Chapter Nine
My Reality, Your Reality... Why Aren't They the Same?
The next day...
"There. You look just fine, Alice. Don't worry." He straightened her up, pulling her hands down from her hair, which she'd fixed over and over in the mirror already. "Look. You're beautiful, dear. Now just relax. We need you to be smiling, too."
Aleks turned his head back towards the front of the manor.
A long, wailing chime filled the air. "Company." He murmured with a smile. With a wiggle of his fingers, the doors opened. "Come. We go, now."
Alice finished straightening up, and nodded. Aleks brought a hand onto her shoulder, and the two teleported to the top of the stairs in the Main Hall, where they'd be greeting their guests.
Aleks and Alice were, of course, a pair - dressed like dolls for the occasion as it demanded - Alice's green dress was complimented by a green ribbon in her hair, and Aleks was dressed in a fine black three-piece suit, accented by a deep green vest that matched Alice's dress.
"My Lord Razziel Dornell." Aleksandr proclaimed as the two proceeded down the stairs. "Welcome, to The House Rastline."
"Lord Aleksandr Marcus Rastline the third," A rich voice replied as Razziel stepped into the room and bowed. "I thank you for welcoming me into your home."
Razziel was a tall man and carried himself as if his back was an iron rob. He was in a fine black three-piece suit, accented by a deep red vest accompanied with a Victorian walking cane in dark wood and white gloves. He had long black hair that was tied back in a pony tail and his cold gray eyes sent a cold chill down Alice's spin.
"And this..." He suddenly turned on Alice making her jump instantly. "... young beauty must be the lovely Alice Harker I've heard some much about."
He took her hand and gave it a kiss, eyes fixed on her. She fought to urge to tear her hand away, but gave a kind bow instead.
"It's a pleasure meeting you Lord Razziel..." She greeted nervously. She moved to pull her hand back but Razziel held onto it. 'Don't panic...stay calm...'
"Such a lovely young lady Aleksandr." Razziel complemented. "And so young as well, why I think she and Janus would make such wonderful friends just as Mikeal and Gabrielle did, no?"
He didn't wait for an answer but turned towards the door.
"Now, may I present my own fledgling, Janus Dornell," He grinned coldly as Alice became more nervous, her hand itching to pull away. "Janus, would you please come and join us?"
"Yes, my Lord."
Janus Dornell stepped forward from behind his Master. His dark brown hair was tied tightly at the neck. He, like Razziel, was dressed in the Victorian style, though not quite as finely - as was fitting a lesser vampire. His suit was of a fine linen, dyed a dusty brown. He wore a waistcoat of black silk, and had a shoestring tie around his neck. His hazel-golden eyes pierced the distance between himself and the pair of strangers in front of him. His powerful gaze cut over Alice as well as Aleksandr before he stepped forward and made a deep bow.
"My Lord Rastline. Lady Harker." Janus kept his body bowed, though he raised his head - that striking gaze still filling his face. "I am honored to be invited into your home. Your hospitality is heartily appreciated."
"...and freely given. You are welcomed, young Master Dornell."
Janus straightened, and took a step back. Aleksandr offered a slight bow to Razziel, and offered his hand in greeting.
"Both of you are. Your travel was without incident, I assume?"
"Indeed but rest can wait," Razziel finally let go of Alice's hand. "I most say, she's a rather fine young woman Aleksandr. I'm still sore that she was given to you rather then myself..."
'Thank God for that!' Alice thought to herself and turned to gave a nervous bow to Janus. "It's nice to meet you, Janus..."
"We are well met then, Lady Alice." Janus gave a court-smile, and another small bow.
She felt a light moment of uneasy fall over her as their eyes met. She had never been sure as to how the boy would turn out, but she certainly hadn't expected the brooding dark eyed young man before her. He seemed so... straight-lanced and cold, as if he was void of any feelings at all. In a way he remembered her of the soldiers she had seen in photos outside Buckingham Palace, and as silly as it seemed she caught herself wondering if he was capable of blinking.
"Perhaps we should get the most important matters out of the way..." Razziel returned his attention to Aleksandr. "... and allow the childrento get acquainted better. I'm sure Janus would like the company of such a pretty flower..."
'Aleks please don't leave me with him,' Alice thought as she kept her eyes fixed on Janus. 'He looks like he's going to eat my soul where I stand...'
'Shush, Alice. You'll get along. Behave, now.' While he didn't visibly showing his disapproval, Aleksandr made sure Alice knew she had no choice in the matter as he gingerly pushed the reluctant girl towards her new 'playmate'.
