Slipping in

Carol's eyes narrowed as she watched Panos come in via the back door and trigger the silent alarm. More often than not, it was a clan member trying to sneak in and more often than not, it was caught on the monitors that are lined up on the wall to the right of her desk.

'What is he holding?' She asked herself out loud. With a huff she put her pen down and stood to look closer. 'Is that a...GAH!' Carol threw her hands up and turned on a delicately strapped heel to head out her door and intercept the vampire and his contraband.

Carol settled down on the couch in living room and waited in the dark. She crossed her leg and started to dangle her sandal off her petite little foot. Checking her watch, her eyes narrowed again.

Carol crossed her arms and waited for Panos to come into his apartment.

Panos Mehalitsenos Panos said clearly once inside the elevator. The doors closed and the elevator began its decent with a slight jar.

He opened the palm of his hand and ggazed upon the bird. He watched its tiny chest softly rising and for a split second he imagened his fingers curling back over her and crushing the life force out.

The elevators quiet 'ding' led him out of his macrabe thoughts. A quick shake of the head he stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall. 100 paces to his front door was all it took to bring him home.

He opened the door and alarms went off in his head. Something was different in the darkness before him. Something in here was...alive.

He reached out with his empty hand and flipped the light switch. Sitting before him on the couch was a human.

Welcome to my home Carol. What great honor do i owe to this visit? Do i dare say that a possible fire has sparked between us and you've been waiting here for me to grab you into my arms and steal you away from your Mistress?

He grabbed at his chest above his heart in mock romance.

With a smirk she watched Panos grab his chest playfully. 'Uh, yeah, you got me,' she said in a monotone voice. Standing she walked up to Panos and pointed at the bird.

The Domicile did not permit smoking, hence Ellis and her peanut m&m's everywhere, and pets. She pointed at he bird and then stook an idignant stance with her hip jutting out and her arms crossed.

'What gives?'

Panos grinned boyishly.

This little thing? he uncoiled his hand, palm flat out for Carol to view the bird.

Its a new thing i'm trying. Keeping a bedside snack, you know, for when you wake mid-day and just have a insationable craving?

he paused.

Oh wait, of course you know what i'm talking about. Your Ellis's midday snack! You see Carol, mine is much smaller, and fits in my pocket. A togo snack if you'd like.

He folded his hand back up and tucked the bird in his pocket and patted at it.

Mmm Tastey.

(OOC: haha sorry for having Chrys post. delete that if you can!)

'Oh really?' She tilted her head to the side prettily, 'well dont let me stop you, go right ahead and chow down.' Carol gave him a rather large grin.

'Did you need a napkin?' She asked, pointing over her shoulder and batting her eyelashes.

'Did you need a napkin?' Carols voiced chimed at him.

That damned woman. He should of known that be her response. He hesitated a moment and then an idea struck him. An idea he was shocked he'd even concidered.

'How many years of living this vampiric life have I lived and this choice has never occured to me for anything?' He had never made any of his own vampires before nor had he ever been close enough to anyone to concider bonding to them. Humans, they died all too quick and all too soon. Leaving you with a bonded lost soul, your heart out on strings and the loneliness centuries couldnt heal. He was better off being alone.

But now what was different? He would have to feed her his blood as soon as Carol left for it to work. But bonded to an Anantya? He grimaced at the thought but something from inside urged his decision.

No, no napkin needed. I'm only messy if thats how you like it.He licked his lips at Carol and reached in his pocket.

He showed the bird to Carol once more and placed it up to his lips. His hand quivered for a moment before he bared his fangs and sunk them into the birds fragile flesh. The bird began to convulse in his mouth sending tremors throught his back. His eyes rolled into his head as memories began to flash into his mind.

Memories of small hut, a small girl child laughing, of a mans gentle face sleeping. They came so fast at him he could hardly stand up. He pulled his fangs out of the tiny body that was now, hardly breathing. As the last of his teeth retracted he had one last fleeting memory from the Anantya bird, it was a man waving goodbye, a man who Panos recognized as his father.

Panos knees buckled slightly as he pulled the bird away from his lips. He straightened his self up and looked back to Carol.


Your mistress has the right idea miss Carol. He took a few steps towards her and caressed her face.

A bird is nothing in comparison to the taste of sweet human flesh. Have i preformed nicely for you dear? Or shall i show you again, this time personally?

Carol smirked again and pointed a manicured nail into his face. 'Listen bucko, you no touchie these goods.'

