It might have seemed romantic, if Ada hadnt done her level best to destroy them.
Amelie loosened up enough to smile at her, which was nearly a first. She looked a lot younger when she smiled, and even prettier. You did very well, she said. I know that I asked much of you, and I know that you may not forgive me for offering such a difficult choice, but I had the town to consider, and there were pressures you cannot imagine that forced us to take these drastic steps. I had every confidence you would succeed.
Claire felt awkward and a little flushed. She still resented being forced into this; she really hated the casual way Amelie had threatened her friends and family. And she didnt, at this moment, much care about being nice, so she said, Dont ever do that again. Dont ever threaten the people I love.
The other vampireseven Myrninlooked uncomfortable, shocked, or outright angry (Oliver). Not Amelie, though. Her eyebrows rose. The people you love are constantly at risk, as are all people everywhere. Even mine. You should come to terms with that fact, Claire. I am only one thing that threatens their safety. As they occasionally threaten mine. It is the way of all life.
Claire balled up her fists, but she wasnt like Shane. She couldnt lash out. She just had to breathe through the surges of anger that made red flashes across her eyes until it stopped.
Amelie must have known she wasnt going to get thanked; she nodded to the others, turned, and left. She hadnt been alone, Claire realized. Her two usual bodyguards were with her, standing just off in the shadows, and they followed her up the steps and out of the lab.
That left Myrnin, Oliver, and the other vampire, who now bowed stiffly toward her. Frederick von Hesse, the vampire said, in what had to be a German accent. So nice to formally make your acquaintance. This is impressive work. Tell me, how did you come to understand so much of the hermetic arts?
I dont, Claire said flatly. A lot of it doesnt make any sense at all.
Oliver laughedactually laughed. I like this new Claire, he said. You should work her this hard all the time, Myrnin. Shes interesting when shes forthright.
Claire, possessed by the spirit of Eve, shot him the finger. Which made him laugh again, shake his head, and walk up the steps.
Gone.
Leaving her with von Hesse and Myrnin. Von Hesse had a little in common with Oliver in that he, too, looked like an aging hippie, but it was mostly the fact that his hair was shoulder length, blond, and frizzy. He looked older than most vampires, with a lined face and droopy blue eyes, but he had a nice, if tentative, smile. I apologize, he said. I did not mean to offend you.
Claire sighed. You didnt. For some reason, it was hard for her to stay mad at von Hesse. Oliver, no problem, but this vampire seemed a little . . . nervous? Fragile, maybe. Im Claire.
Yes, yes, of course you are. Youve done an amazing thing, Claire. Truly amazing. He stood back from the table, admiring the glowing machine. I never thought it would be possible without the interface of an organic
Please dont start with the brains again, Claire said. Im tired. Im going home, okay?
Myrnin, who hadnt said much, suddenly reached out and wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened, shocked, and for a panicked second wondered whether hed suddenly decided to snack on her neck . . . but it was just a hug. His body felt cold against hers, and way too close, but then he let go and stepped back. Youve done very well. Im extremely proud of you, he said. There was a touch of color high in his pale cheeks. Do go home now. And shower. You reek like the dead.
Which, coming from a vampire, was pretty rich.
Can I take the portal? Claire asked. Myrnin moved the concealing bookcase and unlocked the door in the wall, swung it open, and bowed so low he practically scraped the floor. He also dug her cell phone out of the pocket of his baggy shorts and handed it over. Claire stepped up and concentrated until the living room of the Glass House was in focus. Nobody was up yet, it seemed. It was still dark outside the windows.
Before she stepped through, she looked at Myrnin and said, Thanks for taking care of me.
He smiled faintly, but in a pained sort of way. I didnt, he said. I put you at risk, all because I do what Amelie says. And Im sorry for that. But she was right. It had to be done. And it had to be done quickly. I couldnt have done it alone, Claire.
Good-bye, said von Hesse, waving. Claire awkwardly waved back, and stepped through the portal.
Home.
She took in a deep breath and looked behind her to see what seemed like a solid wall. She might have dreamed all of it, except that she was still shaky and felt oddly empty.
