Amelie's Point of View

"I'm sorry Miss, but we've lost them."

"Have you checked the lab and the Glass House?" I asked, my back to the guards. I had taken the sheets that Oliver had sent me out and looked through the other sheets.

"Yes, Miss. I checked Common Grounds and the university campus, but she's nowhere."

"Your looking in places where she's more likely to be. Myrnin's cleverer than that." I sighed and closed the folder. "Where else have you checked?"

"The abandoned house she was in on the edge of town. The ghosts there weren't pleased with our presence, so we couldn't stay long. We couldn't think of anywhere else she might be."

"Alright. If Myrnin shows up, bring him here. The main thing is the ghosts aren't showing up anymore." I picked the folder and handed it to the blond haired guard. "Take it to Bizzie O'Meara in Founder's Square."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Founder?" The second guard asked.

"What is it?"

"I could go out again to look for her. I see you have a connection with her."

"Had. She doesn't want to be anywhere near me." I leaned against the desk and sighed. "Why do you stay here? Your not needed."

"In the absence of Gerrard, I'm your bodyguard now." He looked uncomfortable. "I will do everything I can to help you find Christopher."

"Alright." I had no-one else and with Myrnin gone and Oliver sent away, I needed some help.

Claire's Point of View

"Tell me again, why we are in the sewer?" I asked, covering my nose and following Myrnin through the small tunnels. I had no idea these were here, but they obviously weren't made for people to walk through. Myrnin had to bend most of the way, but he didn't seem to mind.

Myrnin sighed. "No-one would be able to smell you and this would be the last place they would look." He turned to me and shrugged. "Besides, I wouldn't go back above ground, until you've had a good shower."

"I wouldn't need a shower if we could have just stayed above ground." I mumbled. I tried to avoid the puddles as much as possible, I didn't want to know what was in there.

Further ahead, I heard the sound of rushing water. "Where's that sound coming from?"

"My best guess is, a nice river of sewage will be coming up soon and there is a waterfall somewhere here. There should be a dry place where you can camp out, until Amelie's forgotten about you."

I stopped walking. "Lets make one thing clear: I am not staying in a sewer."

"Well, where else can you think of that Amelie's guards haven't checked already?"

I thought for a moment, then came up with something that may or may not work. "Oliver's house." Even though I still hated him, I couldn't go to the Glass House; Michael would never let me leave.

"Bad idea. Come on. I've found a dry spot." Myrnin said, without a second of hesitation.

"The guards won't look there, because they know Oliver doesn't like me too much." Myrnin tried to grab my arm, but I stepped out of reach each time.

"Precisely why it's a bad idea. What do you think he will do when he steps in and finds you smelling like a sewer?"

I glared at him. "I'm sure he has a shower in his house. Guessing by the way your not covering your nose, you go through sewers often?"

"I used to. But humans do love to make the tunnels so small."

"Maybe because humans don't go through sewers a lot." Myrnin made another grab for me, but I stepped out of range again.

Then Myrnin splashed sewer water at me. I screamed and flattened myself against the wall. "I hate you! Never touch me again, you idiot!" I shivered and checked myself over for wet patches.

"Oh phish, it's only a bit of water." Myrnin said and splashed me again with the disgusting water.

"Myrnin!" I shouted at him, my voice echoing down the hall. The front of my shirt was drenched in cold smelly water, but of course Myrnin wasn't bothered.

"Well, now you have a reason to use the shower. Come on." Myrnin grabbed my wrist and led me away from the rushing water and up the ladder.

XXX

Fresh air has never felt so good. After getting out of the sewer, Myrnin led me through the alleyways and once picked me up and ran to Oliver's house. I wouldn't walk more than a few baby steps as the water from the sewers still covered me. I was dragged nearly all the way.

When we finally got to Oliver's house, Myrnin banged on the door. I didn't expect anyone to be in, but surprisingly it opened.

"Jesus where have you been?" Oliver asked, covering his nose. I didn't blame him; I wanted to puke.

"The sewers. Claire needs to use your shower if you have one, and she would like to stay here so Amelie's guards don't find her."

"You hid in the sewers?" Oliver couldn't seem to believe it. "No, she's not coming in here."

"Please? Myrnin splashed me with the water from the sewer. I need a shower." I pleaded, looking behind me. It felt everyone in town was staring at me, or staying 10 miles away because of the smell.

Oliver sighed. "Fine, but your doing something for me, once your done. You," he pointed to Myrnin. "Go and find a different shower, but don't go to Amelie." Oliver said, shutting the door once I had gone in. "The bathroom's first door on the right."

"Thanks." I ran upstairs and turned on the shower, stripping off my ruined clothes. Hate you, hate you, hate you Myrnin.

After washing my hair and scrubbing my skin until it was nearly red, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel that had been left on the floor.

Leaving the bathroom, I found Oliver leaning against the radiator. "Feel better?" I nodded, feeling awkward standing next to the second most badass vampire in town, wrapped in a towel. "Your going to help me speak to Amelie again."

"But she doesn't want to talk to you." I thought back to when I had left with Myrnin. "You kissed Amelie."

"It was a distraction. She doesn't want you near her, so you shouldn't be bothered that much."

"But-"

"We're not here to argue." Oliver cut me off. "Arrange a meeting and I may feel charitable again. Or at the very least not try my advances on Amelie."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Go back to her obviously."

"She locked me in a room for nearly a week last time." If he thought she would just forget about that, he needed to think again.

"I'm sure she will get over it. Here are some clothes, put them on, then get out. Your not staying here." Then he left downstairs. I sighed and took the clothes into the bathroom and got dressed.