Miranda could not believe her eyes, her brother after three long months had returned to her. Kurtis approached her, taking her hand and making her get up from the chair, Miranda shook her head, her tufts before his eyes moved with her « I remind you that are not really blind Kurtis, do not do this charade when we are alone »Kurtis did not listen, he puts his right hand on his cheek. It was so long since He caressed his sister's cheeks and now that he saw her before him, still in disbelief to see her.
It's been three long months from the coma and the events of the Strahov, the right eye of Miranda went out a black drop, a tear.
Kurtis gently moved his thumb, which dipped as if it were a normal tear. Miranda's blindness was particular, very black tears, black eyes, but the tears are like normal tears, she still has vision.
A particular Lux . Kurtis took Miranda's head on his shoulder and she began to cry, without emitting a minimal sub. She tightened herself to his brother's hips, feeling the warmth of Kurtis's body « I missed you… A lot » her words weren't suffocated by tears, she talked like the tears weren't part of this moment. Kurtis moved away and took Miranda's face in his hands, and then kissing her forehead « I missed you too »
It was half past eight when the courier came with two bags with two vanilla croissants, when he took them, Kurtis putted the bags on the table and slowly prepared the coffee.
While he put slowly the coffeepot on the fire of the kitchen, his thoughts tormented him, Ahret and her gift, that beautiful butterfly brooch, the young african seemed to be too much generous towards Kurtis, but he suspected that Ahret knew that he was one of the last Pures remaining , along with Miranda and an aunt, the only member of family in life; Sylvie, Kurtis's mother's sister, that fleed when she was only sixteen. She recently became a widow from what he knew and that has a daughter of sixteen years old; Andrea.
He thought of Miranda, not strong enough to face the Nephilims and the Cabal. She's not well trained, she cannot control well her powers but the only advantage is that she could use perfectly the sacred weapon of the Lux Veritatis: The Chirugai.
Furthermore a surly thought couldn't move away from his head: Lara Croft.
He questioned himself how she was after those months that had passed, he took her away from the Strahov, thanks to his Chirugai.
But where was she in this moment? How she's doing? What she is doing now? Was she investigating about him? What she has thought when she found that puddle of blood and when a young African girl took him away and cured him from a certain death?
Kurtis thought of her even in the days after his awakening, Lara was in his head, always and everywhere.
No… I can't have fallen in love with her out of the blue… through Kurtis while the coffee exited from the coffeepot, he switch it off and putted it on the table « So? How long for this coffee to be ready? » Miranda's voice made him gasp, he putted a hand on his chest and watched the door.
Miranda was leaning on the board of the door, with her arms crossed, her very black eyes watched him with an eyebrow raised. Kurtis shook his head and get closer to Miranda, taking her hand « I remind you that I'm not you waiter Miss Trent » he said jokingly while dragged gently Miranda to the board of the chair, she hated to be treated like a blind girl, but she could see; the colors, the persons, the sun in the sky…
She could see everything, but they are forced to exercise for the appearance of the Lux Veritatis girl. Miranda sit herself on a chair and opened a box of croissant, biting it with enormous hunger « How much I missed Café Metro's croissants? Audrey always did the same thing for breakfast for me… » Kurtis poured the coffee in some cups that were on the table and poured a bit of milk in Miranda's cup. He poured also two teaspoons of sugar on each cup.
He sat down, putting Miranda's cup in front of hers « And what she did prepared to ya? » he asked, making a smirk on his face, she snorted while shook her head, her very long hair moved with her « Herb tisane… What a pity! » she said, while making the same smirk as her brother's.
She and Kurtis agreed on many things, except for sentimental things, especially for a Scandinavian woman; Elsa Ecklund. Kurtis met her while he was in the Foreign Legion and Miranda knew her when he came back to her and saved her from Eckhardt. The two women didn't see eye to eye and they couldn't stand each other. Kurtis couldn't stand the tension between the two and broke up with Elsa, along with the fact that he didn't loved her anymore, she was jealous, cold and she was pretty apathetic in that period.
