3

Claire

Their economics weren't at top at the moment since they'd just bought a house and all the stuff Carrie needed. Still, Claire really wanted to buy creams that could remove stretch marks, or at least fade them a little bit. Shane had probably seen them and most likely hated them. It just had to be a huge turn off.

In bed she'd started undressing after the light was turned off and being in only underwear, or naked, had become embarrassing. At daytime, it was no problem and she barely gave it a thought, but when the night came she felt sick and dreadful. Shane was still handsy, but not nearly as much as before. It could of course come from his lack of sleep, but… She just couldn't believe that. And it was way more logical that he didn't find her sexy or pretty anymore.

The price tag on the cream a young pharmacy technician had showed her was higher than a skyscraper. At least for the moment. The 'before and after' pictures on the back of the box looked so real and incredible. So tempting, but also so-not-happening. She sighed and placed the box with the cream tube back in the shelf. Well, that sucked badly.

Shane came up behind her with the shopping cart. Carrie was sleeping in the baby chair that was connected to it. 'So, what's the lady lookin' at?' he grinned and kissed her cheek.

'Nothing,' she lied and put on a half fake smile and closed the distance between them completely by hugging him. He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly until she pulled back.

'Do we have everything on the shopping list?' she asked and took the list out of Shane's hand.

'Shit. I forgot the diapers,' Shane said and took off.

Claire shot the cream a last look, and then the price tag whilst making a mental note to save money for it.

When Shane came back with the diapers and a bag of Lays chips, they went off to the cashier to pay. There was barely any line at all, just two people buying smoke and some beer.

Whilst Shane was paying for the food and diapers, Claire noticed two vamps standing in the dark corner of the shop looking at Carrie. One was a red haired, slim and tall woman. The other was a thin man. It was Jeremy. Shane was about twice his size, but Jeremy had to be ten times as strong anyway. She elbowed Shane carefully and he turned to look at her.

'Hm?'

'Watch Carrie while I put the groceries in bags. There are some vamps in the corner,' she mumbled casually. The vampires could probably hear her, even though she was speaking quietly. Shane shot a quick look at them and nodded to Claire. 'Do it fast, we need to get out of here,' he whispered fiercely into her ear.

She packed all the groceries into the plastic bags quickly. The process took her under two minutes. Shane handed her Carrie and picked up the bags. Just when they were about to open the door and leave, the vamps jumped in front of them in a flash.

'Leaving already?' the red haired vamp hissed. Was it Claudette? No, it couldn't be… Only a few days ago she hadn't known any English words. All Claire had managed to make out in the twilight that night was the red hair.

'Back off. We're under Amelie's protection,' Shane said. Claire noticed how his muscles were tensed up and ready to fight. She turned to see if the cashier or someone else was there, but no one was close. The cashier had turned her back to everything and walked off to check on something, and there were rarely any customers at the store.

'Yes, yes, one of you are. But we don't want her,' Jeremy said with a spooky voice that left echoes in the air – even though there was no reason there should be an echo. Creepy.

'Leave us alone,' Claire said bravely and held Carrie closer to her chest.

'Oh, little one is ordering us around? I do not appreciate such behaviour. I will let it pass on one condition. Let's make the deal, shall we?' Jeremy said and gestured for the redhead to circled around them. Claire felt like an antelope getting hunted by tigers in the savannah. An easy target, since there was no way she could outrun them. Especially not since Carrie was nestled in her arms, still sleeping.

'We're not making any deal. Now get out of our way!' Shane sounded pissed off and dangerous.

'We want the baby,' the redhead ignored Shane and tried snapping Carrie out of Claire's arms. Shane let go of the shopping bags and searched his pockets for a stake he didn't have. She knew she had one stuffed in her purse. One. That meant that even if they managed to stake one of them, the other would kill them. Shane slipped his hand down in her purse and searched for something to use. He got hold of the stake.

