Chapter 11 is here guys, how are you enjoying the (slowish) romance so far? I know I'm loving it! Thanks Bloodsucker69 – I thought it was quite sweet as well!
Chapter 11 (yes we are back to Claire's POV – as normal, because she is the main narrator fyi):
I walk through the ornately decorated door that leads to the Council Meeting Room, Taylor Swift 'You Belong With Me' blaring out my headphones. This is going to be fun – 2 or so hours with Oliver: as long as he doesn't annoy me again (like he did 4 months ago and I called him names and said I would never hang out with him in a purely social arrangement even if we were the only two left on the planet) we should be ok, like at the last few meetings. His frustrations (and just plain nastiness) has been taken out on Myrnin, who has been quite happy to comply with the retaliation. This has resulted in the majority of the decisions being made by Richard, Hannah and myself as the two 'vampires who ought to have more power since one is the one who cured everyone and one has half the town (or at least, he did) on his side' are normally too busy arguing.
Wait, Amelie has returned today – maybe this could work out now: I know that before Sam died (and she returned to being a hermit) there were only two vampires – herself and Oliver as Myrnin was so ill – on the council.
"Claire, please turn down that racket," Amelie asks me, and I comply, reducing the volume almost entirely – I shall remove it once Richard and Hannah arrive.
The atmosphere in here seems to be a little off: Oliver is in hysterics over something, whilst Myrnin is curled away, embarrassed, probably over what Oliver is laughing about. I feel so sorry for Myrnin: for the past however long, Oliver has been nasty and mocked him (and even though Myrnin does the same, probably more, that's beside the point) even though he has been ill for so long.
"Oliver, what is so funny?" I manage to get out, even though I'm petrified of him once more, after this morning – and I thought he was getting tame. Or maybe that attitude will be the death of me.
"I have been put under oath to not let the truth slip my lips, so ask your amans abdito!" Oliver splutters, and I feel confusion surge through me.
"Oliver, I warned you what would happen if you said anything at all, so please shut your mouth now and do not say another word until the meeting begins or I will pull your fangs out. And I am pretty sure Myrnin will assist," Amelie says, extremely coldly to Oliver, who immediately shuts up but continues to laugh, making Myrnin groan and bang his head on the table.
Amelie leans over to Myrnin, and whispers something in his ear – too low for me to hear – that makes Oliver look up at in surprise: great, Oliver gets to know but human Claire with normal hearing… not so much.
"Yes, that's a good idea: I think I'll do that, and perhaps Oliver would like to watch," Myrnin replies (at normal volume, but what he says just mystifies me further!) and makes Oliver look like he wants to be sick.
Amelie whispers something further into Myrnin's ear, who nods this time: Oliver looks relieved rather than sick now (but still the memory of the idea nauseates him) just as Richard and Hannah barge through the doors, running full speed.
"Sorry we're late – oh hello Amelie, I didn't realise you were returning today. How is Sam?" Richard asks Amelie, sounding completely shocked that she was coming back: that's another job Oliver has decided to pass on completing – I gave him the order from Amelie myself.
"Well I apologise Richard – I asked Oliver to inform you, but unfortunately all he can manage to do is mock others hopes and dreams and not follow orders. Sam is well, thank you for asking," Amelie replies (quite friendly actually) shooting a dirty look at Oliver, before the mention of Sam softens her entire face, and she looks just in love.
Amelie motions Oliver to give out agendas – he does so with great distaste… with Amelie's absence, he has been ordering me around instead, although (increasingly recently) Myrnin has been stopping him.
Agenda:
Parking
Blood taxes
Common Grounds
AOB
"Amelie, why is Common Grounds on the agenda?" Oliver asks, rather shocked for some reason.
"You shall see when we get there," she replies before saying: "Richard. What is the position upon the parking crisis with the 3 neighbours?"
"Well, it turns out that one of them has a romantic crush upon another, but the one who is being 'crushed on' used to date the other neighbour. The crusher is allowing the crushee to use his parking space but the ex is adamant that it shouldn't be allowed," Richard begins, rather confusingly.
"Well, we don't know anyone else in a situation like this, do we?" Oliver says sarcastically, making Myrnin stand up suddenly, growl and bare his fangs. What is their problem today? They're normally at each others throats – pun intended - but that is nothing compared to this.