Janus in the mean time felt his eyebrow twitch. Children. Bah. "My Lord? I thought we-" He stopped - his eyes touched upon Razziel, and he froze. Lowered his head. "My apologies, my lords... I would be delighted to escort Lady Alice."
Aleks gave an understanding nod. "We have much to speak of, young man. I am sure we will not spend all of the night speaking of it now. We will return eventually. Come. I'll escort you as far as my study, and Alice can show you to the sitting room from there." Aleks began walking them up the stairs, letting the young vampire take in Rastline Manor.
Razziel gave a short nod of agreement before looking at Janus hard. Or at least Alice believed it was a look though it felt like a out right glare.
"I disgusted this with you before Janus before we left for Rastline Manor," His voice was cold and threaten. "You will keep Lady Harker company and you willmind what business that concerns only you, is that clear?"
He then followed Aleks towards the study. The moment they were out of sight Alice let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, something which was a bit dangerous for her to do as the corset was already making it difficult for her to breath.
"Dear God, I thought he was going to kill me..." She breathed and then smiled more freely at Janus.
There was a pregnant pause between them, a painful reminder that they neither knew one another well nor did they know how to behaved around one another. It was uncomfortably odd.
"Soo... Janus was it? Come with me, I'll show you the sitting room, Aleks was talking about."
She walked calmly down the hallways looking at the quiet boy.
"So... Janus Dornell? It that you real name or is it a given?" She decided some neutral ground would be best.
"Given. My... Master - he takes away our names when he takes us in. My name isn't Dornell - its Bell. JakeBell... I still have a family - its... I hate it, but, well, I don't have a choice. So my name's Janus. Dornell." Janus sighed, angrily. He glared at the door they were walking away from. "...I really wish I knew what they were doing in there."
The boy had made a total change from how he was in front of his master. He never felt as though he could be himself around the man, and, considering how angry he was, he was pushing more and more of what he considered 'himself' into 'how angry he was'. His eyes were no longer coldly sizing up Alice, but were more expressive now - still sharp, even piercing, but somehow, much easier to look at.
He gave Alice a little smile. "Do you... do you want to know what they're saying?" He gave her a mischievous look. "I can make it so we'll hear what they're saying, if you'd like... I found a spell in one of my Master's books..."
"I know how you feel..." She answered a little sadden by her own thoughts. "My parents use to live around here but they moved away after... well you know..."
Alice then stopped and stared at the boy as if he was mad. She was amazed on how different he was now that Raz was away.
"Are you insane?" She glanced around to check that now on the imps were around. she was dying to know what they were talking about. "We were told to go to the sitting room and entertain ourselves..."
She quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him along and pulled him into a nearby room.
"The walls have ears around here..." she explained and looked at him hard. "This spell, are you sureyou know it? i don't want to get in trouble around here. Aleks was strict enough before you and Raz showed up."
She had no idea that her own life was different from Janus' own.
"Oh yeah, I know it." Janus shrugged. "Its not even your spell, its not like-" He stopped. Yeah right. Like she wouldn't get punished... probably harder than he would be - for him doing something. "No, never mind. I don't want you to get punished. Lets... lets go to that sitting room."
He started to walk, blushing a little. "I just hope that we don't get in trouble for the idea..."
Alice let out a breath she was holding and lead him to the sitting room. Once there she was unsure of what to do she she started some small talk.
"Sooo..." she tapped her foot, her immaturity kicking in. "Tell me about yourself. they could take a while before getting us..."
Janus shrugged, and did what the sitting room suggested he do - he sat. "I'm... seventeen, I think? I was turned when I was fifteen... I've been under my Master for a year-and-a-half, I think."
"Um..." He sighed. "I.. no... I... I don't have a sister anymore... I, um..." Janus shrugged. "I guess, nothing else, really. I'm still a fledgling. Master says that's enough for now." Janus gave a sad smile. "I think he's right. He's taught me Latin, and how to fence, some vampire histories, violin, a little piano, some lesser magics, and, of course, court manners..."
Janus looked up at Alice, having had his eyes down in concentration. "My master says you've been here for two years. What kind of things has your Sire taught you?"
Alice smiled feeling that she was on more even ground with him. Maybe he wasn't so bad, a little cold because of Raz but that was all.
"Aleks' been teaching me history as well. I'm terrible at it," She laughed lightly at the memories of him telling her about his fledgling-hood. "He's been teaching me the piano and some magic although not a lot. My aim sucks worse the Paris Hilton's singing..." She laughed and leaned close. "Don't tell Aleks those. He doesn't want me swearing but I still don't think sucks should count..."
