Shane held the stake in his fingers and twirled it restlessly, staring at Myrnin now with the exact same expression his father had.
Let the kid go, Frank said. You know how this is going to end. Its just a matter of how bloody you want to make it.
Well, friend, I dont know about your tastes, but I tend to like it very bloody, Myrnin said. He shifted position, dragging Claire along like a rag doll without any effort at all. Have we been introduced?
Probably not. Why, you asking me out, sweetheart?
Youre not my type, darling. Is this one yours?
No, Frank said, and looked at Shane, just in a quick flicker. Lets say shes a friend of the family.
Thatll do. Now, if you want to keep her breathing, youll take all these children and your woman-at-armshello, West, how have you been, my dear? Havent seen you since Richard was kingand depart gracefully, while you still have the chance, and bring Ada to me. If you do, I may let this one go.
Nice offer, Frank said. Why exactly should I take it again?
Because the boy there wants you to, Myrnin said. I can tell. Cant you? Hes just dying to come over here and save her from the evil, wicked vampire. Well, boy, why dont you? Dont you like her? Myrnins hand tightened on her neck. Come ontell her how you feel. Its your last chance, you know, before she dies.
Dont, Claire tried to say, but all that came out was a squeak. She felt a little sick, because she knew what Myrnin was doing, and she hated it.
Sorry, freak, Shane said, but youve got a wrong number. I dont know that chick at all. And the second you kill her, well take you down, so maybe youd better find a new plan.
That stung a little, but Claire could see that he was lying, at least about that first part. She could see it in his eyes. It hadnt been long, but he felt something for her, even if it wasnt maybe what she felt yetand she knew Shane. Hed never, ever stand by and just let her be hurt. He wouldnt do that even if she was a total stranger.
I think your friend has a hero complex, Myrnin said in a whisper, right into her ear. That makes this even more interesting, doesnt it, Claire?
She felt her heart stutter in her chest. He knew her. Nono, wait, he didnt; he just knew her name. It wasnt the same Myrnin, not at all.
The grip around her throat eased just a little, and she was able to gasp out, Myrnin, please stop. Please. You know this isnt right.
You know what isnt right? Waking up to find everything changed, to find Ada missing, to find humans breaking into my last safe haven intent on destroying what I hold dear? Does that sound right to you?
Its not what you think, Claire said desperately. Adas not here. Shes not coming back. You have to understand that whats down there isnt something you should be protecting; its something you have to stop!
He was silent. Frank Collins took a step forward, then stopped, watching Claires face. She frantically shook her head.
You do sound convincing, Myrnin said. He put his head down, mouth very close to the side of her throat, and took in a deep breath. You do smell familiar, I admit. Your scent is all over the lab, and I confess, I have no explanation for that.
Because I work here. For you, Claire said. You know that. Myrnin, you have to remember. Please try.
All of a sudden he let her go and shoved her forward, hardstraight into Shanes arms. Shane dropped the stake to grab her as she fell, and held on.
Myrnin stood there for a moment, head cocked to one side, staring at the two of them. I have the oddest feeling, he said, that Ive seen this before. Seen you before.
You have, Claire said, and cleared her throat, trying to ignore the ache. Myrnin, you know us. Stop. Just stop and think, okay?
He stared at her, and she saw that he was tryinggroping for the lost threads of his life. She saw how it frightened him to feel this way, too. Maybe hed enjoyed it, on some level; maybe it had felt like freedom, not worrying about anyone but himself and Ada.
But that wasnt him. Not anymore. It hadnt been for years.
Claire, he said, and took a step forward. Claire, I think . . . I think I . . . forgot something . . . aboutI dont think this is right. I dont think any of this is right. And I think I know . . . I think I know Ada
He stopped and turned to look at the portal an instant before Claire felt the flash of power from it. No! he snapped, and stretched out a hand toward the doorway, which was starting to spark and flicker with color. No one else comes in!
She couldnt let him stop this, no matter what happened, but she felt sick about it. Shed been close, so close to breaking through . . . and now it was gone again.
Claire scooped up the fallen stake and lunged for his back.
