Chapter Thirty already :O If this story were a person, she'd be three decades old! But, sadly 'tis just a few pixels on your computer screen, and so we shall never know how interesting it/he/she would have been to talk to...
So I hope very much that you like this chapter :) xxxx
Please please please review, I was very pleased with the response last chapter! :) Thanks again to 'sweetascandy101', who left another stunning review! But now I feel like I have left other regular reviewers out, so here goes; thanks to 'Vampmarija98', who was the first reviewer last chapter, and (of course) to 'vicky199416', who has reviewed every chapter so far :) My thanks also go to 'ZoiPavi', 'FormidableRain', and 'Enolagay87', I couldn't and wouldn't do it without all your loverly reviews! :D xxx
'We've Come A Long Way'
Claire's POV
When Claire woke up, Myrnin was still asleep. She sat up, watching him sleeping with a sense of melancholy; he looked almost human, sprawled out on the bed, breathing gently. He'd somehow become tangled in the sheets during the night, and his hair was sticking up at odd angles.
Myrnin looked younger than ever, although even in his sleep he still didn't quite look innocent.
Claire found her gaze drawn to his bare chest, her eyes tracing the smooth planes of his muscle. She watched as his pale chest rose and fell with his breathing.
Before she knew what she was doing, she pressed her ear to his chest, expecting to hear nothing. Instead, she heard the very slow, steady beating of a heart.
She felt Myrnin's breathing hitch, and although he didn't move, she knew he was awake.
Claire blushed and moved away.
"What were you doing?" Myrnin said quietly after a while.
Claire's blush deepened. "I- I was listening to your heartbeat. I didn't realise you had one. Vampires, I mean."
Myrnin chuckled. "Of course, you wouldn't have been able to hear it when you were a human."
"And I'm not anymore..." Claire mumbled, her good mood evaporating.
Myrnin sighed.
"I am sorry, Claire. But I would do the same again if I had the choice."
Claire nodded.
"I understand. I just...wish things were different."
"So do I." Myrnin said, looking at her.
Claire got the feeling they were talking about different things, and decided to change the subject.
"So, um, what are we doing today?"
Myrnin sighed again, and sat up, running a hand through his hair. Claire tried to stop herself thinking about how cute he looked when he did that.
"Tests. Tests, tests, tests!" He said, grinning and jumping up, only to trip over as his foot got caught in the sheet. "Ow!" He cursed as he went down.
Claire couldn't stop herself from giggling; the sight of an ungraceful vampire was ridiculous.
Myrnin bounced up again a moment later, giving her a reproachful look and pulling her out of bed.
"Come on, no time to waste!" He flashed her a sunny smile and grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the lab.
"Um, shouldn't I get dressed first?" Claire said.
Myrnin stopped, looked down at himself, then at her.
"Oh. Yes, I suppose we both should." He said doubtfully. He was gloriously bare chested, but he was wearing the bottom half of traditional blue and white striped pyjamas.
Claire hid a smile and said, "Right, I'll go get changed then.."
With that, she left the room, heading to the bathroom that had taken her so long to find.
She changed quickly into a faded pair of jeans and a white blouse. Then she turned around, looked into the mirror, and screamed.
Myrnin was there a second later, pulling up his trousers as he ran in. Claire would have laughed, but she was too busy looking at her reflection to notice.
"What, what is it?" Myrnin said, peering at her worriedly.
Claire didn't answer. She was busy prodding her face, and making sure that the person she could see in her reflection really was her.
"Oh." Comprehension dawned on Myrnin's face as he watched her.
Claire turned to him, her eyes wide.
"Is that - " She pointed to the mirror. "- me?"
Myrnin nodded slowly.
Claire turned round to examine her reflection again.
"Oh my God."
Her skin was at least two shades paler, but instead of looking sickly, it was smooth and beautiful. It contrasted perfectly with her hair, which could now be described as golden. There was no other word for the silky locks which now framed her face.
Her nose was smaller, her eyelashes longer, her lips fuller and pinker.
Claire let out a squeak as her gaze travelled down her body.
She remained slim and petite, but she noticed that, seemingly overnight, her breasts had actually grown.