She then leaned back and smiled and thought for a moment.
"Other then that he's been pretty nice about everything. I usually get to wear what I want and during my free time I either study a bit or goof off in my room." She looked at him for a moment. "I did recently learn how to dance. Mikeal helped teach me. Do you know him?"
Janus said nothing for a moment.
Free time? Goofing off? But... How? He looked up at Alice, those bright eyes demanding understanding.
"You... Between your lessons, you-" His gaze suddenly dimmed, as though he understood. "Of course. You've been a fledgling for two years. He... he gives you more time to yourself now, because you've been around so long? That's wonderful. Your Sire is wonderfully generous!"
Remember, Janus. Be polite. Compliment everything. Proper. Be proper.The boy chanted, mentally. He couldn't afford to make mistakes - Master could be listening in, could show up any time.
"Wait. I'm sorry! You asked me a question... Mikeal... Yes. Mikeal Dornell. He was also a fledgling under my master, wasn't he? I have heard of him, but have never met him, no. He is... a powerful man, I imagine?"
Alice blinked looking confused at him. She didn't realize that in her moment of lack of tact, she had hit a nerve. They were both bond to the realities they each knew, believing as all children do that how their home life was was as normal as the next.
"He's okay, a bit of a goof ball at times." She smiled. " i went skating with him and Aleks yesterday after dinner.
It was fun until I ran into some past friends..."
She looked a little odd at him. "What do you mean by 'longer'?"
"Skating?" Janus shook his head. "I cannot wait to reach my second year of training, then! It sounds heavenly. So much freedom..." He looked strangely at Alice, as though realizing something tasted bad, and still needing to finish eating it. "I imagine..." It was hard to say it, but he needed to make sure. "You had a much harder time in your first years, yes?"
Alice blushed and looked to the side. Something felt odd to her, as if he wasn't understanding something.
"Errr... yeah it was-is actually..." She blushed and rubbed her neck a bit. "You wouldn't believe the trouble I still get myself into everyday... I had this horrible problem swearing in the beginning and I'm still working on it and to mention the time I ran off into the town..." She shivered at the memory. "Dumbest ass stunt I ever pulled in my life that's for sure..."
Janus' mouth opened in surprise. He closed it quickly - that was rude! He was suddenly glad Master Razziel wasn't in the room.
"My word. You... you ran away? I... I imagine you were whipped something fierce for that!" Janus shook his head in amazement. So brave - so free, this girl, despite such ...well, willfulness, Janus supposed - to consciously go against her master's will? He gave her an understanding smile. "I remember my first month. I spent more time paying for mistakes than I did making them - Master Razziel was very strict with me until I learned how to... how to act properly in my Master's presence..." The boy blushed, slightly - those sharp eyes seemed brighter, now, with their embarrassment. "Though, I suppose I'm still really mastering how to do that..."
"Whipped? Dear god no! I got the brush though. And an early bedtime for a months time along with a tongue lashing. I could barely sit for three nights straight before I healed. I didn't like the taste of the blood, still don't actually," Alice laughed nervously when she realized that he probably had been. "
Geez he whips yous? Like actually whips you?"
Alice truly was taken aback at this realization. She had assumed that Mikeal had been talking about Razziel the same way he did about everything else, over dramatic. It had just sounded so insane, so surreal that someone could treat another living being so callously that Alice just assumed he had told the story of Razziel's crimes against him the same way little kids would tattle on each other about who started the fight. But now, she wasn't so sure
Alice left her stomach turn a bit.
"Geez, Mikeal wasn't kidding. Raz is hash..."
"Of course he's harsh. Master says a fledgling goes wild without strict care... and I haven't earned the whip since last year. I've gotten the strap, and the cane, of course, but he hasn't actually seen fit to whip me since... Since the time I cursed... Yes... That was a bad night..." Janus blushed a little harder. But that sounds awful - treated like a child? A brush? Bedtime? My word..."
Alice paled visibly.
"Not compared to that it isn't!" She gasped at him. "A whipping... that's brutal, I mean I'm not exactly perfect myself, I'm still learning the basics... I'm mean Jesus fucking Christ, what did you ever do to earn that or a strap or cane?"
Janus looked around the room in shock. "You're really allowed to speak so freely? You mean your Master doesn't monitor what you say?" The boy cringed. "I... I used th- that word... That's what got me the whip..." Janus cringed a little at the memory.
Alice shook her head.
