Chapter Eight

Older Doesn't Always Mean Mature

The next day, Alice didn't awaken from the imps pointing her in the foot. she slept heavily, which annoying the imp whom loved to tease her. It had a letter for her and Aleksandr from Mikeal and it wanted her to bring it to him in his private chambers.

Swearing under it's breath the imp disappeared and reappeared in Aleks' room, making a lot less noise as it waved the letters to him.

"Master! Letter!" It cried in it's own language.

Aleksandr snapped his fingers. The imp thundered across the room, slamming into a large armchair. It slumped into the seat, stunned, leaving its letter on the floor. "Thank you, Imp." He muttered, rolling over a little. "I'll be with you when I'm ready."

The letter for Aleksandr started in elegant letters, the very same that Mikeal had learned from spending a summer with him.

Dear Lord Aleksandr,

You may want to teach Alice to write cleaner when she's hyper. I'm guess you've agreed to allow her ownership over one of Lucy's pups. I can assure you it won't be like the one I kept. I was hoping I might be able to visit you later on today. I assure you the pup won't come with me, not is Razziel is coming to your stead soon.

Awaiting you're answer,

Mikeal

Aleksandr, having finally bothered to get up and read the damned thing, admitted that maybe his imp had a reason for wanting it to get to him early - imps had a second sense about urgency... it seemed to be where they functioned in life. He found his mind clear enough to respond immediately.

Beloved Friend,

Considering the madness that entailed yesterday, I'm glad she wrote to you at all - forgive this letter's brief duration, but I would make preparations for your arrival. You are welcomed as always - my doors are open to you. Alice, of course, won't be told you're coming, so be prepared to see a very happy little Fledgling.
Also - if you wish, your stay may be an extended one, but I am expecting Razziel the day after this.

Awaiting your return.
Aleksandr.

With a puff of smoke, the letter vanished, and Aleks went to make preparations.

The imp had just managed to shake off his surprise and then looked at Aleksandr with questioning eyes.

"Little one no wake." It stated sounding peeved. "Me Poke no wake!"

"Alice is allowed to rest, Kadpa." Aleks explained in normal language - Kadpa was his best imp - the only one smart enough to learn a new language, for that matter. "Kadpa will not wake her. Kadpa go get other imps. Make ready for guest."

Kadpa looked annoyed but didn't dare disobey. he brushed himself lightly off before huffing.

"Little one late for lessons. Sleep too long." He stated a little annoyed that he wasn't allowed to wake her. She was so fun when angry and made the household interesting. "Kadpa make room ready." With that he disappeared leaving the smell of sulfur behind

Aleks brushed a hand through his hair, sighed, and decided to give the imp credit where it was due, long night or not. He signaled Alice's mirror, which chimed a single soft note before lapsing back into silence.

Alice groaned in and turned in her bed. She didn't want to wake up and that stupid alarm clock was going off again. She reached out a blind hand towards the sound unknowing that she was signally an answer to the mirror.

"Stupid... mrph clock," Half structured sentences escaped her lips as she kept her eyes shut. It wasn't morning until she opened them. at lest in her book. When the sound stopped. She curled back up her her bed. "5 more minutes..."

Aleks smiled. "Huh. She's awake after all."

Thusly cheered, he left her alone, and went downstairs to help the imps and prepare for her morning lessons.

Alice was happily back in dream world, blissfully unaware of her mistake. She was dreaming about with she was little, playing dress up with her parents in her room. It was a pretty pleasant dream. She had not idea she was about fifteen minutes late. So after about a half-hour after even Aleks had expected her, he went up to her room and knocked.

"Alice? Come on, girl. You told me you were ready to go thirty minutes ago." He was confused. Hadn't she been ready?

"Kadpa check!" Kadpa offered grinning. Maybe mayhem would happen after all. Without wait a second for an answer Kadpa popped off only to return a second later. "Little one sleep. No wake."

He looked a little too pleased about it.

Aleks sighed. "Thank you, Kadpa." He dismissed the imp with a wave, and knocked louder on the door. "Alice! Up, girl!"

"What!" Alice shot up in her bed wide awake and completely confused. Rubbing her eyes free of sleep, she yawned loudly as she walked over and opened the door. "Aleks don't do that. Scared the living daylights out of me..."

She still didn't have a clue what was happening.

"I thought you were up an half hour ago, Alice... what happened?" Aleks said, recognizing that she was still half-asleep.

"Whaaat?" Alice wobbled on her feet a bit. "What are you talking about? Let me sleep Aleks, I'm tired..."

She went and closed the door lightly and crawled back into bed.

Aleks shook his head, and opened the door. "Sorry, dear. I let you sleep in, and then, obviously, you decided to let yourself sleep in too." Aleks snapped his fingers, and her covers flew off - they flapped back onto the bed, but were folded halfway down it, not really providing her whole body with warmth. "Don't get grumpy, Alice, get up. You had a long night yesterday - we'll skip your first class. Take a hot shower, warm yourself up, and come downstairs when you're done." He instructed. "Its going to be an exciting day."

Alice groaned and tried to pulled the sheets back up. When she couldn't, she rouse again from her bed looking more like a zombie then a young vampire.

"Tyrant," She grumbled before tossing some random and highly mismatching clothes out to change into. "Exciting day my foot..."

The mirror glowed, and words appeared on the glass in golden script: 'Dress 'properly', Alice. Training day for Lord Razziel, don't forget. You're being given a half hour to pull yourself together - wash, look presentable, and come down to the ballroom.'

Alice didn't notice it at first. She was too busy trying to get the hot water running. It started nice until a certain imp made it freezing cold. With a scream of surprise, Alice walked out dripping all over the over looking pissed. She picked up the clothes she had pulled out e groaned when she was the mirror.

"Dress properly?" She groaned and pulled out that off white gown. "Look presentable. I always look presentable..."

She used the newly learned spell to tighten the corset and tie a somewhat reasonable bow.

"Now where are the shoes...?" Alice looked about and couldn't find them. "Shit, I'm gonna be late... ummm,, I know sneakers. The dress is long enough to cover them..."

With that she hurried off, unaware that Kadpa had hidden them. He just loved to tease her.

"I'm here!" Alice managed to yell as she opened the doors to the ballroom just three seconds before her time was up. "Made it."

Aleks smiled, clapping his hands with exaggerated slowness. "Kadpa." The imp appeared next to Aleks, and Aleks promptly lifted the imp, and looked it in the eye. "Has Kadpa done something? Master smells that Alice is nervous, and not just because she was running."

The imp chittered. "Kadpa play game?"

"What kind of game?"

"Find...shoe game?"

"Find shoe. Go. Play your game."

With a snap of his fingers, he dismissed the imp, flinging him through the doorway - the imp poofed in a cloud of smoke, and Aleks smiled at Alice. "Right. Good morning, sunshine." He snickered. "You hit the 'snooze' button on your mirror, didn't you?"

Alice grinned nervously at him. It was early and already he knew something was up.

