Between Shadows

by Joanne Durann

  It was icy, and a car accident should have been the perfect fix. Icy plus humans in cars equals accident; just the right angle and the right person would get killed. But No! They were having too much fun and they killed the husband and the kids instead. It wasn’t that the extra deaths mattered much to Jared or the Concillium, but a 5 year old and baby can make a mess in the human world, and the humans started asking a lot of questions. People wanted to know why something wasn’t being done. How could an accident like this happen? Why didn’t they investigate any further?

  Jared’s father, Kilaws and the members of the Concillium were unpleased, so here was Jared fixing a problem that wasn’t his to fix, and now he had to listen to Miranda rambling on before he killed her. The Concillium told him that he had been chosen for a reason, one they didn’t know or understand. All Jared needed to do was the job that he was told, Kilaws would deal with Michael and Mattis.

  Still Jared wondered how Miranda knew, how she saw, or learned it all, so Jared decided maybe he needed to listen. He hoped for some kind of answers for himself and the others. Jared would soon come to learn that the mistake Mattis and Michael made would be the best mistake all of them could have hoped for.

  For the first time Miranda stopped to look at Jared and to really notice him because he didn’t seem to be paying any attention to her words. Miranda stopped to study him, the way Jared had been studying her and she wondered why they sent this one. Why not send the two who had made the mistake in the first place, shouldn’t they be the ones to fix the mess they had made. Miranda thought about something else, why had they sent him here all alone? Maybe their kind could see things too, unfortunately that thought was only for a fleeting moment. Miranda realized that Jared was looking at her because he was trying to understand why she came there in the first place, so Jared couldn’t have know what Miranda could do.

  Jared was young in looks, and his face it was angelic, although he was more than likely four times her age or more. Jared’s face is what caught her eye it was so well chiseled, beautiful, glowing, and with deep sapphire eyes. They were an unusual deep sapphire, the kind of color that could only be found once in a lifetime. Jared's body however looked like a well oiled machine; lean and beautiful but ready to kill anything that got in his way. Miranda was amazed his body was that angelic and perfect, yet lethal all at the same time. Miranda knew Jared to want to be done with all of this mess, but he also was looking for something else, she could see it in his eyes.

  This time Jared spoke, “So what is it that you need to tell me, so I can finish with my business?” Jared’s voice was cool and steady; it seemed barley interested in what Miranda had to say.

  Jared’s eyes however, gave him away; it was his eyes that helped Miranda to see, that’s when she saw the Concillium in his eyes, and the one man that he was thinking of, and she needed to know who that man was.

  “Who is he? Where did he come from?” Miranda asked as if Jared could read her mind. She suddenly realized that he couldn’t, and what she had done, so Miranda quickly tried to rephrased the question. “Who is the man with my hair? Where is he? Is that someone else you have killed before? How do you know him? Answer me!” Miranda found herself suddenly demanding things of Jared.

  Jared’s body was tensed, focused and looked like it was ready to strike because he couldn’t fathom how she knew what he was thinking. Confused by the sudden fiery of question, Jared lunged at Miranda, ready for a fierce attack. Jared wasn’t used to fighting under these conditions and he never had such confusion in his brain. Jared’s head was spinning as he grab at Miranda and threw her to the ground. It was with such tremendous force Miranda couldn’t move.

  How in the world did she know what he was thinking? Had she gotten inside his head? Was she forcing him to say things and not remember them? What kind of human was this? Was she even human at all? What had the Concillium done to him, sending him here to kill her, or was it that Jared the one who was going to die to pay for his brother‘s mistake? Jared was pacing fast and furiously as he thought. Jared stopped, still trying to understand what was happening and trying to think more clearly, how is it that you know my mind, he thought. Jared jumped at Miranda.

  That’s when Miranda looked up from the ground, and using her voice this time to answer him, “I can see more than any of you have ever thought could be possible. It is very simple, if you think it then I know it, and it will be in my mind. That is the one of reasons why I wanted to talk to you first. I wanted to ask you if there are others like me, but from the look on your face, I guess not. I guess I’m the only genetic freak to have this affliction.”

  Jared stared at Miranda, and he even backed up a little. He wasn’t sure if he did it so Miranda could get up, or because the position they were in, and word “genetic” were very compatible. All Jared knew was that he was more confused than he had thought he would ever be. Jared thought this would be a quick and easy job, and I would be able to get on with his life.

  It was then that Jared realized that he had throw Miranda into a tree, jumped on her, and had hit her. At this point, he wasn’t quite sure what to do, the others didn’t know of Miranda’s powers or her likeness to Gage.

  Could it be…..stop, stop, Jared had to quickly stop thinking around Miranda because she would quickly pick up on it. No more, no more information than was necessary, I need to concentrate on blocking this woman out.

  Miranda looked up at him, she angry because he was blocking his thoughts, she wanted and needed answers. Miranda needed answers that had never been there for her, answers that could have changed her entire life.

  No one had ever been able to explain Miranda’s strange colored hair, or the burden she carried, so she figured from a very young age, that they were just things that made her a freak. This was just something Miranda had come to learn, she would always be different, she never be normal unless she did something about herself and that’s when, Miranda learned to block her disability, and look where that got her.

