She wasnt sure if that was meant to be a compliment, so she said nothing, just focused on the portal in front of her. Hed put in a new locked door to cover it, and she had to go in search of the key to the padlock, because of course it wasnt hanging on the hook where it was supposed to be. It took twenty minutes to locate it in the pocket of Myrnins ratty old bathrobe, which was hanging on an articulated human skeleton wired together in the corner of the labone of those old teaching tools, she hoped, and not a previous occupant of her own job.
Once shed opened the door, what was beyond was an empty, dark space, leading . . . well, potentially to a horrible death.
Claire reached over and grabbed a book from a nearby stack, checked the title, and decided they could do without it. Then she concentrated, imagining the living room at the Glass House. It was harder to project that image into the portal than before, almost as if there were some kind of force fighting not to open the connection, but then the image resolved through with an almost audible pop and color spread out in front of her. Blurry at first, then slowly coming into focus.
My God, she breathed. He actually made it work.
Facing her was the back of the battered couch at home. She could see Michaels acoustic guitar still propped up in his chair off to the side. The TV was off, so obviously Shane wasnt up yet.
She flinched as a shadow walked in front of her, but it was only Eve, who crossed between the TV and the couch, still fastening her pigtails as she headed toward the kitchen.
Hey! Claire called. Hey, Eve!
Eve, puzzled, stopped and turned around, staring up toward the second floor, then looking at the TV.
Over here! Claire said. Eve!
Eve turned, and her eyes widened. Claire? Oh, are the portals working?
No, stay there. Im testing it. Claire held up the book. Here. Catch.
She tossed the book through the open connection, and on the other side she saw Eve raise her hands.
The book hit Eves palms and crumbled into dust. Eve, surprised, let out a little squawk and jumped back, shaking the dust from her hands.
Are you okay? Claire asked anxiously.
Yeah, just surprised. And filthy. Eve held up her smudged palms. Not quite there yet, right? Unless you wanted to pulverize people.
Not exactly. Claire sighed. Thanks. Ill keep working on it. Sorry about the dirt.
Well, its not like we dont have that on the floor. Michael was supposed to sweep; do you really think hes done it? Eve grinned. Nice try with the weird science, but for now, I think Ill stick with walking.
She blew Claire a kiss, and Claire waved and stepped back. The color faded out again, turning Eve and the room to black-and-white, and then to just a sea of liquid darkness.
Myrnin was standing by her elbow when she looked over. He was tapping a finger on his lips. That, he said, was very interesting. Also, you owe me a third-edition Johannes Magnus.
You have six of them already. But the important thing is, its almost working, Claire said. The stabilizations off. But the connections working. Thats a huge step forward.
Not much of one if it turns us to ashes upon arrival. I can do that all on my own by strolling long enough in the sunlight. Well, its your problem now, Claire. Im working on the other part.
What otherOh. Wiping peoples memories when they leave Morganville.
Exactly. Im actually getting quite close, I believe.
But youre not going to use a brain. Other than your own, I mean.
Since you insist, I am trying it the hard way. I am not optimistic at all that this will ever work, he said, and produced the box of doughnuts again, with a magicians flourish. One more?
She really couldnt resist, when he gave her that smile.
THREE
Over the next three days, Claire didnt go home for long. She was obsessive when she got into a problem, and she knew it, but this was so cool. She went to the store and bought cartloads of cheap plastic toys, which she spent hours tossing through the portal to an increasingly bored Eve, then Michael, then Shane. They had their own supply of toys, too, and pitched them through in the opposite direction.
All she got out of it, for two and a half days, was dustso much of it that Shane told her she was on permanent vacuum duty at home, if she ever came home again. She knew that he was grumpy, both because it was boring pitching toys back and forth, but also because shed barely seen him for days, except to come home, shovel in food, and fall into bed. She was grumpy about it, too, but there was something inside of her that was locked on target about this stupid problem, and she couldnt walk away from it. Not until something worked, or she broke.
She didnt break.
