Sluggishly taking in the groggy morning, Claire almost doubled over when the alarm clock pounced at her, cursing under her breath and knocking it to the soft carpet under her feet.
The morning was cold and crisp, noticing her phone screen was lit she hazily flopped beside it, the light a little too strong for such a crappy morning.
It was Myrnin, he'd rang several times in the past two hours and it was only 3am in the morning, wait, why was her alarm set for 3am?
Suspecting it to be the work of a certain Shane Collins, Claire bit her lip at the thought of angrily accusing him of anything; she could see the scene well, he would sit, innocently as he could manage and flash his crooked grin which sent her wobbly at the knee's and claim he should be punished.
And punishment could bring an array of options.
Before she squealed in excitement and caused everyone in this house to wake up she muffled it with her hand, looking down at the one message that was just being received.
Myrnin.
'Claire, I need you here this instant, laziness is not tolerated, or else I will come and collect you myself'
Mimicking his voice she threw a glare at the phone in her hand and decided she would not go to work today, and be rebellious.
But then she looked at the last part '-or else I will come and collect you myself' something was saying that being quiet and considerate whilst escorting her to his lair didn't quite suit Myrnin's persona.
"Oh God" and Eve would sure have something to say about that. Yanking at ratty clothes that were laid about on the floor and barely being able to comb through her hair, Claire chose not to use the portals for today and do some exercise, her size 4 jeans were becoming a little tight and no way was she letting the vamps make her fat.
Even though she was still classed as 'scrawny' as people usually complimented her with, though it seemed more of an insult the way they projected it sometimes.
But before she could just make it out of the door someone grabbed her shoulder, being in Morganville you learnt to think fast, in this case, screaming at the top of your lungs.
"Wow, dude, don't blast my eardrums I'm not going to rape you or anything" it was Shane, relieved but heart still pounding Claire took in her totally-hot boyfriends features.
His brown hair was wet, droplets of water dripping onto his shoulders, in fact his plain-white T-shirt and jeans combo looked pure model-casual with his rugged but handsome looks, it took most restraint not to touch him every second, just to prove he wasn't real.
What a pair they must look, that erupted a giggle, he looked at her, turning around to the window and saw nothing.
"Don't tell me, fang boy is making faces behind me" doing his best attempt of a karate lotus and failing since it was 3am in the morning, keeled over, and knocked over the table and everything that was set on it.
Way to making a subtle escape.
"If that's a burglar you'd better get lost before I realise what time it is!" definitely Eve, I so wasn't sticking around to see how that played out.
Shane didn't even bother to pick up the table, settling for a cringe and then a smirk.
The house seemed happy today, giving the rooms a light contract, the kitchen was still messy from last night's 'Game-off' in which was a lot of shouting and throwing of tantrums, Claire was the first to lose, and it was supposed to be Michael's turn for washing up duty.
Boys.
But she sure wasn't going to chance that Myrnin would be making his way here any moment, and it was a sensitive topic with most of her roommates, Shane especially.
"Well, I'd just love to stay and chat but I've got to get to work" all the fun and smiling stopped. He stood there, watching her as if she should be convicted of murder.
"Is that why you're sneaking off so early?" he said it in a faint whisper and turned to do the washing up, so not like him.
"Wait-I thought you turned my alarm clock to that time, and why are you up so early anyway?" her stomach and head was starting to hurt, if anything, being questioned on something you didn't do than something you did was much, much more daunting.
"Nope, I heard someone clamping about and wondered whether Amelie was looking for a cute bra to wear for the day" it seemed like a light-hearted conversation but Shane was tense.
After squirting about half the bottle of washing-up liquid into the tub and getting the majority of the water all over the floor, he gave up.
"Oh, to hell with this" and with that he stalked over and pulled Claire in for a hug, he could never stay mad at her, ever.
"Okay, Igor, go blow up bunnies or something, whatever you do" before any of them could reconsider a void of colour blasted into the kitchen, revealing a tall man dressed in pirate boots, black pantaloons, a loose cotton blouse and a rainbow scarf... Myrnin.
At first he seemed content, carting a stack of ancient books on one arm, and Bob the spider in the other.
"Claire!" he growled, dropping the books in a clatter to the floor, she could swear she heard Eve curse from upstairs.
