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WARNING: This is the beginning of a series of stories that explore the darker side of human nature and will have very graphic and long lasting damaging effects on the two rabbits in question. There are what is known as 'triggers' in the following chapters that may cause sever emotional reactions in the reader. If you are prone to these kinds of reactions you may want to forgo this series entirely as in this second chapter we start to see some of the things our young protagonists are facing in their new home. If you choose to read this series after the warnings the writer takes no responsibility for any ill effects that may come of it. You have been warned!

A pretty mouse waited on the other side of Lyris' door when she opened it to the discrete tapping sound. "The Mistress will see you now miss." She barely spoke above a whisper but the bunny's long sensitive ears had no trouble hearing her.

She took one last look in the full length mirror beside the door then pulled her shoulders up and raised her head. "Alright, I'm ready." A dozen steps later she was pushing Lyal's door open herself and called out, "It's time Ly-bunny, lets go meet our new mother."

Her brother stood in front of the full length mirror contemplating his visage. "Maybe I should get my hair cut..." He voiced the concern he'd had for several years now, ever since he'd decided that he liked his long curls.

Lyss' heart melted and she enfolded him in her arms kissing his cheek. "Oh Ly, you know you love your hair. Besides anyone can see you're far more handsome than pretty." She turned to face the mirror as well taking the time to point out the small differences in the way they looked. "See you have stronger shoulders and a better defined chest. Not to mention those slender lips. Mine look like that Angelina Jolie, all pouty and full." She pulled a face exaggerating the fullness of her lips and widening her eyes. It had the desired effect making her brother snort then laugh softly at her. Satisfied that she'd jollied him out of his foul mood she slipped her hand into his and squeezed gently. "Come on; let's get the hard part over with."

The mouse, whose name was apparently Claudette, lead them back down the long hallway and through a door opposite the double doors from the main hall. They went down a short flight of stairs and around a corner to the right, feeling hopelessly lost, before being escorted into a large dining hall.

This room too was large and opulent, with a twenty foot long table taking pride of position right in the center, surrounded by matching straight backed chairs. There were paintings on the dark red walls, and little side tables that held presumably empty serving dishes, all in the same elegant white china with a black border and gold trim on the edges, a pattern they were later to learn was called Renaissance.

All this was peripheral, located at the far end of the long table, seated in a high backed chair that seemed like a throne was a regal looking pale tan colored wolf bitch. She wore a severe cut black dress that covered her from neck to wrists. Impatiently she motioned them to come closer as the mouse silently left closing the door behind her.

"My husband does not see fit to tell me why he does everything he does, he simply hands me problems and expects me to deal with them. I was told to expect twin girls. I see that someone made a mistake. I will be calling the house you came from in the morning to sort this out, however for the time being you will be staying in the rooms that Frederick has shown you.

Her abrupt speech caught the two off guard; they'd been expecting something more warm and heartfelt and were getting crisp and emotionless. "Regardless there are certain rules that I expect you to follow while you remain under this roof. You will address myself as Mother and Mr. Redclaw as Father at all times, never mommy or mom, daddy or dad and only ever with respect, as we are paying for your upkeep from this point forward. Meal times will be strictly observed unless you are ill, breakfast is at 7 am, lunch at noon and dinner at 6 pm, if you are late for any reason other than illness you will be excused without being fed.

With hardly a pause to look at them she continued. "When school starts in the fall you will be required to maintain a B average, and your position on the honor roll regardless of other obligations that you acquire. On that note, you will be required to enter into at least one extracurricular activity, I was going to suggest cheerleading, which will do for Lyris, but I think football is out of the question for such a small boy so you'll have to choose something appropriate from what the school offers.

"While it is currently summer you will still be required to attend classes in etiquette, comportment, diplomacy and style, they will be taught by members of the staff here and held in a room separate from your bedrooms, that has been converted into a classroom. Every Friday I will examine you myself to see how quickly you are progressing through the material and hopefully retaining it. We have a reputation to maintain and as you are now a part of the household you will be required to live up to the standards of that reputation. Do I make myself clear?" The way she looked down her muzzle at them coupled with the overload of information made them both tremble in their shoes.

Lyal recovered first, nodding in response to her question. "Yes Ma'am." His fingers tightened in his sisters and he pulled just enough to get her to echo him.

"Yes Ma'am," Lyris' voice was subdued; she was in awe of this lady, this wolf who had so much composure and could make her feel so... insignificant with just a glance.

