by Isa Fae
34
Miranda
She paused on the third to the last step to pull up her hood and zip her coat up as far as it would go, trying to conceal as much as her face as she could. When she stepped onto the sidewalk, she made a left and kept going, making her way into the crowd. Miranda knew if she merged with them, she’d have less of a chance at being noticed. And the store she needed to go in was just around the corner. She’d never been more relieved when she found out the bus stop was so close.
Turning the corner, she slipped through the door, the tiny bell hanging from the top rung out, announcing her arrival. The petite blonde came through the door, entering the main room. She studied Miranda for a moment, but she showed no recognition. Which meant Miranda had done a good job concealing her identity. If Kally couldn’t notice her, nobody could.
“Kally,” Miranda said, pulling her hood down. “I need your help.”
Kally’s hazel eyes widened and a smile broke out on her face. “Miranda!” She rushed over and took her into her arms. “I was worried sick about you.” She broke away from her embrace to look at her, holding her by the arms. “I heard rumors that you killed Huffington and the Lord had a price on your head. Of course, I didn’t believe any of them. There’s no way you could do that. Not you.”
Miranda didn’t want to break her Fae friend’s heart by telling her all of that was true. So, she stood there, unable to say a word.
“Miranda, tell me it isn’t true. You didn’t kill Huffington, right?”
She shifted uneasily, her head feeling fuzzy. “Can we sit down somewhere?” If she didn’t get off her feet, she was sure she was going to pass out.
“Yes, yes.” Kally placed a hand on her back and guided her into the doorway she first came out of. It was the backroom to the store. She walked her over to a red sofa, letting her sit down. And Kally took the spot next to her, placing her hand over hers. “What’s going on?”
Kally was one Fae she could trust. She had suffered the Lord’s wrath many times when she couldn’t get the right color on a suit he ordered. Or the right shoes or the right anything. She was fully aware of his temper and the abuse he made his servants and the other Fae living under his roof endure. In fact, she tried many times to persuade the Lord to let her have Miranda, but he always refused. Like Miranda, she had to keep everything a secret in fear she would be his next target. She only got to communicate with Miranda in secret when she was doing an errand for Mason.
“It was an accident.” Miranda couldn’t look at her right now. The guilt of what she done was eating her away. “The Lord was trying to “break me” as he called it. He was killing Sarah, draining her life away from her, and I tried to stop him. I was too late.” The tears of losing Sarah threatened to emerge, but she held them back. “His punishment was harsher than ever, Kally. I accidently used my magic on him, and when I went to escape, Huffington was coming in the door. All I wanted to do was get away. I didn’t mean to kill him.”
“Oh, Miranda.” Kally placed her arm around her. “You poor thing. I’m so sorry. I know it’s not in your heart to end someone’s life. I know you all too well.”
Miranda felt empty now. Huffington was in fact gone. And it was all her fault.
“Someone said Mason sent a hunter after you to track you down. How did you manage to escape?” Her gaze burned into the side of Miranda’s face.
Her tears finally fell at just the mention of his name. Eric. “It’s a long story, but I need your help.” Miranda finally found the will to pick her head up and look at her friend. “I need some shoes and maybe a coat. I have to go back to the Lord’s mansion and save Ronan and the others.
“Miranda, it’s too dangerous right now. If the hunter did in fact lose your trail, Mason will be on the lookout for you.” She squeezed her hand. “You can’t just go waltzing into his mansion.”
“What other choice do I have?” Of course, like always, Kally was right, but Miranda was completely out of options. She couldn’t think of any other way.
Kally drew in a deep breath and her eyes widened. “The ball!”
Miranda squinted at her, not sure what she meant. But the excitement in her voice raised her hopes. “A ball?”
“Mason is having a masquerade ball Friday night! That would be the perfect opportunity.” She rose from the sofa and paced in front of Miranda. “We would have to change your appearance somehow, though.” It was if she was talking to herself. “Just a mask wouldn’t conceal your identity. Not from him. We’d have to change your hair. And I’d need to find you a dress.” She swung around to Miranda. “Black or blonde?”
