Chapter 13:

I wrote this on my old phone on the way home from Barcelona, but I accidentally deleted it so I am going to rewrite it and hope that it is as good as it was originally! (I have managed to remember entire chunks of it even though I wrote it throughout watching 7 films on the coach… photographic memory here hehe!)

*SPRITESINGER - thank you for helping me with this chapter, though I doubt you realise you did! Also, you should recognise some of this from me and Becky when we were moaning about history :P*

OK... well... I was disappointed with last chapter - THREE reviews? That's it? Still... I love what happens in like chapter 15, so I'm updating!

Claire's POV:

I know what I have to do; I have to make a bomb to destroy the City Hall with the specific instructions. I know I have to do this, that there is an important reason somewhere in my mind for why I decided that this was a necessary course of action, though it has escaped my mind presently.

There is so much to do before Saturday, but Eve is coming first in my mind right now. I can drop by to the police station on my way back to the hospital and spend some time with her before Michael wakes up and comes to take my shift. When nightfall comes around, I can then return home and work on my masterpiece… I don't want it to look childish, so I can study some of my findings from when the Provisional IRA bombarded Northern Ireland with their bombs and then use the sophisticated triggers as an influence on how I make my own. This will not be a childish thing; this will be the proper thing that works just to how I want it to…

Oliver's POV:

I could see in her face that she felt concern for Eve, that she worried for her even a little. That is a little more than she should be when she is under my control… she isn't supposed to feel anything other than what I want her to feel! I need to refine my techniques, to ensure, from now on with the more crucial parts of this operation, that she is entirely under my control when I need her to be. I shall need to think up new methods of seduction, including popping around (when Michael is out) to 'top up' on my control of her, to ensure that she remains entirely focused on the task… well, focused enough so that it doesn't cause suspicion with the grandson of the poor lover of Amelie that Claire isn't concerned about Eve in hospital or her boyfriend being missing. Urgh… just thinking of Shane Collins makes my cold blood boil – why, I do not know.

Ring ring, ring ring, the phone goes off with a buzz, and I pick it up lazily after a few rings, a sneaky feeling in my stomach that I know just who this is.

"Hello," I say in a bored tone, and find that my suspicions are correct.

"Oliver, there is a Council meeting in fifteen minutes in the Council Buildings," Amelie informs me coolly, not bothering with a hello. "Do be on time, it is rather important," she continues before hanging up the phone. We never exchange pleasantries about how nice it is to hear from the other because, honestly, we never want to speak. I want Morganville, she wants me dead – at the current moment in time, we are in an impasse… but not for much longer.

At a leisurely human pace, I find my car keys and head towards the back door to Common Grounds. Using the portal is a motion which I find isn't best used when I am around Amelie, since she does not know I even know of their existence, much less how to use them. No, I do not know how she came to make these wormholes, albeit I have a gut feeling, but for her to know I know how to use them wouldn't exactly help my case much here, would it. No, therefore car it is.

I park in the underground car park, pulling into one of the 'Elders' spaces, before heading for the over sized room Amelie insists on using for council meetings. I know it is simply so she can ascertain her power over me and the rest of them, with the room being full of relics of her and her victorious past, but I personally find it ridiculous. She is being vain and possessive, showing this side of her by insisting on showing off… but the selfish side of her nature has came out over the last half century, with her and that poor Samuel Glass. He doesn't know what he let himself in for, loving Amelie… she has to keep him close enough so that he doesn't move on, but far enough away that she has complete control in the relationship and decides as and when to use him. I suppose love must have formed the bond but that love disappitated a long time ago for her, leaving her a cold and disgusting woman to use a man like that. She truly has nothing good left inside of her, therefore she must be destroyed.

She wants everything she can, and she destroys it, or will destroy it, when she gets her hands on it: Morganville, Sam, Claire… I didn't mean that last one. I simply wanted a list of three to make it sound better in my head; at least, I think I did. I better have had done, because otherwise that could spell disaster for my plan to get Morganville. I have worked too hard on this plan for it to fail now… no, now it is time for the council meeting.

"Oliver, good of you to make it before the next world war," Amelie snaps at me as soon as I enter the room and I feel the slight difference in the air. She is slightly fearful and angry at what happened –the humans here (Mayor and Richard Morrell) will be unable to see the subtle difference in her face but I can – and the air is a little chillier with her reinforcing her power in the town.

"Actually, I don't think there is going to be another world war," I retort lightly, remaining standing as I challenge her. Nobody has done this to her – in the sight of a human, at least – in hundreds of years and she simply stares at me for a good five seconds before replying.

"And to think that you lived out in the human world for so many years," she finally says, before her expression turns cooler and harder. Her fangs sink down as her eyes flash silver, dangerously. "You must have missed the way that our country stormed in after the USA to Afghanistan and then followed them, on George Bush's belief that there were weapons of mass destruction, to Iraq, causing years of devastation and bringing the Taliban out even further. Did you miss the way that this country tries to pin everything it does on revenge for the twin towers attack? And have you managed to read the papers recently, or watch the news, about the Middle East, Africa, where Tunisia began the civil wars and then it was continued on by Egypt, Libya and goodness knows how many other countries. If this is a peaceful world, Oliver, or at least more peaceful than the 1940's, I would like to see you argue it," she continues, lecturing me for a good minute on events I definitely know about. The humans sink down in their seats slightly, unsure what to do in this situation with two of the eldest vampires arguing.

