Free Mira by Leighann Phoenix Page A

need to see him to know that he was furious beyond anything she had yet to experience.   “I,” she faltered.   From somewhere deep inside her, anger wrapped around her fear and bubbled to the surface.   It isn’t fair.   He keeps the only air in this place for himself.   Why is he so mean?   “I just wanted to see the sky.   Do you always have to sneak up on me like that?   It’s obnoxious,” she growled right back.
                Rillan was taken aback at first.   He never, in all his years, dealt with a woman this blatantly defiant and argumentative.   He stepped toward her until the light from the lantern fell on him and shadowed his features menacingly.   “This is my place.   I’ve never had to punish one of you before, but I’m seriously contemplating it.   You have no idea how much your behavior is trying my patience.”
                Mira flinched again on the word ‘punish.’   She didn’t think there was any way he could devise something more miserable than what already happened.   Even so, she did get the impression that he would try.   Somehow, though, she couldn’t stop her mouth.   “My behavior?   At least my behavior is consistent.   You’re the one who seems gentle and caring one minute and then turns into a goon the next.   You said I was supposed to be a companion to you, and the druids did me an injustice in their training.   Yet you behave companionable one minute and turn into a monster the next, and I’m not referring to the blood drinking.   Even that was preferable to the way you’re treating me now.”   Mira was trembling.   She didn’t know what to expect after her tirade.
                “Get out before I bloody my hands with you,” he sneered at her.
                Mira looked up at the shaft and then back to Rillan with tears in her eyes.   “This is the reason they wanted away from you,” she said softly, and started to walk past him toward the door.  
                The comment pushed Rillan over the edge, and he grabbed for her as she tried to pass.   Mira dodged the grasp and screamed, then started to run down the hallway.   There was nothing save silence following her.   As she neared the door, she glanced back to see if he was following.   Out of nowhere, he grabbed her by the neck and slammed her back against the wall.   Her skull cracked harshly against the stone, and the wind was knocked out of her lungs.   Mira tried to fight the spinning and the lack of air, as he began speaking.
                “You bitch.   You have no idea what I’ve been to others.   What do you want?   To go outside?   For me to be sweet and kind to you?   I’ve gone that route in the past, girl.   You beg for one day.   Just one.   You swear you love me and promise to come back.   And as the sun rises above the mountains and I’m trapped in this hell, you would enjoy the feel of the air and the grass and the breeze.   You feel the warmth that only the sun can give.   Then you come back.   You keep your promise.   Only now you’re more miserable, because you’ve seen what you’re missing.   Then you beg for another day and give more promises.   Then a week.   Then more.   Until you wouldn’t come back at all.   And I wouldn’t blame you.   Except for the lies you told me.   And even those I would eventually forgive and understand.   How could you possibly want me over the sun?   Then I curse myself a fool for having allowed another woman to creep into my soul, when I already learned that lesson once.”   As he spoke his words gradually lost their vehemence, and Mira thought he sounded as though he may cry.   “Go back to your room girl.   Do not come here again.   I promise I won’t be so kind next time.   I keep my promises.”
                Rillan dropped Mira to the floor and began walking toward his room.   Tears streaked down Mira’s face, and a red