Between Shadows

by Joanne Durann

  All Jared could do is laugh and nod his head. They walked through the deeper part of the forest and settled on a path that would lead them back to the cottage. It was around four o’clock when they first met up with one of Jared’s brothers, Michael.

  Michael was the one who had killed her family, and seeing him was a real mood breaker. Jared could see this was going to be a real problem and he wanted to change the way they would meet but he knew he had no choice it was going to happen right now. Miranda just stared at Michael as he came onto the path they were walking; and she could feel him coming from at least a mile away.

  Miranda wasn’t sure just how to handle this new problem, she truly hated him with everything inside of her. He killed her family but how could she say all of this in front of Jared, he was here with her now. If his brother hadn’t killed her family she wouldn’t be here in this place with Jared, Miranda hated him even more for putting her in the situation she was in now, she was completely torn.

  There was the loyalty that she still felt to her dead family, even thought there were problems with Ben, and then there was the loyalty to the new life here with Jared that felt so good to her. She truly did not want to be in this situation right now so Miranda turned onto a side trail to avoid him altogether. Jared motioned to her that he would catch up in a minute.

  Michael came only because his father made him. He was supposed to beg Miranda for forgiveness and hope she would understand why he had killed her family. He didn’t want to do it, he wasn’t really sorry; he was only sorry he missed and didn’t kill her too. Michael also couldn’t understand why his father wanted him to see Miranda anyway; she was just another mark, no matter how his brother felt about her.

  Jared stopped Michael part way up the trail to find out why he was here, he knew his dad had something to do with it, just not for the reasons he thought they were. Jared approached Michael expecting Michael to be angry with him.

  “I don’t care why dad told you I should stay away from her, he needs to stay out of this, and you need to stay out of this!”

  This took Michael off guard, they had never yelled at each other before and he wasn’t even sure what it was he should stay out of.

  “Jared, what in the hell are you talking about? Stay out of what? I’m only here because dad wants me to apologize for killing her family and I don’t even want to do that!” Michael screamed back.

  Michael explained a few things to him, Jared thought about how it was going to go, and they weren’t sure how to approach her with it. Michael didn’t care if he was forgiven and Jared knew she would see right through him. Jared tried to explain why being forgiven might be in his best interest, but Michael wasn’t hearing any of it, he was stubborn.

  They were both afraid of her reaction, but Michael was only worried because he didn’t want his dad angry with him because Miranda made a stink, and Jared was happy with the way things were going between them and knew that she wasn’t going to be ready for all of this.

  They were so busy worrying about themselves that they forgot to worry all about Miranda. She was getting further and further away from them and closer and closer to something else that was tracking her.

  Miranda was ahead of them in the woods when the guys heard it; a long, light hissing sound. They both stopped in their tracks and turned around to look for Miranda but she was already with him. Miranda didn’t even know what it was; all she knew was what it appeared to be.

  Jared started to get angry and run toward her, but Michael grabbed him, Michael gave Jared a signal to be quiet and watch. Miranda knew something was up because she could feel the fear and rage in Jared.

  Chapter 5

  Miranda looked at what appeared to be a beautiful white tail buck, but there was something there, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Miranda knew she needed to look into its eyes, to feel what was going on inside its head.

  Miranda started to wonder what was going on so she decided she needed to act more like Jared did when they first got to the cottage in the woods, and that’s when she started to notice things.

  The woods were quiet she noticed that not even the birds were singing. It was an eerie silence and she turned slightly to place Jared and Michael. She couldn’t spot them, so Miranda hoped they were getting ready for whatever it was that she had encountered. She readied herself; slowly she walked toward it, trying to figure out what it really was. Miranda held out her hand as if she were going to pet it. Spooked, it cowered away, but only a step or two.

  Miranda had hiked through the woods all her life, she knew a deer would never let you within twenty yards of it, let alone close enough to pet it. Miranda knew that in this world nothing was what it appeared to be so she took a more cautious approached.

  Miranda searched the woods for a sign, something to help her figure out what was going on, and what this thing truly was. It was then that Miranda looked directly into its eyes and saw she it. It was a shape shifter of some sort, just as suddenly Miranda knew it, this was a Windigo.

  Miranda remembered that she had heard about them in mythology class but until today Miranda never approached the idea that they could ever be real. So she searched her mind for answers from class.

  How do they change? How do you kill one? Can they even be stopped? She decided to tried to force it to stay in its deer form until she could remember the answers or until Jared came back to help her.

  Miranda jumped quickly inside its head and did what she could with the hope that Jared and Michael had a better plan. It took a lot for her to try to force it to stay in that shape, but worse, it was even more difficult for her to see what that creature had done to its other victims. It had obviously killed many others before her and she couldn’t bear watching him go through all of his memories to find a way to stop her and change into its true form. It was the most amazing struggle of both of their lives; they were both fighting to change something.

  Miranda wasn’t thinking clearly and she didn’t realize she already had the power to kill it; one energy ball from her hand, with all of the natural forces that were around her, Miranda could have burnt him into ashes.

