Melanie placed Ms. Reese somewhere in her mid-thirties. Now that Melanie got a better look at her, she could see the faint wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. Her clothes were casual but conservative and she wore no makeup.
“Please, come in.”
Melanie followed Juliet’s lead and stepped into the apartment of a neat freak. The place was spotless. No clothes lying around, no trash to be seen. Even the blanket on the couch was folded into a perfect rectangle, draped exactly halfway over the front and back of the sofa. There was an even number of pillows on both the couch and the large recliner chair, all arranged perfectly.
If ever there was a place that was the complete opposite of her own house, this was it.
When Charlotte motioned for them to take a seat, Melanie sat on the first couple inches of the cushions, too afraid of disturbing the pillows. Juliet had no such qualms and sat back completely on the couch next to her.
Charlotte lowered herself into the recliner, but she was seated on the edge as well, as if too anxious to relax.
“I didn’t expect you so soon,” Ms. Reese told Juliet. “Thank you so much for coming. Is she the one you were waiting for?” She pointed to Melanie.
Melanie sat up a little straighter, her attention riveted to Juliet. Finally, some answers.
Juliet didn’t even glance her way. She nodded at Charlotte. “This is the woman I was waiting for. Ms. Reese, I’d like to introduce you to Ms. Vyntra. She’ll be relieving you of your powers today.”
Melanie’s stomach dropped out of her body. She’d been expecting that, but when she’d been told she was going on a training assignment, she hoped against hope it wouldn’t include this. She wanted to jump to her feet, put distance between them—maybe a whole block’s worth of houses would be a good start—but her legs felt like rubber.
Juliet regarded her calmly. “This is your first training assignment. Ms. Reese, like your brother, lives her life in fear and pain. Only you can help her.”
Melanie stared at Charlotte. She looked nothing like Nathan had. She wasn’t strung out on drugs to escape horror-filled visions. The woman looked like a shining example of health. It appeared as if Charlotte had her whole life in order. Melanie got a better look at some of the books that were neatly stacked away. They were medical books. Clearly the woman was in the medical profession and wasn’t hurting for anything. What could possibly be so horrible in this perfect little world?
“She doesn’t need help.” Melanie gestured to Charlotte and the living area around them. “There’s nothing out of place, her eyes are clear, sane—where’s the problem?”
Juliet shared a look with Charlotte. “Perhaps you should show her what you told me over the phone.”
Charlotte got to her feet without a word. Melanie sat rooted to her seat. She hadn’t liked the sound of that.
“Are you coming?” Charlotte asked her.
Melanie glanced at Juliet. “Aren’t you coming?” she asked her boss.
“This is something you need to see all on your own. I can’t always be there with you.”
Melanie was stunned for a few seconds. Talk about feeding her to the wolves.
“Don’t worry,” Juliet reassured her. “I’ll be right here.”
Like that was any sort of comfort.
Melanie carefully got to her feet and followed Charlotte past the kitchen to the back of the apartment. The hallway was short, with a bathroom on one side and a closed door on the other. Of course Charlotte stopped at the closed door. “In here,” she said.
Melanie braced herself. Couldn’t give her warning for what was to come, right? That’d ruin the whole surprise.
She gave herself enough swinging room so that if anything jumped out at her from behind that door, she could get in a good punch.
The door swung in soundlessly, revealing a disaster. If they had tornados in California, Melanie might have thought one had hit Charlotte’s place, but that wasn’t the case. Which meant that all the broken furniture and torn clothes and damaged property was Charlotte’s doing.
Melanie put a few feet between the two of them just in case the woman had some kind of anger management problem.
“What happened here?”
Charlotte went over to the pile of broken furniture. A wooden table was cracked clean down the middle, and a small box was resting on the edge, something silver sparkling in the low lighting. Charlotte picked up the box and brought it over to Melanie.
Again Melanie stepped back, keeping her distance. “What happened in here?” she repeated.