"Err... yes i did, hehe," She scratched the back of her head and gave a quick morning bow without lifting her skirt. "Morning Aleks... how did you sleep?"

"Well, until a certain imp awoke me." He lifted an eyebrow. "At least you remembered to bow... but you did that wrong. Do it right."

Alice visibly paled at that point. If she did it right, he's see the large highlighter and pen colored sneakers she was wearing.

"You know about that bow..." Alice thought fast, trying to pull a rabbit out of a small hat. "Razziel views all fledglings as children right? Well, shouldn't I greet him the same way? After all, it's best to humor our guests, heehee."

The look of Aleks face told her that she just blew her cover completely. If there was one thing she wouldn't never do it was pretend she was a small child.

'I'm so busted...'

The imp appeared, holding a pair of white shoes.

Aleks nodded. "Ah. So you played your game well, imp."

The imp nodded fearfully, and vanished.

Aleks gave the girl a look. "I'm going to say that avoid the truth is pretty close to fibbing, Alice. Come here. We're going to fix your bottom something proper to set you straight for the day. I knew there was something up - I even got the imp to tell me what it was, practically. I wasn't angry at you - I'm still not - but you can't seem to figure out I just want the truth!"

Alice gave a small whimper and placed one hand on her rear and held the other out to take the shoes.

"I didn't know he had them..." she jerked her head towards were the imp had been. "And I didn't want to be late... I thought you would yell at me..."

Aleks put the shoes down on the floor next to him. She wasn't getting out of it that easy. "Well, you were wrong. ...and even now, I'm not yelling. I don't care what the imp did, I care that you won't tell me the truth. Over my knee, young lady."

Alice groaned and walked carefully over to him. She was surely tempted to just make a grab for the shoes, but at the same times, she could just imagine the gown ripping along the away.

"Do I have to?" She looked pleadingly at him and sighed when he shock his head. she slowly crawled over his lap. "This totally sucks..."

SMACK!

"Language, Alice. Naughty."

He didn't really care to make her anything but mindful this early in the morning - a slow hand spanking over her shorts would be enough... he raised the girl's skirts, and began bringing his hand down on her recently-healed hind.

smack! smack! Smack! smack! smack!

"AWE!" Alice managed to smack her hand in her face when he called her on the language. "Sorry.."

She had to admit, it was the strangest feeling in the world to have the gown lifted rather then dropped. She didn't get to think farther about it though when she felt the first smack.

"Awe! Awe! Awe!" She groaned as she did her best to remain still. "Oh! Aw!"

Aleks kept going, not bothering to rush, for a good two minutes solid. Her cheeks were beginning to turn pink. but something told Aleks that she'd be needing her bottom as whole as possible for sometime later that night - guests usually meant trouble, after all.

Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

"If you've gotten your head straightened again, I hope you're ready for your lessons, Alice." Aleksandr said, still holding the girl over his knee. "I'm not going to spank you hard right now - you're done, in fact - but that's because its early, and if you need it, you'll be getting it later. I want to see if an early sting will keep you behaving today - and I expect it to, understand?"

Alice rose and eyebrow at him, knowing something was up. he never did this. Still she wasn't going to look a gimp horse in the mouth.

"Yes Sire. I will.." She answered and cautiously rouse herself off his lap. She then quickly took off her sneakers and slipped on the shoes she was suppose to have worn to begin with. "What is today's lesson Sire."

She was trying to sound as lady like as possible to make up for getting in trouble so early on in the morning

Aleks stood. "Well, I thought I'd let you tell me that, to start with, Alice." He gave the girl a look. "What else do you want to know about Razziel? Its history time."

Alice frowned of a moment before thinking hard.

"Well, he's old fashioned..." she sudden turned and looked wide eyed as she looked at him. "I'm learning to sword fight?"

Aleks crossed his arms. "How did you come up with that idea?"

Alice grinned. "The book said he's a sword fighter." She looked confident, unaware that Razziel was from the time before woman where allowed to bare arms. "So therefore it has to be sword fighting right?"

"Well... no, dear." Aleks shrugged. "I don't know if you've noticed this but... I don't exactly carry weapons around with me. Magic has been my area of study – sword fighting... well... I have no more ability to train you in it than Razziel would have the desire to."

Alice blinked and then thought for a moment. It did make sense, after all she wasn't exactly someone who should be holding a sword. Even as a vampire it would be to heavy for her small frame.

"Hmm... I can't imagine anything other them," She stopped and looked questioning at him. "dancing. I'm learning to dance?"

Aleks smiled. "That would do nicely. Luckily, we're in the right place for it."

He shook his head. "Granted, you may not be doing much dancing with two old men, but it would be a wonderful distraction for the morning."

Alice blinked. "Two? What do you..."

"Sorry if I'm intruding..." A voice called. A young man of 20 turned the corner dressed in a tight black sweater and black slacks. "I ran into one of your imps and it told me I could find you two here..." Mikeal looked at Alice and then at Aleks.

"I can't believe you got her in a gown Aleks," He grinned and gave them both a bow. "She looks like a true lady."

"Mikeal!" Alice turned on her heels and practically tackled him to the grown, messing up his raven black hair. "I don't believe it!"

"Hello Alice," He patted her on the head and looked sympathitic at Aleks. "Now as for acting it, you're going to need a bit of help I can see."

"Mikeal!" Aleks rose, and firmly embraced the man, as a teacher might a student. "You are looking well - and yes, our Alice is... going through a bit of a transformation, I suppose."

Mikeal embraced Aleksandr equally with a smile on his face. It was odd to be back in the only place he had liked as a fledgling. It brought back many memories.

"I've noticed," He smield and took Alice's hand, giving her a good twirl. "Long elegant, the outerlayer is silk, the corest shaped with whale bone..." He stopped her so that she back was turn to him. "Silk ribbon fr tying..." He undid it quickly and then retied it firmer. "She'll need you're help of Lady Lucy's for the first could of times where it. I'm guessing this is Lucy's work."

He then knelt down and gave Alice a quick brush down. "And judging by the fact that your skirt is crumbled a bit back here, you haven't quite learned to listen yet, have you, Alice?" He teased knowingly.

"Mikeal!" She yelped and turned looking annoyed, but then smiled. "You could have said you were coiming..."

"I did," He pointed at Aleks. "I told Lord Aleksandr."
"Aleks!" Alice gapped at him

He grinned."...and I told you to dress properly - it was going to be an exciting day." Aleks walked over the the piano. "Mikeal... perhaps you can do me a favor? The Lady Harker wishes to know how to dance..." He spoke without a trace of sarcasm. "...it is hard enough to dance without music, but I know you to be far lighter of foot than I. Could you assist us?"

Mikeal didn't need to be asked twice. Without warning he grasped Alice's left hand and pulled her close by the waist.

"Gladly, my Lord, gladly," He stated and looked at Alice whom looked surprised. "Put your free hand on my shoulder Alice and follow my lead. Razziel's a believer that woman don't lead..."

"You've got to be kidding?" Alice stated as He pulled her into a simple waltz.

