Merry Christmas Everyone! :D Travel safe and have a fun break! :) Please review! :P
**Claire**
Eve and Michael didn't know it, but I'd heard Eve's screams and I somehow knew what they meant. Maybe, it was because they sounded almost identical to the one's Shane had made when he'd been turned.
I had to move, get away. I couldn't live here with me being the only living person. I was right, Frank and Shane were right, the town was taking us one by one, and I was the sole survivor. I intended to keep it that way.
It hurt, that Eve hadn't talked to me about this, hadn't told me about her life changing decision. But I couldn't think about that right now. I was done with them. It was too risky, by staying here, I could lose my life, or become a vampire, or, worst of all, my heart could get broken again although right now it was barely held together. I couldn't stand it, couldn't stand to lose someone else.
So, without even confronting them, I packed my things. I could live in the dorms until I graduated and after that, I'd find an apartment or something. I go to the painting in the hallway and push the button beneath, revealing the hidden stairs. I would sleep up there tonight, it would feel safer. I curl up on the old Victorian couch and drift off to sleep.
The next morning I get up around six before Eve and Michael would be up, and I call the only taxi in Morganville.
"What?" He snaps. "It's six in the morning!"
"I know, I know. I'll pay you triple, plus a tip." With my pay from my job at Myrnin's I could afford it. It wasn't like I ever really bought anything besides groceries.
"Fine. I'll be there in half an hour." He hangs up. I sigh in frustration, glaring angrily at my phone; I wanted to be out of here as soon as possible. But I carry my few boxes out to the deck and wait, watching the sun rise. It was actually really beautiful, the diverse mix of reds, purples, yellows and oranges. I rarely had time to just sit and watch the world around me like this. It was a shame I couldn't really enjoy it, there were too many thoughts rushing through my head. None of them are particularly pleasant.
The cab pulls up, forty-five minutes later. Then, he honks the horn. Shit, that was bound to wake Eve and Michael up. I needed to hurry. I quickly load my boxes up into the trunk and hop in.
"Campus office." I say as he peels off, tires squealing.
"You couldn't have walked?" He grumbles, glaring at me in the mirror.
"You couldn't have been on time?" I shoot back and he scowls, shutting up.
"Two hundred." He says, thrusting his hand out as I take out my last box and shut the trunk.
"One fifty and no tip. You were late and rude." I say, surprised at my audacity. Usually, that was what Eve would say. Not me, not polite, quiet Claire. I guess everyone was changing. I walk away at his protests after handing the money to him.
"Yes?" The kind looking elderly woman at the front desk asks. "Can I help you dear?"
"Is it too late in the year to get a dorm room? I'll take anything."
"Actually, you're in luck. We just had a student drop out yesterday. They had a pretty big room too; you'd get it all to yourself."
"When can I move in?"
**two weeks later**
Things were going great; I had a huge room and everyone in the dorm was really nice. I was actually making friends. It was nice to talk to normal people for a change. People who knew nothing about the dangers lurking in Morganville.
Michael and Eve called and texted constantly, I ignored it. I had sent one quick text telling them I was living in the dorms and that I knew what happened and didn't feel like living with or seeing them right now. I also hadn't been going to work at Myrnin's, he called too, left worried messages, and I didn't talk to him either. We had gone on a couple dates after the first, before all of this had happened, but I just couldn't deal with him right now. I wanted to be a normal teenager for a change.
"See you Alex." I call down the hall, waving as I enter my room. I flip on the lights, set down my bag, and freeze. Because Shane was there, sitting on my bed.
"Hey Claire." He says with a grin, sounding exactly like the old Shane, but his brown eyes are cold.
"Shane," I breathe in disbelief. "How-how did you find me?"
"I've had your blood remember? I can find you anywhere in the world, whenever I want," He says standing up and advancing towards me. I scramble backwards and bump against the door, reaching for the doorknob. "Ah-ah-ah," Shane chides, wagging his finger like he's reprimanding a child. "You don't want to do that. I have people all around the building, if I say the word; they'll rip every single person's throats out."
"What do you want?" I ask, standing tall and looking him right in the eye, not letting him see my growing fear.
"You of course! I need to finish cutting ties with my old life before I rule the town." He says grinning again.
"What do you mean cut ties?" I ask, although I know exactly what he means. Shane was going to kill me. I turn cold.
"You need to die Claire," He says reaching a cold hand up to stroke my face, his touch makes my skin crawl. "It's nothing personal; not really, I just can't have anything bringing the old me back."
"Why not Shane?" I whisper, hoping that I've found something that can get me out of this. "Why would that be so bad?"
"It just would be," Shane says, but I see uncertainty pass over his face. "It's none of your business why."
