Chapter 9:

New chapter on the same day because I got some reviews!

Oh god, someone help me... Lord of the Flies = murder... I'm glad this story is an option!

The days pass until we're only two days from our intended take over day. Bishop confirmed with me yesterday that Sunday WILL be the day we take over, so I've been frantically working to ensure all our plans (well my plans, but I'll let him take the credit... It may make Myrnin hate me a little less) will run smoothly. Lindsay isn't back from New York until Monday, which is a little dampening but at least it's one person less that I don't have to worry about not being killed. If I'm truly honest, I'd rather we not kill anyone on Amelie's side (as a) they're vampires and b) I'm friendly with the majority of them) but I know that they'll be gunning for our fighters sooo, all's got to be even. At least because I, Bishop and a couple of others on our side who I know and semi-trust, am the one taking down my friends with all my plans, I know that they cannot (and will not) be harmed... Even Amelie. Because she is still a relative and doesn't deserve to be locked up in silver chains - she's too important to my husband. Even though he's not going to exactly be warm to me anymore, I still need to do things which don't make me as bad as Bishop. If there was a way I could beat Amelie (cold bitch she is) without having to use Bishop, I would... I can't help but think how everything's changed. Only a month ago, I was friendly with Amelie and now I hate her guts. It's been since Bishop came back... I wonder if he had anything to do with -

NO! Claire, stop getting yourself out of this and blaming others for your wishes and wants and actions. This is YOU that's acting like this, not Bishop. He didn't make you snap at Amelie (even though when you were saying half of those things you'd never thought them before) or ring him or plan how to betray your friends. Face it, Claire Conwy (even my name hurts me now... How can I do this to my Myrnin?), this is ALL of your own doing. Deal with it!

"What are you thinking about so hard, my dear?" Myrnin's voice interrupts my silent soliloquy and I hasten to cover over my notebook with all my plans. "What have you got there?"

"Nothing!" I blurt out, way too quickly. "I mean... It's a surprise. For you!" I think up on the spot, knowing that it will be a surprise... Just not a pleasant one!

"For me?" he repeats, simply changing the reflexive pronoun, and I nod.

"And for Sam and Amelie, to say sorry to them for how I've been behaving," I say. "But for you... It's simply an amazing surprise which you'll never forget!" I laugh, turning over the notebook and standing up to look deeply into his eyes.

"Never forget, huh?" he repeats, seeming to have an idea what it could be - completely barking up the wrong tree. "But are Sam and Amelie going to be there?"

"Never," I say alluringly. May as well make him think that it is what he is thinking, because otherwise he'll get suspicious. "And for your surprise, no, they won't be there," I say, not lying – I'm planning on dealing with him first. Then he can't interrupt the bloody capture of Sam and Amelie and there is no chance that he can get himself harmed, or killed. Because that would be the most devastating thing, and I would have to let Sam kill me, to follow him to the other world. True, he'd hate me but at least we'd be together – that's all I want.

"Now, that is what I'm talking about!" Myrnin murmurs before leaning over slightly and pressing his lips on mine. However much I enjoy it, I feel a certain sadness in knowing that this is one of the last times I'm going to be able to kiss him.

"If you go wait in the lab," I say, with raised eyebrows to suggest something. "I'll put this notebook somewhere safe and come join you in a minute - if you want?" I suggest and he smiles wickedly.

"Claire, we have a bed," he says, slightly confused.

"It's not as exciting though," I say, hiding my primary reason for going in there. "And also, it's a new room. And the bedsheets have been washed so the bed's not made," I continue and he laughs before heading into the lab. Instantly, I hide the notebook under the sofa before making sure that there isn't a chance he could possibly see it. I then make sure that my phone has no messages from Bishop (incase anyone comes snooping) and is locked before tossing it aside and moving quickly towards the lab. I have two reasons for what I'm doing: one is sort of obvious but the other... I need to see how secure the lab is - if I locked Myrnin in here, I want to see if he could get out. If he can, well that's part of my plan scuppered before it could even be put into practise, but if not... Well, I could be looking at a quarter of my plan in action already.

