Amelie's Point of View

It had only a day and yet I had 5 visits from the ghosts, demanding I release Claire from her room. Oliver had contacted a proclaimed witch - even though he has said adamantly that witchcraft doesn't exist - to prepare me a pleasant smelling drink, that prevents Melissa from possessing me. I had been sceptical before, but on the 5th visit Melissa threatened possession and proved she could do it by controlling one of my guards.

The drink was still sitting on my desk and I was still sceptical, but I didn't see what other choice I had. The woman had sworn she isn't trying to poison me after Oliver had threatened her, so I picked up the cup, smelling pleasantly of strawberries and drank it all. I didn't know if it would work on the immortal, usually spells only work on humans, but time will tell.

I wondered how Claire was getting on. I had allowed Valerie to be the one who got refreshments for her, but she couldn't stay and talk. But now I was getting second thoughts. Maybe I was too harsh...

Sighing, I turned back to the folders on the desk. More permissions from City Hall and Common Grounds, but Oliver had been submitting less and less nowadays.

"Ma'am?"

I turned to see my guard by the living room door. "Yes?"

"Oliver is waiting to see you."

"Show him in." Handing the cup to Valerie, I closed the folder and put it to one side. Oliver came in, smelling strongly of coffee.

"Hello, My dear."

"What do you want?" He's never greeted me like this before. Well, not for a very long time.

"Why do you suggest I want something?"

"Your never this nice to me."

"Can't I be nice to you, once in a while?" He asked, coming closer. "Have you drank what the woman gave to you?"

"Yes, but you didn't need to threaten her."

"I'm just looking out for you. Your the leader of this town, can't have you poisoned." Another step forward and he holds my hands. I glance down at them, then back at him.

"Very nice of you... Really what are you doing?" He hasn't been this forward in a long while, either.

"I've... I've been thinking about you for a while and I have really thought fondly of you for as long as I can remember really. Would you go on a date with me?"

"A date? I thought you have wanted to take my position. What about your outbursts in the meeting room?" He must be up to something.

"I disagree with your decisions sometimes-"

"Most of the time." I should have said all of the time, really.

"Besides that, will you accept?"

Thinking for a moment, I sighed. "Fine." Then without any warning, he kisses me. I'm shocked at first, and push him away. "This is a date, not a relationship."

"It could lead to a relationship." Oliver shrugged. "Get ready, we're leaving tonight."

"Gerard?"

"Miss?"

"Check on Claire." Gerard turned to leave, but another one of my guards came in. I had assigned him to guard Claire's room.

"I apologise Founder, but Myrnin came in and snapped my neck. He took Claire, Miss."

"How did he get in?" I asked. I looked at Oliver. "You planned this? Distract me so Myrnin could take Claire."

"Why get angry? I thought you didn't care for her anymore. Myrnin said I could spend what little time I have with you-" I grabbed his neck and slammed him against the wall.

"How much I care for her has nothing to do with you. I don't want to see you here again, unless I request for you. Now get out." I let go and left the room, heading outside. Myrnin and Claire were long gone, but I could guess where there were. "Gerrard."

"Yes, Miss."

"Find me Claire and bring her back unharmed."

Claire's Point of View

I thought I could survive 5 days locked in my room, but after a day, I got really bored and had tried to break the vampire-proof window a few times.

Around 5:30, I heard a bodily thump on the floor and the door opened to reveal Myrnin. He held a finger to his lips and gestured for me to follow him. "What are you doing here?" I whispered, as low as I could.

"Rescuing you. Don't make a sound, I got Oliver to help me distract Amelie." I was going to ask how in the world he managed that, but Myrnin gave no time to reply, as he grabbed my wrist and took me to the stairs. I went down them as quietly and quickly as I could, then waited at the door of the living room. I grew impatient, then listened in on Oliver's conversation, even though I had been almost suffocated not to.

"Would you go on a date with me?" I wanted to go in and try to rip out Oliver's throat again, but Myrnin's hand was crushingly tight on my wrist.

I heard Amelie sigh, then say "Fine." What? Myrnin saw whatever sign he had been waiting for, then led me to the kitchen. I got a quick glance into the living room and saw Oliver kissing Amelie. I know she wasn't with me anymore, but why did the feelings have to remain?

Outside, I got free of Myrnin's grip and looked back. "How did you get Oliver to help you?"

"I said he could get to spend time with Amelie, before she never wants to see him again. He had to kiss her if we were going to make it past the living room without being seen."

"Couldn't he just have turned her around or something?" Thinking about him and what happened just anger flare up.

"Well... I didn't go through that... I noticed how he was in the meeting and seeing how unhappy you were... I rescued you. Plus I did something for Oliver too, which won't happen for a long while either."

"So I was a bargain then?"

"Sort of. Ollie said Amelie wanted to be rid of the ghosts and so you had to go. She's going to have a go at finding this Christopher for herself. Now I suggest we keep moving, the guards aren't going to stay unconscious for long." Myrnin grabbed my arm and started walking quickly, dragging me along the pavement.

"So she nearly crushed me with her mind and suffocated me, just to kick me out again?"

Myrnin stopped walking and turned to me. "She did that? I knew she said she had no feelings for you anymore, but I didn't know she could do that."

"You don't know her, yet you've been friends with her for how long?" I asked.

Myrnin shrugged. "Maybe it's a front." He began walking again.

"Where are we going?" I asked. We weren't walking in the direction of the lab.

"Somewhere, where the guards won't find you."