The house smelled so good. Chilithat was normaland somebody must have done laundry down in the basement, because she could smell the fabric softener. Too much, as usual. That was Shanes trademark.
She wanted to go straight up to him, but the stairs seemed like too much. Way too much. She could hardly stand up, much less climb.
She compromised by walking to the couch, moving the game controllers, and collapsing on the sagging cushions. There was a blanket draped over one end in an untidy mess, and she wrapped herself up in it and immediately felt better. Safer.
She wiggled around under the blanket, found the cell phone shed stuck in her pocket, and speed-dialed Shane.
Lo? He coughed and tried again. His voice was husky and low. Hello? He must have looked at the screen, because all of a sudden he sounded wide-awakeand alarmed. Claire? Where are you?
Downstairs on the couch, she said, and yawned. Cant come up. Too tired.
Stay there. He hung up, and she heard the thump of footsteps overhead. In just about a minute, Shane was coming down the steps at nearly a run. His jeans were on, but that was allno shirt, and it made her warm all over to see him that way. He skidded to a stop next to the couch, staring down at her, then crouched to put their eyes on a level. Hey, he said. You okay?
Sure. Just tired. As proof, she yawned again. How long have I been gone?
Forever, Shane said, and there was something wrong with his voice; it sounded strange and choked. Dont do it again, okay? Scared the shit out of me. Out of all of us. He smoothed hair back from her face, and she reached up to do it to him, too. His hair really was getting emo length, mainly from laziness and his never wanting to go get it cut.
You didnt do anything crazy, right? It was hard to keep her eyes open, but touching him felt so good. So amazingly good.
Michael had to pound me a couple of times to convince me not to go stage a rescue. Shane shrugged. He hits like a girl, for a vampire.
He was trying not to hurt you, dummy.
Yeah, I know. Scoot over.
She did, and opened up the blanket. He slid in next to her, turned on his side, and kissed her before she could protest about needing a shower and toothpaste and all that stuff.
He wrapped her in his arms, so close, and she felt his breath stirring her hair. Youre safe now, he said. Youre safe.
She drifted off again in seconds into a deep, warm, dreamless sleep, feeling good for the first time in what seemed like years.
SEVEN
Eve woke them up when she clattered downstairs at ten in the morning. Shane groaned, rolled over, and fell off the couch with a thump, tangled in the blanket. Eve stopped on the steps and leaned over the railing. Wow, Grace, that was impressive. You really stuck the landing. . . . Claire? She blinked, then practically flew down the rest of the steps. Claire! Youre back! Youre okay! She stepped over Shane, who was still trying to get free of the blanket, and pulled Claire up to hug her like a rag doll. We were so scared; we didnt know how to get to youeverybody was looking She stopped and held Claire at arms length. Ew.
Yeah, Claire said. I need a shower.
I dont think a showers going to cut it. Maybe fire hoses, and those brushes they use on elephants. Eve stepped back and offered Shane a hand up as he finally got untangled.
Speaking of elephants, you sounded like a herd of something coming down the stairs, he said. What the hell are your shoes made of? Hooves?
And good morning to you, too, grumpy. Nice bedhead. He flipped her off. No coffee for you. Eve turned back to Claire and hugged her one more time. Youre sure youre okay?
Im fine, Claire said, and yawned again. I will be once I get clean.
Yeah, big endorsement of that. Ill have breakfast ready for you!
Shane grabbed Claires hand. She smiled at him, oddly shy, because the glow in his eyes meant he was up to something, or thinking about being up to something. But he finally shook his head and said, Go on, before I do something I probably shouldnt.
That sounded interesting. She wasnt that tired. But yuck, getting clean sounded even better. So she kissed him quickly and ran up the steps toward the bathroom.
See? she heard Shane yell at the kitchen. She doesnt stomp around like a cattle stampede!
Bite me, Collins! No bacon for you, either!
Things were back to normal. Claire breathed a huge sigh of relief, and felt something that had been completely knotted up in her gut start to relax.