I shrug slightly before sitting down in the chair to her right, as her second in command. She seems unsure of what I am doing, and simply ignores me for a moment before I speak. But I don't speak to her; instead, I address the chief of police, Richard Morrell, only because I know it will rile her. "So, do we know what has happened with the Rosser boy?"

"Yes, do tell us, Richard," Amelie snaps at him, angered for what I did.

He seems unhappy at being put in the middle of two quarrelling vampires who have never seen eye to eye, but seems keen to give up the knowledge he has so he can get the hell out of here. He is a smart boy; perhaps one day, the mayor of this town… that is, of course, if he accepts me as his new leader.

"He insists that he didn't do anything whatsoever and that his gun was stolen," Richard says sharply, his speech to the point. "He also professes, and has done throughout the ten hours of questioning, that he was simply 'hanging around' outside their house, even though it was after curfew. That's all we have gotten so far, ma'am," he address Amelie rather than me, and a surge of anger goes through me before I control it. This makes me realise something; Jason was outside of the house – he was found near the crime scene. This shows how they obviously aren't going to be looking at Claire, the real attacker, because why would she attack her best friend with her best friend's brother's gun? She wouldn't… that is the reason why I got her to do that in the first place.

"Very well… I believe that it is the end of the road for the human justice system and time for him to come under my scrutiny," Amelie says slowly, decisively.

"Impossible, Amelie," I say in a sing song voice, mocking her innocent and sweet sounding voice entirely. She shoots me daggers, one of her many looks that would kill a human, but lets me continue without a word but simply a 'move along' hand gesture. "I believe in the amended constitution, the entire point of allowing the humans to manage their own justice system was so that they were 'equals' as far as possible in this town, and so that they had fair justice. You taking on the case of an attempted murderer – not successful, as of yet – isn't exactly following that, is it?" I point out the major flaw in her plan and she rolls her eyes. The humans realise that I have a point, and dubiously support me.

"Not that it is any of your business, since I am the Founder and the ruler around here, not you, but there are reasons why I should take on this case," she says, her voice betraying her immense anger at being contradicted. I wouldn't want to be her maid when she is finished here… oh no, I have a feeling the china will be thrown, as it was all those years ago in Milan. "Firstly, it occurred in a vampire's home… the intended target could have been Michael or even Claire, your Protectee," she sneers the word, as if she has realised that I managed to trick Claire into signing with me. It takes all of my self control not to babble out my plans, and simply continue to stare into her cool, grey eyes, sighing internally.

"Well, dubious last reason but I see your reasoning," I do agree with her here, and at least we can get rid of Jason without him managing to convince the police that he really wasn't there; humans are such gullible creatures nowadays, even when the accused is someone like Jason Rosser.

"Gentlemen, you may leave," Amelie says curtly, addressing the Morrell men. They stand and nod at her before walking to the door. I stand to join them before she says, "Oliver, I didn't mean you. I hardly class you as a gentleman anyways."

"If my lady wishes me to stay, of course I shall do," I say curtly, irony at the beginning of the sentence. Her power washes over me, quashing my flames inside, to show just who is in charge.

Not for long, Amelie, not for long…

"I shall get straight to the point," she says, and I grin before cutting in. I love this, being able to grin when doing something so evil…

"Oh, so it isn't going to be like your usual ramblings, such as the one from earlier?" I say, raising my eyebrows. She simply ignores me, being the 'better person' or whatever they teach kids nowadays in the schooling system.

"What do you want with Claire?" she actually gets to the point in less than ten words, which is a miracle for her. But the question scares me… I don't know how I should answer this; do I say something about her college grades or her blood or something along those lines? I haven't a clue, but I know that I need to say something otherwise she will become suspicious.

"I wanted someone powerful under my Protection, so that I can harness her power when she is older," I partially tell the truth, skipping out the part where I am harnessing her powers now…

"I want her," she says simply, once again beating the ten words… no she managed to get to the point in three words!

"No, she is mine," I reply flatly, fangs sinking and eyes turning red to show my property and claim. "I own her, and I have decided that it is always much more fun, playing cards with the ace in your deck," I continue, smiling slightly.

"Why ever the need to bring in such crude gambling references, Oliver?" she asks, exasperated. "I distinctly remember you struggling with your gambling in the past, but I didn't think it was still as bad," she smiles sweetly, and I strike back, barely controlling my anger.

"Oh, but you have shown me how you want her, and it shows to me how I have something which is so valuable to you," I grin, making the smile drop off her face as she processes this. "And I am much better for her than you would be, Amelie."

"How do you work that out?" she asks, inquisitive although she is trying to hide it.

I stand up and walk towards the door, knowing one way to get to her finally as well as revealing what I have done for Claire.

"I have provided her college courses which are much more advanced and in line for her skills – and I allowed her to choose them herself," I say softly, menace in my voice. "And guess what, Amelie? She will be getting to spend lots of time with your lover… you know, the one you decided to leave for no reason?" I smile widely at this, noting how her face pales to less than bone white.

"Get. Out. Now," she hisses at me, unable to control the spasms of pain and such splurging across her face as she processes what I said.

"With pleasure… au revoir, Amelie," I repeat in the singsong voice from earlier, opening the thick wooden door and disappearing through it, slamming it on my way out.

All in all, it isn't such a bad day so far!

So, I'd appreciate it if you tell me what you think… I seem to have forgotten some chunks (where they go) but the chapter is about 700 words longer than before (approximately, since word count doesn't exist on a nokia e63… but I HAVE A SAMSUNG GALAXY S NOW XD) so I hope you don't mind…

Please review! Lots of reviews = update!

Vicky xx