Between Shadows

by Joanne Durann

  “WAIT! Wait! Stop! You’re yelling at me again, please clam down and I’ll explain!” Jared said quickly.

  Jared was getting anxious and worrying about the affects it would have on Miranda, he didn’t want her getting all riled up again.

  “Fine, I guess I have been pretty jumpy lately, and you’re also right it’s not your fault, I came looking for you. I’m just really scared because I don’t know which way is up anymore. I am truly sorry.” Miranda said more calmly.

  Miranda starting thinking about what Jared said right before she passed out and it really wasn’t fair for her to keep blaming him for her own choices.

  “The wine…..I forgot to tell you about it and I’m worried, it’s all my fault. I don’t want you to die, there I said it.” Jared slowly and carefully went on he couldn’t risk her fainting again.

  “It isn’t just wine. How do I tell you this?” He stopped to think for a minute. “First, I need you to listen, and remain calm.”

  At this point, she was having real hard time with the calm part, but Miranda did her best because she could see him struggling with what he thought was a very large mistake that he had made.

  “Go on, I’ll do my best.” Miranda whispered in a soft, calm voice, the one she used to use when her kids where scared.

  “Take your time; I’m sure at this point it will all work out fine. Remember you don’t want me to die now, no worries right!”

  Miranda smiled, and perked up when she said it, she wanted Jared to be ok with whatever was wrong. Although Miranda was no longer ready to die, she knew that wasn’t Jared’s fault, and she wasn’t going to let him pay for it. This whole scene seemed nice but a little too anxious.

  Jared looked at Miranda, for one time in his long, tired life someone cared about him and about his feelings, and the way that he could be hurt. It made him look at her differently and Jared wasn’t sure why but he knew Miranda was right. he knew she would be ok and Miranda would help him to be ok.

  “My wine is laced with human blood, and for obvious reasons, it can be very damaging to humans who drink it. I’m worried you can get very sick and die.” Jared was trembled as he said it.

  “You’re forgetting I’m not as human as we thought, maybe not at all.”

  Miranda continued on, “Now can you please tell me why you’re back so fast, did you get answers to my questions or do you have bad news, and you are here to say goodbye?” Miranda looked sad as she said the last part and she didn’t want it to be true.

  Jared sat and stared again, he seemed to be doing a lot with Miranda lately. He just couldn’t help it now, how was it that this woman, this young human or so Jared thought, could possibly be this strong. Even in the face of certain death Miranda was strong, but Jared did have some good news for her.

  “At this point the council wants to speak with Gage before making any decisions, and they told me it was my responsibility to go back and watch over you. I couldn’t wait to tell you the whole way back I was so excited. Unfortunately, my father saw the look on my face it the minute the council gave their decision. He warned me that my actions could get me into trouble that even he couldn’t get me out of, after all they think you are the child of Gage.”

  Jared started to smile as he gently picked up Miranda’s face, “Don’t you get it, the council wants to speak to Gage alone before they do anything, and they’ve put me in charge of you. It is my job to see that you don’t get hurt until they speak with Gage and let him decide what to do.” Jared continued on, “Also my father isn’t happy about this, he can see right through me, he’s afraid that we may become too close, and that might get me killed.” Jared laughed and when on, “I also have extra news about Gage that I think will make you be happy!”

  Miranda’s smile came back as Jared spoke and she lifted her head to see into his eyes. Miranda saw what Jared’s father said but she was more enamored with the thought of his information.

  “Please tell me what you found out!!! Is he really my father? Is it really true, that her in this world I am really normal?” Miranda was ecstatic as she spoke.

  “I knew the council won’t tell me so I listened in while they deliberated and it seems that Gage had let it be known twenty seven years ago that he might have a human had child out there. Gage only told the family council because it was their job to kill the ones who cross the races paths. That is what my family does it’s our job, and Gage didn’t want his child to be killed. That’s probably how you got through your younger years without dying. You fell off the radar when you suppressed your powers and they couldn’t track you anymore. My father is going to Gage just to see if you really are his child and to see what he wants to do with you. I did interrupt them at that point and I told them you could easily leave the human world behind to become one of us. I told them the ties that bind are no longer there.”

  Miranda was excited and overjoyed, finally her life was starting to make sense, and she knew right now where she needed to be.

  “How can we fake my death so no one will come looking for me? We should probably take my stuff back to the house so it doesn’t look like I took off, or maybe that’s it! I’ll go back and just take off, tell everyone I need new life somewhere far away. Then we can just lose track of each other, human people do it all the time.” Miranda’s voice was exhilarated as she spoke.

  As Miranda mind raced she only had more questions to be answered, “Where would I live, how can I get things I need, how does this world work? There is so much I need to know.” Miranda stopped as she remember what she saw in Jared’s eyes and the comment Jared’s father made, “Why would anything we do endanger your life?”

  “I thought I might get that one passed you, guess not.” Jared smile came slowly off of his face like he had just got caught doing something wrong.

  “Kilaws, my dad, is afraid if we get to close Gage will kill me. You are his daughter and even in this world daddies do get mad.”