Dancing, talking, a few stories and a few warnings filled the day which, as Aleks had promised, has been a rather exciting one. They decided to make dinner into a 'working lesson', and to hold the meal in the high style that Razziel would be treated to the next day.

Alice had been behaving well today - though she strained and wanted to cause another of her usual outbursts, she seemed to know whenever she was getting close to the edge, and the fear of being embarassed and up-ended in front of Mikeal kept her from going too far.

Dinner was a grand affair, as usual, where wine flowed and crystal tinkled - though vampires did not need to eat, their surperior senses made a good meal into a wonderful experience, and decorum usually demanded a nightly feast in a guest's presence.

"I most say this is something I'm missed since Razziel released me of his hold," Mikeal smiled as he slowly ate some of the soup they had been severed. "It's gotten lost with time I'm afraid..."

"Can't be that bacd," Alice swirled her own spoon about the soup, enjoying the swirling patterns she was making rather then acttually eating it. "I mean it's nice this the whole 'grand meal' thing but eating something simple is nice too..."

Mikeal gave a small smile to her but looked a little annoyed at her.

"I can imagine, but Alice..." He gently placed his spoon back into his bowl. "...Don't do that. You're not a todler, don't play with your food."

"Really, Alice. I told you we were going to treat this as a lesson. I won't have you acting like that in front of Razziel - even if you are comfortable in front of Mikeal and I - and we are thankful for it - you really do need to watch yourself." Aleks put down his spoon and looked at her for emphasis.
Alice gave a small sigh of disappointment and put the spoon lightly down.

"Thank you Alice," Mikeal smiled and returned his attention towards Aleks again. "Anyway as I was saying. It's wonderful to be back here again. I am afraid though I wont stay here while Razziel is here as well. I'm sure you can under..."

A sudden ringing began which made Mikeal turn and look at Alice again. He knew she was bored. He was purposly ignorring her because it would most likely happen during the real meal with Razziel.

"Alice, kindly stop that," Mikeal frowned at the young draculina that continued dispite she was looking at him. "It's unlady like..."
Aleks, on the other hand, stood. "Alice. I told you last night I wouldn't have you doing that at the table." His face hardened. "You are excused from dinner. Go to your room. I will call you back down before Mikeal leaves so you may say good night to him."
Alice stopped moving her finger on the crystal glass and gapped at him.
"But..." she frowned and sat farther back in the chair. "I'm sorry. It's just well... yuo two are talking about stuff that I can't join in on..."

Mikeal shook his head and looked sternly at her as well. His ears reddened a bit as he couldn't believe he was going to say the same words Raz had said to him once.

"My dear young lady," He tsked her. "Children are to be seen and not heard. Now it's best you do what Lord Aleksandr is tell you to do..."

"Mikeal..." Alice blinked looked hurt that he refered to her as little and a child. "Guys come on, please?"

"Do not argue with my guest, Miss Harker." Aleks commanded."Our Master Dornnel is welcomed in my home as my equal - you have not yet earned that right, and are to do as you are told."

It was like last year all over again. While Aleksandr had recently begun to speak more freely with Alice, she was no stranger to courtly language. This was what she'd be facing around Razziel, after all, and, even better, this was a hint - Alice was losing ground, and running low on chances to save face.

Alice crossed her arms at them a pouted. She knew she was pushing it but she wasn't about to be sent off like some sort of rug rat.

"I'm 17 Aleks..." She muttered not making anymove to get out of the chair. "This is riddiculous..."

Mikeal turned and gave a questioning look at Aleksandr and asked him through his thoughts.

'Prehasps setting her down a peg or two maybe for the better,' He thought and looked towards the girl. He recalled being the same way over for Razziel once. Not only had he found himself bent over a knee getting a belt, Razziel had forced his body to take on the age he was actting just to humiliate him. 'Perhasp a leaf out of my Sire's book may be called for...'

Aleks lifted his eyebrow. "Razziel's methods are rarely approved of under my roof, Mikeal. Unless you care to explain, I'm about to take care of this my way." The vampire slowly crossed around the table to where Alice was sitting, listening to Mikeal as he did so.

"It's quiet simple really..." Mikeal picked up his glass and took a sip of the wine mixed with blood. "If the fledgling feels the need to behave as a small child, she should be one for the punishment. I'm sure you recall Razziel doing so once with me when Gabby and I got into a fight all those years ago..."

Alice in the mean time was sinking deeper in to her chair. She didn't like where this was going to say the lest. She had never seen Mikeal seem so cruel before and Aleks didn't look like he was just going to give her a tougne lashing either.

"Mikeal what are you talking about?" She quickly out out of the chair when she felt Aleks was getting too close. "This really isn't funny you know..."

Aleks turned, and looked at Alice. He looked as though he was making a hard decision. "I am rather tempted to cast the spell on you, Mikeal, and show Alice what one of Razziel's punishments looks like." Aleksandr admitted. "Alice has embarassed me, but you have suggested..." Aleks trailed off for a moment, as though tasting the thought before it left his mouth. "...I do no less to her. I do not know why it disagrees with me so. It seems... poetic."

Mikeal gave a nod of respect and gave Aleksandr a pleaseant smile.

"Please don't misunderstand me, my Lord. It isn't my place to tell you would you should do with naughty little girls," He stressed the last part looking at Alice. "I merely wished to place it on the table."

In truth he was rather happy that Aleksandr had questioned him on the matter. He knew Razziel would have done the same so it would be for Alice's better favor to get a taste on the Donnel's sense of humor.

Alice in the mean time was backing away slowly from her chair looking at the two for them.

"Do I want to know what you too are talking about?" She asked nervously as Mikeal continued to ignor her. He was playing the part of his Sire like a glove.

Aleks carefully began to remove his dinner jacket, and placed in on his chair. "Well... Since this was supposed to be a preparation for tommorrow, I suppose I'll have to treat this as I will in front of Razziel. Since I don't want to disappoint my guest, nor have him think me soft and unfitting to care for a naughty fledgling, I'll... take his advice." Aleks' fingers began to glow a soft blue. He began chanting slowly.

"Father's Woe, Mother's Shame,
Wild Heart that brings them Pain,
Know the Form of recent Past,
Lay under Immaturity's Lash.
"

Stretching out his hand, he smiled down at Alice. "You're about to find out, Young Miss." Aleks said, rolling up his sleeve. He sat down. "Come here. You've earned yourself a spanking."

Alice felt a strange feeling over come her and hunched over painfully. Her entire body hurt like getting hit by a car. When she finally looked up again, she thought she had fallen to the floor, everything seemed so tall. She only managed to to see Mikeal chast a small spell of his own before he smiled at Aleks.

"I thought the dress would be more fitting for her like this," He explained. "I've always loved how her name matches the book..."

"What are you..." Alice frowned but looked shocked and cover her mouth. She didn't sound normal, in fact she sounded like she as five. "What did you do!"

