DISCLAIMER – I own none of the characters and all things Morganville are completely owned by the amazing Rachel Caine (:
NOTES – Well here it is - chapter four. Thanks to those who've reviewed xD Hope you like it and not sure when i'll get the next chapter up – i kinda need to think about where it's going...;) Wasn't really sure about this chapter- about myrnin and everything. So opinions are really welcome. As always, R&R pleeeease 3
CHAPTER FOUR ~
"What kind of something?" Shane asked, eyes narrowed. Claire let out an exasperated sigh and ran a hand through her hair, looking out at the snow for a minute in sudden frustration – it'd take her ages to get anywhere in this.
"I don't know Shane." She turned to face him again and chewed her lip. Why did he have to call now? It was just so god darn inconvenient. She couldn't have one day! ONE DAY without something happening that drags her away from her friends and a bit of fun. Shane looked like he was thinking the exact same thing, and Eve wasn't sure what to do at all, hesitating by the front door – transfixed and yet wanting to take cover before words started flying. "It's not my fault Shane, so don't even start." Claire bit her tongue, knowing that if she wasn't careful they were both going to say things they'd regret.
"I know it's not! But there's always something, isn't there." Shane's frustration was clear, but his eyes never left Claire's face as he watched her look away, unable to hold his gaze. "Just ...don't go for once." Claire was already shaking her head, face guilt-ridden as she glanced to him for a second and noted the desperation there.
"You know i have to. I'm sorry. I'll be back soon." She murmured quietly, eyes cast down in shame, feeling awful. How could things turn around so quickly? One phone call and all the fun out the window. She knew why really; whenever they got a chance to have fun, Myrnin would always step up to the mark to get in the middle of it and drag Claire into work or some kind of danger. She paused, half wanting to go and wrap her arms around Shane, or kiss his cheek, but something made her hesitant to do so, and so she started to head away from the house again.
"You ALWAYS pick him over me." The words stopped her like a slap, and Claire spun around on her heels, tears prickling in the corners of her eyes.
"Now that really hurt." She whispered, the pain clear on her face, words rising up her throat. Word vomit. Oh great. "You know i don't have a choice in this Shane. I have to go. What if this is something like it was last time – the memory loss! You remember the devastation of that! What if i hadn't gone then? We'd all be three years in the past, that's what!" She could tell she was hurting him right back, but for a second she wanted to. His words had hurt, and she wanted him to know that. "You know how much it hurts for me to have to do this. You think i like walking away from you guys every single time Myrnin calls? Well i don't. I don't want to choose anyone over you, Shane, and i try so hard not to. But there are things we all have to do that we don't like, and answering Myrnin's beck and call is one of them for me. So i'm sorry, alright!"
Claire wiped angrily at a tear threatening to spill and turned sharply on her heel, walking fast away from Eve and Shane before he could respond, and jamming her hands angrily into her pockets to hide the shaking. She hated arguing with him. She loved him. So much. But it really hurt when he said things like that, and sometimes she wondered if he knew how much. Already she felt terrible for shouting at him – he was right, she did put Myrnin first sometimes, but it wasn't Myrnin she loved. Not at all. She just wished he'd accept that and trust her when she said it.
So much for the fun in the snow. Claire kicked her way through one of the deeper drifts of snow, bowed her head against the wind and walked fast, feeling her phone vibrate and ignoring it. It was either Myrnin telling her to hurry up, or Shane, saying that he was sorry – when really it was her who should be saying it. This was her fault. It always was.
It took longer than normal to get to Myrnin's lab. The deep snow caused her hindrance, even though the coldness of the wind spurred her on. The streets where fuller than she'd expect for a cold day, then again, with the sun being so bright against the snow, vampires were hardly expected to be out at all, even with their thick coats and hats – and so people where taking full advantage of that fact. Besides, it was nice to do something normal, like playing in the snow.
Claire didn't stop for coffee today. She didn't want Myrnin to think she was in the least happy with him, or give him any reason to keep her there for long. Already she wished she could turn around and run back to Shane, the word sorry burning on her lips. But she simply sighed, took a deep breath and entered the lab, prepared for ... well she wasn't sure what. Something trivial she supposed, and as she shut the door behind her and noted how perfectly ordinary the lab looked, her irritation thickened. So he hadn't been robbed or attacked or anything as such. Which meant what?
"Myrnin?" Claire called out, annoyance colouring her tone as she waited by the door, refusing even to take off her coat or gloves. At first glance, he was nowhere to be seen, and then suddenly, there he was – right infront of her.
"Claire. Ah. Good." Myrnin nodded once in seeming approval of her arrival, flitting away from her as quickly as he'd come. "Come." He ordered once, and Claire narrowed her eyes. "And do take off your coat and clothes, it's only manners after all." Claire said nothing as she regrettably slipped off the coat and shoved her gloves in her pockets, before heading at a slower pace to join him.
"What do you want Myrnin. I'm not staying long." She said shortly, and could tell she'd caught him by surprise with her tone. He'd been frowning, bending over at some sort of written work, body obscuring it from Claire's view, but now he glanced up, eyes widening a little.
