Hey guys - this is my first fanfiction, so be kind when you review! Any thoughts you have about how I can improve or ideas for future chapters would be great though, so comment away! :)
*For the record, I don't own Morganville vampires, and never will. So there.*
'To Bite Or Not To Bite?'
"What now?" Claire moaned, sitting up in her bed. She felt she'd only just got to sleep, and her phone was ringing. To her surprise, when she looked at the clock, it was already 5am. She guessed that answered the question of who was calling her. Only one person she knew thought they had the right to wake her up at such an unreasonable time - her badass crazy vampire boss, Myrnin. She supposed she should answer it. This had better be good, or I'm going to kill him, she thought as she reached groggily for her phone.
"Hello?"
"Claire!" came Myrnin's voice from the other end of the line. "I need you to come over to the lab this instant! It's a matter of the utmost importance."
"Myrnin, do you have any idea what time it is? I was sleeping, and it's supposed to be my day off. You'll have to wait."
"No, no, no, no, no!" He snapped "Come!"
Claire sighed. "Give me twenty minutes. Can you open a portal to the lab?"
"Of course."
She hung up the phone without saying goodbye. That would probably put Myrnin in a bad mood, but she was pissed with him. Didn't he realise she actually had a life outside of his lab? She sighed again, and rolled out of bed. She took the quickest shower in history and towel dried her hair before pulling on a black tee and a pair of blue jeans. She tried without much success to brush out the tangles in her hair, then grabbed her tattered rucksack and ran downstairs. Claire dumped it on the couch and went into the kitchen, leaving a scribbled note to her house mates, explaining where she had gone. She left it tacked to the fridge and was about to grab a quick breakfast when she felt the familiar shimmer of a portal opening in the house. She headed back into the lounge, grabbing an apple on the way. So much for her morning coffee. Claire could see Myrnin's lab through the portal, but no Myrnin. It was neat and tidy again after he'd trashed it in one of his moods last week. Someone, probably one of Amelie's people, had even put a new couch in the corner of the room. It was covered with a multicoloured patchwork quilt, and a load of tasselled cushions.
"Myrnin?" Claire called. No answer. The lab was dark and silent, and she felt fear crawling into her belly as she stood there. She stepped through the portal cautiously, and sensed it closing behind her. Slowly, she pulled a silver stake out of her rucksack. She immediately felt better, the tight knot of fear in her stomach loosening. "Myrnin? What did you want?"
She heard a low chuckle behind her, and span round, gripping her stake tighter. She couldn't see Myrnin anywhere. Claire got pissed. Had he called her here just to scare her crapless? "For God's sake Myrnin, will you quit being a jerk? Where are you?" If he knew she was scared it would only make him worse. She paused and strained her ears to listen for any kind of response.
"I'm right here." Said a silky voice in her ear. Claire whirled round, stake clattering to the floor. Her heart was in her mouth, and she had to work not to scream, because Myrnin was standing right there. He was so close to her, there wasn't even enough room for her to exhale. Claire staggered back a step, shocked that he could have got so close without her knowing. She blinked, and he was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the dim lab. She'd seen him in this mood before. He was dangerous, and unpredictable. And from the brief glimpse she'd had of his eyes, he was hungry. Not a good combination. She swallowed and put her back to the nearest wall. At least then he couldn't sneak up behind her again. Unfortunately Claire hadn't counted on him already being behind her, and backed right into him. She yelped, and tried to turn around, but Myrnin's arms clamped around her and held her there, crushed against his body.
"Hush, little Claire." he whispered, one hand reaching up to stroke her hair. Her heartbeat sped up, and she knew that he could hear it. He laughed softly.
"Myrnin, no." Claire choked out. "Don't do this. Let go."
Without warning, his fingers tightened in her hair and he wrenched her head to the side, exposing her neck.
"Why would I want to do that?" Myrnin's voice was low and seductive, but Claire could hear the edge to it. "Especially when you came to me so willingly..." She could feel his breath in a cool breeze that tickled the side of her neck, making the hairs bristle.
"I...I..." Claire struggled to find the words as he trailed a long finger down her neck.
"Don't...Myrnin, please." She felt woozy, and if Myrnin hadn't been holding her against him with one strong arm, she probably would have fallen.
"You smell so very delicious. And I am so very hungry." Now his cool lips were pressed against her throat. Claire couldn't feel his fangs yet, and she held herself completely still, willing him to let her go.
Myrnin suddenly span her around to face him, still keeping one steel arm locked around her waist. Claire pulled her torso away from his chest to look into his burning dark eyes. He had an odd expression on his face.
"Myrnin-" She began, and broke off, because Myrnin kissed her. Just a brief, fleeting pressure of his cold lips against hers, but still, a kiss. She was so shocked she almost forgot to react. Until her brain kicked in, and she started to struggle violently.
Myrnin let her go almost immediately, and allowed her to scramble away from him. He looked dazed and confused, as if he wasn't really sure what he'd just done. Claire tried to regain control of herself, and turned away to wipe her mouth on the hem of her t-shirt. When she turned back, Myrnin was on the couch with his head in his hands. She took a deep breath, struggling with several different emotions at once.
"What...What the hell was that, Myrnin?"
He didn't answer immediately, just turned his head to look at her. He look upset, and even more confused than she was, and she almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
"You kissed me." Claire said. Myrnin looked away.
"Yes."
"Are you going to try and explain yourself?" She asked sharply.
"I-No." He looked at her, begging her to understand with those beautiful dark eyes. She didn't want to understand right now. "I can't"
Claire sucked in another breath, and nodded.
"Good. Because there is no possible way for you to explain what you just did. And I don't know if I want to know the reason. I'm going home now." Myrnin didn't respond. Claire grabbed her bag off the floor and opened a portal to the Glass house. She was almost tempted to turn back at the last moment, but kept on walking. As soon as the portal snapped shut behind her, she started running. She shot past Eve on the stairs, who started to say something before she caught sight of her friend's expression.
"Claire? What's wrong?" She called after her. Claire ignored Eve and ran straight to her bedroom. She locked the door and collapsed on her bed. She stared at the ceiling, her mind in overdrive. What had just happened?
