Chapter Fourteen

Miranda felt more free as she walked the dark streets. Her anger boiled. How dare they? What right did they have to decide this for her? Miranda knew that what had just taken place was called a vampire council. They made many decision of what happened in vampire affairs and they, for her sake, had made a decision. She placed a hand to her flat stomach, feeling the tears falling again.

Where would she go, was the first question on her mind. She cried. She couldn't go home, Mick would be there. She thought as she walked. Slowly, she found herself at Beth's apartment. Going up she rang the bell.

Beth answered the door. She looked groggy. "Miranda? What's wrong?"

"I need Zoe," Miranda whispered.

"She's sleeping."

"Beth, I need my daughter."

Beth reached for her. "Miranda."

Miranda batted her hand away. "Please, Beth. Just give me my daughter."

Beth nodded, allowing Miranda into the apartment. Miranda scooped up Zoe's bag then knelt beside Zoe, who was asleep on the couch.

"Miranda, you're cold. What happened?"

"Ask Mick when he comes for her."

"What?"

"Tell him, 'I can't stay here'."

"Miranda, what the hell is going on?"

Miranda turned, her eyes and teeth flashing. Beth gasped. "I was turned back. By them. I can't stay here. Not after that."

"Why would they do that?"

"Another thing to ask him." Miranda scooped the child, effortlessly into her arms.

"Where are you taking her?"

"I don't know where we're going yet."

Beth picked up the blanket she had laid over Zoe. "So she doesn't get cold."

"Thank you." Miranda was gone before Beth could respond. She ran to her phone.

Mick slammed his fist into the wall, cause the vampires to turn to him. "She's taken Zoe. She's running."

"What?" Aubrey stepped forward.

"Miranda just showed up at Beth's. She took Zoe and left. Beth was told to tell me, 'She can't stay here.'" He punched the wall again. "Now my child is dead. My wife is gone and my other daughter is with my wife."

"Mick, she'll come around," Jonathan whispered.

"You think so," Mick yelled, advancing. "This was your fault."

"We could point the finger at you as well, Mick," Michael whispered, effectively freezing the advancing vampire in his tracks. "You got her pregnant and you turned her. But the blame game will not help anyone. Not you and not her." He adjusted his coat. "I suggest, you go after her."

"I don't know where'd she go." Mick looked at Aubrey.

Aubrey looked surprised for a moment then thought. "If Miranda thought she had no where to go and needed somewhere to hide…she'd go to our old house."

"What?" Mick looked confused.

"The house Miranda grew up in," Aubrey offered. "She says she keeps it as a reminder of the past." She took a moment then recited an address.

Mick was gone before anyone else could offer advice.