Her body went cold and limp in his arms. Panic coursed through him as stared down at Claire's fragile form which he cradled in his arms, unwilling to rest her on the filthy, hazardous jungle that was the lab floor. 'What do I do, what do I do' he thought, trying to staunch the flow of blood with his hand, her sweet, delicious scent still wafting towards him. 'Control yourself Myrnin, this is Claire' a thought that only deepened his desire. He eventually summoned enough restraint to check her pulse without salivating. Tears welled in his muddy brick-red eyes as he felt it weaken with every surge. His aching chest swelled with the knowledge that it was too late for a hospital, even with the portals temporarily up and running once more, Claire still wouldn't make it in time. The portals! Sweeping Claire up into his steady arms he stealthily leapt through the misting black portal, landing with a small thud, trying to cradle Claire from the impact, honestly uncertain about where they would materialise.

Lifting his head, Myrnin peered up into the familiar icy blue gaze of Amelie.

"Well I must say, this is a surprise. You know Myrnin, I have long considered us friends, you are more than welcome to come and see me without your added drama and theatrics." she said, gazing some-what perplexed at Claire's sagging, bloody, body.

Roaring straight past her, Myrnin sent a flurry of paper work cascading down on the room as he cleared her long mahogany desk, gently laying Claire down upon it. A small sob caught in his throat as he saw how peacefully she lay. Images of her lying broken and bruised on the floor of the Glass House flooded back into his mind, sending another surge of panic through his bones.

"Not now Amelie!" he barked, exasperated. "Can you not see that I require your aid?"

"Obviously, as you have once again complicated matters beyond excess." she stated matter-of-factly. With a touch of sincerity she added, "I would suggest taking her to the hospital, but I assume that she is beyond that point, or I doubt that she would be lying in my office." Hesitating slightly, she continued as Myrnin tenderly began smoothing Claire's hair out of her face. "You know Myrnin, it does not have to end like this."

The thought had obviously crossed his mind, though Myrnin only allowed it to whisper sweetly at the back of his mind. "No, Amelie, I cannot let that happen."

"You would watch her die instead?" she responded quizzically.

"She would meet the same fate if I were to act. It must be her chose and how could she choose in such a state?" he replied, a hint of sorrow seeping through. He'd be lying if he said that he didn't want to change her, but he was always surrounded by the faint hope that she would choose that life, choose him, rather than having it forced upon her. "No Amelie. I won't condemn her to this life as we were, unknowing of our fate and un-wanting of its burden.

"Then say goodbye my friend for her time is nearing." Amelie whispered as Claire's heart gave a small final stutter, only able to maintain itself for a few more minutes.

Once more the images of Claire's corpse flooded his mind. It doesn't have to end like this, Myrnin realised, a hopeful spark gleaming in his eyes.

She chose once, she can choose again.

"Myrnin,you know the risks of what you are about to do. Letting her choose to stay human could kill you - it's not how the process was designed." Amelie called, a hint of worry present in her words.

It was too late. he gazed, almost apologetically at Amelie before sinking his teeth once more into Claire delicate neck.

(-_-_-_-_-_-)

CLAIRES POV

The world around me began to clear and a small hazy glow radiated around me. I felt weightless, floating. As if gravity had just, let go. It was calm and peaceful and although there was a niggling sense of urgency and worry in the back of my mind, I pushed it aside, letting myself fall deeper into a sweet slumber. 'Claire?' A voice called. 'Claire, listen to me!'

The voice echoed around my head. Myrnin? 'Oh Claire, my dear sweet girl, what have I done to you?' I, I don't understand. What's happening to m...Realisation. Tell me you didn't! Images of the encounter swirled through my mind rapidly as I felt myself becoming drawn towards the speckled light,my body dropping in temperature. You bit me! 'I know Claire, I'm so very sorry, but we don't have time for this Claire. I'm sorry to ask this of you Claire but I need you to choose."

Choose? Well it's obvious, I choose... Humanity was the end of the sentence, but was it? A week ago maybe, but it's over with Shane. I chose humanity once, for him, but this time, this time I could choose differently, choose and eternity of knowledge, of learning. Choose Myrnin. The insistent tug that led me to the lights strengthened, as if gravity had finally caught up. My family, friends, life, College, Eve, Michael, Shane, everything I had to live for spun through my mind in a flurry.

I. I choose...

Darkness descended before Claire could finish her sentence, her body fading into the cold darkness

"CLAIRE!"

(-_-_-_-_-_-)

MYRNIN'S POV

The gentle pull of Claire suddenly released and with a surge, the connection broke, snapping Myrnin along with Claire back into Amelie's office.

"No!" he cried, outraged. "No, this isn't how it was supposed to happen." he sobbed, sinking to the floor. She hadn't chosen, not at all. She'd just let go, given up and so the choice was made for her.

Myrnin crouched over Claire's feeble body, watching as her skin turned to ivory and a rosy gleam began to reappear on her soft lips. He carefully brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, smoothing his fingers over her cold, soft cheek.

"I'm sorry, Claire. So very, very sorry."