Chapter 21 Thank you to everybody , who leaves their opinion about the story - I appreciate that very much :)
My story goes now a way different direction I actually had planed , but heh - authors freedom, right ? !
Enjoy reading !
The chaos that followed was indescribable.
After a short moment of silence , the dust of the explosion settling slowly , screams of pain and loss were starting and becoming more and more dominant .
Claire woke up, her ears ringing loudly , not knowing where she was for a few seconds.
There was Myrnin , equally disturbed , but already on his feet , standing a few feet away from her.
Glass from the large windows , was lying everywhere, distributed by the huge explosion.
People lying , dead or injured , covered with blood . Some trying to sit or stand up , not oriented , their balance destroyed - shaking , not knowing what to do . ...and there was Eve , sitting on her knees, her face covered with blood dripping form several spots of her forehead , next to a body .
Claire knew immediately that this body was Michael - beloved Michael - who wanted to start his new life today with the person he respected and loved most , Eve.
Michael , who realized, that he could have a normal life even if he was a Vampire and learned, that the dream of having children didn't have to be a dream, but could become realty.
All these hopes and dreams were taken away from him , from Eve, even Claire - after this device detonated and made an end to plans, which didn't have time to begin.
Myrnin was standing in the middle of the room , looking around .
Claire could see pain , almost panic in his face, only disappearing ,when their eyes finally met.
With a few steps he was kneeling next to her, caressing her face, arms , talking .
Claire was still unable to make out the words , ringing noises of different levels , were still too dominant in her ears.
" I am alright, Myrnin ...I think I am alright" Claire tried to calm Myrnin down, which she did after she grabbed his hands and kissed them gently. " I can't hear anything, but I don't think I am hurt otherwise ..." still looking into Myrnin's face, which slowly relaxed by her words.
Claire pointed over to Eve , but Myrnin just shook his head sadly and pulled Claire to him.
" ...so sorry...Michael ...dead ... You...unharmed...?" words slowly came back and even if they didn't come back in whole sentences, they didn't need to, Claire understood.
The ballroom offered to everybody who survived the explosion a picture of chaos , suffer and sorrow , but what was remarkable was the fact, how Humans and Vampires helped and supported each other.
Theo Goldman, the Vampire doctor , was looking for injured Humans as well as Vampires and so did Dr. Mills.
The brutal attack , whatever reason it had, brought the residents of Morganville together - at least for now.
Amelie and Oliver walked in the middle of the destroyed ballroom .
Both seemed shaken, but unharmed - their facial expressions - however , showed anger and fury and a determination, rarely seen in any person.
" This brutal attack on the people of Morganville won't go unpunished ...," Amelie started resolute, : " ...it is an affront aimed at me... Morganville ...our way of life . I promise to everybody in this room , the responsible ones will be found AND will receive what they deserve."
Amelie's eyes were wondering around and they stopped , when they found Eve - still sitting in her beautiful , but now covered with blood , wedding gown . Amelie realized, that the blood was not Eve's , but Michael's and that he gave his ultimate sacrifice to protect Eve.
The bomb must have detonated close to them and Michael had thrown himself on it, to save his new wife.
Amelie realizing this fact, suddenly broke down . She could not hide anymore the strain that this disaster had taken on her - she could not take the fact, that she lost another loved one - Michael, the person , who was the closes she had to family , who almost resembled her lost love, identical .
Oliver caught Amelie and picked her gently up , carrying her out into a connecting room . Amelie whispered something into his ear and he made Myrnin a sign to follow them with Claire and Eve in tow.
Amelie was lying on a red velvet sofa, her head slightly elevated , resting on a matching pillow. She had her eyes closed, but felt instinctively , when the others entered the room. She lifted her hand slightly and called for Eve.
" Eve, my child , please come here..." and she signaled Oliver to move a chair next to the sofa.
Eve was a shadow of herself , sitting straight and emotionless in the chair holding Amelie's cold hand, looking for something - looking for comfort.
" My child, I swear to you here and now, in front of Oliver, Myrnin and Claire , that whoever is responsible for this ...this authrocity , will be punished and wished they were never born..."
Claire shivered by those words and she knew, that Amelie meant them .Myrnin had moved another chair close to the first one and guided Claire to it, standing behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
She felt his strength flowing in her and it calmed her down - she needed him so much , especially right now.
Amelie kept talking, Oliver thru the one or other thing in and Myrnin only answered questions directly stated to him.
Claire was holding Eve's hand , watching her, no talk -no try to comfort her at this point, because nothing will do , because Eve is alone -right now, and when she is ready and fought her way out of the deepest jungle of misery, Claire would be there at her side .
Amelie suggested that Eve would stay with her for time being and Eve had no objections . Amelie wanted to be with her alone - it was like a mother wanted to be with her new found daughter .
Claire stood up and wrapped, the still sitting Eve , in her arms and put her head on her chest. She gently petted her hair and kissed her softly on the top of her head.
" Rest Eve- I love you . Please ..., please call me whenever you need me- I am here for you , never forget that " and she hugged her one more time and left her best friend , knowing that she is going thru her worst night in her entire life.