No where to go

This was probably going to turn into a bad idea.

He knew he wasn't welcome here anymore, Hell he wasn't even sure they'd even open the door, but really what choice did he have? He couldn't take Delilah straight to the hospital, the bruises on her neck and , oh yea the huge crack in her head, would be a bit hard to explain. There'd be too much attention and too many people nosing around where they didn't belong. Normally he would have went to Chryseis...

He squeezed his eyes shut. He wasn't going to think about that right now.

Right now Panos's main concern was Delilah.

Pulling up infront of the Domicile, Panos put the car in park and got out. He was bare foot and bear chested but he didn't even notice. Most of his injuries has began healing but the blood from the wounds was still apparent. Thankfully the dark jeans had absorbed much and hid it well. He still smelled of blood, sweat and anguish.

He hoisted Delilah's body out of the passenger seat and craddled her to his chest. He knew there had to be at least six different camera's that had already spotted them but he didn't care. Knocking on the door, he waited to see if anyone would answer.

"Knock knock, the prodigal son and all that jazz is back."

As it was, Shay had just come in from work, having finally found what seemed to be a stable job working for a law firm in town. Of course half the firm was Tacharan, so her hours were fine, and she even found the work somewhat satisfying, having become more involved in research than anything else.

Once Alec had left, she realized she really didn't have the heart, or much stomach, for espionage, and weaponry just didn't hold the interest for her, that it had for her mother and father.

Ultimately she found she liked to write, and had a decent imagination, and working knowledge of good grammar. Thoughts of a novel had begun filling her head, and giving her things to toy with on her off time. Unfortunately that was where she found herself when the money started getting a little thin. Not that she was broke or anything, but Shay liked having a good cushion around herself, and never wanted to be a pauper. She liked buying shoes too much.

Word of mouth around the place had played a tremendous part in getting her the job she now had, and through her job, and living at The Domicile, Shay had become friendly with a lot more people than she had initially knew. She guessed that stood to reason. Never the less, Shay still missed Alec...Ginnie...and even Dayle. Just not as much, thankfully.

The weird thing was Shay also seemed to be missing someone else. No, correct that...there seemed to be a couple people in her dreams lately, that she knew had some meaning in her life. But to make matters worse, once she woke up, none of those faces hung around to be identified. It was most disconcerting.

Heading toward her apartment, Shay heard the knock at the door, and almost ignored it. Surely there must be someone about to take care of those things. But before she got much further, a voice cried out. Stopping, Shay waited a few seconds to see if anyone else approached, but nothing.

"Okay, hold your shirt on 'son'!"

Slinging her purse over her shoulder, Shay moved across the floor quickly, high heels or not, and pulled on the huge door. A quirky bow, and welcoming arm directed inward, Shay smiled up at the visitor.

"Welcome son. I'm Shay, please do come in before you wake the ... dead?"

Her glance immediately went from the man to the body of the woman he carried. Many questions flooded her brain, but none came forward. It wasn't her business, now was it?

When the door opened, Panos didn't expect to be surprised or speechless. In fact he had a quite a few choice statements running through his mind in anticipation of being barred from the entrance. The fact that the face before him was one he had not seen in a great deal of time stopped him cold.

What was Shay doing here? And opening a door for that matter?

Good lord, if Shay was standing here before him, that meant Mathias was sure to be around the corner any minute. That was just what he needed, that self rightous bastard to come out and see Panos half dressed carrying a nearly dead woman in his arms. Panos so did not have the energy to cockfight with Mathias right then.

Panos stepped past Shay as she welcomed him in, staring at her the entire time. She looked amazing and that he was happy for. When had been the last time they had seen each other? Two years ago? Maybe more? His chest tightened at the guilt of staying away for so long. As much as he had disliked Mathias, he had respected Shay and wanted her to be happy, even if it was with a pig headed oaf like Mathias. In all honesty, it was nice to have one less person out for his blood. There had been a list of them at one time. Only now as he watched her smile he knew she didn't even recognize him.

"As if I could forget that face! Shay what are you doing here? I mean, it's not that I'm not glad to see you, but holy shit. I'd hug you right now if it weren't for the body here in my arms. Please tell me Mathias is not home."

A thought occured to him and pieces of a puzzle started to click together. Delilah forgotten, his rage flared up.

"Gods, he isn't keeping you here is? If he's turned you into his pet I swear I'll fucking kill him. Where is the bastard?"

Damn it! he knew he shouldn't of been so nice. He shoulda came around at least once in a while to make sure Mathias hadn't destroyed his friend and turned her into a vampire blood junkie.

At first all she could do was look at the man, her big blue eyes unblinking as they stared.

How did he know her, when she'd never seen him before in her life? And who the hell was this 'Mathias' character he kept going on about?

And was now yelling about?

"Hush you mad man! You'll have everyone and their brother down here wanting to know what's going on!"

Why hadn't she just gone with her instincts and ignored the door?

Yet he had looked at her rather familiar like, as if he had fond feelings for her. That was weird too though. Had they run into each other during one of the Tach meetings? Or maybe during dinner? No, there was nothing at all recognizable in this man's face.

"I'm sure you have nothing to fear in this Mathias person. I've yet to meet anyone by that name here, or anywhere else. And I can assure you coming here was my choice."

Not that she would have gone anywhere else. Ginnie and Alec had been the only people she'd known after she'd woken up. Of course she would want to stay close to them. That she remained even after they left was probably just laziness on her part. That, and the fact that she liked her place, and found The Domicile every bit as convenient as a place closer to work.

Shay pushed the door closed behind the man, and briefly wondered what she should do next.

"I'm afraid no one else seems to be about right now, and I've no clue what to do with you. Is there anyone I can call? Anyone you'd like to see?"

Remembering the woman slung across the man's shoulders, Shay pressed her fingertips to her lips and giggled softly. How had she forgotten that?

"Is she...okay?"

Looking about for a phone, and hopefully a directory, Shay had difficulty removing her eyes from the duo. Maybe there was something vaguely familiar there.

Kenley ran from her office just as the Merc team was entering the lobby. Together they squeezed into the elevator leading to the surface. She turned to right, speaking to whom she recognized as the lead Merc on shift.

'The computer is registering it as a...Panos Mehalitsenos?'

'Panos, yes, an expatriate,' Garcia replied.

Kenley nodded, gleaning that much from the quick blurb the computer gave her. She remained quiet as the elevator reached the top floor and the Mercs immediately dispersed. She followed quickly in their wake and was surprised to see another Tacharan member, Shay, had already met them.

Tucking a piece of her red head behind her right ear, she immediately addressed the young man. With one look at the woman in Mr. Mehalitsenos arms, Kenley immediately pulled out her cell phone and called the medical team on staff.

'Mr. Mehalitsenos, my name is Kenley Merriweather.' The Mercs surrounded Shay, Panos, and the woman in his arms. 'Come with us now please and we'll help your friend.'

((ooc - feel free to move Kenley into the Domicile, I gotta go out for a couple hours)))

Startled only for the briefest seconds, Shay still cried out at the sound of the people coming up from around her.