On the third day, Shane was still on catching duty. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning against the back of the sofa and wearing one of those white cotton breathing masks. Hed bought it in self-defense, hed told her; he didnt want to be breathing in plastic toy dust and coughing up a lung.
She didnt blame him, but it did make a funny picture, at least until shed realized the same thing on her end and gotten a mask out of Myrnins jumbled stash of supplies. And goggles. Shane now envied her the goggles.
Hang on, she said, after her last attempt at pitching a neon plastic ball through had turned it to dust on the other end. I have an idea.
So do I, Shane said. Movies, hot dogs, and not doing this anymore. Like it?
Love it, she said, and meant it. But let me do this one thing, okay?
He sighed and let his head fall back against the sofa. Sure, whatever.
She really was a terrible girlfriend, Claire thought, and raced across the lab, careful of all of Myrnins various scattered trip hazards that she couldnt seem to convince him were dangerous. She arrived at the worktable, where her circuitry (with Myrnins incomprehensible additions) quietly hummed away.
She shut the power off and checked the connections again. All of the voltage was steady; there was no reason why the other end would be unstable, unless . . .
Unless it was something Myrnin had done.
Claire began tracing the piping, which led to a spring, which led to a complicated series of gears and levers, which led to a bubbling ice-green liquid in a sealed chamber. . . .
Only it wasnt bubbling. It wasnt doing anything, even when she turned the power on. She distinctly remembered him explaining that it was supposed to bubble. She had no idea why that was important, but she supposed that maybe the bubbling created some kind of pressure, which . . . did what?
Exasperated, she thumped the thing with her finger.
It started to bubble.
She blinked, watched the whole thing for a while, decided that it wasnt going to blow up or boil over, and went back to where Shane was pretending to snore on the other side of the portal.
Heads up, slacker! she said, and pitched another neon ball at him, hard.
Shanes reactions were really, really good, and he got his eyes open and hands up at the same time . . .
. . . and the ball smacked firmly into his grip.
Shane stared down at it for a second, then stripped off his mask as he turned it over in his fingers.
Is it okay? Claire asked breathlessly. Is it
Feels fine, he said. Damn. Unbelievable. He pitched it back to her, and she caught it. It felt exactly the samenot even a little warm or a little cool. She threw it back, and he responded, and before long they were laughing and whooping and feeling incredibly giddy. She raised the ball over her head and jumped around in a circle, just like Eve would have, and made herself dizzy.
She whirled around to an unsteady stop, and Shane caught her.
Because he was here, in the lab with her, instead of on the other side of the portal. Her brain sent a message of Oh, he feels so good, just about a half second before the logical part kicked in.
Claire shoved him backward, appalled and scared. What the hell are you doing?
What? Shane asked. What did I do?
You . . . you came through?
The ball was fine.
The ball doesnt have internal organs! Squishy parts! How could you be so crazy? She was literally shaking now, deeply terrified that he was about to burst into a dust cloud, melt, die in her arms. How could he be so insane?
Shane looked a little off balance, as if he hadnt really expected this kind of reception, but he looked back at the portal, the piles of dust, and said, Oh. Yeah, I see your point. But Im fine, Claire. It worked.
How do you know youre fine? Shane, you could die! She rushed at him, threw her arms around him, and now she could feel his heart beating fast. He hugged her, held her while she tried to get her panic under control, and gently kissed the top of her head.
Youre right; it was dumb, he said. Stop. Relax. You did it, okay? You made it work. Just . . . breathe.
Not until you go see the doctor, she said. Dumb-ass. She was still scared, still shaking, but she tried to get the old Claire back, the one who could face down snarling vampires. But this was different.
What if shed just killed him? Broken something inside him that couldnt grow back?
Myrnin came in from the back room, carrying a load of books, which he dropped with a loud bang on the floor to glare at the two of them. Excuse me, he said, but when did my lab become appropriate for snogging?
Whats snogging? Shane asked.
Ridiculous displays of inappropriate affection in front of me. Roughly translated. And what are you doing here? Myrnin was genuinely offended, Claire realized. Not good.
Its my fault, Claire said in a rush, and stepped away from Shane, although she kept holding his hand. I . . . He was helping me with the experiments.