Miranda lifted her eyebrows, not sure why she was shouting out colors.
“Your hair, Miranda. We need to give you a new look.” She patted her hands on either side of her thighs as she stood there evaluating her. “I think blonde would be better.”
Miranda couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s enthusiasm. And she was over the moon that she decided to help her. She wouldn’t be alone in this after all. “Blonde it is.”
“I’m working on the Lord’s outfit now, and he’s pressing me for time. But I have an idea for you, and you’re going to love it.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “I ordered some food from the place around the corner. It’s in the alley. Are you able to run and get it while I finish up the monster’s outfit?”
Miranda laughed. “Yes, I think so. It’s getting dark and there won’t be many people yet. I’ll be able to slip over and get back in no time.”
Kally grabbed her wrist and pulled her up from the sofa. “Good, get going. I’m starving and I’m sure you are too. There’s plenty of food for both of us. Just look for the Magical Wand when you get into the alley.”
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Miranda nearly bounced out of Kally’s store. She hadn’t felt this good since Eric had made their truce and opened up to how they really felt for one another. Eric. There he was again slipping into her mind. As much as she missed him, she had to remind herself she wasn’t exactly sure if everything that happened between them was real. While he did let her go, she couldn’t shake the vision of him embracing that other woman.
She walked down the sidewalk until she reached the alley. Looking down, it was completely deserted. Just as she thought it would be.
Miranda had no time finding the store Kally told her about. And the contents in the bag did feel as though she had ordered enough for the both of them. Maybe, even more. As she left the store, she turned and waved to the cashier, a witch and a good friend of Kally’s. But as she closed the door and turned around, she came face to face with a set of glaring hazel eyes.
Not Kally. Her mind scrambled to make sense of what was happening. But as the tall woman with bright red hair approached her and took her by the neck, lifting her in the air, it all crashed back down on her.
Millenia had finally found her.
35
Eric
Crazy.
That was the only way Eric could describe himself. He had gone fucking insane. He’d thought he’d seen her. Thought he felt her magical impression. But there was nobody there.
As he lay in his own bed, which he should have taken comfort in but didn’t, he rewound everything he saw earlier. Going back through it step by step. The only way he would put himself at ease was to go back to the cabin. Matryx was pissed at him, so she would more than likely leave him be until the ball. But, he wouldn’t be able to slip up there during daylight. He’d have to do it in the dark just as a precaution.
By going back, he would also be able to make things better between him and Miranda. Give him time to explain his plan so she’d understand. He wouldn’t be able to put that plan into motion until after he met with the Lord, of course. He wanted to throw the Lord off. That was if he didn’t decide to kill the Lord first. Not just for the abuses of the past, but for every sin the bastard had committed against the one person who meant the world to Eric.
He tossed and turned in the bed.
He stared at the ceiling. Then at the wall. Finally frustrated and overwhelmed with thoughts of Miranda, he shoved his blanket away from him and got out of bed. “Screw this. I can’t wait until tomorrow night.”
No. Quickly getting dressed, he knew he had to do this now. Eric had to know she was safe.
He drove to Division headquarters, deciding he would be smarter than before and take one of the snowmobiles out to the cabin instead of hiking through the snow. It would be much easier. When he arrived in the dimly lit parking lot, he took a space away from the other cars, in the darkness near a fence.
He got out of his car and walked through the lot, flicking his finger and opening the gate. Lucky for him, the Division was now closed, the building unoccupied. The hunters who were working were out on their assignments, and he had full access to anything he wanted without being spotted.
Eric walked over to the area where they kept their snow equipment and jumped on the first snowmobile he came to. He started it up, increasing the throttle and moved forward slowly until the engine, drive belt, and track were fully warmed up. Then he took off through the snow, heading to the forest.
