Chapter 3 - Attitudes

Last I remember was being pleasantly exhausted, stretched out on the bed then Wham! I'm being hauled out of the bed by my ankles. Needless to say I am a bit disorientated and startled. When I come fully awake I find myself stand with my hand about Johnny's throat, not tight enough to leave marks mind you. When I glanced down, I realized he was also several inches off the ground. I had to be using TK to do that.

"Shit! You alright?" I asked as I set him back on his feet.

He just chuckled as he reached up to rub his neck. "I'm fine. I shouldn't have done that is the first place, but you weren't getting up so I had to do something."

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I run my hands through my hair and glance up at Johnny. "Why did you wake me?"

"Your tutor is here," he said calmly.

"What?!" I yelped leaping up again, making a bee line to the cloths rack. "what time is it? You didn't let me oversleep did you? Shit damn Fuck!" Grabbing some clean cloths and tossing them onto the bed before I started to pull off what I was currently wearing.

"You don't need to change." Johnny started to say.

"Excuse me, I've been in these since last night, I've slept in them twice. I think I do need to change. What? What are you laughing at Johnnathan?" I growl at him.

"You. You did it again." He was chuckling

"Did what again?" I asked

"Look in the mirror." He replied with a snicker, pointing to the large mirror standing in the corner, the Cheval glass.

I did. I had shifted into my crinos form, an anthropomorphic version of a hybrid cross dragon (wings & a tail - Easter/Western fusion no less) and a black panther (with white gold Egyptian style facial markings). A form that was shedding no less, evident by the patches of grayish black skin showing. I groaned and had to shifted back to my normal self, leaving tufts of black fur laying around on the floor. "Damn it. I just cleaned up in here too." At least I managed to get my pants on finally.

"I'll take care of it. Don't worry." He said as he picked up the shirt and handed it to me.

"Don't worry? Oh heave fore fend, why ever should I worry," I replied sarcastically as I took the shirt and put it on, tucking it into my jeans. I wasn't even bothering with any shoes since as far as I knew, I was staying inside.

"Chinese for dinner?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah, that will be fine." I said as I walked over and picked up my backpack, After settling the strap over my shoulder I grabbed a brush and a hair tie as I was leaving the room. Might as well get this over with. Padding down the stairs, I went through a checklist of what I had verses what I might need.

When I reached the second floor I paused in the doorway and studied the person that was to be my tutor. I knew a lot more about him then the average person. Not only was he covered in blue fur, but he had an amazing agility as well as strength to match that agility. I also knew that his fighting prowess was greater then mine. Though I could probably hold him off with my TK ability, he would more then likely be able to figure a way out or around it. At the moment he was browsing though the selection of books that filled the shelves.

We had a large selection of fantasy and science fiction, read mostly by all of us. A few romance novels belonged to LiAnna. Some mystery for RoKasha and fiction for Bret. Books on horticulture and medical tended to be left alone by everyone but Orion, Gene and myself. While Orion went with one and Gene went with the other, I mixed the two subjects.

Oh shit. He has found the one selection of books that are locked away behind glass doors. Those books were from Father's library. Most were original first editions, but quite a few were also his writings and not all from his time prior to becoming Mr. Sinister either. (There is even one on our own creation). Books we had managed to take with us when we left, though a few were more recent additions thanks to Johnny. I never ask where he gets them or even how he gets them.

"Quite an interesting selection of books you have here Mr. Essex," Dr. McCoy looked up at me as he said it, then paused. "No. Perhaps not. You clearly are not he." His blue eyes looking over the rim of the glasses that were perched on the end of his nose.

I hated when people did that. Look at me as if examining some form of creature. "No. I'm not," I replied with a very audible tone of defensiveness. My tail was twitching back and forth like an angry cat's as I stiffened.

After several passing moment's of tense silence between us, he smiled apologetically. "My apologies, I did not intend to offend you within the first minutes of meeting."

"What? You meant to do it at a later time?" I asked sarcastically as I walked over to the table. Pulling a chair out, then spinning it about so that I could sit a little more comfortably. Dropping the backpack, I unzipped it, pulled out my note books and dropped them onto the table.

"Johnnathan, quite antagonizing your guest." A smooth voice said from the doorway. It was Orion. He frowned ever so slightly at me before bring the tray of tea and pastries to the table. ~Your being an ass.~

"What? He started it," I shot back, making a gesture towards Dr. McCoy, who was taking everything in with an interest. "Besides this was NOT my idea," gesturing to the notebooks and other things on the table. ::Bite me.::

"I very much doubt that," Orion commented as he started to leave. Pausing in the doorway, he glanced over his shoulder at me. "Will you be awake when I return this evening?"

I just shrug. "Maybe, maybe not." ::Why?::

~The Midnight Sun Roses are suppose to bloom. I thought you might like to see the product of your handy work.~ He nodded once then vanished around the door frame.

"Conversing silently with your companion via the metaphysical phone line?" McCoy asked as he approached the table. Pulling a chair back he settled into it lightly as he removed his glasses and set them on the table, on top of the books he had set out earlier.

"Why, planning on charging me by the minute for it? Or do you plan on trying to sell me some type of Friends and family plan." I snarked back at him as I glared.

"Not at all. You simply presented the appearance of a man distracted by something. May I enquire?" he replied, not phased at all by my attitude. "Do you know you bear a most remarkable resemblance to Dr. Essex when you do that?" he pointed out. "Quite uncanny."

That hurt. More then I care to admit to. Standing I flared my wings out before wrapping them about me. "Oh how gods be damned, bloody fucking well I know. I see it in the mirror every day of my existence. Thank you for pointing it out and reminding me of that fact today," and with that I stormed out of the room in a huff. ~Exit stage left.~

"One can choose one's friend, young Johnnathan. One cannot, however, choose one's family."

(Victoria's POV)

I had just finished getting ready for work when I heard and felt Drac storm past, heading upstairs. Shit. He's going to be sulking unless someone calm's him down. Might as well see what caused it so that it can be undone. Heading down stairs I looked into the study. Sure enough, there was the problem.

"What'cha do ta tick of the vampy, blue boy?" I growled at the furry fellow sitting at the table.

Dr. McCoy took one look at me and his eyes got really big a moment. He tensed up, readying himself for a fight

Oops, heh heh heh. I forget most ain't use to seeing me done up for work, well other then the normal club goers and such. Baggy black and gray camo pants, combat boots, a skintight black shirt with the words "Bitchy Kitty" in white across the front and spiked black leather collar and wrist bands. And of course my hair was a wild, untamed mass tumbling down my back. Yep, I'm Daddy's little girl when it comes to looks.

"Well, spit it out. I ain't got all damned day."

"I merely mentioned that he bears an astounding resemblance to Dr. Essex," he replied back, still waiting to be attacked it seemed.

"Oh, good going Blue boy," sticking my head out of the door I yell down the stairs. "Someone come and keep an eye on this fellow. Drac's in a snit." Turning back around I point a taloned finger at him. "Stay put." With that I head up stairs.

I had good enough hearing that before I even reached Drac's floor I could hear things being thrown about and smashed. Oh great, he's really in a snit. By the time I reach his room it's quiet. Too quiet. Easing the door open I look in.

The place looks like it was hit by a tornado. And in the middle of the room a dark haired, demon winged, little cherub with big expressive blue eyes standing in the middle of the trashed room, sniffling and wiping his nose on his arm, the other hanging by his side as blood slowly trickled down his hand and fingers from the nasty gash on his arm

"Oh Johnnathan" I said with a sigh. "Come here luv." Kneeling down, I held my arms open. That was all it took. He was in them in an instant bawling his heart out.