Hey guys, it's me! Actually updating this story! It's been... Too long. As always, I apologise for how long it's been, HOWEVER you might be pleased to know I'm kinda free to write more now, which is probably obvious from the fact that this is my third update this week! Are you happy? Hope so. You may wanna reread chapter 6 to remember what's happened so far. Anyway on with the story!xxx
Recap: Myrnin and Claire seem happy, Shane is kinda mad (murderous even) and seems to have gone into hiding, Michael is okay after all and we've heard nothing thus far from Amelie or Oliver. Usual messed up Morganville for ya!
Chapter 7: Perfect?
Claire's POV:
It's as if a cloud lifted, that's the only way to put it. Yeah. As if I'd been in the shadows for years: darkness, with only a glimmer of hope in my life, and it seemed inevitable that even that would fade someday, leaving only fear. Vampires had always been a constant worry, would they kill us on the street? In our home? It was always a 'when', never an 'if' when it came to the threat of vampires. We were never safe, because this was Morganville: here, there was no 'safe', nothing was certain, especially blood. When you're an outsider like me, that threat was even greater. A weak girl, the Founder's pet? Depending on the crisis at the time, that either 'guaranteed' my safety, or made me the number 1 target. Everything could change in a heartbeat, and you had to be ready, always on edge, never truly relaxed, never completely happy. Well how could you be, with danger more of a constant than the blood that flowed in your veins?
And that's just how it was, living in Morganville, not just for me. For everyone. Well, except the vampires. Obviously. They're supposed to have boundaries, rules, limits. Hardly. They do what they want, no questions asked: the rules don't matter, not really. The risk you take simply by living in this town, there's no comparison.
Why the hell do I live here then?
The answer used to be simple: Eve. Michael. Shane. They protected me, took me in when I had no one else, and I owed them my life. Then they became my friends, the ones I could depend on, the ones I would put in front of my own life, no hesitation. Amelie began to soften. I started working for Myrnin, and found someone who loved science as much as I do. He was a friend, at first. Then Shane became... Everything. He was my world, my rock, and no matter what happened, we never split up. Arguments. Vampires. Myrnin.
We were going to be together, through everything, because we loved each other.
And yet... Everything had changed, yet again, my world flipped upside down. Everything out of control, as always.
Was it my fault?
I know what Shane would say. Yes, it's my fault. I chose a blood-sucking lunatic over him. After everything.
Fang-banger.
The word echoes in my mind, like a final reminder of everything I'd done, the choices I'd made to get us all here.
And yet, none of that mattered anymore.
It's as if a cloud lifted. Finally, after living in fear and darkness for so long, there is finally something to hold on to.
Myrnin.
And it was perfect.
Wasn't it?
Myrnin's POV:
Claire seems content to kiss me with a passion I could never have imagined, but tears are making silent tracks down her cheeks. Wiping one away, I pull away reluctantly and whisper "What's wrong Claire?"
She blinks, as if in a daze, then her silent weeping becomes uncontrollable sobs, like the pressure of the last couple of days had finally come pouring out of her. She's shaking madly, and that's when I notice the cut on her arm, an angry red gash in her delicate skin that made me want to kill Shane more than I could even admit to myself. Rage turns my vision crimson, and only Claire's sobbing form stops me from finding him and ripping out his throat. She looks broken and defeated, and all I can say is "Let's get you to the hospital okay? That needs taking care of."
Claire nods before we walk to the labs entrance, at a slow human pace for once, and out into the daylight. The sting of the sun has little effect on me, but we hurry anyway, aware of the dangers for which I would need full strength may be nearby.
At the hospital, I wait outside the room Claire's escorted to as she gets stitches, wanting to avoid anything close to temptation.
When they're done, I take Claire back to the lab - the best place for her at this moment in time - and get her settled on the bed as I go in search of a blood bag. Time to start the healing process.
Time to call Amelie, I suppose.
Wearily, I try to think of what I will say. Nothing comes to mind, so I just grab the phone and make the call. She answered on the second ring with a sharp "What now Myrnin?"
"Don't assume I have bad news just because it's me!" Honestly, some people!
I can almost feel her eyes roll as she replies "So it isn't bad news?"
"Well... All I can say is that I'm pleased with the general outcome..."
"Myrnin. What have you done this time? In fact, don't tell me. You bit Claire, and now you're delighted that she is 'yours'?" Her shot in the dark would have been true, in other circumstances.
