Guild of Truth 02 - Shield from the Heart

by Mary K. Norris

  He pulled a glass from the cupboards and filled it with some tap water. He held it without taking a drink as he surveyed his empty living space. He stared down into his water and dumped the glass in the sink, rubbing his chest as he entered the living room.

  Maybe a book would help —

  He froze in mid-reach and spun on his heel.

  In the far corner near his window Vander and Jente appeared out of thin air.

  Merrick recalled the scratches on his front lock. And here he’d thought luck was on his side.

  He snorted mentally.

  Idiot.

  Vander had aged even more since the last time he saw him. His entire head of hair was silver now, emphasizing his dark eyes and brows. Merrick also got his first good look at Jente. He couldn’t have been that much older than Luke. He had tan skin and black hair. Merrick would put him roughly around the six feet area in height but his most defining feature would be the mismatched coloring of his eyes. The coloring of his skin already made the gray in his eyes stand out, but the splash of green in his right eye stood out even more. When paired with the flat stare he was currently giving Merrick, Jente’s gaze could be quite disconcerting.

  This is a man that can go invisible at any moment, he warned himself. Be on guard.

  “Not even going to reach for a gun?” asked Vander.

  “Believe me, I would have if there was one close by.”

  Vander made a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat before straightening his suit jacket. “Very well. That’ll make this whole conversation much easier then.” He stepped deeper into Merrick’s living room, comfortable as could be. Jente remained in the corner where it would be easy for Merrick to forget he was there.

  “If it was a conversation you were looking for a phone call would have sufficed.” Merrick trailed Vander with his eyes.

  Vander settled onto his couch and propped his feet on the coffee table. “We both know you wouldn’t have answered.”

  “And what makes you think I’m going to talk to you now?” He moved slowly toward the kitchen where there were many knifes waiting for him in his drawers.

  Vander sighed and pulled a Glock 19 from under his jacket. He pointed it levelly at Merrick’s chest.

  Merrick froze, hands instantly splaying. “No tasers?” he asked.

  Vander flashed his teeth. “I’m afraid not. And with my powers being on temporary shutdown I’m sure you understand why I have to resort to such … barbaric methods of persuasion.”

  At the mention of powers Merrick’s eyes instantly shot to the corner of his living room.

  Jente was gone.

  Shit.

  He could be anywhere.

  “And he could be aiming god only knows what at you as well,” Vander said as if reading his mind. He easily tucked his gun back into his jacket.

  Merrick ground his teeth. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. “What do you want?” he growled.

  Vander held his hand out to the chair on his left. “Sit.”

  Merrick remained standing until he heard the distinct click of a gun somewhere off to his side. Keeping his hands near chest level he sank into his armchair. Once seated he carefully placed his hands palms down on his knees where they were in plain sight. “Now, what the fuck do you want?”

  Vander folded his hands together. “I’m afraid it’s the same thing I’ve wanted since the beginning. Your compliance.”

  “Bullshit. You never wanted my compliance, you wanted that journal. And just in case your invisible spy hasn’t noticed — I don’t have it.”

  Vander’s eyes glittered darkly. “On the contrary, Mr. Haskell, I believe we can help each other tremendously. My resources are infinite. You can ask Mr. Mitchell if you’d like.” He held his hand out to gesture to his invisible companion.

  Merrick filed the last name away.

  “My resources could be a valuable asset for someone like yourself.”

  “For someone like me?” He scoffed. “You forget that I’ve been doing fine with my cases on my own.”

  “I’m not talking about your PI cases,” Vander said calmly. “I’m talking about your missing sister.”

  Merrick’s heart ceased beating.

  A slow, satisfied smile spread across Vander’s face. “You do want to find her, don’t you? Imagine having a multi-million dollar company at your fingertips. A company, I might add, that, what’s the phrase? Has their fingers in many different pies?”

  Merrick breathed slowly.

  Don’t let him know how much he’s getting to you.

  An image of his sister rose unbidden to the forefront of his mind.

  Alyssa …

  “Still not enticing enough?” said Vander.

  Merrick found his voice. “There’s no guarantee that I’ll find her with your resources. I’ve collected quite a bit on my own.”

  “And how has that worked out for you?”

  He clenched his jaw.

  “That’s what I thought. If my resources aren’t enough then I promise a guarantee that you’ll find her, but it may take time.”

  “How?”

  “Not how. Whom.” His dark eyes bore into Merrick’s. “I believe you visited him tonight.”

  Merrick heard Vander’s voice through his head, telling Kevin that he was going to bring him back. “Kevin,” he breathed.

  Vander leaned forward, elbows on knees. A crazed look came over his face. “You don’t understand the power associated with having a … Dreamer in your pocket. Anything you could ever want would be yours in a manner of seconds.”

  Merrick thought of Niella sitting all alone in her wheelchair. What would Vander do if he learned that she was a Dreamer? Images of Dennis and Regina converging on her flooded his mind. He’d never submit someone to that kind of fate.

  “How are you going to wake Kevin up?” he asked.

  That shark’s smile was back. “I can’t tell you all my secrets, now can I? The only thing I will tell you is that it involves another person with an ability.”