A blush rose in her cheeks as she realised that Myrnin had probably noticed this too.
Not much else had changed, aside from her silhouette being slightly curvier.
Claire bit her lip. The longer she looked at herself, the more she could see the old, familiar Claire in her reflection.
Myrnin chuckled.
"Don't you like it?"
Claire squeaked again and hit him, inducing another chuckle.
"I- well, yes. I- I suppose I look nice..."
"You look beautiful." Myrnin whispered.
Claire's smile faltered. She met his eyes in the mirror.
Myrnin held her gaze, smiling slightly.
Claire squeezed her eyes shut, her head spinning. She hadn't thought Myrnin's mind games would work now she was changed, but maybe...
Maybe I do have feelings for him. Maybe he was never playing tricks with my mind. Maybe it was me all along.
Claire shook her head.
No.
"Please don't, Myrnin." She whispered. "Don't."
"I'm afraid it's too late for that, my dear." Myrnin said solemnly. "What will be will be."
Claire's eyes snapped open, but he had already disappeared.
Claire finished changing and then entered the lab cautiously.
"Myrnin?"
A table was set up in the middle of the room, supporting a multitude of evil-looking needles and blood bags.
"Oh, no." She breathed. "No, no, no, I'm not having any needles stuck in me, Myrnin." She called.
"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice." Myrnin's disembodied voice said, and it took her a moment to realise he was under the table.
She frowned at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking for Bob." Myrnin replied. "He's escaped."
Claire shivered. "Ugh."
"Don't be silly, Claire. It's just a spider." Myrnin said, standing up and dusting himself off. "I'll find him later. There are, for once, more pressing matters. How are you feeling?"
"Um, fine." Claire said.
Myrnin raised his eyebrows. "Really? Not feeling thirsty at all?"
As soon as he mentioned it, she was. Unbelievably, unbearably thirsty. Claire swallowed painfully. "No," She lied.
Myrnin watched her for a whole, excruciating minute. Claire could hear his heart beating, see the veins beneath his skin at his neck, smell the blood rushing through his veins. She bit her lip.
"I don't believe you." He said.
Claire didn't answer him. She couldn't think about anything else other than blood. His blood, to be precise.
She put one foot towards him, then caught herself.
"I thought so." He murmured.
Claire shook her head with an effort. "I'm not thirsty." She repeated.
Myrnin smirked, and took a step forwards. Claire took a step back, sensing the challenge in his movement. He was daring her to resist.
"Claire..." Myrnin whispered seductively. He continued to move forwards until Claire was forced to back up against the counter, his body just centimetres away from hers. He lowered his head until she could feel his cool breath brushing across her cheek, and see the veins at the base of his neck.
"Are you certain that you are not thirsty?"
"I-I...Y-yes." She stammered, not taking her eyes off his neck.
His smirk grew wider.
"I think you're a liar, little Claire." He whispered in her ear. The movement brought him even closer to her, and Claire whimpered with the effort it took to stop herself from attacking him. That was what he was trying to goad her into doing.
Claire noticed suddenly that his pupils were unusually dilated, and remembered what he'd told her yesterday about being attracted to her blood still.
She knew it was a stupid, dangerous thing to do, but she did it anyway because she didn't want to give Myrnin the satisfaction of winning the mind game he'd started.
Claire smiled slowly, tilting her head to the side. She saw confusion flit across Myrnin's face.
"I think you're trying to draw attention away from yourself, Myrnin." Claire whispered. "Are you feeling OK?"
She saw Myrnin's eyes widen as he realised what she was doing, and he swallowed.
"Fine, thank you." He said, but he'd lost his smirk.
Claire raised one eyebrow.
"Really? Not feeling thirsty at all?" She asked, mimicking Myrnin's earlier words.
"No." The word came out sounding strangled. She didn't think he quite knew how to deal with this new Claire.
Claire watched Myrnin for a long moment. His eyes were almost completely pupil, and a fine tremor was going through his body. Something in Claire was screaming 'Red flag! Red flag!', but she plunged recklessly on.
"I don't believe you." She said.
