Hello my beastie readers I am glad to inform you that my chapters will be coming at a rapid pace. Well the next about four will the rest I don't know cross your fingers that nothing happens. Are they crossed? Ok good thank you. Now I know you probably don't like me telling you this but I just need to make this known. When I write I write to music, like I assume most of you do, now I am being selfless and asking you to enjoy the same feels I had writing to the music as you shall have reading to the music. I just thought I would get that out if you found it annoying I kept telling you what to listen to so I don't have one unless I further noticed for this chapter so GO BANANAS (who of you still think of Holla Back girl when trying to spell bananas "I don't" – Myrnin Maybe because you haven't even heard the song and enjoyed the ease of hearing the song pop in your head when you can't think of how to spell BANANAS. Plus pop music sends endorphins to your brain and causes the same feeling as well…..nevermind) Wow sidetracked a little ok BACK TO ZEE FLUFFAY! (Fair warning this is a doosy)
Claire
Three days later
xXx
I stretched from leaning over the table and put the scalpel down. I had worked almost four hours on the Incini-Draug – no keep trying – and had finally finished. Only after you know four days. I had gone to another lab on the other side of the manor to make sure Myrnin didn't test anything or blow himself up. I cracked my back and stood up stretching my legs. I rubbed my eyes to get them to stay open. I walked around and got the blood flowing back into my legs. I grabbed my bag and hiked down to where Eve had been working part time. Well not working so to say, she wasn't getting paid. I sat down and my mocha wafted in front of me.
"I could kiss you right now." I yawned and took a sip.
"Can I get a rain check?" She winked and took off her apron. Oliver, who had resumed his duties as supreme coffee ruler now a slightly prettier one, tsked. "Lunch break." Eve hollered over her shoulder. I chuckled and groaned rolling my neck. "Gurl you need a break."
"I am." She gave me a glare.
"You know what I mean." I took another sip to avoid answering. "Claire." She prolonged my name to further enhance the effect of what she was trying to say.
"Okay okay, how about tonight you and I have a slumber party." I was only being half sarcastic. She clapped her hands together in a very scary and very Goth anime reenactment.
"Yes I can kick out the boys for a few hours." I was glad she didn't saw their names separate. I hadn't said sorry to Michael although he had done nothing wrong I did warn him not try and stop me. Shane on the other hand I wanted to personally stake his heart, as he had done to me. Okay metaphorically. I smiled and nodded.
"I will make sure Myrnin, doesn't blow himself up while I'm gone." We both laughed at the likelihood of it happening. Which was almost certain. We both chided,
"Boys." It sent us into another rivulet of laughs.
"Would you two quite your incestuous mirth." Eve put on a face and called over her shoulder.
"You're just jealous we still can find something to laugh about. Like you." She looked back at me as I took a sip.
"I find humor in many things and your man problems are not one of them. Eve break's over." He growled.
"Keep yo fangs in old man." Eve slapped the counter and dragged herself away putting the apron back on. He waved his hands in frustration above his head, which sent a flurry of dancing lights off of him. I thanked Eve and headed out to the living room. I thought back to four days ago thinking of all the spiteful things I hadn't regretted saying. To Shane at least.
xXx
Four Days Ago.
Shane had stopped me in the hallway and looked around nervously like he had done many times when I saw him. What the hell got into him?
"Claire please come back I will never hit you again." He pleaded his hand grasping my arm.
"Start by taking you hand away from me." I hurled at him. I was not giving in to his pathetic looks. He did as I said.
"I need to tell you something."
"I need to get away from you. Looks like we aren't getting what we want are we?" I stepped far back.
"Myrnin threatened me. That's why I've been jumpy around you recently." I was angered and shocked. Myrnin threatened Shane. When? Why? The cots. I cursed myself for not realizing it sooner.
"Oh I see blame the vampire. Because that's what you do best isn't it Shane? Blame others for your foolish mistakes." I crossed my arms.
"No I came to see if you were alright, when you were in the makeshift hospital and he was there. He fought me saying if I didn't stay away from you he would kill me." I wanted to be mad at Myrnin. Oh you had no idea, but I also didn't quite know how to take the gesture. He was only looking out for my safety. That's why he had the silver burns.
"I'm glad he did." My voice full of the venom that had bottled up inside me. "You would have only made it worse."
"Claire." He reached a hand out and I swiped it away with a balled fist, it hit the back of my forearm and I no longer felt warmth course through me. Now it was all just like touching a dead fish. I held back the bile that rose in my throat.
