I felt like we needed more Clyrnin fluff XD Oh, and I also thought it was time to finally bring back Shane&the Glass House Gang into play. Mwa, enjoy :)
Staring down at my reflection, I realise that for the first time in forever, I actually liked how I looked. I was wearing a baby pink mermaid dress with ribboned shoulders and a lace up back that I had tied into a bow as well as 6 inch heels with diamonds. I had sweeped my hair up into a romantic updo with carefully curled wisps framing my face. I wore a pink mask embroided with white ribbon. My skin was pale and flawless, but that was common for a vampire. Besides that, I looked like myself, just much better. I hoped nobody would realise that I was a vampire now. I mean, no humans anyway since it would be obviously to a fellow undead.
I was nervous to see everyone. I hadn't been seen in public in 3 weeks now and that alone would be difficult to explain. Then try explaining why I can't get to close to anyone incase I lose control and drain their blood. Yep, that was going to be hard.
I was especially worried about telling my friends. Michael would be angry at Amelie and Myrnin for not telling him and allowing this to happen. Eve would be pissed that I hurt someone, but at the end of the day, she's my best friend and she'd forgive me. Shane, though? Who knew how he would react? He'd either hate me or love me, and I don't which I'd honestly prefer.
"You look stunning, Claire," I heard a voice behind me and span around to face whoever it was. Myrnin was standing there holding a box and smiling at me. He wore a black suit with a pink corsage to match my dress. He had that look in his eyes again. The one that told me that he was completely and irreversibly in love with me. The look that made both of our hearts break.
"Thank you," I whispered and turned away from him. Suddenly, I felt his hands on my neck. I jumped about 5 feet in the air, "What the hell?"
The box he was holding was laying lopsided on the side of the table and he was holding a gold necklace with a plain diamond on it. It was gorgeous in its simplicity.
He gave me a crooked smile, "I figured you'd want help putting it on?"
"Oh," I mumbled, feeling sheepish and if vampires could blush, I'd be bright red by now, "It's beautiful,"
"It matches you, then?" He sighed sadly and continued, "Besides, I thought it was standard for men to bring gifts for their dates?"
"Yes, it is. Thank you, Myrnin," I whispered before spinning around to look at him. We were inches away, so close that I could feel his breath on my face. We stared at each other for a few seconds before he brushed my hair out of my eyes. I leaned up onto my tiptoes and put my hand on his cheek. He leaned towards and put his lips onto mine gently.
There was a cough from the corner of the room. Our heads snapped towards that direction instinctively. Amelie was leaning, very un-Amelie-like against the door of the portal. She had a mischievious smile and a light humor in her eyes.
"No time for canoodling, children, we have to attend a ball in 5 minutes" She said, before throwing her head back and laughing. Myrnin actually blushed and bowed his head. I ruffled his hair playfully, but I felt embarrassed too. Amelie, my protector/ultimate boss and scariest vampire in Morganville just caught me about to kiss her friend.
Amelie was stunning of course. She was wearing a long deep blue dress that had a slit on the side. She had diamonds, which were probably real knowing Amelie, covering the whole thing and her blonde hair was in a braided headband with pincurls around it. Even her hair had diamonds in it. She looked sophisticated and mature, which I definitly didn't. I felt like a toddler compared to her.
"You look really nice," I told her truthfully. She gave me a shocked look as though she hadn't heard anyone compliment her in years before smiling at me politely.
"Thank you, little Claire," Amelie answered politely. I almost growled at the use of that annoying nickname. It was one thing calling me little Claire when I first came to Morganville, but now it just annoyed me. Anyhow, I decided not to say anything because despite Amelie's strangely lovely mood, she could still be terrifying.
By the time we got to the hall, it was already swarming with people. I saw a few vampires dotted around, but most of them were human. I took a deep breath and sighed.
"You know, you don't have to do this," Myrnin told me, picking up on my angst. He put his hands on my shoulders and stared at me, "You can just say the words, and we can go back home,"
"No," I gasped, then my voice was firmer, "No, I can do this,"
"Are you sure?" He asked again.