She backed off and gave him a sad smile, 'Seriously, are you trying to get me in trouble? You just fed on a bird. That's so gross, honestly.' She tsked him.

She moved around him and put her hand on the door and gave him a look, waiting for his reponse.

Gross as it may be sweetie, it's the snack of choice for me. I promise to keep it hidden. This bird never sings. He grinned broadly and bowed before her.

Keep your goodies safe miss Carol. This is the only snack i'll be bringing in here i promise.

Carol gave him a sidelong glance and opened the door. As she exited she again pointed at him, 'I'm watching you, Mister. BOTH EYES watching you.'

Then she gave him an impish smile and blew him a kiss as she shut the door.

((ooc Carol out))

Ellis's little familiar already has my number! Damn hawk eye'd bitch.

A movement in his hand made him glance down. The bird had grown larger! He immediatly took off for his bedroom, shutting all doors behind him to insure his privacy. Carol would have to come through them all and he would hear her if she tried to sneak up again.

He placed the bird in the center of his bed thought hard.

How was he going to feed a bird his own blood? Lost in his thoughts of trying to force the semi concious bird to peck his skin, Panos did not notice that the bird was changing.

A blur of feathers and flesh began to assemble on the bed just out of his line of sight. Without much blood left in her, her body could not keep the form of the bird.

Aha! I've got it! Panos announced.

That is when he notice the woman lying on his bed. Her eyes half open, her head rolled to face him. Her soft beautiful lips parted in efforts to speaks. Silence followed the slight movements of her jaw. Her eyes rolled uncontroled in her head.

Panos sat on the bed next to her and brushed a golden brown curl out of her face.

Not so fiesty now are you? Still beautiful if i may add.

Her arm raised slightly and then dropped back down in faint argument.

Shhh, now now. Don't try to fight me. Your very weak, and if i were going to kill you, you'd be dead already. So please relax.

He leaned his body over hers and whispered in her ear.

I think i know who you are now, but I dont know how its possible. You died a long time ago, in a one room shack near the water. You should of died from the black death, you shouldn't be here today. But then again neither should I.

He sat back and turned his right arm over and exsposed his wrist to her. She stared defiantly up at him behind saggin eye lids. Pressing it to her lips he spoke again.

This is the only way out of here alive Chryseis Mehalitsenos. I think both you and I know that. Theres not enough strength left in you for you to change back into a bird at this point and theres no one else to feed on. Your in Tacharan land now, theres many hidden rules to play by.

Chryseis finally found the strength to focus her eyes. It was that face from the bar, and then the face from the museum. A face, she could hardly recognize as a face from her past.

But how could it be? A vampire never aged, and he never regressed in age, yet somehow this man looked like a young version of her brother Alexander.

Alexander? She whispered weakly.

The man chuckled and pressed his wrist to her lips with greater force.


No my dear, I am not my father. I was but a thought when you 'died'. I am named after your son, ...Panos.

Alexanders son? A nephew she did not remember?

Her mind reeled as it fought to stay concious. The distinct noise of static began to fill her ears. Her eyes rolled once more. A moan escaped her lips.

The man who claimed to be Panos blood of Alexander, spoke but she couldn't make out what was said. Liquid drops of fear and agony trailed down from the corners of her eyes and spread into many tiny channels down her cheeks.

She felt the pressure against her lips once again and smelt the sweet aroma of blood. Without a thought to what she was doing, Chryseis's fangs sunk deeply into the flesh before her. Pure ecstacy poured from the wound that had been created for her to drink from. Her hands reached up and circled tightly around the forearm of the bloodgiver and drew it closer. She bit down harder.

Shinning images of her children danced in her minds eye. Medea laughing and playing, Falnos climbing a tree and baby Panos crawling in the soft sand. The images flew by picking up speed at an alarming rate. The began to switch from beautiful good images to horrible, vicous images of death and destruction. Drunkness and disaster. She saw her childrens dead and lifelessbodies rotting in the hut that only now half stood. She saw her brother Alexander, laying still, his face contorted in terror. Her inner voice screamed.

With a sudden gasp, Chryseis broke free from the wrist she fed upon and collasped once again onto the bed.

Damn! Panos swore when Chryseis had released his wrist from her death bite.

He felt a bit weak and woozy. The woman who was his aunt had screamed before she collapsed and he hoped his room was sound proof enough to cover it.

He leaned back and reached for the fur blanket that was hung from the footboard of his bed. Unfoldin it he stood and covered her still body.

Good night my sweet aunt, don't let the nightmares bite. He whispered as he wiped a droplet of his blood from her lips.

