Claire's Point of View
When we arrive at Founder's Square, Amelie is the first to get out. I get out after her and follow her inside.
The Reception area is busier than usual. There is a queue of people waiting to be seen and a couple of them almost pounce on Amelie, but they think better of it.
"Founder, I have an appointment with you and its important. Can you see me please?" One guy asked.
"No, can you see me first, Founder?" Another asked.
Amelie ignored them and walked straight up to her office. After a glance back, I followed her.
Inside the office, it smelt faintly of vanilla. Just what Amelie smells like...
"Sit there." Amelie said, pointing to a chair next to the heavily tinted window. "Don't move and don't touch anything. I will be back shortly. Are we clear?" I nodded. Amelie picked up 2 folders and left.
Well I didn't know what Amelie classed as shortly because it's been over an hour. Sighing and sitting back in the chair I flicked through the phone Amelie had given me and thought about what I could do. But there was nothing I could do, since she specifically said don't move.
Laying my head on my hand, a thought came to mind: Was there anything that could slow down a vampire? Apart from staking them. I wanted to find out if Amelie does still care about me a lot, not just enough so she doesn't kill me, if I annoy her enough.
Maybe there is some kind of drug or something that vampires can't smell. I could try putting in her drink or accidentally stab her with a knife... Actually no. Drop the knife idea. The little bit of care she had for me might vanish.
Looking outside I thought, there's got to be something. But before I could think about how to escape the door opened and Amelie returned.
"Is this what you call 'shortly'?" I asked.
"What's the problem?"
"Its been like an hour and an half."
"What would you call shortly?" Amelie asked, sorting through a folder and putting a pile of paper out of it on a neat pile on the desk.
"I don't know about 40 minutes to an hour or something." I shrugged.
"You wanted to come. I did say there would be nothing to do here." Amelie closed the folder and put it away on a shelf. "Would you like anything?"
"A book or something."
"I meant refreshments."
"Oh... Well no."
"I will be back later then. Have fun." Amelie said, taking the folder and leaving again. She obviously meant 'have fun' sarcastically. She was capable of it sometimes... I think.
After making sure she was far enough away that she wouldn't hear me escape (I hope) I got out of the chair, stretched my legs a little and went over to the window and opened it. Looking down it was quite a long way down, but I would survive (hopefully).
Looking back and listening for anyone coming, I took a deep breath stood on the windowsill and jumped.
Being a vampire has its perks. My bones didn't shatter into a million pieces when I landed, but I could've bent my legs a bit more. Walking away quickly from the building, I made my way to the library.
The library seems an very unlikely place to find anything that I could put in Amelie's drink, but there was this guy I met once who I found a little... odd. I stayed away from him when I was human, but now I think he might have what I'm looking for.
Arriving at the Morganville Library, I opened the door and stepped into a brightly lit, huge room. It felt cool in here but I didn't see anyone around.
"Hello? George Jennings?" I called out, keeping it a bit lower than shouting because, library.
"Claire! Finally joined the immortals I see. It's suits you it really does." I spun around and George is standing on the second looking down from the balcony.
"Yeah, it's been a while. I've got used to it now. Um... Strange question but do you have anything that can slow down a vampire?"
"It's a very strange question. But I have a stake. Wooden or silver?"
"No, not a stake I don't want to kill anyone. Just something that would slow down their reflexes or something."
"Hmm... Wait here." Then he disappeared as fast as he appeared. See, most people would ask why I needed something like that but as I said George was odd and he tried to sell me something before.
"Here we are!" George said, behind me again. Anyone would think he's a vampire the way he silently sneaks up on people.
"Thanks. Try not to sneak up on me next time alright?" I asked.
George shrugged. He held out a clear vial with clear liquid in. "Pour this in any vampires drink and they won't be able to taste or smell it. It will slow them down alright." I took the vial off him. "May I ask who you want it for?"
"Um... A close friend." I said. "I need to know if she's cares about me as much as she says she does."
"Well the Founder's smarter than you think. You may need more creative ways of getting it in her."
"How did you know-"
"I know these things. Read a book on how to read someone's face. I'm an expert."
"Well you won't be be able to read the Founder's. She's a master at hiding what she feels." I put the vial in my pocket.
George shrugs. "You have a point there. Well, for a creative way of getting her to slow down you can use this." He picked up another vial this one with blood in.
"How does that work? She won't drink that."
"It's under high pressure. Like a spray. Make up some story about it, then 'accidentally' drop it and it will release the vapours."
"Well I think the first one will stop me from getting its effects as well."
George gave me the 'look'. "Drop near her not near you."
Well how was I supposed to know that? "Fine. Anything else?"
"Can you get her to kiss you?"
"No." She hadn't done anything like that for months.
"Well that one won't work then. How about this?" George then brought out the most un-stealthy, and uncreative thing ever: a crossbow.
"Your kidding right?" I asked.
"Well... You could just shoot her. Or stab her with the arrow."
"Even before I got it out, I would be tackled to the ground by her guards. No thanks." I said. I looked through the vials. "This is fine thanks. Do I need to pay you?" Crap why did I say that? I have no money...
"All the payment I need is to see your pretty face once in a while."
See? Creepy. "Okay... So I will be seeing you around then. Bye." I made a beeline for the door, then focused on getting back into Amelie's office without being seen.