  Jared took the time to sneak up on it and attack it from behind and before Miranda knew it both of the brothers were on top of it, destroying it, and she was stuck inside its head. Miranda couldn’t find her way out because she could feel all of the pain it was going through.

  Quickly Miranda drained herself of all the things that were going on, she tried her best to release it and to get out, but she had already felt too much. She was completely drained of all her facilities, Miranda could barely even move, that’s when she finally got out and collapsed on the ground.

  The guys had continued to destroy it; Jared was filled with fury and anger. Jared couldn’t believe this thing had gotten that close to Miranda, and he had let it. The guys had just finished destroying the body and were preparing to burn the heart when Jared first noticed Miranda was down.

  “Go on get her back to the cottage before something else attacks. I’ll finish up here, and then meet you back at the cottage; maybe by then we can figure out what I’m going to say to her.” Michael said this without even thinking.

  Michael was hoping that everything would just work out. His mind was reeling when he saw what Miranda could do, she was slightly weak but that wouldn’t last long and Michael knew it. Miranda was in his world now, she would only get stronger and now he finally understood why he needed to apologize.

  Jared was angrier now than he had ever been. He had Miranda over his shoulder and was going the fastest he could. Jared knew that until he got her back to the cottage she was in danger. Her collapse was bad and he wasn’t sure why it had happened. Jared had seen little of what was going on but he thought she got out in time, he was really angry at himself, he could have destroyed her.

  “I knew Miranda was in its head. Why didn’t I call to her first?” Jared screamed.

  Jared was only about halfway back when he felt something hit
ting him. He carefully put Miranda down in front of him. Jared didn’t want to jar her to much, so he started circling around her looking in every direction for whatever had hit him. Jared couldn’t find the source and he was becoming concerned that whatever it was because Jared knew it was waiting to attack them.

  Jared felt something hit him again on the foot, and he finally looked down. It was Miranda, she was wide awake and slightly upset because he was standing on her coat and she couldn’t move. Jared was so worry that he had ignored her because he was too busy concentrating on everything else around them.

  “It’s ok, please, I’m fine now.” Miranda had been getting up to her feet when Jared's brother came flying down the path to a sudden stop.

  Miranda knew it wouldn’t be long before to two of them were trying to “save her” again, so she spoke quickly, “Really I’m fine, back to 110%, I just didn’t get out in time. I felt too much and had a hard time with it, remember I’m still new at this.”

  Michael came around so quickly he had a hard time stopping, “Why are you sitting here, something might get her!” Michael yelled as he looked down with anger at his brother, he notice the look on Miranda face, she was really fine.

  “But how…? I don’t understand you collapsed! How did you come back from... well, whatever it was? I’m not ever sure what happened back there.”

  Miranda giggled, “I collapsed because I didn’t get out of its head fast enough, and I’m not really good at it when the emotions go all hooky like that. At the time that the two of you attacked it, I was trying to keep it confused so it couldn’t change into a Windigo. So as you attacked it went crazy with emotion because it didn’t know up from down, I was messing with the brain and you guys well, had the body.”

  Michael was astonished, “You can read their minds? What do you mean you were keeping it from changing?”

  “You really don’t know anything about me, do you? I’m not just some woman to get rid of anymore, you know just another mark, and I have some really interesting things to offer.” Miranda told him.

  Jared looked at, “Interesting, try amazing! The council actually thinks that she is unknown one. Can you believe that?”

  Michael wasn’t as amused at all by this fact, he went ghostly white at the thought, and he had killed her husband and kids. How in the world would she ever forgive him? Would she destroyed him, or could he get away fast enough?

  Michael started to stammer at the thought, “Can you ever forgive me? I promise anytime from now on when I do my job it will be serious, no more mistakes. Please forgive me, don’t kill me, please I promise.”

  Miranda was getting worried because with every word Michael said he begged. She guessed that even he was starting to believe that she was this all invincible power.

  Miranda smiled and nervously asked, “Why do you think I have the power to kill you? I’m definitely not happy, and I might even never want to look at you again, but to kill you? It’s just not my style.”

  Jared stared at his brother, he was confused, and he couldn’t believe Michael was feeding into the legend like that. It was like he was groveling! How could he actually be acting like this? It started to worry him, if too many people believe it, she could end up in more trouble and that bothered him even more.

  Miranda spoke up, “I don’t know if I am all that, I think it’s nice that you think I am, but I’m not sure why. I can forgive but you need to know it’s going to take some time. I’m not really sure how to handle this whole thing; my human side is still very emotional about this.”

  “I don’t understand, what is there to be emotional about? I killed your family when I was trying very hard to kill you. I don’t get it.” Michael was being truthful; he couldn’t really figure her out.

  Jared jumped in, “Let’s not worry about this now let’s just get back to the cottage where we can be safe.”

  Jared really didn’t want to hear what was going through Miranda’s mind; he just wanted the conversation over.