"Come here," I say to him, shutting the lab door that connects it to the rest of the house. I note instantly that it's heavy and can quite easily be locked with silver chains - he cannot get out of here without my letting him out... That's good. I just need to check the rest of the room (as well as see if those builders put in the steel plating as they were meant to - if they have, he can't break down the walls) before making an assessment as whether he can be locked in here.

"Absolutely," Myrnin's cheeky voice comes from behind me, suddenly sweeping me into his arms. He leaps quickly with me onto one of the nearby lab benches and leans me down onto it's cool surface - the fact it's cooler than my skin is miraculous! "I love you," Myrnin's voice says into my ear as his hands begin to remove my clothing. I smile, running my fingers through his hair before replying.

"I love you too," I whisper, shutting my eyes so that the tears forming in them won't run down my cheeks and betray my feelings. My feelings of guilt, of hurt, of betraying him... I know that I have so many reasons not to do it, but it's like I can only prove myself if I do. As otherwise, what do I have? A husband, obviously, but nothing else. Everything, technically (even though we're married), belongs to him that we own as he bought it - or Amelie... Still, that isn't getting counted here! No, I need to prove that I'm not this thickwit idiot who'll follow orders like a little lost puppy - I want to be a leader. Now I'm loving the way that everytime I rationalise myself why I'm doing this I get a different answer!

OoOoOoOo

A few hours later, we move from the lab bench and Myrnin grabs us drinks from the kitchen. Whilst he does this, I look around the lab and realise it's been built perfectly to be a temporary prison - there isn't an escape route besides the door, which looks as if it's been built to resist a tank driving over it! Trust him to have designed the lab to be completely hurricane/ angry vampire trying to escape proof! Just I bet he never expected it to be needed in this way.

I meet Myrnin back in the living room where he hands me a can of coke - he knows me so well! I open the can and drink part of the liquid before jumping onto the sofa and grabbing my phone. After entering the passcode, I look to see if I have any messages:

You have a text message from Oliver:

I wonder what that daft prat is texting me about. I click open and reveal the message within.

Claire, I must speak with you most urgently. Come to Common Grounds for nightfall and, for heaven's save, wear something durable. Oliver

And he has given away absolutely zilch in that most informative of messages. Oh, why must I always have to go do something and not just stay in? Then again, whenever Oliver wants to speak to me, it's usually for an extremely important/life relying on reason, but durable clothing? Is he planning on making me a gymnast or something?

"Who's that, my love?" Myrnin asks, most curious.

"Just Oliver... He wants me to go down to Common Grounds at nightfall," I say and Myrnin looks a little confused.

"I wonder why," he puzzles and I nod.

"I haven't the foggiest - so what are you going to do whilst I'm gone?" I suddenly ask him and he thinks for a moment.

"I may complete one of the experiments we were working on... Or perhaps go and see Amelie," Myrnin ponders - he really has an obsession with Ice Queen, doesn't he? Sure they are friends and have been for pretty much their entire lives (since Myrnin was turned) but every day? He has been there more since she revealed 'her little secret' to him than he's been here, it feels like. I can't wait until she's locked away and Myrnin can't go and visit her... It'll finally feel like justice has been served!

About an hour later, I come down the stairs, wearing black leggings and a plain white t-shirt. My shoes are simply red converse - suitable for running long distances comfortably if Oliver tries something - and look gorgeous with the red zip up fleece I'm wearing.

"See you later," I say to Myrnin, dashing over to give him a quick kiss goodbye. A quick kiss that ends up lasting fifteen minutes - I'm going to be late! Still, Oliver isn't exactly the person I want to be on time to - three days from now and he'll be locked away in a room somewhere, so it's not vital. As well as the fact I can destroy him in a fight without much effort!

I drive down to Common Grounds, parking in the last space in the shade - nightfall is coming in about five minutes, so I'm a little early. Still, there's always time for a sweet mocha! I walk quickly into the cafe and head straight for the shade covered side of the bar - there's still lingering rays of the sun which could cause slight harm.

"You're early, Claire," Oliver greets me coolly whilst pouring me a mocha.

