Okay so! I've realized that it's been more than a month since I've updated. And I apologize for that. I've just been really busy and uninspired and I couldn't get enough time on a computer and school started and yadda yadda yadda. So I'm very happy to be putting this up now because I know a lot of you have been waiting. So enough chitchat, start reading!
Twenty minutes later, Shane arrived home to the sound of loud, hysterical sobbing coming from the living room. He'd hurried home after a frantic phone call from Claire's mother telling him to get home fast. In an instant, Shane was in the living room and crouched before Claire, who was curled up on the couch, crying into her mother's shoulder.
"Claire," he said, stroking her hair. "What happened?"
"She wouldn't tell me," her mom said. "Someone called and then she started crying. Right after I called you, I almost couldn't get her to the couch, she was crying so hard."
"Do you know who it was that called?" he asked.
Her mother shook her head. "She wouldn't say."
"Claire?" Shane turned his attention back to her, taking her face in both his hands, making her look at him. "Please- tell me what happened. Who called?"
She sniffed a few times and swallowed before answering. "It was a man. He didn't say who he was. He wanted- he said he knew our secret. What the baby will be. He said that it's a monster and he's going to kill it." She stopped talking and instead started crying again, harder than before. Claire's mother looked shocked and confused. Shane was steadily growing angrier, and his hands, still on either side of Claire's face, started heating up.
"Claire," he said, his voice constricted with anger. "I won't let him get to you. I swear. I will do whatever I can to make sure he never touches you." Then he kissed her on the top of her head before standing up and heading back to the door.
Before he opened the door, he heard Claire call, "Shane, don't do anything stupid," and then he was out the door.
"Mr. Collins, I'm surprised to see you here." She said this, but didn't look it. In fact, Amelie looked like she had been expecting him for a while. She was sitting at the desk in her study. Shane had gotten there via the Day house, which Claire had told him about a while ago.
"You know why I'm here?" Shane asked her.
"I can't imagine it being anything other than what it always is. You want tickets out of Morganville." Shane nodded, even though it wasn't really a question. "Well I'm sorry, but I can't give you those."
It was exactly what he'd been expecting, but he wasn't ready to give up just yet. "Someone just called our house and said they'll kill our baby. Now I don't know about you, but I don't want that to happen."
Amelie was quiet for a moment before answering, "Mr. Collins, I believe Claire has told you of my plans for your child, am I correct?
Shane would never forget the day Claire had sat him down and told him that Amelie would be inducting their child into her ranks. It had taken a lot of coaxing and calming from Claire to prevent him from going over and staking Amelie. "All the more reason why," he said.
Amelie looked at him for some time before saying, "Although I cannot let you and Claire out of Morganville, even temporarily, I will offer you more Protection. You, Claire, and all children you may have in the future, will be under my Protection as long as they live. As long as they are, they cannot be touched. I can also have someone look into the phone records for your house and track the number. And if you'll allow it, I will have a man or two stationed outside of your house all hours of the day and night, to make sure no harm gets inside…. What do you say to that?"
Even though the idea of vampires watching him all hours of the day didn't make him happy, it was for Claire's protection. "It's not what I wanted, but I guess it's the best I'll get until you change your mind."
Amelie didn't look like she was about to do any such thing. "Good, then it's settled. You may show yourself out." She nodded toward the door before turning back to some papers that were on her desk.
Without saying a word, Shane grumpily turned around and headed out the study door to go back home.
Okay so I haven't written anything beyond this because now I've hit a real writers' block. It's just the next chapter and details of the following one that I don't know about. After that, it's gold. And doesn't it seem kind of like Shane got a bum deal? I mean, we all knew he wouldn't get the passes, but still! Whatever, just remember to review! Lots of love!