  Jared spoke again even more quickly, “She isn’t going to kill you and she’s looking to forgive you. Why do you need an explanation? Can’t we just getting going?”

  Jared was getting seriously tense as the time flew past. When he stopped talking and thought about it, Jared knew Miranda could tell why. He was worried she would start thinking about the family again and Miranda would not want to be around him.

  Miranda spoke tenderly and soft because she didn’t want Michael to hear her, “Don’t worry I’ve been fighting this problem since way before your brother came on the scene. Really it’s ok; I’m just trying to work through it all. Just give me a little bit of time and I’ll get through it, I promise. If there is anyone I want to get through this for it’s you.”

  Miranda’s voice was so reassuring Jared couldn’t help but believe her, he needed to hear it from her that it would be fine and that they would end up together. However, at this point to much had been going on around them and he really wouldn’t feel safe until they were back in the cottage.

  “We need to go now. I’m not sure what happened back there, but I need a safe place to clear my head and speak to you. Can we please go now?” Jared voice was scared and upset at the whole scene.

  Michael and Miranda knew Jared was right, that wasn’t the only thing out there to attack, and they were even more worried about who sent it to attack her.

  “Ok we can move but you’ll need to get off of my coat first.”

  Miranda smiled at Jared as she spoke hoping to lighten the mood, but it didn’t work.

  “Ok, ok let’s go, but you can’t carry me anymore you’re exhausted and you going to hurt one of us before you’re through.”

  Michael stepped up, “I’m fine I’ll carry her, it’s the least I can do. You both help save me from embarrassing myself with an apology I wasn’t going to mean, but of course now I do.”

  “I don’t need to be carried, I think I have this speed thing down now, I think I just needed to be in your world for a little while. There are a few of my powers that didn’t come until I got here and except who and what I am. Besides, we better get back the council is bringing my father soon, I can hear them from way off, they’re coming but they keep getting lost. We’re going to need to help them out, but not until we get back, clean up, and decide how we’re going to deal with the current problem.” Miranda spoke quickly because she knew what she was talking about but she soon realized the boys didn’t.

  Michael and Jared chimed in together, “What problem?” Both were very confused by Miranda’s statement, like she knew something that they didn’t.

  “That would be the one where we killed a Windigo, oh by the way he wasn't just any Windigo, he was one of the head Windigo’s kids. We are going to have to tell Gage and the Council what happened, especially since this one was sent to find out about me and kill me if he could. Shame he didn’t really have a chance, between the two vampires and myself, it really wasn’t a very fair fight. He didn’t have anyone else with him to help. He was really quite scared.”

  Miranda said this with only a little concern in her voice, this scared Jared a little, because it wasn’t very human.

  They looked at each other, “I guess we better had get back before our father shows up.” they said together. Jared finished, “Great job I’ve done keeping you safe, they may end up sending someone else to watch over you.”

  “Over my dead body! I will go looking for danger if they start any of that business.” Miranda was a little miffed at the thought of someone beside Jared standing anywhere near her. “My father should be happy you two were with me since he hasn’t been. Besides he should be more worried that someone was sent to kill me, rather than whether or not you were watching me close enough. Let’s just get going before I say or think something I shouldn’t.”

  Jared and Michael let her start ahead, they still weren’t sure she could go fast enough, let alone keep up with them. They were surprised at how wrong they were, she wasn’t quite as fast as
they were, but she wasn’t all that slow either.

  They got back to the cottage about a half hour before their father started to call them for help. Miranda had already explained what happened in the woods and everything she learned from the mind of the Windigo. They felt as prepared as they were going to be when the Council got there. The Council wasn’t in the best mood, they had be wondering around for quite some time and they weren’t ready for the news they were about to hear.

  Jared spoke to them first, “We would like you to know that there was an attempt made on Miranda’s life today, but as you can see she is perfectly fine.”

  Kilaws wanted to knew what had gone wrong, “As your father I trusted you to take care of her. What happened? How did anyone end up near her?”

  Miranda stood up to answered him, “I think I can best answer that question.”

  Kilaws stopped her, “My dear I don’t think you understand the gravity of this situation. I mean no disrespect but I think you should sit down, I’m sure the events of the day have taken their toll on you.”

  As he turned to scream at his sons, Kilaws was stopped by his own brain forcing his head to look at her. Everyone in the room froze in fear, at the sight because no one knew what was going on, except Jared and Michael.

  Jared and Michael started to laugh, but the Gage, Kilaws and the Council were not as amused. So Jared spoke up, “Dad you mind not want to speak to Miranda like she’s not in the room. It kinda; hhmm, how do I say this, pisses her off.”

  “Sir, with no disrespect to you, I beg you to pay more attention to me, and I’ll let your head go.” Miranda said this with a very serious amount of attitude and anger in her voice.

  “Young Lady, what are you doing to me? I will listen to that.” Kilaws answered.

  Kilaws had never been spoken to like that by someone so young, let alone a woman, and this was not in and a time or place he wanted to start. The Council was looking very uneasy and Miranda was making no qualms about holding his head a little longer.