"If I were you I would take Myrnin's warning seriously. Unlike you he keeps his promises." I hadn't seen him since. I went back to the lab and Myrnin turned around to greet me then stopped looking at my posture and how I was storming up to him. "You threatened Shane?" I pointed a finger at him and his face betrayed only one emotion, for a brief second. It was between 'oops' and 'busted'. If I wasn't mad I would have laughed.
"Claire I only did it to protect you." He answered honestly.
"You don't think I can fend for myself? I would have dealt with it. Honestly sometimes I wonder if you are overprotective and you turn into Shane." I turned around and walked a few feet ahead.
"I could never turn into that….human." He growled. "What he did was unacceptable. I was tired of seeing you being controlled by him. You don't deserve that Claire. You deserved better. I just made it easier for you to see that." I spun around on my heel.
"See there you are thinking of me, but not really because you are thinking of yourself. And who is it that I deserve? Hmm? Answer me that." He bit his tongue. "Exactly." I turned around again and walked to the end of the stairs. I looked at the wall and without thinking put my fist through it. I had gotten stronger in the months that I had been chased by vamps and almost killed numerous times, but when I pulled my hand out of the brick sized dent I had left the searing pain coursed through my body. I needed to feel the pain. Maybe then I could see what was wrong with me. The plaster that coated my hand once white now dripped off my hand in swells of red. I cried out once and put my hand to my side. I lifted my hand to throw another punch when it was stopped by a pair of cold ones. I looked up to see his face was blurred. I hadn't realized I was crying. He wiped away my tears so I could see him properly and held my wrist until he knew I wouldn't punch the wall again. He hadn't said anything since he explained himself and now he spoke.
"Claire, you have suffered enough." He said in a soothing tone. I didn't recognize I was holding my breath and coughed to catch it. I ran into him and he held my hand away so I would hurt it further. I didn't cry I just stayed there, wrapped up in the presence of him.
"Time." I sighed.
"Hmm?"
"You said time can heal even the deepest wounds. That is what I'll do. I know you mean well and I am sorry to have snapped at you, it's just me being human. I have no more excuses. It is just me being a teenage human with too many men in her life." I gave a weak laugh.
"We were all there once. The teenage part. Now let me take a look at your hand." I pulled away and sat on the steps. He crouched in front of me and gently poked and prodded. I wince. My knuckles looked liked I played with a way too sharp meat cleaver. What the hell was in that wall? I had lost myself in my own thoughts when he was cleaning and bandaging my hand. I was trying to decide how long it would take me to clear out my unruly teenage emotions. Three days. No, my hand wouldn't even be healed by then. I didn't want pain to be mixed in with any of those emotions. A week. I thought this over as he wrapped the last of the gauze on my hand. Yes a week. I looked at him as he talked to me and smiled. In a week's time the fate of my future would change. For the better is my only hope.
xXx
Present
I walked into the lab with my empty mocha and tossed it. I saw Myrnin was dashing to and fro from one side of the room to the other.
"Whoa slow down what happened?" I asked as I say upturned books and shaken out boxes. He looked around at ground.
"Think of it as hide and go seek." He finally chirped.
"And who would you be playing hide and go –"Oh no there was only one person, or more like creature, he could play hide and go die with. Bob. I groaned. "I am not looking for him. Got it. You lost him." He put a hand where his heart would have been and bowed.
"I am 'it' as the game implies. Now go hide." I looked at him curiously.
"I can't I have to work –"
"Think of this as a reprieve from working so much recently. Now shoo." He waved his hands for me to hide and he turned around.
"No vamp hearing okay?" He waved a hand. "I'm serious." I began to move around leaving hints of me in odd places to throw him off. I carefully came around to see if his eyes were genuinely closed, they were, and I even saw his lips moved as though counting. I rushed to a place I had found earlier and slid in carefully not to make too much noise. A few seconds later he called out,
"Ready or not here I come." He chuckled maniacally and I doubted my well being. I heard him walking around. I saw feet walk in front of me. I had never thought bunny slippers could look so frightening. I put my hand on my mouth to slow my breathing. The dust in here…..it was….going to…make…..me….. I sneezed and hit my head on my knees.
"Ow." Shit. Cover blown. A few seconds later the slippers reappeared soon followed by a smirking face. "Cheater." I pushed his face away as I tried to slide out. He held a hand out and I grabbed it. He hoisted me up with ease. Maybe a little too much because I was suspended in air for a short moment and flailed not knowing where the floor was. "Find Bob yet?" I say once my balance is back and the dust has cleared out of my nose.
"Uh no. That is not your job." He tapped a finger on my nose.
