Claire and Michael got back by dawn. Both Shane and Eve were fast asleep on the couch.
"I just need to rush upstairs for my bag." She said
"You're going?"
"Yeah, Sam's on his way."
"You need to sleep."
"I'll sleep when I'm dead…which could be soon so never mind." She said
"Claire?" Shane's voice chimed in
They both looked to see him standing in the doorway rubbing his tired eyes. Claire's eye wandered over the mess he was. Subconsciously, she was biting her bottom lip.
"You guys were out all night." He commented
"We might've figured out exactly what is missing." She said snapping from her sudden staring
"We need to talk. All of us."
A horn honked outside.
"Shit." Claire muttered "Sam."
She rushed upstairs to grab her stuff leaving Shane and Michael feeling awkward. Shane shifted a little then reached out and poked Michael. Michael just slapped his hand away.
"So you were all ghost and whatever? That's why you were never around in the daytime?" Shane asked
Michael just nodded. Shane smiled right then.
"That explains a lot. It really does." He commented "You should really share that next time."
"Sorry. I didn't know how to share something like that. It's complicated."
"Is that why you become…"
Shane motioned at Michael then made fan motions.
"This place was like a tomb for me. I had to do something. After the whole Oliver fiasco that nearly killed us…I had to."
"Whatever man. Just be straight with us next time."
"I'm dying." Michael said next
"I know. I kinda found out while we were searching for Claire. She's trying to fix it. I just don't like how it'll have to fix every freaking bloodsucker."
Claire came barreling down the stairs and as she darted between the two and reached for the door Shane grabbed her and yanked her back. She shook off the disorientation and looked at Michael for help. Michael rose his hands in surrender and walked upstairs.
"Traitor." She mumbled
"We need to talk." Shane said
"I don't have time." She said hurried
"Make the time Claire. What's going through your head huh? I get it Michael's the importance, okay?"
"Wait what?" she asked confused
Then it dawned on her.
"Oh you think I stayed because of him." She said "No, that isn't it at all."
"You two seem awfully close then before. And you're bent on avoiding me."
"Shane…I can't explain." She said
Her test felt tight as he backed her against a wall. What was she supposed to say? Oh Shane, for the whole time I was gone I dated and none of it seemed right, then I returned and there was barely anything I couldn't think about that didn't revolve around you. Nope that didn't sound like something she could let out.
"He's important to me, yes, but there are other things too." she said "Things like you."
"I'm a thing."
"You're acting like one at the moment." She said with plenty of sarcasm
He smirked at her comment and blocked her in by putting his arms up on each side of her. She could feel his breath on her cheek. She knew how he stared at her. She'd seen it before when he'd kissed her the first time. She thought about that often. She thought about it whenever she saw him.
Shane couldn't look away from her. Moving in closer, he heard her breath hitch. The horn outside sounded again.
"I have to go." She said barely able to get it out
Walking under his arm, she walked out the door. She looked back briefly as she got in the car.
"Something on your mind? We don't have to go." He said
"Yeah, we do." Claire said
"Claire-"
"Let's just go." Claire interjected
Sam shifted the car into drive and they pulled from the curb. The drive was quiet and Claire had so much going through her mind.
"Amelie's father…" she trailed off
"What?" Sam said braking suddenly and nearly sending her through the windshield
"He's in town. Umm…he attacked me. I don't understand it though. Is he sick too? Is that why he told me that he'd been waiting for me? I just don't get it. Ysandre was hungry, sure." She said casually "But there was something with him."
"Claire, we need to get you out of here." Sam said suddenly
"What? No! If you don't take me to the lab I'll walk." She said
"I hate your ultimatums." Sam growled
"Then you don't need to worry about me." Claire said
She moved to open her door, but he stopped her.
"You're not going anywhere. If anything I can't let you out of my sight." Sam said
Claire sighed and sat back in her seat. She got a pretty good feeling that she was royally screwed. When they got to the lab Sam had to sit down. He insisted on coming inside so he got a bit weary in the sun.
"I will be fine."
Claire nodded and turned to Myrnin who had locked himself back in his cage.