« Eckhardt is dead isn't he? » asked Miranda out of the blue, touching the board of the cup with her slender fingers. Kurtis putted with cure the cup on the table « Yes… With a little help… » on Kurtis's lips appeared a smirk and bit the right part of his lower lips. « Let me guess… Lara Croft? » Miranda's question was like spitting daggers on the back. He jumped up his head, his cheeks were pink. « Erm… Yeah? » Miranda studied his behavior for a moment; the expression, the pink cheeks, the continuous biting of his lips… « Oh my God! » exclaimed Miranda, putting an hand in front of her lips, Kurtis raised an eyebrow, confused « Eh? What? What's happened? » he was stuttering, and scratching his head. Miranda was indicating him, smiling mockingly « You fell in love with her! » then on her lips exited a little laugh, but her smile wasn't faded away. Kurtis became red like a tomato, covering his cheeks with his hands, they were burning, like August came before this year. « But.. Wh…What? » he had his mouth wide opened, not believing at the words of his twin sister, that had centered the sign with bow and arrows
How does she do that?! Asked Kurtis in his thoughts.
Suddenly, Miranda felt a thick on her stomach, feeling pain on the lower part, She moaned in pain and putted her hand on the stomach, then she screamed « Miranda! » cried Kurtis, kneeling and embracing her. Miranda arched her head back, screaming, her eyes became white.
Cappadocia, Turkey. Close to Instanbul or better… the lower part of the Ancient Constantinople. Flying beings were circling around an imposing building, screaming.
A woman with purple skin, black hair and yellow eyes smiled wickedly while she put an hand on a shoulder of a man… Even better, a Nephilim with blonde platinum hair that watched the building. The Nephilims sang in his honor while he putted his arm on the woman's waist, and they turned to Miranda, it seemed that she was here « Apocalypse will come! The Nephilims will triumph! »
Miranda awoke from the trance, putting a hand on her neck, moving like she was suffocated and began to cough and spit some purple fluid, making the white floor dirty.
She put her hand on the floor and so her gaze, she didn't look away from the floor. Kurtis gave some pats on her back, calming her down « Miranda, What happened? » he asked taking her chin and lifting it up, now they were eye to eye. Miranda continued to breath with effort, some purple fluid was on her left part of her mouth, she rubbed her arm on her mouth and took it off violently « You said that Eckhardt's dead didn't you? » she said while taking away Kurtis's hand from her chin, he raised an eyebrow and then helped her to get up from the floor. « What happened? » he asked then he moved away from her, he understood that she was angry « I saw Karel… With the Nephilims! » Miranda putted her hands in front of her eyes, tears were coming slowly «… I saw… The unthinkable Kurtis! The unthinkable! » Miranda had begun to sob, the tears have took control of the girl, Kurtis came closer to her and embraced her tightly « The Nephilims won't triumph Miranda, you must not doubt that » he said then he broke the embrace and crossed his arms « What did you saw? » he asked calmly while Miranda for a first moment had hesitated, cracking her fingers « Cappadocia… I saw the sacred place of the Nephilim, Opened and… » she was afraid to tell him that in the Vision that it seemed that they were talking to her... She took a deep breathe « Karel said to me that the Apocalypse will come and that they will triumph » Miranda looked at the floor, black tears continued to paint her cheeks, Kurtis came closer to Miranda and took her face in his hands « He's playing with your mind Miranda, if he wants to bring the Apocalypse we will stop him Miri, you must not be afraid, the order is born for that » Miranda nodded, closing her eyes « Don't leave me alone, I could not stand for being alone for who knows how many months! » She said, she put her hands on Kurtis's chest and looked at floor. He had made a promise to Miranda; that he never leave her alone, never abandon her. He broke it once, leaving her alone with Audrey for three months while he followed Lara for all over Paris, Germany and in the end Prague, arriving to be critically wounded by Boaz, only to save Lara's life. Kurtis had to admit to himself that Miranda was right,
He was in love with Lara Croft.
Kurtis tear apart from Miranda and got closer to the door, and then looked at his sister, she was ready for another "Goodbye" and suffering again the pain of the distance between her brother and herself. « Prepare your suitcases Miranda » Miranda's face lighten it up, smiling between the tears. « We have to go to England and ask Miss Croft's help ».
