Myrnin.
The lab was a lonely place sometimes. I missed the days when Claire used to live here with me. No, that was Ada! I kept doing that, mixing up Claire with Ada. Of course Claire did used to come more often. I missed those days. Everything seemed so easy, even when it wasn't. At least she talked to me properly back then. It seemed so far away. But really it wasn't too long ago. How could I have made such a mess of things? That was always me wasn't it? Why couldn't I just be sane; for one day, at least? That's all I'm asking. I've ruined everything I ever touched. It all started when Amelie tried to order me to kill that boy. Too queen-like to get her hands dirty. But I'm glad she asked me instead of one of her guards, otherwise they would've killed Claire as well. I couldn't have that. Not my dear sweet Ad- Claire. My dear sweet Claire. I don't know what I would do if she was gone. I know I wouldn't be able to take another loss like that. Ada was bad enough, no worse than that; it was gut-wrenchingly awful. I knew that if it was Claire, it would be even worse than that.
And back when the druag where at large. I knew I couldn't let Claire go back. She would've been dead in minutes. I knew I would cause her, yet again, more pain but I just couldn't lose her. Not like that. Not ever. I have no excuse of what I did the other night. I'm a beast, t's what I am. It's no use reining it in. A muzzle is useless against a wolf.
Claire.
Class was yet again light on students. It wasn't like they could just leave though; some of the ones who were gone were Morganville natives yet most were oblivious to what Morganville really was. Claire knew there had to be something going on, it had been around a week and the University seemed to be losing a student nearly every day. No, Claire thought they can't be! Claire remembered someone telling her about how University students didn't have to pay taxes but they made up for it because the vamps got about 1%. But this was way more than 1%. Claire knew she had no chance of asking Amelie.
Claire went to Common Grounds after lessons ended. She needed to talk with Oliver. He was at the register and Jason was washing tables with a sullen look on his face. Oliver was looking rather satisfied while watching Jason, like he was taking revenge, which in fact he probably was. Bussing tables was exactly the most dignified job Oliver could've given him. Claire walked up to the counter; Oliver saw her and gave her his usual act of putting on a smile. After all that happened he still tried to keep up his aging hippie act. Claire just got straight to it,
"What's happening at the University?" She said, not being too load about it, considering there had to be at least five University students in there.
"I don't know what you're talking about? Now do you want anything or are you just blocking my view of justice." Justice referring to Jason being made to bus tables.
"University students are going missing. At least one a day it seems."
"Don't you human children enjoy truancy?"
"Well some do but not this many, and some have been gone at least a week."
"Well it's nothing to do with us. Now would you stop bothering me?" He said, sighing with exasperation. Claire left without another word.Well that seems odd, if it wasn't them then what is happening.
Claire didn't have time to think it over; she had to get to lab. She was going to be late if she didn't hurry. The journey didn't take long; she soon walked into the familiar lab. The smell of old parchment and chemicals hit her as she stepped through the door. She walked in, she couldn't see Myrnin anywhere.
"Myrnin?" She called.
"In here!" She heard him shout. It came from the kitchen/ blood storage room. She walked in to find Myrnin drinking from a blood bag. Claire felt herself wretch. He lowered the bag way from his mouth. He still had the blood dripping from his lips, his fangs wee extended and his eyes momentarily shone a bright crimson. Claire felt an over-whelming surge of fear as she remembered the night before. She backed up a few steps, chills raising hairs on her arms. "What is it Claire?" Myrnin asked tentatively, wiping the blood from his lips as his fangs slowly folded up. "You look pale." He walked over and brushed her cheek with his hand, she flinched. He pulled his hand away immediately.
"You can talk, fang boy." Claire shot back, it sounded unbelievably like Eve but she was in that sort of mood.
"Hey, that's very rude. I don't make fun of your….." Myrnin looked her up and down, as if trying to find something to make fun of. "….Height." He finally said, rubbing the top of her head. Claire laughed, a little. Myrnin's smile turned to a cool mask as he spoke,
"Well I think we have been a bit distracted, don't you. I think it's about time we actually got to work on repairing the machine."
"Yeah, I guess so." With that set about working, they went over all the possible things they could do and all seemed to lead back to the brain in a jar idea. But Claire couldn't argue that the last time they had tried without had been a disaster. But they couldn't just take someone's brain.
