Hello everyone. This is my first fanfic and will be a love story between Myrnin and Claire. This story continues from the scene in "Last Breath" where Claire comes back to life. Any and all reviews are appreciated ^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own the Morganville Vampire series or any of the characters.
Chapter 1: The Transition
When Claire opened her eyes, she was met with an agonizing burning sensation deep within her throat. Her veins felt icy and there was an absence of something the old Claire had - a heartbeat. As she frantically glanced around, she saw Eve and Shane looking at her with worry filled expressions but with an undertone of some other emotion as well. Fear. They're afraid of me? How can that be? I must be in shock, considering I was just resurrected and all. Soon after, she realized that Myrnin was restraining her, and then she understood why. The relentless aching in her throat and tinges of red in her vision was from the bloodlust that was riding her. She had clawed his shirt to shreds trying to get to the one source of relief for this horrible thirst - her friends. No wonder they're afraid of me. I'm a monster. But not even that thought could stop her struggles for the sweet relief she knew their blood would bring.
"Bring me a blood bag. Hurry!" Myrnin commanded in a strained voice. Changing her must have took more out of him than he'd expected. Eve frantically tossed a crimson bag towards him and with lightning speed reflexes, Claire snatched it away and tore into it. The relief was immediate and she could feel sanity returning to her with each gulp.
Three blood bags later and she was ready to be civil again. Once Eve figured that Claire wouldn't tear her throat out, she greeted her with a crushing hug. "I just knew you'd come back." Eve said with tears glistening in her eyes. But Shane stayed back eyeing Claire with a wariness that broke her heart. Shame in what she'd become flooded her. Of course he doesn't want me anymore. I've turned into the one thing he hates most. Shane, noticing the hurt in Claire's eyes, softened and tentatively approached her. In that moment, she realized how hard this was for him to come to terms with, but she saw the love in his eyes shine through the doubt. Shane gave Claire a gentle peck on her cheek followed by a hug that rivaled Eve's. "I'm so glad your okay. Whether you're human or vampire, your still my beautiful ray of sunshine." Shane said in a voice thick with emotion. Joy washed over her and Claire felt a warmth that reached the depths of her soul.
With Shane in such close proximity, she realized that she could feel his heartbeat hammering in his chest and smell his unique scent mixed with the tantalizing aroma of blood. Without warning, she was struck with an overwhelming desire to pierce the skin of his neck and reach the red river below. Registering Claire's shift in mood, Myrnin quickly separated them. "It's not wise to get close to her right now. She needs time to gain control over her hunger. That is unless you like having your throat ripped open." A look a disgust passed over Shane's features, but he quickly masked it into indifference. "I know Claire would never bite me. Her willpower is just too strong." Shane said, probably more to convince himself than us. "Nevertheless, once Amelie is aware of the new development, she will want Claire to leave Morganville with us." Myrnin stated while sipping on a blood bag of his own. "No." Claire said with steely resolve. "I refuse to turn tail and run away." Myrnin looked at her in a way that said he wasn't surprised. "Yes, yes, but that means you either stay here and fight or await certain death by morning." "Certain death?" Claire asked startled. From the look on her friends' faces, this was news to them too. "Correct. Amelie has ordered that I program Frank to self destruct and take the city with him come morning. She is too blinded by fear to see reason, so I suggest we plan a course of action." "'We'? Does that mean you plan on staying too? What about Amelie's orders?" Claire asked. "Well, I've taken quite a liking to my lab and don't intend to leave it." Myrnin turned away and added shyly, "Plus, there's someone here so valuable to me that I couldn't bear to part with them."
Claire was taken aback at that. She had no idea Myrnin even had a special someone, unless... No, she wouldn't go there. Desperate to derail that train of thought, she noticed Michael's absence. "Hey guys, where's Michael?" Claire asked worriedly. By the shadow that came over Eve and Shane's expressions, she knew the answer could not be good. "We came back home after gathering the supplies needed to bring you back and Michael wasn't here. We've waited for hours and he still hasn't come. I hope those blob monsters didn't get to him." Eve finished in a voice teeming with dread. "Wait... what 'blob monsters'?" Claire asked. "She means the sea draug." Myrnin explained. "Magnus and his minions are the reason Amelie is evacuating the town. They're a water species that feeds on vampires and humans, though the former is more to their liking." Claire shuddered at the mention of her killer. The thought of facing Magnus again almost made her lose her resolve. No, she shouted at herself. I'm alot faster and stronger now. It'll take much more for him to kill me again. But somehow she couldn't shake the feeling of unease brewing in her stomach. As if sensing her fear, Myrnin knelt beside her and held her hand. "You needn't worry Claire. I will never let him hurt you again. You are my responsibility now, and I swear that I will protect you." The way Myrnin looked into her eyes said more than his words did. Feeling uncomfortable, she averted her gaze and noticed Shane staring daggers into Myrnin's hand on hers.
Eve, oblivious to the tension said, "Sorry to interrupt your love confession, but my boyfriend's out there having who-knows-what leeching off of him. So I'd appreciate it if you'd start helping us make a plan before its too late!" Leave it to Eve to dispel any difficult moments. "Ah yes, you are quite right." Myrnin said, attention refocused on the task at hand. "If we wish to find the ones taken by the draug, we will have to follow the sound of the music they use to enchant and lure in their prey." "So what would keep us from falling victim to it as well?" Claire asked, still a little shaken from Myrnin's previous show of affection. "This of course." Myrnin held out an electronic black box that reminded her of a portable cassette player. The fact that he owned anything made in the 21st century, not to mention electronic, amazed her. Still, she couldn't quite figure out what it was. Myrnin sighed. "It's a noise cancellation system. I thought youths today knew all about technology. The frequencies it emits will help us keep our wits about us while we approach their lair." "But how do we defeat them without backup?" Shane asked. "You won't have to," said a familiar voice coming seemingly from nowhere. Amelie neared us from the front door with a resolute set in her jaw. "I refuse give Magnus the satisfaction of chasing me away again. It's time to settle this game of cat and mouse once and for all."
Amelie's presence was so unexpected that even Myrnin was momentarily speechless. As she laid eyes on Claire, you could see a flicker of surprise in them. "I see. So you actually brought her back." Myrnin snorted. "Well, of course I did. I couldn't very well let her rot in the ground, now could I? Who'd keep me sane?" "If that was my job, I'd be fired by now." Claire remarked. Amelie looked unamused and proceeded to get straight to business. "I've deduced that the draug have been hiding out in the underground tunnels. The constant flow of storm water helps them sustain a stable form while they feed on their captives. We must make haste because with each passing second, lives hang in the balance." We all agreed and prepared to set out under the stormy skies of Morganville, armed with silver, hope and the strength of unity.