A/N: I have been pleased with the recent feedback on my first chapte, and I apologize to xXxVampChicaxXx (sorry if I spelled your name wrong by the way. I'm kinda typing fast). I have just recently read your story—and I loved it!(: I didn't mean for our stories to be so similar, but rest assured, our stories will have many, many differences. If it's the same with you, I would like to continue my story. I don't want you to think that I'm copying you! Like you said: "Great minds think alike". Hahah!

I promise the chapter will be more exciting. These are a bunch of jumbled thoughts. And I promise I'll write more. (:

**POSSIBLE SPOILER**

And someone has recently asked me if Myrnin dies in "Kiss of Death". I would have messaged you back, but for some reason my computer wouldn't allow! So the answer is: No. Myrnin doesn't die. Thank god too! O.O I couldn't imagine the books without him!

Disclaimer:

I do not own the rights to "The Morganville Vampires" nor do I own the characters or the story in general. However, Rachel Caine does. I, on the other hand, am just writing a little Fanfiction based on her marvelous series. Don't be mad, please.

Myrnin sat at his desk, tapping the end of his pen on the desk's surface.

He was trying to figure out another way to prevent Claire from suffering the same fate as Ada. There was no way he could persuade Amelie to save Claire. Every time he would speak of an alternative, Amelie would hold up her pale hand, stopping him mid-sentence.

"There is no discussing this. It must be done," she would say. "For Morganville."

For Morganville . . . , Myrnin silently sighed in his mind.

Everything he seemed to do revolve around Morganville and its survival, resident's included. He had had a hand in the creation of Morganville, though he was very much against it, and in a way he was responsible for it. A long time ago, Amelie had asked for Myrnin's opinion on the idea in a letter. When Myrnin had gone to tell her it was foolish, it was too late. She was already constructing it, claiming it was a vampire's sanctuary, where they could live in peace without the humans ever finding out about them. She had located her town in the heart of Texas, the middle of nowhere, in hopes that humans were very unlikely to find it.

Consequently, humans began to move in, co-existing with the residential vampires—somewhat. Humans and vampires didn't always get along, obviously. They were always so ready to kill each other. Humans would kill vampires due to their fear, and vampires would kill humans for a meal. Unfortunate it was, but very true.

Eventually, Myrnin had to come up with an invention that would ensure that the humans wouldn't leave Morganville with the vivid memory of the vampires' existence. They could easily inform the world of what and where they were.

After many years, Amelie had insisted that Myrnin should take on an apprentice to accelerate the invention's development. Little did they know, the disease Bishop had infected many of the vampires with was taking control of Myrnin, making him less and less sane every day. Myrnin was necessarily completely lucid, but he was very intelligent, but the disease made him lose it, black out and become this monster that could simply kill without any remorse. Of course, when Myrnin killed many times before, he was exactly entirely remorseful. He felt bad, but what is one life in a world of millions.

Over the years, Myrnin had killed many of his students. He was only able to partially save one and her name was Ada, who he had cared about. Perhaps, he had even loved her.

He had put her brain into a machine, using as a biological interface that was rather successful actually. She could operate portals and everything else that was linked to Morganville, especially the Founder's Houses. Best of all, she was able to create a barrier around Morganville that was able to perform memory alteration, stealing all memories of Morganville from whoever had left.

Unfortunately, Ada was never truly happy. She was forever trapped in a box, forever lonely and bored. Part of that was sort of Myrnin's fault. The only times he had paid her a visit were when he fed her, which wasn't very often. Because of that, Ada was almost a woman scorn, angry and depressed, which later caused her to self-destruct. Myrnin had sacrificed her happiness for the sake of Morganville . . . and then she died.

Which he had to do once again . . . to Claire.

Honestly, he didn't want Claire to suffer the very same fate. She was younger than Ada had been; maybe a few years younger. But she had so much to look forward to in her life. She could be happy with her White Knight, having children, raising a family. After she was turned and placed into the box, she would never have that chance. Myrnin was sympathetic for her.

. . .But it has to be done. You can do nothing about it.

He had to think of something, and fast too. Otherwise, it'll be too late. There was no way to get Claire out of it. She would be the new Ada, end of story. If only he could create something that would allow her to remain physically intact and walk about Morganville.

Myrnin had never really suffered from "inventor's block" before. He always had a solution, no matter what the sacrifice was. So far, all he could think of was: Leave Claire to it. Let it be. There is no solution. She may hate you, but she'll get over it.

That was wrong. Claire would never get over it. She would be stuck with Myrnin for eternity, hating him, despising him. She would probably be the most defiant biological interface too.

Myrnin laughed at that. Claire never did really listen to him. Quite often, he had found himself listening to her—which, of course shouldn't be. He was the teacher; she was the student, a slave . . .No, that term was no longer used, nor was it correct. In a sense Claire didn't belong to anyone. She was a Neutral just like her friends—excluding Michael, of course, who was a vampire now due to all sorts of complicated reasons.

Myrnin pushed his glasses upward on his nose.

Ah, Myrnin, you must think of something. You care for Claire, surely you do. You're not so heartless, Myrnin thought. No, he wasn't as heartless as he once was, but he was a vampire. Vampires were often heartless except for Sam—may he rest in peace wherever he may be—and Michael, but that would soon change. He was becoming more vampire-like. Everyone could see that, especially his friends. He was changing, no doubt.

