*Characters belong to amazing Rachel Caine and sadly I am not her! Enjoy Next chapter will be up soon.*
Chapter 2
The next day of class was pretty simple. Claire once again aced all her pop-quizzes. When classes were over she went straight to Myrnin's. She really wanted to talk him about how he was doing. Since she has left him alone for almost a week.
Claire opened the hidden door to find Myrnin reading. She wasn't sure what he was reading.
"Hi, Myrnin."
"Oh Claire dear I didn't see you. Did you get the package?"
"Oh yeah I got it." She walked closer to Myrnin.
"Well what did you think? It's from Amelie.' Claire shook her head.
"I don't know I haven't opened it yet. I've been…busy."
"Ah yes the prank." He smiled. "And how did that work out? I heard it was pretty convincing."
"How? I mean nobody was there." He shook his head then smiled. He put his book down and walked towards a door. Claire had never noticed it before. It was hidden behind tons of books and some curtains. He smiled again and turned around to open the door. Claire saw a couch. It was the couch in the secret room.
"But. How? Ada is gone. How can the portals work?" she said. Myrnin looked back at her.
"Honestly I have no idea. I completely forgot about this door when the books started piling up."
"Well how does it work?" Claire asked in a confused tone. "Oh Myrnin please don't tell me you used a human brain to get that to work?"
"Oh no. I haven't touched a human being… well there was that boy that wandered… but never mind about that. But no little Claire, I have not used a human brain for this, I don't know what I did, or even if I did anything at all." Myrnin said.
"So it's a working portal? Just like all the others?" Claire asked.
"Well no, of course not. Before Ada died you could go anywhere, now it's limited." He shut the door and sat back down in his seat.
"But it still works right?" she asked. Myrnin just nodded and gestured to the seat in front of him, she took it. She continued "so is there any way to make or have more portals?" He shook his head.
"No, without Ada I don't even know how this is up and running."
"What if it's a glitch in the system?" he shook his head again.
"Claire, there is no system, everything is fried."
"Was Ada the only one who could…? I don't know… conjure up a portal?" she asked.
"There is only Amelie, you, and me."
"Exactly what if-"
"Impossible this portal is the only one left. And at that, it's not very good, it barley works."
"Okay. Hey Myrnin?"
"Yes?" he said.
"When did you discover the portal? Was it you who was in the secret room?" his smile got big. It was a little mischievous.
"Yes I was. I discovered that it was a working portal during the time you were playing your so-called prank." His smile faded.
Claire checked the clock and saw that it was going to be six 'o clock. She made a worried face to see if Myrnin would get the hint that she wanted to leave. She was at Myrnin's for more than an hour.
He finally got the hint. She was about to head out the door when Myrnin stopped her.
"It's dark. Morley really doesn't care for Amelie's protection on you. Take the portal, please my dear.' He went to go open the portal door for her.
Claire didn't argue. She passed Myrnin, said her "Thank yous" and stepped inside.
Myrnin shut the door behind her. She pushed the hidden button and the knob appeared. She went straight to her room. Her phone rang. She looked at the caller id and it said DAD. She answered.
"Hey dad."
"Claire, have you talked to Shane?"He asked.
"Yea. I talk to him all the time."
"About dinner?"He said. His tone was urgent.
Crap.
"Oh...uh…no, no I haven't."
"Well remember too, Claire. Today's Wednesday right?"
"Yep." Claire didn't really want Shane to go.
"We want him over tomorrow. Around eight. Is that okay?"
"Yea, I'll talk to him when he gets home from work. I have to go dad. I love you."
"Love you too." Click.
Now Claire had no choice but to talk to Shane.
When Claire was out of the room, she walked down the stairs. She saw that no one was home.
She decided to just try to play one of Shane's zombie games. She got out one of the games that looked the least gruesome.
As she played it she kept squealing at the game. She thought the game was… fun. Claire was playing for about an hour. She thought she suck, which she probably did. Claire heard a car pull up to the curb outside the house. She quickly figured out how to turn off the game. Then she raced to her bag and pulled out some of her books and pretended to read.
Then Shane walked in. Claire's breathing was a little off because of the rush she had trying to turn everything off and trying to act like she was just studying. Shane noticed her breathing.
"Uh… Claire you okay?" Claire realized she left the controller on the table and Shane noticed it too. He smiled and asked, "Were you?"
"No." She lied. She looked down at her books and tried to read something on Chemistry that she hasn't learned yet.
"Uh hu, you any good?" He kept smiling because he knew when she was lying. She rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, I'm not going to answer that. Hey listen Shane I need to talk to you."
"Uh oh about what?" Shane walked over and sat down next to her and placed his stuff on the table. He had a worried look on his face. She placed a hand on his knee.
"Hey it's nothing bad, don't worry. My dad called and reminded me of something I've tried to hold off on. But he wants to get to know you a little better and it's not like I can turn him down because he would just come over here and drag me out with him."
"Uh hu."
"My mom's not home so he wants us to go over there and have dinner." He shook his head. "Why Shane? It's just dinner! My mom's the one that has the problem with you not my dad and he's just being nice."
"Claire I love you but, it's just I'm not a parent person and you know that. And dinner with your dad? I just don't know Claire." She stood up, looking down at Shane.
"My dad's not that bad. Shane please, they'll leave me alone for once."