She didnt make it, of course; Myrnin was too fast, and too alert. He whirled, grabbed her arm, and held the point of the stake an inch from his chest, staring right into her eyes.
Oh, child, he said. You shouldnt have done that.
But shed done exactly what shed meant to do, and in the next second, power rushed through the room, crackling along her skin, and Amelie stepped through the portal behind Myrnin, shining like a white diamond in the dim light. Behind her came two more vampire guards, and Oliver. But Oliver wasnt going to be any help, because he was wearing silver chains on his wrists and ankles.
He could hardly stand, Claire realized. He looked terrible.
Myrnin forced Claire to drop the stake, and held on to her wrist as he turned to face Amelie, bowing low from the waist. Founder.
Myrnin, Amelie said, as the portal dissolved into black behind her party. I seem to have interrupted. I recognize the girl you have in hand, and West, of course. West, looking very unhappy, loosened the bow and removed the arrow from the string, bowing to Amelie. With a glance at Frank, she walked over to stand with the new arrivals, signaling a change in her allegiance. Amelie fixed her attention on Frank, and then Michael, who was still on the ground. Eve was kneeling next to him, trying to help him get up. This doesnt seem to be going well for you, Mr. Collins, she said. I suggest you take these children and withdraw while you have the chance.
No, Michael said raggedly, and staggered to his feet.
And Shane said, Were not going without Claire.
I assure you, boys, you will be going, one way or another, Amelie said. Myrnin. Give the girl to me, and I will deal with this intrusion.
But
Do you doubt that I will act in the best interests of Morganville? she asked, holding his gaze. Have you ever doubted that, in all our years together?
But they have Ada, he said, and his voice was small and lost and plaintive. You have to make them give her back. Please.
I will, Amelie said. But first, let me have the girl.
Myrnin nodded and shoved Claire at her.
Claire tried to twist aside, but Amelie, without seeming to move at all, was somehow in the way. She took hold of Claires arm in an ice-cold iron grip, and looked at her with even colder eyes. Be still, she said. Ill deal with you in a moment. Claire felt her last hope die, because there was no hint of real recognition in Amelies face.
Frank said, Youd better deal with me before you settle with some little schoolkid, or Ill get offended.
Youd better deal with all of us, Shane said. Im not going to let you hurt her.
You sound brave, Shane, for someone who doesnt remember being in my presence before, Amelie said. But I wont hurt her. Or any of you. She looked at Claire again, and this time there was warmth in her eyes. A kind of comfort. I assure you, I am fully aware of what I am doing here.
She remembered. Relief hit Claire, and she sighed as the tension left her body. Things were still dangerous, no question about that, but with Amelie on their side, surely it was going to be all right. She could convince Myrnin to do the right thing.
They have Ada, Myrnin said. You have to find her. Please.
Amelie let Claire go and moved her off to the side, out of Myrnins reach. Theres no need, she said, and the compassion in her voice was a kind of pain all its own. We both know where Ada is, Myrnin. I know you remember.
He didnt move, and didnt speak, but there was a frantic, feverish glitter in his eyes.
Youve been ill. Ada was caring for you, but she fell ill as well. Weakness has always triggered bad things in you, and she grew weak. One day
No, Myrnin said. It wasnt so much a denial as a plea for her not to keep talking.
One day I came here and found her dead. Drained of life.
No!
It was too late to save her, but youd tried, once you came to your senses. Heaven knows youd tried. You did your best to preserve what you could of herdont you remember?
No, no, no! Myrnin sank down to a crouch, hiding his face in his hands. No, it isnt true!
You know it is, Amelie said, and walked forward to put a gentle hand on his shoulder. My friend, this isnt the first time weve had this conversation. You become ill, and you forget, and you wait for her to come back. But Ada isnt coming back, is she? Shes gone.
No, shes not gone, Myrnin whispered. I saved her. I saved her. She cant die now. She cant leave me. Shes safe. Ill keep her safe. No one can hurt her.
He still thought Ada was in the machine. That hurt worse than his grief, somehow; it was another tragedy in slow motion, because Claire knew shed have to see him remember, see him lose what he loved all over again.