  “Well, just like in the human world, they too can get over it. Gage hasn’t seen me in twenty seven years and with all I’ve been through the last thing he should be doing is deciding what is right or wrong for me.”

  Miranda was already starting to sound like some angry child when she said it and Jared knew that Gage wouldn’t quite see it the same way she did.

  Gage was one of the most powerful being that has ever existed and telling any human about him should make them shutter inside, Miranda should be shuttering with fear, but here she was once again not worrying about a thing. “That’s what I like about you, you see death, and you smile, you even tease it.” Jared truly wanted to say that’s what I love about you but he wasn’t ready to tell himself or her that.

  Truth be known Jared figured Miranda already knew given her talents and all. Luckily for Jared she was too busy sorting out her new life to see it, however she did feel the same he was sure of that, he just wondered when it all happened

  “Hold on a minute, hold on we can work out the details later, let’s take this one step at a time, you don’t have your full pardon yet. It does look really good, but my dad thinks we should keep our distance from each other.”

  Jared spoke as if he wasn’t sure what Miranda would say and in his voice Miranda could tell he really didn’t mean it.

  “Yeah, but what do you think? Do you want to keep your distance?

  All I know is that I have never been this free or happy with my life and I want to keep it the way it is. Besides he isn’t my dad only you need to decide if you want to answer to him, I won’t come between family members, but I also won’t listen to other people anymore.”

  Miranda wanted to be very clear in her reply, she didn’t want to lose Jared but she wasn’t sure what “they” were just yet.

  Jared thought for a minute and asked Miranda the one question he needed truthfully answered, “Why haven’t you been sleeping in my bed? I know you said something about being invited, but I put you there, so I’m not sure what kind of invitation you’re looking for.�
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  The thought of answering this question so soon had taken Miranda by surprise, when she originally answered Jared she thought she would have more time to figure out what to say. In Miranda’s head there were a million and one ways to answer him so she decided to go with the truth.

  “I want to be in your bed, it does look cozy,” Miranda was speaking with a nervous laugh that made him understand her fears, “but I’m not sure if I’m ready for everything that comes with it. I know I loved my husband, but I also know I have feelings for you and that scares me. I don’t know enough about myself, my powers, or this world to get that evolved that fast. Jared my biggest fear is making a mistake and losing the friendship we have. I want to get to know all of you, but maybe not as fast as you want to know me.”

  Jared let her off the hook, “Don’t worry I’m only talking about sleeping where I can be sure your safe, that’s it. Anything else that happens, if and when it does, will be in the right time. You need to remember I am a very old fashion guy, hell I’m an old guy. I was born at a time when this was a wedding gift and that’s still ok with me.”

  “Then let me give you a thank you gift, get close to me, its ok I promise. Now close your eyes and clear your mind of everything that you can. I just learn to do this about a month ago and frankly it scared me to death, but with you, I know it’ll be ok.”

  Miranda was very sure of herself this time and she knew in her heart it would work out beautifully.

  Jared wasn’t sure what was going to happen but he trusted Miranda and that in it of itself was nice. Then all of a sudden he could read her mind, it was confusing at first trying to tell her thoughts from his, but Miranda was standing there helping him through it. It was the most incredible experience Jared had ever felt or seen. It was if he was walking hand in hand with Miranda through her mind. She was pointing out where emotions and feeling came from, where her past was and where her future lied.

  It wasn’t long before they came on a giant wall up around on area. Jared asked her what it was; Miranda said it was the part of her that she built up so long ago that she was still trying to break down.

  When they came out of it there was only one thing left for him to say, “Can I help you break that wall down? We’ll do it together only when it is safe and only when you are ready.”

  Miranda was never so happy in her life, “Yes, I would love that!” There she said it the word Miranda couldn’t say before, not exactly the way she wanted it to come out but it did come out.

  Jared smiled, “Let’s go to bed. Remember no strings attached, one day or in this case one night at a time.”

  Jared kept his promise and as they fell asleep arm in arm, close together where no one could get between them. He knew he would go to the end of the world for Miranda to keep her safe, he still wasn’t sure why, but he knew in time everything would come to him.

  Miranda knew nothing on earth or in this realm would take Jared away from her. Even if meant fighting unknown forces, they would stay together, and no matter what they would always be there for each other.

  Chapter 4

  It was later than normal when Miranda woke, and she could smell fresh food cooking. It was a bright, beautiful morning and for a change Miranda was happy to be awake and alive. She put on the robe Jared set out for her and walked down the hall to the kitchen. Miranda just stood there staring at Jared as he was trying to quietly get breakfast ready; she snuck up behind him and gave Jared a huge hug.

  Jared turned to Miranda and kiss her on the head, “I was hoping to give you breakfast in bed. How can I be mad when you greet me like that?”

  “I was in there missing you, and now I see why you left.” Miranda continued on, “how about we eat that in bed and hang out awhile?”

  Jared smiled and answered her back, “Well I was thinking about breakfast in bed, but I wasn’t thinking about hanging out in bed the whole day, I have a surprise for you.”