"Yes." I told him simply. He nodded and helped me out of Amelie's limo even though I didnt need it anymore.
He gave me one of his smiles as I linked his arm and we headed into the party. I felt eyes on me as I walked in and the whole room went almost silent. Some were gaping and drooling (mainly the boys, of course), but most people were giving me daggers. They're trying to figure out who the new vampire is, I concluded. This was Morganville after all, as soon as they realised I was a vampire, I'd probably have hundreds of humans following me trying to kill me.
Thank God this was a masquerade ball. At least nobody could really recognize me, although some people probably figured it out. Crap! This was a bad idea, after all. It didn't take a genius to figure out that I hadn't been seen by anybody in weeks and now Myrnin had brought a girl to a ball that had brown hair and was the same height as me? Of course they'd figure it out. They'd probably figure out that I was a vampire and more.
That's when a human girl walked past me. I caught the scent of her blood, like a fine wine coursing through her veins and I couldn't help but want it. I heard the rhythmic thump of her heart. Just as I thought that, I heard a hundred more heartbeats. It seemed like all the humans in the room were waving the red towel in my face, and I was couldn't help but chase it.
Thump, thump, thump.
"Myrnin," I whispered, "This was a bad idea," I reached out for his hand and grabbed thin air. I spun around to look for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Myrnin?" I asked to the wall. Where was he? Had he seriously left me here with al the humans, knowing I could hurt them so easily.
"CB?" I heard someone ask, although in my state of mind, I couldn't remember who they were, "Are you okay?" I lifted my gaze to see a goth girl staring at me. Oh right, Eve.
Thump, thump, thump.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I mumbled unconvincingly.
"You don't seem fine," A male voice said and that's when I realised that standing a few feet away from Eve was Shane. Eve turned to look at him with an awkward look on her face, before looking at me again.
"Erm, I'm going to leave two," She gestured towards me and Shane, "Talk." Suddenly, my feet seemed really interesting.
Thump, thump, thump.
"I haven't seen you for weeks," He started, "It's like you got out of the hospital and blew me off," The craving was killing me. I had to leave before it killed someone else, too.
"Listen Shane, I really have to-" I was cut off.
"No, I've waited weeks to talk to you," He said, holding his arms out to block me as I tried to dodge, "I just got you back. I'm not letting you leave until I've got some answers."
"Shane..." I growled anamalisticly, shocking both of us, "Let. Me. Go."
Thump, thump, thump.
All I could think about was the thick red liquid and the pulsing sensation in his neck. God, how I could just sink my teeth into it and be cured. No! I wasn't going to hurt him, I just couldn't. I really had to go now.
"Just tell me what's wrong Claire," He asked sweetly, putting his hands on my shoulders. Having his wrists right next to my mouth was the last straw. In my last attempt to get him to leave me alone, I shoved him with all my strength. He flew backwards into a table. The look he gave me was the worst look I've ever seen. He looked like a kicked, shocked puppy and I hated myself for hurting him.
The last thing I saw was Eve checking him over and helping him up before shooting me a dangerous look. I heard people gasping and the music stopped as I vamped out of there.
Thump, thump, thump.
Finally, I made it outside. The cold air blowing at my face helped a little bit, but not much. I turned in circles, holding my hands to my head before sitting down on a wall and breathed deeply, trying to convince myself that I wasn't thirsty and that I didn't have to hurt anyone.
Thump, thump, thump.
No, I couldn't let my self do that. I didn't want to hurt anyone.
Thump, thump, thump.
They were all people. People with family and friends, and a future full of people who would miss them. I couldn't take that away.
Thump, thump, thump.
No, I wouldn't do it - But I was so thirsty! I could just take a sip. I could bite someone then leave them alive, couldn't I? That way, I got what I wanted and they would be fine after a few days. Yeah, I could just do that.
"Excuse me?" I heard a polite voice ask, "Are you okay?"
Perfect. Right into the spider's lair.