The shower felt so good it was hard to actually get out again, but the creaky hot-water heater finally convinced her by spritzing in ice-cold bursts when it was about to give up altogether. The bathroom was wreathed in so much steam it was like a sauna, and Claire enjoyed the feel of it against her skin as she shaved her legs and underarms and applied lotion and generally felt human again.
Someone knocked on the door.
Yeah, just a minute! she called. Im almost done!
Mom?
Claire stopped in the act of finger-fluffing her hair and turned toward the door. All of a sudden, the heat of the bathroom faded away, and the knot in her stomach came back. What? Michael, is that you?
Whoever it was, the voice didnt call out again, and when she went to the door and pressed her ear against it, she didnt hear anything at all. Weird. Really weird.
Claire put on her new, clean clothesjeans, an orange camisole, and a pretty flowered sheer top that shed scored at the resale shop. She unlocked the door and peeked out into the hallway.
Deserted.
She opened the door all the way and stepped out, accompanied by clouds of escaping steam. All the doors were shut, including Michaels at the end of the hall. She didnt see any sign of life up here, but Eve and Shane were still yelling back and forth downstairs.
Weird.
Claire left the door open and went to her room for her shoes. As she opened it, she found Michael standing in there with his back to her.
Michael? Finding him in her room was more than a little shocking. He was really good about giving her privacy, even if it was technically his house; he always knocked and waited for permission before coming in, which he rarely did anyway. Something you wanted?
He turned slowly to face her. She was blindly afraid for a second that something awful had happened to him, some kind of accident, but he looked . . . normal.
Just kind of dazed.
Whats happened here? he asked her. It shouldnt be like this. Why is it like this?
II dont understand. It looks okay to me. I mean, sorry about the bed. I meant to make it up. What are you
Who are you? Michael interrupted her, and took a step back when she came toward him. Whoa. Stay right there. Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?
Claires mouth opened and closed, because she had no idea what to say to that. Was he kidding? No, she didnt think sothere was real confusion in his face, real panic in his blue eyes. IIm Claire, she finally said. Claire, remember? Whats wrong with you?
I dont He pulled in a deep breath, closed his eyes, and clenched his fists tight. She saw something strange pass over his face, and then he looked at her again, and he was back to being the same Michael she knew. Claire. Oh, crap, Claire, Im sorry. That was weird. I think . . . I think I was sleepwalking. I was dreaming it was three years ago, and my parents were still here. This used to be their room. I was thinking how weird it was that their stuff wasnt here. He laughed shakily and wiped at his forehead like he was sweating, although Claire didnt think he was. Wow. Didnt like that much. It really felt wrong.
She still felt afraid, for some reason. But . . . youre okay now?
Yeah, Im fine, he said, and gave her that dazzling Michael Glass smile that put girls on the floor from a distance. Sorry if I scared you. Man, I havent sleepwalked in ages. So weird.
You knocked on the bathroom door, Claire said. You . . . you asked if I was your mom.
I did? Sorry; that is supercreepy. Youre much shorter than my mom.
Brat, she said, surprised into a giggle.
Thats no way to talk to a vampire.
Bloodsucking brat.
Better, he said. I cant believe I just barged in here. Im really sorry. Wont happen again.
Its okay; you couldnt help it. But she still watched him all the way down the hall, until they were downstairs. Having a vampire do something that strange, even if it was Michael, gave her a serious case of the chills.
In the kitchen, when they were all together, everything seemed fine. Michael was the same, and Eve and Shane sniped back and forth at each other with the same casual sort of loving cruelty that they always had. Claire found herself doing nothing but watching them, looking for anything odd. Out of place.
Hey, Eve said as she set a plate of bacon and eggs down in front of Claire on the table. Space Ghost. You in there anywhere?
Claire blinked and focused on her. Well, Eve would never freak her out, because Eve was always . . . Eve. Todays eyeliner was dark blue, and heavy, and her rice-powder makeup and navy lipstick probably should have looked weird, but instead, they just looked cute. And normal. Sorry, Claire said. Still tired, I guess. That was really, really hard.
Spill. Tell me everything. Eve was going through a phase where she wanted to eat everything with chopsticks. Claire watched her unwrap a set of cheap bamboo ones, scrape them together a few times, and dig into her eggs. Did you have to do anything gruesome?