Finally there was someone she recognized there now, and Shay could leave this man, this Mr. Mehalitsenos, to his...body. Though Shay wasn't familiar with who this woman was by name, (until she heard the introduction), she was fairly certain it was Simon's new assistant...Carol's replacement. And because Shay had always liked Carol, she had steered clear of this one, and fortunately avoided most contact thus far. It wasn't that Shay disliked her...she just didn't really care one way or the other.

But to have Ms. Merriweather there now, ready to take care of Mr. Mehalitsenos' needs, thoroughly removed that responsibility from Shay's shoulders.

"Okay swell. It looks like everything is under control now, so I'll just leave you all to it."

Stepping back away from the group, slowly, and calmly, Shay threw a glance to the woman, then quickly skimmed the man's eyes, she turned to leave. She was tired. She just wanted to get home, have a nice glass of wine, and crap out for the night.

Panos's brow crumpled in confusion. What the hell was Shay talking about? The woman had been madly in love with Mathias the last time he had seen her. Or so, he had thought. Maybe it had been a front and she had really been in trouble. That was doubtful. Maybe Mathias himself was in trouble and she was now protecting him. That notion seemed more likely.

Panos opened his mouth to speak when they were suddenly joined by the Domiciles home security team. They efficiently surrounded Shay and Panos, circling them in like a heard of sheep. The option to run was nonexsistant and that was just as well, he had come here for a reason, and this Merriweather person just might be able to help.

He nodded at the redheaded woman and began moving with the troup. He had expected at least that vile Carol woman to have shown up and it was a bit unsettling they had sent someone else. Hopefully it wasn't a trick, he had to have faith in that regardless of the pit of his stomach tightening. As the goup pressed forward into the Domicile, Panos noticed Shay backing away. Something wasn't right, even if she was protecting Mathias, would she really let him go into the lion's den alone?

"Shay wait. Don't leave me." He hadn't meant to sound as desperate as he did but he had lost enough in the past few hours. What was left of him was feeling very weak and even if she was acting strangely, he wanted a friend near.

Well, Shay had turned to leave, but damn her for that one last look at the man who interrupted her quiet evening. Why the hell was he so all fired intent on having her hang around?!

And what the hell was she now so concerned that the man seemed to be truly in dire straights. She didn't know this man, so why did she need to care?

Stopping in her tracks Shay took a deep breath, and resigned herself. The wine would need to wait, as would the relaxation. Something told her she needed to deal with whatever was going on here, for at least the time being.

Giving Kenley a slightly irritated glance - where was the ever capable Carol when you needed her - Shay slowly moved back in the direction of the man.

"I have no idea why I feel the need, but okay...I'll hang around, but just long enough to get you settled in here, and then you're on your own."

Stepping aside slightly to avoid colliding with the body still slung over his shoulder, Shay only shook her head.

Panos felt a semblance of relief when Shay agreed to come along. Maybe she was angry with him for not contacting her for so long. He had thought he was doing the right thing for a change damn it. In truth he guessed he deserved it but still something wasn't adding up.

"I've yet to meet anyone by that name here, or anywhere else." She had said.

Panos was clearly confused at her behavior and once he was sure Delilah wasn't going to die, he fully intended to clear things up.

Panos shifted Delilah's body in his arms as he filled Kenley in on her incident.

"She was in a fight, well we were in a fight, and she was trying to protect me. I'm pretty sure her head was slammed against a wall or the ground, it's where all the blood is comming from."

He paused to brush some sticky strands of pale hair out of her face, trying to gauge his next sentences carefully.

"Look, I don't know you but I'm sure you know I don't belong here anymore. I.., I just didn't know where else to go. Human hospital's would ask to many questions and of course assume it was me who did this to her. I can't fix her myself and I'm sure that somehow I'm going to have to pay for this, just whatever, I don't want her dead."

Panos stopped himself before he ended up sticking his foot in his mouth.



"

Kenley watched impatiently as the young man and Shay had their conversation. Finally Mehalitsenos turned to her and Kenley began moving back toward the elevator, only stopping to wait for the doors to open again.

'We can get to the little details later, Mr. Mehalisenos, but if you want your friend to receive medical attention, we have to move now.'

Stepping into the elevator, Kenley backed up against the wall and waited for everyone to board. She took the few moments it took to ride down to introduce herself.

'My name is Kenley Merriweather. I'm Carol Hedley's replacement. We'll make sure your lady friend is taken care of, but let me assure you whatever previous dealings you've had with the clan before today will not reflect upon her medical treatment. The Leader has already been notified of your presence and wishes to be kept abreast of the situation.'

Kenley shrugged as the elevator came to a stop and opened the doors, revealing a medical team waiting. Stepping aside and out of the way, Kenley waited for the young man to relinquish his hold on the woman. He was scared, that was easy to tell, and Kenley was interested in finding out why.

'The leader' Kenley had said. There was no denotion of said leader being male or female and Panos couldn't remember just who was in charge here nowadays. Gods, the last time he had talked to Ellis had been ages ago and things hadn't been looking good. Other than that he hadn't kept up on much of the old clan's bussiness. The less he knew about them, hopefully the less they kept tabs on him. He had taken the relative silence from their front as a good thing, now though, he wished he had kept himself a little more up to date.

As the elevators opened and the others filed out, Panos knew he had to make a choice. It wasn't easy to hand Delilah over to Tacharan's staff members but with Kenley's words of assurance he let her go.

"I'll trust your word Ms. Merriweather. If she should wake up, her name is Delilah Bennett. I assume you know I'll be waiting for her."

He bit his tongue so he didn't add in an extra threat. It would do him no good to do so and it was obvious by now that he was protecting the little human. Why else would he have gone to the extreme of comming here? No, threats would be useless and would only get them into trouble.

Panos stepped back next to Shay. She was a tiny flame of strength in his otherwise gloomy evening. What a way to start the day. It was way to early for all the shit that had happened allready. He only hoped that it wouldn't get worse.

The medical team took the female, Delilah Bennett - Kenley noted, and gently placed her on a waiting gurney. The facilities wasn't Duibne Industries, but it was just as technologically advanced. Two Mercs accompanied the team as they quickly whisked her away leaving Shay, Kenley, Mr. Mehalitsenos, and three Mercs in the hallway. The Mercs would stay with the visitor, but Kenley suspected that he was more concerned with his lady friend than infiltrating the Domicile for nefarious purposes.

'You do have my word, Mr. Mehalitsenos and my word is gold. You are more than welcomed to stay, with an escort, of course.' Kenley pointed down the hallway. 'There are the conference rooms, if you like. I'm sure you remember where they are. If there isn't anything else, I have a report to make.'

Folding her hands in front of her, Kenley waited patiently for the young man to reply.

He watched as Delilah was ushered off. Kenley was speaking but he didn't hear much of what she said until the escort part. He frowned and rolled his eyes.

