A long silence followed.
“Anything else you’d like to report, Jente?” Cali prodded.
Those mismatched eyes locked on hers and didn’t leave. “Vander is missing.”
To say a ripple of shock went through the group was an understatement. More like a bomb explosion of surprise.
Jente didn’t go into any more detail. “Have you heard anything?”
Cali shook her head. “These guys are slippery. I’d say I’m sorry but I’m not.”
Jente nodded.
“Why do you stay with him?” Joel asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Of all the people to align with, what did Jente see in Vander? Similar moral codes? If that were true, Jente wouldn’t have helped Cali out when he had.
“His resources,” Merrick spoke up.
Jente’s gaze swung to him.
Merrick stared him down. “I was inside Jente’s mind in the fall— not for long, but I did see that.”
Jente’s eyes narrowed.
“We have resources,” Cali said.
Joel noted the way Felix stiffened at the unspoken invitation.
Jente smirked. “I should be going. I’ll be in touch.”
Joel Unlocked the door and held it open for him.
Jente silently left the vet clinic.
Once the door was shut and re-Locked, Luke spoke up from his seat next to Niella. “Did anyone else get the creeps off that guy?”
They all collectively raised their hands.
“I don’t like this.” Felix ran a hand through his hair. “Someone is picking off people with powers—someone not working for Vander.”
“And now they have Vander,” said Merrick.
“Who knows what that could mean for the rest of us?” Joel rubbed the back of his neck to relieve some tension.
Cali dropped her hands from both Felix and Joel. “Do you think that’s how this new group found out about us? Vander could have sold us out for some kind of deal. It’s the only thing that makes sense. It’s not like we’re waving our hands in the air or shouting from rooftops about our gifts.”
“There has to be a link,” Merrick said. “Vander is a very reasonable explanation, but we shouldn’t stop there. Somewhere we messed up and alerted whoever these people are to our whereabouts.”
“Then we should find them before anything else happens to us.” Sydney motioned to Joel and his black eye.
There was a murmured agreement before further talk of what could be done ensued. Joel was only half listening as his mind kept going back to what Jente had told them. They weren’t the only ones being targeted. Could it be that the Guild of Kratos and the Guild of Truth had a common enemy? If Merrick was right and it wasn’t Vander who’d sold them out, who was hunting them down? Around and around his mind went, trying to find the piece that connected them all together.
• • •
Juliet Arden stood with a bright smile on her face. Her long, brown hair cascaded down past her shoulders in large, smooth waves. She looked confident, radiant, and Melanie wanted to punch her in the face all the more for it.
“Two days?” she said when she was within hearing distance from Juliet. “You tell me to contact you immediately and then you make me wait for two full days?”
Juliet’s smile disappeared, but she didn’t look contrite. “Trust me when I tell you that it was necessary for us to get certain things in order.”
“What things?” Melanie snapped at her.
Juliet crossed her arms. “How about curing your brother?”
Melanie’s mouth hung open, no comeback ready. She hadn’t expected that. After the silence, she had almost given up on Juliet, writing her off as another scam like the ones her parents had lost their house to. But Juliet hadn’t asked for money.
No, she asked for my help.
Again, that only added more questions.
“What is this cure?” she questioned Juliet. “Because I’ve spent a lot of time around Joel, and he says the only way Nathan can be cured is if he finds his soul mate, which I doubt you did in the span of a couple weeks. Also, I don’t know why you wanted me to get close to Joel. At first I thought it was because he had some kind of skeleton in his closet. But he’s clean. He’s done nothing like those people you showed me on the computer. In fact, those people are the ones after Joel, which I think means you are on the same side.”
“We’re not concerned with Joel at the moment anymore.” Juliet waved her comment away. “And for your information, Joel doesn’t know everything about people with powers. We’ve found another way, one we hope you’ll help us with now that you’ve grown into your full power.”
Melanie drew back. “How did you know I … I … ”
“Became full forced?” Juliet threw out Joel’s terminology like she knew him. She shrugged her shoulders. “Call it a hunch. We watch out for you, Melanie, and we know about your car crash. We also know that sometimes following traumatic events, powers can change.”
“They have,” she admitted, “but I don’t know what I can and can’t do yet.”
A smile slowly bloomed to life on Juliet’s face. “That’s quite all right—we know what you can do. We’ll take care of everything.”
“Yeah?” she asked suspiciously. “You keep mentioning needing my help, that’s your price, but what exactly am I going to be doing with my power?”
“Why, helping others, of course. People like your brother. You’re going to make a huge difference in the world, Melanie, trust me.”
At that moment Melanie’s phone went off.
She pulled it from her pocket. Ma.
“I’m sorry. I have to take this.”
Juliet didn’t look bothered at all. Her smile broadened.
Melanie turned her back and answered.
“Oh my God, Melanie! It’s a miracle. Nathan. I’ve never seen him like this before. My God, our prayers have been answered.”
“Ma, slow down.” Melanie could hardly keep up. Her mother was speaking too quickly and her voice was full of tears. “What happened? Is Nathan okay?”
