A Phone Call

Now that sparked Tayce's interest. She'd never met another person who had a hell hound. Pandora's kind was rare to keep about.

Turning to face him, it was clear by the look in her eyes that she had a new found interest in the man.

"You do?" She asked, sounding a little more shocked the what as probably polite. She just wasn't expecting him to be a necromancer. He looked more like an athletic action man then a spell casting book man.

The Rus had lost a lot of his muscle mass in recent years. He still worked enough to keep some strength up, but he was a lot less bulky now that he had given up doing the dirty work for his boss.

Alyosha nodded.

"Da." He must have had the Hound for a few months now. So long without realising it. Tuzik had become a part of his life so absolutely that he couldn't fathom a life without him any more.

"He is Tuzik. Good dog."

Tuz was a great pet. He was loyal and affectionate and such a sweetheart.

A smile snuck onto the young girl's face, giving her away that she thought that was incredibly sweet. She wouldn't have thought this man would share something like that in common with her.

"Oui." She said in response, shifting her weight and folding her arms. "Best to keep him away from my Pandora though. She's a bit... rough around ze edges." She said with a fond little grin at the thought of her companion. Pandora was more of a friend then a pet to Tayce.

"I never did catch your name..." She said, looking down a little.

She smiled. Lyo couldn't help but admire how nice the smile looked on her face compared to the frown and distrust she had worn since they had met.

"My boy can handle himself," Alyosha assured.

Tuzik was a good strong Hound. He'd be able to take care of himself around Pandora just fine.

"Perhaps they will become friends, da?"

"Alyosha Belov." He pushed his hands into the pockets of his shorts. "You?"

"Maybe." She said softly, staring at the ground a little before looking back up.

"Tayce. Tayce Gatinet."

A soft blush came to the girl's all ready rosy complexion. She looked to the side, feeling a little awkward. She felt awkward because she found herself enjoying his company. And she hated that. No, not hate, she was terrified. No one, No one, was to be trusted. Ever. Bottom line. End of story.

"Tuz is friendly. Makes lots of friends."

Alyosha was sure that Tuzik would make every effort to make friends with Tayce's Pandora. He was a nice Hound. Someone that he was sure would try to make friends with everyone he met.

"Is pleasure, Tayce."

He smiled at the woman.

The walls started to build up, frantically brick by brick, inside Tayce's mind to shield herself from any possible hurt this man... this human... could bestow upon her. She would not let his friendliness get to her. She wouldn't let the warm feelings of trust sink inside her thick skin. It didn't matter how sweet he was, she wasn't going to let him inside.

"Right then. Well. Merci for your help but I think I can take it from here." She stated rather bluntly, looking up again. There was a hardness that had returned to her expression, the look of uncaring back in her eyes.

The girl was so heavily guarded.

One moment she was smiling, the next she was staring at him like he had just killed her pet cat and needed to go die in a hole painfully somewhere.

"If you need any help, you can come to me."

He'd happily help her if she needed it.

"Bye," he called over his shoulder as he walked away; down the hall towards his own room.

Tayce looked down again, biting her lip a little.

"Merci." She muttered, quiet enough that he probably wasn't able to hear it. She waited until he was good and gone before going over to the door and latching it shut. Turning around she took a deep breath, leaning against the wooden frame.

She felt rotten, and she that she did hate. Why was the world so cruel? Why couldn't people be trusted? If they could it would make her life a hell of a lot easier. She didn't like being guarded, being alone. But she preferred that over being hurt.

And she had been hurt so many times.