He wanted to talk to Shay and with a Merc following him around it would be an inconvience. He didn't have any sacred information that the bodyguards could run back to mommy and daddy with anyways so in all it didn't really matter.

"Ya." He drawled out and sighed.

"I appreciate the clans aide in this situation Ms. Merriweather. We'll see ourselves to the conference room."

Panos turned to Shay who curiously looked highly put out. He gestured for her to walk ahead.


"I'm assuming your mad at me, and I'm sure as soon the door close I'm gonna get it, but please, ladies first."

He hoped Shay wasn't afraid to speak freely with his very own bodyguard tailing him. There was something on her face that told him otherwise.

Panos mentally prepaired himself for the million questions he knew was sure to come, probably beginning with what he was doing there with a half dead woman.

Waiting for Shay to make a move, he smiled weakly at her.

She might have tried harder, to hold back the sigh that escaped, but what was done, was done. It now appeared she was going to hold hands, figuratively speaking, with this man, for who knew how long now.

"No...not mad...not angry even...just tired."

Shay nearly sighed the entire sentence, but turned and proceeded down the hall toward the conference rooms Kenley had mentioned.

When they were inside the room, seeing a couch, Shay walked over to it, fell onto it, and leaned back with her arms crossed over her eyes. In the time it took them to walk to the room, Shay decided she had been a bit snappish to the man, and felt he really hadn't deserved it. In fact, with his friend being in such bad shape, it was undoubtedly better if she were able to act a bit more compassionately.

After a very few seconds, she tried to explain, and removed her arms. But before she got a word out the lighting was dimmed a little, with a snap of her fingers.

"Sorry, I'm just really tired, and the light is starting to hurt my eyes."

Sitting up a little straighter, Shay looked at the man.

"I'm not angry with you because to my knowledge I have no reason to be. I apologize for being short with you earlier...I try not to get involved in other peoples problems, especially when I don't even know who they are. But I should have taken into consideration your friend's bad way, and been a little more patient."

Shrugging, Shay leaned back into the couch again, and closed her eyes.

"I'm here now though, so if you want to talk, I can listen. I can't promise how long I'll be able to stay awake though."

The last part of her words faded a bit, but for now Shay was awake. As long as she was going to hang around, at least the guy could do is talk, and keep her awake.

Kenley watched quietly as Shay and the young man walked toward the conference room. He didn't appreciate her comment about an escort, the roll of the eyes said it pretty plainly, and she wondered what her predecessor would have done. She considered Carol's jubilant nature and uncanny ability to read people. Narrowing her eyes, Kenley took a step toward the lead Merc and whispered.

'He's not a threat. Give them their privacy, but stay nearby.' The merc nodded. 'Not like we can't hear what they're saying anyway.'

And with that, Kenley returned to her office.

((ooc kenley out))

Panos watched Shay flop onto the couch. He leaned back against the wall and the cement blocks felt cool against his skin. Crossing his arms he amused himself with thoughts of borrowing one of Mathias shirts and taking pictures of himself to give to the uptight man later.

The lights in the room suddenly dimmed and he launched himself off the wall wildly looking around for the cause. Shay began speaking with out even noting the change in the lighting. In fact she seemed down right pleased that it had gone down.

"What do you mean someone you don't know? Damn Shay I know I've been MIA for a few years, but I thought it would be for the best. You say your not mad, but you sure sound like it. A few years in my life time is like nothing."

He shifted on his feet. Women were ridiculous, always saying one thing and meaning another.

"Look, I'm sorry if I'm keeping you. I got my ass handed to me tonight, Chryseis is dead and the girl down the hall is pretty close. I didn't expect you to be here and then when you opened the door, I got the only good surprise of the evening. Apparently it's a bit selfish of me to think you'd be at least a little bit happy to see me. And what the fuck happened to the lights?"

He was pacing the tiled floor and being perhaps a little angrier with Shay than he should have been. This was going in the wrong direction and fast. He should just leave her to whatever it was that she wanted to do.

"Look, I'm sorry to break it to you, but I don't know you..."

Shay sat up again, opened her eyes, and snapped her fingers to bring the lights back up to where they had been. Her eyes roved over the man slowly, trying to find something recognizable. Even though she did feel a little more comfortable in his presence, which was kind of odd, there was no real memory of him to be found.

She looked at her fingers and giggled softly.

"It's a skill. I died, came back with an empty head, but found a couple skills that seem to compensate a little."

There was some sarcasm in her tone, but not a lot. Shay decided a long time ago that she could wallow in self pity for the life she now had, or she could live it like it was the best one around. The latter really was the only option she had ever considered, even when she'd been faced with her own agonies of death.

"I get that you knew me before...before I was left to die by some random rogue vampire. But when my mother saved me...brought me back...everything about that prior life was left behind. All the memories I now have are those I've created in the past couple years."

Thoughts of Ginnie tugged at Shay's heartstrings, and she felt even more compassion for this man. But rather than dwell on death, Shay's words moved in another direction.

"So what were you to me? Did I know you were a vampire then? To be honest, no one has been able to, or willing to fill me in on much. I admit I am somewhat curious."

She patted the couch cushion next to her, and even moved a little to give the man more room to sit down. She might have been quite tired, but this guy really did look like he'd been through the wars.

Shay's words froze him on the spot.

She was a vampire now...

A cold chill creapt down his spine and he wanted to scream, instead he brought the palms of his hands to his face and just breathed deeply for a few moments.

"You didn't want to be one of us." Panos said before uncovering his face.

He stepped over to the couch and sat where she patted next to her. The thought of some random vampire tearing into her flesh and discard her like trash was repulsive. It was what they all did from time to time, hell it was something he had done more times that not, only it was different when it was your friend who turned out to be the garbage. Worse yet, there was no name or face to hunt down and torture over this.

"How long have you been like this? A vampire I mean."

Shay was so nonchalant about the whole thing that it was even harder for Panos to wrap his mind around it. Where had Mathias gone that he had let this happen to her? Shay was supossed to have been safe with him. Hadn't the ass made that perfectly clear?

He turned his head to look Shay over. What he was looking for, he had no idea. With a frown he looked back down at his hands.

"The night we met, I was going to kill you. You were beautiful and like a loonatic, you were out walking late at night. As I came up on you, you weren't afraid, and in fact you treated me like a normal human being. Back then I was much more....off the handle I guess. The way you talked to me, it brought the first semblance of normalcy into my life. Pathetic I know."

It all felt like yesterday and it made him smile.

"At first you didn't know I was a vampire, but I ended up telling you. We were friends, and it wasn't something I was used to having. Why again won't anyone tell you who you were before this all happened?"

Was it some kind of secret? Was there something in her past that would make her crack now? He thought about it.

"Should I not be telling you these things? You seem pretty...stable as it is now. Are you prone to hysterics now? You weren't before." It was half a joke and half the truth. He did not want to upset what was now a decent life.

"By the way my name is Panos." It was a weird feeling to introduce himself to her once again.