Just like everyone else.
But the difference was that Myrnin wanted to hang on, had to hang on. He was three years in the past, and sick, and crazy.
Hed do everything he could to stop them from taking Ada away from him. That was why hed treated Claire like an intruder in the first place . . . because on some level he was still trying to save Ada, and he knew that Claire intended to destroy her.
You cant take her, Myrnin whispered. You cant take her away from me. Please dont do that.
Amelies expression had slowly gone still and cold. Theres nothing to take, she said. Adas gone. Three years ago you wept in the corner and ripped your own skin. I had to stop you from killing indiscriminately to keep from drowning in your pain. I wont let you go back to that . . . beast. You deserve better than that.
Myrnin shuddered and dropped his hands limply to his sides. What are you going to do?
Turn it off, she said. Stop this madness while we still can. Youll be better once its done.
Myrnins eyes flared bright, shocking white, and he leaped for Amelie, fangs sliding down. She twisted out of the way, pulling Claire with her. Her guards jumped into the fight, but Myrnin was strong, and as full-on crazy as shed ever seen him.
He tossed one the entire length of the lab, and staked the other with a broken chair leg, and screamed at her in defiance.
She didnt move.
Let me go! Oliver yelled at Amelie, and shook his chains impatiently. You can see I had nothing to do with any of this, and you need my help! Let me loose!
She hesitated, staring at him, and then bent to expertly unlock the chains, which dropped from his wrists and ankles to the stone floor. Oliver staggered a little, gasping out a breath of relief, and Amelie reached out to take hold of his arm.
Oliver, she said, and held his gaze. I remember what happened. I remember, and I am sorry.
He hesitated, then nodded in response. It was as if he was waiting for her to make some decisionsomething more than simply letting him loose.
Amelie said, I wont be your servant in Morganville. Nor should you be mine. Equals. She offered her hand to him, and he looked down at it, clearly taken aback. But he took it. Now defend what is ours, my partner.
He grinnedgrinned!and whirled to meet Myrnin in mid-leap as Myrnin attacked.
He had Myrnin down in seconds, but it was a rush of adrenaline that faded, and Claire realized that the pain of the silver chains was taking its toll on him. He slowed down. Myrnin didnt, and in another few deadly seconds, Myrnins clawed fingers slashed at Olivers face. Oliver ducked, but lost his balance as Myrnin threw him backward in a rush.
Oliver crashed with deadly speed into a wall, and Myrnin ran in a blur for the back of the room. Hes going downstairs! Claire yelled, and grabbed Olivers fallen silver chains as Myrnin yanked the rug away. She heard the beeps of the code being entered in the trapdoor lock. Stop him! Hed had days here by himself, doing who-knew-what. Creating . . . things. Letting him go down there was dangerous, even more so than facing him up here.
Somehow, she still wanted to reason with him. It isnt Myrnin, not really. She remembered the Myrnin shed gotten to know, the kind, almost gentle man, the one whod brought her soup and held her upright when shed been too tired to stand on her own. The one whod fought for her time and time again.
She had to fight for him now. She had to defend him against himself.
Frank Collins almost made it to the trapdoor, but it slammed shut at the last second, and Claire heard the lock engage with a sharp, buzzing snap of power. Dont touch it! she yelled, as Shanes dad reached for the keypad. Its electrified!
Its the only way in, Oliver said as he climbed painfully to his feet. Someone has to open it.
Its not the only way, Claire replied, and looked at Amelie. Theres a back way. Isnt there?
Amelie hesitated, then nodded. She turned and headed for the portal on the wall. Rudolphs body was lying therewell, half of itand she moved it aside and stood in front of the black doorway. Colors shifted, pulsed, and faded into darkness again.
Claire found she was holding on to someones hand. It turned out to be Shane, whod come up beside her. She could feel how tense his muscles were, and how fast his pulse was going. Hers was at least twice as fast.
There, Amelie said. Nothing seemed different about the darkness on the other side of the doorway, but Claire felt a kind of energy radiating out of it. I warn you, its not a safe course. Go quickly. I have to hold it open, or he might remember to block it.
