The Stars Lie {Myrnin, Morganville Vampires}

Just Fine?!

"Out of aaalll of that, the thing that concerns you is whether he is really ready to die for you?" Eve quirked her eyebrows in confusion.

"No, not that he would die for me. But...maybe he doesn't love me like he thinks he does. Maybe his destiny has been and will always be her. If my Myrnin took her back after everything she did, what does that say? Is it only a matter of time, before this version does the same?"

"Your version is no longer jumping through time portals, causing Swiss cheese shaped holes, in his brain. No...there is no way that is going to happen. Have you met him?"

Claire bit her lip and looked down.

"I recognize that look...okay; tell me the grand finale..." Eve said knowingly.

Claire took a deep breath trying to keep her voice from breaking, "Anwyn could see me. She saw me through the time portal. Does that mean he saw me too and just ignored me? Shit, I stared at him for almost full days on end."

Claire's eyes grew wide as she remembered. "Eve, I was going to commit suicide...I had the portal open...he did nothing. It wasn't enough that he simple forgot our love...but he no longer cared whether I lived or died..." anguish overtook her features as she let out a small wail.

Eve reached around the table to hold Claire's sobbing shoulders. "Shhh...it will be okay. I wish I had the answers but I don't, and I am not going to try to shove sunshine up your ass. But, I know this...the man you are living with really does care about you."

Eve's phone buzzed in her pocket, causing her to jump. She looked down. "Speak of the devil now..." she said, handing the phone to Claire.

Claire shook her head and whispered, "I'm not ready. Please don't tell him I'm here. I just need a little more time to process this before I have to face him."

Eve looked doubtful, but nodded her head. Tapping the screen, she answered, "Hello?" Eve silently stared at Claire while Myrnin spoke in her ear. Claire shook her head, another trickle of tears washed down her face.

"No, I haven't seen her," Eve replied. She pulled the phone slightly away from her ear. Claire suspected it was due to whatever long string of curses Myrnin was uttering right now. "Yes, if I see her, I will tell her to call you." Eve hung up.

"I don't think you should avoid him," Eve looked at Claire. "He's going crazy with worry over you. He found your phone on the floor at the lab."

"I just can't. Not yet. I just need a few more minutes to get myself together and then I promise I will call him," Claire whispered, pleading with Eve to understand.

"Okay," Eve spoke softly as she shook her head. "Are you going to be alright for a minute? I want to check on the bar."

Claire nodded as Eve walked away. Her eyes felt puffy. She decided to slip into the bathroom to run cold water over her face. Claire felt a little better as she emerged from the bathroom. The cold water had soothed her senses. She needed to find Eve so she could borrow her phone to call Myrnin.Claire took one step into the dimly lit hallway and stopped cold in her tracks as she faced an imposing muscular vampire.

"Excuse me," she mumbled as she tried to pass.

He held his arm out, blocking her way, "Where are you going so quickly? I couldn't help but notice you out there. Nothing as beautiful as you should spend her days crying in a bar. Tell me," he purred, "who broke your heart? I promise I can make it feel all better."

Claire froze. "Um...that's okay. I'm fine," she said as she tried to move against his arm that blocked her path. She could smell the alcohol coming off of him. Great. If she took a small step back, she would probably have enough room to reach her dagger tucked away against her thigh. She eased back gently.