Drunk dialing (att: Shay!)

Oh my bad i didn't realize Shay's father was here.

Panos rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Shay.This man was more arrogant than others he had run into. Who did he think he was?

'Keep your temper.' He told himself as he felt his blood get hotter.

Shay winced at Mathias' words, and looked up at him with a slightly annoyed look. Paul had been there first, well, tonight anyway. But Paul's words weren't any better, and she shot him an annoyed look as well.

"Paul is a guest, Mathias...and the dog...is fine...she seems well behaved."

Shay stood up and put an arm around Mathias' waist. Maybe that would assure him that everything was fine.

"But now that everyone knows everyone is fine, maybe we can all go back to bed for awhile. Then later I'll make us all breakfast?"

She looked to Paul, smiled, and then looked to Mathias, and gave his side a discreet squeeze...holding her breath as she hoped nothing further would be said or done to make the night even crazier.

Mathias took a deep breath. This is not your house and Shay needs you to be strong he reminded himself. I'd slap the arrogant little bastard Anabelle said. Not...now...he thought.

"You are,of course,correct love. I apologize for my lack of manners," He looked at Shay the entire time. The only thing he owed Paul was a lesson in respect.

Mathias leaned down and gave Shay a gentle kiss. " Please forgive me"

But Mathias didn't budge one bit

Flea bag is potty trained don't worry about her. I'm sorry if she makes your friend here uneasy, Birseis has a knack for picking out unsavory types from a crowd, as most dogs do.

He scracthed Birseis behind her ears. Her tail wagged slightly but she kept her gaze fixed on Mathias.

The mans fake nobility made Panos want to spit.

I'd like to talk to you real quick first Shay. Preferably, alone. He stressed his alone to sound as aggitated as he was.

Shay sighed...it just slipped out and couldn't be helped. If she ever forgot anything about this night, she would probably be dead.

She looked up to Mathias, hoping he'd not need her to ask.

DonotsnaphisneckDonotsnaphisneckDonotsnaphisneckDonotsnaphisneck the mantra repeated in his mind. There was no way in hell he was going to leave Shay alone with Paul.

And then she looked at him. And Mathias knew he had no choice.
"I'll wait for you in bed,dear. Don't be long" he said,giving Shay another kiss before heading into the bedroom.

If someone was counting karma for restraint, I have just racked up several lifetimes worth he thought,closing the door.

He ran his hand absently across his scalp like he used to do when he had hair.

Shay, remember when i was talking about the wrong kind of people to be around?

She was so going to thank him for his patience and understanding later. She smiled when he kissed her and went back into the bedroom, and then sat down next to Paul again. She folded herself into the corner of the couch, and pulled a pillow into her lap, to hold.

"Yes...I remember."

There is a highly probable chance that Mr. Mathias in there is one of them. By off chance, do you know where he lives?

He reached down and picked up his shirt and pulled it back on. He leaned forward on his elbows which were propped up on his knees.

Considering his words, Shay only saw a concerned friend. However, his question on where Mathias lived caught her a little off guard.

"Paul...Mathias is someone I care about very much. I can assure you he would never hurt me, and that's really all I will discuss of him, with you.

For whatever reason the two of you clash. I'm sorry, because I care about you both, and it would be much easier for me if you at least got along. But I'm not naive...I know that isn't always possible.

However, I would hope you'd respect me enough to know I can choose my friends...and have been for several years now. I appreciate your concern, and value your opinion...but you need to allow me to make the decisions in my life.

Where Mathias lives shouldn't be of any concern to you, any more than where you live should be of concern to him...should it?"

Shay had gotten a second wind when she awoke a short time ago, but it was quickly petering out...she was starting to feel really tired again.

He winced at her words. They stung.

'If only she knew'. he cursed inside. His anger was getting the best of him. Frustration only egged it on. He stood up and faced her. A dark cloud passed over his eyes.

There are some people in this life that do not wish for the well being of others. I can not be sure but I have suspicions that your 'friend' may be one of them. These people live in a respectless world with one goal and one goal only. It's a pyramid game and the only way to the top is the remove the block ahead of you. Your in the most danger when someone is nice to you in this world. There is only one rule these people live by. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

He stepped to her front door and grabbed its handle.

