Uh . . . hi, Amelie. Come in? Claire moved back to give her room. Amelie smiled slightly and nodded as she walked past them. She smelled like refrigerated roses. She walked ahead of them down the hall, paused in the living room, and turned back to face Claire.
Shane was still at the door. Where are the spear carriers?
Pardon? Amelie raised pale eyebrows.
You know, your guys. The guards.
Theyre outside. They shall stay there, unless theyre needed. I trust they wont be, Mr. Collins.
Shane locked the door and came back to stand beside Claire. He folded his arms and waited.
Amelie seated herself on the couch and crossed her legs, still staring at Claire and Shane. Suddenly, Claire felt as if shed been called to the principals office. What had she done wrong?
Amelie said, Forgive the intrusion. I would have called, but I was in the area, and I had a moment to stop by. Claire noticed she didnt ask them if they had a moment . . . but then, she wouldnt. Please sit.
No, thanks, Shane said. We were on our way out.
Ah. Well, I will be brief. She focused on him. Your father has come to me and asked to be included in the register of vampires in Morganville. I have allowed it. I feel that I owe it to him, despite the crimes he has committed against us; after all, it was my own father who sentenced him to this life, and I know he did not want it. She was focused entirely on Shane, who had gone stiff and very still.
His eyes went flat and blank for a second, and then he straightened and took a deep breath. I dont care what he does, he said. Include him all you want. But hes not my father. My father died.
Claire and Shane had watched it happen. Frank Collins, fearless vampire killer, had been dragged in and attacked by Amelies evil old vamp daddy, Bishop. Hed been drained. And hed been brought back.
It had been beyond horrible having to see it, especially for Shane. But worse than that was knowing his dad was a vampire. And knowing that he was still walking around.
Which was why Claire hadnt mentioned her sighting of him earlier.
I thought you might feel so, Amelie said. Her tone was cool, very neutral, and Claire shivered a little, as if shed caught a chill. I felt it worth the attempt to give you a chance to reconnect. Frank Collins has entered a training program we have established for new vampires to break them of bad habits and reinforce the rules of Morganville that they must live by; he will finish this program within the week. Once he does, he will have the same status as any other vampire who has signed the Morganville accords. He may not be harmed without my permission. Should anyone attempt it, I will take it personally. She continued to stare at Shane. Anyone. I trust you do understand what Im saying to you.
Shane just shook his head, face closed and hard. Claire wanted to take his hand, but his arms were still folded defensively across his chest. He wasnt meeting Amelies eyes.
Shane, the Founder of Morganville said, using his name for the first time. I am sorry. I know this will be . . . difficult for you, considering the history between you and your father, and what has happened to him. But according to the laws of Morganville, he will also be allowed to become a Protector, if he wishes to do so. He has said that he will gladly accept the responsibility of acting as your Protector, should you choose
No way in hell. Get out, Shane interrupted her. He didnt say it loudly, but there was a frightening, out-of-control look in his eyes. Just get out. Im not talking about this.
Amelie didnt move. She stared at him. Hed met her eyes now, and after a long, tense moment, she spread her hands in a graceful gesture, unfolded her long legs, and stood. I have taken enough of your time, she said. I am sorry to have upset you. Your father may well come to see you, so please remember what Ive said: no matter how you feel, you cannot strike at him without consequences. Even a friend of Morganville has limits. Her icy gray eyes shifted, and Claire froze in place. Claire, I rely on you to remind him if he should forget this.
Claire nodded, suddenly unable to speak at all. She glanced at Shane, who wasnt moving, and hurried down the hall to the door to open it for Amelie. When she did, she found Amelies two big vampire guards, in their black suits and ties, standing on the porch, facing out toward the road.
Amelie walked past her and down the steps without another word. The guards fell in behind her, helped her into the big black limousine that idled at the curb, and as it glided off into the dark, Claire stood there watching it go.
What just happened? Things had changed so fast, and so violently, that she felt shaky.