Oliver gave her a doubtful look, but plunged past into the darkness; it swallowed him up like a pit full of ink. Frank and West followed, and then Claire and Shane. Before they stepped through, Shane hesitated and looked over his shoulder.
Michael was right therepale, a little unsteady, leaning on Eves shoulder. Right with you, bro, he said. Go.
Are we totally sure this is a good plan? Shane asked, quietly, to Claire. The fact that he asked her made her feel a little faint; it felt like . . . trust.
No, it was trust. Trust she hadnt earned, but something that felt unbearably precious to her.
Claire tried to sound confident. I think so, she said. Just watch your back, okay?
Nah, Michaels got mine. He looked straight into her eyes. Ive got yours.
Shane jumped into the darkness, and took Claire with him.
On the other side, it was just as blacka kind of darkness that made panic twist up in a hard, hot knot in Claires stomach. She knew this darkness. Shed been in it before.
Easy, Frank Collins said, and she felt his hand grab her shoulder to keep her still. Dont move.
There are holes in the floor, she said. Pits. Can you see them? She hoped he could; all the vampires shed ever known could. She and Shane and Eve were about as blind as it was possible to be.
Yeah, I see it. Hang on; Ive got a light. That was Frank Collins speaking from somewhere right behind her. Light blazed out in a pure white cone that lanced out over rocks and pale, angular juts of quartz, sharp as razors. They were in a big cavern, silent except for the echoes of their movements and voices. Nobody move.
He was right, because the area where theyd come through was the only reliably safe spot in the room. The rock floor was pitted with inky black holes that led, for all Claire knew, down to the center of the earth and out the other side. Not only that, but she knew from experience that where the rock looked solid, it probably wasnt. It was like a maze, and the last time Claire had been here, Myrnin had helped her through. He wouldnt be doing that now. Hed be trying to send her screaming to her death, along with everyone accompanying her. She swallowed hard; in the distance she saw a metal eyebolt driven deep into the rocks, and a length of silver chain. Hed been imprisoned here, once, when hed been . . . more himself.
But he might not remember that now. Or care that hed tried to save her life.
I know the way, she said softly, and took the flashlight from Frank. She tested every step carefully; some of the solid-seeming rock was fragile, eaten away beneath by unseen underground rivers that were long gone. Her foot broke through twice, and only Shanes grip on her arm kept her from falling forward the second time.
It seemed agonizingly slow, making their way along the little path. Even the vampires seemed to take each step with great care. Claire supposed it might be an even worse nightmare for them, plummeting down an endless black tunnel; what if they couldnt get back out? How long could they survive down there without blood, or light? And if they did survive . . . that might almost be worse.
Claire was worried most about Michael. Hed taken a lot of abuse already, and now Shane was quietly taking his other arm, helping Eve, who was starting to stagger under Michaels weight. Hell be okay, she thought. She had to believe that, and focus.
A sound went through the cavern, like a sigh; she frowned, wondering what had caused it. It wasnt wind; there was no breath of a draft in here, just cool, damp air that weighed down heavily over her skin. She shivered and waited a second, but the sound didnt come again.
Then she felt a whisper of air against her facean unmistakable stirring that ruffled her hair. Claire pointed the flashlight in the direction from which the wind had come, but she saw nothing there. Nothing but the treacherous rock floor, the glittering quartz crystals jutting from the walls, and the dark, silent chasms that spread out in sheets.
Claire made her way carefully toward another patch of apparently solid rock, and as she did so, she felt the breeze again, more strongly.
It wasnt coming from above, or even from the walls.
It blew up straight out of the darkness. Claire braced herself carefully and turned the light downward, into the pit, trying to see what might be going on. Nothing. The darkness swallowed the flashlights glow without a trace.
Claire put out her hand. Definitely that was a cool breeze blowing up, as if a fan had been turned on.
She felt a little funny, suddenly. A little faint. A little . . . woozy.
Hey! Shane said, and grabbed her shoulders to drag her back from the edge. What the hell are you doing?
