Chapter Twenty-One
Mick was shaking. He hadn't felt such fear, not even when Beth was taken from him. He loved her but this was Miranda; this was his wife! He couldn't lose her.
The van stopped in the bottom level of a parking garage. Mick parked one level up but still where he was close enough to watch them. For a long moment, nothing happened. Then the side door opened and Jean-Claude climbed out. Miranda followed, still carrying the girl, who Mick guessed was injured. After them, came the crowd of girls. They huddle together, following Miranda like chicks follow their mother. The last two vampires took up the rear, driving the girls forward with just their presence.
Silently, Mick climbed out of his car and crept down along the railing, watching.
"Why don't you just join us, Mick?" Jean-Claude called, not even slowly his pace.
Mick froze; as did Miranda, who turned, clearly looking for him. At this, Jean-Claude stopped, pivoting on his heel and pointing to the railing. "No point pretending, Mick."
Unable to deny it, Mick jumped down from his hiding place and walked slowly towards them.
Jean-Claude smiled, walking closer to Miranda, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I wondered how long you would take to come to get her back."
"Mick," Miranda whispered. When Mick was only a few feet away, she pulled away and rushed to him. Jean-Claude allowed it for two reasons. 1) The two vampires were not old enough to be able to out run the other three and 2) Miranda wouldn't leave the girls alone with them.
Mick wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging her gently, looking down at the girl in her arms. The girl was pale. Her ankle was wrapped in a dirty scrap of clothing that had obviously been used as a bandage. Mick pulled his jacket off, handing it over to two of Miranda's little flock who were only wearing thin dresses. The two girls huddled together, sharing the coat.
Miranda helped Mick rip his sleeve. She held the girl tight, petting her hair as Mick pulled the old makeshift bandage off; replacing it.
Jean-Claude watched closely. "You two are really humanitarians."
"Mind if I ask how she got like this?" Mick asked, tying the scrap from his sleeve tightly around the girl's wound.
"She tried to run," Magnus growled. "I made it so she couldn't run."
"More like you made it so she'll never walk again if we don't set this soon and get it in a cast," Miranda growled.
"She'll be fine," Jean-Claude said. "Let's go." He turned leading to the industrial elevator. Mick and Miranda exchanged at look before Mick nodded, shooing Miranda and her flock after Jean-Claude. Mick took up a place between the girls and the two tailing vampires.
The girls all held hands, with the closest girl wrapping her arm through Miranda's. While they stood in the elevator the last little girl, Christy Marshall, held her hand out to Mick, who took it and gave a gently, reassuring squeeze.
Jean-Claude lead the group up to the very top floor of the build and then lead down a narrow, crème colored hall. The door at the end of the hall was steel. Jean-Claude pushed it open and sent the girls inside, with Miranda leading and Mick bringing up the rear. The doors slammed shut behind them. "We'll deal with you all after we've talked to Michael."
Mick cursed, for which Miranda smacked his arm. "I knew Michael was not to be trusted. I told Josef! I told him!"
Miranda soothed his arm, "Calm down, you're scaring the girls." She sat down on the floor, holding Katie's head in her lap. Mick sat beside her, letting Miranda rest her head on his shoulder. Mick held Miranda with one arm and held Christy's hand with his other. The girls curled in, sitting and leaning on each other or the two adults.
Mick and Miranda looked around the room. It was pretty much empty. It was a large room with sky blue painted walls and a white ceiling. The floor was concrete, and cold. The only furniture was a chair in the far corner. No doors or windows, expected for one window in the ceiling and the door they came through. Looking up, Mick sighed. The window had nothing to grab onto. Even though he could probably reach the sky light with a jump, he wouldn't be able to grab anything and the glass was probably bullet proof if not stronger.
Hours seemed to pass before the door opened again. In walked, Michael. "Hello, my friends."
"I knew you weren't to be trusted! I knew it!" Mick growled, trying to rise slightly. Miranda pressed him down, her head still on his shoulder.
"I fear you probably were right," Michael smiled, sadly.
Miranda looked up at him. "What is your plan for these girls?"
"Mrs. St. John," Michael said, ignoring her question. "You appear to have taken to our disposition quite well."
"20 years of practice," Miranda allowed. "You ignored my question, Lord Ruthven."
"That I did, my dear," Michael smiled. He held his hand out to her. "Come, I would love to walk and talk with you."
Miranda looked at Mick, who nodded, with a half-shrug. He didn't like the idea but she might have a chance to get out. He leaned over and took the sleeping Katie from her arms. She stood and took Michael's hand. He tugged her out of the room.
The girls who had been silent up till this point whimpered almost in unison. "She left us."
"She would never do that," Mick whispered. "She will get them to let you go."
"How will she do that?" Christy asked. Mick looked at her, honestly not knowing what to tell her.
I'm going out of town but I should be back in time to update on Wednesday. If not, the next chapter will be up on Thursday at the latest.