In what, biology? Myrnin crossed his arms. Are we running a secret laboratory or not? Because if youre going to have your friends drop in anytime they please
Back off, man; she said she was sorry, Shane said. He was watching Myrnin with that cold look in his eyes, the one that was a real danger sign. It wasnt her fault, anyway. It was mine.
Was it? Myrnin said softly. And how is it that you do not understand that here, in this place, this girl belongs to me, not to you?
Claire turned cold all over, then hot. She felt her cheeks flare red, and she hardly recognized her voice as she yelled, I dont belong to you, Myrnin! I work for you! Im not your . . . your slave! She was so furious that she wasnt even shaking anymore. I fixed your portals. And were leaving.
Youll leave when IWait, what did you say?
Claire ignored him and picked up her backpack. She led the way up the stairs. Three steps up, she glanced back. Shane still hadnt moved. He was still watching Myrnin. Still between her and Myrnin.
Wait, Myrnin said in an entirely different tone now. Claire, wait. Are you saying you successfully transported an object?
No, shes saying she successfully transported me, Shane snapped. And were leaving now.
No, no, no, waityou cant. I must run tests; I need to have a blood sample. Myrnin rooted frantically in a drawer, came up with an ancient blood-drawing kit, and came toward Shane.
Shane looked over his shoulder at Claire. Im seriously going to kill this guy if he tries to stick me with that thing.
Myrnin! Claire snapped. No. Not now. Im taking him to the hospital to get him checked out. Ill make sure you get your sample. Now leave us alone.
Myrnin stopped, and he actually looked wounded. Oh stop it, Claire thought, still furious. I didnt kick your puppy.
She was almost at the top of the steps, and Shane was right behind her, when she heard Myrnin say, in a quiet voice that was like the old Myrnin, the one she actually liked, Im sorry, Claire. I never meantIm sorry. Sometimes I dont know . . . I dont know what I am thinking. I wish . . . I wish things could be like they were before.
Me, too, Claire muttered.
She knew they wouldnt be, though.
Getting Shane seen by a doctor was trickier than shed thought. Claire couldnt exactly explain to the emergency room what might be wrong with him, so after a complete fail at the ER, she went in search of the only doctor she knew personallyDr. Millswhod treated her before, and knew about Myrnin. Hed actually helped create the antidote to the vampires illness, so he was pretty trustworthy.
She still didnt explain about the portals, but he didnt push. He was a nice guy, middle-aged, a little tired, like most doctors usually seemed to be, but he just nodded and said, Let me take a look at him. Shane?
Im not dropping my pants, Shane said. I just thought Id say that up front.
Dr. Mills laughed. Just the basics, all right? But if Claires concerned, Im concerned. Lets make sure youre healthy.
They walked off toward his office, leaving Claire in the waiting area with piles of ancient magazines that still wondered whether Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston would stay together. Not that she read that stuff anyway. Much.
She was still mad at Myrnin, but now she realized that it was mostly because shed been so tired and stressed out. He hadnt been any worse than normal, really. And how much did that suck?
It doesnt matter, she told herself. I did something amazing, and nobody got hurt. She knew theyd both been lucky, though. It still turned her cold to think what could have happened, all because she hadnt thought to tell Shane not to come through the portal, no matter how safe it seemed.
Doctors always seemed to take forever, and while Shane was getting checked out, Claire fidgeted and thought about the progress shed made, andwhat worried her morethe progress that Myrnin had made. Apparently. What was he thinking? It was impossible to know, but she was pretty sure he hadnt given up the idea of putting a brainnamely her brainin a jar and hooking it up to a computer. It was the kind of totally cracked thing Myrnin would think was not only logical, but somehow helpful.
She really didnt want to end up in a jar, like Ada had before her. A ghost, slowly going mad because she couldnt touch, be touched, be human. Although in Adas case, shed been a vampire. But still, Ada hadnt exactly come through it with all her marbles. Oh, shed seemed to do her job, running the systems; shed kept the portals open and the boundaries closed, issued alerts when residents tried to flee, probably even done a lot more that Claire had never seen. But in the end, Ada had gotten less and less sane, and more and more determined to keep Myrnin all to herself, and never mind the rest of Morganville.