"Mother," the lady snapped, "Yes Mother, not Ma'am. I'm not some serving wench at a bar. You really must learn to listen better to instructions." She picked up two cards from the table top where they had gone unnoticed until now. "Here, these cards have a list of the rules so that you can memorize them. You've missed dinner tonight but I will make an allowance this once since you were traveling and have something sent up to you. In the morning we shall see what's to be done about the mix up but I'm afraid it may not be something we can fix unless you have another twin lying about somewhere Lyris." She made it sound as if it were their fault that Lyal was born a boy and not a girl.

Lyris shook her head quickly and nearly stumbled over the, "No Mother." Her fingers tightening around Lyal's.

"Pity," She waved the cards until Lyris stepped forward and took them both, then rang a small bell that was resting at her elbow. "One of the maids will take you back to your rooms, please don't go wandering the halls, its bad enough you're here I don't want you stumbling around underfoot all the time." She looked toward the door as it was opened from the outside. "Ah Gazette, would you show the kits to their rooms please and have a tray sent up for them." She turned her attention back to something on the table once more dismissing them from her attention before they'd even moved.

The caramel colored mouse at the door beckoned them forward and they went without another look at the wolf seated so regally in her throne. Not a word did they speak as hand in hand they returned to the two large opulent bedrooms that they were starting to realize were more then just places to sleep. When the mouse had gone, dressed identically to the previous one so that only her fur color set her apart, they settled at the table in the pink room.

"I don't like it here." Lyris was never one to conceal her emotions and this place gave her the creepies.

Both Lyal's hands reached across the same table to take both of hers. "Lyss we have to give it a chance, I'm sure as things go along we'll become more comfortable and possibly even grow to like it here." He tried to sound optimistic but there was a huge doubt in his mind that they would ever meet the Lady's exacting standards. He flipped one of the cards she'd given them open and started reading it.

Most of it was the same but there was a section she hadn't gone over, one that detailed personal behavior. Thinking to make his sister laugh he put on the most officious look he could manage and raised his voice into an approximation of the bitch's voice. "You will at all times be properly attired, this means putting on a robe when you leave your bed to attend to your bodily needs even if it is in the middle of the night." He gave her a stare that was meant to mimic the wolf, tilting his head forward so he seemed to look down his nose at her. "Do I make myself clear?"

It was more than Lyris could withstand, she broke into bubbling laughter just as there came a knock at her door. She was still laughing when she opened it to let another diminutive mouse, this one a chocolate brown color, into the room with a tray of food. The confused mouse girl looked from one of laughing kit to the other; she'd never heard anyone laughing after a meeting with the lady of the house and was momentarily startled.

"Oh do come in," Lyris said, smiling kindly at the girl, "I promise we won't bite." She gently took the girls arm and pulled her into the room. "Look Lyal Kohlrabi! And Brussels sprouts!" Two of the twin's favorite foods but in short supply back at the home due to cost. "Oh my tummy is going to love it here!"

* * * * *

For two weeks life went as the lady wolf dictated, they ate in the large dining room under her disapproving gaze, always expected to maintain proper decorum, corrected for any little lapse in their conduct. They attended classes with Frederick, who turned out to be the dour badger, Claudette, Gazette and their sister Minutette, the chocolate colored mouse. The subjects weren't that hard, just new to them and they tore through the material absorbing it like they were drinking water.

The morning after that initial interview Lyal was placed in a room across the hall from Lyris while his room underwent an entire makeover, when they were allowed back into it after four days of hurried activity it was much changed. Gone were the purple and white decorations, the stuffed animals and the china dolls. In there place was a pretty light blue with darker blue accents, sports related decorations, paintings of cars and outdoor activities like fishing and hunting. It was so total a change that they could hardly believe it was the same room.

The walk in closet now boasted two sections, one still filled with the things that any girl could possibly want the other now held more rugged clothing of a male nature, in colors that suited Lyal better than pastel pinks and purples. He found a skateboard, something he'd always desired but never had been allowed at the home just inside the door with a set of pads and helmet just waiting for him.

It seemed as if life was taking an upward turn for the kits, they had everything they could ever want, they were adapting quickly enough to please their Lady Mother and school, where they hoped to make new friends, was only another month away. They were learning other things beyond the original four proscribed lessons, tennis and horseback riding, "As every young body needs exercise." Swimming, and dance as well, though Lyal privately enjoyed those lessons more then he let on to his sister.

Then came the next hurdle. Mr. RedClaw was due home at the end of the day and they were expected to dine with him and Mother.