'Stealing from the young lady? What a shame,' Jeremy moved closer to Shane. Claire felt scared. The vamps could grab Carrie or/and kill Shane any second.

Just when Claire thought the situation couldn't get worse, Carrie yawned and woke up. When she saw the vamps, she started whimpering. No, no, no.

The red head stepped quickly forward and snapped the baby out of Claire's arms and Jeremy lifted Shane up in the air. Shane looked at her with scared eyes. Carrie was crying. What do I do?

'Please don't! What do you want?' Claire cried as Shane made a choking sound. The vampire that held Shane slammed him down. Shane's head hit the floor and made a sickening banging sound. Adrenaline was rushing in her body, making her shake all over.

'The girl,' the vamps said at the same time.

'Why?' Claire asked with a shaking voice. She knew she shouldn't be afraid. The vampires could smell fear, feel it.

'None of your business,' the red haired said and showed off her fangs.

Claire placed her hand in her pockets searching for her cell phone. When she got hold of it, she pressed a button. She couldn't talk to the one picking up, but someone she had on speed dial would understand she was in trouble. Problem was the person probably didn't know where she was. Eve was the only one who knew, because she had texted her before leaving for the grocery store. God, she hoped either Michael or Eve picked up.

Amelie could help. Maybe. Claire looked down at her gold bracelet. 'It is my business. You're holding my daughter there,' she said and looked up to face the vamps. They stood there together staring at her.

'We should just tell her. Then we can kill her and go claim our prize,' something scary went over Jeremy's eyes. Claire felt the hair on her arms rise. Something was wrong. A different wrong than usual. This felt sick and twisted.

'Sounds like fun. I will enjoy seeing her face when she gets to know,' the lady smiled and held out her hand in a diva-motion to stare at her nails. In her other arm, Carrie was lying. She didn't cry anymore, but Claire could see she was close.

'Vampires are having bets on who can take your precious little Carrie and kill her first and then survive for a week afterwards,' the man smiled with fangs. Claire hitched a breath. Shane was down for the moment so it was only she against two vampires.

'Please don't do this,' she said and stared at them. 'You'll regret it. Trust my word.'

'What? I can't see anyone her to witness us killing anyone. Then I mean not someone that will live through the day,' Jeremy said and placed Carrie on the floor.

'If you kill me, you mess with the Founder, Myrnin and all the other people and vampires on my side,' Claire warned. 'And there are many. Way too many for you two to handle.'

'The girl has a point,' the redhead said hesitantly. Claire felt a small relief-like feeling. 'We won't live through the week if we do something to any of these three humans.' Jeremy hissed something in a language Claire didn't know. It sounded Russian, but not exactly. The man replied something, sounding scared, and they took off.

Claire ran to pick up Carrie from the floor and then to Shane. His pulse was beating normally and there were no fang marks. He had just fainted by getting thrown so hard at the floor. He'd be okay as long as there were no serious head injuries. She should really get him checked. She pulled out her phone, and saw that she had three missed calls from Michael and five from Eve.

'What the hell?' Michael came barging into the store and took a look at Claire, who was crouching down next to Shane, and then at the groceries that was spread all over the floor.

'You need to help me getting Shane to the hospital. He's alive, but he might have hurt his head badly,' Claire said. She saw how much Michael didn't want to help her out with Shane, but he nodded anyway and came to help.

'What happened?' he asked.

'Can I tell you later?'

Michael nodded and started dragging Shane out of the store and over the parking lot to his car. They laid him in the back seat comfortably.

'Wanna' go back to get the groceries? I'll help you and we'll do it in a hurry,' Michael offered. She shook her head. Shane was way more important than diapers.

Claire sat down in the back seat so she could make sure Shane wasn't falling out of the seat or anything. Carrie was strapped up in Ethan's baby seat in the front. She was petting Shane's hair gently whilst looking down at him with worried eyes the whole trip. He moved a little every now and then, but so slightly that Claire wasn't sure whether it was the bumps on the road or him. He probably had a concussion. Luckily he was still alive.