Claire's point of view

I hate Myrnin, so much. I know this is partially my fault, but did he really have to disappear with Amelie and leave me to this? I sighed and looked at the machine. The LED was flashing which meant it was active and had memories in, I just had figure out how to give them back. I clicked through the settings. I had set it (in a hurry) to 100 years so I looked to see if I could give 100 years back.

On the second page of settings (the first was all technical stuff) I found it. All I had to do was to flick the bar to Return to point it at the person who had gotten their memory wiped. I stood there for a moment. Well, that was easy. I was expecting to have to take it apart and construct it again to return the memories but I guess I just forgot that bit when I was saving Shane's life.

I should go and find Amelie but then an idea hit me; Maybe I could not tell Myrnin about it. He's terrible at technology and hadn't even heard of mobile phones before I came so it should be be easy enough. Oliver though... I bit my lip. The other part of me was thinking that this could only end badly. The longer Amelie didn't know she was Founder, the more of a risk I was taking.

I looked at the machine. I had always wanted to know what Amelie was like before Morganville and once she got past the confusion she could be really nice. I sighed and made up my mind. Since everyone knew I was a terrible liar, they would know if I knew about my find. I sighed and looking to the stairs to make sure Myrnin wasn't coming, even though he could sneak up on me if he wanted. I went to the bar and pressed buttons that led to another memory bank thing.

I had programmed it to take 2 people's memories but the shorter the duration the better. I thought I would overload it. I slid the bar to Take and entered 3 minutes which I counted was since Myrnin left me and took a breath. They won't know I'm lying if I don't know. And I could always bring them back. With a final look around I pointed the device to me, closed my eyes and pressed the button.

Myrnin's point of view

I took Amelie to Common Grounds, Oliver's little coffee shop, with my guard driving. I knew people were there and it was always very full but then I thought that people move if I could find the residents of Morganville. The college kids would have no idea.

"Where are we going?" Amelie asked looking out of the window.

"We are going to get coffee. Which is what Olly sells. Everyone knows who you are in there and so they'll move. We'll get a seat and Oliver will be too busy to see you." I said, smiling at my brilliant plan.

"So this is just about tormenting Oliver; not "bonding" with me." Amelie said, putting enough emphasis on bonding to say she didn't believe me.

"Of course not! I have wanted to bond with you for ages and ages, it's just an added bonus that Oliver is there." I said and opened the door as the car stopped out the coffee shop. I opened Amelie's door before she could.

"I can open my own door, thank you." She said. I shrugged.

"Well, your used to it and most people watch I guess. Your like a queen." I said and went to the shadows by the shop.

"Am I?" She asked looking mildly surprised. I nodded.

"Of course! Now, when we go in there you get a chair and if it's full then go up to someone with a brown bracelet, I think and ask for the seat. Get one in the shadows." I said.

"Why would I ask someone to move? That's rude. We should go to another one if it's full." Amelie said. I sighed.

"Everyone does what you say. Even Oliver and he is so stubborn. Just go to someone and ask for a chair." I said.

"No. We go to an empty one." Amelie said. "You will do as I say, as I remember." She crossed her arms. I sighed. I had forgotten how stubborn she was.

"Fine, fine let's go in." I said leading her in. The shop smelt like coffee, as always and it was full with the one table that was free, being directly in the light.

"Get a drink, I want a, uh, coffee and get whatever you want." I said.

"It's full. Let's go." Amelie said, tugging on my arm.

"No, it's not those nice people up there are moving." I said and walked off towards the shadowy back table of the cafe.

"No, they are not. Myrnin, come back!" Amelie said but I didn't listen. I got to the humans table.

"Excuse me, would you mind moving? Myself and a friend would like it." I said. The people looked up then down and whatever they were doing. I took it away from them.

"Hey-" He started but I didn't let him finish. I grabbed his neck and held him up.

"When someone, especially a pale someone, asks for something you don't ignore them. Now will you excuse us?" I asked. My fangs showing and eyes going red. The human pales and nodded and the other had already packed up their stuff and left. I dropped him and the person picked up their stuff and left in a rush. I sat down and smiled at a unhappy Amelie.

"You didn't have to do that." She said, when she got to me.

"They were being rude and they weren't from the college." I said, shrugging. "Take a seat, my seat my lady."

"You said everyone does what I ask, but that's not true if you don't obey me." Amelie said. I sighed.

"You should know by now, I don't do what I'm told." I said and smiled. Amelie glared at me, which was entirely unladylike and sat down.

"So, what do we do now?" Amelie asked.

"Did you send for drinks?" I asked.

"I have no money." Amelie said.

"We have it for free. Vampires get privileges like that." I saidd and going towards the counter.

Oliver's point of view

Where was Amelie and the idiot? I had already been to the Glass House and they said they had left 30 minutes ago so after making sure they were telling the truth I went to Myrnin's lab. Going down the steps I called out to him.

"Myrnin! Where are you?" No reply as always. I got to the bottom and instead saw Claire staring at the machine that had started all this.

"Where's Myrnin and Amelie?" I asked.

"They went out. I think. Myrnin went out and you left with Amelie. Where is she?" She asked.

"What? I left with Amelie 3 hours ago." A thought came to me. "You didn't..." I groaned and took the machine and looked at the screen. She had keyed in 3 hours and must have used it on herself. I had no idea why she would do thst, but maybe she was aiming for 3 minutes and didn't look before pressing the button. I got annoyed but at least she hadn't put in 10 years or something.

"Give that back!" Claire reached for it and I held it out of reach.

"How do you reverse?" I asked.

"I don't know, that was what I was trying to figure out. Now give it back!" She said. "Anyway... Maybe if I did know then I wouldn't know how Amelie was like..." she said.

"What?" I couldn't believe what she saying. Claire grabbed the machine off me.

"Never mind it was a stupid idea. Just go okay, I'll sort it out." She said and put the device on the table. I glared at her then stormed off and ran to to Common Grounds.

How do you like Claire's distraction technique? It worked though she may have given her plan away...

Review!