Do me a favor today Shay, when the sun is out and the birds are singing, tear open your shades. If your friend stands to embrace you and smiles and remarks at the beauty of the day, then I was wrong and I appologize. If not, and you turn and find a pile of ash where had layed then i also appoligize. For then you have been tricked into the darkness.

He opened the door then and walked out with Birseis in tow. as he shut the door behind him he stopped and spoke one last time.

Those people will never find where I live.

Shay could see he was angry...and she understood it, a little, but the more he spoke the angrier she got herself.

When he got up and left, she jumped off the couch and ran to the door. Fortunately he was still there.

"Paul! Would you please come back inside...and not leave like this. I'd really like to talk about this...I don't want you leaving angry."

She saw that in her haste to stop him from leaving, she'd grabbed his arm, and now she let her hand drop. But she pleaded with him, with her eyes. If he left now, there was every chance they'd never get beyond this, and the budding friendship would probably just die away.

Panos looked down at Shay's hand on his arm and watched it fall away. He looked back at her face and saw that she really wanted him to just wait a minute.

He looked at Birseis and she wagged her tail. The sky was just starting to peak at the colors of a sunrise. He knew he didn't have alot of time.

Ten minutes. he said flatly and stepped back inside past her.

She had been listening to his words as he spoke, and she was starting to hear a lot more than she used to, in the words people were speaking to her. What Paul had said indicated quite clearly that he thought Mathias was a vampire. But how, and why was what Shay was more interested in now.

"Paul...you know about vampires...the ones who live in Nachton...you're afraid Mathias is a vampire and that's why I'll be harmed? Please...let's not play word games...is that what you were trying to tell me?"

He was surprized. She was direct and to the point. He had thought that with her writing a vampire book that she would laugh at him and try to blame it on his knowledge of her writing. But here she was blurting out his own thoughts right in front of him.

He sat grumpily back on the couch.

Yes.

She gave him an understanding smile, and again joined him on the couch. He reminded her so much of her younger brother, she had to resist rubbing his head. Somehow she wasn't sure he'd have appreciated that type of affection.

"Can you tell me how you know about vampires? And what it is about Mathias, that leads you to think he is one?"

With his knowledge of vampires, Shay's first inclination was that Paul was one as well. Had he not disguised his warning in riddles, and been more forthright about what he was telling her, she might have thought otherwise. But the more she listened to him, and really thought about his words, the more she had to wonder if everyone around her, here in Nachton, was a vampire.

He looked at her.

Because I am one.

He pulled his upper cheek back exposing his teeth and let his tounge caress over his fang.

Now to wait for her to either laugh or go running from the room. He thought grimly.

Why I think he may be one, I can't know for sure. Something doesnt sit right with his presence. Birseis smelled the scent of blood from your room earlier too. Another mino tip that something else was wrong about him.

Had this conversation taken place two days ago...Shay probably would have run from the room. But so much had happened tonight...at this point she wondered if anything could scare her, or surprise her.

She reached over and put a hand to Paul's cheek, just briefly. She moved slowly...she didn't want to scare him. She'd seen the way he acted a bit odd from her attentions. But she was a demonstrative person, and it was a natural reaction for her.

"So you are one...and you haven't hurt me. May I ask why? I will assume that it is not in all vampire's nature to attack all humans?"

I fully intended too the night we met. But you weren't afraid and you talked to me like it was not abnormal to run into a man on the street and chat. he snorted a little.

Then I didn't want to. You were normal to me. I wasn't used to that thats for sure. I also wasn't staying at my sisters house either. If you watch the news you'll see whos house it really was.

He grinned menacingly for a moment. He had heard the coverage on Meegans condo. They called the assailent, him, a 'disturbed individual'. He hoped Meegan had went inside and saw the present he left for her on her bed.

How strange that all he wanted was to be treated as a man. But he'd treated her as a normal woman...there was no reason for her not to treat him as a normal man.

His next words confused her though, and she noticed his grin didn't reach his eyes.

"Where you live doesn't matter to me...and I'm sorry but I've been a little busy lately, and have fallen behind on my Nachton current events. But I'm getting the impression you want to scare me now...has something changed between us? Have I done something to offend you?"