"Quiet, Alice." Aleks snapped. "You have a perfectly good head on your tiny shoulders, look down and figure it out." He looked up at Mikeal dryly. "We're going to talk before you leave, Mikeal. I can understand your Sire doing this, but you're treating her like a toy. I do not appreciate that."

He looked at the girl again. "Come here, Alice. Over my knee."

Alice looked at herself in horror. She was five. She was bloody five and they were treating it like a joke.

"You have got to be KIDDING ME!" She yelled looking down at her new outfit. It was litterally a pink version of the 'Alice n Wonderland' dress with a whiteapron on the front with a bunny head stritched inot the corner. "Mikeal you jerk! Why did you do this?"

Mikeal in the mean time gave Aleksandr an appologetic look.

"I'm sorry my Lord, I over stepped my boundries," He gave his sincer appologies before grinning. "But you must admit she does looked adorable in it."

He ignorred her out burst. He deserved that one.

"I admit nothing. Children should be seen, not heard, Alice. You heard Master Dorreal. Must I repeat myself, as well?" Aleks asked.

One more chance. She got one last, tiny chance, and then, he was going to make this a fairly miserable spanking, instead of just an embarassing one.

Alice was possitively livid."I am not BLOODY ADORABLE!"

She stomped her foot, looking like a child throwing a tantrum. Mikeal sighed and took up the role of his Sire again.

"Aleks?" She looked pleadingly at him, pulling the sides of the dress. "Please, undo this... I look like a... a..."

"Child?" Mikeal oftened, this time keeping his tone neutrual. This was not going to end well for her. He knew it. "The spell make one look the age the act, little Alice. That's the point of it. Now I sugguest doing as you 'father' tells you too, or else I can assure you the outcome won't be fun for you..."

He knew from experience himself. Alice just stood thunder struck, looking between the two as if they were mad.

"A tantrum. Wonderful." Aleks glared at Mikeal. "Well done, m'lord, you've taken a willful child, and forced them to prove how willful they are." He looked down at Alice. "...as for you, dear, you've dug yourself too deep a hole to get out of. Come with me, both of you-" Aleks scooped up Alice, and put her over his shoulder. "We have a busy hour ahead of us."

Aleks exited the dining hall without another word - they were heading towards the bathroom, to clean out a certain dirty mouth.

Mikeal followed calmly behind Aleksandr, years for strict lessons with Razziel had made it so that he knew where and when to pick his however was not amused by any of it.

"NO!" She tried to push off Aleks shoulder which was impossible. She couldn't even shake his hold on her because of her size. "Aleks please! Not with Mikeal here! Please!"

"What have I been telling you for the past few days, Alice? To behave? To control your temper? To think before you act? While I can understand being upset by your new predicament, you have to rmemebe that you aren't in control here! You accept what I give you, and you are thankful for it-" They walked into the bathroom. "..and you do not use foul language in my presence, little girl."

Alice contined to struggle in Aleks hold. The feeling of helplessness was begining to set in hard.

"But Mikeal started it!" She whinned and started to kick up a storm when them entered the bathroom. "NOO! Not the soap again! I'm sorry!"

The cake of soap was already soaking in a basin of water Aleks had conjured into the room on the way up the stairs. He immediately popped it into the girl's mouth.

"Two days, Alice. Two. Already, you're forgetting."

He turned to Mikeal. "I give you the liberty to find something of your choosing for little Alice to feel on her bottom. She was going to get away with a handspanking, but her clever choice of words has earned her something far different - for disobeying me and embarassing me in front of my guest. We will be in the dining hall in... twenty minutes. We'll see you there."

Aleksandr picked up a cloth, and wet it. He held the cloth out open, in front of Alice. "When you spit out that soap, its going right in here - and then they're both going right into your mouth again, little Alice." He held her chin, and looked into her eyes. "I cannot believe you would behave as such in front of guests - familiar or not!"

Alice started to cry pitifully as she gagged on the soap. She bite hard into like last time and watched as Mikeal walked off to do as he had been asked.

'Aleks... I'm sorry...' She put her hand on the soap, moving it an inch so that she won't chock on it. She didn't want a repeat with the wooden bath brush again. Her ears turned red at the memory. 'I got angery...'

"I'm sorry, too, Alice. Normally, I wouldn't have gone to such lengths, especially at the cost of embrassing you, but Mikeal makes an excellent point. You really don't know what Razziel is like - and this should give you a bit of a clue." He sighed. "You'll get this and worse if you misbehave while he's here. I'm going to have you hold that for the next fifteen minutes - in case I'll need to correct you again while Razziel is here, I don't want to cause too much damage now... Now hold, face the corner, and no talking - or thinking - at me."

Alice gave a small sob and did as she was told. It was odd facing a corner, something new, and at the same time she felt utterly small. She gagged again as some of the soap mixed with her spit and ran down her throat. Trying to shallow, she coughed the soap up and tried to put it back in before Aleks would notice.

'Ew...' she thought unhappily as time seemed to snail itself away. 'Thanks a lot Mikeal...'

"Soap." Aleks demanded, holding the cloth open to Alice. "This isn't supposed to be easy, after all. You made it... six minutes."

He lathered the cloth, and, as promised, pushed it past her teeth to soap the inside of her mouth as totally as he could. "Bite down on the cloth, Alice."

The girl let out a whine as she did so, to which the vampire responded by giving her a firm Smack! on her skirts. "Corner. Now."

Alice yelped, hurried back, and faced the corner. She softly rubbed her bottom, thankful for the three layers of skirts and the petticoat she was currently wearing, even if it itched.
The cloth foamed in her mouth as she tried to whip some of the drool and soads off her face as she stared blankly at the wall. Normally she would try and find something to keep her mind busy, usually Aleks helpped with that by spanking her at the same time, but this time it was just her and the out white wall.

'I can't believe I have to stand here...' She cried softly to herself. 'This is so embarassing...'
The fifteen minutes ticked by in agonizing slowness. Aleks entertained himself by following his girl's thoughts and keeping in tune with her body, as she tensed and untensed, fighting against the disgusting suds invading her mouth.

"Done. Rinse. Spit."

The girl did so numerous times. Aleks said nothing, merely watched as she spat and rinsed until satisfied. "If you speak a bad word in front of our guests, you'll get that cloth in your mouth for twenty minutes, and cornertime won't be up here - it'll be wherever they are. Understand Alice?

Oh my, Mikeal had been right - she was rather adorable, so tiny. "Come on, then, dear. We have much of our hour to finish, yet." Scooping up the sad girl, he carried her downstairs - not being allowed to walk only added to her torment - and brought her to the dining hall, where Mikeal was waiting for them.

Alice hid her face in Aleks neck as he carried her down to the dining hall. She hadn't said a single word, just nodded her understanding to him.

Mikeal stood silently in the room and watched as the two stepped in. He did feel guilty inside for getting Alice into so much trouble, she was a sweet and lively girl after all, something that for some reason, only Aleks seemed to be able to keep in all his fledglings. He had to bite his tongue from cooing at them, the scene looked like a father introducing a shy daughter to a crowd. He knew if he did, Aleks would probably murder him.