His admission wasn't surprising. Shay couldn't imagine too many people going out into the night to seek the 'living death'. Not that she considered herself dead, even if she was perpetually cold, and had that whole problem with going into the daylight. She didn't sleep in a coffin now did she?

"No, I suspect I didn't, but then it is what it is."

Resigned, and even happy now with her life, Shay was pretty sure she'd destroy the bastard who killed her, if she ever found out who it had been.

"Well, Ginnie died two years ago this coming October 15th, and I had been a vampire then for almost a year...so it's been nearly three years now."

Looking at her hands while she spoke and computed the time, the shock of how fast the past three years had passed flooded Shay's face with a look of astonishment.

"Seriously...three years..."

Which meant Panos had been gone from Nachton longer than that.

Listening to the man sitting next to her, Shay felt as if he were talking about a stranger. Though she was feeling more connected to him, sitting there talking, it wasn't because anything he was saying felt personal.

She giggled when he compared her to a lunatic. The idea that she hadn't been afraid when she'd met him was something she could relate to. Shay never felt truly afraid of anything. Or she couldn't remember feeling that way, ever. Not for herself anyway.

As Panos smiled, Shay did as well.

"I'm sorry I don't remember."

Reaching over, Shay rested her hand on Panos' arm. Not so long ago Shay had needed a friend, and luck gave her Ginnie, and Alec, and Dayle. She had been Panos' friend before, why shouldn't she be again? If he could see her as a person, even human, and she hadn't been afraid of him, they must have shared a pretty special bond.

"Well I think Ginnie held back from telling me much initially, because she wasn't sure what the truth might do to me. But then I also haven't found anyone who seemed to know me very well, before. She did do some research, and filled me in about my family, and eventually I broke into the house I'd bought, got all my personal effects, and bank records, which I consolidated, and moved to more current places of safekeeping."

Shay waved her hand, and dismissed any further talk about that time in her life. As far as she was concerned, it never happened, and now there wasn't any evidence that it had either.

"And no, I'm not normally prone to hysterics. I guess in that way I must not have changed. Maybe, even if we don't remember, we remain pretty much as we were before we were turned?"

Maybe Panos could fill in more blanks. Shay wanted to ask him about this Mathias person he referred to, as well as a few other things. But remembering her hand rested on his forearm, Shay glanced there now, and slowly withdrew it.

"But rather than go there...why don't you tell me what in the hell happened to your friend tonight, and who, was, Chryseis?"

Panos felt bad for Shay when he saw her face take on the new look.

"I'm sorry you don't remember too. On the plus side, I remember my life before I was changed and I was a bastard. So at least you get some repreive from all the heartache of the past. I'm pretty much still a bastard so..." He shrugged and grinned. "I'd like to forget alot of things I've done since then as well."

Her hand was warm on his arm and he repressed the urge to reach oer and hug her. One, he didn't want to weird her out already and two, he wasn't a very huggy person now was he. He did have to admit, that this wasn't as bad as it could have been. Had Shay gone to hysteric's on him this evening, he may have had his own mental breakdown.

Silently he thanked the gods for even that little bit.

Slouching lower on the couch, Panos rested his head on the backing.

"Tonight we got the shit kicked out of us, that's what happened. I was sleeping, like I do all so well. It's a bit of a problem I have, but anyways this...thing of a woman came to my home and tried to kill me. Instead, she took Delilah down and killed Chryseis. They both tried to protect me from something I started and I almost lost both of them."

He paused and tried to build the words he needed without either breaking down or tearing into a rage.

"Chryseis was my aunt. She is my aunt. You never met her I don't think but I had told you about her. She is a member of Anantya, whom I'd like to inform of her passing but I might not be a welcomed guest. Chryseis went out on numerous limbs for me that her clan didn't know about plus, my "daughter" lives there and is pretty high in the rankings. Did I mention she hates me? That's all apart of the whole things from the past I wish I didn't remember." His sarcasm was heavy.

"Do you believe that we aren't the only special creatures out there?"

Shay thought the guy was being hard on himself. That he would cart his friend who knew how far to make sure she got taken care of proved he had some modicum of compassion and feeling.

Besides that, if she liked him once, that had to mean something too, didn't it? Shay was a pretty good judge of character, or had been since she could remember. Weren't some things intrinsic? Could she have changed that much since she was turned?

"Some time after you and your friend get through this, maybe we can get together and talk some more? I have a lot of questions but don't think now is really the time."

Now was the time when Panos needed support. He was obviously in a great deal more pain than Shay.

Listening to Panos' story, Shay was immediately taken back to the night Ginnie was killed. So much had happened that night, and so much was colored by emotion, that Shay had often wondered exactly what, and who it was that engineered that slaughter. But with Alec being so torn up after, and Shay avoiding most of the details as a way of helping him heal faster, there were still a hundred questions there too.

But one thing wasn't in question. Someone, no, something else had been there...involved in what went down. Odd shapes had run past her in the night, while she sat alone in that van waiting. At the time she had been consumed with worry about Ginnie and Alec, and why the instruments in the van had stopped working. But later she would recall seeing those four legged creatures in the distance, and realize they hadn't been dogs.

Could Panos have had an encounter with something like that?

"Something you started?"

But he spoke of a woman who had almost killed him, and Delilah, and who had killed his aunt. What kind of special creature could she have been?

Panos' words were starting to lose focus, what with talk of Anantya, and a 'daughter'. Shay wanted him to get back on track of the woman who caused him to be here tonight. Why his daughter hated him needed to wait.

"I do believe there are other...things...out there. I'm not sure what they are, but I've had a brief encounter with something myself. How does this woman who attacked you fit in?"

Panos nodded. He wouldn't mind meeting up with Shay again and answering any questions she had. It was good to see her even if she was vampire now. That actually gave life a little plus, he didn't have to be as sensitive about things that a human might not feel was appropriate. Typically humans didn't wanna hear or know about any bodies you left lying about.

"Sure, we could do that. I think I would like to get to know vampire Shay, see if your any different than the human version. Sorry if I was a little demanding on you earlier. I'm not in the in with what goes on here and I didn't know. I would have come sooner if I had."

Panos thought back to the night he first ran into Diane in the woods. How many times was it that he had underestimated lone women in the night? Not enough to stop him from targeting them but enough to have learned to be more cautious.

"The woman who attacked us was once a target for dinner. Things went south the first time I came at her and I should have left it at that. Unfortunately I'm too bullheaded for such intelligence. So I sought after her, found out her name her job ectera. We had another fight which I ended up losing again. She actually kidnapped me. Now no random human woman should be that strong. I should have known back then. We had yet another run in and that was when I saw her change into a big ass wolf right in front of me. This last time she came at me and by the end of it she made it perfectly clear that Delilah would be her target next time."

That was a fight her wasn't ready for. He had no idea how to protect the frail little woman against a monster like Diane. Maybe he'd buy Delilah a taser gun to keep with her. That weapon had to work on anyone.

Panos was intrigued to hear that Shay herself had run into something she couldn't explain before. It made him feel a bit more sane. It also sent up warning flags that possibly there were more of these people than he originally thought.

