Oliver's POV

I had gone back to Common Grounds before I'd made my way to the co-ordinates that Amelie had given me. That was my first mistake.

I should have gone straight there, relieved the guard and taken their weapons but like a fool, too sure of himself and his safeholds, I went back to where I thought I was strongest, to gather what I thought I needed, an unnecessary vanity of one who had once abhorred all vanities.

I paid my staff and dismissed them early- they were both natives of Morganville and grateful to be going home before the sun set fully- and then locked the front door, barely sparing the time to glance along the street. I didn't notice the slim dark figure slipping out of the shadows of the alleyway to follow me as I left. I didn't think anyone would dare attack me in the dying light of the day.

That was my second mistake.

I heard the trigger release, instantly recognised it as a crossbow. I dropped to the ground but my attacker wasn't a very good shot. Had I stayed still, the bolt would have missed my heart entirely. As it was, I practically jumped in front of it, so that it pierced my heart straight through the centre.

Vampires, though immobilised whilst skewered with wood, are not unaware of what happens around them. We can't see or hear or feel, but our awareness as predators never leaves us. I knew that it was Jason who had shot me. I knew that I was being moved at speed, most likely in a vehicle. I knew that this was Naomi's bidding as surely as I knew that there would be nothing I could do to help myself. I, Amelie's most powerful ally, had been captured by a child and a convict within two steps of my front door.

Claire's POV

Claire's throat burned, but that much she was used to. It was the raised voices that were waking her up; she didn't want them to, but neither could she tell them to shut up and let her sleep. She was frozen, immobile. Caught in the space between dreaming and consciousness, and allowed to do nothing but listen.

"-not going anywhere with you. Thanks for helping us out, but I think we'll be fine from here." Shane sounded pissed and defensive. Claire wanted to ask him what was wrong, who he was talking to.

She didn't have to.

"She nearly died on your watch. Forgive me if I'm disinclined to let you try again." Myrnin. That... complicated things. But it did explain a lot.

"She died on my watch? It's your fault she's like this in the first place-"

"Choose your next words carefully, boy. And remember that this town is run by vampires and more than a few of them would act if instructed by me." Myrnin's voice was dangerous and dead calm- as in, Shane would be dead if he shattered the calm. It was a warning that Claire had long since learned to recognise, but Shane either didn't notice or didn't care.

"Don't threaten me, and don't threaten Claire. I can look after myself, and if its self defence I can do whatever the hell I want." Claire struggled to wake up, but only succeeded in fluttering her hands weakly. She didn't have the strength to do much else.

The bed moved as someone got up and she heard something heavy hit the floor. That added at burst of clarity and energy- something she would have attributed to adrenalin were she human- that had her sat upright, eyes open with both hands on Shane's swinging fist en route to Myrnin's face.

"Don't, Shane." She said, knowing that her eyes were wide and scared and her voice was trembling. She didn't like moving that fast. She didn't like admitting to herself what she was, or slapping Shane in the face with the reality that she was faster and stronger than he was now.

And she'd done just that. Shane was looking at her with strange, closed off eyes. Myrnin was stood stock still opposite him, having not even flinched at the swinging fist or the movement of the girl who'd stopped it. His chair lay on its back behind him, the source of the loud bang. That was a relief. At least he hadn't hit Shane first.

"Claire." Myrnin said in a bored tone. "Please explain to your housemate why you starved yourself. Perhaps it will make him understand that here, you are a danger to yourself and all around you."

"Myrnin!" Claire exclaimed, surprised at how harsh he sounded.

"I'm not her housemate, asshole, I'm her boyfriend! And I think I understand just fine." Shane shot Claire a scowl. "You can let go of me now. I'm not going to waste my time hitting him until I can do it with a silver coated stake." Claire released Shane's arm, flinching as he scooted out of her reach on pure instinct. He'll never get over what you are, an unhelpful voice in the back of her mind whispered to her. And right now, Claire didn't have any evidence to argue with.