"I thought this would be fitting for our little wayward child..." He held a slipper in his hand. "I recall my own human father using it on me when I was young. It always seemed to work." 'Is she alright?'

"She's sorry." Aleks said plainly. "She's angry at herself for what she did, she's upset at me - as I am - for rising to your bait, and she's upset at you for obvious reasons. Mostly, though, she's a very sad little girl, and I for one cannot wait to put down that slipper and hug her once this is all over."

Aleks sat down in the chair he'd had dinner in, and pulled Alice gently over his knee. "Are you alright, Alice? You may speak, if you want, now. Are you ready?"
"I'm fine," She answered, a little too fast and tight voice to sound convincing. "I just don't like this..."

She started cry a little harder, and gripped Aleks pants.

"It's not fair!" She finally yelled as she sobbed a little louder. "I didn't even do anything..."

Mikeal stood oddly by the side lines. He recalled crying often the same thing and every time, Razziel would ignore him. It made him pity the new 'baby brother' he had.

"Alice, you need to understand. My Sire, Razziel, he doesn't put up with much. He'd ignore you at the table just as I did and I assure you, if he gets you alone behaving this poorly... we're doing this because we don't want you to get to know him the way we did..."

Aleks grimaced. "That's another Vienna story I'll have to tell you, Alice. With Lucy's help, and a little wine, hopefully it'll sound much funnier than it was when I went through it."

The girl's petticoats were carefully adjusted, getting them out of the way of her now-bared bottom. "This is an important lesson, Alice, so it'll be a slow one, too. You're going to be here for a while, so make sure you're comfortable before I start." He lifted his hand. "Are you ready?"

Alice hunched her shoulders and nodded. She looked at Mikeal who sat across from them and kept his eyes fixed on Alice's. His posture was that of a cold tyrant but his eyes looked sympathetically at her.

'Sorry Alice, but it's for the better really...' He took a drink of his wine doing his best to seem calm about everything. Only a trained eye could see otherwise.

Aleks gave Mikeal an understanding nod. It was why he respected the man so much - he'd left Razziel's care, and still felt... human about some things. He could pity, he could show mercy, he could care...

One never stopped learning after all - this would be a lesson for Mikeal, as well.

Aleksandr brought his hand down. Smack!

"AWWWE!" Alice yelped instantly and tightened her grip. It hurt more then she thought.

Mikeal flinched himself at the sound. The nasty thing about the slipper was that it had the effect of a switch without the damage. The flexible part of the shoe was long enough to cover across Alice's bottom but it was wide enough so that the skin wouldn't break unless Aleks intended for it to, something which Mikeal knew he never would.

Silently, Aleks counted to five before bringing the slipper down again. Smack!

"Alice. Do you understand why you are being punished?"

One... two... three... four... five.

...Smack!

"AWWWIE!" Alice kicked her feet lightly as she felt the sting seep into her bottom. "I was naughty at dinner and swore. OOWW! And I didn't do as I was told!"

Mikeal crossed and uncrossed his legs,taking another drink. He never enjoyed watching someone get punished, but he couldn't walk away either. Razziel always felt public punishment had a stronger affect then private. Inside he flinched at the sound, remembering the time he and Gabbriella had earned themself a few licks with it themselves.
Smack!

"Correct. Tell me, Alice, why am I being so hard on you tonight?"

three... four... five.

Smack!

"OUCHIE! Aleks!" She cried over his lap and squirmed. "Because Raz is..."

"Lord Razziel, Alice," Mikeal quickly stated. "You need to call him by his title, Alice. It's important..."

Alice looked at him with teary eyes. "Lord Razziel is coming over tomorrow so I need to learn what's ok and not ok."

"But you Alice, only have the bad luck of meeting Lord Razziel first."

Smack!

"Do you think I'd expect any less from you before another guest?"

"Nooo!" She gave a small howl and crying hard into his leg. "No it doesn't!"

"What does that tell you about how I expect you to answer around guests, then?"

Smack!

"To behave like a laaaadyyyy!" She wailed. "I'm sorrrry!"

"Good. I'm afraid you're going to be sorry for a while, then, because this is going to be a very long, slow spanking."

Four... Five...

Smack!

Aleksandr was going to take easily twice as long as he would have on this spanking - not just to make Mikeal uncomfortable and Alice remember, but because he knew that he had to - had to - get her to understand how weak her position was. It was the one thing he never did to his fledglings - break them of their illusion of freedom. A baby bird without its wings... well.. what would be the point? He wanted them to fly right, or at the very least, to fly at all - not to keep them caged.

Smack!

Sometimes, a lesson needed to be too hard for the student to learn - if that was the case, well, Aleksandr would simply have to teach it.

Smack!

"Noo," She sobbed at hearing the words 'long' and 'slow'.
Alice cried louder as the sting after sting build up on each other with every fall of the slipper. She couldn't believe how much it really hurt. She kicked, struggled, and every once in a while pleaded with Aleks to let her back up and turn her back to normal or at lest just one of them.

Neither happened.

Mikeal sat silently and watched. He wanted to look the other way or focus on something else but he never did. Only once or twice did he divert his eyes and it was only to refill his glass with a flick of the wrist. Years of living in the Donnal household had taught him to take whatever punishment he was given and so he did.

"AWWWEEE!" Alice sobbed harder, her legs no longer kicking. It wasn't that she was tired, althought her 'new form' didn't have much to begin with, but it was mostly because she was facing the fact that it was useless to do so. "I'm sorry! I-I'll b-be goood!"

"I know."

SMACK!

"Mikeal." Aleks grinned. "Your punishment is almost over, friend. You know I used an archaic version of the aging spell, yes?"

SMACK!

"If not dismissed properly, it lashes back on its caster. You are to reverse her age, now. She'll take the second half of her punishment at the proper age."

SMACK!

If he didn't do it right, they'd be joined by a five year old boy in a few minutes... and when Alice was let off his lap, Aleks would disenchant Mikeal as well...

Mikeal sputtered into his glass at Aleksandr's words. He had just taken another drink when he heard him.

"You do know that I've horrible at these spells right?" He looked worried at him for a moment. "Or perhasps that's the point... very well..."

Mikeal stood and took a deep breath.

"Father's pride, mother love,
Crimes now payed, the spell undone..."

He hoped to god he had said the words right.

Aleks smiled. "Alice... this might be a little easier for you now..."

The blue light began to glimmer on Alice's skin, though the vampire never stopped spanking her - she slowly began to grow - thankfully, no pain wracked her body on the way back... except for the steady pulse of SMACK!s raining down on her, of course...

"It won't be so bad, Mikeal... think of it as a change in perspective."

The blue light raised softly off of Alice's body - the girl was now fully-sized again, and whipped into Mikeal's face with a flash. The man began to shrink.

Alice felt her heart leap with joy being back to her normal size. She did however yelp with every slap of the slipper but she kept her place over his lap.