"What did you encounter? Was it anything like what I described? I've only seen one for sure maybe two, she had a wolf with her once and I'm just assuming it had to be like her. How long ago was this?"

Up until he agreed to see her again, Shay hadn't realized just how lonely she'd been. Sure she had made some friends with people at the law firm, and had even gone out a few times, but there just weren't any vampires to socialize with. Somehow that made a difference.

Waving off his apology, Shay just smiled. Anyone who had gone through what Panos had, deserved some slack in the deportment department. She imagined after the horrors of the night Ginnie was killed, she probably hadn't been on her best behavior either.

"That does sound a bit stubborn, yes." She quietly commented upon hearing of his repeated seeking out of the woman who bested him.

Shay also found it interesting that Panos seemed to have an attraction for human women, and wondered why. He had befriended her before she had been turned, and now this Delilah woman. It was strange to Shay because she couldn't imagine anything more than a casual relationship with a human now. But different strokes...

"When my mother...Ginnie...was killed, it was a huge mess. I mean there were explosions, and overall pandemonium. She had gone into this building for a meeting with some people, and I was relegated to keeping the van running outside in case things went south. Unfortunately things went south more quickly and 'explosively' than anyone of us could have imagined."

Shay's gaze grew distant for a few seconds, before she caught herself and continued.

"It was dark outside, of course, but I did catch glimpses of what I thought were very large dogs, at the time. It was only later, when I was trying to relive what happened to see if I could have done something different, when it occurred to me that those animals were larger than dogs.

I've checked around since, trying to find out more, but eventually just gave up. It's been too frustrating, and only served to keep the pain inside too fresh. But my suspicions have always been that there was a lot more going on that night than any of us could understand then."

Shay shrugged. Thinking about that night only made her hurt, and she didn't see the point in that. At one time she thought perhaps she and Alec might dig deeper into Ginnie's murder, but when he left, all hope of that disappeared as well. Shay just didn't have it in her to do something like that alone.

"That was over a year ago."

Usually sharing a common experience with another person was a good thing. Unfortunately for Panos, in this case it was not. Being able to say 'I know how you feel' when Shay spoke about the murder of someone who was closer to her wasn't high on his list.

"I didn't really know Ginnie all that well, but she was a good woman seeing as she took care of you when you were attacked. It's a shame."

Shay's description of event's confirmed the suspicion of there being more of these wolf people. It also gave him a even bigger reason to back off of Diane for now. He knew Delilah would always be a target and until he could figure out a better way to protect her, he'd back down.

"I am not comforted in knowing that there could be tons more of these kinds of people. I mean why not, we are not few in numbers so why should they be? Did the clan after look into it or anything that you know of? Also, where in the hell have they been hiding all this time? I was born in 842 and never once have I encountered anything like them."

A whole new can of proverbal worms had been opened up and Panos sighed before a thought crept up on him. With a wide grin Panos gave Shay a mischievious look.

"I just remembered something you said and I think I missed the best news of all here tonight. You said you hadn't met anyone by the name of Mathias here."

He crossed his legs at the ankles, which like the majority of him, was bare. It was a stretch for a silver linging in the evenings dreariness, but the thought that he wouldn't have to butt heads with that arogant momma's boy put him back in a amusing mood.

"That my fair lady, is very good news to me indeed. We did not get along if you couldn't tell. "

It was good that Panos had nothing bad to say about Ginnie. Shay was a little blind when it came to her mother, and probably because the woman was now gone, seemed to be almost deifying her. Any negative words would have fallen on extremely sensitive ears.

Shay agreed with Panos. While she had no clue just how many such wolves might be in and around Nachton, she never considered their numbers would be too big. Now it seemed they might be, and that didn't please Shay at all.

"I'm afraid I really don't know. There came a time when, for the sake of self preservation, I sort of pulled away from the outside world, except for the sole purpose of survival. Everyone I knew had left, and the pain was so acute that I couldn't make myself to start over...again. Instead of trying to find out more about what had happened, I threw myself into my work, and worked to get by. In the back of my head I think I must have had some hope, or I would have given up completely."

Shay shrugged. Things didn't seem as bleak as they once had, but she still hadn't arrived at the point where she was really excited to rise each evening.

Hearing Panos age didn't phase Shay. She might be a newborn by vampire standards, but she had met and gotten to know some very old members of their race.

"And for all our numbers and years on earth, there are a lot of humans who have no clue about us either..."

Hearing Panos speak of Mathias wasn't the first time for Shay. However, since she didn't know the man, and he didn't seem to be around Nachton for her to meet, she saw no reason to be at all curious. She did find Panos' attitude toward the mystery man funny.

"I'm getting that impression, rapidly. He must have been a true bastard for you to have such an opinion of him. You seem like a level headed man to me."

And for the little bit Shay had seen of Panos, that was her true feeling. For now anyway.

Panos wonder if what Shay suggested was true. Could they wolves went unnoticed for all this time?

"True, we've coexsisted with the humans for centuries without being detected, but theres always been rumors about us. Hell Hollywood loves making movies about our kind. You were even writing a vampire story yourself. So I guess that could be the case, I just woulda thought that by now a few instances would have cropped up."

He shrugged. Of course there were werewolf movies but for some reason, he had always thought of the vampires being the only supernatural race. It was a arrogant and naive way of thinking, but everyone liked to think they were the top of the food chain.

Shay's assessment of Mathias was hard to handle. Panos trying without success to hide a sly smile that was creeping across his face. If he was really a bastard he could take this opportunity to lie to Shay and make up a new way of thinking about the man who wasn't here to defend himself. In all honestly he could have a grand time of things, fabricating events that never happened. Thankfully, he wasn't that cruel, especially not to someone who had been his friend before and was willing to be his friend now. They both had lost enough and he wasn't about to add to any anguish she may suffer in the future.

"Mathias a bastard? Maybe to me yes. To you no, he was your boyfriend slash lover slash the one for you. He coincidered me dangerous and a threat to you. We could hardly be in the same room with each other without verbally cockfighting."

Hopefully, his admission of her past lover wouldn't put her on edge, but he suspected it wouldn't phase her like the rest hadn't.

"Thus my extreme anger when I found you here answering doors. I thought, naturally, the worst of him and what he may have done to you. Or that you were protecting him. I thought he was a douche bag as the kids say nowadays. I wish I knew what had happened to him. You said you don't remember before your undeath, but do you remember the day? Where you out being looney again walking at night? He was supossed to protect you you know."

He knew as well as the next person that shit happens and on more than one occassion had been incapacitated himself, he just wondered if Mathias knew of Shay's current condition.

For whatever reason, Shay found herself growing a little tired. She thought about it briefly, and didn't think sunrise was too close, but then gave Panos her attention again, and merely laid her head on an arm she had thrown over the back of the couch. She smiled at him as she got herself a little more cozy.

