Hey everyone, sorry for the wait. I'd like to say thank you for your patients. To explain, at the moment I'm still hard at work job hunting as well as finishing my education as a teacher and lucky me, there were some hicups at my school that needed to be sorted. There's also a lot of private stuff that's been going on as well, which I may or may not explain later once I've got it a bit sorted. Just trust me when I say it's something that's been weighing heavily on my mind since I was 21.

Also, the the kind Guest who told me I could do a squeal to to Nightly, there is. Peeker and I are currently working on the third book of Nightly though at the moment I've been busy with school and my muse being... well, lets use the nice term, jerk, so it's currently in hiatus until my muse gets her butt off the couch.

Chapter Twenty

Let the Walls Speak

"I suppose we'll have to invite you back to dance some more soon then, Janus." Alek smiled softly as the boy told his story.

...other than his eyes, he held himself wonderfully - the two of them seemed matched perfectly as they danced... but those cold eyes - Razziel's eyes - it was a blessing that Janus kept them away from Alice - he knew as well as the others did that they were not pleasing to look at.

Mikeal looked at the two as well. Even if the boy was younger the Alice, in ways he appeared older then her and it made them a perfect image together. To Janus, Alice probably seemed like some joyous light that hadn't been tainted by darkness, just as Gabby had been for him.

"I would say you're right, Aleks," Mikeal laughed as he looked at the two. The way Janus' eyes hardened made him nervous. Perhaps Alice would be able to protect him from turning into Razziel as well. "Right, this is the part where normally you two switch partners, but since it's only you two..."

Mikeal smiled at Aleks. "We'll just have you practice the steps. Ready and..."

Alice allowed Janus to gently push her out in a soft spin, her hand stretched out for some imaginary suitor to take. She smiled warmly at Janus as they both bowed their 'fair well's and started to move close to him to continue the lesson.

Suddenly a hand grasped her out stretched one, and Alice found herself stun about with a yelp and pressed up against a hard chest, a hand firmly around her waist. Looking up Alice felt herself pale in horror.

Mikeal looked equally shocked and nearly dropped the violin in his own horror.

"Why thank you, my Lady, I would love this dance." Razziel grinned as he held the petite girl firmly in his hands, her blue eyes wide with innocence and surprise. "Greeting, Mikeal. I trust you are well

"Ma-ma Master Razziel!" Mikeal quickly bowed, feeling uncomfortable already. Anyone whom had lived with Razziel always did. "Yes, I am. i trust you are the same..."

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

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

"Lord Razziel."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*~Nightly~*

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

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

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

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

*~Nightly~*

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

She wanted to know what this was about.

"Use it."

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

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

*~Nightly~*

Aleksandr's voice came through, clear as day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*~Nightly~*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*~Nightly~*

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

"Not if I get him first..."

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

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

"Go where, child?"

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

Author's Note:

Oh dear, poor Alice, she likes to let her temper get the better off her too often.