Amelie

Arriving back at my house, I took off my coat and draped it over the staircase handrail.

Valerie brought in a tray of refreshments just as Claire and the guard came in. Claire dropped her bag by the fireplace and crossed her arms, looking at the ground.

"What did Myrnin say?" I asked the guard.

"He was out. I collected her belongings and we left."

"Good. That's one commotion we've avoided. Take Claire to her room and remind her what happens if she eavesdrops." The guard nodded and picked up Claire's bag and took her by the arm out. "You can now, Valerie."

"May I see Claire, Miss?"

"Not now. Let her get settled. Maybe later." Valerie nodded and left the room.

I opened the folder that had been left on my desk and found a note inside. I flipped it over. I'm coming for you. Well of course bringing Claire back, would mean the ghosts won't be leaving me alone. I sighed and crumpled up the note and put it in the bin, then went upstairs to my room.

Oliver had invited me to dinner, which was strange of him. There was no need to get me away from Claire anymore so I didn't see the need for him to try and impress me. But he had been nicer than usual, even to Myrnin but their was no love gained towards each other. Oliver had merely held back from trying to kill Myrnin whenever he was insulted. I'm sure it surprised him. Declining his offer, may make him to back to his usual behaviour and I couldn't have that.

Opening the door to my bedroom, I felt strange. I frowned slightly but it soon went away. The room didn't smell any different so no-one had been in here. I shook off the feeling, but it stayed in the back of my mind. Opening the wardrobe to see what clothes I had, I suddenly felt faint and light headed. Melissa... I sighed and went to go and leave the room, but the door swinger shut on its own.

"You can't trap me in my own house." I went to the window and opened the handle wouldn't budge. No matter how hard I tried the handle wouldn't turn. Another wave of dizziness overcame me and I learned on the windowsill for support.

XXX

I opened my eyes to a familiar room with two familiar people. I stood up and looked around. "What do you want? I was busy."

"Yes, you were but your not now." Melissa said. "You need to take better care of Claire."

"Because she's your anchor? Claire has survived worse."

"Trying to crush her with your mind will not make her obedient."

"You wouldn't help me, unless Claire was back at my house. Now she's there, what else do you want?"

"You need to show that you care for her." Eva said, coming out of some room. "She's not just an anchor, she's my friend. We not allow you to treat her badly."

"Well I'm sorry to disappoint, but no feelings for her now. I'm not just saying that to get her to leave me alone, it's the truth. She's in the house, so you have to help me."

"We don't have to do anything. We can leave whenever we want, Claire just helps us to stay in your house and on this plane. All we want is for you to show Claire that you still care for her." Melissa said. "You don't have to process your love, just show her that you won't try to crush her again."

"Fine, I will. Let me leave now."

"If you don't, all those feelings you have locked up inside you will come flooding out. I've read a bit a bit about body possession."

"Do that and I will send Claire away. I can find Christopher myself." I glared at Melissa and she shrugs.

"So we're at an agreement then. Show you care for Claire, or I will jump into your body and all kinds of things."

What have I gotten myself into? I sighed. "Fine."

XXX

Claire

I lay on the bed, staring blankly out the window. What was I supposed to do here? Stay in the bedroom until I was needed? I wish Mynrin would've been there. He would have had something to say about what Amelie has been doing to me.

I heard a door open and very light footsteps paused outside my door, then carried on downstairs. I sighed. Why did she go to such lengths to prove she didn't want me?

Actually why was I asking that question? I should've just left her when she first said she didn't want me. Yeah I would've been upset, but at least I wouldn't have almost been crushed or suffocated out in the alley. It was because I was so stubborn, she went that far.

Speak of the devil or think of the devil, the door to my room opened.

"What do you want?"

Amelie sighed. "I came to apologize. I shouldn't have made you pick up your things and come with me like that."

"Apology accepted." It wasn't, but the faster Amelie left, the faster I could get back to blankly staring.

"I still care for you, a little bit. Once Christopher has been taken care of, maybe I could arrange some time together."

I knew better than to get my hopes up. "Sure, whatever."

"Valerie will be up as soon as your feeling settled." When was she going to leave?

"Okay."

"Also-"

"Can you go? I'd rather be on my own." It was hard to control the annoyance, but staring out the window helped. Amelie sighed and I heard the door close.

I sighed. When Christopher is taken care of, maybe I can arrange some time together. Wasn't that what I had been trying to do? What Amelie explained was the reason that made her kick me out? She can't blame all this on Christopher. I hadn't seen him since the woman came and teleported his ghost away.

Was the ghosts even telling the truth about Christopher being here?