"No, no, no that is not how it works. I find him once you have then you two hide and I find you." I put on a sweet voice at the end and returned his tap. He sniffed.
"Fine." He turned around and started looking again. After a few minutes he laughed. "Very brilliant Bob. Very clever indeed." He stood up and had him in his hands. I scrunched my face in disgust.
"Now that I am it let him go again and I'll count to 15." I announced as he let Bob down.
"25." He called.
"No you are a vamp you have super speed. 15." I said turning around.
"20." He argued.
"Ugh fine 20. That's it." I called behind me and closed my eyes. I started to count. One, two, three…..I heard him come up behind me. "This is going into your twenty seconds." He zipped off. I counted to twenty and turned around. How could such a tall person hide so well? I took a deep breath and trudge through the tiny room. I began moving boxes and tried to think of any noises I heard and where they were heard. Yea worst part about a vampire, they don't make much noise when they want to be quiet. I hummed and looked around. I saw one box that had caught my eye. I don't think I had seen it before. I walked over and began to open it. When I got to the very last flap Myrnin jumped out. I should win an award for multitasking. I screamed, jumped about ten feet in the air, whilst slapping him. I think I peed myself a little. He was laughing, until of course my hand made contact with his face. He rubbed it and slinked back in.
"Remind me to never scare you again." His voice called from the box.
"That's not how it works. I find you. YOU DON'T SCARE ME!" I complained. His head poked up slightly.
"I said it was what you CAN call hide and go seek. Not exactly like hide and go seek."
"Yea because that was easier than calling it what it is; hide-and-scare-Claire-until-she-has-a-heart-attack. Much easier. How did you fit in the box anyways? It's the size of Bob's tank." I shuddered knowing I had to find him next. Well he did break the rules.
"Ah," He stood all the way up. "The box has a false bottom. Well it's more of a shelf." He looked down and moved his feet.
"Well since you broke the rules or didn't further explain them," He opened his mouth to protest. "You get to find your own pet."He squinted thinking and finally agreed. He jumped out of the box and I backed up so he wouldn't hit me. He began looking around and the great search for Bob the spider began.
xXx
We had searched for hours. Bob was without a doubt, very good at hiding. Well he is a spider. I tapped my foot at a rapid pace. Man the amount of water I had been drinking was catching up to me. What I'm a workaholic. I excused myself briefly and walked to one of the many hidden doors in the room. Frankly there was a lot I hadn't known about this room. I opened the door and clicked on the dim light. As I sat down I wondered why he would even need a bathroom. The seat felt like it hadn't been used or even acknowledged for centuries. Which was reassuring and slightly uncomfortable. But hey there was fresh toilet paper. Even more disturbing. Something tickled my leg and I blew it off as the dust settling. The tickle moved up my leg. I began to doubt my dust theory. I dare look down and four sets of eyes looked back. Bob may be the size of a coaster, and might I say growing, but from my scream you would have thought he was the size of a beagle. I tried to shake him off whilst screaming, might I say that spider had a death grip, when the door banged open. I pulled my shirt down, but in doing so it unveiled more of my chest I than I would have liked having Myrnin standing in front of me. I looked up and yelled at him.
"Take you and your spider and get out!" He flashed in front of my, grabbed Bob, smirked a childish grim and was out of there before I realized I could stoop screaming. I was so going to kill him. Again. I was so going to re-kill him. I'll tell Eve that later. After I gained my composure, and my pants, I walked out of the room. He stood in the middle of the room holding Bob; I can only inquire by the way his hands were cupped, and speaking in hushed tones. I walked up behind him and tried to look over his shoulder, or more so, under his arm. He noticed my presence and looked down. Indeed I was correct; he was holding the foul arachnid, I quacked slightly.
"Dear Claire I do appreciate you finding Bob. Bob appreciates it as well." He gave another childish smile and I could feel the anger, and something I'd rather not mention, bubble its way to my face.
"Don't be so chipper. You're lucky I didn't stomp on him." He stopped and covered Bob slightly more. While whispering,
"She didn't mean it." He stuck his tongue out in a human gesture. I decided to humor him and return the favor. "He does mean it though." He turned somber.
"I'm glad to know the spider's okay because I wasn't the one who was scared to death." I shot back pulling out from under his arm. Ironic really. He, with that remark, went back to being Mr. Boss Man. Vampire.
"It was your job to find him, as you were 'it'." He used air quotes as he put Bob in his bigger tank. Sliding the lid on.
"If I remember correctly
"It was your job to find him, as you were 'it'." He used air quotes as he put Bob in his bigger tank. Sliding the lid on.