Claire couldn't stop the broken thoughts that filtered through her mind like poison, but she could ignore them, and the problem. So she did. She locked away all the bad feelings, the worry over the impossible situation she was no in into a big, mental box. She couldn't change what she was, so she and Shane were just going to have to deal with it. And Myrnin, well who knew what Myrnin's problem was? She was going to have to deal with that too, but not now. First, she needed to talk to Michael.

"Right." Claire said, for a weird moment reminding herself of her mother. Did she even know? Had anyone told her parents yet? Not now, Claire. Deal with now first. "Shane I didn't drink anything because I didn't want to. But I know better now. I know where my limits are. I'm going to talk to Michael, and I promise I won't do it again." She said, staring levelly into his eyes, trying to say everything she couldn't put into words.

Shane looked a bit off guard, but he nodded, leaning in to kiss her forehead (though Claire had a sneaking suspicion that was mostly because Myrnin was still here, but she'd deal with that later) before getting up to leave.

"Should I get Michael to heat up some...er..." Shane trailed off, but Claire knew what he meant. It still made her feel a little bit sick, but she had to try. She'd promised that she'd try. She nodded, and he left, looking a bit green but without comment. Progress.

The moment the door closed between them, Myrnin leaned in, swiftly lifting her to face him, his hand under her chin to force her to look him in the eye. His brown eyes flickered over her face, checking her over for any signs of starvation. Claire sat silently through it, until he stood back suddenly, crossing his arms and glaring at her sullenly.

"So you're staying here." It wasn't a question, but Claire nodded anyway.

"I live here, Myrnin."

"You don't have to anymore. Amelie is required to give you a house. I wouldn't be surprised if she does that anyway. It's not healthy to live with humans, Claire. You should know that."

"Michael manages. And I didn't kill anyone last night."

"Last night you were too weak to feel anything close to hunger. Even if you'd wanted to, I'd doubt that you'd have managed. That will change now. And so will you."

Claire didn't want him to see how much his words were affecting her. She didn't want to change. She didn't want to be any more of a vampire than she was already. Because she'd seen it in Michael's eyes whenever he acted more like one of them. It killed him. Every time.

Something fell into place in her head, and for a second Claire felt cold all over.

"Wait. Can you...?" she couldn't even finish, just staring at Myrnin with the question in her eyes. He knew what she meant. And for one strange, world-tilting moment, they weren't vampire and assistant. They weren't even friends. They were sire and sired, and Claire knew exactly where her loyalties had to lie.

"I could. And you should bear in mind that I'm far less predictable than Amelie, but I think you know that already. "

Claire felt like she was falling, and she had a sudden appreciation for how hard it was on Michael every time they'd forced him to disobey Amelie. If it was anything like this, it couldn't have been easy.

Myrnin softened at her doubtless terrified expression, picking her up to standing by her shoulders and then holding her there, back straight as if he was trying to make her feel determined and strong just by arranging her in the right way. Strangely it worked a little bit.

"I won't take away your will, little bird. I owe you that much." He fixed her with a level gaze, steady and almost completely sane before he leaned his forehead against hers, his hands slipping down her arms to more of an embrace than holding her upright.

"In time, you'll come to accept this as your life. And maybe even enjoy it. You know why I chose this; can't it be the same for you? Think of everything we could do, with a thousand lifetimes to do it at our leisure."

"Myrnin, I really should-"

"Go, then." He cut across her shortly, letting go and stepping back. It was only when he wasn't close that Claire realised how normal it had felt.

How... nice.

Myrnin smiled, but it was sad and sweet. "Go, if it makes you feel better. We have eternity now."

So yeah. I figured I'd remind you I still exist. Sorry for the late update, but I think you may all have guessed (if anyone is indeed still reading this) that I am perhaps one of the least organised human beings on this planet, and should under no circumstances be expected to make any sort of self-idealed deadline.

Review if I made it up to you even a little bit.