"Seriously?! I was writing a book? Now that's one of the most interesting things I've heard in eons! In fact I've found myself keeping a journal lately, for want of keeping track of my life, even as mundane as it is. It's almost been like a compulsion...this need to write. But I didn't give it much thought until right now. I just started writing, and found myself making time each evening to do so."

There were other random things that Shay had wondered about over the more recent months as well. But like the writing, with no background to indicate any connections to her prior life, pretty much just ignored them. This information gave her the spark she needed to stir up interest in those feelings of deja vu, and she promised herself she would look into them in more depth.

"That's one of the things I'll never get used to I guess...having a family, and friends...boyfriends...that I have no recollection of at all. With Ginnie and Alec we managed to concoct a story to feed to the family, so they wouldn't come looking for me. As far as they're concerned, I'm dead...really dead...not here at all.

And considering this Mathias person has yet to show up..." Shay hadn't given the relationship much thought before now, mainly because she really didn't know much. But thinking about it now...

"I can't see that he cared much for me, if he hasn't tried to get in touch during all this time. So I think the term bastard must be fitting. And come on...anyone who would think you were a threat to me!?"

So okay, Shay still didn't really have much to go on when it came to Panos, other than what he had told her, but the man had drug a half dead human who knew how far, to get her help...how could he be bad?!

She waved of Panos' concerns over Mathia and what he imagined had happened.

"Well its all good now, so don't worry about it any further. I think you have enough to keep you busy worrying about your friend, and that wolf woman."

Shaking her head, Shay told Panos of her earliest thoughts.

"No, I don't remember anything before I woke up on Ginnie's couch. Apparently she had found me, dead, in the park somewhere. It looked like I had been having a picnic, or getting ready to have one, when I was attacked. I've wondered once or twice if I had been there to meeth this Mathia person, and even if there was the tiniest possibility he had attacked me, but the one thing people seem to agree on is that they don't think that was the case. A few people have told me that they had seen us together, and there never seemed to be any indication that the man would have had need or reason to kill me."

But once again that information just didn't support the fact that he hadn't come looking for Shay.

"You know...I finally just quit thinking about it altogether. I had no way to get answers, and the questions were just making me crazy."

Shay offered Panos a sad smile that only lasted seconds, before her face cleared and she was devoid of all sadness.

"So what are your plans now? What will you do with your friend once she's ready to leave the hospital, and do you think you're going to try to find this wolf woman again, and get rid of her once and for all?"

Panos was happy to hear the surprize in Shay's voice when he told her about the book she had been writing. He even thought he heard a little excitment, and he didn't blame her. It warmed him to have been able to give that tiny bit to her.

"It looks like you were right. You may have lost your memory but parts of you are still drawn to the same things. I bet you could write some pretty interesting things about vampires now that you are one. What better place to hide than in the truth?"

She teased him about his apparent danger to her as a human and that made him laugh. Reflecting back on his previous behaviors of a few years ago he definately was unstable. If he had been in Mathias's place he would have behaved the same way.

"It took me sometime to realize how to behave in public I guess. It was well known that I was clanless, which paints a target on your back for being a bit 'off'. I can't say I blame him too much. I wouldn't of want you around me either."

His tone was amused. He never really thought of himself as such a bad ass terror or anything. It just had taken along time before both Alexandra and Chryseis had arrived in his life to ground him into some emotional state of normalacy.

"He also worshipped the ground you walked on, and even though I couldn't stand him, I too don't think he do this to you and run. Maybe out of shame but even then..."

Panos didn't have alot of room to talk in this subject. While he hadn't run off on his creation, he had basically acted just as poorly.

Shay's question was one he'd have to give alot of thought to. Normally impulsive, Panos was beginning to learn that sometimes patience and a well thought out plan was the way to go.

"You know, I really have no idea at this point. I have to figure out a way to keep Delilah protected and it almost seems impossible. For starters she listens as well as a child majority of the time, so it's not like I can tell her to stay home. Another thing, this woman is pretty good with things I have no experience with. Survelliance, electronics, all that good shit you see in movies. So I'm sure she's heavily guarded. Then there is the whole 'what if there's more' worry. My luck? I'd trample right on into a whole nest of them and get myself killed for the second time. I was never good with tactical measures, I'm the rush in and kill them kind of guy."

It was a tactic that didn't seem to work against Diane's type.

Looking at Shay and how her head rested on her arm he felt guilty for keeping her from her previously planned evening. Hell the woman obviously had a life here at Tacharan and he had interupted it.

"Hey you know what, I'm sure you've got tons of things to do. Please don't feel like you have to stay with me. I was pretty bratty earlier when I thought you were just mad at me but honestly you don't have to sit here and listen to me. I don't want to keep you from your plans."

He was more than glad to have reunited with Shay, and she had already suggested they meet up so he knew he'd see her again. He didn't see any reason to keep her located across from him if she had other things to attend to.

"Hmmm...I'm not sure I could 'out' our kind in a book. Wouldn't that be like asking for trouble? And I really don't think I'm the type that likes pain, or at least I haven't seen that side of me if I am."

There were probably always going to be questions about her past, but Shay was happy not worrying about it.

"And I'd never do anything to put anyone else in danger..."

The Tacharan had saved her, given her a home, and a purpose.

Listening to Panos talk about being without a clan only reinforced Shay's feelings of gratitude. Though she didn't see why someone should be ostercized for remaining outside the clans if they wanted to live that way.

Further talk of the Mathias man fell on fairly deaf ears. Shay wasn't being obnoxious about it, but it just held no meaning for her. And like all things that fell under that catagory, she saw no reason to concern herself with it. She relaxed a little more once Panos moved onto other subjects.

"Well, I have to admit I would like to find out more about these wolf people...and that might be something I could write about. What do I care if I find out something that would bring harm to them? They did kill my mother after all."

And though Shay had no concrete evidence of her words, for the time being it just all seemed to make so much sense to her. If she could find out something to prove that was what happened, perhaps she'd find a bit more peace.

"Then you definitely should steer clear of hunting them alone. Even though I just met you...well, you know what I mean, I find you to be good company, and I have so little of that these days. I don't particularly want to lose you now."

Thoughts of Panos dying in any way like Ginnie made Shay shiver involuntarily.

"What? Tons of things to do? Nah...all I had planned for the evening was a bottle of wine and some TV. I'm a little tired, but trust me, this has been the most interesting night I've had in ages."

But as if to prove her a liar, Shay also yawned involuntarily, and followed up with an embarrassing giggle.

"I'll stay, if you're sure I'm not boring you. Though I will warn you that the closer we get to daylight, I'm apt to nod off. So if that happens, just give me a nudge. My hours at work are somewhat flexible, so if I sleep in a bit longer I'll be okay."

He was glad to hear that the new Shay liked having him around. Not that she was entirely all that different, but there had been a moment of worry that he would have lost his friend along with her memory.

"Aww why thank you." He teased good naturedly before becomming a little more serious.

"Although you should be just as careful if you do start writing about them. I'm not too sure they'd be pleased with being outted themselves and if your out trying to learn more about them...well, let's just say we've seen what they can do and I don't want you to get mixed up in it."