"Do I remind you of who you used to be?" I say, not stopping. "Do I remind you of your past, the hurt, the pain in your life? Everyone has that Shane. You just have to face it. I forgive you Shane. Please, just stop this and come home." For a second, I see the old Shane, the Shane I once loved, but then the ice quickly comes back, making his face hard and cruel.
"Shut up!" He hisses and slaps my face so hard my heads whips to the side and slams into the wall. My head spins and I raise a trembling hand to my stinging cheek in shock. Shane had never hit me. I slump to the floor beside the door and he advances towards me. This was it; he was going to kill me. Funny how that really didn't surprise me.
"Get up," Shane says quietly. "Get up!" He shouts, kicking me hard in the stomach and knocking the wind out of me when I don't. He grabs me by the front of my shirt and yanks me off the floor, tears well up in my eyes as I try to gasp in air. That's when the door flies off its hinges and smashes into pieces against the opposite wall.
"Get your hands off of her!" I hear someone roar in pure fury and I twist my head to see Myrnin, his eyes blazing red. Shane drops me and I fall to the floor, landing painfully.
"I always knew you wanted her leech," Shane leers. "So it's like that between you two now? I'm gone ten minutes and you're together, or were you doing it behind my back you little bitch." Myrnin snarls and flashes forward, a moving blur as he grabs Shane and throws him at the wall beside the demolished door.
Shane leaps up immediately and is on Myrnin in a second, slamming him into the ground. I hear boards break and I fear that they'll fall through. Myrnin kicks him off and Shane flies into the celling and plaster rains down, coating everything in an artificial snow.
"Claire," Myring snarls, landing a punch to Shane's face. "Get out of here!"
"No!" I yell back. "I can't leave you here alone!"
"Claire we don't have time to argue!" Myrnin says, making the mistake of turning towards me and Shane lands a kick to his ribs, Myrnin grunts in pain. "Call Amelie! Tell her to bring back up!"
"But—"I protest.
"Claire go!" Myrnin shouts and I stand up, wobbling unsteadily as a wave of dizziness overtakes me and I stumble into the hall. I pull my phone out of my pocket, hand shaking.
"Amelie, we've found Shane, he's tried to kill me, and he says he'll kill everyone here, Myrnin is trying to fight him off. I'm at my dorm. Hurry." I say the instant she answers. I know that she knows exactly where my dorm is. Suddenly, Shane comes flying through the open doorway and crashes into the opposite door, knocking it over. I hear the people in the other room scream before they rush out the door.
"Hurrry!" I tell them as they stand in the hallway looking frightened and confused. "Get out of here! Knock on as many doors as you can and tell everyone to get out!" They stare at me bewilderedly a moment before they nod and hurry down the hall, pounding on doors and yelling as they go. I follow them, as I see Shane begin to get up and start coming towards me.
As I turn the corner, a hand shoots out and grabs my shoulder, stopping me. I stifle a scream and turn to look at my possible attacker. It's a vampire, he's tall, with black hair and bright green eyes, and he looks to be in his mid-twenties. He holds a finger to his lips, signaling me to be silent.
"I wish to help you," He whispers. "Follow me." He turns and heads off down the hall, stepping into the stairway. I hesitate, should I really follow him? This whole situation screamed danger. But what did I really have to lose? I quickly go after him into the dimly lit stairway, I can barely see him.
"Who are you?" I demand, looking nervously around.
"That doesn't matter," He replies quietly. "What does matter is that I know Shane's plans."
"How do you know that?" I ask taking back a step.
"I work for him, he made me his second in command," He says simply. Shit. I turn to bolt out the door but his hand flashes out and grabs my arm tight. "Wait! I don't want to work with him, I have to! He took over my family, he and the few that are loyal to him will kill me if I leave! I want to help you, like I said."
"That can't be all you want." There was always a catch. He releases my arm and I take a giant step away from him.
"You're right, it's not. I want you to get me and my family free from punishment. Amelie will never listen to me, we had a ah falling out a few centuries back, that's why I'm an outcast. We really didn't want this, and none of my family, including me, actually ever broke any laws. So, I'll tell you Shane's plans once you get us free. As in out of Morganville."
"I-I don't know if I can do that," I say completely bewildered. "I really don't have as much sway in Morganville as everyone seems to think. I'll do what I can. Thank you."
"My pleasure," He says with a nod. "Now, I really must be going before Amelie gets here. Just tell her that Adrian wishes to see her." And with that, he melts into the darkness shrouding the stairs. I stare after him a minute, baffled, before I hurry back into the hall. I get there just in time to see a couple of Amelie's thugs dragging an unconscious, beaten Shane between the two of them.
Amelie herself stands supervising, looking utterly calm and put together. There's not a single wrinkle or spot on her immaculate white shirt and pants, there's not a single hair out of place, obviously she had let others do the fighting for her. Standing next to her is Oliver, still in his hippie disguise, looking as cold and hard as ever.
"Claire," Amelie greets me icily. "How is it that you and your friends are always in the middle of these problems?"
