Snapping the Links.
Claire.
Claire's fingers entwine with Shane's as they look in each others eyes, searching for anything other than fear and need. Love would be there, obviously, as well as the lust and passion and care, but it was buried underneath everything that Morganville had thrown at them recently- for never had the town been more dangerous, as the elimination of the Vampire's only real enemy had caused the Rougue Vampires to hunt on whims and terroise the human population, whilst the tame(r) Vampires just sat back and watched it happen. In truth, Claire's needs would always come second to staying alive, but now more than ever. Her phone beeps, and Claire sighs before dragging herself away from Shane and digging in her backpack for her phone. Claire gasps silently as she reads who it was from.
Claire, before you go moaning at me, I am not talking to you, I am writing to you over the airwaves, which is a whole different type of communication! Please visit the lab. I have an idea for an excellent experiment that would benefit from your participation... and I miss you. Please? Myrnin, your sad, insane, and hopefully beloved friend.
"Claire? What is it?" Shane calls as he walks into the kitchen, already resigned to the fact that thier relationship was over. Maybe not physically, maybe not emotionally, but pratically. They would continue to love each other but they would eventually drift apart, barely talking until one or the other died from the disease called "Vampire related issues".
It was the way of morganville.
"Oh, erm, It's... it's Myrnin." Confusion clouds Claire's voice as she processes why Myrnin found a way around her orders, and only one conclusion comes to mind, only one solution to the equation that he presents on a daily basis. It is one she really doesn't want to acknowledge. "He says I need to go to the Lab. I dunno why."
"Your not going are you?"
"I have to. You heard what Amelie said. If I'm needed then I'm needed." Claire replied casually, blanking out the way that Myrnin hadn't ordered her to the lab. In fact, from the way it was worded, it sounded more like a pleasure trip, simply to fulfill thier needs. Science needs, of course. Nothing else.
Nope, nothing else at all.
-x-
Frosted sunshine warms Claire's back as she walks towards the east side of town, careful to keep a quick pace and a steady eye out for any trouble. Seeing as the early spring weather could change within a heartbeat- from its current weak oasis of safety to an overcast clouded danger zone- she must make sure she is always ready. With her feet subconsciencsly taking her towards Common Grounds, Claire finds her mind wandering slightly, and she realises that her Pre-Morganville days are merely a blip on her radar. For sixteen and a half years, Vampires were nothing but a fantasy that her schoolfriends enjoyed watching films about. For sixteen and a half years Claire lived the same life as seven billion other people.
For the past two years (almost) Claire's been as trapped as anyone else in town, as any of her friends. More so, even. Shane has no-one here any more and Eve and her mother... well, they dont get along on thier best days. Only Michael really has to stay here, what with his whole "Fangs-and-RAWR" disposition.
Claire shakes her head slightly, determined to clear her mind of such stupid, selfish, pointless thoughts out of her mind. There was a reason why she doesn't often think about such things...
"Ah, Claire! How are you today?" Oliver sneers as the door to the coffee shop slides shut behind her, the sunshine filtering in through the pannelled windows. Claire forces herself to smile.
"Fine, thanks. And you?" Claire manages to get through her gritted teeth, knowing that this Vampire wants her dead, 'civillised' as he may be.
"Fine, except that business is down," Oliver fake-sighs, playing to the unaware audience listening, mostly made out of the few University students who stay at TPU during the holidays.
"Dont worry. It'll pick up in September, Olli. Mocha please." Claire's grins, causing Oliver's grin to clench slightly before he relaxes, fussing around with the machines that confuse Claire- come on, its a coffee, surely there shouldn't be all these buttons?
Two minutes later, Claire was sipping her Mocha on her way out the shop, with casual wave over her shoulder to Oliver, who would proberly just ignore it, but whatever.
She checks her phone quickly, and notices that she has another text from Myrnin. Shit, I didn't reply!
Claire, please. I promise not to blow up the lab or anything :D Please? I shall continue to annoy you via the amazing communication devices we both possess unless you reply! Lots of Love, Myrnin x
Claire's eyebrows furrow slightly- Lots of Love? What the actual hell? She laughs quietly to herself, but no-one's around, so it doesn't really matter, and begins to type out a reply.
Chill yo' bean, fool. Imma on my way. No coffee for you, though, I only had a few dollars :'( Nevermind! S'laters, Claire x
Seconds later, Claire jumped when she got a reply- she hadn't expected one, and even if she had, a lot slower than this.
NO! I MUST HAVE COFFEE! Nevermind, indeed, I shall simply steal some of yours. Myrnin, x
"Stupid Vmpire boss..." Claire mumbles, slightly annoyed that she now has to save her coffee for him. That annoyance only lasts a few seconds, however, as after checking the road for traffic, she walks to the pavement on the opposite side of Comman Grounds, when a slim, silver object blurs past her.
She turns, heart pounding, and sees- is that Captain Obvious (version 4)?
He's carrying a bag full of shiny objects, and before Claire can crane her neck to look at them, or even begin to consider running away, another one of them is rushing towards her, the air no obstacle. A sharp pain fills her lower abdomen, and a uncomftably warm sensation covers her stomach. She looks down, and wishes she hadn't. A knife is sticking out of her, surrounded by blood.
Great. All I need in a vampire-filled town.
Somewhere in the background, Oliver's voice is calling to her, and Captains Obvious' (version 4) scream of terror fills the air, but it is all fading away to Claire as her vision narrows down to a tunnel like area, and she begins to shake uncontrolably.
"Claire!" Oliver half-whispers as he catches her before she falls on her knees. "Claire, look at me."
Her eyes barely manage to stay open, and as she drags them to his, Oliver can see all the fear in them. It takes a lot to scare Claire, but when she is, she is terrible at hiding it. She tries, God knows she tries, but trying isn't always enough.
"Listen to me. Stay awake, and don't try to move the- it, okay? Where's your phone?" Olivers asks her, determined to keep her alive for Amelie's sake. He doesn't always like Claire, and it is sometimes very tempting to just eat her like he should have done months ago, but there is no denying that she had done much for the town since she arrived.
When Claire nods towards her pocket, he reaches gingerly for it, trying not to disturb her to much. He goes to the speedial, and there it is, the number he needs.
"Amelie? It's Oliver. Claire's been stabbed."
OOOOOOOOOOH DAYMN. Naughty Captain Obvious.
Ollipop's Chapter is next. I was going to put it later, but it seems very, VERY popular, so yanoo... review? Please please please, I'll love you forever! Maybe. Also, everyone read Saphy16's "Love, sex, magic", JJRW1998's "Alchemy and the magic it makes" and Bekah-Laurens.'D "Guilty". All are fabulous but one needs to be updated quicker *coughGuiltycough*
Chloe xx