"My appologies for tearing you away from your friends on such a day, but i'm afraid i rather need your help." Claire chewed her lip, curiosity arising now as she realised that whatever Myrnin had called her here for was more than asking her to fetch him a drink or donut.
"What is it?" She asked, tone a little less irritated than before, especially after he'd apologised – even if he hadn't meant it. Myrnin clasped his hands together behind his back and rocked onto his heels slightly, as if unsure how to say it.
"I believe there is something wrong with the machine." He said slowly, frowning, as if he were not quite able to believe it himself either. Claire blinked and straightened her shoulders in both surprise, horror and disbelief.
"That's impossible. It's running fine now – especially with Frank's br- ... with Frank." She hesitated, still not comfortable with the idea that Myrnin had used Frank's brain as he had with Ada. Even if Shane did know now, it still wasn't right. But besides that – after everything that had happened, her and Myrnin had worked impossibly hard to fix the machine, and now it was working. It was! How could it be malfunctioning after everything?
"I'm afraid not Little Claire. Frank has most definitely been malfunctioning. Someone's been readjusting him somehow. He has began disobeying direct orders from me, leading to the escape of two vampires from Morganville, the locking of several portals – including this one here – and the agreement of following orders from those other than myself, you and Amelie. This is most disastrous Claire. Most disastrous indeed." Myrnin explain, pacing back and forth with a speed Claire found almost impossible to keep track of. She shook her head, frowning.
"But how can anyone had gotten into the system and changed all these things? How can they still be changing them? No one can do that away from the main computer, and you would've seen them!" Claire protested, sure that this had to be a joke. If someone was messing with the computer again, a whole load of trouble could come out of it.
"Of course i would have." Myrnin stated with exasperation at Claire for even having questioned it. "But don't doubt the impossibility. I have fixed him for time being, however somebody is continuously able to tap into his system, and so far there is no link to the when and how ... or even the who. We must fix it. Lock them out for good, and then track them down." Claire ran a hand over her face and nodded slowly, thoughts already running through her head.
"Obviously." She sighed and shook her head. "But if he's fixed for now, then i'll go home. We can deal with it tomorrow." Claire turned to go but Myrnin's pale hand snaked out and gripped her wrist painfully. "Ow!" Claire jerked back and swung around to face him again, wary but calm.
"No Claire. We have to fix it now! If the hackers return they might be able to do anything. Last time, they attempted to take over the entire system – that would've left us at their mercy. We can't allow that to happen!" Myrnin looked at her desperately, something flashing in his cool, calculating eyes. Claire shook her head.
"That's not likely. It'd take months, years even, to crack the entire system. If you say they have only managed a few things for now – to lock a portal or allow the memory shield to slip for a few people – they clearly have no proper grasp on how to hack the system. It'll hold until tomorrow. I have to go, so please, let go." Claire's tone sharpened slightly, and she tried tugging her wrist out of Myrnin's grasp. She might as well have not bothered, for the tug did nothing other than increase the pain radiating up her arm. Her eyes held Myrnin's and she frowned as she noticed the colours change within his gaze, a hint of red surfacing. What she was saying made sense. There was no reason why she couldn't leave and come back tomorrow – Myrnin knew that, deep down. But he wasn't keeping a tight grasp on her wrist for the sake of the machine anymore – Claire knew that, and her heart began to pound her ribcage.
"But you can't leave yet, Little Claire." A hint of malice shone beneath the words, and his polite, friendly tone disappeared as the vampiric hunger began to take over. Claire wondered if he'd been working on the machine for so long, he'd forgotten to feed. It was possible...which meant that she was in trouble. Big trouble. She hadn't even brought protection. No stake, no silver...not even a small bottle of holy water.
"Myrnin let go. You're hurting me." Claire gritted her teeth, beginning to panic but refusing to allow him to see that. It was true – he was hurting. His grip on her wrist kept tightening, and if he didn't let go soon, it would break. She couldn't move, not without the risk of breaking it herself, and he knew this. This other Myrnin. The hunter not the professor she knew. That was the danger with Myrnin – there was two sides to him. One side was all politeness and intelligence. But the other? That side was the type you never ever hoped you'd meet down a dark alleyway. And here Claire was; facing him.
"I'm hungry Claire. So hungry." Myrnin stepped closer to her, tilting his head to one side in an almost confused fashion. His free hand moved to the strands of hair covering the left side of her neck, and he brushed it aside lightly, eyes fixated on her neck; the part where the blood pumped her vital life's source could most easily flow. "Just a little taste." He murmured, as if reassuring himself, and his head began to dip toward her neck.
Claire made to scream, and she didn't care about her wrist as she tried to struggle. But Myrnin freed her wrist, and before she could dart to the stairs, grabbed her mouth to cover her screams, and the other gripped her shoulder forcefully, forcing her to remain still as she carried on trying to fight. "Shhh Little Claire." His voice made her shudder with disgust and repulsion. "This won't hurt a bit..." The sadistic, snide smirk lifted his lips to show off the extension of his fangs as they dangerously, elegantly sharpened to points, and he went to strike...