"Technically I'm not suppose to," she answered. "Aleks would kill me if he heard me just know. You wouldn't believe the ordeal I went through yesterday, Mikeal helping didn't make it better..."
There was a light pause between them again before Janus mustered the bravo to ask Alice something that seemed odd to him.
"What do you mean? To get the strap or the cane? I... I suppose I do the same things you do to get the brush... I make a mistake in one of my lessons, or if I don't clean a room properly, or if I ruin a meal... Or argue with my master..." Janus shrugged. "He's in a very good mood today - I thought I was going to get it right there in your hall for questioning him about us listening in!"
She paled even more when he told her of his crimes.
"You get spanked for just that?" She looked horrified. "I mean sure I get a spanking when I sassy Aleks too much but for making a mistake on a lesson? I mean geez, Aleks at lest waits until I start giving him grief about it, and the meals well... I've only gotten in trouble once and that was yesterday. We don't do fine meals often here unless there's company..."
"Oh. So you don't have to cook much? I suppose that would give you more free time." Janus nodded. That made some sense. Be polite. Don't think about how much bett... how... how giving her Master is..."That must be nice. I haven't had the chance to... heh... to just have a hamburger, or something simple, for a year and a half. I can't believe how much I miss peanut butter!" He smiled. "It sounds as though he's keeping you really... ...close, for now. I suppose he'll open up your world... I mean, as far as more adult expectations.. punishments... as you grow under him."
"Cook? Aleks doesn't trust me around fire since I trying to burn one of the imps around here." She leaned in close. "There's one that just loooovesto piss me off first thing in the morning..."
She felt safe talking to Janus like this. Aleks was probably busy talking with Raz, in order to keep a tap on her.
"As for keeping my close, who knows..." She looked to the side and smiled. "I've never actually met any of his past fledglings. I know they write him but I'm never really met them. but we are close. Aleks is pretty fair at times, when he isn't tanning my rear that is. Hey do you want some peanut butter? I'm sure Aleks has some in the kitchen?"
Janus' eyes narrowed. "But we have a meal coming, don't we? I wouldn't want to insult your home's cooking by... by being so rude..." He looked around the room. They hadto be spying on him. He knew it.
Maybe... Janus reached out, using a detection spell. He couldn't feelany magics sitting in the room ready to go off and catch him. He frowned.
"You... you mean it? Really?"
Alice smiled at him.
"It'll just be a snack and Aleks told me to make you happy," She rose and opened the door. "besides those two are probably gonna argue for hours..."
Janus stood, and bowed his head a little. "Why... thank you, Alice." No. He didn't need to talk like this. He was... free, here. He crossed his fingers, and hoped that this wasn't a trick. "Thanks a lot. You're... wow. This' awesome." He laughed. "I haven't been able to relax like this in... in freakin' forever!"
He blushed. Still couldn't really curse - he wanted to, but he kept imagining Razziel was right behind him with that strap...
Alice grinned at him. "It's not a problem, come on I'll lead the way..."
As Alice lead the way threw the maze she could happily call her home, she made sure to never out stride Janus. Aleksandr's home wasn't magical the way Hogwarts seemed to be in the books, but it certainly was bigger then it looked from the outside and even now Alice still had trouble navigating it's many halls to get from point A to point B. Truth be told though, she had a different reason as to why she wanted to go to the kitchen beyond a snack.
Janus had given her a lot to think about. It had been a culture shock for her to hear how different their lives really were compared to one another. Personally she didn't see a huge difference between them, both being subordinate modern day teenagers of the 21 century. If anything, Janus seemed to be better behaved then she had ever been and better skilled at everyday life. The boy could cook after all where Alice seemed to have a talent for setting fire to a boiling pot of water.
Knowing her luck though, it would probably explode and lead to Aleks scolding her for the mess.
Still, to hear think the the only difference between herself and Janus, beyond being a girl, was a year as a fledgling... she couldn't understand how different their lives were. They both lived in the same world of old bossy vampires and 3rd world ideals and yet their realities were as different as night and day.
While Aleksandr did decorate the manor with armors of suits and painted portraits of people she had no idea whom were, the kitchen was anything but dated. The first time Alice had stumbled onto it she had expected to see a hand pump for the water and the dishes to be washed in a trough. Instead, her first thoughts were that she had stepped into an IKEA display room. The walls were unpainted brick walls with a long stainless steal back splash guard behind the stoves to make clean up easier. The appliances were all modern stainless steal as well and the counter and shelves were a warm honey stained wood color making the room feel welcoming with it's gleaming white marble counter tops.