He left the bedroom and closed the door, lockin it behind him. He flopped his body onto the great leather couch and sighed. Casting a glance at the key in his hand, he thought it best to put it somewhere close to him. Panos slipped the key past the lip of his pants down next to his groin.

'That should do it' he thought.

His eyes fluttering closed, Panos let himself fall asleep.

She awoke with a sudden start. Eyes wide open and frantic, Chryseis sat up quickly. The taste of many days passed lined her mouth.Scanning her surrounding she found that indeed, she had not dreamt this up. She had been living the nightmare this whole time.

She was alone in the room, that she was sure of. Alone and trapped inside the heart of Tacharan. She knew she couldnt just walk out, she would be seen. It was possible she wouldnt be recognized, but surely that was a hope she'd rather not trust.

Swiftly she lept from the bed without a sound. A glance down revieled her slightly torn and dishevled clothing.

'A mess indeed.' she thought sourly and shook her head.

Chryseis began to scan the room looking for a way out. She was definatly underground, the dead hints at that were the loss of windows and the slight stagnant air.

It would do good for Ellis to invest in some air filtration for this place. That poor womans skin.

She enjoyed the joke with herself quietly as her eyes took to the ceiling. She spotted the face plate of an air duct almost immediatly. It was very well hidden and perfectly blended with the pattern of wallpaper.

'This will be cake' she said to herself, grinning.

Carol sat back in her office chair, tapping her lips with her fountain pen. Her eyes narrowed as she thought about Panos. There was something fishy about him and his bird. She turned to look at the surveillance monitors that were on his level. Nothing stirred.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Taking her pen, she started to effortlessly twirl it between her fingers. Flipping it over one finger, then under another without a second thought. She did not stop when her computer notified her of an obstructed vent. Carol reached out and touched the keyboard, checking the location of the vent.

'God...damnit,' she sputtered as her computer notified her that the location of the obstruction was on Panos' floor. Slamming her pen down, she stood once again and headed towards his apartment.

'Friggin bird caught in the ventilation system, perfect.'

Carol stopped at the door and doubled back to her desk. Reaching in she drew a small .22 pistol and with a satisfied nod, left her office.

Chryseis's crawl was slow and deliberate. She wanted to keep her noise down to a minimum as she inched over what was an ajoining room to the bedroom. From one of the vent openings she could see Panos asleep sprawled out haphazardly on his fine brown leather couch.

15 more feet and i should be right outside the doors to his quaters.

She spoke out loud to keep focused. The duct itself was just wide enough for her body and tall enough for her spine to rub against the cold steel. If she wasnt clausterphobic now, she would be soon.

Her hands were begining to sweat, and the sweat was collecting the dust onto her palms.

'Simply filthy' she shruddered.

The duct opened up and split in two directions. She determined that at this point she was above the hallway just outside Panos doors. Choosing right, because she was right handed, Chryseis took off, not really knowing where she was headed.

Carol stood outside Panos' apartment. She was listening. Looking up at the ceiling, she jumped up slightly to try and see into one of the vents but to no avail. She walked over to a computer panel and touched it. The screen lit up as she used her security password to access her terminal back in her office. She again checked the location of the obstruction, which seemed to be moving.

Right above her.

Carol looked up, waiting. She blinked once and held her breath. It was as quiet as a graveyard, so to speak. Looking back at the terminal she called up the ventilation plans. Touching a few buttons left 1 blinking. She looked again. Nothing still.

She pressed the PURGE button.

((incoming gust of wild air!)

'What the fuck?'

Carol jumped when she heard the first of the thudding noises erupting from the ceiling. She watched the noise move, thumping and thudding against the sides and then a sudden screeching noise.

'What the fuck??!'

The honey dew blonde pressed the security button and the alarms started to blare loudly in the Domicile. Walking over to Panos' door she began to bang loudly. With each thump of her hand she punctuated with a curse word until finally she yelled above the squaking alarms.

'THAT IS NOT A FUCKING BIRD. PANOS!!!!'

With lightning speed security was behind her, guns drawn. Carol pointed back towards the noise and yelled, 'There is something in the ceiling, I think someone's crawling up there.'

She continued pounding on Panos' door. 'PANOS!!! GOD DAMNIT PANOS!!!'

The hideous screetch of the high tech alarm system jarred Panos from his slumber. He sat up with a jerk trying to remember where he was and what was going on.

PANOS!!! GOD DAMN IT PANOS!!! Carol was shouting over the alarm. Her tiny fists making soft thuds on his door in comparison to the alarm and her voice. His heart jumped into his throat.

