Chapter 4, Sleep.

I didn't follow Shane; instead I stormed out of the room and ran up the stairs. I couldn't answer the questions that Michael was going to give me. Y room was at the end of the corridor, that meant I had to pass Shane's room. He might not even be there. I told myself over and over again. Holding my breath I walked quickly passed Shane's room. The door to his room was open, that was what made me stop. Every time we got into an argument and he went into his room he'd close the door.

In his room was dark, nothing rippled or moved to catch my attention. There was no sign of Shane either. Where could he have gone? I shut his door carefully and continued to my room.

I entered my room and it was exactly as I left it that morning. Here in the Glass house we had a little rule, stay out of each other's room unless they invite you in. Eve's big on that rule. I was too, no one was allowed to touch my books even if I had at least 2 weeks off which I had to spend with Myrnin. Having Myrnin as my boss really sucked sometime's because when he went into a crazy mood he chases me around the lab like a bar of chocolate to a chocoholic.

I had 2 weeks off of college; if I was a normal student I would be going to see my parents and taking the time to relax. Of course I didn't count as normal and I landed myself the job of working with Myrnin. Amelie had arranged my timetable with the days Myrnin wanted me to work. Sometimes I wouldn't leave the lab until 3am and then I would call a sleepy Eve to come pick me up.

Today was so tiring, I just wanted to crawl into bed and fall to sleep for ever. It would be a nice death though. Shaking the thought from my head I grabbed my Ipod and docking station. I had decided that a nice shower with music would tier me out enough so that when I got into bed I could fall to sleep.

Wanting to avoid anymore conflict I grabbed towels and headed for the bathroom. I didn't come across any of my roommates on the way there, another blessing for the day. Dumping the Ipod and docking station on the side I ran the water. When it was a nice hot temperature I turned the Ipod on. The first song that came up was Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. I put the song on repeat because it was so relaxing and I like to listen to it at night sometimes. This song would surely put me in the mood.

I undressed, listening to the water hitting the bath tub and the soft music of the symphonies play. I was already tiered. A slow smile spread across my face as all of today's drama washed away with the water down the drain. The water was hot against my skin, it wasn't scolding but it was a warm breath of fresh air to me. It was so peaceful.

As the song repeated itself I wondered how old the artist was, I knew he was long gone but then the thought hit me. Maybe he wasn't dead and was a vampire? Could he sleep through the ages like other vampires? No, he couldn't be he died of a cold in 1827 and he was considered to be quite old.

Putting that out of my mind I got out of the shower. I wrapped one towel around my body and one around my head, holding my hair up. I looked in the mirror and was horrified by the image staring back. There were dark circles under my eyes from when I hadn't slept and because the day had stressed me out I looked double my age. I sighed heavily at my reflection. I wasn't the prettiest of girls but after Shane had picked me over other girl's I started to think I was at least a decent looking girl.

Removing the towel from my head my blonde hair that looked dark brown, fell in curls. Still staring at my reflection I looked even older than before. I turned away grabbing the hair brush. I brushed away in silence, not daring to look at my reflection again.

There was a knock on the door.

It was Eve. "Claire sweetie. Come on out."

I placed the brush back on the side and finally looked at my reflection once more. It was astonishing how much I had changed from the first time I had arrived in Morganville. My hair was obviously longer since I hadn't had it cut but my face looked older by two years at least. I hadn't been here that long but with all the vampire stuff and Myrnin becoming my boss, there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders and I knew that that pressure wouldn't be taken away until I was finished with Myrnin and the machine.

I took a deep breath. "Give me a second." I responded picking my clothes and the IPod up. "What's up?" I asked as I opened the door to Eve and Michael. I was still in my towel so I tried to use the objects to cover myself up.

Eve smiled at my embarrassment. "Erm, have you seen Shane?"

I frowned at her. "No. I thought he was in his room as I came up but he wasn't there." I paused thinking. "Have you checked up in the secrete room?"

"Yes, he isn't there." Michael answered.

"Hey, I hope your okay. I'm sorry about all of this, it's nothing to do with you two." I walked passed them both towards my room. That's when Michael's words stopped me.

