Hey there! I am back with an update! I love you guys for all the reviews and your opinions! Thanks so much!

So here's chapter 23! Sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes!Enjoy! x

Myrnin's POV

We ran into the room to find Claire clutching the bookcase, half of her torso being dragged inside the mirror. I didn't understand this, as advanced as I was, because it was her reflection? That was dragging her in. But we were too late, we always are when saving little Claire. Tough this time we had no warning, no way of knowing except her erratic heartbeat above us, in her room.

How could I fail little Claire? I promised myself that nothing would happen again, and I could only think of her scream, a soul ripping shriek that will follow me through my life, if we don't get her back. Because it's my fault, my fault that we didn't know this would happen. Everyone would tell me that I couldn't have known, couldn't fathom what could have happened. Because even in a town like Morganville, nothing like this has ever happened. I certainly have never heard of it before.

Michael stood next to me, pale and distraught, showing how much he is clearly shaken by what he saw. I know he cared for the girl, but how could two vampires not open a simple wooden door? Sure it was wood, but painted wood, not being able to hinder us in any way. Or should it be who wouldn't let us in?

Picking up the bookcase that had fallen on its side, I made my way towards the captor, the mirror. A single crack was at the top, undisturbed by anything. But below, in the centre of it, where the hand was, the thing that took my little Claire, many cracks, forming circles and rivulets over each other, like a giant bulls eyes around the space where it would have manifested. This wasn't the only one of those. Another, higher up in the mirror, had the same deformation. Mirrors crack, but not like this. Not in these patterns that made my oversensitive eyes scrutinise every detail possible, every crack and every scuff at the surface. A single slipper lay near the mirror, a pale pink colour that would have matched my bunny slippers.

"Who-What did this?" ah Michael, asking the obvious questions, and how right of him, to change his question. He too, came into the room, cramping into the space between the mirror and the bed. He took my lack of answer as some sort of confirmation of we had seen. He found something my eyes had passed over. A single hair, an auburn hair, was on the floor. I saw as he recognized the sweet scent of Claire, how his anger bubbled over and his eyes turned red. I was going through the same notions, just more practiced.

"I should go tell Shane." He ran out of the room, obviously trying to hide his bloodlust from me. And tell Shame? Would the boy be interested in any way at all? He is sleeping downstairs, oblivious to the fact that his so called love has been snatched by a pair of grey hands, grey hands that belonged in a grave. And yet, he hurts her, all the time like some savage. That's how I see it.

Examining the crime scene once again, I can only admire her room. Pretty and delicate just like her. Her bed sheets were left in a mess, a simple bedside table stood near the double bed, consisting of a lamp, an alchemy book laying astray, and a glass of water. I heard the shouts before they even reached this floor. I straightened myself, preparing for Shame, who was now pounding up the stairs, yelling obscurities between each breath.

"How could this happen? That isn't real!" he burst into the room, his eyebrows drawn together, targeting his anger towards me. Such a young fool. He clearly has a death wish.

"It seems that young Claire has been snatched by something. And what Michael tells you is true. Stop yelling and listen you fool, before you direct more of your foul language in my direction and end up dead." I meant every single word, focusing a bloody glare as he got his breathing under control. That boy of hers tests my temper, but I shan't hurt him. She would only hate me for it.

"But how could two vampires not open the door? And why didn't I know earlier?" Shane mumbled, obviously not wanting to face me head on. And he calls me a coward?

"I don't know. But we are not your bedchamber maids, nor are we messengers. You were sleeping, and Claire has been taken. It is not I who is the sworn protector of the young lady." I shot him a look, and silenced him with my grimace.

"What can we do?" Asked Michael, clearing his throat a little. I sensed he had his bloodlust under control, that his canines no longer were flashing in a menacing manner. And what can we do? Nothing that I have ever seen before.

"We wait. And tell Amelie. Maybe she would know, this is are her houses after all." I answered somewhat quietly, and left the room, left the spewing boys to assign blame. Because I know who was at fault here.

If only I was strong enough to open that door.

Claire's POV

I felt strangely out of place as one hand was over my eyes, and the other on the floor. Feeling the cold floor under me, it felt..familiar. My mind raced as I tried to remember what happened, what really caused me to wake up here. My mind wouldn't fit the pieces, denied access to the bleak memories. My head hurt, a lot. It felt like someone had hit me with a purpose, but what sort of purpose would drive someone to do this?