"Even better! Claire loves me! We are together!"
"Myrnin... What did you do? When did you kill Shane and drug Claire?" All of these accusations are making me out to be some sort of mad man!
"No! They broke up and we are together now!" I hear a little laughter from the bedroom and know she must've heard me.
No answer for a moment, until a guarded "So why is it bad news?" Makes me stop cold.
Difficult question. She knows how to make me feel awkward doesn't she? "Well... Shane nearly killed Claire and Michael!" A gasp from Amelie: I go on regardless. "But everyone's fine now, Shane's gone and we're all happy!"
She hangs up, and before I have the chance to curse technology - honestly these mobile telephone devices, so unreliable - a portal begins to open, and the Ice Queen herself walks in.
"Tell me everything."
Eve's POV:
"What the hell is happening to us Michael?! We all used to be best friends, had each other's backs, happy, wellas happy as you can be in this hell hole, anyway. What happened to that?!"
Michael looks at me with confusion clear in those beautiful eyes, and I lunge, being swept up in his arms instantly as I look into those eyes, eyes Shane nearly stopped from shining with that impossible light.
How could we ever forgive him for what he'd done?
Reading my expression, Michael kisses me on the forehead and says, regret and confusion clear in his voice "I don't know Eve. All that matters is that we're together, for keeps. Okay?"
I nod eagerly, prying a chuckle from Michael as he carries me upstairs and puts me on the bed. "Wait I can't go to sleep now! I need to find Shane! I need to stop him before he hurts Claire! I need-"
"What you need is sleep, Eve. It's been a long day, and you need to refuel, get ready to kick some ass tomorrow. You need to rest. Go to sleep. I'll be downstairs. You're safe okay? Nothing will ever hurt you."
Before I can stop myself, I scream "You're the one that nearly died today! We need to keep you safe! I- I need you more than sleep! I can't do this without you Michael! I-I-" he pulls me close to him as I cry it out, the heartache, the grief, the pain of that moment when I thought I'd lost him forever. It all comes tumbling out in a mess of tears and words that lost their meaning long ago.
When I've calmed enough to start making sense again, Michael whispers "I'm not going anywhere Eve. I promise."
And with that promise, I fall asleep in his arms, safe and loved in this perfect moment.
Amelie's POV:
You cannot leave Myrnin alone for two days in his laboratory. Apparently, if you did so, his assistant would be beaten up by her boyfriend, run to the lab, sleep with him, get taken as a hostage, and nearly killed, along with everyone else that just so happens to be nearby. The moral of the story? Don't leave him alone. Ever.
Two days after my last visit - about running over yet another lamppost, why do I let him have a car? - and everything had changed within the dynamic of the Glass House apparently.
The only question I can think to ask, when Myrnin is finally done, is "So no one actually died, and Shane is not accounted for?" A brisk nod from Myrnin, and I'm pretty sure I have all of the facts now. Probably.
The sound of Claire's heartbeat from his bedroom confirms all of this, and I find myself sitting in one of the filthy chairs in his lab to try and formulate a plan about what to do with Shane. He would try to get revenge on Claire, and Myrnin. No matter what their sentimental value to me may be, this could not happen either way: Myrnin runs the boarders, the portals, and Claire keeps him relatively sane. No matter what I thought of the union between these two, I would say nothing until Shane was found, and dealt with. "Have Michael and Eve returned home then, since they are not here?" Another nod, but it was easy to tell that he was distracted: he was gazing at his bedroom door with something like awe on his face.
Myrnin wasn't going to be any help in this matter, that was clear. There was no point in me staying here then. "Okay Myrnin, I'm going now. I will see you in the morning, and try not to bite anyone until then okay?"
Myrnin blinks and says "Okay Amelie. Goodbye." And with that, he disappears into his bedroom.
I look around and see the broken shelves, upturned tables and blood that smears the walls and floors. Oh to be 'young' and in love. Apparently, it was as much of a fairy tale as everything else in Morganville.
I sigh and reopen the portal. Claire and Myrnin probably thought that they were perfect together.
Only time will tell.
So... Thoughts? Yes, this is a Clyrnin fanfic, but a little doubt can go a long way people. We shall see what happens in the next chapter: no ideas thus far, so review and help me out! It makes the updates write themselves faster. Until next time xxx