They had been gray marble stone before, 1 year, 4 months, 1 week, and three days ago to be exact, but them Alice had scorched the stone when the flaming imp escaped her hold.
Aleks hadn't been to crushed about it though, having felt it needed to be done maybe a decade ago anythings.
"Now all we have to do is sneak back to the sitting room before Aleks notices anything..." Alice smiled as she took a bit of her sandwich while handing Janus his which he scurffed down with an alarming rate.
"Lets go." Janus said, quickly, not wanting to risk anything.
Meanwhile, in the study, Aleks lowered the glass of wine he'd been nursing for the past twenty minutes.
"Alright. At least I know where you stand, then. I can promise I'll have a fair answer for you before you leave. What say you and I go check on those children before we continue, hm?"
Razziel sat a little stiffly in his seat. He wasn't happy that Aleksandr wouldn't agree with him right away.
"Yes, lets..." He set his own wine aside. "Tell me something this girl of yours, Alice. How is her training going. She seemed so... nervous before..."
He held a cold under tone in his voice, the kind the usually meant it was a statement with a double meaning and one Aleksandr knew all too well. He was digging for some leverage on Aleks, a nasty habit of his that Razziel had always had. In the past it was easier for him to do so, as Aleks wasn't use to his methods, but centuries of knowing one another had lead to Aleks knowing to treat his friendship Razziel the same way one did a dog known to bite.
"Well. It is difficult to handle some fledglings... They aren't eggs you have to break, but statues you have to carve... if you hit the stone too hard, you'll chip off more than you meant to. She requires patience - she is quite full of life. ...just like your boy." He added, deflecting any of the suggested insult from him. "Alice is simply... delicate."
Razziel looked slightly peeved that Aleksandr had avoided his attack.
"Yes, I recall some of the elders say that girls are delicate. Truly, I think they just favor them. Shall we?"
"This way," Alice turned another corner looking back at him. "Wow, I've never seen someone eat peanut butter that fast before..."
It hadn't been a huge sandwich she had made him, but it wasn't tiny either.
Janus shrugged, wiping his mouth one last time. "I don't want to risk a caning, is all." His lips might have been clean, but he certainly wasn't thinking about the scent of peanut butter on his breath...
Aleksandr leisurely brought Razziel down the hall. No need to rush things, after all. "Yes, well, I suppose that is true - but they're favored with good reason."
"Oh and that would be..." He didn't get farther because Alice bumped right into him.
"Umph!"
"SorryOh sssshhii-I didn't see you here Lord Razziel, Alice stiffened and gave an apologetic bow. "Sorry about that..."
Aleks stiffened. "Alice? ...what are you doing out here?"
Janus went white. He closed his eyes, and lowered his head. He was going to pay for this...
Alice however smiled as sweetly as she could. She didn't fear her sire as Janus did, but she wasn't certain where she stood with him in the moment. If it had just been the pair of them, she would blatantly state she had gotten bored and demand to know why he cared. Then again, if it had been just the pair of them he would be demanding to know why she was flaking on her studies AGAINand she would be dressed in sweatpants, not a dress. But they weren't alone and even if Alice wasn't the brightest girl at times, she knew the game rules had changed.
"Just entertain and taking care of our guest, that's all," She turned and looked at Janus. "Right, Janus? Of course, well... we'll just get going and..."
"Why do I smell peanut butter?" Razziel looked about and looked peeved. "I despise that smell..."
Aleksandr's eyes narrowed. "Alice. Explain yourself, please."
Janus said nothing. Did not move, did not flinch, did not look up. He could already feel the beating coming.
Aleks looked Janus up and down. This... this was going to be really hard on Alice, he realized. He had not yet decided what he'd been going to do about misbehaving children in his home... whether he'd allow Razziel to follow his own ways, or not... This was no great thing... but it was going to be made into a huge problem...
"That... would be me, my Lord..." Alice bowed her head. From what she had heard about what Razziel would do to Janus she wasn't going to send him to his marker. "I made a small sandwich a little while ago. Janus had nothing to do with it..."
"It that so?" Razziel rose an eyebrow, he's expression cold and amused. "Interesting, wouldn't you say Aleksandr?"
"Very interesting, Razziel..." Aleksandr crossed his arms, and repeated the phrase he'd spoken in the library a few days ago.
"You're lying. More accurately, you're fibbing. While you were trying to be a good host, you went and made Janus - whose breath stinks of peanut butter-" Janus tensed, face reddening. "-a sandwich. Which is really, fine. I'm happy that you decided to entertain the boy. Well done, dear. I'm not happy that you're lying to me, though, Alice."
