Miranda got up and went to a tall wooden door on the left side of the Great Room. She walked in and took a look around, it was only about ten by eight, and the walls were real cherry wood paneling. On the far side of the room was a beautiful cherry wooden desk, and burgundy leather chair, and on the wall near the door was a beautiful burgundy couch.
Sahen walked over to the desk, Miranda breathed in as the smell filled the air, he quickly grabbed a table and pen form it. He looked at Miranda who was still standing in the doorway, “come here and sit down on the couch.” Sahen was already sitting down tapping on the leather seat.
Miranda looked at him, and couldn’t help but laugh, as she walked over to sit down. “Wow if Jared could see us now! What would he say? As jealous as he was the first time we met, he would have gone crazy, had we had to do this back then.”
Miranda smiled they had come a long way and she was finally getting back to herself too, “how’s it going with you and Carma?”
“Miranda, you know that’s not why we’re here! Please, I know you’re scared but you really need to stay focused right now, and we’re doing fine. Your dad may even help us out when this is all over. Thanks for asking; now you need to focus, look into my eyes and tell me what you see.” Sahen stared into Miranda’s eyes and waited for her to say something.
“It’s strange all I can see is the stuff I already know, and something else that’s not about Triu and Celbris. I don’t get it, why can’t I see what happens?” Miranda was frustrated, “It’s like they aren’t going to try anything and it’s almost like they just disappeared.”
“Well, maybe I’m just not involved. I wonder who is involved, who should I call in? I wonder if it should be, Jared or Gage.” Sahen was deep in thought when Miranda answered him.
“I believe I should see Carma. It’s something I saw in your eyes; don’t worry it not bad, I just want to check it out. You can get her, tell her to come see me, and then compare notes with the guys before you come back. I’ll send Carma out when we’re done.”
Miranda was adamant about seeing Carma next, and Sahen was so busy thinking about talking to the others, that he just agreed to it.
Carma came bouncing through the door, “What’s up girl? Learn anything new from my guy?”
Carma was happy but she wasn’t sure why she was next. What could Miranda learn from her eyes? She knew she was going to be at the house with Miranda.
“Don’t worry; they just want a chance to talk as guys, he’s about to tell them I didn’t see anything. Can you believe it!!! It’s was like they were not around at all and I know that’s not true. Who knows they could be doing; something to block me, anyway I gave him the excuse to send you in so I could look in your eyes, why they talk.” Miranda had other motives, “So how’s it going with you to?”
It only took a second for Carma to catch on, “Why? What did you see?” Carma noticed a smile creeping across Miranda’s face, “Don’t you lie to me! Give up the goods, right now!”
“Let me look into your eyes first, and then I’ll fess up.”
Miranda knew she needed to see what was in Carma’s future to before she could say anything.
Carma agreed, “Wow! It’s there too.”
She stopped and didn’t say anything until Carma smacked her on the head, “OK, Ok, I’ll tell just don’t hit me again, by the way we’re even now.”
Miranda said as she rubbed the spot Carma hit. “I’ll I can say is, I hope you two like kids, because there were quite a few.”
Carma gasped, “Does Sahen know?
Miranda laughed, “He’s only worried about what’s happening this second. I told him the only thing I saw has nothing to do with the other two and he practically ran to get you, so he could talk to the guys. He wasn’t interested in anything else, besides that’s for you to decide to tell, not me.”
“Wow, I think I’ll hold this information for a better time, I don’t want another father watching over me like crazy. You think that’s ok?” Carma didn’t want any problems, “Hey are we bound?”
“Yes, this was a future thing, not a now thing. I think you might want to be careful though, or it will be a now thing, got it.”
Miranda and Carma were up to the same old stuff they were doing before all the trouble started when Jared came in and asked if they would come out with the rest of the group.
“We decide to have you walk around in this room and just look at everyone’s eyes right now; we’re not going to take this one at a time anymore.” Sahen was determined to figure out what was going on with Miranda’s powers.