Myrnin took a small step back with one foot, and Claire mirrored his movement, bringing their bodies in direct contact with each other.
"Are you certain you're not thirsty?" She whispered, stroking the side of his neck.
Myrnin wet his lips and closed his eyes.
"Claire, stop, or you will find my self-restraint is not as strong as yours, after all." He said, softly, but entirely seriously.
Claire stepped back, putting some distance between her neck and Myrnin's fangs. Or she tried to, anyway. Myrnin held her there with an arm wrapped around her waist, and one hand holding her at the elbow.
She didn't try to struggle, endeavouring to keep calm. She looked into his eyes, opened her mouth to speak, then abruptly shut it again as his expression registered.
Myrnin's pupils were completely dilated still, but Claire could plainly see the desire on his face.
She shut her eyes briefly, cursing herself for acting the way she had.
" Myrnin- " She began, a pleading note in her voice. Her veins were still burning with desire for his blood, but now those urges were spiked with desire for him.
She knew Myrnin could sense that, because when he crushed his lips to hers a moment later, she tasted blood in his mouth.
Claire gasped, and her body reacted wildly on its own.
Her back arched and she pushed herself closer to him, grasping his shirt for support.
Claire could barely think around the blood flowing into her mouth and down her throat. She couldn't stop the whimper that escaped her as Myrnin's tongue found its way into her mouth - he'd obviously bitten it because it was bleeding, and Claire couldn't get enough of the fresh blood that dripped into her mouth. She licked at the cut on his tongue, eliciting a low moan from him.
Myrnin clutched her tighter, to the point where Claire was sure that, had she been human, he would have broken bones.
With every drop of his blood that she swallowed, the burning in her veins receded, but her lust for Myrnin only intensified.
Her body burned wherever he touched it. Her hands tangled in his soft hair, and stroked the sides of his face.
Myrnin growled and pulled their bodies closer together, and Claire's breathing hitched as several areas came into contact.
Eventually, the cut on Myrnin's tongue healed. Claire's tongue sought out every last drop from Myrnin's mouth, and then all that was left was a burning passion between the two of them.
Claire never knew what would have happened next if someone hadn't cleared their throat at precisely that moment.
Myrnin paused to growl, and then resumed kissing Claire almost feverishly.
But the sound of her best friend clearing her throat awkwardly dimmed Claire's blind lust enough for her to remember herself.
She broke away from Myrnin abruptly, and stepped away from him.
Myrnin sighed in annoyance, turning to Eve.
"Must we be interrupted every time?" He grumbled.
Somehow, his shirt had come off, although Claire had a nagging suspicion that she may have been the culprit.
Claire checked the clock, then did a triple take. They'd been at it for almost an hour.
She did her best to smooth her hair, and then looked down at herself and blushed as she realised that her blouse was completely undone, exposing her black lacy bra. She hastily did two buttons up.
Eve was staring at Claire wide eyed. She held out a duffel bag.
"I just came to drop off your clothes..." She trailed off for a moment, looking at Claire pointedly. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the two of them. "Myrnin didn't pack many... But I guess I know why now."
Claire blushed deeper.
"Thank- " She cleared her throat. "Thank you."
"Don't bother. It's the last time I'll do anything for you. I can't believe you're doing this to Shane." Eve's tone was cold and angry.
Claire opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out as she realised that there was nothing she could say to defend herself.
"I'm sorry." She said lamely.
"Don't apologise to me." Eve said, her voice deathly quiet. "Apologise to the man that loves you."
"What?" Claire blurted. The last time she'd seen Shane, he'd told her he never wanted to see her again.
Eve rolled her eyes.
"You didn't seriously think he really hated you?"
Hope rose in Claire.
"I- well... Yeah. He did say he never wanted to see me again." She mumbled.
Eve's expression turned hard again.
"Yeah? Well, he probably won't, after I tell him what you've been doing with that." She jerked her chin towards Myrnin.
"Hey! I have a name!" He said indignantly. Eve ignored him.
"No!" Claire said. "No, Eve...please let me tell him. He deserves to hear it from me."
Eve sighed, but nodded, losing some of her ferocity.