"Seriously Lyal, there is no way he can be mad at you for being a boy! He has to know by now; Mother would have told him in one of their phone calls. Besides you're doing so well in the classes she's given us it has to make things right." They were in their joint closet selecting outfits for dinner. 'What about brown silk shirts with dark grey bottoms? Do you think that's too formal?"

Lyal looked over his shoulder at what his sister was holding up and shook his head. "Not right, for a family meeting it needs to be more casual." He pulled out a pair of sturdy black jeans then paired it with a loose t-shirt that was made of some of the softest cotton he'd ever felt in his life. "More like this but it still needs something. And I don't know for sure if she's told him, which is what's making butterflies take up residence in my stomach."

Lyris considered his choices for a moment then selected a matching black jean skirt, but she added a sleeveless tank in the same soft cotton that was a few shades lighter blue than his choice. "Dress it up with shoes? Oh and that lovely chain belt?" She contemplated him a moment then nodded. "That should work but we might want to pull your hair back into a tail just to minimize the softening effect. He can't be any worse than Mother was and she's softened toward us." She went to the jewelry stand on her side of the closet and pulled a few things from it holding each up against the top for a moment before selecting the things she felt best suited the look.

"I guess you're right. No, use the set with the dark blue pendant, that will work better with the shirt." He collected the belt she's suggested he wear and a pair of black dress shoes before turning to kiss her on the cheek. "No matter what we know he agreed to keep us so he must have wanted a son even though she didn't." He winked and headed into his room to change his tail making the back of his open house robe shift around as it twitched showing his agitation.

Half an hour later they were summoned to dinner, both as nervous as they had been that night when they met Mother for the first time. Minutette lead them down the hallway that they had become familiar with and into the large dining room. They noticing that Mother's usual collection of items was missing; the little bell that summoned the staff was the only thing that remained and it was sitting where she usually put Lyal. There was a fourth place set beside Lyris' normal place so Lyal sat beside her figuring that the change was due to the mysterious Father taking the head of the table.

They knew better than to fidget while they waited not even making small talk, the large clock on the wall read 6:15 before the door at the far end of the room finally opened and Mother entered on the arm of a much larger black wolf. He was the biggest wolf either of the twins had ever seen, seeming to dominate the room. Mother was formidable, but this wolf was nearly oppressive just walking into the room. He wore a full suit, with his tie clinched about his neck, as if he was walking into a board room and not an intimate family dinner. Today she was in a soft pink colored sundress that really flattered her figure, which was unusual as far as the kits knew since she always wore such severe black dresses normally.

The butterflies that were in Lyal's tummy seemed to have spawned offspring in Lyris', both kits watching; mesmerized by the way he seemed to command all attention. Lyal quickly stood, remembering the rule about not sitting when there was a lady in the room and waited patiently until the couple made their way to the empty spots, Mother pausing until Father pulled the chair out for her before she sat.

The large black wolf frowned slightly as he looked Lyal over, while helping his wife to be seated. He moved to his chair and slowly sank into it, his eyes never leaving the boy which made the rabbit very nervous as he resumed his own seat. For another few minutes the silence stretched out until it made both kits squirm in their seats, eyes cast down at their plates unsure what to do or say.

Finally Father broke the silence; he turned to Mother and said quite conversationally, "My Dear Wife would you like to tell me what in hells name is going on here?" His voice was dark and dusky and sent shivers down both rabbit's spines and flattening their ears to their heads.

The lady, seeming as composed as always, regarded him levelly for a moment before she too spoke in a normal conversational tone. "Well my Darling Husband, it seems you adopted two rabbits and dumped them in my lap. The only problem is that you seem to have gotten a boy and girl pairing of twins instead of the girls you were looking for. I've already called the agency where you found them and these are the only twins in the age range you specified so unless you want to send them back we're stuck with them. Perhaps in future you might be a little more cautious when you make these snap decisions of yours?" There were barbs in her words and venom on her tongue but she said it all in such a polite way it made the bunnies eyes widen.

Father didn't seem in the least put out by Mother's nasty words, he simply smiled at her and nodded, "I shall speak to Gavin and get to the bottom of this in the morning." At this point Frederick and the rest of the serving crew started to bring dishes in from the kitchen and the large wolf's attention was directed away from the trembling rabbits.