And Myrnin hadnt been able to admit that there was a problem.
That brought a bad flashback of Adas proper Victorian school-mistress image standing in front of her, hands folded, smiling. Waiting for Claire to die.
Well, I didnt die, Claire thought, and controlled a shudder. Ada died. And Im not ending up like Ada, some insane thing trying to stay alive at any cost. . . .
She flinched as someone touched her shoulder, but it was Shane. He grinned down at her. Hospitals freak you out?
They ought to, she shot back. Youre always ending up in here.
Not fair. Youve had your turns, too.
She had, more than she liked. Claire scrambled to her feet, grabbed her stuff, and saw Dr. Mills standing a few feet away. He was smiling. That was a good sign, right?
Hes fine, the doctor said, in such a soothing voice Claire knew she was looking anxious. Or panicked. Whatever he was accidentally exposed to, I cant find anything thats off. But if you start feeling odd, dizzy, experiencing any pain or discomfort, be sure to call me, Shane.
Shane, his back to the doctor, rolled his eyes, then turned and said a polite thank-you. How much do I owe you, Doc?
Dr. Mills raised his eyebrows. I see youre wearing Amelies pin.
Shane was, haphazardly stuck in the collar of his shirt; hed bitched about it at first, but Claire had insisted they all wear the pins, all the time. Amelie had promised that they would identify them as a special kind of neutral, free from attack by any vampiresthough shed yet to test out the theory.
Apparently, they were also gold cards, because Dr. Mills continued. Theres no charge for services for friends of Morganville.
Shane frowned, and it looked like he might argue, but Claire pulled on his arm, and he let himself be led away to the elevators. Never turn down free, she said.
I dont like it, Shane said, before the doors even closed. I dont like being some charity case.
Yeah, well, trust me: you couldnt afford his bill anyway. She turned toward him as the elevator beeped its descent to the ground floor, and stepped closer. Youre okay. Youre really okay.
Told you I was. He bent down, and she turned her face up, but they had time for only a quick, sweet kiss before the doors opened and they had to dodge out of the way of a gurney with a patient on it. Shane took her hand, and they walked out of the hospital lobby and into the late-afternoon sun.
On the way out she caught a glimpse of a face in shadows, pale and sharp and hard. An older man with a vivid scar marring his face.
Claire stopped walking, and Shane continued on for a step before looking back at her. What? he asked, and turned to see where she was staring.
Nothing was there now, but Claire was sure of what shed seen, even in that brief flash.
Shanes father, Frank Collins, had been watching them. That was unsettling, creepy. She hadnt seen Frank in a whilenot since hed saved her life. Shed heard that hed been around, but seeing him was an entirely different thing.
Frank Collins was the worlds most reluctant vampire, and besides that, she was sure that he was the person Shane least wanted to see.
Nothing, she said, and focused her attention back on Shane with a smile that she hoped was happy. Im so glad youre okay.
So, how do we celebrate my okayness? Its my day off. Lets go crazy. Glow-in-the-dark bowling?
No.
Ill let you use the kiddie ball.
Shut up. I do not need the kiddie ball.
The way you bowl, I think you might. He grabbed her in an exaggerated formal dance pose and whirled her around, backpack and all, which didnt make her any more graceful. Ballroom dancing?
Are you insane?
Hey, girls who tango are hot.
You think Im not hot because I dont tango?
He dropped the act. Shane was a smart boy. I think you are too hot for ballroom or bowling. So you tell me. What do you want to do? And dont say study.
Well, she hadnt been going to. Although shed considered it. How about the movies?
How about borrowing Eves car and going to the drive-in movie?
Morganville still has a drive-in theater? What is this, 1960?
I know, goofy, but its kind of cool. Somebody bought it a few years ago and fixed it up. Its the hot place to take a hot date. Well, hotter than the bowling alley, because . . . privacy.
