The Switch (Morganville Vampires)

Chapter 6

Claire in Amelie's body

I couldn't believe Myrnin had done this! He said he would get the machine working again but he didn't change us back! I was still in Amelie's body, but now Amelie was in Oliver's body and Oliver was in my body. I didn't need to point this out, but he was not happy.

I tried to get a coffee a few times when Amelie was making coffee behind the counter, but she would either totally ignore me and ask someone else to step in, or just go to Oliver's office and slam the door (maybe unintentionally).

I sighed and went outside to a waiting limo. I hope they haven't put a huge stack of papers on the desk. If they had, I felt sorry for Amelie. She must get hardly any free time. Well she can do what she likes, so she probably has spare time whenever she feels like it, or something.

When they drove me to Founder's Square, I found the reception area unusually empty.

They were mostly vampires and chairs than people. I looked outside, before the doors closed and it was still relatively light out. I shrugged it off and went upstairs to the office.

I found me... Or was it Oliver? Standing outside my door.

"We need to talk. Now." He said. I opened the door and the guard who had been keeping Oliver back, let him through.

I went to sit in the comfy chair and the guard pulled up a chair for Oliver who seemed less than happy at having a weak human body, and even less happy at being inside my body.

"Can you leave us? I'll call you in once I'm done." I said. The guards nodded and left the room, closing the door. Oliver didn't sit.

"So. Claire. Still thinking it was a good idea to participate in the experiment?" He asked trying to sound threatening, but without his body or vampiness, it just looked really weird.

"Well, Myrnin's my friend and my boss, so if I didn't go, he would just tell Amelie until she made me go to him."

"Amelie does not bend to his will, so easily. Don't try to deny it, you are the cause of this whole mess. I wouldn't be surprised if Amelie hated you from now on. Really, what bright idea did you have including her?"

I sighed. "I thought she would stop whatever Myrnin was trying to do. She did at first, but then I guess Myrnin just carried on. This isn't entirely my fault."

"Oh really? How about asking one of your idiot friends or someone off the street? Now you have messed everything up, and work has to be stopped until that imbecile fixes this!" Oliver said, in a shouty voice and paced the room.

I knew I was supposed to be Amelie, and to be honest she didn't care about anyone else, except me and I had to remain calm, but I couldn't ignore what he said about my friends and Myrnin. Myrnin had done worse things than this, it wasn't fair to call him that.

"Myrnin is not a imbecile! And my friends are not idiots. Myrnin's done worse things than this and you never cared-"

"Because I am not trapped in your body!" Oliver shouting, swinging a fist which was caught by another hand. He was pushed away to Oliver - well, Amelie - standing there.

"No fights. This is an office, not a place for fighting." She said.

"Are you not at least a bit angry at this?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, of course I am displeased, but I see no point in being angry. I would like to go back to my body, intact. Myrnin will sort it out, I made sure of it. Just try to get on with things without killing each other." Amelie said.

"Just make sure you hate her, after all this. No more coddling her and doing what she wants." Oliver said.

"You know, as a human you are far less threatening. I think this is where most of your anger comes from." Amelie said. Oliver went to punch her again but Amelie, in Oliver's body easily caught his - my - wrist.

"Stop this. You have to go to the Glass House and pretend to be Claire. Just don't kill anybody." Amelie said.

"You have lost your mind, if you think I am going to pretend to be her." Oliver fiercely growled.

"It's either that, or you go to Myrnin's and make sure he finishes fixing the machine."

"Why don't you go? I hardly do anything and no-one would miss you." He said, in my body. I hadn't said anything since Amelie arrived, so I decided to pipe up.

"I could go."

"No." They both said.

"You're needed here. Unlike Oliver, people would miss me." Amelie said. She turned back to Oliver.

"Its either go to the Glass House and pretend to be Claire, or go to Myrnin and make sure he fixes that machine."

"I pick neither. As I said, you go. I regularly take long breaks."

"No, Oliver. Pick one, or I will pick for you, and you won't like it." Amelie ordered. Oliver glared at her, then stormed out of the office. She sighed. "Guards, check where she goes and report back."

They nodded and follow Oliver, even though we could hear he didn't like it.

Amelie cast a long look at me then walked out. "Just try not mess things up."