Once the dishes were all laid out the servers with the exception of Frederick all left the room so that he might dish out individual portions for them, starting with the Lord, then the Lady and finally Lyris and Lyal. Once they were all served and Frederick was standing behind and to the left of Father's chair the large wolf picked up his fork and started eating. The food was the same wonderful quality it always was at meal times and in quantities such that they didn't have to worry about going hungry, but the kits couldn't seem to do more than pick at their food with that large black presence looming over them.

A few minutes passed in silence before the wolf snorted, "I provide food at this table for it to be eaten not played with." His eyes bored into the two kits making them even more nervous, so much so that Lyris, sitting closest to him, dropped her fork. "Frederick." The name was an order of sorts and before either of the kits could react Lyris had a clean fork and the one she'd dropped was removed from the floor and tucked into one of the badgers pockets. "Now then, what are your names?"

A quick glance at his sister told Lyal there was no way she was going to be able to answer so he cleared his throat and spoke softly but politely, "I'm Lyal and this is Lyris, Father." He kept his answer short and to the point as he'd been taught was appropriate of a child when asked something by an adult.

This seemed to please Father, both the differential way that Lyal addressed him and that he'd called him father. "How do you like living in my house so far, little Lyal?" The Wolf continued to watch the boy his gaze never wavering even as he collected a morsel from his plate and conveyed it to his mouth.

With the full weight of that gaze on him Lyal swallowed hard before he responded, "It is a lovely house, the grounds are beautiful. Everyone is so kind and polite, I'm enjoying the experience immensely Father. Even the lessons we're taking are engaging, though I must confess I like horseback riding the most." He tried a shy grin, hoping to soften the hard stare that was making him feel like he'd been asked to stick his hand in a tank full of piranha.

Father considered him for a moment then looked at Mother for an explanation. She wiped her mouth with her napkin before saying, "I had to do something with them. I couldn't have them under foot all the time. Besides if you're keeping them they'll need the lessons. Frederick and the girls are teaching them the basics of society life; they are getting physical exercise from the other lessons." She left it at that taking a small sip of her red wine before picking up her fork once more.

Father smiled, showing far more teeth than he really needed to as he responded, "I'm sure you are handling it with your usual grace and poise, my Dear Wife. Whatever decisions you have made in my absence will suffice I'm sure." It was like watching to prize fighters go at each other, both of the wolves used politeness like a weapon. "Have you told them about the school? Our reputation?" He made it sound as if he didn't trust her to handle such important topics.

Again the Lady wiped her mouth and looked levelly at her husband. "I have spoken to them about everything that is relevant to their staying with us Husband. The girl knows that she will be required to join the cheer squad, however I believe that football would be far too dangerous for a boy of his stature. Did you have another sport you'd like him to engage in? After all we wouldn't want people thinking we encourage him to participate in things that are detrimental to his health. Would we?" Her tone never left that cool civil politeness but the emphasis she put on the words had both kits squirming in their seats.

Their movement drew the dark wolf's attention once more, his eerie golden eyes latching onto Lyris and pinning her in place. "What do you think little girl? What sport shall we put your brother into for the school year?" The way he was staring at her made her freeze with her eyes locked on his, like a deer in onrushing headlights.

She swallowed hard and tried to come up with something intelligent to say, "I...ummm... Well Sir... I mean Father... He used to like playing soccer..." She managed to tear her gaze from the wolf's to glance at Lyal hoping that she had done the right thing by mentioning his favorite sport. "He's a pretty good forward, they underestimate him 'cause he's small but he's really fast." She made the mistake of glancing at the wolf once more and fell silent, unable to make her tongue work anymore.

His dark voice flowed over her making her feel like she was choking, "I see, we will have to take that under advisement." He kept that malevolent gaze on her for a while longer, seeming to enjoy her discomfort, but eventually he tired of it. "Well eat children, I won't have it said that anyone goes hungry under my roof." Then turned his attention back to his lady wife.

The rest of dinner passed in a haze for the kits, they ate mechanically hardly daring to look up from their plates. When they were excused they fairly ran to their rooms, feeling like it was the only sanctuary in the house from that horrible feeling of inadequacy that just being in the wolf's presence gave them. "Oh god Ly, he's worse than she is! What are we going to do?" Lyss whispered clinging tightly to her brother as they lay on her bed trying to calm their racing hearts.

"I don't know Lyss, but whatever we do we'll just have to hope that Father, like Mother, sees we are trying our best to please them." He stroked her back as soothingly as he could but there was a horrible suspicion in the back of his mind, something that told him they weren't safe, not even here in their own rooms.