It occurred to her that standing here with the door wide-open was a victim-type thing to do in Morganville, so she quickly closed and locked it, took a deep breath, and went back to Shane.
He was sitting down on the couch at one end, staring straight at the not-currently-on TV. He was playing with the remote control, but he didnt press the power button.
Shane . . .
I dont care, he said. I dont care that Franks still alive, because hes not my dad. He hasnt been my dad for years, not since Alyssanot since she died. Hes even less my dad now than he ever was, and he never was up for father of the year anyway. I dont want to know him. I dont want to have anything to do with him.
I know, Claire said, and sat down next to him. Im sorry. But he did save my life once, and I have to think maybe he can . . . change.
Shane snorted. He already changedinto a bloodsucking freak. What bugs me is that he has one minute of regret, and he gets to wipe out years of being a drunken asshole, beating the crap out of me, nearly getting us all killed more than once. . . . No. Im glad he saved you. But that doesnt even start to make us even. I dont want anything to do with him.
There didnt seem to be anything she could possibly say. He was really upsetshe could see it; she could feel it. Are you okay? What a stupid question, she thought, as soon as she said it. Of course he wasnt okay. He wouldnt be slouched like a boneless sack on the couch, staring at a dead TV with even deader eyes, if he was okay.
If he comes here . . . Shane swallowed. If he comes here, you have to promise me youll stop me from doing something stupid. Because I will, Claire.
No, you wont, Claire said, and finally took his hand. Shane, you wont. Youre not like that. I know its all complicated and crazy and it hurts, but you cant let him do that to you. Ill make sure Michael and Eve know that if he shows up, we just tell him to leave. Hell never get in the door.
She felt cold againicy, in factand felt a hum all along her nerves. What was that? Not a draft. Definitely not a draft. It felt like . . . anger. Cold, hard anger, like the kind that was inside Shane right nowbut she was feeling it from the outside.
The house.
Shed gotten used to its not doing this kind of thing anymore; the Glass House had always seemed to have a kind of presence to them, something that reflected their feelings, their fears . . . but it had died with the portal system. So she thought.
You fixed the portal system, remember? Apparently, that put the house itself back on the grid, too, which was why it was reacting to Shanes mood. She was never sure what the house understood, but she was absolutely sure it was on their side. Maybe that even meant it would make sure Frank Collins never came here again.
She reached for a blanket and pulled it over her shoulders, still shivering. If the house was showing her any reflection of Shanes anger, he was deeply upset, even though he was struggling not to show it.
Shane finally pressed the power button on the TV and dropped his left arm over her shoulders. She felt the chill ease a little. Thanks, he said. If you hadnt been here when she said all that, I probably would have done something pretty dumb. Or said something even dumber.
No, you wouldnt. Youre a survivor.
He kissed her on the forehead. Takes one to know one.
So, no drive-in?
Its a zombie movie.
Well, there are good points about zombie movies. Therere usually smart girls in them, for some reason. And the smart girls hardly ever get killed. Claire kissed him back, on the cheek. Besides, I know how much you like zombie movies. Especially with chain saws and everything.
Shane flipped channels for a few seconds, then shut the TV off, got up, and held out his hand. Chain saws, he repeated. Youre right. Its probably just what I need. He didnt let go of her hand after hed helped her to her feet; instead, he put it on his chest, over his heart. She felt the strong, steady beat beneath. You look great. You probably already know that.
She kissed him, and they stood together, rocking slightly from side to side, until Shane broke the kiss and smiled down at her. Save it for the drive-in, he said, and touched her lips with one finger. Ill drive fast.
Youd better.
FOUR
Shane drove the hearseEves, a huge, black, vaguely old-fashioned monster, with the fringed funeral curtains still in the backdown Morganvilles poorly lit streets, winding through backstreets Claire had never visited even in daylight. She saw glints of eyes in the darkness, and if there were any street-lights in this part of town, they were broken or turned off. She felt relieved when he made a turn that took them onto a broader avenue . . . until she took a good look. Lots of people walking around in the shadows.