Oh. I remember. Maybe I should try to figure out how to get out of here, wherever it is. I opened my eyes to a brilliant light, making my eyes squint as I looked the place over. It was a simple square room, with a light bulb dangling from the ceiling. Behind me was the back of the mirror, and pressing my hands against it, it didn't form a passageway or take me back. I sighed and stood up, and realized I was missing a slipper. That's why it felt a little cold in here. Shrugging, I rubbed my arms for warmth and wished the light wouldn't be as bright.

I didn't notice the corner opposite me has a strange shadow about it, and only when I looked hard enough at it, did a figure begin to emerge. The light dimmed, giving a little comfort to my eyes, but also making the room seem darker. Out of the dark, strolled out the weird lookalike with the golden eyes. She even had my tussled hair down to detail and of course, my missing slipper.

I didn't speak to this creature first; I merely stared at her, assessing her and what she could be. Do I really look like this in person? It seriously made me doubt myself, but I guess there are more pressing things to take care of. Like this situation.

"So, are you going to ask me a question? Isn't this scaring you in any way?" She looked at me, her burning eyes glued to me like a hungry wolf.

"Did you hit me over the head? Who are you? How did yo-"My questions gushed out, only to be interrupted by her. It was scary how someone like you can act so totally different.

"Oh honey, I only asked for one. But since you are so eager..." She smiled wide, moving towards me. I inspected her closely, especially her smile. Not a vampire. I didn't know whether I should be happy about that.

"Little Claire...I AM Claire. Well, you. You see, when you died in this house, and were brought to life, this house surely did like you. Since it couldn't keep you as a pet, as someone to be its eyes...I came of existence. It liked you so much, it based me on you, made me a copy of you. So I know everything about you, every memory, every desire you have ever had, hell even every damn thought you ever came up with. Right. Here." She tapped her temple, grinning wildly. I didn't understand, this couldn't be real...Couldn't be.

"But...how? Why did you have to take me?" I asked, confusion ringing in my tone. She's a copy of me? Why would the house do that? I'm not exactly special or anything. But as I let her words sink in, I understood something. The house liked me. Because I protected it, protected the people of the house from that crazy ghost.

"Didn't you ever wonder how you got your powers? As a ghost, you had some control, some strength coming from the house. The house let you take these to your next life, for exchange. For a little part of you, just enough to form me. And Michael you ask? He chose vampirism, gaining his own benefits of being alive." Her voiced purred and she cocked her head and ran her fingers through her hair. My hair? It was confusing to watch her do these things when clearly I am my own person.

"Well can I leave then? Since you are doing so damn fine on your own." I put a hand on my hip, feeling more confident that I knew the truth. Well, most of it. There is probably more to learn from her, more information that I would need to collect, but all I could think about is how to get out of here, and never come back. Ever again.

"Only you can make yourself leave. You have as much control as I have over here. I'm not even sure we are a part of the house anymore. Oh well, more time with you then." She said this so smugly and I couldn't think of anything to reply with. What do you say to a maniac?

"I know one thing tough. Before you allow yourself to leave you must-" I interrupted her, this girl wasn't making any sense!

"ALLOW to make myself leave? Are you insane? Of course I want to leave, if you are so much of a smartass you would know I want to run in the opposite direction of you!" I yelled, my hands clutched into fists by my side, turning white from the tension. Oh, I could just punch her.

"You must grow stronger, learn control. It was too easy to pick your brain and take you. All those creatures I conjured, the way I took you. All from your mind, one of your deepest fears. Being proven that something exists, something that you were so sure of didn't. I can only remember the shock you felt as you were told vampires exist. How you were proven wrong, with proof." She continued to babble, twirling her hair around.

I couldn't even understand what she was saying anymore, but I knew I couldn't take it either. But those things she spoke of, I know deep down they are true. I am someone of a logical mind, someone who doesn't believe in these things, pushed them away for lack of proof. Vampires, there's plenty of proof in this town, but her?

I punched her.

I apologize for the length of this chapter. I was supposed to have Magnus's POV in this as well...but it turned out really long anyway. I hope the explanations make sense, there will be more of those in the next chapter, also more of Magnus's situation and why it is happening!I am pretty proud of this chappy..

I hope you guys enjoyed it and please let me know what you think! More reviews make for faster updates! Love you guys xx