Chapter 14:
So… I own nothing and I hope you enjoy the new chapter! I had an entire week of exams (lots of write-y ones) and I'm BEAT! Lol... but chem went well today, so this is the new chappy, as promised for today!
Oh, and yeah, btw, this isn't going to be an 'M' rated fic, it'll stay as 'T' simply because I don't want to write an 'M' one…
Claire's POV (normal Claire):
"Help, someone help me!" a voice screams from inside the burning building, but I can't do anything. My eyes are streaming from the smoke exposure and the constant screams are destroying me – I can't do anything to help. I can only sit here and listen to their dying, in extreme agony. I can only listen to their last few moments on this earth as they die, humans and vampires alike.
I stand up from the steps in front of the burning building and wrap the blanket tighter around my body, the silk dress doing nothing for me in the night. I look around for Michael, Miranda, someone who I know, just to have the chance to be comforted. But there isn't anyone. I don't recognise anyone around – it's all the emergency services, searching for injured people, tending to those who they have, lining the dead up in a row beneath the building which is still ablaze.
Shane; I want Shane. I need Shane, but he is on the run. He left me. I need someone right now and he isn't here.
A bomb. A bomb went off in the middle of the party at City Hall, the party for the Founder, the party which she organised. Someone tried to kill her – after all, this is the only time of the year that she is guaranteed to be in one place at one time, according to Michael – but they failed. She left already, fifteen minutes or so before the bomb as someone had some important information for her.
Unfortunately, the others, including me, didn't have the same chance of escape.
The number of people who are injured, I don't know. The number of people who are dead seems to be increasing every minute, as another voice goes quiet in the building. All I want is to know who did this, who tried to kill everyone… but I can't do anything.
After all, I'm a human.
Claire's POV (under Ollie's influence… btw, here, she still doesn't know that she shot Eve) – three days earlier:
I put the finishing touches to the trigger system I have been making for the three hours, smiling as I realise it is the exact replica of the one in Northern Ireland. It truly is perfect and will work wonders when I set it to go off in the middle of the party at City Hall. Of course, I need to finish making the bomb to go with it – no point having a trigger which has nothing to set off!
But that isn't the plan for right now – no, I need to go and see Eve. I went to the police station the other day, after I saw Oliver, but they refused to tell me anything. Whilst my concern for her seems to have dropped, as I have gotten more and more into this mission, I know that I need to appear as if I am only concerned for her, to keep appearances up. Michael could already be getting suspicious and he most certainly is keeping a closer eye on me since I am the only one in the house along with him.
I lock the trigger away in the cupboard, so that incase someone came snooping they couldn't find it, and grab my bag before walking down the stairs. There is no movement in the house but the way that Michael's door is firmly closed signals he is asleep so I creep down the stairs. Here, I put on my shoes and open the door silently before shutting it behind me with a soft click, running down the path and towards the hospital.
"Hey, Eve, how are you?" I ask her sleeping form as I enter the room in which she still lies. I don't know who shot her, but I could kill them, even as the focus of making a bomb creeps to the forefront of my mind. Yet I push it back for the couple of hours I will spend here – I need to talk to my best friend about Shane, the boy who is still on the run somewhere.
"And, you see, I've been having these strange dreams about Oliver… or I've been thinking about him… it's been strange – I've been imagining him and wanting to kiss him," I reveal the strangeness of what I have been thinking before realising that I really think it still sounds rather nice. It sounds enchanting… "I'm confused, but I feel as if Oliver is where my life is leading and I don't know what to do…"
"Visiting hours are over for now, Miss Danvers," the doctor pops into the room and breaks my rhetorical brooding, since there is no way that I could possibly get an answer from Eve…
So I leave the hospital and return home to eat lunch, all the while contemplating just what to put in this bomb to make it the most effective it can be…
Two days before the bomb – same Claire as above…
"Oliver, what are you doing here?" I ask him in confusion as to why he is here, in the Glass House, without any notice. It's a good thing Michael is out because if he found Oliver here, he would go ballistic!
"Hush, Claire, I simply need to speak with you," Oliver whispers, pushing me backwards into my bedroom from the hallway. It's the middle of the night but I heard a noise which prompted me to check what was there (it's scary being in such an old and creaky house alone) so I went out, just to find Oliver waiting outside of my door.
"Seriously, why are you here?" I ask, not unhappy for him being here, because he always seems to bring me happiness, but confused why.
"To do this," he responds, before leaning over. I get even more confused for a moment as he pulls me closer to him by my shoulders before kissing me full on the lips. I fight him for a few seconds, as my brain asks me what he is doing, until I remember that I love this, that this is the best part of my life when he kisses me.
I pull myself in further to him, linking my hands around his neck as I try to get his head to sink down further to my level, so I don't have to stretch as much. A low growl is evident in his throat as his tongue slips into my mouth and I kiss him as hard as I can, shutting my eyes as the moment hits me.
