Claire's Point of View

The first thing I noticed when I woke up, was the very familiar faint smell of vanilla. Amelie stroking my hair, but with whatever voodoo vampire power I had I could tell she was preoccupied.

I did smell another scent on her; Oliver. Don't make a fuss. I woke up and looked up at her. As I thought Amelie wasn't looking at me but her gaze was elsewhere.

When I sat up, Amelie's gaze locked onto me. "Did you have a nice sleep?"

"Yeah thanks... What are you doing here?" By my side, staring off into space while stroking my hair was the last place and thing I imagined her doing.

"I had a free gap in my time and decided to come up and see you." Amelie took a deep breath. "I don't like to admit it but you maybe right about the ghosts. Myrnin hasn't been helpful at all."

"Oh right... Well I've umm... Seen one. She says she has found him and everything."

"Did you ask for her to bring him here?"

"Yeah she will..." I sighed, remembering the other thing Melissa said, but I didn't want to tell her.

"Whats wrong?" Amelie asked, lifting my head to meet hers.

"Nothing it's fine."

"Tell me."

"Why don't you tell me what you've been doing with Oliver?" I tried not to come across as defensive and possessive and such, but I don't think it worked out too well.

Amelie gave me a long look then sighed. "He... Kissed me. He wanted me to spend a moment in my bedroom with him, but my mind kept going back to you."

"Did you kiss him back?" I asked, doing surprisingly well in holding back my anger. Not only at Oliver but at Amelie as well, for not rejecting his advances.

"For a moment. Then I pushed him away."

"Then you don't love me at all then do you? You keep saying you don't have any feelings whatsoever for him, but that never would have happened if you would have rejected him."

"Its complicated."

"Its not. Why does he get to go into your bedroom, hold your hand and even kiss you and your trying to push me as far away as you can?" I felt frustration rising up along with anger.

"Because of Christ-"

"No!" I cut her off. "Even before we knew Christopher existed you've been like this! It started off fine, then you've been making up excuses for me not to touch you or even get near to you. You've been saying you don't love me and everything to get me to leave, and then when I leave you want me back. Now this entire thing is another excuse to push me away again. Will I have to leave again once he's dead?"

"No. It's just..." Amelie sighed. "I've only had one girlfriend apart from you and that was a time when it was wrong to be like that. Now I'm the Founder I have to keep up appearances. I'm not like anyone you've met before."

"Of course I know that... But you spend most of your time making sure the entire town knows you only see me as replaceable."

"It's the things you care about that get taken away." Amelie is quiet for a few moments. "I do love you."

"Prove it." I said. "You say that but then you go off and try to get me to leave or say stuff that will make me feel for you less. So prove it."

Amelie's Point of View

What had I gotten myself into? First Oliver tried seducing me and now Claire wants proof that I'm speaking the truth. Christopher's effects still haven't worn off, but maybe Claire's theory on that his effects grow weaker to farther away he gets, may work.

"Christopher-" I started. But of course Claire interrupted me again. I have only allowed this twice because of the situation, but I won't allow it a third time.

"Enough. Just do something and fight against it. You've fought against worst."

"Yes I have..." I considered holding her hand, but I could do that anytime, so instead I kissed her. There was nothing for a moment, then the feeling to stop this became strong, but on Claire's advice (and my own - I really needed to get past this) I fought against it until it made me feel physically sick. I pulled away and drew in a few breaths and it went away.

"What happened?"

"I felt like I was going to be sick." I looked at Claire. "How's that for proof?"

Claire glanced down at the bed then back at me. "Try it again when we kill him."

"That might be arranged."

A knock on the door sounded. I got up and opened it. On the other side is my maid Valerie. "Sorry miss, but someone is at the door for you."