Between Shadows Read online

  Miranda spoke, “If you want to be treated with respect then please give me that same chance to show you what I am. Now the boys were doing everyone a favor, I had already decided I was leaving the cottage to stretch; they only kept me from making an even bigger mistake. Unfortunately someone at the Concillium decide they wanted me dead, they sent one of their son’s, and now he’s dead. Don’t blame these two for anything but saving my life. I could only keep him from shifting because I didn’t have the knowledge of how to kill him.”

  Miranda’s voice was cold like before, which was still scaring Jared until she whispered in his head, that she needed to be cold. So with that Jared calmed down and smiled, Michael and Kilaws looked but didn’t understand why.

  “Is that how you turned his head?” Two of the Council members asked they were very upset by the fact that she could work inside someone’s brain. This had never been done before and the thought that someone existed that could do it was amazing but terrifying at the same time.

  “Yeah, but I normally don’t invade that way. Normally I ask for permission unless my life is in danger.” Miranda turned back to Kilaws, “next time I’ll try to learn to control my temper. I will say that right now the only people I can trust are Jared and Michael. If you were to try and change who is going to guard me that would be a major problem for me, I might not even want to stay around.”

  For the first time Gage stepped up to speak, “My child, I see you have already made some choices, ones I guess won’t be able to change. However I don’t think staying here is a very good one; this cottage can only protect you while the others have no knowledge of you. They only sent his son because they didn’t believe in your true existence, now that he is dead, that school of thought will change. I believe you should come with me now and be under my protection as well.”

  Miranda knew what Gage was trying to do, “I am not going anywhere without Jared and Michael. I told you they are the only ones I trust right now, and I don’t even know you. How can I be sure you really are my father and not just another race that wants me dead?”

  The Council, Jared and Michael gasped; no one had ever spoken to Gage like that before. Gage didn’t look angry but he never did even before he killed someone.

  Gage was very big, tall and muscular. He had the same brilliant red hair as Miranda and the same eyes, how could she be so crude as to suggest that they weren’t related. Gage was the one that even the Concillium feared; he was the strongest of any living thing in their world. Everyone in the room froze. No one know what was going to happen next and no one wanted to be in the line of fire.

  Jared was the only one to know about the energy power so he needed to think fast, it would be a very bad thing for Miranda to kill her father, but it would be worse for the Council to see how she could do it.

  Gage spoke quickly, “See how smart she is; now I know this is my child. I said I believe you should come with me now and be under my protection as well. I meant with Jared and Michael, I would never take Jared away from you, I see what he means to you.” Gage gave Jared an uneasy look, “I also know that Kilaws wouldn’t want you to be unhappy either, and it is also very easy to see the lengths that Jared would go to keep you safe. So why would I want to start off our new relationship by taking away your friends, and your best protector.”

  Jared wanted to speak but Miranda ask him not to. The Council, Kilaws, and Gage all wanted to ask Jared the same question, Kilaws spoke to him first, “How is it that the two of you know what the other one is going to say?”

  “Would it be ok if everyone sat down first?”

  It was all Jared could think of to say in response. They did and Miranda place hostess and urge Jared to help her with food and drinks, “after a long journey it is the right thing to do.”

  It gave them time to discuss things between their minds in the kitchen, they did however after a lot of discussion decide to go with the truth about their connection when they returned.

  “We have a special bond; I guess you could say. We speak through each other’s minds. Gage you can read minds. Well, we all know Miranda can go into them, so we tried to speak to each other so that other people can’t hear us. It works great; we can even block mind readers from getting in and hearing us.” Jared smiled as he spoke, his father wasn’t pleased, but Gage was.

  Gage knew that this would keep Miranda here, with him in this world, and maybe then she wouldn’t go back to the human world with her mom. That’s all he wanted from the beginning something Miranda’s mother would never have allowed.

  It was probably a good thing he didn’t know how bad the human world was to Miranda or else he may have changed his look at this situation. Miranda thought as she read through Gage’s mind.

  Miranda wasn’t sure what to say, she looked at Jared and the whole room looked at them, knowing now what they could do together. So Miranda changed her mind and spoke to everyone,

  “I would like a day or two to think about how to handle everything, you said I was smart, isn’t it smart to think before you act?”

  The room was incredibly still, only Gage spoke, “Do you think you can handle taking care of my daughter for two more days alone?”

  Gage was speaking to only Jared, but he knew the answer before the question ever came out of his mouth.

  “Of course sir, I would not let one hair be harmed.” Jared turned toward Miranda, “Could you please promise to refrain from going outside until then? I do believe you can take care of yourself but I think more knowledge is in order before we try that again, you need to know about the worse of our kind, especially if they plan to target you. I want you to have all of my knowledge before anything happens because as everyone in here knows it will happen. We just don’t know when, where or by whom.” Jared’s eyes where pleading with her.