Since Eric no longer had his coat, the frigid air blowing over his face burned his skin. But he wasn’t worried about the elements or the chance of freezing to death. At the speed he was going, he would make it to the cabin in no time.
He raced through the trees and cut through the drifts of snow. Finally, the cabin came into view. An ache in his chest appeared when he noticed there was no smoke coming from the fireplace. Miranda would freeze to death without a fire warming the inside of the cabin. And he couldn’t think why she would let it go.
He stopped just a short distance from the front door and dismounted the vehicle. Walking up the steps, worry began to set in. He couldn’t feel her magic at all. Eric pushed open the door and drew in a long, deep breath. The place was trashed.
The candles, the books, and even the record player were on the floor. Eric’s heart fell into his stomach. Someone had to have found her. More Renegades maybe. He wasn’t sure. He rushed into every room. And it was all the same. Stuff broken and shattered. Things tossed to the floor. But the worst thing of all hit him even harder. Miranda was gone.
He stood in their bedroom. Yes, their room. He had staked his claim to it. He had made love to her there, held her in his arms, and even planted soft kisses all over her body in that bed. He closed his eyes, taking in anything and everything. Trying to see if he could pick up any magical impressions at all. Although faded, hers still lingered. But there was no sign of anything else. Which meant Miranda left on her own.
“Stubborn fucking witch,” he mumbled, sitting on the bed. He’d told her to stay here, but she left any way. Maybe, he hadn’t been crazy at all. Maybe, he did see her get off that bus and walk down the sidewalk. But why? What was she up to and why would she risk going to the village. He knew he had to find her, and he knew it wouldn’t be that hard. He’d tracked her once and he’d do it again.
Eric left the cabin and got on the snowmobile again, heading back to headquarters. He parked it in the same spot where he took it from and walked back to the lot. On his way to his car, he noticed another car sitting next to his.
Shit. Matryx. The woman just can’t seem to get the hint.
As he approached her car, she rolled down her window. “Small change of plans, Winters.”
“What do you mean?” He walked up to her car and placed his hands on the roof, leaning in the window, not sure what she was referring to.
“Get a suit ready.” She smiled, handing him a piece of paper. “You’re my date for the masquerade ball. We’re going undercover.”
Eric’s jaw tightened to her word date, and he snatched the paper from her hand. The invitation was legit. And both their names were on it. He may have to accompany her, but she’d never be a date. “Why? I thought we were just going to be the security. Why would the Lord need us to go undercover?”
“Seriously, Eric.” She leaned out through her door, brown eyes taking all of him in and causing him to back away from her vehicle. “The Lord’s son was murdered. Murdered by someone you failed to capture.” She gave him an accusing look. “He thinks this Sage witch is going to come after him. I swear, this bitch must be insane if the Lord fears her.” She laughed.
Eric wasn’t laughing. And it took a lot of restraint for him not to knock the smile off Matryx’s face for that last comment. She was more of a bitch than Miranda would ever be. And as for the Lord, he knew damn well Miranda wouldn’t come after him. His servants’ maybe. But not him. “Fine, I’ll meet you at the Lord’s at seven on Friday night.” He turned away from her.
“Not a chance, Eric. I’ll be expecting you at my door at six-thirty.”
Before he could answer her, she rolled up the window and pulled away. If he didn’t have to continue working with her, he’d leave the bitch high and dry.
Balling the invitation up in his hand, he walked the rest of the way to his car. He opened the door, slid in, and started the ignition. He pushed the accelerator all the way down as he drove home. This ball would put a damper on his plans to track Miranda down. But as soon it was over, finding her would be his first priority.
36
Miranda
Breathe.
Miranda struggled to pull in a single breath, but Millenia had cut off her airway and was slowly choking her. Her vision blurred in and out. Her head felt as if she were floating up and up and up and the pressure inside of her body pressed down and down and down. Soon she’d explode.