"You know what'll happen if Shane goes on a rampage."He said it so softly but the words were like a bullet.

"I know." I clenched my hands together, gripping the things in my hands tightly. "He really shouldn't have scared me like that if he loved me though."

Quickly I shut the door behind me, I threw all the things I was holding on the floor. Even the towel I was wearing, it was a good thing that the curtains were closed. Damn! It was hot in this room.

Eventually I changed into some clothes but it was so hot I just settled for sleeping in my underwear. I climbed into my bed and lay on the cold quilt. There was a blanket at the bottom of the bed, I pulled that over me a little, just in case I got a little cold through the night.

Nothing changed through the night, I was stilling boiling hot and yet everything I touched was freezing cold. This meant I was running a temperature. It could have been one of the chemicals I inhaled at the lab. I thought as time passed by. I needed the sleep.

I reached for my phone. Myrnin would know what the machine would have released. Was it safe to call him though? After today was it safe to call him and ask? I thought about it for a few minutes and then decided it was critical for me to know, I could have been poisoned and here I was caring about boy troubles!

Punching Myrnin's number in was of by heart. There were two dial tones and then Myrnin's soft silky voice. "Hello, Claire. I thought I wouldn't hear from you again." His tone was also sort of flirtatious. I shook away the thought.

"Myrnin, did I inhale something at the lab? I'm burning up like made." I wiped away the sweat that beaded from my brow.

"Not that I know of. You could be coming down with a cold?" Myrnin sounded upset.

"Why are you upset? I'm the one feeling as though I'm on fire."

I thought Myrnin has hung up after the tone I used but he answered a minute after. "Come to the lab I'll give you a check up?" He asked, that meant I had an option.

"Hmmm. I don't know." I didn't want to mess things up worse than they were.

"I want to give you a check up Claire. Now you either come here or I come get you myself. The portal is being opened now." Myrnin hung up on me.

Damn! I couldn't let him come here or that would make me look bad. Plus what if Shane was back.

I grabbed my dressing gown off of the chair near my desk. I pulled it over my shoulders that were when I realised how much my muscles hurt. I winced as I pulled it closed. The door was heavier than normal.

When I finally got to the bottom of the stairs with my aching body Myrnin was stood in the open portal. He held out his hand. I hesitated.

"Claire?" He raised his brows and for once I looked into those dark brown eyes and I saw only concern. Not the craziness that haunted that stare so often.

I nodded and stepped through the portal taking Myrnin's hand.

Myrnin lead me to the sofa we sat on the earlier that day holding my hand. "Sit and I'll get you a drink of water and a thermometer."

Myrnin rushed away. Wow! I thought to myself. He was acting so different and the look I got made me think that his craziness was gone. Myrnin came back into the room carrying a glass of water and an old fashioned glass thermometer.

"Is that thing safe?" I pointed at the glass thermometer.

"Of course. Now let's take your temperature. Open your mouth." I shook my head. "Claire, as your concerned boss I say open your mouth." I had no choice in the matter. He was my boss and Amelie said I had to do everything he said. "Good." He placed the thermometer in my mouth.

We waited a minute and a half and then he took it out. "That was no way in long enough." I fought as Myrnin read the temperature.

"Not the point your temperature is reaching double the amount your core body temperature should be." Myrnin passed me the glass of water. "Drink it up and I'm guessing I'll have to get the ice bath ready."

"Ice bath?" I spat out the water. "No way, I'm going to the hospital!" I went to get up but Myrnin pushed me back down.

"You sit down and you STAY down." Myrnin put his cold hand on my cheek. It felt so good. "I have to get your core body temperature down. Wait, I have an idea." Myrnin started undressing.

With a failed attempt I jumped to my feet. "Whoa! What do you think you're doing?"

"Just hug me." He stepped forward in nothing but his boxers and embraced me.

At first I was shocked but then as I started to cool down I hugged Myrnin back. My body had cooled down fast. Vampires were ice cold, so Myrnin was a vampire and he was cooling me down. There was no harm in that was there?