"Oh dear!" Mikeal manage to say as the spell hit him. Thinking fast he cast two small spells, biting back the pain of his body shrunk, and changed Alice back into her own clothing and shrank his own clothing. He smiled sweetly at Aleks. "For a lady's modesty..."

"Heh. Good man, Mikeal. Glad to see you can take this with some humor - very cute, by the way."

SMACK!

"Back to normal, Alice - still over my knee, though. Maybe you should work on changing that, next, hm?"

SMACK!

Mikeal turned his head to the side and blushed slightly.

"I probably should shouldn't I?" He looked at the pair. "If it please the Lord of this house. I do believe I've been a poor guest in baiting the young lady Alice. I do believe it's fair that her punishment was to end soon and I take her place."

"AWWWE!" Alice yelped. It was odd to both of them, Alice seeing Mikeal standing before her as a small todder dressed in slacks but he speach was still that of an adult, and Mikeal for having to be cranning his neck to look up at not only Aleksandr, but Alice as well. "OUCH! Aleks, please stop!"

Aleks smiled at Mikeal gently. He gave him a joking wink. He'd gone through enough

SMACK!

"No, Alice - you are being punished, after all - and the sooner you stop worrying about the pain, and the sooner you start worrying about the consequences of your actions, the sooner I'll be willing to take you off of my lap."

SMACK!

Mikeal looked appologetic at Alice and held his hand up to show her, he didn't know what else to do.

"I'm sorry Alice," He walked calmly back to his seat and sat down. With a flick of his wrist he called his glass to him but didn't drink it. "I did what I could but he has a point, my dear." He swirled a finger over it so that the alchold was gone leaving only the blood in the glass. "If it makes you feel somewhat better, I've been there more then once..."

"Mikeal you're OW not helping AWE!" She answered and gave a small kick from the pain. "I'm sorry I'll behave I promise!"

SMACK!

"Good. Because your hour isn't up yet, Alice. You still have quite a spanking ahead of you."

SMACK! SMACK!

As frightening a sound as the slipper made, Aleks was being precise - the girl's rear was a rich, warm pink - but she wasn't bruising, and he was working her over slowly enough that she still wasn't showing red - she was sore, and kicking, but she had alot to go. Which was the point.

SMACK!

"AAAWWWWEEE!" Alice cried and tightened her death grip. "An hours? AW! No, please! AH! Aleks please!"

Mikeal took another drink and reajusted his hair. Being five wasn't a fun experience to have, not when you really were an adult both in vampiric and human eyes. Still he knew how bare with it and even if he wanted to turn back to normal, one of the after affects of the spell was that his body wouldn't have the power to do so.

SMACK! ...SMACK! ...SMACK!

The hour passed slowly, predictably, and painfully. Alice's sobs and the slipper's smack filled the room until her bum was a healthy cherry red.

"Remember, Alice - you'll get it worse in front of Razziel."He turned to Mikeal. "You are Released, Mikeal Dornnal." The man (and his clothes) shifted back to normal.

Aleks lowered the slipper, and gave Alice a brisk smack with his hand. "You behave, now, girl. Behave, and know you are loved."

He lifted the girl up, and hugged her tight.

Alice hugged him tightly and cried into his shoulder.

"I will! I will!" She cried as she nodded her head. "I'll be good!"

Mikeal in the mean time reajusted his clothing and waited for Alice to calm down. He smiled fondly at the two, a little jealous over the fact that Razziel never held him after any punishments. When Alice finally came down just sniffling and rubbing her bottom lightly, Mikeal opened his own arms to offer a hug which she happily took.

"Hey, not hard feelings alright Alice?" He higged her gently as she burried her face in his sweater. "We only do this because we love and care for you. You have no idea how lucky you truely are. Friends?"

Alice sniffed for a minute or two before nodding. "Yeah, friends..."

"Good." Aleks smiled. "I'd say you've earned a treat after such a hard punishment, Alice." He put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "What say the three of us go out, and get a bit of dessert before Mikeal leaves us, hm?"

Alice turned and smiled happily at the idea and Mikeal grinned himself.

"That would be a wonderful idea." Mikeal stated with a smile.

"I'd like that..." She answered timidly and then guestured at her gown. "Can I change first?"

"Yes! My, yes- but something... just a little presentable, Alice? None of your sweatpants, if that's alright?" Aleks dismissed Alice to change, smiling, and nodded thankfully to Mikeal. "Want to see if you can manage a teleportation Mikeal? We'll let you pick where we go, hm?"

Alice nodded and hurried off. Mikeal in the mean time smiled kindly at Aleksandr as a nervous look appeared on his face.

"Getting even for her are you now, my Lord?" He laughed softly at the though. He deserved it. "Fair enough. I think I know a nice place that Alice would possibly like." He fell silent for a moment and couldn't stop himself from asking. "She was rather adorable in that little dress wasn't she, admit it." He smiled at the thought. "You know I hope my first fledgling is a girl as well. They seem like such a joy..."

"She was. Yes. ...First fledgling?" Aleks grinned.

"You're making a bid too?" He shook his head, suddenly sobering up. "You'll be good with one, I'm sure - but you'll have to work on... the sense of entertainment you get from it - you can't let Razziel's ways be your ways, Mikeal - I wouldn't back you, if I thought you'd give in... Its hard enough for me - you can't let the power control you, hm?"

Mikeal nodded, sobbering as well before looking at his hand.

"I know... they are so dellicate aren't they?" He looked hard at his hand. "I must admit it frightens me the thought sometimes. becoming cold like him and raising my own young ones the same way as I was... it may have worked in times of war, but no a day..."

"Ready!" Alice stepped back into the room, dressed in a nicely fitting green turtle neck sweater and a pair of black gothic pants held up woth a belt because they were a little bit big. She stopped as she noticed Mikeal's expression. "Something wrong."

"No, it's nothing..." Mikeal forced a smiled before looking at Aleks. "And yes I do plan on making a bid, although I doubt I'll earn myself one yet. after all, I'm not that old yet..."

Alice walked over to Aleks and leaned close. "What's up with him?"

"Nothing, Alice. Just feeling his age - as that spell was made to do." Aleks grinned, and took Alice's hand. "Nice sweater, dear." He looked at Mikeal. "You'll have plenty of time - and you'll need it to prepare." He offered the man an open hand with which he could teleport he and Alice. "Go ahead, Mikeal. Begin the spell."

Mikeal happily took the offered hand and thought hard. He thought for a moment and closed his eyes, mummbling several words under his breath. the next moment they found thenselves a few feet away from ice parlor with a small rollerblade ring nearby.

"I... I know this place..." Alice stared widen eyed at it. "I use to go here..."

"I know..." Mikeal smiled and stepped forward. "Since I got you into trouble at dinner Alice, how about I treat you instead? If it's all right with your Sirer ofcourse..."

Alice turned and looked at the ring with a sparkle in her eye. "Please Aleks, can I?"

"Aye, Mikeal. Take good care of her. ...enjoy your ice cream, Alice."

Aleks smiled, and looked down. Hm. He should have changed before showing up. Looking around to make sure no one was looking, he snapped his fingers, and his clothes changed eras.

