Nightly Lessons Book I: The Book of Beginnings

[Peeker]

Aleksandr frowned. 'damn' was not exactly ladylike.

"She... will not be happy, but just because Lucy is proud of dresses does not mean she'll be upset. She can respect an accident. This is a small punishment - and an important lesson. Telling the truth is important. You know this, of course... but fessing up to a mistake is difficult." Alek smiled and got off his bench. "Come on. If we're going to bring Klo, I'm afraid we're going to need to travel... I'll have to get the car out of the garage..."

Aleksandr smiled. He didn't drive often for a good reason. He had a -very- great deal of fun driving...and hadn't wanted to scare Alice... he took advantage of the fact that vampires were practically indestructable, much to the dismay of most property he drove past.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Yes!" Alice gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and grabbed her book, skidding slightly as she turned the corner. She ran to her room and opened the door.

"Come on Klo we're... Damn it Klo!" She growled as she suddenly realized it was raining feathers. Appearantly he had left the need to liberate one of her pillow. "Bad! That's a no!"

She picked the puppy up, brushing him off lightly and hurried back to the front door waiting for Aleks to come get her. She didn't want to be froze outside the front door again, but she was hopping from foot to foot with excitement, the wish get going strong inside her. It was almost childish in a cute way.

[Peeker]

With a smile, Aleksandr joined Alice at the door, and escorted her to the car. It was a slim sliver number - European, fast and expensive.

"Remember, dear, Klo does not leave your hands for a second in that store. You get me?" He smiled, gunning the engine. "...and buckle up!"

With that, Aleksandr pulled out of the garage, and headed out into town.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Well it would help if someone would have let me go and buy a lesh and collar for him..." She stressed but made sure to walk around him so that her rear wouldn't be a target. "But yeah, I promise. I'll keep him close."

She hugged the puppy close, whom seemed excited over the change of scenery. She hopped into the front seat and tucked Klo into her lap, and buckled up. She had to admit she had never seen Aleks drive, she assumed because he didn't like it.

"Ready?" Aleks asked as he joined her, a secretive smile on his face.

"Ready! Say Aleks how come you've never driven beforeAAAAAH!" Alice gave a scream when Aleks suddenly went from 0 to 60 before they were outside the main gate. "Aleks! Not so fast!"

As fun as it was to drive fast, Alice felt her hear skip several beats as they drove. Although Aleks kept his driving legal, he turned hard and fast, clipping corners with abilities that NAS car racers would kill for. She gave a nervous laugh and made a cross symbol over her chest, praying to God, that she would surivive the drive. Klo yipping out of enjoyment.

"Here?" Aleks said a little too happy and looked at Alice. "Ready dear?"

Alice sat silently in her seat, her feet pressing her hard against the seat. She looked at him wide eyes and finaly scrambled out of the car.

"I don't believe it! Aleks you're a speed demon!" She pointed at him, Klo still safely in her arms. "I'm never driving with you again! You're a fucking loonatic behind the the wheel!"

[Peeker]

Alek immediately gave her a swat. "Language, Alice. Don't make me turn you over my knee in front of Lucy. ...and watch that tone. I'm a very safe driver."

The man immediately decided that if she swore again, she'd be getting the soap tonight. The fact that she criticized his driving didn't help matters for her.

The store was empty, as it was late, but the tinkling bell brought Lucy up to the front, where Alek, box-in-hand and a smile on his face, bowed to the lady, and chastely kissed her on the cheek.

"Lucy, my love! How are you?"

"Well, Lord Aleksandr. Lady Alice - a pleasure." Lucy curtseyed, noting Alice's choice of clothing that day with a twinkle in her eye. "What brings you to my humble shop tonight?"

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Ouch!" Alice yelped and looked meekly at him. She didn't like the idea of him spanking her in front of Lucy. As for his driving, Alice had never learned how to drive herself, Aleks had once seen how she drove in games which wasn't pretty, so her only comparison was what she remembered ofher father's driving. "Sorry, but you are."

Making sure she had a firm grip on Klo, she followed Aleks inside and grinned at Lucy. She gave a quick curtsy, just like the one Lucy had taught her, a little shacky but not bad for a girl of a different time period.

"Hi Lucy, it's good to see you again," Alice almost forced a smiled, her nerves coiling as she prepared to tell Lucy why they were visiting. "Err... well you see. There kind of was an accident while Razziel was visiting and I acciedently ripped the grown... sorry."