"You know me, can't beat a bit of speeding down here - it's a compulsion!" I say in a friendly tone, unable to be nasty after my time with Myrnin.

He looks at me with raised eyebrows before handing me my coffee and indicating for me to follow him through to the soundproofed (I think this is some vampire thing, to have a soundproofed room somewhere) office he spends most of his time in. Whether or not he has a home remains debatable, given when Common Grounds was razored he spent most of his time here helping rebuild. The rest of his time (Oliver seems to think sleep is for the weak - as older vampires don't need sleep) he spent clearing up the rest of town... A major shock to me!

"What is it?" I ask him as I sit down in the visitors chair and sip my coffee.

"I know you're plotting something," he says, making me spit coffee back into the cup. How does he know? How MUCH does he know? "I don't know what it is, or what the intention is, but you're very different," he says, cooling me down slightly - phew, he doesn't know about my 'deal' with Bishop or what I'm planning to do to him or Amelie.

"So you asked me here to get me to tell you what I'm doing?" I guess but he smiles whilst shaking his head.

"Oh no, if life has taught me one thing, it's that you don't want to know what's going on... Unless Bishop is involved," he says, which makes me inwardly cringe. "No, I asked you here because I am going to teach you how to hunt," he continues - WHAT? Why would he want or need to teach me to hunt?

"Why?" I ask him and he smiles again.

"Invaluable life experiences have taught me that plans don't always go the way we want, so you may need to go on the run," Oliver says gravely - I take it he's talking from past experiences... Probably the time when he last saw Amelie before he came to Morganville. "It's always best to know, and there's only three vampires which were bred in this town - yourself, Michael and Sam - so you are the only three who have never needed to hunt. Still, it's best to know how."

"Oliver, I'm not hunting people," I say slowly. "I swore to myself I would never kill a person and I'm not going to break that promise just to learn something."

He gives me a disbelieving look before laughing. "Child, it's your policies that stopped the hunting of humans... No, I wouldn't go against the wrath of Amelie for anything," he says quietly, causing a jolt of anger to coarse through me. He remains to be scared of Amelie... Little does he know that this weakness is the thing that is going to get him locked away in only three days time. "I shall teach you how to hunt animals - it's the same basic principles, just when you drink their blood, it isn't what I would call pleasant... Still, it's blood. Would you like to learn?"

Oliver is actually willing to teach me something... He must have some inkling that I'm going to overthrow Amelie (just not that Bishop is involved) and actually wants to assist me, incase I fail. He's a smart man - he probably assumes that he isn't going to be locked away.

"Let's go," I say, finishing the coffee in one mouthful. He grabs his jacket and we head out of the back door, heading towards the small woodland area on the back of Morganville. The entire area is included in Morganville, so we're not crossing the barrier to get here, and I assume that there must be furry woodland creatures that I'm going to kill. I hate killing things but at least it's not humans.

"Hurry up, girl, we don't have all night!" Oliver calls impatiently behind him and I speed up. I put every ounce of effort into catching him up and I soon do. Soon, I'm on level par with him and we're almost there. What did Myrnin say before? That when you are neck and neck with an opponent, you never jump... It takes too long. So I will not jump.

Oliver, however, doesn't appear to have learned this invaluable piece of information because he jumps when he sees how close I am. I simply keep up the speed and touch the first tree of the forest a whole two seconds before him - a lifetime in vampire terms.

"How did you manage that?" Oliver asks me, not at all happy that he's lost.

"First rule of racing, bro," I say, tapping him on the shoulder. "When the race is close, never jump - it takes far too much time!" I say with a smile, making him grimace.

"You're fast, I'll give you that," he says but I shake my head.

"Everyone normally beats me - Michael, Sam, Amelie, Myrnin," I say, smiling slightly as I think of how the first three are going to be in pain soon. Michael hasn't even bothered to try and speak to me, he's simply ignored my phone calls and managed to put a block on me getting to The Glass House. Just because Sam's told him a few things (and probably exaggerated the majority of it) about me, he's decided to block me. He's so in for it!