  Miranda didn’t care about any of that now because she was angry. She saw a glimpse of what might have been her past or at least someone like her. Now Jared wasn’t speaking or thinking and he wouldn’t tell her anything about him. Miranda couldn’t believe there was something out there that she didn’t know about after all of this, after everything she had seen that there could possibly be a link and that could be a direct link to her family.

  “Go on kill me,” Miranda said, “finish the job and my life, but if not I want answers.”

  Miranda stood up rather quickly and backed toward a tree, she needed to get her head together so much was happen and it was all way too fast for her body to keep up. Shock had kept the internal pain away but now it was suddenly coming back in waves. How was she going to comprehend all of this, and be done with life itself at the same time? Miranda now had a new set of priorities but she wasn’t sure that Jared was going to help her get all the answers.

  Miranda though back to the time when she was a small child, she heard the fights and dad seemed to not want much to do with her. Even during some great moments in her life George seemed to always be at work or somewhere else, her parents always said they needed the money or the promotion. Miranda trusted that the reasons were real, although somewhere down deep inside her, she always knew something was wrong, but she kept that part locked away, locked away with her disability.

  Miranda started yelling again “I was set, ready to die and now you show up with the answers I need and I want them, I earned at least that much.”

  Jared looked at Miranda startled, unable to understand how she could be yelling at him. It was amazing Miranda asked for her death and she was mad at him. This was unbelievable. Jared needed help, he just wanted to have someone to tell him just kill her, without thought or consequence. Just now Jared wanted his brothers around so she would die, they made killing look so easy.

  I’m cleaner at it but they are heartless at it. They loved to kill it was like a game to them. They never
think about it, they just kill. Jared thought what should I do now, should my father and the others know what I have learned about Miranda, or should I just get rid of her? What if there are others like her out there? Worse what if Gage was….. Stop, stop she’s listening again. I need to take her somewhere else. I need to lock her up somewhere until I can get the answers I need, somewhere she can’t leave.

  So without thinking Jared grabbed Miranda and took off, he looked for a place to leave her for the night without a thought in his head. First Jared looked for a ledge or cliff, and then he remembered a few places he knew.

  Before Miranda could even breathe she saw it, than just as quick, Jared had her and they were gone. Jared took her so far there was no way Miranda could find her way back, and the weird thing was she really didn’t care.

  Miranda realized she wanted to be away, that was what she had really wanted all along, only now she understood why. Miranda’s priorities had changed and all she wanted was to know who that man was and how if at all, was he connected to her. For once there was something in her life Miranda needed to know and that she was more than willing to die for.

  Chapter 2

  Jared moved up and around the mountain side quickly. It was the only way that he felt Miranda wouldn’t have the chance to get away.

  If I don’t think about it she won’t know where she is, he said to himself. This was the only way I can be sure to keep Miranda safe until I figure out what to do.

  Suddenly it came to him and he knew were to take her. It was a small place but one only he knew about. Miranda sensed it immediately. Jared figured this was the one place that he could leave her until he knew what to do. Hopefully Miranda wouldn’t go and get herself killed because she couldn’t listen to the rules and would wander outside.

  Miranda wasn’t sure about anything right now except that she knew Jared would keep her safe. Even though Jared wasn’t thinking clearly enough so she could see it, there was odd familiar sense to it, enough to send a calm feeling around her.

  Funny I came here to die today, and now I realized that was not going to happen, and I think that whatever happens it will be good. Miranda thought as the breeze rush through her hair, and she closed her eyes.

  Jared finally stop at a small clearing in the woods, it was a strange place, and the clearing barely noticeable. The clearing was surrounded a small cottage with not one trail in or out. The only way to find the place was from the air and even that was hard through the thickness of the dense forest. Miranda had the strongest urge to know how to get back to this place. Unfortunately there were so many trees around that she couldn’t make out any landmarks.

  Jared threw her down right outside of the cottage, he was not very friendly this was all business to him, and he made no qualms about it. Jared was quiet at first, it seemed as if his was listening and watching every little thing in the woods. Jared raced toward the door, opened it, and before Miranda could even say anything, he pushed her inside. He seemed distracted but she couldn’t quite make out why.

  “Don’t even think about trying anything or leaving,” he was blunt and forceful. Jared looked around outside and then back to her as he shut the front door.

  “Everything you need is right in this place, going outside would be the biggest mistake of your life, it’s not safe.” Jared was extremely inpatient and stern.

  He was pacing the floor like a wild cat in a cage, it was obvious he didn’t want to be in this situation, and yet there they both were.

  Jared continued on, “I realize you have an appetite for danger and death, and you personally don’t seem to care, but this place won’t be as kind as I have been. Keep your head indoors and you’ll be safe, oh also don’t let anyone in; you’re only protected when you don’t invite anyone in.”

  “I don’t understand this! What do you think that you are doing? Do you think you are leaving me here, now?” Miranda was getting nervous, upset and angry. “How in the hell do you think you can make this decision without me, this is my life in your hands.”

