You against me.
Claire & Oliver.
To JJRW1998: May I just say, I would never let this turn into Twilight. No offence, but Twilight is the biggest chunk of shite I'v ever had the misfourtune to stumble upon. They arn't Vampires, they are sparkly, egotistical fairies. Rant Over. And ClairexShane= No!
To Coffee Addict: I know its far overdue, but your review made me begin writing it again! So everyone can thank you for this chapter! And its meant to kinda be set out like a timeline, so thats why its in central.
To everyone else who reviewed: MUCH LOVE! Sorry for taking so long, but I had to write some other shiz, and dig out my books which havn't been read in, oh, I dunno, about 39373943 years?
Stood under the shade of the Glass House porch, Oliver could hear the children- Claire- moving about, discussing Michael's 'unfourtunate' position. Yes, that truly had been a massive mistake on Oliver's behalf. However, from the tones the humans were using, he could guess that no-one was fully aware of quite whom had committed such a hideous offense.
Oliver knocked loudly on the door as he sensed Claire moving downstairs, hoping that she would be the door. Eve would possibly let him in, but only after consulting the others, and that wouldn't do at all. Only Claire would be trusting enough to let him in without debate, although even that would be debatable.
"I swear to God, If thats Miranda-"
Jesus Christ, even Collin's voice annoyed him. Luckilly, Claire soon answered him, and Oliver's mind cleared and he could focus on what needed to be done.
"No, I think it's for me."
Seconds later, the door swung open, and Oliver was almost overwhelmed by the riveting aroma that she presented, but he forced that to the back of his mind. He had to focus!
Claire's eyebrows shifted upwards subtly, asking Oliver if he was here for... well, they both knew why he was here.
"I dont have a lot of time. Where are they? Shane and Eve?"
"Inside," she answered, and swung the door open slightly more, the universal symbol for come in. When Oliver didn't move, Claire looked confusesd. "Oliver?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to let me in. It seems this house has some very detailed Protection in place. I can't come in unless you ask."
Lies. You can't go in because your a Vampire. She'll find out eventually, you know...
"Oh. Sorry about that. Um, can you wait just a second?" Obviously, Claire was about to run straight to Michael, and he couldn't allow that to happen, although Oliver could sense the boy's intrest being piked, and soon it would be too late and Oliver would have to move to plan B.
"No, Claire, I really can't. Please invite me in. I dont have time to wait."
"But I-" Claire's eyebrows creased slightly in confusion, and Oliver was slightly hurt by the fearful stare she was directing at him. God knows why, as he was here to collect the book. Tht is all. Claire's opinion matters nothing to him. At all.
"Claire, I cannot help you if you don't trust me. Now, quickly, let me in before it's too late!"
Claire sighed once, exasperated at his impatience.
"Alright. Fine. I invite you-"
"No! Claire, get back!"
Dammit. I knew she was taking too long, Oliver thought bitterly as Michael rushed downstairs, causing Claire to step back with a barely concealed scream. Michael pushed her back gently, and Oliver was already resigned to the unpleasant conversation about to take place.
"Ah, Michael. Good to see you again. I see your surviving nicely."
"What do you want here?" Michael asked tightly.
"I know you don't believe me, but in truth, I had the best intrests of your young friend at heart."
Yes, you do, don't you? The dreams, the visions- shut up! Oliver forced himself back to this damned town's version of reality as Michael laughed bitterly.
"Yeah, I'll bet."
"Also your friend Shane... and of course my dear sweet Eve." Oliver perversly enjoyed the way Michael's jaw clenched as Eve was brought to attention. "Such a fine employee." Michael turned back to Eve, who began to whine in her annoying (and yet strangly familiar) whine.
"You know each other? But- Michael, you said you didn't know Oliver, and-"
"I didn't until he killed me. We were never formally introduced."
"Yes," Oliver said, and shrugged. "Sorry about that. Nothing personal about it; it was an experiment of sorts that didn't quite work out. But it's nice to see you survived, even if not quite in the form I hoped." I wonder if anyone else notices the way that Claire's eyes light up without though at the word 'Experiment'. Wait, why am I noticing that? Oliver thought to himself whilst Eve made some more back ground noise, most likely entirely irrelevent. "Yes, yes, we can discuss my moral shortcomings later. For now, you need to let me inside the house, as quickly as possible.
"You've got to be kidding," Michael growled. "I think one of us dead is enough. I'm not letting you in here to murder the rest."
Oliver studied him thoughtlessly for a moment, before diverting the attention back to Claire. Not that he paticulary minded, that is, so he decided to begin with any lie.
"I'd hoped to be able to aviod this. Your little Claire is quite the prodigy you know. She says she found the book. I think she has quite the future in Morganville... provided she survives the night."
Michael looked like he wanted (and Oliver felt like he would have been, had he been human) to be sick at the threat in the sentance directed at the youngest member of the Gang.
"Doesn't matter. Go away. Nobody's asking you in."
"No?" Oliver smiled widely, and he felt his fangs come down with a sense of lazy menace. Really, Brandon and his cronies had no idea what intimidation was. There was nothing more frightening for a minor life force than something equilivant to a flood- not quick, but relentless. Oliver understood that very well. "I think someone will. Sooner or later."
"I'd say over my dead body, but you know." Michael threw out, and began closing the door in Oliver's face. Really, the last few generations have possessed as many manners as a few dead slugs. "Nice visit, but no. Fuck off, man."
"Wait," Oliver drawled, and placed a hand straight up in the air like a kindly uncle as his fangs retreated, leaving him once more the innocent Coffee Shop Owner. Except, you've never been innocent, have you? And now Claire knows that s much as Amelie, and she'll never talk to you. Why does that affect you so much, hmm? What is it your not admitting? You- "Do they understand why thier here, Michael? Why you risked exposing your secrets to them? Shane, listen to me, Michael needed someone living to activate the house protection! You think he cares about you, he doesn't! Your just arms and legs for him! Beating hearts! He's no different from me!"
Shane made some flippant remark that barely registered in Oliver's conscience, and next thing Oliver knew, the door was shut in his face. The door itself couldnt stop him, only the Protection could do that, but is has always been human nature to create barriers. To create a sense of safety, even is there is none.
Oliver sighed to himself once, knowing that if Amelie was here, she would be pitying for his lack of control over the situation, for the desperation in his voice that only Vampires would be able to hear.
Jesu, Claire. Couldn't you have just let me in? Oliver began listening once more to the conversation taking place withing the house, and knew he had to take advantage of someone, now that Claire was a lost cause. He would have to use compulsion, though, no matter who it was. Eve! Of course, she had the strongest link to Oliver, through Common Grounds.
"Then we'd both be dead." Micheal whispered.
"And you still will be. Eve, my dear. Listen to me. Listen to my voice. Let me in."
A seconds pause, and then-
"Yes Oliver. Come inside."
Review please! I promise I'll upload quicker this time!