Claire sat by the window watching the smoke rise into the night sky. She never understood war. Why if you want to gain territory do you destroy it? It didn't make sense. She preferred science. Science always made sense. Well at least outside of Morganville it did. Before she came to Morganville she trusted science. Every reality known to man was explainable by science. The question of creation, the big bang theory. Why apples fall from trees, gravity. Everything could be explained by science back then. But life in Morganville changed all that. Back home vampires were legends created by the scream gods to sell books and movies to those who preferred their entertainment to have a bite to it. Bram Stoker started it all; did he really meet Dracula? Claire's thoughts surrounded her blinding her from the events unfolding in the glass house. She was lost in vampire lore. How much of the legends are true, she wondered.

Shane's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Claire".

"Are you ok? "

She replied with a nod. Morganville was burning. They were helpless but she could not tell Shane how she really felt.

She looked into his eyes. "Shane?"

"Yes", he replied with a strained look.

" I don't want you to go. I don't want you to leave with that book. I.I... I think it is too dangerous for you to drive around Morganville with Bishop and his followers out there. They will kill you just for the book. They don't…"

"Claire, I have to". Shane forced a smile. "Amelie would not send us out there if she thought we would be easy bait".

Claire tried to smile. How do you smile when the guy you love is going to a war with a all you can eat buffet? She knew Amelie was not sure whether their plan would work. There were no guarantees in this family feud. Bishop wanted Morganville and he would do anything for it. He did not care how many human or vampire lives would be lost.

"I have to go. Everything will be ok. I will be back, soon. I promise". His smile sent shivers down her spine. That was not a good sign.

She hugged him and he left without another word. No "I love you" or "take care". Was she just another one of Shane's girls?

"Hey Claire" Eve called from the kitchen.

Claire got up from the chair and made her way to the kitchen.

"Looks like we will have to wait on the vamps, fangtastic huh. They arrive, without invitation and expect to be served"

"Would you prefer to be the refreshments?" A dark haired vampire snorted bearing his fangs"

"Hot blood coming up", Eve announced looking defeated. Even Eve felt the stress of the war. Usually she would have some sarcastic retort for the vampire. But not today. Her face seemed paler even without her usual make up. Dark purple circles lined her eyes suggesting Eve did not sleep. As Eve turned to put the blood in the microwave Claire noticed the small round suction mark on Eve's neck. Would Michael feed from Eve? Would Eve even allow him to suggest feeding from her? Claire moved closer to Eve, careful not to come to close and arise suspicion from Eve. She investigated the mark while pretending to watch the blood packs turning in the microwave.

Claire sighed in relief. No puncture marks. "Eve how are you and Michael?" Claire asked feeling guilty for suspecting Michael. "Hun the town is burning. Do you really think now is the best time for girl talk" said Eve sounding neither friendly nor angry.

"I was just trying to lift the mood. It is like a graveyard in here."

"Claire that is not funny. Shane and Michael are out there risking their lives to save this god forsaken town and you are trying to be funny? That is so wrong on so many different levels". Eve's words stung Claire. It was not so much what she said that hurt Claire; it was how Eve said it that drove the proverbial stake home. "This is serious Claire. People will die! This is not the time to be kidding around". Claire didn't know what to do. Eve has never spoken to her like this since they became friends. Eve use to be like her older sister but now she sounded like a stern mother. Claire spun around and walked out of the kitchen as fast as she could, hiding the tears welling up in her eyes.

The nervous whispers in the living room offered her no comfort. The fact that Monica was sitting there in her clothes on Michael's chair only made it worse. Monica flashed a superficial smile as Claire walked to the stairs. For the first time since Claire moved into the Glass house it didn't feel like a home. It felt foreign. It was as if the house rejected her in exchange for the refugees of Morganville. In exchange for Monica? That is almost as crazy as the idea that the house is able to think, she thought. Her parents only stayed a few blocks away so why should the rejection hurt? She could just pack her bags and move in with her parents. She could pretend she was happy staying there. Its not that she did not like her parents but the Glass house and her friends became her home. It was her haven in Morganville. The Glass house offered her sanctuary ever since Monica pushed her down those stairs. Claire smiled at the memory of all her friends together. They had some fun times together despite the dire circumstances. They survived Brandon, Oliver, Jason and Shane's idiotic vampire slayer vigilante father. They survived together. Would they be able to survive this war if their bond of friendship was broken?

She tried to clear her thoughts as she reached the door to her room. She turned the door knob slowly as if she was expecting someone would try to keep her from going to bed. The door creaked as she slowly opened it.

Miranda had fallen asleep in her bed. She was not particularly fond of Miranda but Miranda did predict the war. Miranda fell in love with a vampire, talk about grave robber! The vampire only used her as a mobile blood bank but she believed they were star crossed lovers. The vampire even offered Miranda to Bishop knowing that he would feed on her. If she truly was clairvoyant then surely she must have seen that he was only using her. Honestly one did not need clairvoyance to see that he did not love her as she loved him.

Claire felt jealous. Why was the house rejecting her? What did she do to deserve to be treated so coldly?

"It could have been worse", she told herself and closed the door behind her as she left her room. As she closed the door she heard the familiar sound of Shane's mobile phone ringing. Shane recorded Michael during one of his gigs at common grounds and made it his ringtone. Claire could not remember the song's title but she knew it was the song Michael wrote for Eve.

She entered Shane's room and started looking for his mobile. She found it under a pile of dirty laundry, typical of Shane. He was a feast for the eyes but he wasn't too hot on the housekeeping skills. Eve's name flashed violently on the screen as the mobile vibrated in Claire's hand. Should she answer? She did not want Eve to think that she screens Shane's calls. That would make her seem even more childish but it could be urgent. Claire answered the call but before she could say anything she heard a familiar voice. "Shane call me. I think she knows"