Not unless you count sleeping in Myrninsoh, she realized right at the end of that sentence that she really shouldnt have gone there, because Shane and Michael both turned to look at heruh, lab. No, not really.
Eve stared. You were totally going to say bed.
Wasnt! Claire felt her cheeks flaming. Anyway, all I had to do was repair something. And then they let me sleep. No big deal.
No big deal? You were gone for almost five days without a word, Claire! You got arrested! Even our resident ex-con was impressed. Meaning Shane, of course, whod spent his share of time behind Morganville bars. He barely paused in chopping up onions for his eggs to flip her off. If it hadnt been for Michael and Myrnin . . .
Michael, Claire said, and looked at him. He was microwaving his sports bottle, which held his morning O negative. I thought you might help hold Shane down and keep him from doing anything dangerous.
Wasnt easy, Michael said.
Eve nodded. He stayed on Amelie until she told him what happened to you, and then he kept Shane from pretending he was a ninja and going to rescue you.
Hey, you, too! Shane protested.
Yeah, okay, me, too, Eve said. Myrnin called, too. I guess he thought it would be reassuring or something to tell us youd been standing up for forty hours, and not falling down. What a whack job. Oooh, was he wearing the bunny slippers? Tell me he was wearing the bunny slippers!
Sometimes, Claire said, and dug into her breakfast. It was good, really good. Eve was developing a flair for eggs and bacon and morning-type stuff. You guys were really going to come get me?
Lets just say the boys got their fight on about it, and leave it at that, Eve said, and winked. Tell me that doesnt make you feel all loved.
Claire did feel loved, and it made her blush. She concentrated on her food as Michael, Shane, and Eve got their own and slid into the other chairs. At some point, Eve called Shane a tool. Shane called Eve a skank. Normal morning.
Michael, though, was quiet. He sipped his sports bottle and watched them all without saying much. There was something odd about him still, like he was standing a few feet outside of his body, observing. Claire got that feeling again, that gut-twisting one. Somethings wrong.
But he seemed fine when they flipped for the washing-up, and fine when he lost the coin toss. In fact, he was whistling as he scrubbed dishes, tossed them up in the air, and caught them with impossible vampire skill.
Show-off.
Whoa, whoa, speedy, where you going? Shane asked as Claire headed for the door. You just got here!
I need to talk to Myrnin, she said.
Not right now you dont. You need to go back to bed.
Thanks, Dad. Which made her feel a horrible stab of guilt, because she hadnt even called her mom and dad, or gone to see them yet. Ah, about
Yeah, I know, you need to see the rents. Okay, but I go with.
Shane, you know how thats going to play out.
He sighed. I really do, he said. But Im not letting you run around Morganville today all by yourself.
She stopped and turned to him. They were alone in the living room, and she took his hands. You know about the frat guy? Kyle?
Shanes face went completely still, but his eyes were hot. Yeah, I know. Theyve got him in the cage in Founders Square. Word gets around, even if us mere mortals arent getting tickets to the barbecue. People are angry. This could go bad, Claire. I dont think Amelie understands how bad.
You think someone might try to break him out?
Im pretty sure someone will. Hell, Id have done it myself, except I was more worried about you.
Shane, I heard what happened. He and his frat buddies pounded on a vampire, and then he killed his own Protector when he came after them.
Yeah, well, Id kill any of them if he had his fangs up in my face, too.
But you wouldnt have let your friends kick some strangers ass and rob him; I know you wouldnt. And Kyle was the ring-leader. Truth is, I dont think it mattered to him who got hurt or killed. And Im not sure it wasnt cold-blooded murder, with his Protector.
If youre not sure it was, then he shouldnt be in the cage, Shane said. Shes going too far. People in this town have a taste of freedom now, and theyre not going to give it up that easily.
The vampires arent going to give up being in charge, either. People are going to get hurt if both sides keep on pulling.
Shane nodded slowly. His expression didnt change. Our people get hurt here every day.
There was no talking to him about this, Claire realized; Shane had come to terms with a lot of things, but he was never, ever going to believe that what the vampires did to humans for punishment was right. And she couldnt blame him. She remembered how sick shed felt, how horrified, when Shane himself had been in that cage, waiting to die.
