By the time I woke up the next morning Shane had already left. The door to his bedroom was open, the sheets on his bed screwed up. I walked over to the bed and sat down. The pillow still had a dent in it where his head had been. I rubbed my face with my hands. My eyes were swollen from a combination of lack of sleep and crying. I was angry with Shane and when I got angry I cried.

I stood up and left his room, turning back for one last look then shutting the door behind me.

Downstairs I found Michael sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. He looked up when I came in and I gave him a non-convincing smile. Eve had already left for work.

The fresh coffee in the pot was calling to me. I took my favourite mug from the cupboard and poured myself a large mug. I took a big sip and sighed.

'Did you see Shane this morning?' I asked Michael without turning to face him.

'He left for work about an hour ago. Did he not tell you he was working today?'

'Nope.' I turned to face him, 'have you noticed anything different about him lately?'

'He was in a crap mood this morning that's for sure. Couldn't get out of here fast enough. Barely said two words to me, or Eve, just told us he was going to work' Michael put down his newspaper and looked up to her. 'Do you think something is going on?'

'He came home at 3:30 last night, drunk. I confronted him and he just got mad at me. Told me it was none of my business. I think he got into a fight too. He had cuts and bruises on his face. Something is definitely going on.'

'How long has it been since he started acting differently?' Michael was beginning to look concerned. It wasn't an unusual occurrence for Shane to come home drunk but he was never an angry drunk.

'About a month, I guess. When he started going to that gym remember? After he got into that fight with you just before you and Eve told him you were engaged I confronted him. He told me he would stop going. He was fine again for a while and then gradually he just slipped into this haze of anger. Every time I try to talk to him about it he just pushes me away. I'm worried Michael, really worried.'

'I'll talk to him when he gets home. I could try to talk some sense into him.'

'I don't think he will listen. I hate to say it but he still hasn't got over the fact that you are a vampire. I don't want you to get hurt.'

'Just let me try Claire. Please.' He held my eyes. I didn't want to back down but I knew Michael would never give up. Not when it came to the safety of his best friend. I knew it hurt him that Shane still didn't accept him because he was a vampire. I sighed in defeat.

'Fine. Just be careful ok? I don't know how much we can trust him not to hurt you.'

'I will be. Don't worry about me.' He gave me his movie star smile. I felt my shoulders relax a little. Maybe he was right. Maybe Shane would listen to him. 'Don't you have college or something geek?'

'Not today,' I replied 'but I am going to go to the lab. Check Myrnin hasn't burnt the place down after yesterday.' I looked at my watch. 10:30. 'In fact I better get going. You know how he gets when I'm late. Bye Michael.'

'Bye Claire.' I picked up my backpack from the back door, 'oh and be careful out there. Something's not quite right at the moment. There's been lots of vampire disappearances.' He stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

Myrnin wasn't expecting me until 11:30 so I had enough time to do what I needed to do most.

I walked out of the back door. The sun pounded against my face and bare arms. I felt my pockets to make sure I had my phone and keys and set off at a steady pace towards the barbeque shop.

The place was close to empty when I got there. There were a few people sitting at the high table by the window but that was it. Shane's boss was behind the counter looking through his mail. I walked over to him and he looked up. He was middle aged with greying hair and wrinkles forming around his eyes and mouth.

'Can I help you Miss?' he smiled at me warmly.

'Umm I am looking for Shane. Shane Collins?'

'Sorry to disappoint you Hon, but Shane hasn't been here for weeks. I would have fired him already but I can't get hold of him.'

'Wait did you just say he hasn't been here for weeks? He works here. That's impossible.'

'He just stopped turning up one day. A couple of weeks before that he kept coming in late and being rude to customers. We had a few complaints about him; he was on his final warning. I guess this job wasn't for him in the end.'

'But he told my friend he was working today. If he isn't here then where the hell is he?' I was starting to get agitated. Why was he lying to us?

'Well he's not here Hon. But do me a favour would you? Next time you see him tell him he's fired. He has already been replaced.'

I had nothing to say. I was so confused. Where the hell was he? He was lucky enough to get this job in the first place with his reputation. I smiled at the man and walked away, muttering a quiet thank you. I needed to know what was happening with him.

I looked at my phone. No messages. No missed calls. He was obviously hiding something. It was 11:00. I needed to start walking to the lab or I would be late. I picked up my pace, barely paying attention to where I was going.


The door to the lab was open when I got there. Odd. Usually it is padlocked.

'Hello? Myrnin are you home?' There was no reply. I walked down the steps. I could still smell the faint trace of smoke in the air from yesterday. Myrnin was rushing around the lab, skimming through books then disposing of them in whatever way he thought was necessary.

'Myrnin what's wrong? What's happened?' I asked him while trying to remain calm. He was reaching another level of craziness right now.

He turned to face me, at first it didn't seem like he knew who I was but then a look of recognition crossed his face.

'Claire, my dear, you must leave immediately. There has been an emergency and staying here will put your life at great risk.'

'Wait what? You are making no sense.'

'I wish I could tell you Claire, but I have been sworn to secrecy. If I utter a word it would be simply life threatening. For you and I. You must leave now. And tell your friends they should not leave the house. Not until this has all been sorted.' He pushed me towards the wall. I could see a portal forming.

'Just tell me! You can trust me.' I was panicking now. Whatever it was it was bad. I had rarely seen Myrnin loose his cool like this.

'I am afraid I cannot take that risk. Now leave.' Red was tinting his eyes and his fangs were extending. A shiver ran down my spine. I pictured the living room of the Glass House in my mind and saw it appear in front of me. I felt to hands on my shoulders propel me forward. I fell into the living room.

'Wait! Myrnin!' I shouted. But the portal had already closed. 'Shoot' I pulled out my phone and called Amelie. It rang until it went to voicemail. The same happened with Oliver.

'Michael' I called out, hoping he would still be home. There was no answer. 'Michael!'

My phone screen flashed and Michaels name appeared.

'Michael. What's happening?'

'Claire do not leave the house. Lock the doors and block the portals.'

'What the hell is going on? Just tell me!' I screamed at him down the phone.

'Something very bad has happened. Something that could threaten all of our lives.'