“Oh, Melanie, you have to come home, quick. You have to see. It’s a miracle. My boy, oh my dear boy.” She broke into sobs.
Melanie couldn’t make out any more after that. She told her mom she’d be there as soon as possible and hung up.
“Need a lift?” Juliet asked.
“What did you do?” Melanie asked as she turned around to face her.
“Exactly what you wanted from the beginning. I’m sorry it took so long.” She appeared genuine and Melanie didn’t know what to think.
If what Juliet was implying was true …
Nathan was cured.
He was cured.
Hope flared in her chest, but she tamped it down. No. She wouldn’t let herself believe it until she saw it. She didn’t want to have to deal with the disappointment if it wasn’t as good as it seemed.
She stared at Juliet a moment longer. “How?” was all she managed.
Juliet’s blue eyes softened. “All in due time. For now, I’m sure you want to see your brother.”
The drive went by in a blur.
Melanie hesitated outside the front door, afraid to go inside. Afraid of what she might find.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Melanie confessed.
There was nothing behind Juliet’s smile this time, only pure understanding. Juliet patted her arm comfortingly. “It’ll be fine. Nathan will be a little disoriented for a while, I’m sure, especially if he has any lingering medications in his system. But in a few days you’ll have your brother back. Enjoy the moment.”
“If he really is cured like you say, then thank you. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
Her smile took on a greedy tinge. “I didn’t want to discuss payment yet, but since you brought it up … we have an assignment, a sort of training assignment for you. If you would be so kind as to accompany me on Saturday, we can start your payment.”
“Trai
ning?”
Juliet nodded. “You’re going to help a lot of people, and in return, when you’ve paid us in full, we’ll help you.”
Her mother chose that moment to open the door. Juliet gave a quick nod before she slipped away, not giving Melanie any time to ask her question.
Help me with what?
“Oh, Melanie.” Her mother dragged her into the house, her face streaked with tears, but she was wearing the biggest smile Melanie had ever seen.
Her meeting with Juliet forgotten, Melanie quickly followed her mom, hope growing in her chest like a balloon.
Her father was at the end of the hall, standing in the doorway to her and Nathan’s room. His face wet too. When he caught sight of Melanie he picked her up in a bear hug. “You did it,” he told her. “Whoever those people were that you found … they did it. You did it.”
It was almost too much to handle. Melanie extracted herself from her father’s burly embrace. He wrapped an arm around his wife and together they motioned for her to enter her room.
Butterflies erupted in his stomach. She held her breath and stepped across the threshold. The bed was empty. Clothes and other miscellaneous items still littered the floor. Where—?
The adjoining bathroom door opened and Nathan stepped out. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt that clung to his skin. He had a towel in one hand and was drying his damp hair. He stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed her.
“Lanie?”
Something between a sob and a laugh escaped her.
His eyes were clear. No glaze, no drugged out dazed look to them, just … clear blue, like she was looking in a mirror.
He flashed her a dimple and that was all it took. She threw herself at him. “Nathan, is it really you?” She hung onto his shoulder but pulled back to take him in. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”
He chuckled and playfully brushed her hands off his shoulders. “Easy, Lanie, I’m fine. Mom and Dad already grilled me. I’m sure Aunt Bertie will have questions too, and Paul. I don’t need it from you, too.” He made a disgruntled noise then considered her for a moment. “Maybe you could help a brother out and bust me out of here before any more questions come up?” he asked in a hushed voice.
Her father’s response rumbled through the room. “I don’t think so, young man. You’re on permanent lockdown until we see fit. In case you forgot, you were unconscious for a few hours.”
Nathan winced and Melanie squeezed his arm in sympathy.
He was back. Her brother was back. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure it wasn’t a dream.
She pulled out her phone, wanting to share the good news with Joel, but she stopped cold in her tracks. What would she tell him? That Nathan was miraculously better? Joel would want to know all the details, details she couldn’t give him.
She regretfully put her phone away.
“You going to be all right there, Lanie?” Nathan bumped her on the chin, raising her gaze to his. “You just got all sad for a second there.”
“I’m fine,” she lied. “Just … tired.” It was the best excuse she could come up with. And it was partially true. She was tired—tired of running from Alexander, tired of worrying about Nathan and her family, tired from a training assignment she hadn’t even had to do yet.
She sighed.
At least Nathan was one less thing to worry about. Now she only needed to focus on getting through the weekend.
Chapter 19
“What do you mean you have plans?” Joel’s voice asked through the line.
Saturday had arrived and Joel wanted to take her out on a date. A proper date. He wanted to treat her to dinner where she would have to wear something other than yoga pants and a sports bra. Then he wanted to take her out afterward—he hadn’t said where, only that it wasn’t for a training session.
It sounded wonderful and amazing and ten other adjectives that were used in place of great—and Melanie had to decline.
Her heart hurt and she felt like the biggest bitch in the world for turning him down. And on top of having to tell him no, she lied right to his face.
“I’m helping my brother,” she told him. The lie squeezed her lungs, making it hard to breathe.
“How’s he doing? Did he start using a notebook? Has it helped?”