It sounded weird, but Claire thought that in fairness, it did seem more romantic than the bowling alley, and less old-folks than ballroom dancing. Whats showing?
Shane gave her a sidelong look. Why? You planning on watching the movie?
She laughed. He tickled her. She shrieked and ran on ahead, but he caught her and tackled her down to the grass of the park on the corner, and for a couple of seconds she kept laughing and struggling, but then he kissed her, and the sensation of his warm, soft lips moving on hers took all the fight right out of her. It felt wonderful, lying here on the grass, with the sun shining on them, and for a few minutes she was floating in a soft, warm cloud of delight, as if nothing in the world could ever ruin this feeling.
Until a police siren let out a sharp burst of noise, and Shane yelped and rolled off of her and up to his feet, ready for . . . what? Fighting? He knew better. Besides, as Claire struggled up to her elbows, she saw that the police car that had pulled up to the curb wasonce againChief Hannah Moses. She was laughing, her teeth very white against her dark skin.
Relax, Shane; I just didnt want you scaring the little old ladies, Hannah said. Im not hauling you in. Unless youve got something to confess.
Hey, Chief. Didnt know kissing was against the code.
Theres probably something about public displays of affection, but Im not so much bothered by that. She pointed at the western horizon, where the sun was brushing the edge. Time to be getting home.
Shane looked where she pointed, and nodded, suddenly sobered. Thanks. Lost track of time.
Well, I can see how. She waved and pulled away, off to deliver helpful encouragement to other wandering potential victims. It was different from the way Monicas brother, Richard Morrell, used to do things, and before him the old police chief, but Claire kind of liked it. It seemed . . . more caring.
Shane held out his hand and pulled her to her feet, and helped her dust the grass off, which was mainly just an excuse to be handsy. Which she didnt mind at all. Did you see my ninja move? That was fast, right?
You are not a ninja, Shane.
Ive watched all the movies. I just havent gotten the certificate from the correspondence course yet.
She smiled; she couldnt help it. Her lips were still tingling, and she wanted him to kiss her again, but Hannah was rightsundown was a bad time to make out in public. Ive thought about the drive-in.
And?
She fell in beside him as they walked toward home. I dont care whats playing after all.
His eyebrows rose. Sweet.
Michael wasnt home when they got there, but Eve was, buzzing around upstairs. Claire could immediately tell, because either it was Eve in those shoes, or the hoof beats of a small pony. Not that Eve was large; she just . . . clomped. It was the big, heavy boots.
Its chili-dog night, Shane said. How many?
Two, Claire said.
Really? Thats a lot for you.
Im celebrating the fact that you didnt fry out your brain being stupid.
He crossed his eyes and let his tongue loll, which was disgusting and funny, and smacked the side of his head to put everything back right again. Jurys still out on that one. Two chili dogs, coming up.
Hey! Claire called after him, as she leaned her backpack against the wall. No onions!
Your loss!
I meant for you! Not if you want to get kissed tonight!
Damn, girl. Harsh.
She grinned and ran up the stairs, intending to use the bathroombut Eve was breathlessly rushing toward it. Wait, wait, wait! she squeaked. I have to finish my makeup! Please?
Claire blinked. The outfit, even for Eve, was a little much . . . a skintight black minidress with all kinds of lacing and buckles, fishnet hose, and big plaid boots with two-inch-thick soles that came up to her knees. Sure, she said. Uhwhere are you going?
Coryyou know, the girl from the UC coffee bar, the one who isnt a butthead?shes going to this rave thing, and I promised her Id go with, just so she doesnt feel so weird. Shes not much of a partyer. Itll be an early night, but I promised her Id be ready by seven
Shes picking you up?
Yeah. Why? You need the car?
If youre not using it.
Knock yourself outjust please let me have the bathroom!
Claire sighed. Go ahead. And thanks. Oh, and be careful?
Please. I am the queen of careful. Also, princess of punk fabulousness.
She was probably right about that last part, anyway. Claire continued on down the hall to her room, closed and locked the door, and opened up her dresser to go through her choices for underwear. She wanted something pretty. Something . . . special.