"I think it has something to do with Bishop. I know it sounds weird, but it's only a hunch. I don't know why he'd come after me and say he was looking for me if he didn't have something to do with it." she explained
"He could want your blood child. I know I have on occasion." He said like it was no big thing
Claire shook her head of the horrible picture that suddenly appeared in her mind. Her face crinkled in disgust.
"You could be right though." he said
Wait, he wasn't disagreeing with her? What was up with that? Claire made another batch of the formula for Myrnin that day and just set it aside for him.
"It'll take a few hours, but there." She said
Myrnin only nodded in recognition. Claire turned towards the massive bookshelves and started searching them. She pulled out a few books and started reading them. They each seemed to revolve around large massacres. But the thing about the massacres was that they were all committed by one person. Bishop. He was nothing but a killer. He wiped out towns.
Sam looked through them with her. then looking down at his watch he stood and put the current book in his hands down.
"Claire, it's time to go." He said
Claire looked up. It took her a minute for it to register, but she closed the book and set it aside.
"I won't be in tomorrow." She told Myrnin
"On your search for the holy grail? Good luck. I'm actually hoping you don't die too soon. I haven't had a student like you."
"Thanks?" she said
"Oh no thanks. You're mouthy, sarcastic, and have no manners. Not to mention you have trouble with authority." He said
Claire opened her mouth to protest, but was pulled out of there by Sam. He had a disgruntled looked on his face as he did. She wondered what bothered him.
"Did I do something?" she asked
He said nothing.
"Sam."
He stopped and looked back at her. His look was fierce and had her heart racing.
"You're doing exactly what she wants Claire. You're going to die if you keep going. You have to stop."
"But I'm so close." She protested
"You think that if you find the cure that it'll be over?" he exclaimed. He didn't wait for an answer from her. "It will never be over!"
"I still have to. My friends need it. Therefore they need me." She said
"Friends?"
"Michael, you possibly Myrnin even though he's never in his right mind."
It seemed to have shocked him to hear that. Claire pulled from his now light grip. She didn't cower though.
"Not all of the vampires are horrible. There are those few, those lucky few." She said "I can't stop. I'm so close."
"You can't do it alone either." He said
"I'll be okay. I might be able to convince Ada to help."
"Oh no…no computer is going to help. I might though." he said
"uh-" she started to squeak
"Shane'll want you alive."
"wha-"
"I know things. He hasn't been with any girl within the past few years and I know why. It's easy to tell. So alive you will stay and I will not be leaving your side." He said
Claire stopped trying to speak and just nodded. He chuckled and guided her to the car.
"He really hasn't been with anyone?" she asked
"Dead serious."
Claire looked at him trying not to laugh.
"Yes, I noticed the pun."
"It's weird though. I dated like ten guys." She said
He looked at her surprised.
"I was trying to get rid of a horrid feeling and trust me it didn't work." she said
He didn't say anything to that comment. He didn't even know where to start so, he just shoed her in the car and got in on the other side. How did he say something to that? He shrugged it off. Eve would know what to say. The rest of the way was quiet.
When they got to the Glass house, Sam Had quickly opened the door for her. She froze as she got out though. Something wasn't right. The front door was wide open. She didn't wait for Sam's response; she darted up the sidewalk and stairs and into the house. She could hear Sam calling after her, but she paid no mind. The whole house was a complete mess. Walls were dented in and pictures had fallen and broken. The kitchen was even worse, the fridge was tipped over and chairs were knocked back while another was halfway through a window. All of the rooms were destroyed.
"Shane! Eve! Michael!" she yelled
Sam grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her in her step.
"Stay here." He ordered
In an unnatural speed he was upstairs and back. Claire looked at him hopeful.
"The rooms are completely destroyed, especially yours." He said "They're not here. They were dragged out of here."
Claire moved to the living room and sank back onto the shredded couch. Her head fell into her hands. Then taking a deep breath she looked up and screamed. It was written on the wall. Sam was in the room in an instant holding her and trying to hold her away.
WANT THEM ALIVE?
"Is that blood?" she asked now shaking "Oh my god it's written in blood."