I don't know how long this lasts, but I find my hands running over his chest, yanking it out of his trousers as I want him. Then I snatch him backwards, he actually moving since we are so attached, and he leans me backwards onto the bed, kissing me more and more.
His mouth moves to my throat and begins to lay little kisses along my jaw line as I moan in ecstasy. I'm about to suggest something else when he suddenly yanks himself off me, throwing himself against the wall. I sit upright and notice his eyes have gone bright crimson and his fangs have sunk down.
"No!" he growls to himself, as I can barely hear him. "This isn't the time… no, later," he continues, before moving back closer to me and lifting me upright. I stare up into his face, watching as the anger fades to grim determination. "Claire, remember your mission. Forget Eve and Michael – focus entirely on what you are to do. Do you understand?" he presses and I sigh, unhappy that he rejected me when I so wanted him.
"Yes, I understand," I say, but he forces my chin up again to make me look in his eyes directly. Something in them causes me to go dreamy and every thought of concern for Eve and everything else drifts away – the only thing I am concerned with is Oliver and the bomb. He is like some sort of drug for me. I need him. I need him all the time… it's like he has controlled my mind and got me obsessed with him.
"Goodnight, Claire, you need your sleep in preparation for your work," he says, pressing my lips to my forehead. They're like glass, hard and cold, but I shiver at his touch, wanting more and more. Suddenly, he disappears from the room and leaves me alone, longing for him.
But then I decide to entirely focus on this bomb because if it makes Oliver happy… I guess it will make me happy as well…
Yet he returns.
He comes back for me… or at least, that's what I think. In his arms, he holds a huge box, cream in colour, and proffers it out to me. "It's for you, to wear at the Founder's party on Saturday," he says, slightly awkwardly, as if he is trying to sort something out in his mind. "Goodnight," he says sharply before rushing from the room instantly.
This time, he doesn't come back.
The day of the bomb – 11am:
The party is getting entirely set up, due to be commencing at 3pm: it's early for the Founder's party, but because of the darkness of the sky, it has been deemed acceptable to begin it earlier than usual.
I slip around the many workers in the building, many carrying different flower arrangements and huge things – I won't be noticed in amongst these. The bomb is in my bag, small and very compact, and I wonder just where will be the best place for me to place it? It can't be somewhere obvious because the workers could accidentally take it away with them but I want it to be easy to place because rummaging around in the wall is going to attract at least a little attention.
So where should I put it?
I glance around the room, my eyes calculating where I could put this bomb for it to cause the maximum damage and I spot it. It's an alcove, just to the side of the main doorways – that may not seem the best place, but I can assure that if the bomb goes off there, the front of the building is the thing that falls. Also, as the door is there, it will cause maximum damage as people just can't escape, thus meaning the purpose of the bomb is fulfilled and to the utmost level.
As if I am simply looking around, I move over to the alcove and spot a slight niche where I can put it – the wooden flower holder has a large amount of room in it, room which I can fill with this bomb. Trust Amelie to have put flowers in the corner where nobody will be – but it is useful, her perfectionism. It has meant I have found the perfect place to put the bomb…
Smiling that my job is complete, I return home to get ready, planning on wearing whatever Oliver gave me…
Later on…
"Wow, you look… fantastic," Michael stammers as his eyebrows rise whilst he takes in my appearance. I curled my hair and pinned the front back in a timeless style, whilst the burnt orange dress I am wearing highlights my skin colour. It is floor length and has matching shoes which add to my petite height – but only slightly. After all, I don't want to be getting caught up in the bomb, do I? My makeup is minimalistic and entirely understated – I don't want to be the attention grabber of the room now, do I?
"You look great," I tell him honestly, admiring his sharp edges in the black tux he is wearing. He smiles slightly before reverting back to the moody and withdrawn character he has been since Eve was shot, heading to loiter by the door as he waits for me.
I slide my phone into my clutch bag along with my purse and lipgloss before nodding at him to indicate I'm ready to go. He jumps straight out of the door and down the path, waiting for me at the end of the path to ensure that I don't get killed by a vampire on the way to the party. I'm one of only a few humans going and it's rather daunting but I need to go, apparently. It's been coming for a long time, but I have never felt less like a party. Well… I think that the vampires are allowed to bring human dates, something which most of them will probably take up, even if just to be able to bite them…
"We'll be late if we don't get going now," Michael says, taking my arm and leading me to his vampire car, helping me into the passenger seat with a slither of the old Michael back. He's back in the car and already driving away before I've even got my seatbelt on – something which I definitely need when I can't even see out of the window!
We park outside of City Hall, Founder's Square's luscious patch of grass covered in cars (vampire) with the occupants all heading for the party. Michael takes my arm and leads me over to the Hall, making sure that the watching vampires know both that I am with him and that Oliver is my Protector… Oliver… I need to speak with him…
We enter the party and soon notice that everyone is spreading apart, for the arrival of someone special. I'm assuming that this must be Amelie arriving.
