The White Queen
Ever since the death of Amelie the vampires and the humans have been coexisting peacefully...well, as peacefully as it was possible for the vampires and humans of Morganville could manage; that is until an old and very powerful 'friend' returns, distrupts the peace and tries to take Amelie's place.
Will Michael be able to continue protecting his friends now that his house is just a house? Will Shane crack under the strain and will Claire finally find out why she was brought to Morganville in the first place and rule a place she used to hate?
Introduction
"Myrnin?" Claire dumped her bag at the foot of the stairs and continued on into the lab "it's Claire; are you here?" Nothing had changed much; Bob the spider was still perched in his cage with his new companion, Bridget, both were steadily reaching the size of a basketball. Claire shuddered and then called out again "Myrnin? Are you here because if you're not I'll just leave; I'm sure Shane wouldn't mind me-"
"I'm here; quick, little Claire, quick, quick. We have much to do...too much I dare say." Myrnin grabbed her arm gently and tugged her across the room to the lab table "don't dilly dally, little Claire. Time is of the essence and I may have more than a lifetime but you, little one, don't."
She shrugged out of his grip and burst out laughing; those vamp bunny slippers never fail to amuse her "what have you found?"
"Nothing new and nothing old" he replied "I need you to take these and read these books." Myrnin handed her a small bottle full of red crystals and then gestured to a towering pile of books behind her.
Claire's eye popped out of their sockets "you want me to read all of them?"
"The crystals Claire" he reminded her "take a handful."
"No"
Myrnin stopped in his tracks and whirled to face her "no? Tell me, who's the student and who's the master?"
"We both know the answer to that" Claire told him "but I am not taking those crystals again for four reasons. 1) Shane would kill me, 2) Michael would kill me, 3) Eve would kill me and 4) I still haven't forgotten what happened last time."
"No one died" he rolled his eyes "but fine; have fun reading all of those before I allow you to leave tonight."
Claire glared at him "I'll make you a deal Myrnin. If I take these" she held out the crystals and shook them "you will let me leave as soon as I've finished reading those books and you promise me that you will never make me take them again."
"Deal; two handfuls. In fact" he grabbed her neck and tipped her head back "open." She did as she was told and opened her mouth and gagged as Myrnin emptied the whole container into her mouth. She felt the effects at once; she resisted the urge to admire the changes and grabbed the first book and began to read. She flipped through the pages at record speed, not needing to see the words or the formulas as her brain seemed to photograph each and every letter. The whole stack of books was memorised within twenty minutes.
"Done." She stood and turned but Myrnin stopped her.
"Portal" he told her "use the portal."
Claire frowned "why? It's still light outside."
"Do as I say." He snapped and then disappeared.
She shrugged and walked to the portal door. Her mind focused on the Glass House and she smiled as her living room came into view. Shane was on the couch with Michael and Eve. "I'm gonna kick both you're asses" she called as she prepared to step through and then screamed as a hand grabbed her from behind.