His concern for her brother twisted the metaphoric knife in her gut even more. “It has. He’s doing much better.”
“Awesome! Maybe I can meet him one day.”
She mumbled something that could have been a “maybe” then quickly ended the call.
Melanie shut her eyes and lifted her face to the warm sun as she stood outside her house. This had to be the worst thing on the planet she could do to someone, and still she was forced to do it.
Only a little longer. Once Juliet was paid in full, Melanie would come clean with everything.
She tucked her phone away and scanned the streets for her reason for turning Joel down.
Right on time a sleek black BMW pulled up to the curb.
The back window rolled down and Juliet poked her head out. “Ready?” she called cheerily.
Melanie felt as if she were marching down death row. But she doubted Juliet wanted to hear that from her newest soldier, so she remained quiet.
Remember what Nathan said. Stay positive.
She tried to focus on all the good things Nathan had to say about Juliet and her organization. How they’d brought in a woman who did what Melanie had done, only they explained his powers were gone now, permanently. He’d never be bombarded with visions again. He’d been so ecstatic.
Melanie tried to channel some of that excitement into herself, but it wasn’t working. This situation was different than her brother’s. In this case, she was the one taking the power. She didn’t know how she felt about that.
But definitely not ecstatic.
You’re going to help so many people, Lanie. I know you wished you didn’t have your power at all but just think, your curse is going to change so many lives for the better. You’re going to do so much good with it.
At the time Nathan’s words calmed her, but now it was go time and butterflies were flooding her stomach.
She got in the car and instantly assessed Juliet’s outfit. Melanie hadn’t known what to wear, so she had opted for comfortable yoga pants, a simple tee, and a light jacket. Juliet was dressed in comfy slacks and sneakers. She had on a plain top that made it hard for Melanie to decide if the outfit was dressy casual or just casual.
“You’re fine,” Juliet said as if hearing her unasked question. “This assignment doesn’t require much physical effort. There’s no dress code required.”
“Where are we going?” Melanie stared out the window as they drove down Pacific Coast Highway, her heart beating a mile a minute. Gray clouds hung low out over the ocean, making the water look ominous, while only a few miles in the sun shone brightly. It reflected Melanie’s mood perfectly: a sunny exterior, but just out of reach waited an emotional storm.
She’d trained quite a bit over the past few days with Joel. She’d even say she felt mildly comfortable with her powers, but that was with Joel. This was completely different, and Melanie felt as if she were starting from ground zero all over again. She was frightened and she didn’t even know why. Juliet wasn’t projecting any outward hostility. She sat relaxed as could be in the leather seat. “You’ll see,” was all Juliet said. “We’re almost there.”
Melanie continued her assessment of the situation. In a strange way, it seemed to calm her, or at least offer a distraction.
The doors weren’t locked. She took that as a good sign. They didn’t intend to keep her here against her will.
Or it meant they weren’t concerned with Melanie throwing herself out of a moving vehicle.
She frowned at the stray thought.
She hardly noticed when the car came to a stop. They had pulled into a residential area filled with houses and apartment complexes.
“What are we doing here?”
The driver stayed where he was, not moving an inch. Melanie couldn’t tell if he was even breathing, and then, as if he sensed her gaze, his head turned the slightest little bit so that those dark sunglasses stared right at her through the rearview mirror. Melanie hastily made her exit. Perhaps the man was some kind of cyborg. At this point she wouldn’t put anything off as too far out there.
Juliet watched her with an amused smirk in place.
Melanie cleared her throat and pretended to dust herself off. The last thing she needed was Juliet to know how easily she was unnerved by her goons. “So what kind of house call are we making?” She tried to sound interested and not apprehensive.
“The helpful kind,” Juliet replied, still giving Melanie nothing.
Melanie growled low in her throat but dutifully followed after the brunette when she started down the paved path into the apartments. They passed the laundry room, the pool, and ascended a set of stairs before reaching their destination.
Juliet knocked on the door to apartment 701A.
Melanie waited for a dog bark or the murmur of people on the other side, but there was nothing. Not a sound. It was eerie, and eerier still when the door cracked open soundlessly and half of a face peeked out.
“Yes?” It was a female voice.
One brown eye watched them warily, easily visible by the way her brown hair was pulled back from her face. It was hard to tell her age. Melanie guessed somewhere between twenty-five and forty.
“Charlotte Reese?” Juliet asked.
The gap narrowed, only an eye visible now. “Who wants to know?”
Clearly this woman did not want to be found. Melanie glanced around, half expecting someone to be watching, to report them to the police for disturbing this poor woman. But there wasn’t a soul in sight.
“Ms. Reese, I’m Juliet Arden. We spoke on the phone.”
The crack in the door opened wider until a full face appeared, followed by a body. Charlotte looked down at Juliet, clearly not having pictured the woman she’d talked to as being so short. “Ms. Arden, I expected you to be … ” she paused briefly, “older.”
Melanie hid her smile, as she could all but see the steam coming off Juliet’s head. It must’ve been hard for Juliet to be such a high-ranking whatever she was and look like she was a middle schooler.
Locked Out of Love Page 13