"Yeah. Get your ice cream."

Mikeal walked up and held up two fingers.

"One vanilla and one raseberry sobet if you have it..." He turned to Alice who was looking about as if she had never been outside in her life. "Careful Alice. You don't want to make a scene."

"I use to go here after school with friends..." She whispered looking out at the ring. "Bobby from my neighboring class use to pull my hair and trip my with I shated around. Working up until I cut my hair..."

"I can imagine..." Mikeal handed her the raseberry and smiled. "You told me remember? Back of the Red Waters."

Alice blushed, how could she forget the Red Water's bar. He had taken her ther when they first meet. It was a sort of haven for vampires in the area.

"Thanks, Mikeal," She licked the icecream cone quickly and then looked at Aleks. "What about you Aleks? Aren't you getting anything?"

"Hm. Maybe..." Aleks was watching the skaters. He inhaled softly, smelling the flavors in the ice cream shop. "Peanut-butter swirl. Chocolate syrup. Your treat, right Mikeal?"

He wanted to let Alice take her moment -remembering your old life was hard, especially so soon after being turned...

"Right," Mikeal grinned and walked away to get the cone for him.

Alice remained lost in her thoughts. She could remember her friends spending so many hours at the ring, even going there alone when she needed space for herself. She smiled when she saw a small group of girls showing their friend how to skate. The poor thing fell hard every time they let go of her hand.

"You know, that use to be me when I was little..." Alice smiled and licked the cone again. She then thought had about it. "I think... I was here that night too, when I was attacked..."

The memory of being turned was still fuzzy in her mind, probably always would be. few could ever remember what happened.

"Hm. Don't try to think too hard about that night, Alice - you'll just hurt your head... that experience leaves us. It is part of the turning... it is very difficult to recall your own pain." Aleks nodded. "Enjoy your ice cream, Alice. We'll go skating, if you want... I... haven't since I was a boy..." He smiled. "If you want, I mean."

Alice grinned at him and licked her fingers as the ice cream ran down her hand. Mikeal returned and handed the icecream to his elder as they sat down at a table.

"Remonissing are we?" Mikeal asked and recieved a nod.

"Aleks said we might go skating later..." Alice sat down gingerly and smiled. "I doubt he knows how..."

She couldn't help but tease, even just a bit.

Aleks smiled. "You might be right. I didn't get much practice- I'd have to wait until the ponds froze over at home..." He licked his ice cream. "Hm. Thank you, Mikeal."

Delicious.

"...but I'm sure with a little work, I'll be fine on the ice. ...maybe... sort of..." He laughed. "We'll see, hm?"

Alice rolled her eyes at him and smiled. The sobet was melting fast but she was a quick eater when it came to sweets. Sometimes, it was a wonder that she didn't get a brain freeze. In less the two minutes, she had eatten the last bit of the cone.

"Done!" She grinned and rose. "I'll get a set of skates, be back in a sec."

She took off, not even looking back as Mikeal watched her amazed.

"I've never seen anyone eat a treat so quickly and not be in pain..." He contined to eat his own slowly. "How can you keep up with her?"

"I'm not." Aleks gestured to his own cone, which was only about half gone. "She'll just have to be patient with her elders. How about you? Are you going to join us on the ice?"

Mikeal held up his hand and shook his head.

"Me on ice is a dangerous mix, my friend. Remember what happened with Gabby?" He grinned as he remembered the poor girl having to pull him off the ice when he couldn't get up again. "And you may have spoken too soon regaurding Alice. i think she's on the ice already."

Sure enough, Alcie was already a few feet away from the enterance for the ring and slowly remembering how to skate.

Aleks sighed, and took a large bite of his ice cream. "I suppose she'll get a moment to warm up, first, then.

This is really good, you know." Mikeal grinned and nodded. Alice told me about it when we met. She said the place makes it from scratch so it's good quality." He looked and smiled towards Alice again. "She really does enjoy that doesn't she?"

Out on the ice, Alice had started to skate faster around. She was in her element at that moment, the wind in her hair and the crisp bite of the air on her face as she picked up speed. She wasn't the worlds best skater but she wasn't bad at it either. turning, she went about going backwards, not noticing the group of teenaged boys she was going to crash into until she did.

*CRASH!* "YIPE!" Alice managed to cried before hitting the ice. "Sorry..."

Aleks finished his ice cream. "Oh dear." He lowered it.

"Excuse me, Mikeal." With a snap of his fingers, Aleksandr was skate-clad and on the ice. "Alice? Are you alright, dear?" He experimentally slid out to her - vampiric grace... yes, he still had it. He easily slid to a stop, and held a hand out to help her up. "You boys alright? We're sorry about that." He gave them a smile, hoping they'd get the hint and go on skating.

"I'm fineHEY!" Alice started before she turned and glared at the boy she had crashed into. "Watch the hands!"

The boy was a boy that was at lest two years older then Alice in appearance. He smirked at Alice as she rose off the ice, his eyes traveling up and down.

"I'm alright..." He answered. and stood up himself and held out a hand. "I'm Drake by the way, what's your name sweetstuff?"

"None of your buisness!" she stated and started to skate away, pulling Aleks with her. She skated a bit away from them, her face slightly red. "Little jerk cupped a feel..."

She didn't notice that they followed them.

Aleks' eyebrow twitched. He smiled openly at Drake. "...I'm going to give those boys one chance to be gentlemen, Alice." He murmured softly, as they skated. "...then we're going to have a serious problem, and I'll have to ask you not to watch what happens, alright?"

Behind them, the boys were muttering and snickering as they skated.

This was going to be good...

Alice looked at him and a frowned.

"I can take care of them, as long as they doesn't reconise me..." She turned and skated backwards so that she could talk to him face to face. "Drake was in my class years ago. He was a push over then and still is... HEY!"

Without warning, Drake shot past then and grabbed Alice's hand pulling her with him.

"Soo, ready to tell my your name sweetcheeks?" He pulled her close and looped and arm around her waist. "And who's the geeser your with? You're Daddy?"

"You have three seconds to let go, Drake!" Alice growled. She didn't like the way he say 'Daddy' on and no one was allowed to mock Aleks, not if she could help it.

Aleks turned softly on the skates. A whispering smile pursed his lips. "Stop boys... Stop right now..." He barely spoke it.

"Three seconds. One... two... three..." Drake was still holding on. "Is there a problem, Alice? Its been three seconds, dear." He crossed his arms.

He'd let her fight her own battle, but oh... this was making him itch to push back.

No one hurt his fledglings. No one dared harm his little girl.

Alice let out a feral growl that could have matched a wolf's. She pulled Drake close and before the poor boy knew what she was doing, her fist connected with his stomach.

"Don't touch me," She growled and skated slowly away her head held high as Drake gasped for air. She grinned at Aleks. "See? I can handle it."

"That's my girl." Aleks said with a grin. The boys were huddling over their leader, who was pushing them away and cursing. "You just handle yourself the other way, too - know how to keep your fists down - and we'll be fine with our guests, too."