Not normal for Morganville. But normal for vampires in Morganville.
Yeah, its Vamp Central Station, Shane said. Not like Founders Squarethats where the upper-class bloodsuckers hang out. This is where the rest of them come. Theres another blood bank down here, and nothing around gets much human business after dark. Dont worry; were not stopping.
And they didnt, not even for a light that was shifting from yellow to red; Shane just gunned right through it.
Claire was glad he did. Heads were turning to watch the car go by. Maybe Amelies Protection extended out here. But she didnt want to risk her neckliterallyon that.
Two more turns and all of a sudden there was a giant white screen looming up out of the darkness ahead, surrounded by a fence. It looked like a parking lot inside, with some kind of vending stand at the back.
Just like in the old movies.
Amazing, Claire said. Shane pulled up to the ticket stand at the entrance and handed over a couple of dollarsit didnt cost much, apparently. Then he drove on in. The lot was about half-full, mostly with battered old cars and trucks that matched up with what the humans of Morganville drove. There were also a few heavily tinted late-model sedansvampmobiles. Well, she supposed even vampires loved the movies. Who didnt?
So how does this work? Claire asked. How do we hear the sound?
For an answer, Shane flipped on the radio and tuned it to an AM channel. Immediately she was treated to a burst of static, followed by extremely cheesy music that had probably annoyed people even back when her grandmother was young.
Fantastic, Claire said, in a way that meant it wasnt. You know, Eve went to a rave.
By herself?
With a friend. Shes sort of doing the mother-hen thing.
Are you wishing wed gone, too?
No, Claire said, although secretly she thought it might not have been terrible. This is great.
Shane looked over at her. Bullshit. You think it sucks.
I dont!
Just wait, he said, and smiled. Youll see. You want a Coke? Popcorn?
Sure. She sighed. Shane bailed out and set off for the refreshment stand at the back. Claire got out her cell and texted Eve. R u ok? She got a reply back in seconds. Death by boring. College poseurs. Yak.
Eve always made her laugh. B safe, Claire texted back. Eve sent a picture of herself with her friend, who looked intimidated and scared and very much as if she was wishing herself gone. Eve was winking. The message with it said, Half an hour more tops. C u home.
The car door opened, and Shane climbed in, handing her a cup of Coke and a giant bag of popcorn, which she tried to figure out how to balance in her lap. The Cokes went into cup holders, at least, and before she could take a handful of the steaming popcorn, there was a sudden flicker of color out the front window, and the coming attractions started up.
Shane took the bag of popcorn from her, set it carefully in the backseat, and turned the radio down. Hey, Claire protested. How can we hear if
He leaned over and kissed her, and kept kissing her, and his lips were so hot and sweet and strong that she just felt herself melting against him. He eased her jacket off, and she didnt even think about objecting, because even though it was cold she felt warm, so warm, and then his hands were . . . Oh, that was good. Very good.
She wasnt thinking, not at all, not about anything except how incredible it felt to be with him, here, in the dark. When she finally came up for a gasping breath, most of her buttons were undone. All of his were undone. Did I do that? she wondered with a shock, because it really wasnt like her to be doing this out in public, where people could see.
But it felt like being alone. Deliciously, magically alone. Because they were in a crowd of people, but nobody was paying them the slightest bit of attention.
The movie had started, but she had zero idea what it was about, other than some crazy zombie guy stalking people. Oh, and there was a smart girl with glasses, and a hot guy who would probably survive, too. With the sound turned down to a whisper, she saw only flashes, and when she closed her eyes, she didnt see anything but sunbursts of light against the darkness.
Whats this? Shane asked, and traced the line of her new bra with his fingertip. Sexy. What else you got?
Ill give you a hint. It matches.
Lets take a look. . . .
Things were about to get very interestingand she wasnt thinking about the movie at allwhen her cell phone rang. Claire yelped and flailed around for it, mostly to shut it off, but Shane sat up, and she squirmed around to get to a sitting position, holding her shirt closed as she squinted at the display.