"If I remember correctly you broke the rules. So I did your job for you." I thought about it for a minute. "Does almost having a heart attack get me a raise?" He looked back at me with confusion set in his age frozen face. "Yea never mind." I was waiting for the data to come back on the Draug – Wow, no okay, saying I could test without exploding. So the only thing left was how to save Amelie and the rest of the town from Oliver. Who of which, by the way, still hadn't figured out the component to rid him of the demonic glittering fiends. Ever after many death threats and fights with Myrnin later. I was planning on letting him stay that way until we cured Amelie, but after a week and a half I was starting to feel sympathy for the old guy. In the days that had passed my arm had healed well and my hand was healed, but there were about four scars the shape of moons. I kinda liked them. Myrnin had taken the liberty of finding the cure for Amelie out of spite because I told him he can't work on the Ray – O – Matic. What? I'm still working on it.
"Claire have I lost you again?" Fingers snapped in my face. I crossed my eyes to try and focus. It didn't work. I pushed his fingers away with two of my own and squinted at him.
"What?" I asked opening my eyes again.
"I was speaking to you and halfway through my speech you seemed to become incongruous." He backed off.
"Oh no your use of big words frighten me." I replied in mock terror. In return he flicked my forehead.
"Stop deriding me. I am serious." He closed his eyes halfway.
"Me almost dying is serious as well." I rubbed my forehead.
"You are not dead, so you are fine." He straightened.
"You're a vampire, but does that make you fine?"His face turned vacant. Good going genius. My brain came back with a vengeance. I looked into his eyes looking for anything that would betray anger or hurt. The two things I brought out best in people. There was nothing. It was like looking into a mirror; I could only see my reflection. I was cautious on how I approached him. I held my hands out the same way you would with a stray dog. His face still revealed no sign of emotion, which stirred something unforgiving deep inside me. I didn't mean to hurt hum. It just came out that way. I figured it was safe to try and stir him from his vacant state since he showed no sign of movement. I grabbed both of his hands and squeezed as humanly possible. Still no signs of retaliation. "Please Myrnin come back." I yanked his hands down to get his attention back. Nothing worked. "Myrnin come back before I do something drastic." Nada.
I began to worry. His hands seemed to get colder, well colder than normal vamp cold, in my grasp. I tried punching his chest and again no response. "Come out of this place the same please. Come back to me." I had a tear in my eye. God how was it I had this effect on people. I always managed to bring out the worst in them. Or have them remember something they would rather leave forgotten. Well here goes drastic. I kept hold of one hand while I reached up on my tip toes and fitted my lips to his. My entire fret thrown into the mix. There was no response for a few brief moments. Then I felt his life, vampire life, come back to him then after a seconds hesitation he reciprocated the action. The voltage of the kiss made my legs go to Jello. His free hand caught me whilst pull me closer still. Every place his body clashed with mine, sent rivulets of energy to canter through my body itself. I reluctantly pulled away, hello air breather over here, and took shallow breaths. He finally spoke,
"What was that for?" He tilted his head slightly, his hair falling in his face in response.
"You didn't come back to me." I managed after finally catching my breath.
"I should leave more often." He enticed. I promptly used my free hand to reach up and flick him like he had done to me not quite long ago. He furrowed his eyebrows. "Don't taunt me with your feeble human strength." I looked at him with mock hurt and pulled away crossing my arms over my chest.
"Feeble eh'?" I raised my eyebrows. "I'll show you feeble." I turned around walking away. The spark in the air growing stronger the farther I got away.
"Wait Claire, I didn't mean it that way." He called after me, but I kept walking. Next thing I know he darts to be in front of me and holds me in place. "Really I didn't mean it that way." His once vacant eyes filled with sorrow. Sorrow that I would leave him. It broke my heart to see him like that. I softened and he looked relieved.
"Fine, but don't make fun of my 'feeble human strength'. I take pride in it." He let go slowly.
"Not much pride then." He replied looking sideways at the ground. I pointed a finger at him and he held up his hands in defense. "Okay sorry." I sighed turning around and walking towards my room. I started to pack up my stuff in my bag.
"Where are you going?" His voice called from the door.
"To go check my Draug –B- Gone." I could already tell I confused him. "Artificial sun." I clarified.
"Why don't you just call it that, so you don't confuse me?"
"It's funner."
"Funner isn't a word." I picked up my pack and walked to the door where he was leaning on the jamb.
"Aren't we just stating the obvious?" I hiked my backpack up on my shoulder and walked out of the room.