“I did.” Charlotte’s eyes were downcast, her shoulders slumped. She held out the box in her hands.
Surgical tools. Mangled surgical tools.
Chapter 20
“Uhh … ” Melanie didn’t know whether to run or feign interest. Luckily, she didn’t have to do either.
“These were my tools,” said Charlotte. “I’m a surgical oncologist, but ever since my powers manifested, I’ve had to take a leave of absence from what I love.” She picked up a scalpel and turned it over in her hand. The handle was crushed, as if someone had smashed it in their fist. “I can’t control the strength and I can’t control when it happens. I’ve hurt so many people when I’m supposed to be helping them. Do you know how terrifying it is to be operating on someone, applying just the right amount of pressure to the scalpel and suddenly it cuts clear through bone?”
Melanie’s stomach churned.
Charlotte continued, “I had to claim it was a cramp that caused my arm to spasm. My insurance has gone through the roof. I’ve nearly lost my job. I can’t seem to stop it. My boyfriend left me because we had an argument and I was so mad, I slammed my fist on the table. It practically shattered under my hand.” That explained the broken table at least. “Josh freaked out and never looked back, said I was crazy, on drugs, and needed to get help. But that’s the thing, I’m not on drugs. I don’t take steroids. I just have this unbelievable power sometimes that,” her voice caught, “that destroys everything it touches. Literally.”
Melanie felt her heart crack open a bit. She could sympathize with Charlotte, more than she probably knew.
“When Ms. Arden got in contact with me, telling me she could help my problem, I thought it was too good to be true. No one does something for nothing.”
So Juliet wasn’t charging Charlotte anything? Melanie stored that little bit of information away for later.
“But she told me about her organization and how they help people like me, how I could have my life back. I could finally return to my job, to what I love.” Those doe-brown eyes rose to Melanie’s. “She said it all depended on you, their new recruit. I had to wait for you, but I didn’t mind. I understand a waiting list.”
There was so much hope in her eyes that for a moment Melanie couldn’t speak past the lump of emotion in her throat. She wanted to tell Charlotte that she wasn’t alone. Charlotte was one of them, and Melanie finally understood what Joel had said that first time she’d spoken with him, how she was a part of their world now too.
People like me.
“Will you help me?”
Nathan had been so happy afterward. Juliet helped Nathan. Now Melanie had the opportunity to give this woman her life back.
“I can try,” she said. She didn’t want to give the surgeon false hope.
Charlotte’s face brightened. “Thank you.” She grasped Melanie’s hands in hers and squeezed in thanks.
Melanie tried to smile, but it turned into a wince of pain as Charlotte’s fingers continued to tighten.
Melanie tore her hands away.
Charlotte’s eyes were wide with shock and she dropped her gaze, her hands going around her back. “I’m so sorry.”
Melanie massaged her hands. “It’s okay. No harm done.” Though she’d probably have a few bruises tomorrow.
“Where do you need me?”
Melanie eyed the disaster zone. “Let’s go back out into the living room.”
Charlotte
nodded and closed the door behind her, leaving that part of her life locked away where no one could find it.
Melanie felt a wave of sympathy for her. How many superpowered individuals were there in the world? How many didn’t have anyone to talk to, no one to help them?
Joel would have jumped at the opportunity to meet Charlotte and teach her as much as he could about their kind. The thought of him flitting around the room in an excited frenzy made her smile. She rubbed her chest.
When they entered the living room, Juliet got to her feet. “How’d it go?” Her blue eyes scanned Melanie as if for any injury before settling on her face where they remained, studious.
Charlotte was the one to answer. “She agreed to help me,” she boasted, positively glowing with joy.
Juliet smiled, but her eyes remained glued on Melanie. “I’m very glad to hear that, Ms. Reese.”
Melanie swallowed nervously. She’d gotten this far, now what?
