Amelie's POV
Not as if I haven't faced danger before, but without a face the fear is increased beyond any recognition. Without a face to watch for, without a name to put to it every mound of snow laces my cold soul with a fear so deeply embedded my cold still heart feels the sting of wishing to pound uncontrollably. I wish I could fathom what is coming, what is nipping at my ankles wishing to drag the residents of my town to a fate as yet is unknown to me.
Last night I dreamt for the first time in many years, vampires don't technically need sleep but it's a comfort many of us still have in form of escape from the constant unchanging world that we live in. Change is not something that happens quickly but something that happens after a whole lot of days. But this is a change in a second… the snow began to fall and almost immediately we had to hide.
I stand taking a deep and very much normally unneeded breath, as I watch the small group I took with me into the anti-chamber try to fathom some form of escape from this fitful disaster; each face is as fretful as the next, I feel myself subconsciously looking around for Oliver, reaching for his hand I grip it tightly, his presence alone calming a deep need inside me I hadn't until this point realised I had. Even after everything we fought through, even after he betrayed me I knew this would be how it ended, after Sam I never thought I would love again but Oliver with his fire and fury made for a match, even I wouldn't of anticipated but his fire mingled with my own make us a perfect coupling.
'The buses?' Claire's spoken thought breaks into my inner monologue. 'Can you remember in Blacke they said they tried to get people out on buses, if we surprise whatever this is, then maybe we have a chance to get the needy out; we can't have kids here much longer- they're petrified!' She was right of course, as much as the parents tried hush their children, we all still heard the wails and tears which would only multiply after today's horrifying disappearance.
'But when? We can't go now… but then we can't wait for later- at the scale of things there is going to be a face-to-face before the week's up.' Shane of course, as battle ready as Oliver- though they would both ultimately hate the comparison.
'Midday day after next.' Claire answered almost immediately. We all turned to look at her questioningly, except one Myrnin, he instead was eyeing her in a way I could only describe as pride.
'Very good.' He whispered. 'Very clever.' He continued in a hushed tone before raising his voice to the group. 'Claire has hitched upon the only defence we can muster at such short notice, although even so it's a risk. As weak as it may be the sun reaches the highest point at midday, at normal conditions at this point even in the mists of winter we would find some melting; Claire's plan wishes to make use of this.'
Even I felt my eyes widen at the complexity of Claire's idea, making a weapon from something we had for so many years taken for granted.
Claire's POV
Well Claire's plan wasn't as complex as what Myrnin made out, it basically came down to trying to melt back some sun, and taking he buses at the point of day in which the sun is weakest. That's it but Myrnin has just made out to be a slight genius… not that I deny that but still.
We haven't slept properly for days now, haven't had time to comb through our hairs to be honest. Since the first wave hit, we've been cocooned frozen. Weird fact about vampires is that they hate the snow, reason being that even in the musty heat their bodies may be cold but warm to the sun's ever presence, whilst the snow cools them down- not that it effects them but still they get freakishly cold- according to Amelie nothing is worse than fighting in furs…
Tomorrow we're sending out a bus, a singular bus that's all we can afford, upon that bus will be children and mothers, like back in history. Despite us wanting to save Morganville the children have to go to safety at least till it's safe and not so far below zero! We have one chance, and that's scary. Although Amelie and Oliver's intense planning means we have a few dozen flame-throwers at hand but what they'll do as defence we aren't exactly sure because this isn't just a normal snow storm.
'Sleep Claire…' Shane murmurs to me. We're back in the 'bedroom', trying to catch a few hours' sleep. I've been awake forever, as every time I close my eyes I see the fear in that mothers' eyes.
'Shane what is this? And why us… always us.' I know I sound pathetic like a child, but something about this makes me want to curl up under my quilt and wail for my parents; who at least are safely miles away.
'I don't know baby; all I know is we're strong enough to survive.' I don't see him move, but I feel his lips on my own- a low tender kiss that warms every part of me, from fingertip to toe- even after all this type he still has this reaction on me. He pulls me impossibly closer to his body, spooning me from behind, my guardian of the night as I feel myself slipping into sleep.