She took in a deep breath. Her head hurt a little. Looking, she said, and coughed. It hurt. Sorry. This way.
Moving away from the chasm seemed to make her feel better, though she now had a kind of odd, twisting nausea inside, and she wanted to breathe deeper and deeper, even though she wasnt tired. Claire focused on each step, every careful movement. She heard someone stumble behind her, and Frank Collinss quiet curse.
And then she heard West cough, an explosively loud sound. Sorry, West said, but then she coughed again, and again, and when Claire looked back she saw that the tall vampire woman was hunched over, hands on her thighs.
She was retching up blood.
It was in that moment that Claire realized that something was very, very wrong. It seemed obvious now, but she wasnt sure why she hadnt understood before. Her brain didnt seem to be working quite right. Her vision swam in and out of focus, and now Oliver was coughing, too, deep, tearing sounds that left him gasping and wiping his mouth. Claire caught the red glimmer of blood.
Frank was now coughing, too.
Claire suddenly felt it hit her, too, the ripping pain in her lungs, the overwhelming convulsion. She gasped, instinctively pulled in a breath, and coughed. And kept coughing.
Gas. It was gas. For some reason, the vampires were more susceptible to it; maybe it was attacking them through the skin, or it just took less to make them sick. Michael was gagging now, and Eve and Shane were starting to choke, too.
Claire staggered from the force of her coughing, and almost fell. Oliver lunged and caught her, then lost his grip as he coughed again; she wavered, perilously close to the edge of a big, dark abyss that wasshe now realizedspewing out some kind of toxin. She tried to hold her breath, but couldnt do it for long. It felt like she couldnt get enough air. She heard herself making gasping noises, like a fish out of water. Her head hurt, badly, and she just needed air. . . .
Claire felt hot and sick and scared and dying, but it came to her with sudden, brutal clarity that she had to get them out of there. She was the only one who could do it, the only one who knew the path. They werent far from the exit to the cavern; she couldnt see it, but she knew it was there. It was right behind that outcropping of quartza quick left turn would put them on solid rock, and then theyd be out.
She had to get them there.
She reached back and grabbed Olivers hand. It was wet; she didnt know if that was blood, and she didnt look. Hold hands! she shouted, and plunged ahead, not bothering to test the rock anymore. If it broke, it didnt really matter. Being careful was going to get them all killed.
She didnt know if everyone was linked together, but she couldnt wait. She only knew the feel of the stone beneath her feet, the hot, burning pressure in her lungs, the throb of pain in her head. The unreal glow of the flashlight reflecting back white from quartz and gray from stone and disappearing into the black . . .
She couldnt feel her feet now, but she couldnt stop. Claire lurched forward, dragging on Olivers hand to pull him with her, and jumped across a two-foot-wide black chasm, landing badly and nearly sprawling. She felt the cool, blowing pressure of the gas rippling her clothes as she passed over the pit. Olivers hand almost ripped free from hers, but she pulled, and he made it. As soon as he was across he turned and yanked Shane over, who pulled Michael, who pulled Eve, who pulled Frank.
West.
Where was West?
Claire spotted her, standing a dozen feet behind them, staggering. Blood was a black mask on her face, and as Claire watched, West dropped the bow shed been carrying, and fell to her knees.
She pitched forward, into the darkness.
Frank lunged, trying to get to her, but Oliver held him back. With his other hand, Oliver shoved Claire in the opposite direction. She hated him right then, hated him badly enough to push him in, too, but she knew what he was doing.
He was saving their lives.
She plunged on. They were on the path now, and even though she was coughing helplessly, even though it felt like strength was bleeding out of her with every step, she knew where she was going. She felt a wave of coolness against her face, and suddenly her coughing lessened. She dragged in a choking breath, and then another one, and tasted beautiful, delicious, sweet air.
Shed passed the quartz outcropping, and was in the narrow tunnel that led to the black emptiness of another portal.
Claire made it there, staggering but still upright, and the others joined her. Oliver had dropped her hand as soon as he could, but Shane took it, and that was good. She squeezed tightly, and he gave her a thumbs-up as he coughed again and wiped blood from his mouth. His eyes were bloodshot, too. Everyone seemed to be okay, even Michael.