She walked around and looked hard, and long at each person’s eyes. She saw a lot of things, all in the future but nothing that was helpful, and some things she didn’t even want to talk about. She was starting to get very frustrated and that’s when it happened. She was standing next to Sahen by the fireplace; she turned to go over and sit with Carma, screamed and collapsed.
Everyone rushed to her side, they didn’t know what to do, she was out cold, as if someone had hit her on the head. Carma closed her eyes and went inside to see if she could figure out what was going on, and Jared was not far behind. They couldn’t get to her through her mind, so when they came out they didn’t know what to do, Jared held her and kissed lips.
She was out about ten minutes, when she started to move, they all breathed a sigh of relief. She sat up looking at everyone, and shaking with fear, she was looking for the right words in her mind to say and at the same time not get upset.
“They’re here, somewhere real close, Sahen I can feel them.”
She looked at Jared and Gage, “All of the rage and evil inside them is getting to me, I want to block them out but I need to hear them.”
She turned back to Sahen, “Why can’t I see what they are going to do? I can feel how bad it is but I can’t see it! Why?”
Miranda was getting real upset, she was terrified inside, and she couldn’t explain it. She didn’t know exactly what their plan was just the feelings it brought.
“Look into my eyes again Miranda,” Sahen was sure the answer lay within his eyes. “Tell me what you see and we can finish this. You look into them again and I promise we get through this together. Miranda we can do this!”
She looked again afraid for what she would see but more afraid that see wouldn’t see anything. “Nothing! There’s nothing! I’ve been trying all night! They found a way to block me, I’m sure of it and Sahen, I’m truly scared!”
Miranda walked over to Carma and hugged her and asked out loud, “What am I going to do? This has only ever happened to me one other time when,” she stopped in her tracks and pointed at Jared, “it was when you came to kill me, you know I could read your mind so you didn’t think. That’s it! You just acted! Jared, they’re doing the same thing, their just acting on impulse.” She turned back to the group, “but how can we change that?”
Sahen decided that they needed to start acting, anyone working on impulse was more dangerous than someone thinking things through, “We need to double the guard around her, and I’m going on the hunt, and I’m calling a meeting right now.” He left to go outside and talk to the other guards and trackers.
It wasn’t long before Sahen came in, “Ok here’s what’s going to happen. One guard is posted on the balcony outside Miranda’s room, and obviously Jared will be inside with her, two more will be in the hallway and several in the house. The grounds are covered everywhere, if they try to get near her, they will have a lot to go through. Gage I need you on this side of the house in a room with Michael, and Mattis; you stay in the room with Carma, next to Miranda’s room. If they can, they may try to kidnap someone in order to get to Miranda so I need everyone covered, I will be with my family.”
Sahen looked at Carma, “Don’t worry I’m going to get them tonight, I’m tired of staying awake all the time,” he kissed her, “I’ll be back soon.” And with that he was gone.
Chapter 24
Jared took charge of the guards t
hat were in the house, “First everyone, but Mattis go into Miranda’s room while I talk to the guards and see what they think.”
The others all went to Miranda’s room and he looked at the guards in front of him, “I know that Sahen trusts all of you, but Miranda’s dad trusted a dear friend of his to, and that almost got him killed. I want you to know, if you do your job and anything happens to you, your family will never want for anything ever again. However cross Miranda or I and you’ll wish you were never born, she is powerful, but I can become violent and angry when provoked. I hope we understand each other, loyalty goes a very long way with our families, however, deceit goes nowhere except hell. Now tell me which one will be on the balcony?”
One guard raised his hand, “I am assigned to take the first watch, however Sahen wants us rotating our shifts, he thinks it will keep us more alert and on our toes.”