Oh shit!

Panos sprung up from the couch and ran to the adjoining door to his bedroom. Grabbing the door knob he jerked on it but it didnt turn. He remember he had locked it earlier and began to fumble in his undershorts looking for the key, it was gone. He turned and saw that it was laying on the ground in front of the couch. Racing over he snatched it up and jogged back to the door. With shaking hands he unlocked the door and threw it open.

His bed was empty.

Fuck....FUCK. He cursed.

Carol was still shouting and pounding on his door and he heard others approaching. Panicing he frantically looked around the room searching for any type of clues. Almost immediatly he saw the open vent from above. He smacked his forehead and began to think.

I'm so fucked. We're so fucked!

His stay with the Tacharan clan hadnt been long and he feared this would be the end of it.

The alarms began to blare through the ducts and Chryseis cringed. She had been found all too soon.

I have to move, I HAVE to get moving.

Using all her strength Chryseis began to try and move forward against the winds, her hands slipping from the sweat and grime made her fall to her elbows once again.

She winced and closed her eyes to think. She wasn't strong enough to turn into the nightingale again, it was a skill that took alot out of her and she did not want to waste any engery just yet.

All she could do was continue to try and get through the metal tunnel.

Carol, pissed beyind comprehension now, stopped pounding on Panos' door and ran up to the Mercenaries and the thumping noise in the ceiling.

Above the noice she yelled, 'Shoot it out, whatever it is!' She pointed at the approximate size of the thumping. 'Here and here. DO IT NOW!'

The 2 of the Mercs pulled out their long hunting knives and jumped up onto the ceiling, cutting long gashes into the ceiling ventilation. They both cut L shapes as Carol walked over and stood by the computer panel, waiting to turn off the purge system.

Sitting with her feet up on her desk, her heavy buckled boots tapped as she read her daily reports. Ellis cupped her chin in her hand and was typing one handed when the alarms went off. She looked up and sighed. Checking her computer, she found the origins of the alarm and saw Carol standing on one of the apartment levels. She watched Carol walk over and start to pound on someone's door yelling as the Mercs arrived. Further investigation showed it was Panos' door.

Dropping her feet with a thud, she huffed, picked up her sword, and walked over to her stairs. 'Oh.' She murmured as she turned around, grabbed a handful of M&M's and then jumped her loft railing and ran with liquid speed to Carol.

Carol's eyes widened as she heard the sharp cry. She touched the purge button as the Mercs peeled back the steel panel with ease. Clinging onto the metal box was a woman, now with a fresh cut on her face.

She ran up to the box, just underneath, looking up at the woman as Ellis turned the corner, sword in hand and with a smile.

'Who the fuck are you and why are you in my ventilation system?'

Winter had been sitting in a corner playing his PSP when all the comotion erupted, his curiosity perked he sttod and wandered over to where the noise was coming from.. 'The guards are attacking the ceiling...cool, but I can't see what it could have done to them..' he then heard the scream and for a moment thought the ceiling was screaming in pain..'thats odd...'

he walked over closer to where Carol was standing.. standing there looking up aswell..

'Who the fuck are you and why are you in my ventilation system?'

"Maybe she lives in there.. " he interjected with a faintly amused tone in his voice

((ooc: the peanut gallery has arrived))

The steel was peeled out from under her and she braced herself by using the sides of the duct. Looking down with wild eyes Chryseis glared at the angry little blonde.

Who the fuck are you and why are you in my ventilation system? the woman demanded.

From the crowd of guards around the woman, a paler being slipped through. He looked up to her and their eyes met briefly.

Maybe she lives in there.. This man seemed amused.

Chryseis wished it were an amusing situation.

A tall prominate woman entered the scene almost at the same time as the ghostly one. She made a playful gesture to him before she looked up as well. It was Ellis, the leader of Clan Tacharan. Elegant and trashy, beautiful and yet ugly in her ways of thinking, Ellis placed a perfect hand on the hilt of her sword and waved to Chryseis. It was a relaxed yet poised stance and Chryseis knew not to doubt what could happen from here.

With a quick push off the walls chryseis let herself drop down in the center of the crowd. She landed as graceful as a cat. Her hair dishevled and her cheek leaking blood, Chryseis straighten her skirt.

I guess this is my grand enterance.

She turned and faced Ellis.

Ellis. She stated the womans name in recognition.

'Hiya, Chrys,' Ellis said with a laugh, but her smile turned severe as she took a step towards the Anantya.

