Thank you for Clicking to chapter 2. I had one review last time. Llywela I sent you an email. I would really appreciate any feedback. Good or otherwise. No flames though please. The fabulous thing about the new hit counter is that you can find out how many people have clicked on the stories. So far only 5 people have so maybe its lack of traffic. Never mind. Enjoy the story.

91 Eliot Street,

Soho,

London.

The house loomed gloomily overhead. It looked like an old Edwardian terrace. Not that Oz knew much about that sort of thing. One term in British history taught him that some people just weren’t intended to know about the past. Live for the moment he thought. It seemed that’s what he was doing anyway. He jumped down from the van and walked up the short pathway. The small garden looked like it hadn’t been tended in a long time, also it seemed he windows and wall had seen better days. Waiting for a vamp or demon to appear at anytime. Oz thought. He checked that his keys were still in his hands. Best to be ready for a quick getaway. After all Giles said he hadn’t heard from his friend in a while. Who knew what had happened to him since.

He approached the door. The bell had been smashed in by vandals. Strange for an area like this. Oz knocked on the door. Paint chips fell off as he did. Like anyone would notice. No reply. Oz knocked again louder this time. From behind the door he heard raised voices. Then a slamming noise. Then footsteps headed toward the door. He took a step back waiting to be leapt on.

“Bloody hell! Could you knock any louder?”

A young slim man in his middle twenties stood in front of him. The loose paint chipping had coated his longish black hair.

Oz was taken aback.

“Sorry?”

The man scrutinised him.

“Don’t say much do you? American are you? I should have known I swear you guys have bad hearing anyway. What are you doing waiting around at this time of night on my doorstep. God knows what I thought you were… hang on a minute”

The man brought his hand back inside he jerked it back again sharply, grasping a cross.

Oz blinked.

“Oh so your not one of them. Sorry can never be too careful round here. They gather like flies to shit. So if your not here to suck out my fluids what are you doing?”

Oz cleared his throat.

“Um Mr Giles sent me”

The man looked puzzled for a minute.

“Mr Giles... Mr Giles …why does that sound familiar… Oh one of dad’s old buddies… well you’d better come in, its better that standing out there”

Oz felt himself being abruptly pulled though into a dusty hallway and along it.

“Dad said something about expecting you.. Never tells me a bloody thing though…Names Lance by the way”

A hand was shoved in his direction. Oz took it and smiled weakly.

“Oz”

Lance studied him.

“Don’t say much do you? Your lot usually don’t. So how long have you been wolfie?”

Oz was taken aback. How would he know?

“How did you guess that?”

Lance shrugged.

“Call it a talent… No seriously Dad taught me. I can spot supernatural stuff a mile off. Just never know what sort”

He smiled weakly. They were walking along another dusty corridor. Its seems the house go back father than it looks. Pictures of Victorian ladies and children lined the wall. At the end of the hall Oz noticed the first clean thing in the house, a door it a light coming out from under it.

“Good .Dad’s still up”

Lance stood outside the door and knocked, almost in the manner that Oz himself had done earlier.

“Dad, Someone here to see you”

No reply.

“Dad... Its fine Mr Giles sent him”

The door creaked open.

A middle aged man with shoulder length hair leaned on the door frame. He look exhausted.

“Rupert Giles did you say?”

His voice came out almost as a growl. It had the effect of someone who hadn’t spoken for days. His face was unshaven. Oz cleared his throat.

“Yes”

The man smiled.

“Yes he said you would come. Come in.” After a pause “Yes Lance you’d better as well”

Lance smirked.

“Thank you sooo much”

The man moved out of the way to let Oz through. He found himself standing in one of the strangest places he had ever seen. The room resembled a cross between a car park and a bar. From the ceiling a collection of chains in different sizes hung. In the corner stood a cage. Well at least something’s familiar. To one side of the room stood a mini lab, complete with sink and strange looking bottles. To the other side was a large rug with bookshelves piled around it and paper everywhere. In the middle of the room on the floor was a Wicca star much like the type Willow wore. Ok. Either thinking Psycho weirdo or Giles look a like.

“Don’t let anything alarm you”

Oz turned to see the man watching him with interest.

“Early on in my studies I decided to collect together all the equipment I would need and keep with it a manner to retrain myself.”

“And make a huge creepy lair in the meantime”

Lance muttered behind him.

“You must excuse my son. He does not understand how important it is that I find every means possible to deal with my problem.”

Oz nodded. He could deal with that. After he left Sunnydale the first time he had contemplated locking himself way underground where no one could find him.

“What’s you name?”

The man spoke again. He was still staring at Oz. It was getting unnerving.

“Oz”

“A strange name”

“I like it”

The man smirked.

“Very well. My names Alan”

He held out his hand. Oz took it. Must be an English thing.

Alan smiled again and then turned to his son.

“Lance show Oz where he will be staying while he is with us.. That is unless you have found somewhere else to stay?”

Oz shook his head.

“Nope kind of unplanned trip”

“Understandable.” Alan ushered them out of the room again .Oz was disappointed he had wanted to get a better look at his hosts lair’. Alan had noticed his expression.

“Be patient Oz. You will get to look all you want later. I believe that you will be very useful to me from what I have been told. For now get some rest. After all tomorrow’s first wolf night”

He shut the door on them leaving them outside. That was weird. Maybe it’s a family trait.

“I bet you think we going to kill you don’t you?

Oz turned to find Lance staring at him amused. Time to be honest.

“The thought had crossed my mind. Yes.”

“Don’t worry about it. Dad’s always like that. He doesn’t like people. I’m was just unprepared. Sorry about that”

“Don’t worry about it”

Lance looked relieved.

“Come on I’ll show you your room”

Oz followed Lance up a staircase. This was going to be interesting.

Please Review