"I was joking when I said you should give him a go, you know." She muttered.
Myrnin looked at Claire curiously. She felt her cheeks flushing again, and didn't meet his eye.
"Yeah, I know. It just kinda...happened." She mumbled. Myrnin grinned broadly, looking ridiculously happy about the fact that Claire had admitted that 'something' was happening.
Eve sighed again, sitting down on the sofa.
"You had to fall for your insane, vampire, boss." She said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Are we talking about the same vamp, here? I mean, it's Myrnin. He's tried to eat you on numerous occasions. At least Michael is always well behaved."
Claire smiled sheepishly, then froze as she processed Eve's words.
Have I fallen for Myrnin?
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye; he was watching her intently, probably gauging her reaction to what Eve had said. His expression was unreadable.
For the first time, Claire wondered what his feelings were for her, and found herself panicking. What if she were just an amusement to him? What if he didn't really care? What if he was using her?
Claire realised she hadn't spoken for a long time.
"I-I- Yeah." She stammered, trying hard to swallow the bubble of fear that blocked her throat. Eve's eyes narrowed.
"Claire?"
Claire's chest felt tight all of a sudden; she couldn't breathe. She took a gasping breath, clutching her chest.
"Eve. I am very sorry, but I am going to have to insist that you leave now. You are, of course, welcome to come back any time Claire is not having a panic attack caused by you."
Eve stood up in alarm, losing her angry glare.
"Is she OK? Claire?"
Myrnin opened a portal, and unceremoniously pushed Eve through before turning to Claire.
She was sitting on the couch, breathing rapidly.
"It's OK, Claire." He said, sitting next to her and holding her hand. "Just focus on taking deep breaths."
Claire tried, but she couldn't get the thoughts out of her head. She knew she was probably being irrational, but there was still that part of her that said, 'What if I'm not being irrational? What if he's using me?', and that thought made her more scared than the possibility of Myrnin actually having feelings for her.
"Myrnin," She gasped. "Tell me...you're not...just...having...fun...with me."
Myrnin frowned.
"What?"
Claire swallowed, and focussed on slowing down her breathing. Once she had calmed down, she tried again.
"Tell me...that you weren't...just using me...please?"
Myrnin's eyebrows shot up, and his mouth fell open.
"Is this what this is about?" He said incredulously. "You think I am using you for- for sex?"
Claire dropped her gaze.
"You could be." She mumbled. "Why else would you want me?" The words slipped out of her mouth without her permission, and she snapped her mouth shut quickly, horrified at how desperate she sounded.
"Oh, Claire. Sweet, young, foolish Claire." Myrnin murmured, pulling her against his side in a hug. "How could you even think that? If I was using you in...that way, do you really think I would have bothered being so selfish as to turn you into a vampire? And as for why I would want you... I can save time by saying that there is no reason I can think of why I would not want you."
Claire looked up at Myrnin, shocked at his confessions. A blush spread across her cheeks, and Myrnin reached up to brush his thumb across them briefly.
"Myrnin..." She said hesitantly. "I...I don't know what to say...I don't...I don't know how I feel about you...This-" She gestured at the two of them. "-Is wrong."
"So very wrong." Myrnin agreed. Somehow, coming from him, the words seemed seductive and dirty. Claire bit her lip, trying to concentrate on what she had to say.
"And I'm with Shane. I think." She continued. "And what about the age gap? And- and what would everyone think?"
"Age is just a number, little Claire. As for what everyone thinks, who on earth cares? Not me. And your relationship with Shane...well, everything has to end sometime." Myrnin said. "Even the world." He added as an afterthought.
Claire's mind rejected the thought of ending her relationship with Shane. He was her only constant in Morganville, the only one she could rely on, her rock. The thought of losing him twisted her heart.
"Myrnin..."
"One day he will be gone, Claire." Myrnin said softly. "There's nothing you can do about that. I, on the other hand, will be here for you forever."
Claire's heart twisted again, and a tear slid down her cheek. Myrnin was right. One day, Shane would die, and then what would she do?
And would Myrnin be waiting for her when he did?
All I have to say is I hope you liked it, and please please please review! xxxxx :)