Welcome back, my lovely reader!
As you can probably tell, this is not just a story of sex and love. No there is plenty of drama and action to come. Being what she is, Alice's life is quite dangerous after all and she can't always flirt her way out of problems.
Our bunny has a lot going on in her she shouldn't, but if she has the newfound powers, she might as well put them to use and make them her own, yes? What of those she's been pooling from though, are they growing weaker because of it?
Let's jump right in!
—♥—
Episode 9:
You both are so good to me
I stubbornly insisted upon a garden walk, despite the weather. You being a diligent pet, stubbornly insisted upon accompanying me. I walked through the graveled paths, hearing the wet crunching under my feet while you move next to me, eagerly holding the large parasol for the two of us as we walk.
"Are you sufficiently bundled up, my pet? I do not wish to cut my sojourn short, on account of you setting up a chill again." I spoke the words sternly at you while we walked, I didn't want you to overexert yourself after having been fed upon so recently.
I noded at your words and continued to walk, listening to the rain fall all around us. Naturally, if you did fall ill, I would whisk you home in a rapid flight. I had no intention of forcing my pet to stay with me and set up cold.
We made our way by the pond and along the twisting walkway. I felt a shiver come from you and rolled my eyes, deviating my path towards the gazebo at the center of the garden. The small building had a fire pit within, that I laid some kindling and a few nearby fire logs into.
You took a seat on the bench after folding the parasol and putting it away. I felt myself give a frustrated sigh, finding nothing to start the fire with. "I must have words with the servants about this..." I frowned and shook my head.
Giving you a smile, I lift my ears in realization. "I suppose it's time for you to see one of your Mistress's tricks." I grinned as you sat up more attentively at the words. I made a spectacle of it for you as I flourished my right hand, then brought my forefinger to my right canine, to make a deep prick upon it.
With a bit of my own blood rolling from the corner of my mouth, I smiled upon you, seeing you flinch at the painful display. I cut my hand in an arc through the air, letting several drops of blood fling from my fingertip and spatter upon the waiting kindling. I licked the wound to seal it then wiped my mouth before focusing my will.
The thaumaturgic energies in my own blood warmed and responded to the droplets I had laid. Each of the drops erupted into small gouts of white-hot fire. The heat was felt in a quick radiant burst and rapidly consumed the tinder. I give a contented smile and folded my arms once the fire took, beginning to spread upon the logs.
Your look of disbelief was to be expected and I gave you a gentle smile. It was a trivial thing that most fledgling thaumaturgists could accomplish, but seeing your excitement brought pride to my chest. "Bask in the fire a while my sweet, warm yourself before we venture back out into the rain."
I moved and sat beside you, placing my hands in my lap, giving a nod to your question. "Yes, I did learn that from her." I gave a knowing grin, not allowing you to ask before I spoke again, "Yes, I shall regale you of it and perhaps a little more..."
—♥—
I said my goodbyes to Lord Val, we took longer than we should have to say them. He promised to come to call again as soon as he could. I likewise told him I would come to visit house Lakestone at my earliest ability to do so. My heart ached a little to part with him, but I sent him off with a smile.
A few nights passed and Katrina continued my basic education of things when I was not derailing us to partake of her. I had reawoken quite a lot of vigor from her and Elias and they were more than happy to return my adorations.
The evening that marked a week since Val's departure, I was summoned to my lord's chambers. I was told by the servant it was a formal summons and he had instructed them to make that clearly evident to me.
Upon arriving I was greeted by Katrina at his door. She gave me a smile and held it for me. I strode in and the black cat came in behind me, shutting the door with a loud click. The white fox sat at his desk, fingers forming a peak as he looked between the two of us. It was odd to share a bed with this fox, but having to be so formal at certain times. Nonetheless, I made a polite bow to him. "You summoned for me, my Master?"
He gave me a gentle smile and leaned back in his chair, putting his hands to his lap. "I did, Alice. I wanted to give you a week to recover from your lessons with Val. Now, I think it is time we continue with some of your more, hands-on education."