'Aleks I don't want him to get in trouble because of me...' She thought looking at the floor. "That would be the case Sire yes. I offered him one since it seemed the right thing to do..."
"So close to a meal?" Razziel demanded looking harshly at Janus. "I must say I'm rather..."
"It was a small one and he felt it was rude to decline when the hostess asked him," Alice stated quickly. It wasn't true, but it wasn't false either.
She knew she had spoken out of turn and she couldn't think of anything else to do.
Now, Janus' eyes opened wide. He bowed his head. "Lord Aleksandr! P-please, sir! I-" He froze, as though listening to something - and stood down. Aleksandr gave Razziel a look, and then turned to Alice. "Apologize for interrupting Lord Razziel, Alice. Come on, both of you - we aren't getting all this sorted out yelling in a hallway." Aleksandr turned for the sitting room, letting all of the others sort out their problems behind him.
"Yes Sire," Alice followed behind the two of them but not without stating one thing before doing so. "I just want you to know, Janus wasn't at fault..."
Razziel turned and looked at the pair.
"Tsk tsk, how children are now a day," he walked in long heavy strides in front of the two fledglings. "Sneaking snack before meals and then lying about it. I must say Janus, I'm disappoint in you. O all things you should know better... Tell Aleksandr how shall we take care of that delicate girl of yours, hmm?"
"She's going to get exactly what I told her she'd get if she misbehaved in my guests' presence. A good long spanking." Aleks frowned. "You wouldn't have been in trouble if you'd simply told the truth, Alice. Really..." He shook his head. "Come on then." He opened the sitting room door, and led them all in.
Janus silently followed the crowd, amazed at how calm Aleksandr was.
"I cannot presume to tell you how to discipline your fledgling, Lord Razziel, but in this house-"
Razziel looked slightly crossed. He was tempted to discipline Janus but at the same time Alice had cornered him. It was true that he had told Janus it was rude to decline an offer from the hostess.
"I think he'll do find to sit and watch how the rules run in this house," He answered as he noticed Alice cover her backside. "A little humiliation always seems to do wonders on wayward souls..."
"Aleks?" Alice turned and looked pleadingly at Aleks' back. "Please, not in front of them. I'm sorry for fibbing..."
"Silence, Alice. I told you this was coming, and if you think for a minute I'm going to go easy on you because we have guests, you have another thing coming. I'm glad you're sorry, but you're about to be much sorrier..."
The man sat down in a chair, and pulled Alice over his knee. He'd might as well get Janus in on this as well. In for a penny, in for a pound, and all that...
"Young Janus?"
"Yes, Lord Rastline?"
"You will find a wooden paddle in that drawer. Bring it here." Aleksandr pointed to a table, which Janus fairly raced over to. He returned with a stocky wooden paddle.
"Here, Lord."
"Thank you, Janus. Now stand with your master, and watch as he bid."
"Yes, Lord."
Aleksandr bared Alice's bottom slowly, letting her squirm and embarrass herself by protesting. He raised the paddle. "I'm disappointed in you, Alice. You were doing wonderfully - even offering our guest a kindness. But you lied. Again."
SMACK!
"But I AWWEEE!" She strained against his hold, the sheer shock of being paddle cause tears to appear in her eyes instantly. 'Aleks please! I just didn't want him in trouble! He told me Raz whips him!'
Razziel in the mean time places a heavy hand on Janus shoulder.
"Play closely attention Janus. It's thanks to her quick tongue you're not at the receiving end of a cane..." He squeezed his shoulder painfully as if to prove a point.
Janus closed his eyes tight, fighting back a tear, before Razziel's tight squeeze of his shoulder forced his eyes open. "Y...Yes, m'lord..."
"...yes. While you get paddled. I am proud of you for caring about your new friend - but you can tell the truth to do that. Now be quiet, and take your paddling like a big girl."
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! Aleks was moving far quicker than he had during last night's slippering, but swung just as hard - Alice was going to be taught a hard, fast lesson, here - hard enough to teach her what for as well as impress his ways upon Janus and Razziel.
Alice hissed out her pain trying hard not to kick. It was bad enough Janus was seeing her get spanked, but the fact he could see her bottom made it worse.
"Aw!Aw!AWE!" She tapped her feet against the ground and tightened a hold onto his leg.
"I'm glade to see that you can get to the bottom of this with your fledgling Lord Aleksandr," Razziel took a seat ensuring himself the Janus would remain standing. "So few elders now a day dare to do so."