  It didn’t take a genius to figure out that person needed the ability to heal. He instantly thought of Luke. Was that why Vander had tried to kidnap him again?

  No. Luke could only heal himself rapidly. He didn’t possess the power to heal others. Maybe he’d gain that power when he became full-forced?

  “Why did you try to take Luke tonight?” Merrick asked. If Luke was Vander’s target then he needed to warn the others.

  Vander depthless eyes stared straight through him. “Money is power, Mr. Haskell, and Mr. Teagan has his uses, none of which are any of your concern.”

  “If I worked for you it’d be my concern,” he said evenly.

  “That’s where you’re mistaken. If you worked for me it still wouldn’t be any of your concern. Now, what is your answer?”

  Merrick pretended to think about it. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to say, go fuck yourself.”

  Vander’s face still held its pleasant expression but Merrick could make out the tick in his jaw. Vander got to his feet in one fluid motion. He reached into his jacket and Merrick braced himself for the pain of being shot.

  Vander didn’t retrieve his gun. He pulled a business card. “I’ll get that journal, Mr. Haskell. I’ll be watching you. I’ll keep in touch but just in case you wish to contact me.” He held the card up before placing it face up on the coffee table. Vander unlocked the front door and walked out without a backwards glance, the door left ajar.

  Merrick stared.

  Had Jente followed him or was he still watching him right at this moment?

  His eyes traveled over every piece of furniture in his home but he couldn’t find anything to give away Jente’s presence if he was indeed still with him.

  “If you’re in here,” Merrick growled. “You better get the fuck out, now.”

  He held the door open but heard no footsteps. After a few more moments of feeling like an idiot he slammed the door shut and locked it.

  H
e stormed into his bedroom and booted up his computer. A few minutes later he was staring at the digital scans on his sister’s case. Unsolved, he read in one of the corners. The word haunted him. Somewhere out there Alyssa could still be suffering. Alone.

  Merrick cradled his head in his hands.

  He was no closer to finding Alyssa than he’d been years ago when he’d picked up her case.

  Vander’s promise slid against his mind like a lover’s caress, taunting him, tempting him. He fisted his hair.

  All it would take to find her was one Dream. One Dream and all his years of searching would come to an end.

  What if he found the journal and then bartered with it? Then he wouldn’t have to work for Vander. They’d both get what they wanted.

  But Merrick would still be stuck with having to wait.

  If he worked with Vander he would be given unlimited resources. If he didn’t work for Vander but bartered the journal for Alyssa’s whereabouts he’d have to wait until Kevin woke up. He’d have to trust Vander’s word that he’d keep his end of the bargain.

  You could always keep the journal until Kevin woke up.

  But by that time the journal would be obsolete.

  Maybe Niella could find Alyssa for you.

  He lifted his head and stared at the search bar on his computer screen. Something about Niella pulled at his memory. The name wasn’t common and something about her face stood out to him.

  He typed her first name into the internet search bar. A few different hits came up but one caught his eye. Niella Souveray: Olympic Athlete Mangled in Freak Car Accident.

  Merrick clicked the link.

  Now he remembered why she seemed so familiar. He’d watched her in the Olympic trials. He scanned the article. Niella had been a sprinter. She’d qualified for the Olympic Games when one night after practice reporters claimed she’d been so tired after a night of celebrating that she’d fallen asleep at the wheel of her car and crashed.

  As Merrick continued to surf the web he found different takes on the accident. Some claimed it was self-inflicted, that the pressure of the games were too much for Niella and she’d purposely injured herself. Either way, Niella had been on her way to victory when in a matter of seconds her whole athletic career had been taken from her.

  No wonder she seems so bitter.

  There wasn’t much more on Niella after the accident. She’d moved from San Diego further up the coast. What she was doing with her life now, reporters didn’t know.

  Merrick stared at an image of the car wreck. No one else had been injured. “Falling asleep at the wheel … ,” he muttered aloud.

  He sat up straighter as something clicked. Dreamers. Dreaming. Niella had been suffering from a Dream while she’d been driving.

  Merrick’s heart went out to her.

  He shut down his computer. He didn’t need anything else to depress him. He’d reached his quota for the day.

  He lay down in bed staring at the ceiling wondering how he’d ask a woman who’d lost all her dreams because of her powers to use those powers for him.

  • • •

  A knock on the door woke Merrick from a dead sleep.

  He shot up, eyes gritty from trying to stay awake all night in an attempt to sniff Jente out. He’d obviously failed.

  He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and shuffled to the door to see who was on the other side.

  His heart kicked against his ribs.

  Sydney.

  His fingers tightened on the knob. He inhaled and loosened his grip. He pulled open the door. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” She stood before him immaculate as ever. Her hair hung in perfect loose waves down past her shoulders. She wore a three-quarter sleeved top against the late September chill that brought out the green in her eyes. She hardly wore any makeup but Merrick loved that about her.

  She stared at him, mouth slightly parted. Merrick glanced down at his chest. He’d forgotten to don a shirt in his haste to answer the door.