Alice smiled and continued to skate circles around him.

"You're no fun." She whinned and then looked wide eyed at a very pissed off Drake. "Oh dear, someone can't take a hint."

"You little bitch!" Drake skated towards them and Alice backed behind Aleks. "Just wait til I get my hand on you..."

He didn't notice his group didn't follow him.

Aleks smiled. "Are you alright, boy? You're all black and blue..."

Aleks took a step in front of Alice, and grabbed the boy's wrist - he tugged firmly, and the boy spun in a full circle around Aleks before the vampire grabbed him firmly on the shoulders. "Or maybe..." Aleks glared at the boy, eyes flashing, "I'm talking about what you're going to look like in about five seconds, if you don't apologize to my little girl. I'm going to break you in so many different places, that your own mother wouldn't recognize you, and I'll make it look like an accident." The vampire tightened one hand on the boy's shoulder, while carefully dusting him off with the other. "You alright, Drake? You lost control for a minute. You'd better be more careful."

Aleks pushed hard on the brat, exhilarated. It was wonderful, having power.

Stupid brat.

Drake felt his blood run cold in his veins. Something wasn't right.

'This guy... this guy is insane!' He thought. He looked at him as Alice whom stood calmly on her skates looking between her Sire and him. "Wha... what the fuck are you?"

"Think hard Drake," Alice smiled allowing a bit of her own vampire nature to show. It was fun being cruel to someone else. "Mr Peterson dressed up as one every Halloweens we had until it didn't fit anymore..."

"How did you?" Drake scrambled to get away from them as Alice grinned, her fangs showing cleanly at him. His fear was making her react to basic instincts. "Jesus Christ, Harker! No way, you're dead! You..."

Alice skated up to him and lifted him to his feet, grinning.

"... recovered from it," She answered. "Now unless you want him to go threw with his promise..." She pointed at Aleks her eyes flashing gold as she did. "I suggest doing as he says, no?"

"I...I'm sorry..." Drake whimpered and skated, or at lest tried to skate away, from them. He tripped along the way and fell.

"Now that was fun," Alice grinned and spun around. "No?"

"No." Aleks' eyes flickered green, and Alice noticed a green spot in the back of the boy's head as he tripped.

"That was not fun. You're not following the rules, Alice. You do not let others know of our existence - especially if they are people who know you." He gestured to the outside of the rink. "Come on. Lets go. I'm not going to wipe the boy's memory twice."

Alice pouted at him, her 'innerself' still a little in control. It wasn't until Drake's fear completely disappeared that she snapped out of it.

"Oh my god, what was I thinking!" She allowed herself to slow to a stop in her spin. "I... I don't know what came over me. I emember smelling his fear and then... it was like someone else took over my body."

She looked uncomfortable at the thought and skated slowly up to Aleks, taking his hand.

"Your right, we should go before the others figure it out." She took his hand and pulled him with her as she skated towards the the exit. "And I was having such a great time too..."

They passed Drake and his group whom were eyeing her strangely. They had been too far away to over hear the three of them or see Alice's eyes or fangs.

"Dude, what the hell happened?" One boy asked as Alice passed them. "One minute you're about to kcik that chick's ass and the next you're freaking out."

"I.. don't know." Drake said dazed. He couldn't remember why but he knew it wasn't pleasent. "I just... painiced I guess. Her dad's huge! Guy could pobably kick my ass."

Mikeal greeted them at the exit.

"I'm guessing from the look of things it's time to go," He patted Alice as she quickly kicked off the skates. "Sorry Alice. i didn't think you might run into someone you knew..."

"Neither did I," She sighed unhappily, but forced a smile. "We'll just have to try again some other time."

"...and don't let your desire to hunt get the better of you. There's a reason we drink medical blood, Alice - the urge... to harm... is incredible, sometimes." Aleks shivered. "I need to get away from these people. Now." The three walked out of sight, and Aleks brought them back to the manor. "Sorry to cut your visit home short, Alice, but I'd rather not tempt the fates any longer..."

The manor, at least, was peaceful. Aleks felt his blood cooling. "We're going to have to work on resisiting that temptation - both of us - before we go out again. We usually visit vampire circles because they keep us free of those temptations. Prey... Yes. We'll need to work on how you handle prey, dear."

Alice nodded still looking unnerved from it all.

"I understand. Ummm..." she rubbed the back of her neck. "If it's alright with you two, I think I'd rather return for tonight. it's... been a long day."

Mikeal looked between the two and smile sympatheticly at her.

"I don't mind in the lest, since I'm taking a leave soon as well," He pulled Alice into a soft reasuring hug. "Be good Alice, if not for Aleksandr then for yourself..." 'You have no idea how cruel Razziel truely is.'

She looked at Aleks as well.

"Is it okay?" She asked.

"It is fine. In fact, it is a very good idea -we need to get some sleep for tommorrow, anyway."

Aleks extended his hand. "Be well, Mikeal. We'll keep in touch about your Sire - and about that hellhound pup, hm?" They shook, and parted friends.

He put a soft hand on Alice's shoulder. "Ready, dear?"

The two bowed (and curtseyed) to Mikeal, and vanished in a shudder of night.

The rest of the night passed quietly, and the two went to sleep, each excited and anxious for their own reasons. Tomorrow, there would be visitors.

Author's Note:

Finally Mikeal enters. I'm actually very fond of Mikeal because he's a lot like the five brothers I never asked for but got anyways when I was adopted into another family for a year. That might sound a little odd, but it was because just before I started my last year in High School, my parents moved back to Denmark due to my mother's mother's failing health. Since my sister had just started college and I only had half a year til I had earned my diploma, I moved in with some family friends whom I ended up referring to as 'Mom and Dad v. 2.0'. It may sound weird but it meant the world for my other mother because she was afraid I wouldn't like living with them. Never the less, my second family had a habit of 'adopting' other kids, so while they only had one biological and legal son, they were the parents for four other boys, including a pair of twins whom I had dated while I was younger. Even though I was the oldest out of all these guys, I was seen as the little sister because... well... they were a head taller then me at least, but I was the responsible one and our parents never missed a chance to tell the boys that they trusted me with the house more. Even though the boys had a habit of getting into trouble all the time, they were sweet guys and I love them dearly still. They certainly made life interesting.

Now as for the rhyme Mikeal says. If you can guess where it's from, you win a cookie. Not to mention, you're a kid from the 1980's and 90's. Something I should probably say really fast is I'm often colored by what I hear, read, and watch when I'm writing so references are made often without me noticing it. An example of it, is the chapters names. When I started to write these chapters, I was listening to Molly Harpers 'How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf'. It's a silly romance novel, and while I'm not a lot for romances, this was a good book. What I loved the most was the chapter's names.

Also, again I would like to thank everyone who's enjoying this story and thank you for the reviews. I would like to stress again though that this is a co written story, and just as I've written a good deal of it, so has Peeker, but I'll make sure to tell him that you all are enjoying it too.