Panos would lose his mind if more people around him began dropping off like flies at the hands of the wolves. Particularly ones he cared about like Shay. It was obvious going after them wasn't possible for one vampire alone.

"If you do plan on doing some digging I just ask if you would give me a call and let me tag along. Not that I don't think your competent, I'm just saying."

He was being careful not to step on any toes or to lead Shay into believe that he thought she was weak. Truth be told he had no idea how strong or capable she was, he had never seen her in action. His only thought was to be the extra eye and assist her if she needed it.

That was partly a lie, he also wanted to protect her, just in case.

"If this was the extent of some excitment for you in ages then I'll warn you right now, you're gonna turn into an old creepy woman one day. They'll ship you off to Heolfor to live with all the other stuff shirt stiffs over there." He laughed and shook his head.

"Your not boring me at all Shay. You hours of non remembering entertainment at least. Besides, if you leave I'll just sit here and think up how that redhead is probably letting Delilah die and how many way's i can creatively tear her throat out. That's fun in all but it'll just make me angry."

For not the first time tonight, Shay considered how comfortable she felt talking to Panos. Strangely enough, he seemed almost familiar to her.

She considered him in more depth, as he spoke, thinking she might gain some insight. Unfortunately no answers came forth.

The man was attractive, and in all truth it had been forever since Shay had looked upon a man that way. In a slightly creepy sense, Shay had 'objectively' seen Alec that way, before she pushed those ideas from her head adamantly. He had been like a father to her, and the fact that he didn't look to be a 'father' age shouldn't have any bearing on anything. She hated it, but in a way she felt lucky that he had left town before she had really had to face those feelings.

And while she had been with Dayle, thoughts of men, or other women for that matter, weren't anything she devoted time to.

But Shay had been alone for some time now. Was it odd that she might start seeing people in a more amorous light? Not that she had any designs on Panos. But he was attractive.

"Well, you can relax. I don't have any desire to put myself into any kind of danger. I think I could still do a little investigating without running that risk, as long as I keep very careful...not putting myself into dangerous situations, like dark alleys, or forests..."

She nodded in agreement.

"And you can count on that. Company would be welcome, and with someone who shares my interest I think I'd be better able to get the information I want quicker."

Plus Shay thought she recognized a bit of the male protective armor that Alec had shown. She wasn't so much of a feminist that she wouldn't acknowledge her weaknesses.

Yes, being a vampire gave Shay strength that another mortal woman her size might not have, but male vampires were equally stronger, as their mortal male counterparts were. It was what it was.

"You know, my education is sorely lacking. While I know several Tacharans, I've yet to meet any Anantyas or Evenhets, though I've heard of several. At least not to my knowledge. Are they really that different?"

Shay had heard about the different clans, and new most of the differences, or those that were blatant. Then to there was her strident loyalty to the Tacharans. Yet she was curious.

"I hope you don't truly feel that way. I can't believe anyone in Tacharan would offer help then not follow through. I will admit I don't know this Kenley woman, but still...I'd think your Delilah is in good hands."

Shay raised her eyebrow at Panos' threat, and shook her head like a mother might when dealing with a young son. For all she knew, Panos might truly do as he stated, but Shay refused to believe that. She would see him in a positive light until she saw him otherwise. It was the way she was.

Panos was glad to hear that Shay had a level head. Not so many women around him these days could lay claim that personality feature. Still though with Shay poking around maybe they could find out some information on these creatures. They wouldn't suspect her, at least Diane wouldn't. He was certain the broad hadn't seen Shay before, especially since he hadn't in year either. Panos also doubted Diane had tracked him as well. Besides teh fact she took off before him, she had been sorely injured herself. Maybe she couldn't heal as quickly as he could. It was one thing he hoped. Let her feel that crushed face for some time, the damned bitch.

"You know, I could probably get you the information I have on Diane. I had to do some reconnaissance myself to figure out what had happened to me a while back. Maybe it will help you out. You might be able to dig up something other than I did, I'd admit to being blinded by fury and revenge."

Shay's question about the habits of the other clans had him thinking. For being someone who was at odds with most people he probably wasn't one to get a good answer out of. Each clan had their flaws and in his opinion Tacharan was equally messed up as the other two. It just didn't seem to be in him to conform to laws and by laws and codes of conduct. It was almost as if it was written on paper he was bound to break it.

"Well, for Evenhet I only knew one guy really. He was an ass but I'm not sure he was the spokesman for them. Me and him were sort of on the outs to start with. The Anantya, I guess I just seem them as all like Chryseis. Old as dust, devoid of a good time. I stayed away from there as much as I could though for a few reasons. Mostly I didn't want Chrys to get the shit turned on her. They are pretty rigid around there."

That wasn't entirely true. Fallon was a member there and he was positive that she wasn't an old fuddy duddy or ridgid. In fact she was running the place which was a scarey thought. Maybe all the old ones in Anantya at some point or another lost their minds and lost what was left of them that was alive. He shruddered at that fate that Fallon had chosen for herself. It saddened him a bit, but it was better for her than being rogue like he was.

"Though they aren't all old in Anantya, so I really can't stake much claim in that. I guess that makes me a crap source for info on the other clans." He laughed good naturedly.

He wasn't surprised at Shay's strong belief in her clan but he wasn't as trusting as she was. Too much was at stake and sometimes people, namely those in power, see any sort of weakness or leaverage to use they took it and ran with it. It had been his experience for years and he didn't see why it would be any different now. He kept that opinion to himself mostly because he knew it would be wise.

"I hope you are right. You'll have to excuse my lack of trust right about now I'm a little edgy."

"That would be appreciated, really."

Now that she had an avenue to follow, which might have a connection to her mother's killers, Shay wasn't about to pass it up. Even if it turned out to be a dead end, at least she'd have increased knowledge, and what she found out might help in the future.

"Sometimes it helps having another set of eyes look at something."

Not that she could be totally objective, but given that she and Panos were two different people, her slant on the information could be different too, and as such offer other insight.

Then too there was the emotional coloring. While Shay was still in pain over the loss she'd suffered, time was blurring the sharpness there. Because Panos' own experience was newer, it stood to reason his pain, and anger would be edgier. Shay should be able to be slightly more objective.

Hearing Panos speak of the other clans, Shay tried to hear beyond her own Tacharan prejudices. He didn't really have much to say about the Evenhet, but that in itself reaffirmed what Shay had heard. The Evenhets were reported to be the most 'human' of the clans, preferring to live and work among the humans, in a harmony of sorts. Shay could identify a little with that, since she also worked in an office surrounded by humans. As it happened, her boss was a Tacharan, and had hired her, but their activities outside the office were private, and not known to the human co-workers. It was lucky for them both that the office was operated on a 24/7 basis. Because of that they fit in fine.

The little background Panos gave her on the Anantya also coincided with what she had heard. They were the oldest of the clans, much more regimented to history, and an overall stuffy group. Hearing this made Shay even that much more determined to actually meet some of these other clan members. She never liked using hearsay as gospel, and wanted to form her own opinions from her own experiences.