She looks as if she is going to a fancy dinner… which I guess this sort of is. Her blonde hair is tied back in a tight bun, jewelled clips adorning her hair, and her dress is a swishy material, the colour of ice. It is low cut but still classy, showing off assets rather than appearing slutty and she looks entirely at ease in the situation here, enjoying the attention.
"Welcome to the two hundredth Founder's Ball!" she greets everyone, her cool demeanour actually adding to her regality, rather than making her seem this cold bitch that I know she is. She sentenced Shane to death – it was only Oliver's strength of nature to release him that saved him from the death penalty. "I trust you will all enjoy yourselves, so enjoy the party!" she continues, bringing about respectful applause at the end of this.
The party breaks up into smaller groups of 'friends' and Michael stays with me as we head to talk to his Grandfather. His eyes (Sam) are always on Amelie, watching to make sure that another vampire doesn't try and flirt with her. This makes it easier to watch to see what happens – will she be staying or will she have left before the bomb goes off?
"Michael, it's good to see you," Sam greets him, hugging him in greeting before doing the same to me. I'm slightly surprised at this but then again, perhaps it is normal behaviour when you meet the grandparent of your friend. "Claire, I trust that I shall be seeing you in class starting next week? I have to agree that you are much better off with me as your teacher than that Mr Sinise. He isn't exactly the most enthralling English Lit teacher I've ever met," he says to me with a grin.
"It'll be great… I just hope that you can make me realise the wonders of Shakespeare as no other teacher has managed to succeed with that yet," I grin and he grimaces slightly before nodding.
"Every pupil of mine has always had a deep appreciation for Shakespeare by the end, as well as every other writer I teach about," he informs me, once again grinning. He reminds me of Michael when he looks like this… but what? Amelie is leaving!
It's exactly 4:25pm and she is leaving the party! Well damn, that means that she won't be caught in the bomb. Still, I don't actually know if she is the intended target, so let's just leave it.
"If you will excuse me," Sam says, his gaze firmly locked on Amelie's retreating figure, her back showing a delicate appearance to her. He darts off after her, staying a careful distance away and as I turn to look at Michael, he has disappeared as well. Yay! I'm in a party for vampires as a human, and I'm without an escort. I guess it's going to be first one to reach me, gets me!
"Claire, I need to speak with you," Oliver's voice is low in my ear as he grabs hold of my shoulders, spinning me towards the door. I don't argue or complain, simply remember the last time he held me like this, and go with him towards the main doors, heading out into the middle of the car parking earlier.
"What is it?" I ask him, wondering whether he wants to kiss me again. His gaze turns searching and I blush slightly as he seems to see right through to my skin.
"You look utterly divine in that dress," he murmurs before turning his eyes on me, making me forget everything…
Back to normal Claire…
Ok… why am I out here, with Oliver? I remember… oh, damn! I seem to have been struck with this memory bug again since I can't remember much at all… it's Saturday, so I'm guessing that we're at the Founder's Ball, but why we're outside, alone, I don't know.
"What are we doing here, Oliver?" I ask him, my voice shaking slightly as I remember Michael's words of warning. Don't cross Oliver, or dare to contradict him.
"I simply wished to inform you that your new college timetable begins next week and here is a copy of the new timetable – as you can see, the days before you have English Lit you have no exams in the afternoon and the day of the class, you only have afternoon classes – so you can get enough sleep," he says to me, sounding almost caring. Surely that's wrong though!
"Um… thanks, I guess," I say, indicating the paper which I slip into my bag. I turn away and shake my head slightly at the absurdity by which he would take me out of a party to give me a timetable… oh god, where is Eve? I haven't thought about her in god knows how long – is she ok? I need to go see her, and quickly. But I need to get Michael first from the party; surely he will take me!
"Claire," Oliver's voice is almost lazy in the way that he orders me back, and I grit my teeth at the way he expects me to be his puppy dog, turning and doing as he wants every second of every day.
"Yes, Oliver?" I barely manage to stop myself snapping at him as I turn around to see his aged self, preserved forever in vampire form. Well, as long as a vampire lives…
"Be careful – I believe you could do this town much good," he surprises me by saying. I roll my eyes before turning away with a nod before… "GET DOWN!" he yells, launching himself at me, knocking me to the floor…
… at the same time, a huge fireball erupts into the air… City Hall. The City Hall has blown up… a huge wave of power rolls around the neighbouring area and I feel the wall of heat, thankful that Oliver threw himself on top of me – if I had been standing, I'd have been at least unconscious from the pressure.
There is an eerie silence for a moment before the front wall just collapses. It's been blown up. City Hall has been firebombed.
The screams start. People screaming for help, including vampires who are trapped and can't move. Fires roar in the holes but Oliver doesn't let me up.
Someone has blown up City Hall.
And people are dying…
Sorry it jumped around so much – I just thought that if you wanted the full lead up to the bomb and such, it would work better in like this format xD
So, yeah, next chapter will sort of be continuing from the very beginning of the chapter, when she is sat on the steps.
Pwiddy pwease review! You know I will love you *forever* if you do!
Vicky xx