'My my, what have we here? An Anantya on soiled ground?' She tsked and walked over to Panos' door, opening it with her Leader access thru the computer panel.

'Panos courting a little out of league?' She looked into Panos' apartment, waiting for an answer.

Don't be digusting. Chryseis said flattly.

I have higher standards than that Ellis. A fallen apple contains far too many bruises for my likes.

Panos heard the commotion outside his entry door and rushed to it. As he reached for the handle it swung open and Ellis stood before him.

Panos courting a little out of league? She questioned.

If you can call it that. You can see by her tone she likes to play hard to get.

He stepped to the door frame and evaluated the situation. 4 guardsmen surround a very angry Carol, all of which were vampires, another vampire who was ghastly pale even next to his aunt, and then there was Ellis.

A tough situation no matter how he looked at it, but he knew the Anantya was well trained and his own training while reckless was still something to write home about. They had a very slime window for survival but it was possible.

Playing it cool, Panos leaned up against the door frame and grinned to Carol.

Come back for more sweety?

Ellis watched Panos size up the Mercs and then casually leaned against the hallway wall. 'Should I bother asking why or should we just escort the Anantya to the surface?' She was in no mood, especially now with Carol fuming. Ellis looked over at her and put a hand on Carol's shoulder.

'Ease up, Annie Oakley,' she murmured with a smile.

Looking back at Panos she asked, 'So, what gives?'

What gives is nothing new Ellis. Chryseis interupted Your Tacharan children are out of hand, like usual. Breaking and entering, kidnapping to say the least. When will you learn to distill order and teach your minions some manors?

Her words were harsh yet Chryseis displayed no emotional reaction on her face. She raised a hand to smear the blood on her already healing cut.

Maybe it is Simon who should lead this clan of ill gotten fools. He at least has decency and manors, those can go along way in a persons teachings. But then again, i shouldn't exspect so much from those vampires who have fallen from the fold. I demand to be shown out of this sanctuary for bandits immediatly.

Ellis took several steps closer to the Anantya and sniffed. 'And you wonder why not one but two clans split off in the first place.' Without looking away she addressed the Mercs. 'Kindly have Chryseis taken to the surface and out of my fucking sight.'

Ellis then turned and looked at Panos. Quicker than a blink of an eye, she reached out and grabbed Panos by his throat, lifting him off the ground. Ellis unsheathed her sword and held it, ready to strike.

'I can't really think of any reason not to use your head as a trophy, Panos,' she held him high, watching him squirm, then she hurled him to the floor at Chryseis' feet. 'Until you can think of a convincing argument, you leave with her.'

Ellis turned, walking back towards the elevator but turned her head to say, 'And Chryseis...have a nice day.'

((Permission to move Panos - Ellis OUT but waiting for a response))

Chryseis pulled her shoulders back and turned towards the guards.

I am ready.

She made no mention or move to aid Panos off the floor. Instead she stood still and regal, as if she were a queen waiting for her men to escort her away.

With a second thought she turned her head to the side and spoke to Carol.

A bird as beautiful as the nightingale is never a disgusting treat.

She swung her head back around and began to follow the men out.

Carol sneered at Chryseis and then turned to Panos.

'Dude, I still can't believe you bit a bird. I mean...ew.' She pointed towards the guards to follow them out but added quietly, 'You know the rules, Panos. Dont come back until you're asked back or it will be your head and by Ellis' hand.'

She yelled towards the Anantya, 'I'm so sending a bill for this mess!!' With a scowl, Carol retreated to her office.

((Carol out, pending reply))

Panos's tailbone hit the ground hard jarring his back. He kept his eyes diverted to the ground as Ellis stepped over him and walked away.

He listened as Chryseis smarted off to Carol and he grinned. With a sly look he stole a quick glance to see her face. Standing slowlys, he wiped his hands on his pants.

Two of the guardsmen stayed behind and waited to show Panos out. He knew there was nothing he could do or say at this moment that would change anything. His only wish was that he had woken up sooner, so that he may have snuck Chryseis out. He had his life spared for this moment and he was going to keep it that way.

Making the gesture of zipping his lips closed to Carol, Panos walked behind the troop of vampires back to the surface.[/i]

Winter watched he scene unfold with unmask amusement..

After Ellis allowed them to leave he looked to Ellis and Carol
"Wow.. that chick SO needs to get Laid" turning to watch Chryesis saunter out as he spoke.
((ooc: wandering off after the others leave))

(ooc: both panos and chrys out! )