Now Kyle was in there, and his family, the people who loved him, they were feeling the same awful horror. Even if he was a total tool, this was worse than punishment. It was cruelty.
Maybe we should try to get him out, Claire said. Does that sound crazy?
Only all of it. You know what the penalty is for breaking someone out of that cage?
Joining them in it?
Bingo. And sorry, but Im not risking it. Youre not exactly escape-artist material.
She was a little relieved, actually. Maybe I can talk to Amelie. Get her to change her mind.
See, thats much more you. Reason Girl, Shane said. Parents?
She nodded and grabbed her backpack from the cornerforce of habit: she didnt have school today, but the weight of the books and all the assorted junk she kept in it made her feel steadier. Shane turned toward the closed kitchen door. Yo, undead-for-brains, were heading to the Danvers house!
I heard that, Michael yelled back.
Whole point, bro. Shane offered Claire his arm, and she took it, and they set out for her parents house.
It was a nice day to walk, especially with Shane next to her. Well, truthfully, if it had been forty below and a blizzard, it still would have seemed like a nice day with Shane, but it really was beautifulsunny, not too hot, a cloud-free, faded-denim sky that seemed to stretch a million miles from horizon to horizon. Wind, of course, like there always seemed to be in Morganville, but more of a breeze than a gust.
It still tasted of sand, though.
Want a coffee? she asked. Shane shook his head and kicked a rusted can out of their way.
If I see Oliver, Im going to punch him right in the face, he said. So no. Ill skip the coffee.
Right, no caffeine for you at all. There wasnt much else to do in Morganville besides the coffee shop, anyway. Movies werent playing yet, and they were too young for the bars, which also werent open yet. She was hoping to delay the inevitable bringing-Shane-to-her-parents tension, but really, there was no getting around it.
She was still working on what she was going to say to her dad when Shane said, Huh. Thats weird.
There was something in his voice that made her look up. She saw nothing out of place for a second, but then she saw someone sitting on the curb a block up, head down, shoulders shaking.
Crying.
Should we . . . ? she asked. Shane shrugged.
Probably couldnt hurt. Maybe he needs help.
It was a he, after all, a college kid wearing a black knit shirt and scuffed-up jeans. Claire had seen him somewhere before. . . .
It was the boy from the Science Building. The one whod given her the rave flyer. Alex? She thought his name was Alex.
As they got closer, she felt that stab of anxiety again. Alex was not the kind of guy to be crying in public like some four-year-old, and besides that, he looked really, really upset.
Alex? Claire let go of Shanes hand and motioned for him to stay put while she crossed the last few feet to the boy. Hey, Alex? Are you okay?
He gulped and swiped at his eyes, blinking furiously. Then he glared at her. Leave me alone. There was so much ferocity in his voice that Claire instinctively held up both hands and took a step back.
Okay, sure, Im sorry. Im Claire, remember? From the Science Building? I just wanted to help.
He looked confused then, as well as angry. He scrambled to his feet and looked around, then lunged for Claire and grabbed her arm. His eyes were wild. Who are you? he said. Where am I?
Hey, man, let go! Shane stepped in and batted Alexs hand away. Chill. She was trying to help, okay?
That seemed to make him angrier. Alex shouted right in their faces, Where am I? How did you get me here?
Shane looked at Claire and mimed drinking, then shook his head. Must have been one hell of a party, he whispered. Who is this guy?
Just somebody from school.
Hey! Alex was shouting again, getting red in the face. You tell me how I got here or Im calling the cops!
Um . . . Claire pointed behind him. One block away were the gates of Texas Prairie University. Youre not exactly lost. I dont know how you got here, but all you have to do is turn around and go back to the dorm
Alex looked over his shoulder, then snapped his head back around to focus on her. I dont know what kind of sick joke you think youre playing, but youd better tell me whats going on right now.
Hey, enough. Back off, Shane said, and pulled Claire out of easy reach. Go sober up, man. And find some kind of rehab, because, damn.
Im not drunk!
