Claire's POV

No. No. No.

It's not logical. It's not possible. But he's here, prowling like a lion trying to capture its prey; and we are trapped. The body… wasn't a body- he was there, that was him…

How?

My scream is still echoing in my head, but his words are etched into my brain. Miranda knows something, something he didn't want us to ever know, and by the looks of things we're never going to know.

'Miranda!' Eve shouts, at our friend- after everything she's our friend finally. 'Tell us, now!' Her tone is desperate, each word a mumble due to the sheer speed at which she is speaking. 'Miranda!' She shouts again, urging her tirelessly to comply, so that we know… although honestly I've given up hope of coming out of this alive.

'Mir please.' Shane says from beside me, his hatred of the girl has never been hidden but right now that's all a distant memory; he knows it too, we need her.

Miranda's head turns towards us, her eyes scrutinising Shane but she must find something she likes because she smiles the sad, hopeless smile we've all came to witness and understand.

'Foolish girl, you will not speak another word!' Magnus shouts, his voice washes over me like a bitterly cold gale. He is as cavernous as I remember, so beyond the human façade that the vampires use; his eyes are dull and darkened, an abyss that's is endlessly blackened and rotten. Everything about him makes my neck ache, and my breathing become shallow and my insides scream for me to run as far away as possible, but I know I have not one chance- and I can't because the people I love are in this room, in this building and nothing will ever make me walk away without them, we've been together too long for that. Magnus moves as if bodiless, as if he is a projection- Mir was right they are weaker, whatever they have done has made them less substantial than last time. He's closing rank on Miranda, moving closer and closer to her; caging her in like a prisoner.

'I'd ridded myself of you last time, yet of some unfathomable reason here you stand- I will again have to eradicate you.' His words act like a cold shower, awakening every single nerve ending in my body, making me shiver and my breathing become even more ragged. His voice is almost a gargle, which only makes it a million times scarier.

'Mir!' Eve screams again.

'Bishop. Blood. Silver. Amelie. They can do this together, he needs ripped apart and burned to pieces.'

'Mir what do you mean?' I shout, her words make no sense they are like a riddle in which I can find no answer.

'Bishop he drank from him!' Michael shouts in euphoria. 'He's… even more dangerous.'

'Michael your right! Please remember that.'

Magnus is moving like a ghost, closer and closer each time I blink; Miranda is frozen in place her eyes flashing between the brilliant blue to a dark and haunting red. Her hands are in fists next to her sides, her pale skin is almost translucent in the light, she glows so bright its almost blinding. But her face is set and strong, not a hint of the girl we turned our heads from so many times.

'Stop.' Miranda says, suddenly holding up a hand; Magnus in obvious surprise pauses his step, looking somewhat befuddled. 'Do not fear.' She whispers 'I'm here.' I look to Shane, seeing his face set, and his arms tight around Annabelle; his face is probably a replica of my own- confusion. Miranda's words are of no meaning, are so outrageously random.

'What?' I say somewhat weakly, my voice breaking.

'Don't let them win.' She says and then with a smile adds. 'Oh and Claire you can do this.' Her gaze is piercing but as abruptly as Magnus stopped, he's there almost touching Miranda, she will probably be able to feel his rotten breath in her face, and the damp stench that is so strong which his 'body' radiates. She shows nothing in her face, and meets Magnus's eyes, she doesn't flinch- the only indication of her distress is her eyes flashing abruptly red, the red of freshly spilt blood.

'Your weak.' She says to him, her gaze not wavering from his. 'And they'll find out your secret and you'll be gone.' She taunts, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

'But not from you.' He says, his breath blowing into her face as he stresses each syllable.

'No.' She says as he proceeds closer, his hand grabbing her wrist; she whimpers in pain as Magnus begins to feed. Annabelle whimpers too, to which Shane shushes her urgently. Mir's teeth clench tight together with an audible snap, her eyes scrunch against the pain as she makes soft moans emphasising the agony she is experiencing as Magnus thoroughly ensnares her, patiently preying on her, playing with her until death stakes it's claim.

'Silver.' Miranda whimpers. 'Silver and fire...'

'You bitch.' Magnus howls before Mir can finish, thoroughly submerging Miranda; within seconds she is nothing more than bones, that make a dry thud as they hit the ground.

'Impossible.' Amelie. I turn and see her standing in the archway.

'My dear lady.' Magnus says his voice laced with humorously cruel sarcasm; he bows low his whole form moving in a way that make me feel slightly nauseous. 'I will take my leave.'

And then he just disintegrates, into wet sludge that melts itself into the heavy carpet.

This is when my knees give way, and I hit the floor.

Mir. Is my only thought.

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