Amelie

Going into my office at home, I suddenly thought what a waste of time this was. Claire was here and now the ghosts can stay longer and help me to find out who Christopher is. Why did they want me to to get back with Claire again? It was obvious it wasn't going to happen.

I sat down on my chair and ordered a drink. The door knocked and the guard that had been with me when I found Claire came in.

"Hello, Miss. I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"I wasn't doing anything." I sighed and twirled a pen in my hand.

"Your not yourself, I've noticed lately. Is it because of the ghosts?"

"Why are you asking? Your supposed to be guarding Claire's bedroom." She could very well be escaping and then the ghosts will pester me to get her back.

"It's fine, Miss. She's sleeping. I think you broke her will when you exerted your power on her. She does nothing but sleep now."

I felt a little guilt at that, but I brushed it aside. "Well, you still need to guard her door. Michael might come and try to take her away." Valerie came with a tray with the drink on. "Thank you."

"He's at home, with Isabel."

"How do you know that? Your supposed to be here." I couldn't be dealing with stray guards. He will have to find another job, if he can't be trusted with the simplest things.

"When Claire went to get her things, she wanted to go to Michael's place, to tell him not to go looking for her or anything. He promised, so I took her straight here afterwards."

After a long look at him, I said, "Fine. Go back to guarding Claire's door. But make sure she's in there, first. She has a habit of escaping."

The guard bowed. "Yes, Miss. But may I give you some advice?"

"What?"

"Your looking in the far reaches of town for this Christopher guy. If he can body jump, wouldn't he be living somewhere closer to civilisation?"

I thought about that for a moment. "Thank you for that." The guard nodded and left. If he can body jump, wouldn't he live closer to civilisation? I had been thinking of that, but now he mentioned it, I was starting to think he could be in one of my guards. He did have an obsession with me, and possessing someone who has had no business with me, wouldn't make a lot sense.

Finishing my drink, I left it on the tray and went into the kitchen. I found Claire fixing herself a drink. She opened a cupboard and I closed it before she could get anything out. "What are you doing here? Your supposed to be in your bedroom."

"I came down for a drink. You didn't think I was going to starve up in the room, did you?"

"Was you listening on my conversation? I told you-"

"I was nowhere near the living room. Maybe you should stop being so paranoid. You are a 1000 year old vampire, shouldn't you have gotten over that by now?"

"Go back to your room and stay there. Count yourself lucky I didn't crush your windpipe." I took the kettle off her and pushed her to the door. "Go now."

"I wasn't listening in. Why would I want you to crush my head with your mind again?" Claire went upstairs and slammed her door.

I turned around to put the kettle back when Melissa appeared in front of me. She pointed to the wall behind me and disappeared. I turned to look: Be nicer to her, or else.

Claire

I sat on my bed, hugging the pillow. What was wrong with getting a drink? It wasn't like I was trying to escape or anything. Amelie would just bring me back and lock me in this room, until she had found Christopher. Amelie claims to see the ghosts all the time now, but they haven't visited me in a while, not since that time where Amelie was trying to convince to go and live with her.

I sighed and laid on my back. Why was I here? Why couldn't I just go and live with Michael, go to work with Myrnin or have coffee in Oliver's shop? None of this has anything to do with me. Am I really the anchor for the ghosts? Or is Amelie just lying so she can keep me here? If she is, then I would be so angry. She breaks up with me, then traps me here and doesn't let me leave, like it's some sort of prison!

The door knocked, bring me out of my thoughts. "Who is it?" The door opened. I glared at her and rolled over so I was showing her my back.

"I apologise for saying that you were listening in."

"Your apologising a lot, lately."

Amelie sighed. "It's the ghosts. One of them knows a body possession spell and so if I'm not nicer to you, then she will use it."

"You just don't want her to use the spell, because she will show what you've been hiding."

"I don't know if she will do that, but it's possible. Just... Stay in your room. Call the guard or Valerie if you need anything."

I heard her leave and got an idea. "Wait."

"What?"

"You want them to see that your being nicer to me, right? The quicker you find Christopher, the quicker you can get rid of me."

"I wouldn't say it like that. But what are you suggesting?"

"Be nicer to me. Not like it was before, but you can't force me to do anything and you can't punish me either. Or I will find a way to contact Melissa and tell her what to do when she takes over your body." Blackmailing wasn't at the top of my list, but I guessed it was the only thing that would make Amelie do what I say.

Amelie was about to say something, when I smelt coffee. "I don't think so."

"Who invited you?"

"I come and go as I please," Oliver said. "Amelie won't do as you ask, she has never done that and I don't see her starting now."

"He's right," Amelie said. "Like I said, stay in your room. Valerie will get you what you need."

"You would've agreed if he wasn't here."

"I wouldn't of, actually. You don't manipulate me, so your punishment is two days without anything. No blood and no company and no entertainment."

"Melissa will possess you. Aren't you worried about that? After you wake up from blacking out, to find your in bed with me? I would tell you what we did and then I will tell everyone-" Oliver grabbed me and threw me against the wall before I could finish.

"I recommend making it a week, Amelie. Maybe it will teach her a lesson."

"5 days. Then we find a way of getting rid of the ghosts. I can find Christopher myself." Amelie said, before walking out of the room.

I lay on the floor dizzy, but Oliver grabbed my head and forced me up. "If you think about blackmailing the Founder again, it won't be lack of food and company you will have to worry about." Then he dropped me and went out, closing the door behind him.

What do you think?