  It was one thing to be alone with him, it was another thing altogether for Jared to leave her all alone here, with God only knows whatever right out there, right outside that door. Miranda started pacing right next to Jared, she wanted him to stay and she really didn’t care what he wanted. She wanted to see that she got her way this time; she had planned out this day, not him. Miranda thought Jared could call whoever it was that he needed, what made him think leaving her was ok. She didn’t care if Jared thought it was ok, but Miranda could tell he wasn’t going to stay. She knew Jared’s agenda was completely different from hers; he had no intentions on giving her anything she wanted. Right now she really just wanted him to listen to her, so Miranda grabbed Jared’s face with her hands, she took it so forcefully it took him off guard, and she needed to look into his eyes. That’s when Miranda saw it, and it was what was in Jared’s eyes that took her caught her off guard. Miranda let go with the same force and that it caught him off balance.

  Miranda was so shocked at what she saw she yelled at him furiously “What will they do with me!”

  Miranda continued screaming and walking at a much more furious pace. She was going insane, her eyes bulged and Miranda was clenching her hands so tight they were purple she was completely irate with him.

  “I can’t believe after all of this, everything I’ve seen this is what you’re going to do. This is what you are going to let happen to me, why didn’t you just kill me today in the forest yourself! Why would you bring me here? Just to prolong the pain? I thought they sent you because you were quicker and cleaner at this!”

  Jared stammered. Jared didn’t know if it was anger or resentment when he started to scream at her.

  “What on earth are you talking about? God, I hate it when you do this, you really need to stop it. I can’t believe you have brought me into this mess, why didn’t you just die like you were meant to? Why couldn’t Mattis and Michael do the right thing and kill you? Hell, I don’t even know how or why were you even born!”

  Jared was really not happy; Miranda seemed to always know everything and never seemed to give him the chance to catch up. Jared was growing more impatience by second, he really needed to get back to the council, and let them know what he had found out. His hands clenched and voice got real annoyed, Jared stared right into Miranda’s eyes, and grabbed her by the shoulders. It was then that Jared started to yell at her again.

  “I can’t stand the way you do that, stop it! I need some peace in my own head you are driving me crazy, I DON’T CARE WHAT THEY DO TO YOU!!! I was sent to KILL you, I wasn’t sent to be nice, have fun with you and play games!”

  Jared stepped back and threw Miranda to the ground like an old rag doll he had had enough. She went tumbling to the ground with a thud. Miranda didn’t move and she didn’t get up, she was out cold, and inside her head Miranda didn’t want to come back.

  At that point it didn’t matter that Jared had come right at her, he had said those fateful words to Miranda, the last words she had heard Jared say, the ones she had heard too many time before. Why were you even born? It had been like some many times before, either her father was angry about something she had done or said, or an irate boyfriend was leaving her it didn’t seem to matter it always seemed to end the same way.

  As Miranda worked through her mind in this unconscious state she began to think about it herself. Why was she born? So when Jared said those words she didn’t seem to care if he hit, smacked, or even killed her. Miranda was that same terrified little girl, but the blow didn’t have the same felling that it should have. Miranda just remembered that she wanted to end it again and she almost wanted to thank him for that. She went into a deep state of sleep just hoping not to wake up.

  The next time Miranda opened her eyes she was alone. Jared had left her in the bedroom on the bed. It was dark outside and the temperature had dropped, she quickly knew that she needed to start a fire. She ran out of the bedroom and down the hall to the living r
oom. Thankfully Jared had left a fire blazing in the fireplace and to the left; a stack of wood ready to go in the fireplace, so Miranda began tended it knowing it wouldn’t last long on its own. Then she went into the kitchen to wash up, get her head together and looked around for some food. Miranda really wasn’t sure what she would find she just hope she would find something.

  Miranda remembered it was mid afternoon when she met Jared in the woods earlier today; so she guessed it was about 7pm when she woke up. She was cold, tired, and very hungry. Miranda hoped, just as he said, she would find anything that she needed to use in his house. She heard the strange noises in the woods outside, Miranda remembered Jared had said it was not in her best interests to leave the house, so she search around the kitchen for food. She noticed the closet had a lot of wood in it, so when Miranda turned to light the fire in the stove, she looked over at the table where Jared had left a small and very brief note.

  Miranda,

  Wood in the closet, food in the kitchen.

  Don’t move! OR ELSE!

  Jared

  Ps remember what I said!

  Miranda smiled short, not sweet, and to the point. Jared was proving that he definitely was trying not to care very much, one way or the other. Miranda noticed his writing, it was the first time she had seen it. It was brilliant, and the penmanship was like something out of an old movie.

  After Miranda looked at it for a while she ran grabbed some more wood from the closet and got a fire in the woodstove going. While she waited for it to get hot, Miranda looked through the cabinets for some food, and anything else she could use to cook it with. Miranda wondered what someone of Jared’s kind would have as food in his place, but to her surprise there were all kinds of delicious, “normal” food. Miranda was also amazed at the pots, pans, dishes and utensils that he had. There were so many different things, more like a master chief, than a vampire. The cottage had been so well stock and ready to go she almost wondered if Jared had planned something like this all along, but then Miranda remember she planned this not him, so how could he have stocked it for her.