"Bad luck." I say, not bothering to be polite.
"That always seems to be the case," She says with a nod. "Come Oliver, we are leaving. There is much to do." And with that, they turn the hall, followed by the remaining thugs, and disappear.
"Wait," I call down the hall. "Is Myrnin okay?"
"I'm right here," He says, suddenly at my side. His clothes are torn, his hair a tangled mess, and there are fading bruises and cuts all over him, but he was going to be alright. I'm surprised at how much relief I feel at knowing that. "And I'm fine. Where did you run off to my dear? Are you alright?" I had been so caught up in everything, I had totally forgotten about my injuries, but now I could feel the ache in my ribs and the pounding in my head.
"I'm just sore. It would have been a lot worse if you hadn't shown up."
"Regardless, I think you should see a doctor, just to be sure." Myrnin says eyes scanning over me worriedly.
"Maybe," I say with a shrug. "How did you find me anyway?"
"The same way Shane found you." He says quietly averting his eyes. I look at him confused for a second, and then I remember.
"Ooohhh," I say slowly. "Because you've had my blood."
"Yes," He says nodding curtly, still not looking at me. "I was worried about you. You haven't responded to anyone's calls or messages. You were dead for all any of us knew."
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to worry anyone. Didn't Eve and Michael tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Myrnin asks, finally looking up at me, brown eyes flashing dangerously. "That you were upset that Eve became a vampire without your consent so like a child you left instead of facing your problems?"
"It wasn't like that!" I insist weakly, although now I can see his point.
"Wasn't it?" He asks stepping closer making me step back. "Why did you also cut off contact with me as well Claire? Do you not know how worried I was, how worried we all were? Quite frankly, this was incredibly selfish of you Claire."
"I couldn't stand it anymore!" I practically shout, vision clouded with tears. "I didn't want to have to deal with this anymore Myrnin! The biggest problems for most kids my age are fights with their parents and boyfriends and their grades! Why do I have to deal with all of this? I just wanted to have a normal life for once! And I'm sorry that I worried and upset people, I didn't mean to, but I'm tired of my life always being on the line and having to save the day. I'm tired of always being scared. I'm just so tired of everything Myrnin." Myrnin gazes at me a moment, his eyes dark and bottomless, then he folds me into his arms and I collapse against him, sobbing. I hadn't really admitted it to myself or anyone till then, but it was true. It had just built and built until I had to let it out.
"Shh, my little bird, fy annwyl, it will be all right." He sooths, stroking my hair gently.
"No it won't be," I sob miserably. "It never is. Just when things are fine, everything goes wrong."
"Claire," He says tipping my chin up with his finger and making me look at him. "I promise you that we will get through this. Do you believe me?"
"Yes." I whisper, looking away, although I really don't.
"Claire, look at me. You trust me don't you?"
"Yes," I say looking him right in the eyes. "I trust you Myrnin."
"Good," He says stepping away and smiling. "Now, we better have you looked at."
The doctor clears me after an x-ray and an MRI, concluding that my ribs are just bruised and that I don't have a concussion. Although, I'm starting to get a nice, livid, purple bruise in the shape of Shane's hand on my cheek and I'll be really sore in the morning. Myrnin protests when I say that I'm going back to my dorm, but he eventually gives in and begins to walk me back.
"Oh no," I groan, when we're half way there. "I have to go talk to Amelie."
"Talk to Amelie?" Myrnin asks looking down at me puzzled. "Why do you need to do that?"
"Long story, but I promised someone I would."
"Who?" Myrnin asks, stopping, crossing his arms and frowning.
"I didn't exactly get a name," I say, hesitant to tell him. "He-well Shane apparently took control of his family and Shane made this guy his um second in command. He's willing to give up all of Shane's information and plans if Amelie lets him and his family leave Morganville without punishment. Apparently, Amelie won't listen to him because they had a fight forever ago so he wants me to try and convince her to let them leave."
"What did this man look like?" Myrnin asks, looking grim.
"He had black hair and green eyes; I guess he was twenty something. Why, do you know him?"
"Oh I know him all right. Adrian. He's dangerous; you should stay away from him Claire."
"But he says he'll give up all of Shane's information!" I protest. "I don't really think that Shane will ever tell them that. Besides, I'm only talking to Amelie, it's not like I'm helping him get free."
"Amelie and Adrian have a ah very large history together. Most of its unpleasant. I do not know how Amelie will react to even hearing his name."
"But I have to try!" I say, utterly frustrated. "People's lives could be at stake! Adrian said that some are loyal to Shane, or they at least have the same goals as him, who knows what they'll do! Maybe they'll try to break him out."
"But Claire—" Myrnin starts, I cut him off.
"Sorry Myrnin, but I have to. I'll see you later. Thanks for walking me home." I say turning around, leaving him standing there looking bewildered.