Juliet seemed to take pity on her and led Charlotte onto the sofa then tugged Melanie to her side. She placed Melanie’s hands on Charlotte’s arm and gave a meaningful squeeze. “You hang on to her, okay? No matter what, don’t break contact until I tell you to. Got it?”
Melanie nodded numbly.
Her heart was pounding furiously and she wanted to apologize to Charlotte for her sweaty palms.
She wished Joel were here.
But he wasn’t, and Juliet would have to do as a substitute.
“I want you to close your eyes now, Melanie,” Juliet instructed. “You, too, Charlotte.”
Melanie did as she was told and assumed Charlotte did as well because Juliet didn’t say anything more on the matter. “Now, Charlotte, I need you to stay calm and relaxed. Melanie”—she tensed—“I need you to concentrate and reach for your powers.”
Melanie tried to do just that, but like at the beginning, she couldn’t activate them. She swallowed thickly. She couldn’t get performance anxiety now.
A few more tense seconds passed before Juliet silently spoke up. “Melanie?”
“Give me a minute,” she whispered back. She thought of all the times she’d been with Joel, and how easy it had been to call forth her powers then. There was that time she’d accidently helped Nathan … well, she wanted to do that now. Why wasn’t it working?
Okay, she needed to focus. With Nathan her powers had activated because she was afraid for him. She tried to conjure those feelings again, how terrified she’d been, the feeling of helplessness, her throat closing off and an invisible weight pushing down on her lungs …
Her neck didn’t tingle.
She axed that idea.
“Melanie?” Juliet’s voice was a tad impatient.
She wanted to growl, but kept it to herself. “Working on it,” she hissed and blocked out the waves of irritation she felt coming from Juliet’s direction.
Clearly, trying to recreate the feelings of fear didn’t work. Melanie needed something else. She went back to her lessons with Joel, picturing his house, the kitchen, the table, the nerdy movie posters, everything. She instantly felt more at ease. Taking it as a good sign, she continued, imagining herself seated at his kitchen table directly across from Joel, his midnight- blue eyes sparkling, a bright white smile just for her.
Her stomach fluttered and the back of her neck tingled.
Melanie grasped onto her powers with both hands, metaphorically speaking.
“Got it,” she told Juliet.
“Good.” Juliet’s tone was clipped. “Now pull Charlotte’s power into yourself, feel it flow into you.”
Melanie did as Juliet said, but she took her time. She put into effect everything she’d practiced with Joel. She drew from Charlotte’s arm at first, then moved her way up into her chest, taking the brunt of Charlotte’s power, easing it away from her so that she’d never hurt another patient accidently during surgery.
Melanie’s hands started to burn. “I think I should let go now—”
“No!” Juliet shouted. “Do not release her.”
Melanie frowned, her hands hurting from the heat that was coming off them or perhaps from what was coming into them.
Her heart rate picked up. “I don’t like this, Juliet—”
“Just a little longer, Melanie, you’re almost there. Keep pulling.”
“I really don’t want to do this anymore.” She started to release her hands, but Juliet’s own wrapped around them.
“Think of all the people you’re going to help, think of Charlotte. Just hang on a little longer.”
“It doesn’t feel right.” The burning pain was nearly unbearable now and she clenched her jaw, her eyes popping open.
Juliet knelt in front of her, her hands on top of theirs, keeping the contact. Charlotte was still lying on the couch but—“Oh my God, Juliet, look at her face. She’s in pain!”
Melanie tried to stop the flow, but she was panicking. Her heart was beating out of control and she couldn’t rein in her powers even if she wanted to.
“Let go of me.” Melanie tried to throw Juliet off. “I could be killing her. What are you waiting for?”
Charlotte’s body arched off the couch, her mouth open in a silent scream.
“That.” Juliet released Melanie’s hands and jumped away.
She didn’t see anything more. A bright light, like someone taking a surprise photo with the flash on full blast, momentarily stunned her. She might’ve blacked out because next thing she knew, she was on her back, staring up at the popcorn ceiling.