"Myrnin, sit down," Amelie orders, placing a calming hand upon Myrnin – he responds and sits back in his seat, breathing heavily, retucking away his fangs away: that is so weird, I mean I've seen Michael doing it before, but it must be so weird for Eve to kiss him, knowing he has them up above his teeth… able to slip down and kill her in a second. Not that he would do this of course.
"And the solution?" Myrnin asks Richard who says:
"Erm all we did was get the person crushing on the girl to admit his feelings, and the ex didn't like it. Apparently they broke up 4 weeks ago and he still felt something but the girl, she had moved on. She's going on the date with the crusher tonight – and it's all resolved. But I have a feeling the ex will be moving away!" he finishes, with a chuckle, to which Hannah and I respond. But the vampires sit there, looking tense – Myrnin especially, until Oliver breaks into huge bouts of laughter.
"Oliver, it wasn't that funny," I say and he looks at me before saying:
"Oh Claire, if only you knew – then you would be finding it as hilarious as I am!"
Now that is really confusing me – do the vampires know something I don't… and Richard and Hannah (not knowing, I mean) because they seem to. Then, Amelie explodes.
"Oliver, if you do not leave this room right now, I will remove your fangs, another part of you that you see quite fond of (he blanches at this point, whilst the rest of us chuckle) before staking you so hard that I will kill you!" she yells – actually proper yelling, like she did at Bishop.
Oliver, doing the smart thing, gets up and walks out of the room – but not before walking behind my chair, and kissing (I mean EWWWWW) the side of my neck softly. It feels absolutely disgusting, but for some reason, Myrnin looks absolutely murderous. He runs after Oliver, whilst I wipe my neck, feeling repulsion at what Oliver did: why did he do it?
5 minutes later, and Myrnin still hasn't returned, so Amelie sighs and says:
"I apologise, but we cannot continue this meeting with only us – can we reconvene until I find a suitable time?"
We all nod and Richard walks out of the room after giving me a smile and a bear hug: he feels so good. Hannah soon follows after a quick hug, so only Amelie and I are left.
"Amelie, what did Oliver mean about knowing something?" I ask, and she blanches as well and looks as if she doesn't want to answer.
"Claire, I am sorry but I cannot tell you… yet at least. If you haven't found out by the 31st (it's the 13th today) then return to me, and I will tell you. I just hope that I don't have to say it."
With that, she glides out of the room, and down the corridor, disappearing through another door.
The best council meeting we've had – ever! It actually is: last time, Oliver and Myrnin actually started fighting in front of us… at least they took it outside. And because we didn't get on to the points on the agenda, there was no need for arguments. So all in all, it's been pretty good.
Amelie's POV
I am absolutely sick of those two psychopaths, always arguing and fighting like bears. But I must inform Myrnin of the information I gave to Claire – now it's up to him, what he does. So I sit down on the chez lounge in my living room, cuddled into Sam, and begin to text.
Myrnin
I am absolutely sick to death of you and Oliver fighting. It's almost to the point that I will remove you both from the Council.
Also, Claire asked about what Oliver said. I could not tell her Myrnin, for the reasons we discussed the other day. However, I said that if someone – by that I mean YOU – hadn't told her by the 31st, I would explain everything.
Do not let her down… if you love her truly, you won't
Amelie
I send that, before sending an extremely angry (and by my book, rude) text to Oliver.
Oliver
I am so sick of you and Myrnin fighting. If that continues I swear, I will throw you both off the council and leave the ruling of this town to humans. Entirely.
If you mention ONE SINGLE WORD to Claire about anything, you will not make it through the night.
"He's really fallen for her hasn't he," Sam says about Myrnin and Claire – I guess I shouldn't have told him, but I have known for weeks now and I needed to talk to someone. And I cannot hide anything from this man: he is my lifelong soulmate, never to leave my side.
"Yes," I say, "Yes he has."
And with that, I move my head to receive one of the most passionate kisses from Sam that I have ever received.
Claire's POV
I listen to the rest of 'You Belong With Me' as I walk out of the City Hall. just, who is the one for me?
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Vicky xx
