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Umyeah. Yes, sir. Because somehow, when Oliver was being civilized, she felt compelled to still call him sir. Mom and Dad had a lot to answer for, she decided. She couldnt even be rude to evil vampires whod caged her boyfriend and were preparing to roast him alive. What about Shane?
Oliver leaned back, and his eyelids drifted down to half-mast. Weve covered this subject, Claire. Quite thoroughly. I believe you might even have the bruises to remind you of my opinion.
He didnt do it.
Let us deal in facts. Fact, the boy came back to Morganville with the clear intention of disrupting the peace, at the very least, and more likely killing vampires, which is an automatic death sentence. Fact, he concealed himself from us, along with his intentions. Fact, he communicated with his father and his fathers friends both before they came to Morganville and after. Fact, he was at the scene of the crime. Fact, he has offered little in his own defense. Need I go on?
But
Claire. Oliver sounded sad and wounded. He leaned forward, braced his elbows on the table, and placed his chin on top of his folded hands. Youre young. I understand that you have feelings for him, but dont be a fool. Hell drag you down with him. If you force me to it, Im sure I could uncover evidence that you knew about the presence of Shanes father in Morganville, and you had knowledge of their agenda. And that, my dear girl, would mean the end of your precious Protection, and put you in a cage alongside your boyfriend. Is that what you want?
Hess put a warning hand on her arm. Enough, Oliver.
Not nearly enough. If you came to bargain, I think you have nothing to offer me that I cant get elsewhere, Oliver said. So please take yourselves
Ill sign whatever you want, Claire blurted. You know, swear myself to you. Instead of Amelie. If you want. Just let Shane go.
She hadnt been planning to do it, but when hed mentioned bargain it had just taken on a life of its own inside her, and leaped right out of her mouth. Hess groaned and ran a hand over his hair, then covered his mouth, evidently to keep himself from telling her what an idiot she was.
Oliver continued to gaze at her with those steady, kind eyes.
I see, he said. It would be love, then. For love of this boy,you would tie yourself to me for the rest of your life. Give me the right to use you as I see fit. Do you have any idea what youre offering? Because I would not offer you the conditional contracts that most in Morganville sign, Claire. No, for you, there would be the old ways. The hard ways. I would own you, body and soul. I would tell you when to marry and whom to marry, and own your children and all their issue. I was born in a time when this was custom, you see, and I am not in a charitable mood just now. Is this what you want?
Dont, Hess said sharply. He gripped Claires forearm and pulled her up to her feet. Were going, Oliver. Right now.
She has the right to make her own choices, Detective.
Shes a child! Oliver, shes sixteen years old!
She was old enough to conspire against me, he said. Old enough to find the book that I spent half a hundred years pursuing. Old enough to cut off my one and only chance to save my people from Amelies intolerable iron grip. Do you think I care about her age? Olivers friendly courtesy was all gone, and what was left was like a man-sized snake, with a cruel light flickering behind his eyes, and fangs flicking down in warning. Claire let Hess pull her out from behind the table, toward the door. Hed drawn his gun.
I may not let you leave, Oliver said. You realize that?
Hess spun and raised the gun, pointed it straight at Olivers chest. Silver bullets washed in holy water, with a cross cast right in. He clicked back the hammer. You want to test the line, Oliver? Because its right here. Youre standing on it. Ill take a lot of shit from you, but not this. Not that kind of contract, and not with a kid.
Oliver hadnt even bothered to stand up.
I take it you dont want your coffee poured to go? A pity. Do watch your back, Detective. You and I will have a talk, one of these days. And Clairecome back anytime. If the hours run thin, and you want to make that deal, I will listen.
Dont even think about it, Hess said. Claire, open the door. He held his gun trained on the vampire, un-blinking, while Claire unlocked the three dead bolts and swung it open. Get in the car.
Move. He backed out behind her as she ran to the car and dived inside. Hess banged the door to Common Grounds closed, hard enough to crack glass, and slid over the hood of the car in a move shed only ever seen in action movies, and was in the car and starting it before she could take a breath.
They raced off into the night. Claire checked the backseat, suddenly terrified shed turn around to see Oliver grinning at her, but it was empty.
Hess was sweating. He wiped at the drops with the back of his hand. You dont fool around when you get yourself in trouble, Ill give you that, he said. Ive lived here all my life, and Ive never seen anybody get that out of Oliver. Ever.
Umthanks?
It wasnt a compliment. Listen, under no circumstances do you ever go back to Common Grounds, get me? Avoid Oliver at all costs. And no matter what happens, dont make that deal. Shane wouldnt want it, and youd live to regret it. Youd live a long time, and youd hate every horrible second of it. Hess shook his head and took a deep breath. Right. Thats the end of the line for you tonight.
Youre going home, Im seeing you safe inside, and Im going home to hide in a closet until this blows over. I suggest you do the same.
But Shane
Shanes dead, Hess said, so quietly and matter-of factly that she thought he meant it, that somehow someone had slipped in and killed him and she hadnt even knownbut then he went on. You cant save him. Nobody can save him now. Just let go and watch yourself, Claire. Thats all you can do. Youve pissed off both Amelie and Oliver in one night. Enough already. A little common sense would be welcome from you right about now.
She sat in dull, grim silence the rest of the way home.
Hess was as good as his word. He walked her from the car up the steps, watched her open the front door, and nodded wearily as she stepped inside. Lock it, he said. And for Gods sake, go get some rest.
Michael was right there, warm and comforting, when she closed the door. He was holding his guitar by the neck, so hed clearly been playing; his eyes were red-rimmed, his face tense. Well? he asked.
Hello, Claire, how are you? Claire asked the air. No death threats, right? Thanks for going out in the dark to bargain with two of the scariest people on earth.
He at least had the good manners to look embarrassed about it. Sorry. You okay?
Duh. No fang marks, anyway. She shuddered. I do not like those people.
Vampires?
Vampires.
Technically, not people, but then, neither am I, now that I think about it. So never mind. Michael put an arm around her and steered her toward the living room, where he sat her down, put a blanket around her shoulders. Im guessing it didnt go well.