Myrnin wouldn't want to see Claire like that; so heartless and indifferent. It just didn't seem right. Claire was sweet and harmless. She wouldn't hurt a fly . . . unless it was trying to drink her blood and kill her or her friends . . .

Myrnin recalled the time he had bitten Claire in the catacombs. He was so weak. He needed that blood or he would parish. But Claire . . . she had been so angry at him. Thankfully she forgave him, but the hate in her eyes was . . . unnerving and troubling. It broke is cold, dead heart. He could bear that again.

He couldn't live with her hating him for eternity. He could already feel that stab and rip in his heart appearing by just thinking of it.

I have to do something, he thought. I can't bear her hatred. But she'll hate you either way. Even if you manage to "save" her . . . from being in a box like Ada, she'll still be turned and she'll hate you. And she'll never be able to go to Dallas again when Michael would be asked to record again. She would be stuck here . . . in Morganville.

He wished he didn't have to use a biological interface, but there was no other way. Claire's CPU interface, just wouldn't do. It didn't fulfill the task that needed to be fulfilled. With Claire gone, Myrnin had been trying to find ways that a CPU interface would work, but it was impossible. Computer technology just wouldn't cut it. No, it just was not good enough.

On the other hand, using a biological interface was so much more efficient. The brain was capable of so many things. Not, a human brain, but a vampire brain. The brain of a human couldn't handle such a burden, but the strong, more advanced mind of a vampire was more than able. That's why Claire would need to be changed. If you interfaced her human brain to the machine it just wouldn't work. Her brain would die. Claire would die . . . and the world would be a sad place.

That would do Morganville no good. He would change her—along with Amelie—and though she would hate him, at least she'd be alive, in theory. And if Myrnin was successful in finding a way that would allow her to walk freely, she'd be completely whole and not some holographic picture. Claire would have all five senses and all emotions. She would still be herself, but a vampire. She would hate that, but at least she wouldn't be stuck in a box for eternity. That was good. She would hate him a little less, and Myrnin . . . could live with that . . . somehow. At least, she'd be safe.

He had to find this solution. But how?

In a moment of frustration, he smacked a pile of books and papers onto the ground, scattering them in all directions. A large alchemy book flew across the floor, bumping hard into one of his bookcases. A large leather bound book fell from the shelf and land onto the ground. Without a second though, Myrnin ran to, kneeling on the ground beside it.

It was old, but not as old as he. Myrnin traced its leather, brown spine with his slender finger, analyzing it with all senses. It was his journal and it smelled like dust, and there was the fate smell of Claire on it. She had recently been organizing his books. Perhaps that was why. Or maybe she glanced at it.

Myrnin unbuckled the latch that kept it closed. As he opened it, he noticed the pages were yellowed with age and covered with a film of dust. There was a blank spot on the dust covered page. A few actually. As Myrnin got a closer look he noted that they were fingerprints, small fingerprints . . . that were full of Claire's scent.

Yes she had read it. Nosey little Claire.

As he flipped through the pages he noticed Claire's scent was stronger on the one page.

It read:

Amelie has yet again forced another student on me

when I specifically told her not to. Then again, who

am I to order the Queen? I suppose I mustn't make

that mistake again. It is not my place. But the

student she has given me is small, fragile. I am not

well and I fear for her safety. I am not well and I

tend to lash out irrationally. I become a more of a

monster than I truly am. And the girl, she is sixteen.

She's too young! Far too young! How can I possibly

live with such guilt, if I may take her life? Her name is

Claire Danvers. She's brilliant—sharpest mind I have

ever encountered beside my own. But young, very

young. And small—fragile. That will make me

protective of her, I'm sure. But it also makes me think

how easy it would be to destroy her. With one flick of

my wrist and she just may be dead. I only hope that I

am able to warn her when I lose my mind. I sure hope

that is so. Though, she may not be able to out run me.

And I hate it when they run. They make themselves

prey by running. It only brings out th

The writing stopped mid-word. He must have lost it then. Myrnin only assumed that she must have been frightened after reading one of Myrnin's thoughts.

Oh, Claire. Do not fear me, he thought. I do not wish to harm you.

No, he didn't want to harm her, but perhaps she should be afraid. That would do her some good. Perhaps, she should use that amazing little brain of hers and run, run far from Morganville. Put that in her book of ideas.

Wait! Myrnin though. Use her brain! Put it in her brain! By God, I've got it!

Myrnin tossed the book to the floor and jumped. He jumped high and quickly.

He grinned and ran towards his desk. He knew how to save Claire! He would use the machine Ada was once hooked up to as a receiver, and but a small, unnoticeable shard of machinery in her brain, where it would like to her thoughts and brainwaves. The receiver would receive whatever command Claire had ordered through her brain. Then it would operate accordingly! It was perfect. How could he not have thought of this before?

Claire would be whole and free, but she would still be a vampire. But somehow, that was alright. All was good. Everything would be okay.

Myrnin grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen and began to draw blueprints.

All was good and he would be ready for when Claire would return.

Hope you enjoyed that one!(:

*Constructive criticism only please!*(:

-Thank you!----for reading & everything else!