and pair of jeans before heading towards the front door.

"Not if I get him first..."

[Peeker]

"I suppose its decided then. Gentlemen.... I would ask you to join me on a Hunt. I... Razziel. I would..." His eyes cleared slightly as he rose from his desk. Mikeal's plan was coming into focus. "I believe I have a way to make the arrangement you came here to discuss in the first place complete itself. All the agreements we previously had met... but..." Alek smiled thinly. No one ever said that being a vampire meant you had to play nice. "I would be honored if you would take young Valentine's education into your own hands..."

He rose, not bothering to look at Mikeal. "Come, gentlemen."



Janus, chased after her. "Alice! Wait!"

He waited for her outside her door, not exactly wanting to stop her mid-change - he blushed, of course - "We can't go out! I mean... maybe we can go with Aleksandr, but..."

"Go where, child?"

Sure enough, right behind the boy were the three elders - Aleksandr, at least, looked grimly amused.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Out of my way," Alice ordered walking stright pass them, ignorring the annoyed look Razziel gave her, as she litterally pushed him aside. "All of you."

She was midly surprised that Aleks allowed her to just brush pass him, but she was also busy thinking about how many ways she could torture Mathews when she's get her hands on him.

'he's ass is min...' she felt herself freeze to a stop just as she pushed open the door and stepped outside. She couldn't move a single muscle. She looked surprised for a minute when she suddenly remembered Aleks' collar on her neck. "GOD DAMN IT!"

"What is all this about?" Mikeal turned to Janus and jumped when he heard Alice roar. "Janus?"

Razziel looked wide eyed himself. For the fairer sex, Alice didn't seem like some weak willed girl. He walked over to see what was the maker and rose and eye brow when she saw the girl was frozen in mid step, the jem around her neck glowing.

"A collar, Aleksandr?" He mused.


"Get this thing off me!" Alice snalred.