He was mocking Alice for the sake of making things worse trying to bait her.
'Shut up!' Alice thought to her self as she bite her lip, to keep from reacting.
"The old ways are sometimes the best ways, Razziel." Aleksandr admitted "Where a child can take her punishment with sorrow-" SMACK "-and dignity."
"Do not insult our guest, Alice - not even in your thoughts... You will take your punishment as you must, and, as always, you will be forgiven afterward."
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
Janus watched, wide-eyed. ...not just out of fear - also, of course, there was a girl his age getting paddled on the bare! That... well, that was something to see!
"AWE! I'm sorry!" Alice yelped and bite her lip trying to keep what dignity she could with her. "OWWWWIEEEE!"
Razziel watched calmly in his seat. there was always something about punishing young girl that he fond interesting. It wasn't sexual, but he did like the idea of power over them.
"If your arm grows tried Aleksandr, I'd be more then happy to help you out and finish the young girl for you..." He smiled calmly.
'Aleks please don't let him!' Alice turned her head mortified by the thought. "AWE!"
"No, Razziel. As long as she is under my roof, I plan on taking care of all the discipline she needs..." He gave the look he would have given Razziel to Alice's back, instead.
"…very well." Razziel looked disappointed.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"Young Master Janus - understand that you are not immune to my wrath. You may find yourself put over my knee just as easily as Alice, if you push me. Is that understood, young man?"
Janus grimaced. "Y-yes, my Lord."
"Good." SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"AWWWWWWEE!" Alice arched her back hard as her rear started to redden. 'Thank Aleks..' "OOOOOOOWWWW!"
"I'm glad it sounds as though you're learning your lesson, Alice. I'd hate for you to be taking all this paddling, and not get anything out of it." SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
Janus was watching, wide-eyed. There was something protective about the man's discipline – it wasn't full of cruel barbs and insults – it was gentler, somehow… Janus once again wondered at how different his life was from Alice's.
Alice curled her toes and cried out.
"AAAWWWWW!" She didn't care that Janus was there anymore, just the the pain would stop. "I'm sorry! Aleks, please!"
Razziel looked distasteful at them. He felt that Aleksandr was being soft somehow to the girl but passed it off with that it was she was a girl. It made him jealous in a way. Young vampiresses were few, no that there were many boys either, but the girls were only given to the most honored elders in the ring.
He knew that Aleksandr was more lose in his teachings but it still please him to see that he wasn't afraid to use a firm hand, or in this case a paddle. He glanced at Janus noting the boys discomfort along with something else that he couldn't place.
"She seems be be straining a lot in your hold Aleksandr..." He studied the handle of his cane. He always carried it as a threat towards Janus to keep him on good behavior. "Is this the first time she's receiving that?"
He pointed towards the paddle.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"Why don't you tell him, Alice? How many times have you felt this paddle, hm? We certainly haven't been in the sitting room for a good while - I'll bet you can even count how many times you've been paddled.
Ten.Aleks thought. ...and if she got it right, he'd tell her - and then ten would be the magic number. Ten more smacks, and he'd call her well-spanked. It had been a well-intentioned fib: its just the fib part that bothered him!
SMACK! SMACK!
Janus stood there, uncomfortably. She was... crying... She looked so sad. He felt sick! Even so, he remained stoic, not showing any pain. He was the lucky one, after all.
Alice thought feverishly as she keep crying harder and harder. She knew there was the first three nights from when she had fought him, the time she tried to trash his study because she was angry, then the the time she ran away...
"Ten!" She yelped out in a chocked voice. "This it the tenth time! AWWWEEE!"
Razziel sneered coldly at her and twirled the cane in his hand.
"Now here is a true difference between young ladies Janus and you gents," He lectured as if the sitting room was a classroom. "She hasn't been at the receiving end as many times as you, although she doesn't handle it was well." He then grinned cruelly at his fledgling. "Then again practice makes perfect, right Janus?"
"Yes, Lord!" Janus admitted, face bright with embarrassment. He was to agree, and to affirm, when asked a question before company. "I-"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"-have much more experience handling-"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"-my punishments, my Lord!"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"...and that's ten, Alice. You've been punished enough. Fib again while our guests are here, and you'll go over my knee twice as long." Aleks gently lifted the girl off his knee, letting her skirts lower, preserving some modesty, and held her close.
Janus felt his heart twist, but said nothing. Only watched.
Alice wrapped her arms around Aleks neck and cried into her shoulder. She rubbed her bottom through her skirt, wincing at the course feeling for the inner fabric that gave the gown it's form.
