"I need to go and get clothes." Claire muttered, pulling away from Myrnin after a while, angrily swiping away the tears on her cheeks.

"Claire, I don't think-"

"I need my things, Myrnin!" She yelled, cutting off the older vampire, and standing from the couch in a violent movement, her eyes blazing red.

"Okay…" Myrnin murmured, not having expected Claire to be quite so…volatile. Walking around in front of Claire in much more controlled movements than hers, he lightly placed his hands on her shoulders. "Why don't you call Eve and ask her to pack for you? We can get you some more to drink and then go and pick your things up, hmm?"

Neither of them moved for a few, long moments as they stared at each other, both of them waiting for a sign of weakness or retreat in the other. Myrnin won as the red slowly faded from Claire's eyes, and she nodded slowly, letting him guide her back to the sofa.

He handed her his cellular device, mentally noting that he would need to get Amelie to procure a new one for Claire. She took the phone with a shaky hand as he lightly brushed some hair out of her face, smoothing it behind her ear.

"I shall be back in a moment."

He wasn't sure that she registered his speech at all, but, nevertheless, he disappeared into the kitchen, if one could call it that, and began heating up another bag of blood for her. Vaguely, he registered her conversation, but blocked it out as best he could. Living with him wouldn't be easy for her, he was sure, but he would try and make it as easy as possible, he owed her that much at the very least.

Myrnin sighed, emptying the heated blood into the same cup Claire had had before. He'd wean her off of using these, he decided, it really was too much hassle.

When he returned to Claire's side, she was clutching his phone tightly in her hands, pressing it to her lips; her eyes screwed shut in concentration, or pain he would later reflect.

"Claire." He whispered, slipping into an all too familiar tone, although he'd never used it on her – she'd always been the one to use it on him, slowly coaxing him from his madness. It was his turn to return the favour.

She didn't look at him, and he crouched in front of her, gently easing his phone from her crushing grasp and lightly placing her hands around the cup of blood.

"Drink," Myrnin urged her softly, "it will make you feel better, my dear, I promise."

She didn't hesitate this time, he noted, a foreign sense of sadness coming over him. Claire clutched at the polystyrene cup, drinking greedily as though it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

She finished quickly and thrust the cup back at him. Of course, he thought, she drank so quickly out of disgust and necessity, not want.

Claire looked at him after a few moments where neither of them moved, save their chests as they breathed. Her eyes were glistening red and her fangs poked her bottom lip where a vibrant spot of blood rested.

"Thank you." She croaked, making him smile fondly.

"I know I have already said this," Myrnin started, looking at her earnestly, "but it will get easier, and I swear I will help you to the best of my ability."

Claire smiled at him, slightly overwhelmed by his intense sincerity, she wasn't sure she could remember the last time he'd been so…sane.

Suddenly, he was stood in front of her and he extended a pale hand in her direction. "Come, let us get your things."

Claire placed her hand in his as she stood from the sofa, grateful for his support as she swayed lightly, a hand instinctively coming up to his chest, gripping his billowy, white shirt.

When he was satisfied that she wasn't going to fall over, Myrnin turned to the portal door, his coat flapping behind him, and unlocked it, the destination already set. He gestured her through with an elaborate bow, causing her to laugh softly, making his own lips twitch in relief.

Finally. He had been getting worried that she was never going to laugh again.

Instead of walking through the door, Claire laced her arm through his, making Myrnin raise an eyebrow at her.

"Just in case." She muttered so quietly he nearly didn't hear it; her other hand coming up to meet the one she had laced through the crook of his elbow. She gripped her hands together so tightly that her knuckles were a stark white.

Myrnin kept this observation to himself, simply leading her through the doorway.

•

•

Claire's bag still lay on the couch where she'd tossed it, and she'd bet any money that her coat and house keys were both exactly where she had left them as well. She couldn't see any of her housemates, and she set off to find them, surprised when Myrnin held her still.

"Wha-"

"Listen." Myrnin interrupted, sensing her confusion. "You're a vampire now, Claire, listen."

Claire let out a frustrated huff, but nodded, closing her eyes so that she could concentrate more, she was supposed to be learning from him after all. She could hear one heartbeat to her right and one upstairs. The one upstairs was accompanied by heavy thumping and soft rustling. Eve, Claire thought, she was packing her things. So it must be Shane in the kitchen, but what about Michael?

She huffed when she realised he didn't have a heartbeat for her to focus on, and Myrnin chuckled softly, placing his free hand on hers, still clutching his arm.

"Relax, little bird. What else can you hear?"

She let out her breath in a long sigh, wondering how Myrnin would go about figuring out where Michael was. Wait, breathing. Michael didn't have a heartbeat, but he still breathed.

Her eyes flew open, triumphant, and Myrnin smiled at her.

"So?"

"Eve's upstairs, in my room, packing my things, Michael and Shane are in the kitchen, probably sitting down because I can't hear them moving."

Myrnin smiled at her warmly, pride shining in his eyes, he was proud of her.

"Well done, little bird, I have a feeling you're going to be quite the prodigy." Claire grinned at him, and Myrnin gestured towards the kitchen doors. "Shall we?"

The smile fell from Claire's face, and, if it was possible, he was sure she would have gotten even more pale.

"Claire, my darling, I would rather prefer making it out of this house without any broken bones, they are quite the nuisance to set." Myrnin raised an eyebrow at her, though his tone was joking, she really was about to break his arm.

She seemed to realise this, and quickly loosened her grip, muttering apologies.

Claire had been quite right. Michael and Shane sat at the kitchen table, both had mugs of coffee in front of them, although neither of them appeared to have touched their drinks. They both looked up as Myrnin led Claire into the room, Shane looked surprised, while Michael smiled warmly at her, obviously having heard them come in.

"Claire?" Myrnin whispered, not taking his eyes off of what he deemed the current largest threat, Shane.

Claire made a strangled noise that he deemed her answering him and he sighed. "Breathe." She sucked in a quick breath and then quieted again, and Myrnin huffed, his tone becoming sterner. "Properly."

Feeling chastised, Claire looked away from Shane, focussing on the flooring as she tried to maintain some form of normal breathing.

Michael smiled softly, sadly. He registered Claire's tight hold on Myrnin's arm and understood his comment about leaving with all his bones in one piece. She must be petrified by the thought of hurting them, he thought sadly, he knew he had been.

Shane quickly looked away from her, staring at the coffee in front of him. He didn't like the way Claire was clutching to her creepy ass boss, and he didn't like that she was a vampire, and he didn't like that she was living with McFang, and he just didn't like this whole damn situation.