“Ow!” exclaimed Jason as Cecilia smacked him in the head while she stormed into his apartment. Nicholas laughed as he followed her in. Selene let herself smile from the back of the room, placing her icy cold dagger back in its sheath. She waved at Cecilia, causing her to smack Jason again.

“How much of an idiot are you? You must be your own special kind of stupid, because I got a call in the middle of the night from none other than Miranda, saying that you proposed! Granted, it was her morning, but still, I was sleeping peacefully, thinking you weren’t going to marry her!”

“I made a mistake, I know, okay. Wait, how did you know I’d be here?”

“Between sobs, she mentioned you vanished. I knew you’d catch the first Red Eye to get out.” She paused to smile at Selene. “Hello Selene, it’s nice to see you,” she said genuinely.

“Agreed.”

“Man, you look different when you’re not human. You’re so pale.” Nicholas looked her up and down.

“Shut up, Nicholas,” said Jason.

“What? I’m just saying—”

“Shut up, Nicholas,” echoed Cecilia, leaning against the living room wall. “Miranda is on her way, I hope you know. She went to catch another red eye. She left a few hours after you, not buying your father’s excuse.”

“Well then, I should probably leave,” said Selene, placing her hand on her dagger. Her fingers nearly froze from the touch, and she had to activate her fire rune to warm her hand.

“Why leave now?” The voice was chilling, cold, and unmistakably Miranda’s. To be here this fast, she must have caught a Red Eye. Red Eyes went through magical portals, connecting far places. A week’s journey took two days, while a day’s journey was only a few hours.

Jason stared at her, watching as she slammed the door shut behind her. Nicholas leaned against the wall, his beefy arms crossed, giving her a scathing look. Cecilia took a closer step to Jason, defensively standing in front of him. Jason continued to stare at her as time slowed. He was sorry that he had caused the pain in her eyes. The anger, though, was ill-placed at Selene, who looked ready to kill, her hand on her dagger and fist clenched tightly, turning her knuckles bone-white.

“I can’t tell who you are,” came Selene’s somber voice beside him. He knew exactly what she meant. Cecilia looked at him, confused, the understanding lingering in her peripheral vision. She would understand soon enough.

“I should kill you! Infirage!” Flames burst from her fingertips, causing all except Selene to drop to the ground. The fire circled around an unflinching Selene before blowing out, leaving behind the smell of smoke. Jason heard Nicholas curse, calling Miranda something obscene.

“Fire rune, remember? Besides, verbal spells weaken spells.” She snapped her fingers, flinging Miranda against the ground. “See what I mean?”

“I hate you,” snarled Miranda as she got up. Selene simply shrugged.

“I don’t care.”

“You killed my bloodline!” Miranda’s voice was shrill as she screamed, like the howling winds in a storm beating against the walls of a house.

“I took life away from those who did not deserve it. From murderers and abusers. Is that the bloodline you’re so keen on protecting?”

“Selene, she’s Katherine. She’s been Reborn.” Jason stood as he spoke, helping Cecilia, who was coughing, stand. “Her mother told me so.”

“Hmm, I thought as much, but hoped I was wrong. How sad.” He saw the pity in her eyes; it made her look older, more somber. She was no doubt remembering the past, the pain, the horror.

“Wait! “Miranda,” began Cecilia as she rushed to Miranda’s side, coughing slightly, “don’t be angry, please. We care about you—”

“You lied to me!” Miranda shoved her against the wall. Nicholas ran to Cecilia’s side, pulling her close to him.

“Damn right we lied, so what?” Nicolas glared at her, holding Cecilia close to his chest. “You think everyone and everything should revolve around you, what you think, what you want. All you care about is yourself. You make it difficult for anyone to express their thoughts to you. You don’t even give them the chance!” Jason wondered how long he had been holding in all the fury, all the dislike.

“You’re a bastard,” she muttered. “And you,” she screamed, pointing at Jason, “you know what she is. You know what she’s done!”

“Yeah, I know, but I also know who you are and your lineage.” He paused, noticing all eyes were on him. Swallowing his nerves, he straightened his back and stared at Miranda. “I thought I loved you, thought I could love you, but you are a much darker person than I first realized. Everyone saw it, except me. Selene is good; she feels more than you ever will. She is full of light. You aren’t.” He glared at her. “Marrying you would’ve been a mistake, one I can’t repeat.”

Everyone stood there. Silence bounced off the walls, weighing down on their shoulders. Static electricity passed between everyone, and despite herself, Selene felt pity for Miranda as she once had for Katherine. But the madness in Miranda’s wide eyes, the wild and feral eyes in her wide and enlarged eyes, stopped her from feeling.

“I will make you all pay.” Miranda looked around the room, her wild eyes settling on Selene, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. “Especially you.” Miranda spun on her heel, throwing the door open and slamming it against the wall of the hallway.

Running his hands through his hair and slumping against the wall, Jason spoke.

“Why the hell didn’t either of you lock the door?”