Shay laughed along with Panos, glad he wasn't one of those people who thought their words were the only ones that mattered.

"I understand how you feel. After Ginnie died, it took me a long time to look at anyone without immediately suspecting them of something. Having that kind of thing happen really shakes a person's entire belief system. But through it all the Tacharan have been there, and given me no reason to doubt them..."

But that didn't mean they were all holy either. Shay wasn't that naive. She wondered briefly what had happened to make Panos feel as he did.

Rolling onto her back, reclining against the sofa, Shay closed her eyes.

"Seems like its taking a long time to take care of your friend. Sure hope she didn't require surgery, or anything..."

Even if Delilah had required surgery, Shay thought someone would have come in and given Panos some sort of update on his friend's condition by now.

Then again, she didn't have much sense of time, nor a watch. Perhaps they hadn't really been out of touch that long yet.

Kenley walked quickly back down the hallway away from the elevators toward the conference room where Panos and Shay had settled. The on site doctors had managed to stabilize the young lady and was very positive about her recovery. Kenley knew what the meant or rather implied - there were things that the clan did that not only bordered on illegal but were downright heinous, but life was a premium and the cost was only eternity.

So to speak.

Kenley approached the door and paused to straighten her skirt. With a deep breath, she entered the room quietly. She waited for their attention and then she smiled as sweetly as she could.

'Mr. Mehalitsenos, your friend has been stabilized, but still in critical condition. The doctors do not advise moving her so she is more than welcomed to recoup here.' Kenley tucked a red piece of hair behind her ear and continued. 'Your quarters are still available here within the Domicile, and if you wish to use them, you need only speak with the Leader.'

That was as much as the Leader would say, not that she'd be privy to what he thought of Mr. Mehalitsenos; his file was pretty clear as to his neutrality, and possible disdain, for the clan. Kenley would leave it at that and let him decide for himself.

'If there's nothing else?' Kenley hooked a thumb over her shoulder, redying herself to leave.

It was almost as if the woman heard what Shay had said, entering the room just then with word on Delilah.

"Well, there you go then! Sounds like not only has your friend lucked out tonight, but you have as well."

At least that was how Shay took it, hearing Panos could resume residency at the Domicile. It would offer him a lot more safety than he could obtain on the outside, and of course he would be closer to Delilah, while she recovered.

It might also be good for Shay, having her new friend so close. Perhaps they could spend more time conferring on what might be done about the wolf people. Shay was excited about that prospect.

For Shay, there were no negatives in the offer, but she would obviously defer to Panos' decision.

Panos turned as Kenley entered the room. At the sight of her his breath held in his chest, anticipating the worst. It wasn't until she explained that at the very least Delilah wasn't dead, that he let the breath out.

A premature reaction on his part.

He hadn't expected them to offer his old quaters and the feeling of unease rippled through his stomach. It was the smart choice and Shay was delighted by the news. Right now it was the only place he had any allies, even if they were new and tentative. What was he going to do? Go back to the house where Chryseis's remains were scattered over the floor? Panos wasn't sure he was ready for that just yet.

His gaze shifted to Shay before he looked back to Kenley.

"Thank you Kenley. Tell the Leader I'll speak with them."

Bottom line was the wolves knew where he and Delilah lived. It wasn't safe there anymore, and Diane had the uncanny ability to find him where ever he went. At least here there would be no way she could get in right? Staying here would keep him closer to Delilah while she recovered and Shay also lived here. It was the right thing to do, but for some reason Panos shoulders felt alot heavier.

Kenley nodded and began to turn toward the door when she felt more than heard the sharp screech of her phone in her ears. Her stealth ringtone gently pierced her ears, letting her know that she had an incoming phone call, but did not disturb those around her. She wasn't altogether sure if it bothered the vampires in the Domicile, but no one had complained yet.

Pulling her phone out of her skirt pocket, she answered it immediately. The voice was not only familiar, it made her stop in her steps and turn back toward the two vampires in the room. She listened for a moment.

'Yes sir.' Kenley looked up at Panos and added, 'Yes, sir.'

Closing her phone, Kenley turned back toward Mr. Mehalitsenos.

'Excuse me again, Mr. Mehalitsenos, but it so happens that the Leader is here. Now.'

"Oh? Maybe I'd better leave then, if you're going to talk to Simon now?"

Shay had seen Simon on occasion, but wasn't sure the man knew her on sight. But that wasn't the point. It didn't seem likely either man would want her sitting in on their meeting, nor did she have any business doing so.

And yet she didn't jump up and leave. A part of her felt something...protective? And didn't want to leave Panos when he seemed so vulnerable. Though she did consider that feeling a bit, since it wasn't like her to concern herself with the woes of others, especially when she had only just met them.

But there was that niggling feeling that she did know Panos, more than she had learned in the time spent together tonight. It really must be some residual memories from her past. It was the only way she could explain it.

Were memories coming back to her? That thought would definitely require further investigation. For now she moved to the edge of her seat on the couch, ready to depart as soon as someone gave her leave, or her instincts told her it was the best for all involved.

Panos hadn't expected to meet Tacharan's leader dressed the way he was, solely wearing a pair of dark jeans, but it would have to do. After all his appearance practically represented the state of his life as it was; bare bones minimum.

He also didn't know how to feel to hear Simon was currently in charge. He had only one run in with Simon when he first arrived in Nachton and it had been to test him concerning his abilities and clanliness. That said, it hadn't been a meeting of really 'getting to know' one another. Had it been Ellis Panos was meeting tonight, he would have known a little more of what to expect as he had once lived under her dictatorship.

Flashing Shay a weak smile he nodded.

"I probably should address this now. Although I still would like to give you that paperwork I have so I will contact you? Deals still on to get together again soon right?"

He didn't want to come right out and say..."That information on the one werewolf I told you about", in front of Kenley. He had no idea what the clan knew or if they'd think he had fallen and bumped his head, so he kept it light. Shay would understand, or so he hoped.

When he had left the clan, he had gotten away rather easily and without much residual backlash. Now it was time to man up and face Simon to see if that was still holding.

He stepped towards Kenley.

"Ready to follow."

( ooc : Panos out pending responses)

Kenley tucked her phone back into her pocket and smiled at Miss O'Mannon. 'Very well,' she replied quietly and exited out the conference room door to give the pair more privacy.

(ooc - Kenley out ))

Without waiting for a response, Shay picked up her purse from the floor where she'd dropped it earlier, and dug out a pad and pen.

"Here is my apartment, and cell phone numbers. I'll be waiting to hear from you."

Standing, Shay put a hand on Panos' shoulder, and gave him a comforting squeeze.

"Whenever you're ready, but until then, take care."

She hoped his meeting went well, and that he might soon find some ease in his life, be it with the Tacharans, or his friend Delilah.

Shay followed the two out, and quickly made her way home. The bottle of wine forgotten, replaced with many new questions to think on.

(Shay out)