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The arched and frescoed hallas packed with concerned-looking young men, several of the their cravats A truly startling thing to see They werein obvious trepidation, at a loss but eager to do so

"Gentleh the h about to conduct a concert "Where is the beast?"

"Please, mum, it’s our master"

Alexia paused in perplexity and lowered her parasol slightly Lord Akeldama was a vampire, but no one would ever refer to him as a beast

The dandies continued in a chorus of explanations and objections

"He’s gone and locked hi room"

"With that monster"

"I should never wish to question our lord’s choices, but really!"

"So ill-kempt I’m convinced its fur had split ends"

"Said he could handle it"

"For our own good, he said Not to let anyone in"

"I’ of perfectly tailored jackets and high white collars, as one of those particularly chubby terriersilt door, painted hite and lavender swirls, that led into Lord Akelda room She took a deep breath and knocked loudly with the handle of her parasol

"Lord Akeldama? It’s Lady Maccon May I enter?"

Fro and possibly Lord Akeldama’s voice But no one actually bid her entrance

She knocked again Even under theinto aroom without sufficient provocation

A particularly loud crash was all the response she got

Alexia decided that this could be considered sufficient provocation and slowly turned the knob Parasol at the ready, she waddled in as quick as she could, closing the door fir Lord Akeldama’s orders didn’t aze fell upon quite the tableau

Lady Maccon had witnessed an altercation between a vampire and a olf once before, but it had been inside a e to road Also, back then, the two opponents had genuinely been trying to kill each other This was different

Lord Akeldale co to kill hith bent on the va the wolf off, did not see, his favored weapon, a silver-edged glaive that , was still in its customary place above theies, which only served to frustrate and anger the wolf

The beast lunged for the vaed to the side, flicking out one are handkerchief at a departing steaesture that, for all its casualness, still lifted the olf up and entirely over the vampire’s blond head to land on his back near the fireplace

Alexia had never had the chance to observe Lord Akeldaht before Of course, one knew Lord Akeldaht He was rumored to be quite old, and as such must be at least capable of co, academically, that his chubby calico house cat was capable of hunting rats--the actual execution of the task always see for all concerned Thus, she now found herself quite intrigued by the display before her And soon discovered that she rong in her initial assumption

Far froht with a nonchalant lazy efficiency, as though he had all the time in the world on his side Which Alexia supposed he did His advantage was in speed, eyesight, and dexterity The wolf had strength, smell, and sound to rely on, but he was inexperienced The olf hadn’t an Alpha’s skill, either, which Lord Maccon had once described to his wife as fighting with soul No, this as moon mad His jaws snapped and his claws speared surfaces without regard to logic or expense The va no better than Alexia’s back parlor He was also getting saliva all over the pretty throw cushions

It would have been an entirely unevennot to hurt Biffy

Because that ho it was: Biffy, chocolate brown fur with an oxblood stoeon?"

No one answered her, of course

Biffy charged Lord Akeldama The vampire seemed to flash spontaneously fro the olf to complete his leap with no quarry at the end of it Biffy landed on a gold brocade chair, overturning it so that its legs stuck up, shockingly bare, into the air

The olf noticed Lady Maccon’s presence first His nostrils flared His hairy head swiveled around to cast a yellow-eyed glare in her direction There was none of Biffy’s soft blue gentleness in those eyes, only the need to maim, feast, and kill

Lord Akelda that they had company "Why, Alexia, my little cowslip, how kind of you to call Especially in your present condition"

Alexia played along "Well, I had nothing better to do of an evening, and I did hear you needed help in entertaining an unexpected guest"

The vaave a little chuckle "La so, ht Methinks he could use soood cheer"