Chapter Six

"Are you mad at me for telling him?" Miranda asked, as Mick walked into their apartment, leaving her behind in the hall. She followed him, shutting the door behind them. "Mick…?"

Miranda found him at his desk in his office, head in his hands. She walked over and slammed her hand on the desk. Mick didn't jump as a normal person would; but he spread his hands so he could see her. "Talk to me," she hissed, her hands spread out on his desk.

He stared at her a moment. "I'm not mad." His voice was flat.

"But you are ashamed."

Mick was on his feet in a moment, his hands spread on the desk as he leaned down on her. "Of course I am! I killed you! You admitted that." She didn't even flinch.

"Yes, you did," Miranda snapped back, leaned forward. "But you can't change that. Hopefully, by knowing what happened with us, they won't make the same mistake."

Mick reached out a hand, catching it in her hair. He was on the verge of tears. "Miranda, I am so sorry."

Miranda closed the distance between them, kissing him as hard as she could, holding him in place desperately, by the shoulders. He grabbed her neck with both hands, holding her close. "Mick," Miranda hissed between kisses. "Please don't blame yourself. I played with you. It's as much my fault, as yours."

Mick grabbed her, managing to send only a single stack of papers flying as he pulled her over his desk onto his lap. He kissed her, with all the strength he could muster. She returned it with feeling.

A knock on the apartment door caused them pull apart. They stared at each other a moment. Another knock and Miranda looked over her shoulder. Mick didn't take his eyes off Miranda's exposed collarbone. "I've got it," she whispered, clambering to her feet. Mick nodded, shaking his head to clear it.

Miranda disappeared into the apartment. Mick heard her open the door; heard Beth's voice. He rose to join the women in the hall. He smiled, as Beth sent him a bright grin. "Hello, Mick," she said.

"Hey, Beth," Mick said. He wasn't happy that he had been interrupted from…but he was glad that it was only Beth.

Miranda was standing next to the closed door. "What brings you by this lovely day, Beth?"

Beth walked over to the kitchen counter; the vampires followed. "I was wondering if you had any time to help me. Maureen just gave me this new story. Apparently girls, ranging from four to seven, have been turning up missing. When the first girl, Natalie Taylor, age six, went missing everyone thought it was a kidnapping because the family is very well off." Beth pulled up a picture of a cute little blonde girl on the screen of her laptop which she rested on the counter. "So they bugged the phone and waited. No word came but the police still haven't found the body." She turned to look over her shoulder as she pulled up five more pictures.

All the pictures were of little girls. Two were white; one of them blonde, like Natalie, the other brunette. One was African American; she had a very cute smile. Another was Hispanic; her hair dark and very curly. The last girl was Asian; she was a slip of thing.

Miranda let out a sad sigh. "Wow"

"There's no pattern," Mick said, studying the photos closely. "Different races, ages. It makes no sense."

"The only common factor is they're all little girls." Beth shook her head.

"I could make some calls," Mick said. "See if anyone in the vamp world has any idea what is going on."

Miranda nodded. She took a step into the kitchen area. All of a sudden she felt funny. She reached for the counter. Abruptly, pain shot through her. She gasped, stumbling.

Mick and Beth turned to her when they heard the glass that had been on the counter fall. "Miranda?" they said together, watching her fall into the other counter.

The world was spinning, making her feel like she might vomit. Miranda tried, and failed, to keep her balance. She hit her knees.

Mick was at her side. "Miranda?" Mick cried, holding her. Shock and fear showed clearly in his features. "Your skin's hot"

Pain coursed through her veins, like liquid flame. She bit her lip to fight down a scream. "Call. Jonathan." Miranda managed as the pain lessened for a moment before returning stronger than before. Clenching her teeth, she suddenly convulsing. Mick tried to hold her down.

"Beth, call the number on my desk. It's says Jonathan Cooper. Tell him we need help, now!" Mick looked up to see Beth run into his office. He could hear her frantic speech as she spoke to the doctor.

Miranda stopped moving abruptly. She was unconscious but breathing, which was strange considering she shouldn't need to.

Beth appeared. "He's says he's on his way. What happened to her?"

"I don't know," Mick said, looking up at her.