  The hungry glint in Sydney’s eyes had his blood quickening. His hand gripped the door. “What do you want?”

  She dropped her gaze to the floor but she couldn’t hide the flash of hurt fast enough. Merrick ground his teeth. He flung the door the rest of the way open and stepped back. “Come in,” he said gruffly.

  Sydney hesitated before she entered.

  Merrick scanned his apartment for any sudden appearances. “Are you Shielding right now?”

  “What?”

  “Are you using your powers?” He quickly went back to his bedroom.

  Curiosity must’ve got the better of Sydney because her hesitancy melted away and she trailed after him. “Yes, why?”

  Merrick ripped open his closet, the bathroom, anywhere Jente could hide.

  Nothing.

  Merrick exhaled in relief. So he had left with Vander last night.

  “Is everything all right? No offense, but you look horrible.”

  Merrick caught sight of himself in the bathroom mirror. Sydney wasn’t wrong. He looked like shit. The bags under his eyes were accentuated by his paler skin and dark hair. His lips had dried blood on them, his nose was swollen, and bruises were forming all over his face. His black eye was coming in nicely as well. He was also sporting a couple bruises along his chest. He snagged a shirt from his closet and slipped it over his head.

  “I didn’t sleep very well last night,” he said on his way to the kitchen. He searched for some instant coffee and found nothing. “Can I get you something to drink? Water or … water?”

  Sydney perched herself on the arm of the couch. “Water is fine.”

  He filled a glass for both of them and handed her one. “So what are you doing here?”

  She stared into her glass. “I was going to call but then I realized I didn’t have your number. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by like this. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Kevin’s journal and our next steps.”

  Merrick very carefully put down his glass. “I don’t think we should look for it anymore.”

  Sydney nearly spilled her drink. “What?”

  He’d been thinking about Kevin’s journal a lot last night and either way Vander was going to get it. He explained as much to Sydney. “If we leave it hidden wherever it’s hidden then the chances of him finding it lessen.”

  “But he’s never going to stop. At least if we found it we could keep it safe.”

  “Keep it safe how?” he challenged. “He’s a billionaire who could break into anywhere. There’s nowhere safe to hide it.”

  “The Guild can protect it,” she said stubbornly.

  Merrick crossed his arms. “The Guild? Do you know how much work that would be? The manpower that would take? You’d be a constant target. Vander would never stop, especially once he found out the location. You can’t Shield forever, Sydney. I saw you yesterday, you were exhausted and that was a single day. One day. Can you imagine doing that for weeks on end?”

  “It might get easier the more I practice,” she shot back.

  Merrick wanted to roll his eyes. “Say that did happen, would you want to spend the rest of your life staying close to the journal? Because you seemed to have forgotten that all our powers seem to be based off of proximity.”

  “At least I’m willing to give it a shot here. You seem to have given up. If Vander ever found his Mirror Mate and bonded with her there’s no telling what would happen with his powers. You’ve seen what he does in his spare time. You’ve experienced it and you don’t want to stop that from happening? Vander uses people like us, Merrick, to gain money and power, and I can’t believe you’re willing to sit back and forget everything that ever happened.”

  Her fingers where white around his glass as she caught her breath.

  “Look, I know things … ” She stopped and tried again. “Last night … ” She inhaled. “If you don’t want to be a part of our guild then that’s fine,” she said quietly. “I don’t blame you. But we could really use you in this one thing. Ple
ase. Then you never have to see any of us ever again.”

  Merrick took the glass of water from her hands and set it down on a nearby table. He gripped her hands and pulled Sydney to her feet. She was trembling. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Her free hand rested against his chest. He wondered if she could feel his pounding heart.

  “What if I don’t want to never see you again?” he said.

  Her breath hitched. He could smell the vanilla coming from her skin. He inhaled greedily, the scent ratcheting his blood higher.

  She licked her lips nervously. “Merrick … ”

  “I’ll help you,” he said.

  “You will?”

  “I only want one thing in return.”

  “Sure. Of course. Anything.”

  He leaned down and brushed his lips against her ear. “I want you.”

  Sydney jumped from his arms like a startled rabbit. She smashed into the side of the couch.

  “Why do you fight it?” Merrick sighed.

  “Fight what?”

  He gripped her in his arms again. A jolt went through his system. Sydney’s eyes widened. “This,” he said, refusing to break eye contact. “I know you feel it too, so don’t lie to me. We’re Mirror Mates.” The color drained from her face and Merrick briefly wondered where this sudden recklessness was coming from. “You keep hiding behind Joel like you’re afraid of what could happen between us.”

  At the mention of Joel some of her regular fire returned to her eyes. She shoved him back. “I’m not afraid. I’ve loved Joel for three years, all right? I-I can’t … ”

  Silence fell.

  Merrick’s hands ached from how hard he was clenching them. He spun on his heel.

  “Wait,” Sydney called out.

  He froze. His control was slipping. There was too much crushing down on him and his desire for Sydney wasn’t helping. If she didn’t want him then she needed to say it so that he could move on.

  But we’re Mirror Mates.

  He’d never be able to move on.