  Miranda let him off the hook, “Ok I plan to behave and stay indoors but you really need to tell me everything about our world. I mean everything, the good, the bad, and the most dangerous. I also need to know what to do when it all happens because I don’t want to be on the sidelines when someone tries to kill me again. I need to know everything, and that goes for you too, Gage. The next time I see you, you better be willing to give up everything. I don’t ever want to be caught off guard like that again, human schools give very little information on your world, and you keep your secrets hidden well.

  The room was suddenly calm again, everyone was relieved that the business was done, and no one got hurt. They finished talking and having a very good time.

  Miranda thought how strange it’s so human to do this; her father winked at her, and sent a message in his mind. We’re not that far off of the human race, we just scare the hell out of them, that’s all.

  She thought about the pictures in the photo albums on the shelf, is that why they don’t live along side of the human race anymore, fear? Miranda figure she could ask Jared later after her new life was straighten out.

  Before anyone knew it, time had gotten away and they all needed to leave. They would come back in two days time and settle all of the business at hand, then Miranda would go to live with Gage, and decide how would she disappear for the human world for good. A lot to think about, but she had only two problems; did she want to live in the house with her dad around and how would that affect the relationship had was having with Jared?

  Chapter 6

  The night was over and even though they had a lot to think about they just went to bed. Jared and Miranda slept together arm in arm, “Tomorrow is another day, for now my love, sleep tight.” That was the last thing she heard him say and she was out. She didn’t see the lights go off, and she didn’t feel him slide next to her, she just knew he would be there.

  The next morning the sun came up to a cloudy sky, she turned to look, but Jared was gone. For a split second, she just sat there frozen in time, and worried he was gone. A deep breathe soon revealed a fresh cooked meal, and a smiling face. It was then that she had to focus on the fact that in this world people s
tayed around, unlike the human world, here people didn’t leave you.

  “Good morning, how did you sleep?”

  His voice was like a ray of sunshine to her, it was still unbelievable that he could know all about her and yet still want to stay around.

  “I got up early so I could surprise you, did it work?”

  Miranda smiled back at him. She was very surprised; even with being married no one had ever gone to the trouble of surprising her. To both of them life truly was complete, in this moment of time, the world was perfect. It was so strange how quickly all of it had happened.

  “You have completely surprised me! I was wondering where you were and now I see that you had never really left.” Miranda was surprised by his little gestures, “Where did you get all of that?”

  “I couldn’t get you breakfast in bed yesterday, but today with the two of us being grounded and all, I was hoping to surprise you.” Jared had fresh eggs, fruit, and coffee for the two of them on the tray. “I did run out somewhere to get some of it, but I left a note in case you woke up before I got back.” He walked the rest of the way through door, and all Miranda could do is smile and be content.

  Today would be a day of thought and contemplation, but for now she just wanted to be happy. The morning with him would be about us and about finding out what we want, she thought as she smiled to herself, and stared at him. The only unknown was the future; this was a strange new thing to her, the girl who saw everything. For now us, later we’ll deal with the world, and my father.

  “How did you do all of this so quietly? I didn’t feel or hear you leave, cook or do anything?”

  “When you want something bad enough, it somehow happens, I wanted to start this day on the easiest note possible. I know that the rest of today and tomorrow will be hard enough, so I wanted this morning to be for you.” Jared choose his words carefully he wanted them to be comforting and relaxing, but also helpful.

  “The Council and your father can wait; this is just about just us here and now.”

  He placed the tray down on the bed and got in bed with her. They quietly ate and spoke only about the food and how nice it was to be together all alone.

  Jared cleaned up when they were done and then walked back over to her and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Finally he spoke, “I was hoping you would read my mind, but I can see now that you won’t. I want you to know that if you need to leave me, I’ll try and be ok with it or if you want I’ll wait forever for you. Don’t change your life or challenge your father for me.” He hid his face behind her; he didn’t want her to see the pain he felt and was sure was on his face; he wasn’t sure why he felt this way or this strongly for her, he just did.

  She turned quickly, to look at him and then kissed him, “My life has changed because of you. You are a part of my soul and my being. He can either accept us together, or deny us both, but there is no me without you. He will need to understand that if he truly wants me in his life.”

  He smiled back and thought about the time he first meet her and how easily frustrated he had become with her. That very first day not so long ago, less than a week seemed so distant now. “How have we come so far you and I? You need me so much and I don’t want to exist without you by my side. When did all of this happen? When did we go from your death to forever?”

  She looked at him so seriously, “The moment I looked into your soul and you listened to me, you came back to me because you knew they needed to know me. You came back to me because you knew you needed me and I needed you. It was the first night in the cottage, after we fought by the tree.”

  “When do you want to start asking?” he said suddenly. He was looking at her with a very grim face. He wasn’t sure either of them were ready for this.

  “Ask what?” she asked smiling.

  “You must have questions. If you’re going to decide to go with Gage or challenge him, there must be something you need to know?” He couldn’t understand why she was playing around with him.