I gave him a nod and looked at Katrina before back to him. "What would you ask of me?"
The fox stood and moved to his window, looking out into the blackness of the night. "You have brought me and your sister, even Val, a bit of light these days."
I smiled, feeling pride fill my chest at his words. "I just return in a small amount, what the three of you have bestowed upon me. Truly my lord..."
He smiled at me, but it belied a sadness to it. "I know, my Lady. That is why we need to begin with this sooner than later."
"What is it, Master?" I frowned, feeling his tension. My ears wobbled curiously and I felt my tail flick in nervous twitches.
"Explain to her," Elias spoke out in an authoritative tone to Katrina.
"Going forward, you and I are to begin your lessons on thaumaturgy, my love."
"Oh... y-you mean that cool thing you do with your blood?" I tilted my head and clenched my fists, grinning at her excitedly.
"Please maintain your composure my sister, this is court business and we must treat it as such." Katrina frowned upon me, folding her arms. The look in her eyes said she didn't like keeping it formal either.
"Furthermore..." Elias called out over his shoulder to me. "I will begin instructing you in the use of my radiant flames."
I nodded quickly and tried to compose my eagerness. "Y-yes my master!"
"Alice..." Elias spoke to me through clenched teeth, giving me an apologetic look. "You need to understand a few things before we begin..."
I frowned and nodded. "Yes sir... what is it?"
He sighed and turned to face me, looking me square in the eyes. "This will be official business of the family. You are to take it seriously."
"Of course, my lord! I will do my best to bring you and my family honor!" I spoke the words energetically, flicking my tail as I grinned.
"No derailing the training." He spoke out pointedly.
My ears drooped and I nodded at him. "Y-yes sire..."
"I mean it, my Lady. When you train with I or Katrina, you will be working with truly dangerous powers. You put your desire and urges for us aside. Am I clear?" His words came out barked and authoritative.
I gave a quick nod of my head and frowned. "Of course my lord. Whatever your will, I shall do my utmost to enact it."
"Good girl..." His voice softened and I felt his hand upon my head, stroking my hair gently. I gave a relieved sigh and closed my eyes, basking in his adoration.
"Alice..." Katrina spoke out gently to me.
I blinked open my eyes, looking upon my lover and smiling. "Yes, my Lady?"
She smiled then frowned again. "You need to understand, even with your new-found power. There are forces at play that could easily threaten you or any of us."
The black cat crossed her hands behind her back and paced about as she spoke. "Hunters that would end us in their righteous indignation. Demons and celestials who would steal our power, or strike us down, for being creatures of the darkness."
"C-celestials?" I tilted my head curiously.
"Divine being's my Lady. We may not all be evil in nature, but we have a reputation. In times past our kind were ravenous monsters that mindlessly killed to sate our thirst." Elias spoke the words solemnly towards me.
"W-well... can't we just explain ourselves to them? I mean... times have changed. You've shown we can get by just fine without slaughtering and killing. Even Val and his kind don't have to kill for what they want now." I frowned and looked between the two of them, their gazes looking upon me as if I were a daydreaming child.
"A hunter or celestial would sooner burn you to ash than speak to you. Don't even get me started on the church." Katrina rolled her eyes, a sneer in her voice.
"Then there is the matter of others of our nature as well," Elias spoke as he moved back to the window sill. "Some give in to the hunger, they feed and kill without discrimination. They truly become mindless animals. That is what the hunger will do to us. You give in a little and it always takes a little piece of you with it, when it retreats. Eventually, you lose all control and cease to be but a true monster."
I frowned and looked away, feeling the bleakness of the conversation weigh heavy upon me. "I see..."
"Were-creatures too," Katrina speaks up.
"What? But... Alex is one of us." I retorted, frowning at the cat.
Elias shook his head. "We have an alliance with his clan. They are one of several dozen though. Rest assured most lycanthropes highly respect nature. They look upon us very much like celestials do. We are abominations against the natural order of things. They would rip us apart without hesitation."