"Did you not receive my calls?" guiltily I nodded "Yes but-" he carried on "Did you receive my text message?" this time she just nodded, staring angrily down at the floor like a 10-year-old.
He made a triumphant grunt "And I'm guessing you don't have any life-threatening deceases, so any excuse is invalid..."
Shane stood in front of him, barely skimming his nose; he was very tall, indeed, plus he was a vampire so that got him a load of scary evil teeth points.
The air started to have an electric take on it and everything turned a little shifty.
"Geez man, give her a break, she can fix your junk and listen to your crap when she wants"
That was the exact wrong thing to say, Myrnin's eyes flashed red and almost threw him across the room, sending some plates smashing on the floor.
"Junk?" he said to himself, piercing at Shane, he flashed much more fangs than was just showing off he lunged for Shane, Claire yelled, then he stopped mid-flight, looking confused and horrified, he suddenly went back to his usual, happy self.
"Oh, oh dear, that wasn't very pleasant" he glanced at the broken plates "Hm, I must say, adolescent aggression really does intrigue me" he turned to Claire "Ah, we must get back to the lab; I have some brilliant news..." he was interrupted once more by another portal opening, a slender white arm slid through and everyone realised who it was.
Amelie was here for business.
"No way, the guys a nutcase!" Shane practically screeched it across the dining table, he nodded to Myrnin "No offence, dude, but you threw me across the room, kinda dodgy" Michael shot Shane the look an owner of a dog tells it not to pee on his girlfriends leg, and it was really scary.
Myrnin grinned straight at Claire, as if she was the only person in the room, it bugged the hell out of both Michael and Shane, but Amelie seemed more curious than anything.
"But don't you see? If we work all of this out then Morganville can be safe from more... Hostile cases" Shane raised his hand "Hypocrite" nobody said anything.
The kitchen was starting to look eerie with its white walls and snug spots.
Eve spoke for the first time since she stomped down the stairs in full anger-angel style shouting at everyone for ruining 'the best dream ever' then caught short when she saw Amelie standing there with a raised eyebrow.
Maybe there was an upside to her little visits.
"So what you're saying is we figure out a way to scientifically change the way people think of the vampires? ... That's really going to play on my conscience on Judgement day" Amelie sat looking misplaced in such a lived in home.
"But, Eve, we are also going to change our own kinds thoughts on the matter, let's say we are imprinting the rules into their minds as to not have any more fatalities, and Claire, will need to work with Myrnin for a certain amount of time to do so" Michael sat lost in thought, finding the table a lot more interesting than the conversation.
Shane balled his hands "Wait, when you say that, do you mean she has to stay in the lab, all day, with Mr CrazyCrack over there" Myrnin snarled; slamming his fist on the table so violently, everyone jumped, even Amelie seemed shocked.
"Watch it, boy, learn respect and discipline, back in the good days, a foul word would send you chained in the dungeons with nothing but rats too slowly eat away your flesh" he sighed "How I miss those times" Amelie turned slightly to him "Myrnin, please keep your morbid memoirs to yourself in company, it isn't polite" he nearly knocked over the table "Oh, sweet lady, and you believe that Mr Collins is abiding to this truce as well?" she whipped to a standing, hand closed around his throat "Do not question me, I know what to do, I don't need your constant petty grudges, clear?" He nodded steadily, smiling a little.
She released him, shaking her head "In answer to your question, Mr Collins" "Shane" she looked him straight in the eye, he shuffled on his seat "Shane, yes, we need this to be done as soon as possible without any distractions, she will be fed and kept safe and be watched by Oliver until it is finished" and with that she rose, one of her guards taking her chair away.
The portal formed and she was gone, leaving Myrnin still grinning at Claire "Well, I for one believe that this will be a marvellous experience" he ran over to Claire who hadn't said much since they arrived, either, she listened but secretly agreed with her crazy-vampire boss, if this was going to help Morganville, then it was a good plan.
He grasped her hand and chuckled, excited.
Michael looked at Myrnin "Could you not try to get me to be her escort? And..." he glanced at Shane "Look out for her, if she comes back bruised or bitten, well, I think you know how it'll go" he straightened his blouse, picking up his books.
"I can but try, Michael Glass, and of course I'll look out for her, who on earth would hurt her?" everyone but Claire thought the same thing, you.