Claire's POV

For some God awful reason, I feel myself dry-wretch, feel my whole body convulse into the gagging, which I have no control of. In the years I've lived in Morganville I've seen some horrifying things but for some reason this just pushes me to the edge, makes my entire body feel as if its mutilated, and ghastly.

'Mama…' Annabelle's voice is unsure. Her voice wobbling as she tries to finish her word. 'Mama?' She says again her whole body, turned in the direction of Bishop.

'Oh god…' Eve's words are a mumble to my ears, as I turn and look at Bishop, and what -or rather who- he is holding. The woman is burned and so very badly disfigured but there is no doubt in my mind of who she is, because just a couple of days ago she gave me her child, seconds before she died.

'Mama!' Annabelle screams in desperation, trying unsuccessfully to struggle free of Michael's grip. Bishop's laughter fills the room, enveloping us in a cocoon that strips me back years, to when I was young and naïve to just how bad vampires can really be. He shakes the woman like a rag doll, her soot blackened hair swings back like a mop, to reveal the shear enormity of her injuries, a face that is in honesty no longer existent, eyes that are no-longer seeing- a body riddled with maggots, maggots that are everywhere.

'Just thought I'd finish the scraps.' Bishop says in a tone laced with underlying cruelty, as he licks his lips with a too pale tongue. 'The big pile out back, could smell them from miles away.' He heartedly laughs again, making the hairs on my arms stand tall as I fight another bout of nausea, as it dawns on me that to retrieve the bodies he has in fact dug up the grave, the grave of all those who were killed just a couple of days back.

'Where's Amelie?' Shane whispers close to my ear, tickling it with his lips. I shrug without comment, and turn to look at him, feeling our hands go tight in each other's grip, and for some of the fear to ease its way from me, as I feel Shane beside me.

'Bishop we thought you well and truly dead this time!' Myrnin says, causing us all to gasp aloud and take a large step away from Bishop, and Myrnin, after a few seconds of silence Myrnin continues. 'You disappoint me old man, never one to lose his words.' Bishop smiles a slow, haunting smile, and throws the body like a doll across the room, where it hits the brick wall with a dull thump.

'MAMA!' Annabelle, squeals at the top of her voice, her face a mask of tears. 'MAMA!' She screams again, renewing her efforts to fight her way free of Michael's grip. For some unforeseen reason I had not in my mind connected Annabelle's mother with the corpse, only as the woman who gave me her child, Annabelle's wailing makes my heart hurt, makes my stomach twist as I see my poor little baby hurting so badly.

'Why we seem to have caused something unfortunate, haven't we?' Bishop says smiling, showing all his teeth especially his fangs which in the glint of light look more like polished bone. Annabelle's screams are growing in volume, getting higher in pitch, until she's all that can be heard in the room. Bishops slow, nasty smile takes a sudden edge as he snaps 'Shut it up, or I'll shut it up.' Ending with a smile showing every inch of fang. Michael pulls Annabelle closer, hushing her and rocking her close to his body to absolutely no effect. I feel Shane tug away from my hand, as I turn I see him moving slowly towards Michael -trying to show Bishop he means no harm- he reaches his hands down to Annabelle, who with a sob reaches back.

'Daddy…' She whimpers, as Shane pulls her close and move back to my side; I place a hand on her back and rub soothing circles as Shane whispers in her ear, rocking her back and forth. Her wails quieten down, with her hiccupping sobs being the only noise in the room.

'So?' Bishop says questionably to us, looking from one set of eyes to another, just long enough for fear to make itself know in the pit of the stomach, as his eyes flash over me I look away quickly- yet not quick enough as I feel the all too familiar stabbing of fear embracing me like an old friend.

'So?' Jessie asks back, half hidden behind Myrnin.

'Don't be pathetic, you fools!' He bellows, making Annabelle whimper to which he addresses with a threatening stare. 'Why do I find you codling your own wounds, hidden away? Why?' He shouts again louder; as a shout even grander enraptures us all.

'They are not fools father!' Amelie's shout silences Bishop, as she graces her way into the opening. 'They are just too very much aware of what is to come when your involved.' She finishes as if it's just another conversation.

'So very petty. So very foolish to hide when one at war.' Bishop spits at Amelie, smirking with distaste.

'Do you not remember what you taught me? I know all about end games Father, or have you had a memory lapse? Because last time I won, my town won.' She snarls back, her face losing the easy femininity to be replaced with an animalistic mask, her eyes flashing red.

'You're a fool daughter, you're an idiotic fool.'

'I may be so to you, but I will be your downfall…' She says as Bishop lets out a howl of pain, and I hear an almost silent click of what sounds almost like handcuffs. 'You will be of use father, but only when you have learnt to be civil.' She says in a snarl, as Bishop howls again as she steps back from him, holding a syringe, that until seconds ago had been invisible to the naked eye.

'A shot of silver should subdue you… at least long enough for us to find you a nice dark pit to rot in.' She spits again, her face contorting with rage.

'Foo…foo…' Bishop tries but fails to say, as he begins to cough and gag with every few seconds, heavy wet coughs that wrack his body.

'No…' Comes an almost distant voice from the door way. 'No.' It comes again stronger. I look to the door but I'd know that voice anywhere. Miranda. Vampirism has made what little colour she had disappear, she's alabaster white with an almost primal grace to her movements, which are now full of panic and unease. 'No.' she repeats again, as if she is a record on loop.

'Take him.' Amelie says to the guards when Bishop starts to howl louder, with an almost unstopping flow of blood seeping from his every orifice.

'Amelie this is not how it meant to be…' Miranda tries.

'Silence child.' Amelie says.

'You can't… this isn't right.' She screams. I almost don't see the slap; Amelie's hand is as quick as a scorpion's sting. Miranda acts as if nothing happens as she watches Amelie walk away.

'We're all fools.' She murmurs. 'We're all going to die.' She concludes.