Juliet hung over her, concerned. “How’re you feeling?”
Melanie narrowed her eyes, wanting to strangle the curvy brunette. “How am I feeling?” she mocked. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
She shot up to a sitting position and the world took a spin. She flung her arm out blindly in an attempt to grab anything to center herself. She hit something that grunted, probably Juliet. Good.
Something slick and cool pressed into her hand. “Drink this,” Juliet commanded.
Melanie felt like telling her to shove her orders up her ass, but the world was still spinning so she did as she was told.
It took a few minutes of sitting on the floor and sipping water before she could see straight again. When the world was still once more, she blinked a few times and shook her head just to make sure. When all was well, she pinned Juliet with a glare.
“What was that all about? I’ve never hung on that long before or taken that much. You have no idea what the ramifications are.”
Melanie’s anger spiked when Juliet smiled at her words.
“What’s so damn funny? You could have hurt Charlotte.”
Speaking of Charlotte, she turned to check on the woman and found her on the sofa, eyes closed.
Her stomach clenched. “She’s not dead, is she?” Oh god, she couldn’t deal with that.
Juliet’s smile deepened. “No, she’s not dead. She’s just unconscious and she’ll be fine once she wakes up. She’ll be a little disoriented like your brother was, but she’ll be right as rain in a few hours, after a day at most. And I was smiling, Melanie, because I do know the ramifications. This is not my first rodeo, as some people would say. This has been my eleventh mission when it comes to … relieving another of their powers. I know what to do, what to expect, what signs to look for, and you did everything perfectly. Nothing was amiss. I know it’ll take some getting used to, but you did wonderfully.”
Melanie shakily got to her feet. “Wonderfully? Are you kidding me? Did you see what happened to Charlotte? She looked like she was in pain. She passed out, for cripes’ sake!”
Juliet calmly got to her feet as well. “That’s how it happens. When she came off the couch, that’s the sign you wait for. It’s the visual signal that the last of her power has left her body.”
Juliet’s words sank in slowly, taking a minute to get past the anger. “So I just did what you did to Nathan? That woman’s powers are gone now?”
“Gone from her but not fr
om you. You see, you have them now. Permanently.”
The blood drained from Melanie’s face and her knees gave out.
Juliet caught her, but Melanie still had a couple inches on her and they both toppled into the recliner chair, Melanie half sitting on Juliet.
Melanie hardly noticed. “You mean—? I have—” She couldn’t finish her sentences.
“The powers have gone into you,” Juliet told her, surprisingly gentle. “You now have Charlotte’s super strength ability.”
Melanie wanted to laugh. A mad, hysterical laugh at the comic book her life seemed to have become.
“So, I’m like Wonder Woman or something? Am I going to be able to fly soon too? Do I get a whip or lasso or whatever it is she carries around?”
Juliet awkwardly patted her arm, as Melanie was still seated atop her. “Take it easy. I know it’s a lot to process right now, but you’re going to be fine. This new power is like having your first one. It’ll only come to you when you activate it. This is also where my knowledge gets a little fuzzy, but I think it’s a bit more difficult to summon this new power than your original. We have another like you who can help you with any questions you might have.”
Melanie stared down at her hands. They looked the same, only now she could harness unthinkable strength. Would she suffer the same fate as Charlotte? Accidently hurt someone in a moment of gentleness?
Her mind instantly went to Joel—hurting him during a tender moment together.
She felt sick.
She hadn’t asked for this. She didn’t know she’d gain the ability permanently.
She could barely stand the idea of her own power. Now she was going to have to deal with multiple abilities?
Only minutes ago there had been such hope in Charlotte’s eyes, joy at knowing she was going to be fine.
Who was going to save Melanie?
Tears burned her eyes, from anger or sadness she couldn’t tell, but she refused to let them fall.
“Take me home,” she ordered Juliet.
Locked Out of Love Page 14
