Ghost Town Page 0,19

What's not to like? Especially with the easy-open buttons."

"You did not say that out loud."

"Huh. I thought I did, actually."

Claire slipped into her chair. He'd gotten her a cold Coke, too, which was perfect. So were the chili dogs. He'd even left off the onions. "Delicious," she mumbled around a mouthful, and then thought that probably spoiled her fancy new look.

Her fancy new look, though, was nothing compared to Eve's outfit, and just as the doorbell rang, Eve came clattering down the stairs in her buckles and laces and fishnets and boots, and Shane's eyebrows climbed high. He chewed chili dog, swallowed, and said, "Is there some holiday I'm missing? Girls' Dress-up Day?"

"Yes, Shane, and it's a secret you will never share," Eve said. "You just benefit. So shut up."

"You look like a Goth factory exploded all over you!" he called as she ran down the hall.

"Love you, too, jackass!"

The door slammed. Shane grinned and took a huge bite of his second hot dog. "She's so sensitive," he mumbled.

"That's because you're not."

"What?"

Claire sighed. "Never mind. I should know better than to think guys would ever figure that out."

"Okay, this is not a conversation I ever intend to have. Did you get the car?"

"Eve said it's fine."

Shane wolfed down the rest of his food in record time, before she'd even tried to start her second hot dog. She shook her head, took her plate into the kitchen, and put it in the refrigerator for later . . . although she was pretty sure Shane would sneak back and eat it, too, if she didn't get to it first.

He was practically bouncing up and down to leave when she came back with the car keys, which she pitched to him underhanded; he fielded them without a pause as he headed for the door.

"Shotgun!" Claire yelled.

He laughed and opened the door, and took a giant step back, because, of all people, Amelie was standing there. She didn't come inside, although she could have; as Claire joined Shane, she looked at each of them in turn with her cool gray eyes reflecting the hallway light in a strange kind of way. Amelie was wearing her hair down these days, which was still odd to Claire, who'd become so accustomed to that white-gold hair being fastened up in a crown. The long hair made her look much younger. She'd changed how she dressed, too--instead of the formal, stiff suit jackets and skirts, she'd put on dark pants and a black, silky shirt. She was wearing a gold pendant in the shape of a lily, with a red stone in the center. It looked beautiful, and expensive, and old.

"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."

"They're outside. They shall stay there, unless they're needed. I trust they won't 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 she'd been called to the principal's 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 didn't ask them if they had a moment . . . but then, she wouldn't. "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 don't care what he does," he said. "Include him all you want. But he's not my father. My father died."

Claire and Shane had watched it happen.