"Claire no I'm not doing to do it!" Claire ignored him. She pushed past him and went up the stairs to her room and slammed her door. She laid on her bed and screamed into a pillow. This was so not how I wanted that conversation to go! She thought to herself. Claire sat back up and noticed to package sitting by her closet. She got up and opened it. Inside was a brand new laptop well the newest in computer technology, and also on top of it was a letter. Claire picked it up and it read,
Dear Claire,
I give this laptop to you for your studies. I assure Myrnin will give you more activities since Ada is well gone. Also I need to do some updating on your Founder bracelet. In exactly 2 days I want you to go to Myrnin's.
Founder Amelie
Claire took out the laptop and set it on her desk. She didn't want to deal with anything after what happened with Shane.
Shane, she thought, how could he not go? My dad's actually trying to be nice for once.
Claire got over the fact really fast when she heard a knock on the door.
"Go away Shane!" There was silence for a few moments.
"Uh it's not Shane, its Eve." Without consent, Eve opened the door. "Hey um… what's up with Shane? I got home and he's all pissed off killing zombies."
Claire looked up at her. "My dad had called and reminded me that Shane and I were supposed to go over and have dinner with him. And I've been pulling it off because of this reason."
"Well, yeah it's Shane. You have to understand that you're his first real relationship and he's probably just being a brat." She sat on the bed next to Claire and smiled.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Fine just a little mad. I got a letter from Amelie." She handed it to Eve. It took her all of 2 seconds to read it.
"Cool! A free laptop? You must be in nerd heaven! Where is it?" Claire pointed at the desk. Eve followed her gaze. "Again that's cool. Uh…Claire when did you get the package?" Claire thought for awhile, then her eyes widen.
"It's been 2 days. Crap I guess I should go back to Myrnin's." Claire walked out of her room. She went to the hidden button and hit it.
"Um…Claire I thought you were going to Myrnin's?"
"I am. Tell Shane where I am. I know he's pissy but he'll ask." Eve nodded. Claire went down the stairs. Eve stayed up and left. When Claire got into the room and she went to the wall behind the couch.
She thought long and hard about where she wanted to go and how to get there. It took a few seconds, but finally the door appeared and opened. Myrnin's office was still the same. He hasn't done any cleaning besides the passage way for the door. She didn't see sign of Amelie or Myrnin. A few minutes had passed and Claire saw something out of the corner of her eye.
Amelie.
"Hello Claire." She smiled her cold smile, she was wearing a baby blue dress that hugged her form and flowed around her like her own personally ocean, and walked towards Myrnin's desk to get an oddly shaped box. She opened it and Claire saw that there wasn't anything in it.
"Hello. What's the box for?"
"Claire come here please." Claire walked over to Amelie and had to watch her steps because of her dress. As soon as she was close enough, Amelie sliced through the bracelet on Claire's wrist with her nail. The bracelet fell in to Amelie's hand where it sealed up again. She placed it back into the box and closed the top.
"So you're not taking it back right?" She asked a little wimpy. She really need the protection after what happened in Dallas with Morley and the others.
"No I'm not taking it back. Claire, my dear, you need the protection. I just need to do some adjustments to it, but until you get it back, you need to stay indoors. I assure you, you will be safe." The Myrnin come out from the shadows. He didn't say anything. Amelie looked at him then back at Claire.
"Myrnin will take you home."Amelie said. She gave Claire a faint smile. Myrnin looked at her.
"Are you okay with that Claire? I don't have a car so we will have to walk." Claire started to look a little confused.
"What about the portal? Doesn't it work?"
"It seems that it failed. That's why I wasn't here when you stepped through the portal goes on and off." He said.
"Don't worry Claire." Amelie said as she turned and walked out of the office. Walking at night with Myrnin, who already has bitten her once. Claire wasn't sure if she could trust walking home with him, all alone.
"Um…I don't know Myrnin. I'll think I just call Eve. She went back to work."
"As you wish." Myrnin said as he bowed. Claire never really understood why he does that.
Claire got out her phone and dialed Eve's number. Claire told her she would meet her at Common Grounds. Then she left Myrnin's office.
Claire knew the way to Common Grounds from Myrnin's place. And it wasn't that far. Claire was about a block away from the coffee shop when she saw someone.
It was Morley.
In a blink of an eye he was standing two maybe three feet in front of her.
"Hello little Claire. We meet again." He smiled and looked down at her bare wrist. Then he continued, "Tisk-tisk, where's you bracelet dear Claire? You shouldn't be roaming the streets. Did Amelie get rid of you?" He just kept smiling.
Claire knew it was no use but she tried to run past him. It didn't work. She looked up and in front of her, she could see the lights of Common Grounds. He grabbed her arm. She wanted to scream but nothing came out. She just stood there. Morley was squeezing her arm, tight. Cutting off her circulation.
She finally managed to speak. "Let go Morley. No Amelie did not get rid of me. She's making the bracelet more… advanced! I'm still under her protection! So let go of me!" She jerked away from his grip, but he gripped her arm even tighter. "Morley please! Let go!"
"Why Claire? I don't see a bracelet, so that makes you a vulnerable little snack for me to have… but since you we're so nice to me back in Dallas…" Morley trailed off as he flashed his pearl white fangs and his eyes glowed an eerie red. Before she could say anything, Morley's fangs pierced through Claire's skin on her neck. He leaned down so she was laying on the floor and the next thing she knew; Claire tasted blood in her mouth. Claire tried to move but couldn't. She wasn't sure what was happening. Then she remembered seeing Amelie and Michael in the living room of the Glass house when Michael became a vampire…
