Chapter 10:

Sorry for the MAJORLY long update from me this time: I have WAYY too many stories and exams to write/revise for, so it's sort of like this one that got pushed to the bottom of the pile.

Amelie's POV:

She is here.

She arrived last week, and I have watched her every move on CCTV or, on the odd occasion she went out to the coffee shop on campus, from afar – so far away that she would never be able to see me. Being small and a vampire has its advantages, for it has meant that I have been able to observe her from far away, meaning that I can stay inconspicuous in my quest to find out what my daughter is like.

The issue of Oliver and his incessant hunt for my book – which Myrnin really ought not to have lost – seems to pale in comparison to seeing Claire. She is even more beautiful in the flesh than she was in the photograph, her slight figure covered with clothes which suit her, though she doesn't seem to fit in.

Already, she has made an enemy and it was the one that I expected it would be: Monica Morrell. She has a decisive hatred for those cleverer than her and those who appear weaker, though if she knew what Claire was made up from, I am sure she would think this through another way. Though I hate to admit it, Oliver is strong and determined and is extremely powerful, though I am all of the above and more so. Claire couldn't have been formed from two stronger vampires, I do not believe, and she will be thankful for this in years to come…

…that is, unless she is found by Oliver. Then she will wish that she had been born to the human parents who raised her, the ones who have done as I asked and raised her properly and exactly how I would have raised her myself, give or take a few things. However, I cannot be judgemental of how she was raised, for I could not have done so – therefore, she has been raised absolutely perfectly.

I realise, as I stand here and watch her select a hot chocolate from the coffee shop, that she no longer appeals to me. She no longer sets my throat burning to be close to her, nor does she ignite any angst for the kill in me whatsoever. She is just my daughter, truly and simply.

"Excuse me, lady, are you just gonna stand there?" one of the waitresses in the coffee shop asks me with an air of disgrace as she stands watching me. She has no idea who I am, but that is not the point: I am here to be inconspicuous and to keep an eye on my daughter, not to be identified as the Founder. It plays in my favour that I look like a college student and that very few humans (or vampires) have seen me, so my identity is still my own.

"I will have a tea in a proper cup, none of this Styrofoam nonsense you seem so keen on," I say sharply, not taking my eyes off of Claire as I speak to the rude waitress.

"Whatever, that'll be three fifty," she snaps her chewing gum loudly and I fight a surge of annoyance in me at the disgusting way by which she is speaking to me. But I force myself to take a deep breath and relax, for I am not here to neither kill nor draw attention to myself. No, I am here for Claire.

I reach into the small clutch bag I carry and extract a five dollar note, deciding that she does not deserve the tip.

"The change in fifty cent pieces, please," I make my strange request, having decided that the change can go in the three different charity boxes in this coffee house: I merely have notes besides this small amount of change, so I feel it only fair to give a proportionate amount to each charity of the little I am able to give.

I can almost hear her rolling her eyes but I look away from her direction once she has taken the money, instead refocusing upon my daughter. She seems worried, as if she is scared someone will come and speak to her, or threaten her – the latter option is much more likely since she has made an enemy of the most influential girl in the entire school.

In the distance, I can see a figure coming towards Claire and I recognise it to be Monica, flanked by her usual 'henchwomen' of Gina and Jennifer. They ought to know better but… they are heading towards my daughter and they do not seem to be in the most pleasant of moods. I doubt that they will, how do you say it, asking to braid one another's hair and play dress up.

I take the mug of tea handed ungraciously to me by the waitress, place the money in the money boxes, and head in the direction of the incoming girls. I cannot have them intercepting Claire, not today. She has a test coming tomorrow and I do not want her to be distracted – she may have impeccable brains, but even she can mess up on an exam if she has been hurt emotionally.

"Hello, Monica," I say with a cool tone to my voice, my hair tied back in a tight bun and the business clothes I am wearing making it painfully obvious I am not a student. To other students, ones not in the know, they will simply believe I have one of those quirky fashion senses.

But to these girls, ones who know about the older population of the town, they know I am a vampire. The coolness of my skin, although we are in spring and the sun is intense enough to tan the skin of a human.

"Erm, who are you?" she questions me, polite enough for a normal vampire interaction but most certainly not with me, the mother of the girl she is intensely bullying for no reason.

