New Love?

Claire Danvers wandered down the streets of Morganville, Texas, with nothing but the tumbleweed for company. Even for Morganville, the streets were dusty and deserted. The sun beating down on and scorching the lonely road, the petite brunette turned off down a dark alleyway towards the rotten shack concealing her boss's underground lab/lair. As she unlocked the door, she already had a bad feeling about today. Her premonitions grew stronger still when she heard Myrnin's somewhat anxious voice, never a good tone for any vampire, let alone the mostly-insane mad scientist Myrnin.

"Claire? Is that you? Hello? Please answer me Claire. I've been lonely, you know-I would very much appreciate having a companion to converse with. Pretty please?"

Okay, that was definitely not normal. Myrnin often made her feel guilty for leaving, but that had all supposedly stopped when she had cured his disease-with his help-a sort of vampire Alzheimer's. She walked cautiously into the steampunked lab. Among the clutter and junk, books and lab equipment, Myrnin sat in an old and very well-worn armchair. He was in a surprisingly normal-but-formal outfit, which consisted of…was that a tuxedo?! His shiny black shoes seemed new and freshly polished, and the whole thing was topped off by a top hat.

"Um…Myrnin, are you alright? You look a little…off today."

"Off? I will never quite understand the slang of today's generation. Oh, but that was not what I wanted to speak to you about-Claire, take my seat."

Claire sat down awkwardly, not quite knowing what to do with herself. She always felt weird when Myrnin was around-it was something she wasn't exactly sure of, and she hardly admitted it to herself, but...no, that was ridiculous. Shane was her boyfriend, and she loved him. Didn't she?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Myrnin.

"Claire, I feel as though there is a barrier between us-you seem very subdued lately, and I have noticed you being distracted from your work." He laid a hand on her shoulder, looking concerned. "Is everything alright, Claire?"

Claire felt her heart thumping hard against her ribs, and it was all she could do not to shiver at his touch. "I'm fine, honestly."

Myrnin was close, so close, and Claire knew at once that he could sense that she was lying. She tried to pull away from his questioning look, but he held her, gentle yet firm. She met his gaze, and there was a long silence. It was incredibly tense, until Myrnin broke the silence.

"Claire, I…have something that has been on my mind for quite some time now, and I feel like I should probably confess it to you."

Claire gulped. "Confess what?"

Myrnin gently closed her eyelids. "This," he replied.

She felt something wash over her, dread and hope mingled in a new and indescribable sensation, and then he kissed her.

I was soft and slow and sweet, with a thrilling bite of vampiric cold that only made it all the better. He pulled away, searching her face. He leaned in again, and this one was darker, more passionate and romantic, and Claire opened her mouth in a response to him. When their tongues met, warm and chill, shivers went up Claire's spine. Then she remembered.

Tears already welling in her eyes, she pulled away from his beautiful embrace. Myrnin moaned in self-hate.

"Claire, I'm so sorry, I didn't think, I-"

"No, it wasn't your fault. I'm sorry, I…I have to go."

Gasping for air, her chest heaving with heavy sobs, Claire ran in the direction of Lot Street.