“Miranda, my dear, how nice it is to see you again.” An evil grin extended her lips. “My you’re a hard little witch to get a hold of. I sent a few of my best out to find you, but sadly, they never returned. You wouldn’t happen to know why they never returned, would you?”
Miranda brought her arms up, hands gripping Millenia’s as she struggled to pull them away from her neck. Strength wise, she was stronger than Miranda. But Miranda’s magic far exceeded hers. She pushed her energy out through her palms, forcing Millenia to drop her.
Her legs crumbled and she hit the ground hard, pain shooting up into her back.
Millenia was now standing over top of her. She reached down and jerked a handful of her hair, yanking it up while Miranda braced herself on the ground. “I took you in when you had nobody. And you betrayed me, Miranda. Not only did you side with those thieves, but you killed your own kind. How dare you!” She knelt in front of her, still grasping her hair. “You killed four of my best!” Her fist came up, knuckles crashing into Miranda’s cheek bone. She hit her again before she could even respond to the first one, this time the nose. The cracking sound and sudden feeling of knives being forced into her skull told Miranda it was more than likely broken.
Miranda looked up, narrowing her eyes through the pain, warm moisture flowing down her face. “Not all of them are bad,” she shot back, lifting her hand and swiping the blood from her face. “Some of them endure the same abuse as we do. Maybe, if we stopped all the fighting and the hate, putting people into groups, we can all live peacefully. Have you ever thought about that? A faction where everyone can live their lives without fear?”
Millenia’s face reddened and she stood up, looming over Miranda again, her hands balled into fists. She kicked her leg out this time, striking Miranda over and over again in her ribs. “There is no peace for us until all the Fae are gone!”
Miranda curled up on her side, wrapping her hand around herself as the sharp arcs of pain radiated through her. She glanced up and laughed at her, unknowing to Millenia she’d endured much more torment than this. And most of it came from Mason’s hands. The other had been when Eric Winters had walked out on her, breaking her heart into a million pieces. No. The worst agony of all was witnessing Eric embrace another woman when she wasn’t looking. That was what killed her. This abuse now, it was nothing to her. Only a sick game. “And then what, Millenia. You’ll rule the faction and make it a peachy perfect p
lace. No, you won’t. Because you’re just as evil and corrupted as the Lord is. All there will be in this faction is a change in power. Witches over Fae. That’s it.”
“Miranda!” Kally’s voice came from somewhere behind me. No, please.
Millenia snapped her head up, looking past Miranda. Her face contorted into something sinister and ugly. “A Fae,” she growled, lifting her hand. “Another one of your friends I presume?”
“No, don’t!” Panic shuddered through her, but her words weren’t fast enough to stop the witch in front of her.
Millenia lashed out, her lip curling up as the pressure of her magic swept past Miranda. “Die, you leech!”
“No!” Miranda twisted herself around as Kally fell to the ground. Her body convulsing a short distance away from her. Hot angry tears fell from Miranda’s eyes, merging with the blood which flowed from her nose. The image of Sarah flashed in her mind, and something snapped inside her brain.
Broken and bruised, Miranda rose to her feet. The energy swirling inside of her begging to be released. No, Millenia was no better than the Lord. Both were on the same page. Greedy. Evil. And full of hate. She brought her hands up, palms facing Millenia.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she snarled, bracing herself because in the back of her mind she had to know Miranda would. And, yes, she would put an end to the leader of the Renegades. Once and for all.
Just as before, blue and green streaks flowed out from the palms of her hands, seeking Millenia. Her eyes widened, and she turned to run, but the streaks were faster. They wrapped around her, entwining together and squeezing her tight. Tighter and tighter. And like before, they completely closed in. Millenia gave one more piercing scream and then she was gone. A small pile of ash sitting in her place.
Miranda’s body swayed, her powers had drastically weakened her again. But she needed to get to Kally. She turned around, wobbly and unsteady, making her way over to her friend.