Chapter 26:

Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews and also a big thank you to Tipsy14 who is great :D also, please vote on my poll!

So we walk down the corridor to the room in which we hold the council meetings and I have absolutely no idea what to expect – will it be really 'debatey' or will it be silent or will it just be Myrnin and Oliver arguing. I think the last one is a definite but I'm not sure about the entire atmosphere between everyone is. Still, there's only one way to find out!

Amelie holds the door open for me and I step through after saying thank you to her to see the large, oval, wooden table empty save for Myrnin and Oliver. They're both sat at opposing ends of the table, glaring in each other's directions until Amelie and my entrance makes them look at us. Myrnin looks at me with his cute little face – how adorable – and smiles up at me, whereas Oliver simply sits straight faced. It's only because he doesn't want Amelie and Myrnin to know about his little second job, being my therapist!

"Hello Amelie, Claire, you're late," he says snidely and Amelie looks at him coldly.

"Given that I am the chair of the council, you are merely early as the council can only begin when I am present," she replies icily and I see Oliver leaning backwards in his chair slightly, before righting himself instantly.

Amelie takes a seat in-between Myrnin and Oliver but I go and take the seat next to Myrnin, who pulls it out for me. He kisses my neck softly as we both sit, and then I pick up the agenda for this week which looks rather interesting, to be honest. I quickly scan it down and see that there are 4 points on the agenda:

Sign posting in Founders Square

How to arrange the humans with the earlier nights kicking in

Blood drives

Special request from Neil Freir

Hey, that Neil guy, that's who is going out with Eve tomorrow night, isn't it? Yes, I remember his name clearly, as well as every other detail from the last few days – the human memories are still pretty clear but I am going to have to think about every single one of them that I want to keep lots, so that I don't lose a single detail.

"So, let's begin," Amelie says and Oliver jumps straight in.

"Well, the tunnels under Founders Square aren't sign posted very well, in my opinion, they are very vague-"

"That's in your opinion Oliver, and since when has your opinion been the same as anybody else's?" Myrnin jumps straight in and I can see that they are going to be arguing all night. Normally they manage to handle it a little in the regular meetings but here, they're like sharks bated by each other!

"My opinions seem to be a lot more important than yours mongrel because who is the one who has been on the council since he came to Morganville?" Oliver replies snarkily, and I know I am already bored with this: how does Amelie stand it? I mean, true, she didn't have 10 months worth of meetings because she was with Sam, but the past 5 or so weeks ought to have bored her to tears. Or murder. Whichever is easier!

"For god's sake you two, give it a rest already!" Amelie explodes louder than I have ever heard her before. This makes both the vampires jump in their seats in fright and stops Myrnin from beginning his retort to Oliver's insult. I decide to talk next about the signposts because I want to contribute somewhere, and I have been in those tunnels.

"Well, to be honest, I was in the tunnels yesterday I think it was, or maybe the day before, and I managed perfectly well and I have never been down there before," I throw my hay penny in and Oliver looks furious. Myrnin, on the other hand, looks absolutely beaming that what I had to say complimented his view perfectly.

"Well that is that settled then. The signposts don't need changing if a new vampire can navigate herself perfectly around the tunnels," Amelie says with a sniff, crossing that item off on the agenda. Oliver looks at me furiously for some reason before turning away with a "hmph!" and folding his arms dramatically.

"Next, we have the fact that Winter will start in only 2 months and night time will begin at 6pm. Now, how do we sort out the humans under our new regime of leniency and not killing them Oliver, but keeping our vampire citizens clear?" Amelie asks us.

"We could kill them all if they're wandering around," Myrnin suggests, completely dead-pan serious and I thump him ridiculously hard in the arm – there is no chance that that is going to be allowed to happen on my watch!

"No Myrnin, we are not killing every human wandering around – well most people are still at work until 6:30pm so couldn't we say if anyone is out after 8pm then whatever happens can, unless you have a permit to work later and still be out?" I suggest and Amelie looks up at the suggestion of a permit. Oliver, however, simply goes "hmph" once more and turns to look at the ceiling.

"A permit," Amelie repeats slowly, "That is a really good idea – it means people don't have to sign up to get protection but also can still work to keep Morganville running. I like it Claire, I really do!"

"Could work – if people are out after 8pm and don't have protection, can I eat them then?" Myrnin asks seriously and this time I hit him in the head – he is not eating people!

"Myrnin get it into your head, you are not eating a single person or I will dump you and leave you heartbroken," I say coolly and Oliver wolf whistles at this, turning to face us now, gracing us with the absolutely beautiful sight of his face.

"Ohoh," he scoffs, looking at Myrnin's face, "And the thing is she means that. Go on, welsh mongrel, get a human and eat them!" he eggs, making Myrnin go bright red (he's really angry). Then, Myrnin launches himself over the table at Oliver and pins him to the floor, punching him in every place possible. Oliver begins to fight back and I am so damn bored of this, I just sit here, waiting for them to grow up. Which isn't going to happen. I look over at Amelie, who looks just as bored as me and says:

"The sad thing is that this is their well behaved – normally this would have happened on the first item on the agenda!" she sounds really fed up and angry – I'm glad I am not Oliver or Myrnin. I love the man, I truly do, but he is such a child with Oliver!

So if this is what every council meeting is like, I haven't missed out on much!

Sorry it's a little shorter – I wanted to update tonight before my mum got in otherwise it would have been tomorrow morning! Will try to update again tonight!

Please review!

Vicky xx