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It didnt go at all, she said. Shed been depressed on the ride home, but having to actually report on her failure was a whole new level of suck. Theyre not letting him go.
Michael didnt say anything, but the light died in his eyes. He went down on one knee next to her and fussed with the blanket, tucking it tighter around her. Claire. Are you okay? Youre shaking.
Theyre cold, you know, she said. They make me cold, too.
He nodded slowly. You did what you could. Rest.
What about Eve? Is she still here?
He glanced up at the ceiling, as if he could see through it. Maybe he could. Claire really didnt know what Michael could and couldnt do; after all, hed been dead a couple of times already. Wouldnt do to underestimate somebody like that. Shes asleep, he said. Italked to her. She understands. She wont do anything stupid. He didnt look at Claire when he said that, and she wondered what kind of talking that might have been.
Her mother had always said, when in doubt, ask. Was it the kind of talk where you gave her something to live for? Like maybe, um, you?
Did Iwhat the hell are you talking about?
I just thought maybe you and her
Claire, Jesus! Michael said. Shed actually made him flinch. Wow. That was new. You think banging me is going to make her forget about charging out to commit cold-blooded vampire slaying? I dont know what kind of standards you have on sex, but those are pretty high. Besides, whatevers between me and Evewell, its between me and Eve. Until she tells me about it later, Claire thought. Anyway, thats not what I meant. Ipersuaded her. Thats all.
Persuaded. Right. The mood Eve had been in when Claire left? Not too likely
And then Claire remembered the voices whispering to her in the alley, and her blind, stupid assumption of safety leading her into danger. Could Michael do that? Would he?
You didnt She touched her temple with one finger.
What?
Screw with her head? Like they can?
He didnt answer. He fussed with the blanket around her shoulders some more, fetched her a pillow, and said, Lie down. Rest. Its only a couple of hours until dawn, and Im going to need you.
Oh, God, Michael, you didnt. You didnt! Shell never forgive you!
As long as she lives to hate me later, he said. Rest. I mean it.
She didnt intend to sleep; her brain was whirling like a tire rim scraping pavement, shooting off sparks in every direction. Lots of energy being expended, but she wasnt going anywhere fast. Have to think of something. Have to
Michael started playing, something soft that sounded melancholy, all in minor keys, and she felt herself begin to drift
and then, without any sense of going, she was gone.
The blanket around her smelled like Shane.
Claire burrowed deeper into its warmth, murmuring something that might have been his name as she woke; she felt good, relaxed, safe in his embrace. The way shed been the other night when theyd spent it here on the couch, kissing
All that faded fast when the events of the past day flooded back, stripping away the comfort and leaving her cold and scared. Claire sat up, clutching the blanket, and looked around. Michaels guitar was back in its case, and the sun was over the horizon. So, he was gone again, and she and Eveshe and Eve were on their own.
Right, she whispered. Time to get to work. She still needed to find some kind of viable strategy to break Shane out of that cage on Founders Square. Which meant researchmaybe Detective Hess could tell her something about how many guards there were, and where. Clearly, there was some kind of security process for keeping out the human losers like her, but any security could be broken, right? At least, thats what shed always heard. Maybe Eve knew something that could help.
If Eve wasnt back on suicide watch this morning, anyway. Claire thought wistfully about a hot shower, decided maybe it could wait, and wandered into the kitchen to put on coffee. Eve wasnt going to be happy, but shed be even less happy without caffeine. Claire waited while the pot filled, then carried a black mug full of the stuff upstairs. The key to Eves door was hanging on a hook, with a note taped to it. Michaels handwriting. It read, Dont let her leave the house. By implication, of course, it meant Claire was supposed to stay here, too.
As if she could even think about doing that, with Shanes last hours running out. And who knew what was happening to him out there? She thought about the cold fury in Oliver, the indifference in Amelie, her stomach twisting. She grabbed the key, turned it in the lock, and opened Eves bedroom door.
Eve was sitting, fully dressed and made-up in zombified glory, on the edge of her bed. Shed put her hair into two pigtails, one on each side, and shed done her makeup with great care. She looked like a scary porcelain doll.
An angry scary porcelain doll. The kind that they made horror movies about, with stabby knives.
Coffee? Claire asked weakly. Eve looked at her for a second, took the coffee, got up, and walked out of the bedroom toward the stairs. Oh boy.
By the time Claire made it downstairs, Eve was standing in the middle of the living room, looking up at nothing. Shed put the coffee down, and her hands were on her hips. Claire paused, one hand still clutching the banister, and watched Eve turn a slow circle as if she was looking for something.
I know youre there, you coward, she said. Now hear this, crazy supernatural boy. If you ever f**k with me again, I swear, I will walk out this door and never come back. You get me? One for yes, two for no.
He must have said yes, because some of the stiffness went out of Eves shoulders. She was still mad, though. I dont know whats lower, you playing vamp tricks on me, or locking me in my room, but either way, you are so busted, man. Being dead cant save you. When you get back tonight, I am completely kicking your ass.
He was sorry, Claire said. She sat down on the first step as Eve turned a glare of righteous anger in her direction. He knew you were going to be mad, but he couldnthe cares about you, Eve. He couldnt just let you go out and get yourself killed.
Last time I checked, I was over eighteen and nobodys property! Eve yelled, and stomped her foot. I dont care if youre sorry, Michaelyoure going to have to work really hard to make this up to me! Really hard!
Claire saw the breeze ruffle Eves hair. Eve closed her eyes for a second, swaying, mouth open in a round, red O.
Okay, she said weakly. That was different.
What? Claire asked, and jumped to her feet.
Nothing. Um, nothing at all. Right. Eve cleared her throat. What happened last night? Did you get them to let Shane go?
Claires throat just locked up on her in misery. She shook her head and looked down. But its no use going out there with stakes and crosses, she said. Theyd be ready. We need another plan.
What about Joe? Detective Hess?
Claire shook her head again. He cant.