Claire kept breathing in deep, cleansing gasps, and focused on the portal. This part would be tricky if Myrnin had remembered to lock it, but she didnt think he would have. This hadnt been used in so long, according to him, that hed actually forgotten it existedat least he had, until Ada had trapped them both in the cavern.
If hed forgotten all that, hed have forgotten this secret portal, too.
She hoped.
The frequencies tuned in her head, and she saw a wash of shimmer across the black, then a glow, then pinpoints of light. An eerie wash of color, somewhere between gray and blue. It finally resolved into shadows, and overhead lights, and the weird, sprawling, organic shape of the computer that lay under Myrnins lab.
Quietly, Oliver said, and squeezed her shoulder in warning. She nodded. Let us go first.
She stood back, holding the portal open, as Oliver stepped through, and then Frank. Shane, Eve, and Michael all looked at her, and she nodded.
You guys go on, Shane said. Ill go with her.
Michael took Eves hand in his and stepped through the portal.
You dont have to do this, Shane said. You could just let us handle it.
Us? Whos us?
He jerked his chin at the vampires and Eve. You know. The rest of us. This is going to be dangerous.
Not going to happen, Claire said. I might be able to get him to stop.
Who, crazy dude? Maybe. Or he might pull your head off, Shane said. I kind of worry.
She couldnt help but smile. Yeah?
A little bit.
Thats . . . nice.
He studied her, and returned the smile. Yeah, he said. Kind of is, actually. So. Im going, then.
Me, too.
Shane held out his hand, and she took it, and they went in together.
On the other side of the portal, there was no sign of Myrnin at all. The machine hummed and clanked and hissed, steam whispering from valves at all angles. Hes here, Claire thought. Somewhere. Oliver and Frank were moving silently through the shadows, hunting for him. Eve, Michael, and Shane were sensibly staying put where they were.
The switch on the wall was the master control for the power. Claire pulled free of Shanes grip, and they had a mime-style argument, him shaking his head, her holding her finger to her lips, him mouthing words she was pretty sure would have gotten him expelled if hed actually been fifteen. Or at least put in detention. She made a definite stay here motion, and moved toward the power switch.
When she was still about two feet away, she felt the prickling warning around the metal. Myrnin had wired it, somehow, and there was live current running through it. If sheor any of themtouched it, theyd roast.
She studied the problem for a few seconds, then turned and went back to her friends. She grabbed Eve by the arm, bent close, and whispered, I need your boots.
What? Eve tried to keep her voice soft, but it came out a little too startled. My what?
Boots, Claire hissed. Now. Hurry.
Eve gave her a wide-eyed, doubtful look, shook her head in a way that indicated she thought Claire had gone completely mental, and bent over to unlace her heavy, clunky, thick-soled boots. She slid one off, then the other, and stood there on the cold stone floor in red and black striped socks. She held the boots out to Claire.
Claire stuck her hands inside the boots like they were giant, awkward gloves. They were warm and a little damp from Eves feet. Under normal circumstances that would have been gross, but Claire was kind of over that now.
She went back to the switch, took a deep breath, and clapped the rubber (or plastic) soles of Eves boots onto the red-painted lever. She closed her eyes when she did it, half expecting to get zapped into oblivion, but instead, nothing happened. She could still feel the power, but the boots were insulating her, as were her own rubber-soled shoes.
Claire yanked down on the switch, using all of her strength, and for a second it seemed it wouldnt givebut then it did, snapping to the off position with a sudden, shocking clank of metal.
And it didnt matter. Nothing happened.
The machine kept running.
Claire stripped the boots off her hands and tossed them to Eve, who quickly bent over to put them on her feet, unfastened.
I knew someone like you would come, Myrnin said, and Claire thought he was somewhere behind the machine, hard to see, harder to reach. Someone who wanted to destroy everything. Someone who wanted to bring down Morganville. Ive been working for days to be sure you wouldnt succeed. Save yourselves. Leave now.
Myrnin, theres nothing here to save! Its just a machine, and its broken! Adas gone!