"Well come on, hunting is rather instinctive so you shouldn't have too much difficulty," Oliver says. "Although, as you're rather... Human, it may end up being more so than it should be," he sneers. Instantly, I let my fangs sink down and I growl a deep, disturbing, growl to show how unhuman I really am.

"You can repeat that and end up dead or shut up and teach me how to hunt," I hiss and he nod, looking semi scared of me. Whew, I love being able to scare people - it's all part of new, bitchier, Claire!

"Come on then," he says, darting off into the centre of the woods. I appear to have used most of my energy so I lag behind, simply using his scent to find my way there. "Now, shut your eyes and concentrate," he tells me - I do as he asks. "Listen and smell the creatures and tell me where you think the biggest and most human animal is."

I consider this a moment and spread out my senses. I block out all noises from the town and all the different elements, leaving only the beating hearts of the animals. It makes the metallic taste in my throat reappear with a vengeance, to know that these thousands of animals are around... They even smell ok - nowhere near as good as the human blood I drink, but better than nothing.

"Um, is it a pony or something about half a mile south?" I guess, hazarding an answer to what could have such a big heart and pump so much blood. I open my eyes and see Oliver smiling at my answer, having picked up the location and identified the creature probably as soon as we stopped.

"It's around that area, yes, but a pony?" he laughs, making me shoot him a dirty look. "It's just a pig from the farmer outside of Morganville - you may as well have it... It's been missing for about a month - he'll have already forgotten about it," he says and my mouth waters at the invitation. "Oh, how lovely - there's two pigs! I'll have one and show you how you grab it and kill... If you can up," he says, suddenly breaking into a run. Thankfully, he keeps it much slower than before (probably realised that I used all my energy on the run here) and I manage to just about keep up. Suddenly, I see the pigs in front of me and I want to attack them both... Yet they'll probably be able to run much faster than I imagine. "Now, Claire, stay here and observe the master!" Oliver says, putting an arm out to stop me. I stand still and watch as he darts over to the nearest (smaller) pig and stands over it. It has no idea of his existance and continues to chew down on whatever it's eating, whilst Oliver's fangs slide down. Then, so fast if I'd have blinked I'd have missed it, he bends over and digs his fangs directly into the pigs main artery in it's neck - it makes my throat ache. He drains the pig of it's blood without it making a single noise to disturb my pig and gently places it back down on the ground.

"Wow - that was amazing!" I enthuse and he smiles. He wipes away the blood around his mouth and moves back over to me.

"You need to be entirely quiet - not even breathing," he instructs me. "Move so that it doesn't know you're there and stay behind it's head. Position yourself so you're getting it's main artery and then strike - don't think, just let yourself go," he continues and I nod, slightly apprehensive about what I'm about to do.

I skulk forwards, approaching the unsuspecting pig from behind, and stop mere inches from it's body. The lustrous blood calls me and I lower my fangs and let go. Instantly, I manage to find the main artery and clamp down on it's neck, kneeling on the ground to get a better grip. I put my hands around it's neck to support me as I drink and begin to suck on the blood.

It's a wonderful feeling, the fresh, warm scent of blood. It may not be human (and it tastes quite off, if I'm truly honest) but it's pumping around, getting into my mouth much faster than regular bottled blood does. I gulp it down and smile as best as I can as the vampire in me realises that the heartbeat is slowing and the pig is dying. Finally, the pig is dry and I let go of it, disentangling my fangs from it's dead neck.

"Enjoy?" Oliver says with a smile as I retract my fangs and regain control of my body.

"You know, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would," I decide, moving back over to him. "I still don't want to drink living humans blood though... If that was the intention, it's failed."

He raises his eyebrows and laughs again. "Claire, I simply wanted to introduce you to this important part of vampire culture," he insists. "Come on, let me see how well you can retain information - you did well there," he compliments and I smile. He may as well compliment me now because he won't have the opportunity in three days...

Amelie's POV:

"Sam, where are you?" I call as I awaken from my stupor to find Sam gone. He forces me to sleep so much these days, I may as well simply reside in our room!

