Claire shuddered again. Sam was pacing and she just watched. From the fridge to the stove, from the fridge to the stove. He'd sat her in the kitchen, but only after having to pin her to the floor to keep her from running out the door on a suicide rush. He'd called Amelie and Oliver and made Claire coffee. She didn't drink it; she just stared at it blankly. The whole house was torn apart.

"Claire…Claire." Sam kept repeating.

It sounded so far away. Sam touched her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"They're dead. They're dead aren't they?" she said

Her eyes were big and Sam knew that she's start crying all over again.

"We don't know that." He said

Sam was worried about Michael the most. He was his only family. Claire was terrified for all of them. She couldn't imagine where they were and if they were okay. There had been signs of struggle everywhere.

The phone rang and Claire jumped to her feet. She could hear it loudly, but she couldn't see it. she started shoving things aside and after the fourth ring ring she found it.

"H-hello?" she stammered as she answered

"Claire Danvers."

"Yes."

"It's Richard Morrell, I need you to come to the town hall now."

His voice was serious. Claire only knew him because he was Monica's older brother. Apparently he was the new mayor of the town. She didn't even know who the old mayor was.

"I can't. I have my own problems at the moment." she said shakily

"I know and if you don't get down here those problems will be exterminated."

That time he sounded a little remorseful. The problems he was referring to must've been her friends. They had to be. And she was more than willing to take her chances.

"On my way." She said

She darted out the door and heard Sam yelling after her. The sun was setting. Sam grabbed her by the arm and stopped her.

"This is a bad idea." He told her like she didn't know

She didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. She was going down to town hall and saving her friends. She didn't come back here only to watch them die because of her.

"You can't do this."

"Sure I can. You don't have mind control over me." She said

She side stepped him and pulled from his light grip on her. There was nothing that would stop her and Sam knew it.

"Fine." He said

He kept pace with her not that it was that hard. He got on his phone and tried to get a hold of Amelie and Oliver. He got frustrated quickly when he didn't get an answer from either of them. Claire could see the anger in his face.

"No one is answering. Something is seriously wrong." He said

Claire slapped a hand over her eyes feeling completely overwhelmed. People were be dragged under and disappearing head over feet.

"We need to go and now." He said

They got in the tinted windowed car and before she could buckle up they were heading towards town hall. The town was barren. Nobody was out among the town. Not even vampires. Common Grounds was closed and no lights were on to signify life. The town was dead. When they had pulled up to the town hall they just sat there.

"You walk in there you won't come out." He said

"Oh, I have every intention of walking out of there and not alone." She said

Claire opened the glove compartment and pulled to things out. One was a small spray canister that looked like mace and the other was a water bottle. She tucked the small canister away in her jeans pocket.

"It's silver nitrate. I've had it here since I started work. Amelie's idea." Claire explained

Then she took a deep breath as she opened the bottle. She looked like she was debating it. Then she took a long swig of it. She didn't swallow at first. Once she did she started couching and gagging. Sam patted her back lightly. She took another drink then another coughing the whole bit until the bottle was completely empty.

"Are you okay?" he asked "What was that?"

"Water with silver in it." she said "Any of those sons of bitches try to bite me, they won't like it." she said

"They'll snap your neck." He said

"Not before I wrap silver around they're neck."

"Claire…"

"You don't have to go in there. I do."

Claire reached for the door handle, but it opened before she could touch it.

"Together."

She got out and nodded. They both looked up the stone steps and proceeded. Her stomach felt like it had a huge rock weighing her down. The double doors to the ballroom were open and Claire could see people, not people, but vampires. Sam took her hand right then, his fingers lacing with hers. It wasn't the I love you before we die kind of holding, but the if we do die in vain then I'm glad it's you kind of hold. I gulped down air as we walked into the presence of death. Bishop sat on the stage in a large chair that looked like a throne while two others sat on each side of them, one of them being Ysandre. She was looking at the other side of the room. Claire looked to the other side where Ysandre's eyes roamed. There they sat. All of them, Shane Eve, Oliver, Amelie, Richard and even Myrnin and they were in cages.

"You made it." Ysandre said

She was now circling Claire and was smelling her hair. Claire jerked away from her. Ysandre popped her fangs out at Claire threateningly.

"Ysandre," Bishop called "Is that any way to treat our guests."

"I just want to eat her…her and him." She pouted and pointed at one of the cages behind her

It was Shane's cage.

"Come here Claire. Sit by me." Bishop said

Claire parted with Sam and moved to take Ysandre's chair whereas she went to drag her fingers across Shane's cage bars. He looked scared though he wouldn't admit it probably. His head was bleeding too along with his knuckles.

"What do you think about Ysandre's idea." He asked

He took her hand making her jump. She looked at him. There was something cruel about him.

"It sounds great." She said in the most convincing voice she could come up with

Bishop smiled and Ysandre smiled evilly. She turned right then and opened Shane's cage.