The Dead Girls Dance Page 0,82

her yet. He looked more like himself now, more in control. Except for the pale skin, he might nearly have been normal.

No, he said. This is their home, and its my home, and its Shanes home. Were a family. Im not giving that up.

Do you know why I stopped you? Amelie said. Why I ordered Sam to stop you? Because your instincts cannot be trusted, Michael, not at this point. You cannot care, because your feelings for them will hurt them. Do you understand? Were you not moving toward these two girls with the intention of feeding on them?

His eyes went wide and, suddenly, very dark. No.

Think.

No.

You were, Sam said quietly, from behind him. I know, Michael. I was there once. And there was no one to stop me.

Michael didnt try to deny it again; he looked at Eve, right at her, with such terrible dawning pain that it hurt to see it.

It wont happen again. Eve hadnt said a word since all this had started, so it was a little shocking to hear her say that, so calmly. Sonormally. I know Michael. He wouldnt have done this if he was going to hurt any of us. Hed die first.

He did die, Amelie said. The human part of him is gone. What is left is mine. She said it with a little regret, which didnt surprise Claire much; shed seen it in Amelies infinitely weary eyes as shed helped her up. Come, Michael. You need food. I will show you where to go.

Wait a minute, he said. Please. And he stepped away from her, and held out his hand to Eve.

Amelie drew breath to tell him somethingprobably nobut she didnt speak. Sam didnt, either, but he turned and walked away,aimlessly circling the room. Claire reluctantly let go of Eve, and Eve walked directly to Michael, no hesitation at all.

He took both of her hands in his.

Im sorry. There wasnt any other way. Michael swallowed, his eyes fixed on Eves. Ive been feeling it, more and more. Like thispressure inside. Its not just that I needed to do this to help Shane. I justneeded it to stay sane. And Im sorry. Youre going to hate me.

Why? Eve asked. It was half bravado, it had to be, but she sounded certain. Because youre vamped? Please. I loved you when you were only halfway here at all. As long as youre with me, I can deal, Michael. For you, I can deal.

He kissed her, and Claire blinked and looked away. There was a lot of hunger in that kiss, and desperation, and it was way too personal.

Eve wasnt the first one to pull away, either.

When he stepped back from her, he was the old Michael after all,never mind the paler skin and the odd shine to his eyes. That smilehe was Michael, and everything was going to be okay.

He wiped away Eves silent tears with his thumbs, kissed her again, very lightly, and said, Ill be back. Amelies right, I need to He hesitated, glanced at Amelie, and then back down at Eve. I need to feed. I guess I need to get used to saying that. His smile looked a little dimmer this time. Im going to miss dinners.

You wont, Sam said. You can still eat solid foods if you want. I do.

For some reason, that seemed really important. It was something they could hold on to.

Ill make dinner tonight, Claire said. To celebrate getting Shane home.

Its a deal. Michael let go of Eve and stepped back. Im ready.

Then come outside, Amelie said. Come back to the world.

Michael might have become a vampire, but watching him stand outside in the night air, breathing in his freedomClaire thought that was as human as it could get.

Chapter Thirty

Eve changed into what Claire thought of as Goth camoblack pants, a black silk shirt with red skulls embroidered at the collar, and a black vest with loads of pockets that could hold things. Things like stakes and crosses, as it turned out. Just in case, Eve said, catching Claires look. What?

Nothing, she sighed. Just dont use them on Michael.

Eve stopped for a second, stricken, and then nodded. She was still getting her head around it, Claire knew. Well, Claire was doing the same thing. She kept expecting to hear Michaels guitar downstairs; she kept wondering about what time it was. Not dawn yetshe checked the Internet and found out that they still had time, but if Michael didnt come back soon

The front door