I pulled away. "Thank you, what do you think was wrong with me?"

Myrnin sighed. "I have no idea but with a temperature like that you should have died." He picked the thermometer and stuck it in my mouth. A minute went by again and he pulled it back out and repeated reading the temperature.

He shook his head. "Still not god enough, take that off." He pointed to the dressing gown.

"No." I replied but it really wasn't a question.

Myrnin stepped closer. "I need to treat you Claire but first I need to get your core body temperature down."

"I'll take the ice bath." I said.

"No Claire, there's no time." Myrnin grabbed me by the hands spun me around so quickly it was like I was flying. I looked down and was shocked to see I was in my under wear.

I screamed. "Myrnin! You give me that back right now!"

Once again Myrnin embraced me in that cold hug. I squealed and tried to get out but Myrnin held me tight.

"Myrnin!" I screamed. "Get off of me!" I looked up to his face and I saw a smile.

I stopped moving and stared into those big brown eyes.

"You feel better now?" I nodded. "Good, you feel about the right temperature. Would you like me to let you go?"

Without taking my eyes of his I shook my head. "No, I still feel hot." I lied. I felt perfectly normal now.

"Would it be okay if I did this?" Myrnin bent his head down and gently kissed me with those soft plump lips. The one thing I had been wishing to do all day.

"I like that." I said as Myrnin pulled away. "Again?"

Myrnin kissed me again, it was longer and I could feel a hunger spark in me. Our soft kissing turned out to intense making out. Myrnin lifted me up wrapping my legs around his waist. He walked over to the table with all the lab equipment on, continually kissing me as we went along. When Myrnin pulled away he smiled at me as he looked at my almost naked body. He growled and then began kissing my neck.

"Myrnin, no." I pushed him away.

"I'm sorry." Myrnin turned away.

"No biting." I joked.

He turned around looking confused and then he smiled at me. "I promise." And then we began kissing again.

Myrnin's hands roamed my body, caressing my breasts then grabbing at my thighs. His hands were cool at touch but so soft where they touched. Myrnin reached behind me with arm and swept all the equipment off of the table, making a terrible crash as it hit the floor. I laughed at the thought that I would have to clean it up tomorrow.

Myrnin ran his hand over my back and then he unclipped my bra. He looked down at my breast and bit his lip.

"So nice." He muttered under his breath.

He kissed down my body, laying me down against the table as he did so. He stopped at my panties, as if giving it a thought. Then he ripped off my panties. Myrnin moaned loudly as he pulled down his boxer's.

From that moment on it was one of the best feelings ever. Better than Shane had ever made me feel, in fact it was so good I couldn't stop from moaning Myrnin's name. Loudly, really, really loud. We move from the table onto the sofa where Myrnin had finished.

We were laid on the sofa, Myrnin had his head on my chest listening to my racing heart. I took deep breaths, trying to tame the storm.

"That was amazing." Myrnin smiled up at me. "The best ever."

I smiled back down at him. "Same." Was all I could say.

"I love you Claire." I froze at Myrnin's words. Where had this come from? I thought he only wanted the sex.

"Myrnin?"

"Yes, my darling." He replied, taking my hand in his kissing it lightly.

"I'm not Ada."

I thought I heard a sniffle from Myrnin. "I know Claire, your better than her."

"This cannot continue Myrnin." I said but Myrnin shook his head in disagreement.

"Soon you see what I see. You'll see that I will do anything for you Claire. That I do love you." Myrnin grabbed the blanket off of the side. He pulled it over the two of us. "You need to sleep."

"I do." I giggled. "I haven't had an ounce of sleep."

"That's what's making you feel worse. If you wish I can leave you to sleep?" Myrnin was about to get off but I pulled him close.

"No, I want you in my arms."

Myrnin moved us around so that I was on his chest this time. "Okay then my sweet darling. Now sleep." Myrnin shifted and kissed the top of my hand and then stroked my hair.

My eye lids grew heavy as he repeated the pattern of kissing my head every now and then and stroking my hair. I fell into a deep sleep and I never wanted to wake up.