"I-I'm sorrry!" She sobbed and took what comfort he offered. "I won't I promise!"
Razziel sat silently looking at the two of them oddly. Holding and comforting after a punishment seemed odd for him, and his expression was probably no different then one people would get watching two slugs mate. After all, one shouldn't reward negative attention and forgiveness was something he did not give easily. He snapped out of his thoughts when he found Alice standing in front of him with Aleksandr behind her. "Yes, my dear?"
"I'm sorry for interrupting you before..." Alice bite back several sniffles. The way he looked at her was unpleasant and she was having a hard time looking at Janus. "It won't happen again Lord Razziel..."
He stared at her for a good five minutes before lightly brushing her off. "I suppose the young are willful. My Lord Aleksandr, might I suggest that we continue on to dinner. I'm sure this young lady would enjoy a glass of blood after her ordeal."
Aleksandr left a comforting hand on Alice's shoulder, but his face immediately changed from comforting parent to that of pleasant host. "I'm sure my imps have had enough time to finish preparing. Dinner sounds like a wonderful idea."
Janus and Alice fell into line behind their masters as Aleksandr led them to dinner - Janus wanted to give Alice a sympathetic look, but kept his eyes down, watching his master's feet rise and fall in front of him, downcast.
~* Author's note *~
Kira: Wow, holy hell folks, sorry for not posting in a while. RL, real life for those unfamiliar with the term, has been a bit insane for the last few months. To sum it all up, my older sister just got married the 23rd of June (yay for her and the awesome groom) and leading up to all this, I've had to plan a bacheloret party for her which consisted of enough drama worth of a Bridezilla episode minus that the bride was no zilla. I've been working days and nights so I'm slightly REM depraved, I'm bird sat for my family, my grandparents sold their house and are in the process of moving, and last but not last, my dick of a landlord has allowed a meter long rip in my apartment ceiling to grow since winter which is letting in rain.
So if anyone out there plans to move to Denmark know this: Teddy Thomsen is a ****ing crock.
I so need to move...
On another note, Peeker has said that he wants to edit the chapters a bit too and as soon as he has time I'll repost the chapters but until then, I'm too impatience and I'm thinking so are you guys.
And now... onto story facts:
Janus Dornell aka Jake Bell : Peeker's wonderful character whom I have the pleasure of being a bitch towards. Something he doesn't make easy unless it's Razziel because... well... he's a dick. Teh reason why we gave Janus two names, though Jake will rarely be used was because Peeker couldn't pick one for hem, having fallen in love with both. So, being the pedagogi that I am, I told him'Why not make Razziel more of a jerk and have him take away Janus' real name´'. To me, it's sort of like how cults work in giving members new names so that they are cut off from their families even more and lose their identity even more.
Razziel - The name doesn't mean anything, but I sort of feel in love with it during the time I wrote Harry Potter and the Dark Order, a story I may or may not rewrite as the writing style is from my younger years (Wow, way to sound old). The difference in the pair though is Razziel in Harry Potter is more like werewolf version of Mikeal where Razziel is our semi-villain. I would like to point out, Razziel's suppose to come off as extremely cruel and that is because the story is told from Alice's point of view in third person. Just as Harry sees Snape as a villain in the start of the series. I hope that made sense.
About Razziel. Razziel is not good with anyone under the age of fourty. He's suppose to be cruel and he's a strong believer that humiliation humbles the mind and heart towards one's betters. He's also a sadist to a mild degree but he's not sexually aroused by it. Personally, the idea of him having a sexually relationship with anything at all if as foreign to me as the idea of the Pope suddenly declaring he'd rather run a brothal. None the less everyone please keep in mind whenever Razziel is around things are never pleasant.
Alice's parents – Alice is mistaken as to where her parents are but assumes that she's living in the same state as them. Vampire's keep their home's locations secret out of both habit and tradition as it was to keep them safe as well as help isolate their fledglings until a strong enough bond has formed between them or they at least knew the fledgling's give away sighs for if they are going to run.
And last but not least, thanks for the reviews guys. I'm glade you enjoy the story. Some of you might have noticed a few reviews got deleted, mainly because I will not respect cowardly flames where people will put not name or reason to them and personally, I have an inkling it's the same peson that tried to rip off mine an Peekers RP to the point where they copied my first post word for word including the same spelling errors. Also, if you don't like the story, why did you then read it all the way to the lastest chapter? I thinks person no have many logic skills like parrot. To the rest of you though, thank you and hope to post again soon.