  Jared smiled and added, “I think you can handle being with me outside during the day.”

  Jared was ready to show Miranda things she had never seen before. Jared also knew with Miranda’s powers she could handle herself just fine, at least during the day, night was a completely different story. At night evil being roamed and they didn’t pay much attention to rules, and they would have really loved to get their hands on Gage’s child.

  “Are you kidding me, I have wanted to get out since I got here, but you told me it wasn’t safe. What’s changed?” she wasn’t sure why he had changed his mind.

  “That was before I realized how not human you were, the energy thing, I’m not sure there is anything that strong like it that out there. You should have seen the face’s of the council members when I told them about that, they were real happy I befriended you.” Jared notice as he spoke Miranda wasn’t exactly happy to hear this.

  “Great! I have to be the freak even in this world too! I really don‘t understand my luck.” She was getting upset again.

  “Not the freak, my dear.” Jared laughed, “They believe you are the one who all of our kinds have been waiting for. They think you are the “unknown one“, can you believe it! Aren't they supposed to be the intelligent ones?”

  Jared seemed to be amused at what he was saying and he didn’t take notice to the confusion on her face.

  “What is the unknown one? You keep forgetting that I was recently born into your world, and I really don’t know what is going on.” Miranda said, she wasn’t upset just concern about how little she knew of what would soon be her new home. “If they think I’m someone and you don’t think I am; shouldn’t I try to understand what you‘re talking about.”

  “I’ll make you deal go into the bedroom and wait for breakfast. First we’ll eat, after that we’ll hang out for an hour, just like you wanted. Then we’ll change, and go outside. We will take a hike and I’ll fill you in on as much as I can. I’ll start with the legend of the unknown one and we can move on from there, at least then you’ll understand why I am so amused” he promised her.

  “OK, I’ll race you.” Miranda said as she grabbed their food.

  They ran into the bedroom and ate, soon they were laying around talking about what has happened in his life so far, she was very interested in what he had to say, she wanted to know all about him. It felt nice just the two of them talking and getting to know each other.

  Miranda felt safe, secure and happy; and Jared felt relieved to able to talk to someone about his life. Miranda didn’t judge him, and he didn’t judge her, they were both finally content.

  It was well after eleven when they got up to shower and change for their hike in the woods, Miranda was both nervous and excited, and she couldn’t wait.

  Miranda called from the shower, “Can you get my clothes from the bed? I forgot to bring them in here with me.”

  Jared jumped at the chance knowing he wasn’t getting far, but because she trusted him that completely.

  “Sure! No problem. Should I help you get dressed too?”

  “Nice try, but I think I can manage, maybe some other time, but for now I’m ok.” Miranda said quickly.

  She wanted to be quick with her reply but made sure she was a little witty to so she wouldn’t hurt Jared’s feelings. Both of them were new at this and they were still trying to feel things at.

  It wasn’t long before they were outside running through the trees and fields. Laughing and have a good time, Jared talked about the Concillium and when they came to a clearing, he told Miranda that they were the hierarchy in this world and that Gage who was one of them, was also the head of the Concillium.

  “The Concillium consists of one hybrid of each of the six family main races. There are the werewolves, and of course there are the vampires like me. Then there are the Forces and the Seasons. Oh but I can’t forget the Malus and the Exire, they are the ones you never want to meet, all they do is cause death and destruction. They are a problem for both our world and the human world but the Concillium keeps them under control.” Ja
red smiled as he spoke.

  Jared liked teaching Miranda because he was hoping she would be there more permanently. Miranda felt happy when Jared said our world. It was nice to be part of something, even if that something had such a bad set of people in it.

  “I think I want to hear about the unknown one.” Miranda said it with some hesitation.

  Miranda knew that there were things out there that could care less if she lived or died. Miranda realized not knowing or understanding things could prove destructive in this place.

  “Well, ok but I think it’s not much more than legend and people have been spouting on about this legend since I can remember.” Jared seemed to want her to take it with a grain of salt.

  “There was an old story that one of the hybrid elders would join in a union with a human and produce a child with such power that he or she would either destroy everything they touched or bring a lifetime of peace.”

  Jared started to laugh; he wanted to lighten the mood. “I think it’s pretty funny we are the stuff that human legends are made of and we created a legend out of one of them.”

  Jared was trying to make Miranda laugh when he saw her face and realize that Miranda was deep in thought.

  Jared broke the silence, “Do you feel like an ultimate power? Do you think you could destroy us all, or do you think you could send us into the most amazing length of peace?”

  Jared went on was teasing Miranda, “If I had to bet, I would bet on you and peace. Isn’t it your human side that makes you care so much about a vampire who was sent to kill you?” He started to laugh again, “I still think they have been around too long and have lost their collective minds.”

  Miranda started to laugh with him. How could she be the unknown one? She was unknown to their world up until now, so she couldn’t be the one they were talking about.

  Miranda smiled suddenly, “You know that old legend just might have saved me, so I just might want to use it to help me stay with you in this world that is if you want me around.”