"You could use mine?" Said Myrnin after a while of silent reading.
"Use your what?"
"My brain. If I got someone to make me unconscious then extract my brain. I could power the town." His voice was sincere and slightly defeated.
"Why would you want that?"
"I don't. It just seems better if I was."
"Don't say that. Don't ever say that!"
"Why not Claire? Why not, I'm useless otherwise. I've done my job here, the disease is cured. Doing that would be the only useful thing I could ever do." He stood up from his seat then collapsed back down again. He sighed, "What am I saying? I don't want that."
"Of course you don't. And I don't want you to do it either." Myrnin looked up at her then, "You don't."
"Of course. Who else is going to be my crazy-vampire boss?"
"But I thought-"
"Just because you've done bad things doesn't mean I want to put your brain in a machine." Myrnin's face lit up with a wide smile. He was still smiling as they both mentally decided to go back to the books.
Myrnin.
It had been hours, I had left Claire reading to get a drink. When I came back I found her sleeping. Her head resting against the pages of the book she had been reading. I looked at her sleeping face, so relaxed and innocent. I wasn't quite sure what to do. I didn't want to wake her. I slowly reached out and lifted her into my arms; she was as light as a feather. Her warmth felt nice against my skin; I would've held her longer but I also didn't want to give her a cold. I gently placed her on my sofa. I carefully patted her pockets and found her phone, which I placed in my own pocket. I then proceeded to pull a blanket over her, pulling it up to her chin. I then paused, holding the blanket at her chin. I let go of the blanket and softly, ever so carefully pushed the stray bits of hair that was covering her face. I sat on the armchair across from her and watched as she slept. I quickly sent Michael a message saying that Claire was safe and was just sleeping for a bit and that I would return her, fully-intact tomorrow. It was already getting dark; it wasn't like they were going to come get her now. I couldn't exactly use the portals considering the machine was down.
I sighed and began to watch her again. Her slow deep breathing as she slept. I found myself entranced by her, I felt like I could sit and watch her forever. But even vampires need sleep. My eyes soon gave in and I was consumed by the blackness of sleep.
Claire.
Claire woke with a start. This wasn't her bedroom. It was the lab. Shit she thought as she remembered falling asleep while reading. She then noticed that she was in fact lying on Myrnin's sofa, covered by a blanket. She looked up to see Myrnin on the armchair, sleeping. He looked so calm. He was lying on his side, facing her. Her got up and searched for her phone. It wasn't in her pockets. She looked at Myrnin and could see something phone-shaped, protruding out of his back pocket. Great, let's just hope he doesn't wake up, Claire thought, annoyed. She tip-toed over to him. Careful not to wake him up. She slowly reached into his back pocket, making sure to only use her thumb and forefinger. She felt her phone and pulled it out swiftly. Next thing she knew she was pinned to the floor. Myrnin had obviously woken up. He held her there arms above her head. Then suddenly he realised it was her.
"Jesus Claire. Don't you know not to wake a sleeping vampire?"
"Yes but I needed my phone." They stayed there in awkward silence for a moment, Myrnin was still holding her down. "Erm….Myrnin?"
"Yes?"
"You can let go of me now."
"Oh yes." He said, getting up off her, vampire-speed and then turning to help her up. Claire quickly turned on her phone. It was 8:30 in the morning. "Shit." She breathed. She looked and there was about a thousand messages and missed calls. "I've gotta go."
"Yes….yes of course you do." Myrnin didn't quite seem to have woken up; it was like he was in some whole other world. "Goodbye then Claire."
"Bye Myrnin." She said, grabbing her bag and rushing out the door. She started to walk home. It didn't take long but she was soon met by a wave of hugs when she got through the door. Eve was the first to get there,
"What the hell happened?"
"It's alright, I feel asleep in the lab, that's all." Claire reassured her. Shane was the next to engulf her in a hug, only he placed a warm kiss on her lips as well. He looked pleased to see her, yet somehow suspicious. Understandable considering she had just spent the night at Myrnin's lab.
"Don't worry Shane, it's not like we did anything, we both fell asleep."
"What? Crazy actually sleeps?" Interjected Eve. Claire smiled. It was nice to be back home.
