”And your kind, what would you say they have a talent for?” He challenged, some unexpected anger showing through.

She studied him then a moment and imagined she recognized something long familiar in the shape of his face, the set of his gaze. Hunter. Could it really be? Her eyes narrowed and her thoughts went to the dagger in her desk drawer. ”Leave. Now.” She told him, barely holding back her fury. She didn’t know this man was who she suspected; she had to keep telling herself that. ”If you value your life.”

His eyes narrowed further, but he wisely got up and left without challenging her further, keeping her always in his field of vision. When he was gone, Dominique screamed in fury and threw a glass sculpture from on her desk against a wall.

That brought Robyn in. ”Ms. Destine, are you…” But she froze when Dominique pinned her with a furious stare. Her mouth fell open just a little and she looked scared of her, genuinely scared of her, for the first time Dominique could remember. She took a deliberate breath and tried to calm herself.

”Fine. I’m fine. I am… sorry Robyn. I… I didn’t mean to frighten you.” She told her, closing her eyes a moment before deliberately relaxing her posture and going over to her assistant who was now a little weary of her.

Dominique reached out and touched her on her shoulder. ”I would never harm you, Robyn. I promise you.” She spoke softly, stepping closer and looking into her eyes, trying to reassure the woman of her good intentions towards her.

”I… I know that. It’s just… what happened? Who was that man? I’ve… I’ve never seen you like that before.” She said softly, looking into her eyes with confusion and something else behind her expression.

”A… bitter, persistent problem. From my past. One that I thought, perhaps, I had seen the last of.” She explained, rather obliquely.

”Oh…” Robyn seemed to regard her thoughtfully then, as if she were a puzzle to be figured out. If she came to any conclusions though, Dominique couldn’t tell. ”Is there anything I can do to help?” She asked.

Dominique smiled a little at that, stepping back so she wasn’t quite so much in Robyn’s personal space and she wouldn’t be tempted to touch her face or hair, arms or waist. It was normal for gargoyles who were friends to be so close to one another, especially if one were trying to convey emotion, and, somehow, though she wasn’t entirely sure herself how, Robyn Correy had become someone she seemed to think of more and more as a friend. Still, she reminded herself, to a human, getting so close could easily be misinterpreted, and she had no romantic designs on the, admittedly charming and attractive, Ms. Correy. She didn’t want Robyn to mistake her as having them – That was one area she needed no more trouble in, surely. ”As a matter of fact yes. This Daniel Langston? Have him investigated. Vigorously. His family history in particular. This has priority over my request for information regarding Elisa Maza; though I would like that as soon as is practical as well of course.”