Jared smiled, “I knew I liked him, even if he did try to hit on Miranda just to piss me off, almost got him killed too. I guess he is on the ball, I will be in the room with her, any problems go to Mattis first and then he’ll come to me. I don’t want to be responsible for hurting anyone.” Jared pointed to Mattis who was standing outside his room and then said, “Go to your posts.”
Jared went over to Mattis, “Have Carma mind walk to me, I don’t want anyone coming in the room; I’m going to attack first and ask questions later, ok”
“Sure that’s for the warning, I’ve messed with you before, and I wouldn’t make that mistake twice. Are you going to tell the others or are you going to let them find out the hard way?” Mattis laughed as he remembered a time he thought it would be cool to sneak up on Jared. “I can laugh now but it took me a month to recover.”
Jared walked passed him and into the bedroom to explain the rules to everybody so there wouldn’t be any mistake attacks. They all agreed, hugged each other and went to bed.
Miranda was still very much shaken, “I think they’ve move on because I can’t feel them anymore. Jared, I need to sleep, do you think we’ll be ok for the night. I promise no night walks tonight. I want you to know something, I may have told Emina that I was the unknown one, but I don’t think I really am. Please keep Celbris and Triu away from me, I know what Celbris is planning if he get me alone I saw his list, I just can’t live through that.”
Jared held her close, “Don’t worry we’re all here for you. We are going to do everything to keep you safe, and Miranda if they get you for some reason, I want you to remember you are the unknown one. I can’t believe there is anything more powerful then you trust in yourself, trust in the fact that you have everything the legend says you should. If anyone can beat this it’s you sweetheart, for now just don’t worry just try and sleep, we’ll stay wake for you.”
It was about two in the morning when it happened, if Jared has realized what it was he would have stopped and thought a little harder about it, a fire broke out in the barn.
“They’re after the animals again.” Gage wanted to go down and find them.
Some of the guards from the woods went to put out the fire and everyone else search for the intruders. They left Miranda and Carma with two of the guards, that’s when they found that no one was around, because during the shock of the fire, Celbris and Triu had gotten into the house.
Miranda was standing in the hall with two guards and Carma. She looked into Carma’s eyes and screamed, at that second, one guard hit Carma and one guard hit Miranda. Before anyone could get back there, the two guards were gone with Miranda, and Carma was out cold on the floor, Miranda had seen it only seconds before it happened.
Jared went crazy screaming, his body was like lighting, he was tensed and his eyes were glowing black. He stopped long enough to count the guards, they were all there, but no one was missing. Triu and Celbris had gotten in dressed as guards, in the chaos right under his nose, and he left Miranda with them.
It took only seconds for Sahen came back, he felt what happened to Carma, and he heard Miranda’s scream.
“I can smell them still they are somewhere around here. Dad, you and Coscal go and search the woods, send our best people to the areas they have been spotted before. They didn’t have much time, I’m checking the house and the rest of the guards should check the grounds. Leave nothing unturned, they grabbed Miranda and they touched my wife, find them and you’ll be greatly rewarded.”
Jared followed Sahen, Gage and the others went searched the rooms that were on the west wing. Carma recovered in Miranda’s room with Mattis watching over her.
“Go help them, I’ll be fine, they’re not after me! Call dad and bring him back here, if you want, he and mom can watch over me.”
Carma was worried about Miranda, when Miranda had collapsed and Carma went into her mind, she saw what Miranda saw and it was bad.
“You need to find her fast! Celbris can’t touch her the way he planned, it’s not right, she’ll never live through it her human side will die.”
“Don’t think about it, Miranda forgets how powerful she is, she’ll get mad and hit them harder then she hit you today. They are never going to get away with anything. I just want you to rest, I can’t call anyone because they’ll never get through and I don’t want mom and dad to hear Sahen refer to you as his wife again. That would be a major problem! Why did he say that anyway? Did he think they were going to move faster?”