***

Miranda made her way through the Darkling District. She patted her jacket pocket to double-check that her letter was there. Wiping away her tears, she shoved her way through the throng of dark dealings. Miranda had sought information about Selene. Her brother was the Coven Master, a firm and strict figure. He was the person she needed to talk to. Vampyres were forbidden to have relations with Witches; that law was common knowledge. However, Miranda was having trouble getting in touch with him. Anyone loyal to Selene would probably kill her.

Her foot caught on a loose cobblestone that was the ground of the darkling district. Miranda was sure her head was going to hit the staircase she had been approaching. Instead, she fell into someone’s arms. Miranda looked up at the woman holding her. Her scream caught in her throat.

“I am Evida, Miranda. I believe you’re looking for Eris?”

“You’re a Shadowling.”

“I am, as well as a friend to Eris. I believe you want to tell him about Jason and Selene.”

“You know.”

“And was forbidden to say a word.”

“Take me to him!” Miranda grabbed Evida’s arm urgently. She watched the Shadowling smile. Miranda almost pulled away. Something wasn’t right about her. Looking at her eyes, Miranda noticed that they were empty. There seemed to be no life in them, no emotion.

“Very well then.” Miranda almost screamed as she fell into darkness. But as soon as she entered, she was in a world much like her own, only bleak and somber in appearance.

“What is this place?”

“Home of the Shadowlings. Outsiders call it the Shadowrealm; we call it home.” Miranda looked at the structure before her; it was a palace of black stone that shimmered in the faintest of light. “Stay close and speak to no one.” Evida opened the palace door, and her flat boots squeaked against the black marble floor. Wind made her long black trench coat flap against her legs.

Miranda stayed close to her side, observing the walls around her. She was so distracted and barely aware of turning a corner that she overlooked when Evida stopped walking. In front of them, there stood a male Shadowling, his hands tucked into his pockets, his eyes full of torment. His eyes slanted as they stared at Miranda.

“Evida, why is this Witch here?”

“It’s none of your concern, Void.”

“I’m making it my concern.” His eyes never left Miranda, studying her like she was a worm.

“Shira wants to speak to her, that’s all. Besides, I thought you wanted to be kept out.”

“Maybe I’m changing my mind.” He walked past her, still keeping his eye on Miranda. “Be careful, Evida,” he muttered before vanishing into darkness.

“Who—”

“Hush.” Miranda shut her mouth promptly and followed Evida down the hall and into a room. A beautiful yet deadly-looking woman sat before her, with eyes as red as blood. She smiled when she saw Miranda.

“Oh my, Katherine?”

“My name is Miranda.”

“She wants to talk to Eris Shira,” said Evida, crossing her arms, her muscles flexed, fists clenched tightly. Miranda wondered what she was guarding, or if she was preparing to fight or kill her.

“Does she? Why?”

“Our loophole.”

Shira’s eyes widened, her irises turning black instantly. “Oh, yay, how I’ve waited for this.” Shira stood up and, in three paces, made her way to Miranda, gripping her arm. Miranda winced as her long nails dug into her skin. “Hold on,” she said, her face close to hers, studying her. Then, suddenly, the floor fell away before her, and she was submerged in darkness. Just as quickly, she was back in her own world, facing a man with jade green eyes. Anger flared in his blood red eyes.

“You!”

“Darling, this isn’t her,” said Shira, letting go to step in front of her. Her voice was soothing, low, tender. “This is the descendant of Katherine’s niece. Her name is Miranda, and she has information pertaining to Jason.”

“Jason?” Eris looked at her coolly, the red in his eyes slowly fading. “Who are you?”

Miranda swallowed hard and took a deep breath to calm her heart. It didn’t work. “My name is Miranda, and I was involved with Jason until a few nights ago. H-he left me to be with your sister—”

“What?” Miranda flinched, taking a fearful step away from him. Shira smiled.

“Let her talk, Eris, you’re frightening the poor thing.” Looking over at Miranda, her smile widened. “Continue, dear.”

No longer trusting these things, Miranda wanted to turn and leave. Looking at Evida, who had the same stance she had before, she knew there was no turning back.

Swallowing again, she continued, “He has been seeing Selene behind my back, and my friends knew. A Shadowling also knew. I thought I was seeing things at first when I read his aura, but I know now I was right, it matches theirs.”

“How long?”

“Um, I don’t know, a few months now would be my best guess.”

Eris took a step toward her, touching her chin so gently, reminding her of how fragile she was compared to him. It made her flinch. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I want you to do something,” she exclaimed, her anger replacing her fear. “Jason is mine! He should be mine, not a Vampyres! She has broken the law, and I came here to tell you I want her to suffer for it.”

“Hmm, for a moment there,” he began smiling, “I almost thought you weren’t Katherine.” His hand latched onto her throat, tightening, preventing her from breathing. Miranda tried to pull them off, but he was too strong. “Turns out,” he continued, “you’re exactly like her and, quite frankly, I hated her for what she did. The pain she caused. You’re no different.” Eris let go of her, allowing her to inhale once before backhanding her with such force that her neck snapped. For Miranda, everything went black, and there was no chance for her to think. She was dead before she hit the ground.

“Oh my.”

“Shut up, Shira,” he said, walking off.