Part 19:
"Always knew you'd make an excellent Pet, Wesley. Okay, enough fun and games for now. Let's see how you're doing," Spike said, indicating the space before him. "Kneel."
* * *
Practice of the submissive positions, which continued to take place under Spike's tutelage and Angel's observations, were interspersed with descriptions of the Aurelian Clan's hierarchy, led by Angel. The Childer of the recent Master were described along with the Childe of each who now led their respective Houses. In addition to these, their respective Mates and Most Favoreds were described as well, where the information existed. Wesley was frankly amazed at the depth of Angel's current information, and filed that knowledge away for later discussion. The review was both informative and fascinating, and that, along with Spike's presence to ease the command training stress, relaxed them all sufficiently so that the rest of the night went fairly smoothly.
Earlier in the evening Angel had informed them that they would work through the night, until dawn, and sleep during the day, so that they would be acclimated for the grueling five-day event at Jardin's lair. As dawn approached, Angel called them together once more, putting a welcome stop to Spike's fifth physical training session.
"You've done very well today. I know this hasn't been easy for you," he added, "and I'm proud of you all."
Angel was silent for a moment, although it was clear he wasn't finished. He paced back and forth in front of them, hands behind his back and head down, while the others waited, a sudden tension in the air. Suddenly he stopped and faced them squarely.
"I told you earlier today that your training would involve a thrall of sorts. This will help you absorb what you've learned more quickly and completely, and hopefully allow the new behavior to become somewhat second nature, despite the short amount of time we have until the conclave. Before each of you goes to sleep today, this will occur. What I didn't tell you is that Pets are always marked by their Masters. No matter how perfect your response may be during the conclave, if you're not marked by me, everyone there will know you're not a member of my House."
Illyria cocked her head inquisitively, but both Gunn and Wesley appeared to fully understand the meaning of Angel's last words by their shocked expressions.
"A vampire mark is a bite, along with the taking of a small amount of blood," Angel added in clarification.