Shane steered Claire away, then across the street to the other sidewalk. Alex just stood there, shouting at them like a crazy man. Shane shook his head. Man. Frat guys. They really can screw up their lives.
I dont think he was drunk, Claire said doubtfully. He didnt really look drunk.
Yeah, because youd be the expert on that. Shane sent her an ironic look, and she remembered, with a flash of shame, that he was the expert; his dad had been a drunk, and so had his mom, toward the end. Shane wasnt exactly a saint, either. Okay, maybe he wasnt drinking, but he was definitely wrecked. What are the fratties taking these days? Maybe it was meth.
Well, Claire really didnt know anything much about drugs. It wasnt that she was a prude; she just had a fear of anything that would screw up the way she thought. This is your brain on drugs and all that. He probably needs help, she decided, and pulled out her phone to dial Chief Moses. She told Hannah about the boy, feeling more than a little like maybe she ought to have minded her own business, but still. That had not been the Alex shed met at school.
As she put the phone away, Claire remembered hearing that voiceMichaels voicethrough the bathroom door this morning. Mom?
She shivered as a cool breeze skittered by.
But really, it was a beautiful day, and she didnt know why she was feeling so weird.
Visiting her folks was every bit as awkward as Claire had imagined. First, her mom opened the door, got a look of delight on her face as she saw Claire, and then immediately dimmed it down to a strained welcome when she spotted Shane standing behind her. Claire, honey, so glad youre here! And Shane, of course. Somehow, that last part sounded like a total lie. Come in; I was just cleaning up the kitchen. Im grilling chicken for lunch; can you stay?
That was Mom all over, offering food in the second breath. It made Claire feel at home. She traded a quick look with Shane, and then said, Well, actually, weve already got plans, Mom, but thanks.
Oh. Of course. Her mother was looking better these daysnot as thin and haunted as she had been when theyd first come to Morganville. In fact, she looked like shed gained a little weight, which was good, and she was dressing a bit less like a character in one of those black-and-white movies where women wore pearls to vacuummore normal. Claire actually kind of liked her shirt. For Mom clothes.
Hows Dad? Claire asked, as they followed her down the hall and turned right into the kitchen. It was the exact same layout as the Glass House, since they were both Founder Houses, but the Danvers house had an open entrance to the kitchen, and her mother had painted the room in sunny yellows that cheered it up a lot. Ugh, she still liked the ducks, though. Lots of ceramic ducks. Well, at least it wasnt the cheesy ceramic roosters; that was an awful memory. Claire and Shane took seats at the small kitchen tablea lot nicer than the battered one they had back at the Glass Houseand Mom fussed around with cups and saucers (Shane held up a saucer with his eyebrows raised, like hed never seen one) and got them coffee.
Mom? Hows Dad?
Her mom poured coffee without meeting her eyes. Hes doing all right, honey. I wish youd come see us more often.
I know. Im sorry. Its been . . . kind of busy these last few days.
Her mom straightened up, frowning. Is anything wrong?
No. Claire slurped coffee, which was too hot, and her mom never made it strong enough. It tasted like coffee-flavored milk. Not now. There was some trouble in town; that was all.
Claire killed a vampire, Shane said. She had to, but it could have gone bad for her with Amelie. As it was, she had to do a job for the vamps that almost killed her.
She could not believe that hed just blurted that out. Shane raised his eyebrows at her again in a silent, What? Like he couldnt believe she wasnt going to say all of that herself.
Her mother just stood there, mouth open, holding the steaming pot of coffee.
Its not that bad, Claire said in a rush. Really. I was just trying to help some people who were in trouble, including Eve. It just turned out . . . well, it turned out okay, in the end.
Worst. Speech. Ever. And it didnt seem to reassure her mother at all.
Mrs. Danvers, Shane said, and held out his cup for a refill on his coffee, with a smile that, Claire thought, hed probably learned from Michael; even her mother seemed to warm up to it. The point is, Claire did something really brave, and probably really important, so you should be proud of her.
Im always proud of Claire. And that, Claire thought, was true; her mother was always proud of her. Except maybe when it came to Shane, of course. But it sounds very dangerous.