In the back of the drawer, neatly folded, was a bra-and-panties set that Eve had bought her for her birthdayway too revealing, Claire had thought, since it was mostly net and little pink roses. But . . . cute. Very cute. Eve had handed it to her and whispered, Dont open it in front of the guys. Trust me. Youll blush. And she had saved it to open in private, and stuck it in the back of a drawer, although shed been delighted. It was like a sexy little secret she hadnt known if shed ever actually be brave enough to share.
Now she took a deep breath, stripped off her jeans and top and plain underwear, and put on the new bra and panties. They fitnot that she expected anything else from Eve, who had an eye for that kind of thing. She was afraid to look, but Claire made herself walk over to the mirror on the back of the door.
After the blinding shock of OMG, she tried to be objective and not cover herself up with a blanket. She looked . . . naked. Well, almost. But . . . the longer she looked at it, the better she liked it. It made her tingle, just a little. What really made her tingle was the idea of what Shane would say when he saw her like this.
Because she intended for him to see it.
The jeans and T-shirt didnt seem good enough anymore. Claire went to her closet and pulled out and rejected things that just werent right until she found a top shed almost forgotten aboutan impulse buy in Dallas, like the pink wig up on the shelf that she wore when she was in a silly mood. This was a soft, silky button-down shirt in dark red, and it fit really welltoo well for her to feel comfortable wearing it to school, or to the lab, or anywhere else, for that matter.
But for this, it was perfect.
She dressed, added a touch of lipstick, and headed back. Eve was still in the bathroom, of course. Claire banged on it on the way by and yelled, Vampire attack!
Tell them to bite me later! Eve yelled back. Claire grinned and skipped down the steps, and arrived just as Shane came out of the kitchen, carrying two plates loaded with chili dogs.
He didnt quite drop them. He put them on the table and said, staring at her, New shirt?
She smiled. Bought it in Dallas. Do you like it?
Oh, come on. Whats not to like? Especially with the easy-open buttons.
You did not say that out loud.
Huh. I thought I did, actually.
Claire slipped into her chair. Hed gotten her a cold Coke, too, which was perfect. So were the chili dogs. Hed even left off the onions. Delicious, she mumbled around a mouthful, and then thought that probably spoiled her fancy new look.
Her fancy new look, though, was nothing compared to Eves outfit, and just as the doorbell rang, Eve came clattering down the stairs in her buckles and laces and fishnets and boots, and Shanes eyebrows climbed high. He chewed chili dog, swallowed, and said, Is there some holiday Im missing? Girls Dress-up Day?
Yes, Shane, and its a secret you will never share, Eve said. You just benefit. So shut up.
You look like a Goth factory exploded all over you! he called as she ran down the hall.
Love you, too, jackass!
The door slammed. Shane grinned and took a huge bite of his second hot dog. Shes so sensitive, he mumbled.
Thats because youre not.
What?
Claire sighed. Never mind. I should know better than to think guys would ever figure that out.
Okay, this is not a conversation I ever intend to have. Did you get the car?
Eve said its fine.
Shane wolfed down the rest of his food in record time, before shed even tried to start her second hot dog. She shook her head, took her plate into the kitchen, and put it in the refrigerator for later . . . although she was pretty sure Shane would sneak back and eat it, too, if she didnt get to it first.
He was practically bouncing up and down to leave when she came back with the car keys, which she pitched to him underhanded; he fielded them without a pause as he headed for the door.
Shotgun! Claire yelled.
He laughed and opened the door, and took a giant step back, because, of all people, Amelie was standing there. She didnt come inside, although she could have; as Claire joined Shane, she looked at each of them in turn with her cool gray eyes reflecting the hallway light in a strange kind of way. Amelie was wearing her hair down these days, which was still odd to Claire, whod become so accustomed to that white-gold hair being fastened up in a crown. The long hair made her look much younger. Shed changed how she dressed, tooinstead of the formal, stiff suit jackets and skirts, shed put on dark pants and a black, silky shirt. She was wearing a gold pendant in the shape of a lily, with a red stone in the center. It looked beautiful, and expensive, and old.