Chapter Twenty-Two

Michael lead Miranda down a few winding halls, which she memorized. He waved her into a room, which turned out to be an office, before shutting the door behind them.

"What are you planning do with these girls?" Miranda asked, not wasting any time.

Michael sighed, "You are persistent."

"I know," Miranda growled. "You're answer, sir?"

"Sir?" Michael walked towards her. "I like that."

"Do not touch me," Miranda growled, when she felt he had gotten too close.

Michael pulled his hands back, holding them up. "No intention," He stuck his hands in his pants pockets. "Please, my dear, calm down."

Miranda took an unneeded breath. "I am as calm as I can be, now if you would stop stalling-"

"They are donors," Michael walked around his desk, to sit in the leather office chair. Miranda turned with him, keeping him in her sight at all times. "I believe Josef calls them Freshies."

"They're children," Miranda sounded offended. "You can't abduct children and use them as food. Willing adults, I can understand. But children! You can't do this."

"Miranda, you do not understand this world."

"You don't understand what it's like to fear what has happened to your child!" Miranda growled, slamming her hands on the desk. "You don't understand what you're doing to them! To their families!"

Michael leaned back in his chair, watching her. "You are hellfire, my dear. You really care about them. You know next to nothing about any of them but you really do care."

Miranda scoffed, looking away in anger. "You don't understand. Nor, do you care!"

"What would you have me do, darling? Return them to their homes?"

"YES!"

"After all they've seen?"

"They're too young to know what they've seen" Miranda leaned against the desk, clearly imploring. "Let them go, no one needs to know you were involved. I beg you."

"Is it true you helped kill Alec Konstan?" Michael asked, watching Miranda stand back up strait.

"He had my sister," Miranda hissed.

"I'll take that as a yes," Michael stood. "You want me to let them go?" Miranda nodded. "What will you do if we don't?"

"I don't know," Miranda groaned, turning her back to him. "Please."

"I will release these girls," Michael said, standing. "If you promise me something."

"What?" Miranda asked, turning back.

"Kill someone for me."

"Who?"

"No one you know."

"Who?" Miranda growled, not liking his refusal to answer.

"Armando de la Gardie" Michael said, holding out file.

Miranda took the file. "Why?"

"Kill or be killed, Miranda," Michael stood. "Law of the jungle."

"Then why not do it yourself?"

"I think you are more than capable of doing such a little thing."

Miranda felt as though she was making a deal with the devil, but she held out her hand. "Deal."

Michael smiled. "You may leave."

"I can take the girls?"

"Yes," Michael said, "But if you let me down the first to suffer will be your daughter."

I hope everyone can forgive me for updating late. I know I said I would update everything by Thursday at the latest but life got away from. Got home later than I expected Wednesday. Went out with mom and just too turned to be do it Wednesday by the time I got home. Thursday I spent the day papering the town with applications and resumes as I am kinda-sorta unemployed at the moment. By the time I got home it was almost midnight and I was just too damned tired to bring myself to attempt checking over the chapters for posting. Anyways, forgive me. I'll get back to regular updates now. And I give you two chapters as an attempt at appeasement.