Black Sun [New Horizon Trilogy]

06 ~ Head Over Heels

Chapter Six

Head Over Heels

Claire blinked. Once, then twice, and then a third time, because there was no way that Monica Morrel would be out in the middle of Morganville, parading in the streets when the sun was about to go down. And then there was Myrnin; a floppy hat pressed on top of his head and a thick duster draped over his shoulders. His feet, like Monica's, were bare, but that was hardly unusual.

Beside her, Claire heard a soft chuckle of disbelief escape from Shane's lips. "Please tell me that this is really happening and I'm not dreaming."

"We're either dreaming about the same, weird thing, or this is really happening."

Shane's eyes closed, and he tilted his head up to towards the roof of the car. "Thank you, Jesus." He bailed out of the car, his long legs already carrying him a meter away before Claire so much stumbled out after him. "Well look what we have here," he called out, and he had a large grin on his face. "My two least favourite people. Together. Acting like morons."

"Hey, Collins," Monica said, her smile large and dopey. Her words were slurred, and Claire just knew that she wouldn't remember any of this in the morning. "Remember high school? Me and you?"

"I remember you stealing lunch money from ten year old's." Shane's eyebrow roused. "And I remember having to give it back to them." Monica let out a loud and short laugh, and then she was back to dancing, her shaky hand grabbing at Myrnin's coat. Claire's boss didn't look happy, or angry, or anything really. His face was void, rid of any emotion whatsoever, and Claire didn't know what to make of it. She glanced across at Shane, who shrugged in return and fished his mobile phone from his jeans pocket, and then bent down to pick up the drunk girl's shoes. "I'll call someone to pick her up. Wouldn't mind if she died, but — you know."

Claire rolled her eyes, and she shuffled backwards a few steps as Monica lunged past her. "Hey! Those are my shoes!" In the distance, Claire heard Shane barking at Monica to back off and cozy up to somebody who cared.

"So," Claire started, her lips puckered in an awkward frown. "You and Monica are buddies now?"

"I am tutoring her," Myrnin admitted, and he fixed his coat. Claire caught the sight of a bright Hawaiian shirt underneath.

"Tutoring?" Claire repeated, incredulous. "You can't be serious. It's Monica. Monica Morrel."

"I am aware of her status."

"Myrnin, she set fire to Shane's house. She killed his sister!" Myrnin's face remained blank as she tried to reason with him. "She would take over Morganville, and — and probably kill the Founder while she's at it."

"You think highly of her."

"No." She shook her head. "No, I don't."

Myrnin walked towards her, hands clasped behind his back, and his bare feet made a fleshy smacking sound against the tar road with each heavy step. "She couldn't achieve such a feat. I doubt that Monica would be able to accomplish a mediocre high school experiment."

"You're calling her dumb?" Myrnin didn't comment on her choice of description, and he simply nodded once. "Then why are you helping her out? I don't get it."

"For you, of course." He seemed surprised, as if he hadn't been expecting her to ask such a stupid question. He unclasped his hands from behind him, and ran them over his coat before glancing quickly at the sun. "She hasn't been pestering you, has she?"

"Well," Claire stumbled for a brief moment, finding difficulty choosing the right words. "No, but —"

"There you have it. It gets lonely in my lab, and Monica actually supplies me with doughnuts and conversation. Unlike a certain assistant of mine."