"I am someone who will make your worst nightmares come true," I hiss at her, showing my fangs as there are no other students nearby. All three of them recoil at this open show of vampireness, evidently feared by a vampire who is so openly showing her state. "Ridicule another child, Monica Morrell, and they will no longer simply be nightmares. They will be your life."

With this, I rush away at a regular enough pace, having observed my daughter enough tonight. I throw the tea, mug and all, into the bin and return to the university centre, where I summon a portal to take me home.

As I enter my house, I hang the coat I have been wearing upon the peg and walk through into the living room, where I am greeted with a surprise.

"Oliver, what are you doing here?" I ask in confusion, worry and fear as to how he is sitting in my living room without my knowledge.

"Where have you been?" he questions, ignoring my question for him – how dare he? Then he answers his own question, moving closer to me and sniffing the air delicately. "You've been to the university; I can smell the delectable scents of young humans… but why? Hhhmmm… unless… but no… could it be?" he is dangerously close to figuring out the truth, so I must distract him.

"Could you please stop your ramblings, Oliver?" I sigh, hoping that my tone will distract him. I take another step towards him; shedding the scarf I pointlessly wore and begin to remove my earrings.

This is a mistake.

He growls, having unfortunately figured out the truth I fear, and launches himself at me. He grabs my throat and throws me into the wall, causing the painting to fall onto the floor, but not causing any damage to me whatsoever. I roll my eyes and take a deep breath as I begin to stand up, angered at his display of violence but also fearing that he knows our child is here, but he then takes me by the throat again and holds on. I could wrench myself free but the fear that he knows the location of our child, my child, is too petrifying.

"She is here, isn't she?" he whispers into my face, a look of pure menace upon his face as he processes my reaction to this. I say nothing whatsoever and keep my face from displaying any emotion whatsoever, the only thing showing that I am not myself the heavy breathing. But he seems to take my lack of emotion and objection as a confirmation for he laughs and releases my throat. "Come on, Amelie, I will be able to tell who she is sooner or later – wouldn't it be better to tell me before I find out myself? I may not kill you then," he snaps at me, threat and fury in his voice.

I laugh sardonically, knowing this will infuriate him further. "What makes you think that you could kill me? After all, I am much stronger than you."

His hand snakes out to slap my cheek, the speed showing how hard he would hit me, but I capture his hand in my own. I twist his backwards until I hear him grunt in pain, holding it here for a moment to prove my point before releasing him with a thrust of power which throws him across the room.

He spits in my direction but I roll my eyes, extending my power across the room to show I am in control here, not him.

"I will find her, Amelie," he hisses at me, and it sends a rush of fear through me for I know he is telling the truth. "There are only one hundred and twenty freshmen in the entire TPU, therefore I don't have an entire world to search like before – you had me actually believing that she was in Australia or something."

I shudder slightly and know he is entirely correct. "Oliver, I know you will find the identity of our child, but I ask only one favour," I sigh, conceding to him for I know the outcome cannot change. "I simply ask that you do not tell her that we are her parents. She has been raised by a family who she believes is her own and she does not even know that vampires exist, much less that we are her parents. Oliver, I beg this of you," I am whispering by the end of this mini speech and have averted my eyes from him. I have no idea what his expression is saying now.

There is a long silence as he loiters by the door and I continue to stare at my knees. Then he finally breaks it. "When I find her, I will not tell her that we are her parents. After all, news like that ought to come from her mother, no? I will allow you to divulge that particular information in the future. But be warned, Amelie, she will be mine."

"She will be whoever's she wishes to be," I respond coolly, having decided this a long time ago. "She is a child, Oliver, not a pawn in a chess match. She has her own rights and I will not try and take her liberties away from her to claim her as my own. She can make her own decision where her loyalties lie, though since you are the intruding party in this town."

"Ahh, but who pretends to be human?" he retorts, playing a trump card I mistakenly forgot about before. "I have a chance to get close to her and she will think I am on her side, not a vampire. So expect to lose, Amelie, expect to lose," he finishes before walking from the room without another word.

Bastard! I yell inside my head at him but know he has the power in this situation. He has the chance to get my daughter from me and he has the upper hand entirely.

This could turn out very differently to what I want.

Whatcha think?

I wrote the end 1500 words of the chapter whilst watching Eurovision, waiting for the UK to come on! Come on Blue! Shame we can't vote for our own country -.- not that I'd vote anyway…

Review please

Vicky xx