Amelie's Point of View

Coming back into my office I was surprised to see that Oliver had gone. I had told my guard that was watching the door to make sure he didn't leave, should the effects of Claire's drug wear off. But the guard was nowhere to be seen.

Putting the pile of paper down on my desk I left and walked down the hall. Halfway to the stairs my guard appeared rubbing his neck.

"Where's Oliver?" I asked.

"Sorry, Ma'am. He recovered but I couldn't keep him in the room. He snapped my neck, Ma'am."

"I know where he's gone. Gather another guard then take me to the Library." The guard nodded and left. I should've known Oliver wouldn't stay still. I had to get to the Library if I wanted the man to be alive.

30 Minutes Earlier

Claire's Point of View

After the guards threw me out and knowing I wouldn't be able to get back in unless Amelie said so, I decided to go back to the Library to tell George how it went... Or to show him I'm still alive.

When I arrived there was no-one around as usual but some students from the University were at the table, reading and quietly talking.

"Claire! Your alive!"

I spun around and pushed George against the wall but held off from strangling him. "What have I told about sneaking up on me?!"

"Sorry, so sorry Claire, but I was just really excited to see you, because I thought you had been killed when you tried to poison the Founder."

"I didn't. I put it in her drink, but she didn't drink it... Oliver got the spray thingy..." I hadn't thought of it before but now George had mentioned, I was very lucky Amelie hadn't ripped off my head or something.

"It wasn't meant for Oliver though." George sighed and went behind the counter. "Here's another one and make sure the Founder gets it."

"No, no George I've just come to show you I'm still alive. I'm lucky the Founder didn't kill me straight away when I confessed."

"You confessed?" George asked, surprised.

"Well yeah." What did he expect to do? Amelie might still care for me, but lying directly to her would be testing it.

"Why the hell did you do that for?" He asked. He sounded like my mom when she was telling me off.

"Well in case you've forgotten, she's the The Founder. I can't lie to her face."

"Excuse me this is a library. Do you mind keeping it down?" A woman with greying hair came out of a room upstairs.

"Sorry, Charlotte." George said. He sighed. "I'm not saying you should've lied, it's just you could've made up an alternative story."

"Well sorry for not thinking about that when she came right up to me and practically threatened me." I huffed and crossed my arms. Well, Amelie didn't threaten me she was just... intimidating. George was about to answer, when the door to the entrance banged open. The smell that came in was enough warning for me. "Don't tell him I'm here." I said quickly before vanishing and hiding behind a bookshelf.

I put on someone else's coat, so hopefully Oliver wouldn't know I'm here.

"Are you George?"

"Yes, Sir how can I help you?"

"Where did you get this?" I peeked around the corner and saw Oliver was holding the high pressure vial. I bit my lip and went back to hiding.

"I work for Myrnin and invented it in my spare time." I was shocked for a moment. George only knew about Myrnin from me. I couldn't believe he would blame him like that.

"Really? Last time I checked Myrnin only has one apprentice." Well I should've known Oliver is not that easy to fool.

"I worked for him before his only apprentice. It was just a little experiment I did."

"Do you know Claire Danvers?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, Sir."

"Well, she has been working for Myrnin for about 70 years. Before that, she was human for 2 years working and before that Myrnin ate his lab assistants. Only two survived him, none of which were you. So tell where you really got this or I will stop being so pleasant about it."

I really wanted to step out and say something, but Oliver probably wanted to kill me, for drugging him in the first place. Then I had no idea what Amelie would do. George could look after himself though. I'm sure of it.

"Well... It's uh kind of hard to explain. Lemme go upstairs and check."

I heard Oliver grab George's shirt and pull him forward. "Tell me right now or I will tear your head from your neck."

"I honestly don't know! If your looking for Claire Danvers I can tell you where she is! Please don't kill me!"

Oliver let go of George. "Tell me where Claire is, then where you got this. If your telling the truth about it, I won't kill you. How's that?"

I swear if I was human, my heart would be beating out of my chest right now. I can't believe George had done that. I had stared death in the face more times than I wanted (or anyone wanted), but I hadn't gotten my friends killed to save myself... (If George considers me a friend... right now I don't think he does).

"I-I got it from this guy called Ted Stevens and he lives at the car garage. And Claire's behind one of those bookcases."

Well, that just proves it. He's not my friend. He was odd but why did I think he would be my friend?

"Oliver stop." A familiar voice almost made my faint with relief.

"Your pet could've poisoned you today and I spent nearly a day paralyzed because of her. Don't you want revenge?" Oliver asked.

"No. I said I wanted this man alive and I have already said you are not to touch Claire. Leave now. I will handle it."

"How about you let me handle things? I'm your second in command remember?"

"You are also in my town and I can easily have you exiled whenever I want. You're not irreplaceable, Oliver and I'm sure I can find someone else to fill your position. Leave, now." It was silence for a tense moment, then I heard Oliver leaving and slamming the door behind him. "You leave here as well and forget what happened here. If you speak about it, I will know." Chairs scraped back and things were hurriedly packed into bags and then the students left.

"Claire, come out now." I shed the coat, which honestly didn't smell good and it was way too big for me. I glanced at George and saw him looking down at the desk in shame. He should be. He almost got you killed. "George, you will come with me and I will talk with you shortly." Amelie turned to the guard on the left.

"Take him to my office and tie him up. I will come shortly." The guard nodded and took George by the arm and led him out.

"Thanks..." I said, looking at the ground.

"Don't thank me. I only came because Oliver had escaped. You won't be getting off lightly."

"What? Why?"

"Have you forgotten already? You don't attempt to poison me and get away with it."

"You... You won't put me with Oliver, right?" I asked, anxiously. I really should've known Amelie wasn't totally cool with it. I thought because Oliver had gotten it, she wouldn't punish me as severely.

"Of course not. I want you alive." She turned to her other guard. "Take her to the same place as George. Tie her up."

"Yes Ma'am." He bowed, that grabbed my arm in a vice like grip and dragged me out.