[Peeker]

"Ripped it? Oh no, dear! It wasn't the black one was it? You looked so proper in that!" Lucy carefully took the box from her with a gentle smile. She appeared concerned, but in a rather professional way - as a nurse might with a patient... to anyone else, it is a person, but to the nurse... it is another person... and that makes a great deal of difference, sometimes.

"Your meeting with Lord Razziel went well, I hope?" She asked Aleksandr.

"Better than expected. We are... in... full agreement." The word sounded heavy.

"What was your price, m'lord?"

"Liberties." Aleksandr admitted. "Several favors to call in at my discretion... and a general sense of being owed something... which is, I'll admit, a nice change..."

Lucy hmphed. "Whether you agree with us or not, it is good to have you on our side, magi." Her face lightened. "...and you must tell me when you take these liberties. I may agree with the man - even get along with him - but Night knows I don't appreciate how he deals with the children... how was his fledgling, by the way? Did he bring the child?"

Aleksandr smiled. "Ask Alice."

Lucy looked at the girl excitedly. "Oh! Oh yes, whole-heartedly!" She clasped the girl's hand gently. "Do tell me, Alice! I love to know about our new blood." She tittered happily.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Aleks!" Alice whinned with a blush across her face, but smiled at Lucy. She had to admit, she was also happy of all the dresses to tear it wasn't the black one. She composed herself to seem less embarassed about it, although the damaged was already done. "His name was Janus Dornell. He's a very... nice boy..."

She started to fiddle with her dress nervously as Lucy grinned knowingly, the blush slowly covering her friend.

"... he's good at magic, latin, fencing. He can play the violine and the guitar..." Alice smiled. " he's a great friend to have and he... no long live with Razziel. He's offically Mikeal's fledgling now and his name is now Janus Bell. Isn't it wonderful?"

The three of them smiled a the the news, even if Aleks and Alice had known for some time now, it was still nice to hear it again. She didn't mention that fact about Mathew, her own personal feeling of hate towards the man were still very strong.

*Yip!*

"Ah, I almost forgot," Alice grinned and moved Klo better into her hands. "Lucy this is Klonoa. Klo this is Lucy. He's part of Mikeal's recent litter and now he's mine. Isn't he cute?"

Klo started to wag his tail madly as he struggled to get out of Alice's hands and over to Lucy to say hello.

*Yip!* *Bark! Barck!* *Woof*

[Peeker]

"Stars!" Lucy said with surprise, almost losing her grip on the box, for a moment. How she hadn't noticed the pup before was almost... well, like alot things with hellhounds, discomforting.

"Well... Its very nice to meet him." Lucy said. "Just keep a handle on the pup, dear. None of us want him to get loose in m' store. Klo, was it?" Lucy gently pet the dog and brought her hand back.

"Mikeal? Mikeal Dornell? How is that naughty vampire boy doing?" Lucy asked, smiling widely.

Aleksandr chuckled. She and Mikeal had an interesting relationship. Mikeal's love of teasing had one over his respect for propriety when it came to Lucy, whose sense of humor was only encouragement for him.

There was a reason his dog's name shared her's. The motherly qualities were... overwhelming, in both. Lucy's taking-one-by-the-ear, scolding, and rather drawn out spankings were something Mikeal had been quite familiar with as a fledgling.

Janus would hate her, Alek realized. When she was spanking, at least. ...unless being mothered was somehow different then being babied.

"He's doing well, love - and before you ask, yes, the fact that Razziel is no longer the boy's Sire is.... part of the reason why I've agreed to everything I've agreed to. It gave me the leverage I needed...and for his sake, I was willing to make the effort. Janus is a good boy." Aleksandr put a soft hand on Alice's shoulder, and smiled.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"He won't I promise," Alice cradled the pup to her chest and smiled at Lucy. "And Mikeal's fine. He visited not too long ago which was nice."

Alice set about telling Lucy everything that had happened the last few days, leaving out the punishments, hinting towards Razziel's taunting towards her, and the little bit about falling asleep on Janus while watching a movie.

"... other wise everything has been pretty calm. I am hopefully going to get my aim with magic better soon so that Aleks can teach me some of the slightly harder spells, and maybe when I get better at the piano we can try the flute," Alice smiled as they sat about in Lucy's sitting room enjoying some buiscuts and tea, or rather, Alice was enjoying a glass of sprite. "Janus wrote and said he'ss happy about everything and that I can come visit sometime soon. Oh that reminds me, Aleks showed me some of the old photos he has, and one of them was with you and Sara..."

Alice noticed the tiny droplet of sadness that befell Aleks and looked worried at Lucy.

"Did I say something wrong?"