"Obviously it wasn't obvious since you used it as if it was a word." He remarked.
"Yes thank you for clarifying that tid bit of info. Now I am off to rid the world of bloodsuckers." He half closed his eyes. "Watery bloodsuckers." He seemed satisfied and I turned on my heel and trudged up the tiny flight of stairs leading to the main floors of the manor.
Myrnin
It had been the second time that week I watched her leave shortly after engaging in something so intimate. I was beginning to think I was bad at this. I hadn't expected her to scream so badly whilst Bob was on her leg. It was quite humorous. I also hadn't expected her to say that. Those words sent me back to the times when the disease had consumed me. The mostly innocent humans attached by me in my euphoric state. Well mostly innocent, for they did work for a manic murderer. Well more so than most vampires. The sane moments at the worst times. Waking up to find the lab in ruins and another assistant lynched. Just when I thought I could control the disease inside. That's why I fought Amelia restlessly to not give me another assistant. Then I met her. I knew she was different. She wasn't from here. She trusted people easily. It was a trait that got you killed in Morganville.
It also made you stronger and separated you from the rest of the population. I had always felt assumed that's why I had fallen for her. Besides her love for science, she just didn't fit into the mess, in its whole, of Morganville. It started with the need to protect such a rare human in this town, but it quickly progressed. It was the demanding obligation to save her from everything. Even if that meant myself. I could faintly hear and feel her trying to summon me back, but I couldn't. My memories had a firm grasp on myself conscious.
It was not until I could feel the warmth of her lips on mine had I felt the power to free myself from this abyss. I was expecting her to pull away as soon as I began to come back to reality, but she didn't. She stayed with me. It meant more than I would have liked to admit. I knew I had an effect on her, I just hadn't realized it was such a big effect. I could feel her legs give out on her and I reached, like any vampire, and pulled her closer still. This time it was she who pulled away. I had forgotten humans need to breath.
"What was that for?" I had momentarily forgotten that my mind had strayed from this moment in time.
"You didn't come back to me." She said softly. The 'to me' sent a flutter in my once beating heart.
"I should leave more often." I tried to signal my want to kiss her again. The banter that displayed between us was something I wouldn't change for the world. I turned around and grabbed a box that was sitting on one of the many small tables. I pressed a button on the top and it released a hissing noise. The vials clinked together as I reached in to grab one. I examined the vial carefully. There it was. The cure. Before the disease there was no cure. After the disease there were no bites. Who would have thought something so deadly could be a cure. I shut the box carefully. The vial held enough of the disease to fight the draug bite, but it wouldn't out balance and have Amelie suffer from the diseases side effects. It would be an eternal battle raging in her body. I dashed to her office where guards were positioned. More for our sake than hers. They nodded me in and I entered the faint room. Not that it mattered; I could still see anyways. I looked around and saw she was sitting in a chair, less than regal. She was shaking slightly. Her eyes glowed unnaturally in the muffled lighting. I cautiously walked up to her and she flashed in front of me.
"Why have you come?" Her voice, once calm and collected, pitched and darted between curiosity and anger.
"Amelie I have something for you." I held out the one vial carefully and anger consumed her eyes.
"You have come to kill me haven't you?" She screeched like a knife on metal. Her hand flashed to my neck, but I was expecting it and she only caught air. I grabbed the syringe and put the disease in the barrel. I waited for her to come back at me. I grabbed her arm and spun her around plunging the syringe into her neck. She screamed again and I sent the plunger deep into her vein. After a moment her eyes rolled into the back of her head and collapsed. I caught her and gently placed her in the chair she was sitting in prior. I closed her eyes and made sure she wouldn't fall before I dashed to where Oliver's room was. He bristled when I came in.
"What do you want?" He growled. His room had substances all over it. Obviously trying to get rid of the glitter.
"I came to inform you that Amelie will be back to normal shortly." His eyebrows shot up and he was gone. I pulled a box out of my pocket and set it on his desk. Butter. Because Claire had said something about telling him the secret. I zipped back to my lab and found a chair, one of my many books, and waited for Claire to return.
I told you it was long so since it is please may I have 4 and I will bring some smexy times next since that is next on the list *hint hint* the title for the next chappy is Putty Cat Doll from the song Smack That by Akon I would highly recommend listening (even if you have already enjoy it once more for my sake) before reading so you can find the verse in which it is said you'll love it as you love me right? :D "You know they love me." –Myrnin Oh shut it you delusional figure "No I am not. Tell me if this is true VVVbelowVVV in the review box. I WANNA BE A REAL BOY!" -Myrnin