"Here, my love," he says, returning from the bathroom and coming to my side. "How are you?"

"I'd be a lot happier and better if I could take part in the hunt for my Father!" I huff and he smiles, smoothing down my hair. I move to get up before realising that blood is my number one priority now - I'm thirsty. Majorly. "I know I could find him if I went out... If he hasn't been captured by Monday, I will go," I continue, knowing in my heart that things will have came to a head before then... An equinox is on the way and if he is planning anything, he will draw on it's powers to assist him.

"Fine, you'll get your way then," Sam grudgingly agrees before kissing me. He hands me his hand to help me up but I don't have the strength to - blood.

"I need blood," I say, realising that I haven't had my 'dose' for too long... Much too long. "Desperately," I admit, breathing heavily to try and counteract the pain in my throat. Sam looks worried and dashes off to the kitchen, leaving me alone. I breathe in and out, trying to ignore the pain spreading through my body at the lack of blood - it's comparable to the pain a human feels when they have been starved of oxygen for far too long.

I don't hear Sam reenter the room... Before he does, the bloodloss knocks me unconscious. Which is not a state I particularly enjoy to be in.

Sam's POV:

She's lost too much blood recently... For various reasons. Yet it wasn't exactly helped by the fact that I withdrew a vial of her blood whilst she slept. I have been forcing her to sleep a lot recently, because it will be better for her in the long run - if she's tired (her current state of being means that she can no longer go without sleep... I don't know for how long), she'll be cranky and we'll all suffer. But I needed to take the blood... Yet I could have killed her.

She has been asleep for seven hours but hasn't had blood for two days - she insisted that she was fine. Why was I stupid enough to believe her? Why didn't I insist that she have some to drink, or inject some into her when I stole the blood before?

I rush into the kitchen and find the first bottle of blood I can before rushing back towards Amelie. As I head past her office, I see Myrnin coming through the portal and I yell for him to come. He follows me and then crashes into me as I see the sight before me.

She's lying on the bed, graceful as ever, but slumped. She's limp and appears utterly lifeless - no! She can't be dead because then what would I be?

"Out of the way, Samuel," Myrnin's grave voice says, grabbing the blood bottle from my hand and heading to my wife. I rush around the other side and hold her other hand whilst Myrnin fills a syringe with blood. He then stabs it straight into her throat, making me wince. She suddenly sits upright before falling back down, the only difference being her eyes now have life in them, rather than just staring into the distance.

"Hey," I say softly, smiling as I squeeze her hand. "Don't do that to me again - ok?"

"Okay," she says weakly before wincing as Myrnin injects blood into her arms, legs and her stomach. "Myrnin, I'm sure I can drink it," she says, slightly irritated. I smile, knowing that she must already be stronger to be able to infuse emotion into her voice.

"I just had to make sure all limbs were strong," he defended himself, making Amelie smile. He then handed over the bottle of blood to me and disappeared somewhere unknown. I support Amelie and hand her the blood, which she drains in only seconds.

"I'm going to get a bath now," she says with a smile and I nod. She gets up and heads into the bathroom slowly, to conserve her energy, before Myrnin returns.

"Where'd she go?" he asks, brandishing a bottle of gooey looking substance.

"In the bathroom - enter at your peril!" I joke before he disappears again, and heads into the living room to wait for Amelie.

My phone rings and I dig it out of my pocket - Oliver. I hope he has pleasing news.

"Hello?" I say quietly, so Amelie doesn't hear.

"It went exactly as you planned," he replies, making me smile. "She doesn't have a clue... I never thought I'd say this, but well done Sam," he continues - yes!

"Thank you... You've made my day," I grin, hanging up the phone.

Now I have a back up plan, if necessary, to proect my family. Only Amelie doesn't have to know.

Whatcha think? What do you think Sam's done/why has he taken Amelie's blood? Will his plan be necessary?

Please review! I'd LOVE if everyone who reads, reviews... I may even update again tomorrow morning if you do (and abandon LotF for it!)!

And read x-teamvampire-x story - it's about Xmas in Morganville... Awesome!

Vicky xx