Chapter 5:

Just reminding you that the kiss wiped Claire's memory of everything :P

I got some pretty amazing exam results yesterday (a* in history paper one YAY!) so that's why you deserve this update!

Claire's POV:

I remember. I remember that Brandon bit me, that Oliver saved me from certain death... I don't know how, but I remember. The only thing I can assume is that entering Common Grounds jogged my memory.

I need to tell Shane what has happened. Even when the bite marks heal, they will scar and he's going to find out sooner or later. I should just tell him now, to get it over with... Michael and I made a mistake in agreeing not to tell him and I need to correct it.

I hesitate as I walk into the Glass House, wondering how to tell Shane. How do I tell him that Brandon bit me and wiped my memory without him going crazy and ending up trying to kill Brandon? That would only end up with his death for the (attempted) murder of a vampire. With his father in town, I'd be worried that Shane would join forces with him and then never come back to me... I couldn't have that. I couldn't survive if he turned into someone who lives on the edge of life, someone who is always hiding from the authorities: something that wouldn't be successful in this town overran with vampires! I couldn't let that happen, not for something I did... If it was my actions that caused that to happen, I'd never forgive myself.

"Babe, where are you?" Shane says as I loiter in the hallway before walking into the living room. He is sprawled out all over the sofa, playing viedo games, but throws the controller down to turn and look at me. He stands up and runs over to give me my usual kiss of greeting but stops in his tracks when he sees the paleness of my face, the way that my body is shaking.

"Claire, what's wrong?" Shane asks me, placing his hands on my shoulders to look into my eyes. It isn't a look of adoration; it is serious, showing the level of care he feels for me.

"I... I have something to tell you, Shane," I confess. "It's bad... It's really bad."

He drags me over to the sofa and sits down, pulling me into the gap between his legs. I lean back into him and he kisses my head softly.

"Claire, what is it?" he repeats. "Honey, it can't be that bad: just tell me!"

With shaking hands, I lift my hand to the scratchy neck of my jumper and pull it down. The sudden exposure of the bite to the cold air makes it hurt even more and I raise my fingers to it to cover it. I turn to face Shane, whose face is frozen in a sea of shock, staring blankly at my neck.

"Claire," Shane says finally, after an extremely long silence. "Claire, what is that?"

"I... I got bitten," I confess quietly, noting how his hand hardens around my shoulder, almost hurting me.

"I can see that - how and why?" he asks me, through gritted teeth. "Who?"

"I didn't remember anything at first... Only just when I went back to Common Grounds did I remember what happened," I stall for time, but his face persuades me that he wants answers now. It happened two days ago, now, about 3ish in the afternoon, I think. I... I went to Common Grounds and I had a drink before... Before Brandon dragged me into the corner and started to drain me. I fought, Shane, I really did... But then Oliver saved me," I explain, tears running down my cheeks as I process just what happened. Oliver's name brings a strange recollection to me, as if there is something between us... But there isn't, right? He's a manipulative piece of work who tried to destroy us all and succeeded into making Michael a ghost.

"What?" Eve's shocked voice gasps from behind the sofa. Shit, I never heard her come in. "CB, you were bitten two days ago and you never told me or Shane? What's the matter?"

"I couldn't remember anything: who it was, why, where, when," I whisper, my voice too filled with tears to talk any louder. "I... I didn't see a point in telling you until I knew - I don't know why not though."

Shane moves into action, using his left hand to observe the bite mark with an almost clinical movement. Then he drops his hand and removes himself from me, jumping over the back of the sofa to get away from me. He doesn't want to be near me, the girl who was bitten. He doesn't want to be continually reminded of my stupidity.

With a hurried movement, he grabs his jacket and pulls his shoes on before heading for the door.

"Where are you going?" I cry, sitting up and turning around to look at him.

"I'm going... To find my Dad," he confesses before running out the door faster than I thought possible.

As soon as he is gone, the tears flow thicker and faster, until it's more like hysteria than crying. After an original hesitation, Eve moves over to comfort me and I feel Michael's cool presence almost telling me that everything is going to be ok.

But it's not going to be ok: Shane's gone to be with his father.

The one that murders vampires...

Oliver's POV:

I don't know. I don't know what I should be feeling right now… but I know one thing.

I shouldn't be thinking that I am falling in love with her.

For crying out loud, she is the thing I am using! She isn't supposed to have a memory of everything that I do to her… she is just supposed to be my puppet that I can manipulate so that I can get what I want: control of Morganville, without having to kill Amelie for it. Well, rather, I wouldn't have to kill Amelie myself… that is what Claire is supposed to be for.

When she isn't here, it is much easier to stick to this plan. I can think straight, without being distracted by her scent, the alluring thing… kissing her isn't a punishment, it seems to be a godly reward. I pretended to myself that I could kiss her just for the power and the feeling of control, but it seems to me that the second time that was impossible. She is worming her way into my heart, and she doesn't even realise it. Kissing her is like a heaven sent gift - amazing, seductive, alluring... she is amazing and I want her. I need her. Imagining her soft skin under my hands now, my tongue in her delicate mouth, her sweet lips kissing my own back furiously it's like- NO! I must stop thinking of this!

But.. perhaps there is another reason why I ordered her to tell Shane, so that he would ultimately go and kill Brandon himself. This would leave his death imminent and… no, I cannot admit it. If I go there, then I relinquish all control and turn into that simpering idiot, Sam (or indeed Amelie), which is something I cannot afford to do.

I will not fall for her… I will simply regain all control over myself and lose the feelings that I seem to be gaining – they are phantom and not real. I will not relinquish the power I can gain here, for something that isn't even real – she is under my control, although she doesn't realise it; she isn't feeling any real feelings… she is simply reacting to me and doing what I want her to do.

Isn't she?

What did you think?

Please review! Reviews for this story have been amazing, so please, more please!

Vicky xx