Carma smiled, “No, I am going to be his wife. We’re going to the Concillium when this is all over and Gage is going to talk to mom and dad to help us out. He told us he would take care of everything and we decided that we are going to let him. Truth be known, Miranda already saw all of our children in our eyes, but don’t say anything because Sahen doesn’t know just yet.”
“Oh man is that why she wanted to talk to you. You and Sahen are going have a bunch of kid, gross!” Mattis really didn’t want to hear all of this, “just don’t tell mom and...”
“I know you don’t know anything, I got it, just do me a favor and find Miranda. You can leave me here and I’ll be fine.”
Carma was upset she wanted her friend back and she felt responsible because it happened right in front of her.
“I can’t stand the thought of what they are going to do to her, Mattis PLEASE, GO!”
Sahen was right they didn’t go far; unknown to even Gage; there was a hidden passage in the wall. The servants loyal to Emina had made it in secret, when Gage would go away on trips, or when he would spend a night in the cottage on the grounds. They had Miranda out cold in the secret room, and other then their scent getting her into the room, there was no sign of the place. It was just like the other place they took Gage to, but this time Miranda was out cold.
Celbris had grabbed Miranda’s lifeless body off of the floor. He threw her over his shoulder like an old sack; he didn’t care if she got hurt, because he was planning on hurting her more anyway and then killing her.
“Let’s go! I want to get to the Great Room fireplace before they realize we have her.” He looked over at Triu, “once they know we have her everyone will be looking for us.”
Triu was getting worried as they ran through the house, the fire was a great distraction, but he knew it wouldn’t last long, as they came to the fireplace he found the tile he needed to hit to get in quick.
They moved quickly into the dark, wet passage. “The water is a nice touch, it should help keep the werewolves away, and even Sahen shouldn’t be able to track our scent.”
Triu said to Celbris as he started to take control of himself. When they got inside Celbris threw Miranda on the floor, “Watch it! You almost hit me with her. I don’t want her scent on me!”
The passage opened into a small room, on one side there was a few chairs and a small table, and in the middle of the room was a double bed with some old sheets and blankets on it. They looked as if they had been very nice at one time but then they were thrown off to the side for some reason. The whole place was cold and damp; the only light came from two small candle lamps on the tab
le that looked like they had just been refilled. On the table there were wet spots from oil, a tray with a small amount of food, and a flask filled with wine and two glasses.
“I guess they knew we were coming?” Triu remarked as he got a glass and grabbed at the wine. “Do you want some?”
Celbris grabbed a the glass, smiled and pointed at Miranda, “When she wakes up, we’ll take real good care of her, they’ll all be right around us and never knew we’re here.”
Celbris was a very nasty man and he planned so much into this moment, “Do you want her first or should I just give you what’s left when I’m done? I can‘t wait, she’ll know they’re right outside the whole time we’re hurting her. ”
“Look I don’t want anything to do with her, I think we should kill her now, if she wakes and finds a way to contact them we’re screwed! Just leave me out of your little torture plans, I don’t want any part of that, got it!”
Triu was extremely angry that Celbris was even thinking about touching Miranda, “Don’t you get it, if anything goes wrong, you’re dead for even thinking like that! What are you crazy?”
Triu knew that messing with a member of the Concillium like that was a death sentence; the table alone would kill him. Sure he was mad at Gage for trying to give his seat to Miranda, he had waited centuries for it, but it didn’t mean he wanted to torture Miranda for it. He definitely didn’t want to be any part of touching her like that; she was not only Gage’s daughter, but another man’s wife. On top of all of that, if she had already taken Gage‘s seat at the Concillium table, she was also then a member. She was going to die and that was the only plan he wanted to be part of.
“You’re nuts, Emina is going to take the table now and she’s going to be mine anyway. I’m just getting started a little early that’s all,” he looked down at Miranda’s body laying on the floor, “she’s going to wish she never came to this world, and Jared’s going to kill himself for it. I’m killing two birds with one stone.”
Between Shadows Page 28
