Bishop shoved Claire to the floor.

"Claire!" Shane yelled

He tried to break free of Ysandre's grip, but he only hurt himself.

"Wait." Bishop said

Everyone halted and looked at him. It was like the world stopped just to see What Bishop had to say.

"Since you have willingly given your life here Claire, I am willing to let one go." He said

"Like an exchange?" she asked

"Precisely. Plus, it's not like I'm going to kill you. I'll let Ysandre drain you then I'll do the changing so I can keep you. You're so small and adorable like a puppy."

"You keep your fangs off of her?" Eve screamed from her cage

Claire looked all around in that moment. She saw Michael now. He was coming into the ballroom. He looked different. He wasn't himself. I also looked at the others. Amelie sat there comfortably in her cage looking out into space. Oliver was just picking at his nails. Eve was clutching the bars and trying to open it and failing miserably. Myrnin was snarling and snapping and trying to get out as well, but was like a crazed lunatic.

"Go ahead, you have your choice." Bishop said

More thoughts came to her as she continued to look at Michael. He looked pained. That's when she saw them. There were bite marks on his neck. They were fresh. A realization hit Claire hard right then. Amelie had made Michael, it must've been her. Vampires were weak and dying and didn't have that kind of power to change anymore except for her. She was the oldest in Morganville. Claire could feel a headache coming on from all of this.

Amelie had been able to change Michael though. Claire was sure that she almost died. That much was only a guess though. But if Bishop changed Michael so that he was under his control then Bishop was it. Bishop was the missing key. The only thing Claire was the brain that put it all together and that must've been why Bishop wanted her. He wanted to disrupt any chance of curing any vampires.

Claire looked over at the cages again. Shane was still fighting to get loose and was being knocked around something fierce. She stood and a pain shot through her shoulder. She held her shoulder tightly and walked up to Eve's cage. Shane went still and watched.

"I'm sorry." Claire whispered

Eve's eyes didn't leave Claire's. She could tell that she was thinking up something and it was going to be crazy.

"You stupid bitch! You're gonna choose a bloodsucker over me!" Eve screamed

Claire nearly smiled at Eve. She jumped back as Eve tried to reach out and hit her.

"Myrnin." Claire said

"What was that?" Bishop said

"Myrnin." Claire said louder

Myrnin paused for a moment and looked at Claire. He licked his lips as he looked at her. She was sure he hadn't had his medicine in a long while. The only thing she could do was hope that her plan went right.

"Very well. It'll be good to have an old friend on my side."

"Can I do it?" Claire asked

"Of course. I wouldn't let him rip into just anyone's neck with how he's acting of late." Bishop said

Keys clattered to the floor and Claire reached out and grabbed them. Please let them work, she thought to herself. She walked to Myrnin's cage; her heart pounded fast in her chest and her hands shook as she tried to put the key in the hole.

"Claire, I'm seeing you in a whole new light." Myrnin growled

"I bet." She retorted

The lock clicked and she now looked at Myrnin who's eyes turned red with hunger. She was going to die.

"Claire run!"

The voice belonged to Richard Morrell. Claire didn't run though. Instead she nodded at Myrnin who then slammed the cage door open and ducked as he leapt for her. But it wasn't for her. He went right over top of her and went straight for Bishop. He tackled him to the ground and Claire turned and jumped at Ysandre catching her completely off guard. Ysandre dropped Shane and grabbed Claire by the throat.

"I don't know how you escaped last time, but you aren't getting away again. You'll be dead before you hit the ground."

"Bite me bitch!" Claire yelled

"I plan on it!"

"Claire!" Both Sam and Shane yelled

Ysandre bit into Claire deeply. Claire screamed bloody murder. Sam tried to get free, but Bishop's other little soldier just threw him backwards. Shane ran at Ysandre and picked up the cage keys along the way. Ysandre dropped to the floor and was scratching mercilessly at her throat as she choked.

"What-" she choked

Claire clutched her neck and scrambled backwards. Ysandre's skin was burning in some places and just bubbling in others. She started screaming and rolling on the ground. Shane on the other hand was unlocking the cages.

Claire left Ysandre who was dying ever so slowing from the silver that happened to be throughout Claire's blood. Claire headed for Sam who was now being attacked by Michael as well. Claire fumbled with her pocket and pulled out the mace can and just sprayed it at the first assailant. When he let go she jumped at him and landed on top of him and continued to spray him. She even continued after the vampire stopped moving and his face was so burnt that he was unrecognizable. Claire was then pulled off of him and she started kicking and screaming.

"Claire!"

It was Sam who had a hold on her. She dropped the silver nitrate and turned to see Oliver and Myrnin going at Bishop. Well, she sort of saw them. They were moving so fast that it was nothing, but blurs. There was another blur in there too, but it was unrecognizable. She heard a crunchy sound at that moment and saw that Sam just a piece of wood right into the vamp's chest. She looked at the other one and Amelie looked to be supervising Eve as she shoved a piece of wood into Ysandre's chest.

Claire hugged Sam tightly. He hugged her back.

"You're crazy."

"If I wasn't, that more than likely would've never worked." She breathed

She let go and saw Shane rubbing his head.

"Shane." She muttered

She rushed over to see him.

"Is it over?" he asked

"Not quite. We'll need to leave the area unless we want to be in the middle of this massacre." Amelie interjected calmly

"What about Michael?" Eve asked calmly

"Michael is coming into his own. He will need to do this alone." She answered

"I'm all for getting out." Claire agreed

"I second that only because we're bleeding at the moment." Shane said

He leaned on Claire and she just helped him walk and held her own neck.

"I'll stay. They need the help." Sam said

Claire nodded.

"Don't get yourself killed while I'm away. I'll check on you later." He told her

"Got it."

Claire took the orders and walked out with Shane and Eve. Sam nodded at Amelie without a word and jumped into the fray of Bishop. Amelie left them and disappeared.

Claire got into Sam's car. He wouldn't care if they used it. He could pick it up later. The car ride was mostly silent except for Eve's rants about what happened. Claire wasn't sure what entirely happened. She didn't even think up that plan. She just did it. It happened so fast that she couldn't think about it. Shane was trying to stay conscious.

Claire hit the brake hard.

"Claire!" both Shane and Eve yelled gripped their seats for dear life

Claire jumped out of the car without even shutting it off. Her eyes were wide. Eve and Shane followed. Shane leaned on her.

"You're kidding me." Shane said sounding completely destroyed

"This is all my fault." Eve said now crying

The three of them looked at what was now 716 West Lot Street. It was smoldered smoking shambles. All of it was burnt to the ground. There was no longer a house. The three of them sat down on the edge of the side walk as the sun started to rise. Claire leaned on Shane's shoulder. She was so tired.

"I quit." She said

Eve laughed even though she was bawling her eyes out. Even Shane laughed. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.