  “I never intended to challenge him. There are only a few questions I need answered; first, are you coming with me because I won’t go without you. That would be the only reason I would even think about challenging him. My other questions have more to do with us and may require a little more thought. How are we going to continue what we have with each other? Especially with the way we live together, we will be under his roof.” She looked at the whole situation with an amazing amount of courage.

  She was willing to fight the world for him, a world she didn’t completely know or understand. Miranda continued to amaze him, all of that courage and conviction in a new and strange place that could kill her so easily. Or could it?

  “You will never have to be without me, unless you want me gone.” Somewhere in the conversation he understood why everyone thought she might be the “unknown one”, and yet he still wasn’t sure she was.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, you can ask me anything you want.” She was surprised by the question itself.

  “Why did you ask the Council and your father for two days? I mean if you never intended on challenging him?” Jared’s curiosity had gotten the better of him.

  “You see, if I went willingly, right away he might have thought twice about letting you stay with me. I would rather let him think he was winning a battle now, then fight a real one later. I need him to think he won, with one small concession; he knew I wasn’t going to walk away from you. He also knew you weren’t going to let me go very easily, but he needed to look good in the eyes of the Council, I should never make him look weak.”

  “So when they come back tomorrow, we just go willingly, and pretend we knew that they had already made the choice for us?” Jared was catching on, “Are you ever going to do that to me, you know, pretend it was my choice not yours?”

  “Yes, honestly, it’s a woman thing. It’s really how we get by in our relationships but don’t worry you ‘ll ever know it happened.” She had that look on her face he couldn’t resist.

  There was a bang on the door and they both jumped up to run to the living room. Jared told her to stay back, as she ran ahead to get into position.

  “Don’t forget I have the energy thing going for me, but if you get in the way, I can’t use it. I won’t chance hurting you.” She was readying herself for a fight.

  Jared looked at her and smiled, “Can I answer it first? What if it’s Michael, we did leave together this morning, and didn't say you wouldn’t kill him!”

  At this point he was laughing at the thought of her hitting and knocking him down. Jared opened the door but it wasn’t Michael it was his best friend Mattis and his sister Carma.

  “Hold on Miranda it’s ok, these are my friends. Mattis, Carma!!!! How have you been? I haven’t seen you in a long time, how was your trip?”

  “It was great until we had to come back because Michael said you needed our help. Something about getting mixed up with the unknown one, and then when we got here this morning, he changed his mind! He said Miranda was cool no matter who or what she was, and that you two were happy together. That’s when I got suspicious, you happy with someone.” He turned and looked at Miranda, “Hey what’s up Miranda I’m Mattis and this is my sister Carma.”

  Miranda smiled and put down her hand so she could shake hands with them. “Hello I liked to say Jared has told me all about the two of you, but he hasn’t, although we have been a little busy. Gage hasn’t really given us a minute to talk alone.”

  “How do you know Gage?” Carma asked as Miranda motioned to the living room sofa so they could sit.

  “He apparently is my father, but I just found out about him a few days ago. I went into the woods to have Jared kill me, oh I also thought I was human, but that’s a long story.” Miranda passed over it all like a pro, she smiled and was gracious.

  Carma and Mattis just stared at her; they had heard way too much information in the course of two sentences.

  “You’re messing with Gage’s daugh
ter! Don’t you have a death wish?”

  Mattis said it in shock and total disbelief. He really couldn’t understand why Jared would screw with his perfectly good life like that.

  “No, he didn’t, but I did.” Miranda told them the story of how she had met Jared and the death wish she had at the time. The whole time Mattis and Carma sat with their mouths open truly not understanding how and why this all happened. In the end however they realized there was no separating the two of them and nothing was ever going to get between them.

  Carma was a beautiful girl, with long white blonde hair, and amazing skin. She had eyes like the greenest grass you could ever image, and her face was snow white and flawless. Her brother was just as handsome built like Jared, like a lethal machine, strong and ready to kill. He had the same white blonde hair and green eyes; they looked like bookends, strong, scary bookends. Miranda was happy they were on her side.

  “How in the world are the two of you going to live in the same room in Gage’s house? Jared you know how he feels about bloodlines.” Carma looked at Miranda, “Do you know anything about your father?”

  “Please can you tell me everything you know about everything, including my father? I’m new to all of this, but it’s for our safety that I know as much as possible.” Miranda needed information, and some of it Jared wasn’t ready to give.

  “I’ll give you everything, but could you please answer one question first? What powers do you possess? It’s not that I want to be rude, I just would like to know my competition and what I’m up against.”

  Carma was laughing at the end of the comment and Miranda looked at Jared for more information. She realized everyone was laughing but her and she didn’t know why. She backed into a corner and went into Jared’s mind for some answers, but he was too busy laughing, so she started to probe Carma’s mind. Carma jumped back and shook her head, Jared yelled out to Miranda.

  “It’s ok get out, she was only kidding!”