Hell, she might even luck out if Vander had left and all she had to do was follow him out the garage.
But of course luck never was on Cali’s side when she needed it.
The door opened soundlessly, thanks to her powers, to nothing but a long metal walkway, complete with railings. At the end it looked as if it opened into a large space but Cali stayed where she was.
Did she really want to spy on Vander when he could potentially spot her?
The idea terrified her. Already she could feel her limbs weakening as phantom hands cupped her face. Her stomach gave a sick twist. She backed up until she hit the wall and closed her eyes.
“Breathe,” she told herself.
All she had to do was get through this, and she’d never be at the mercy of that man again.
She opened her eyes and caught sight of a computer screen inside another little room across the way. The small area housed a computer monitor, drawers, and old-looking books stacked neatly in a bookcase. An office.
Would there be a phone?
Cali made it halfway across the dining room before she realized she hadn’t memorized any of the guilds’ numbers. The only number she knew by heart was her parents’. She could call 911, but the thought of regular people coming into contact with Vander sounded like an all-he-could-eat buffet.
No.
She needed to keep pressing forward. She’d be useless on Vander’s computer, anyway. She wasn’t a technical genius like Joel.
She made her way back to the white door and stepped into the metal hallway. Maybe whatever was in this room with Vander could be used against him. It helped build her confidence and she pressed forward, using her powers to steal the sound from her feet.
She was almost to the end of the hall when she realized she was inside a giant green house. The scent of plants was overwhelming, a mixture so broad that she couldn’t pin down a specific scent for any one plant. The arched hallway opened into a large, domed room. She found herself on the second floor. It acted as a balcony, wrapping around the circular structure. She stepped back toward the safety of the dim hallway and caught sight of Vander. He was down below, in the middle of the greenhouse, surrounded by potted trees.
Cali had never seen so many plants before. They were everywhere, and in their center Vander stood like the sun. She didn’t notice the dead ones on the outskirts until her second sweep of the room, they blended so well into the shadows. The amount of dead plants was almost as startling as the amount of living ones. They were piled atop one another, their dead branches and leaves reaching out like rotten hands grasping for a second chance.
She shivered.
Vander was watering a particular large flower with a brilliant red and yellow blossom. A potted tree sat next to him, nearly too large for the container it resided in. The roots were starting to crack the plastic. He finished with his watering and moved to cup the tree like he had her face so many times before.
The blood chilled in her veins.
At first nothing happened and then the changes started. The leaves started to darken and shrivel. The green coloring of the tree faded. Brown took over, the texture of the tree going from smooth to dry and crisp.
Vander’s head fell back, his chest expanding as if taking in a huge lungful of air.
Cali hadn’t realized she’d walked to the edge of the second floor until her fingers tightened over the railing.
He was sucking the life right out of that tree. She stood motionless as the plant withered and died before her eyes.
That was when hands grabbed her from behind.
Chapter 22
Cali gasped against the hand at her mouth, her powers dropping away as she flailed.
Her foot shot out and stubbed the railing with a horrifying ping, the sound echoing out into the dome.
Vander’s eyes snapped open, his head swiveling to stare straight at her. Cali’s heart momentarily stopped beating. The arm around her waist tightened, pulling her closer to a warm, firm chest.
The jig was up. She’d been caught. It’d be back to her prison room where Vander would continue to suck the life right out of her. Despite her best efforts to remain fearless, her body trembled.
She opened her mouth to say something. What that something was, she had no idea. Would Vander go easier on her if she lied and said she’d been looking for him? Her stomach rebelled at the idea of pretending to actually like this man.
Lips pressed against her ear.
She caught the scent of sand and orange blossoms when a voice — Jente’s voice, whispered, “Don’t make a sound.”
Caught completely off guard, she turned her head fractionally to stare into his mismatched eyes. They were burning with concentration.
What was he playing at?
She turned back to Vander, whose gaze was now flickering from place to place.
He couldn’t see them, she realized.
She stared down at her legs. She could still see herself but apparently he couldn’t.
Jente’s attention never left Vander. She continued to stare in amazement as he used his power to make them invisible.
After searching his greenhouse and failing to find what had made the noise, Vander went back to his plants. He moved away from the dead tree and turned his sights on the beautiful flower he’d been watering earlier.
Cali couldn’t watch anymore. The idea that he had done that to her left her feeling nauseated.
Jente must have sensed her need to get away. He slowly guided her backward into the hallway. His boots made the slightest thunk, but she was too overwhelmed to get a handle on her powers to even try and help make their escape easier. He didn’t release her until they were back at the door. She waited for him to open it but he just stared at her. He held a finger to his lips, then pointed down to the handle.
Cali frowned at him.
He rolled his eyes and forced her hand to the knob. “Use your powers,” he mouthed.
Right.
She needed to focus. She calmed her mind and waited a few painful moments until her neck started to tingle.
The door swung open without a sound. Jente followed her through and shut the door behind them.
Cali let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. Once her heart eased into a less frantic rhythm she whirled on Jente, fists balled at her sides. “What do you want? Why’d you do that back there?”
Jente blew her off and grabbed her elbow to propel her to the front door. “Isn’t it obvious what I’m doing,” he huffed. “I’m saving your ass.”
She ripped her arm from his grip. “I don’t believe you. You’re the one that delivered me to him in the first place. You’re probably moving me to a more secure location.” Shit! She started to back away. Jente caught her hand before she got out of reach. His fingers laced with hers. His hand was warm and dry.
“I’m not moving you. I’m helping you. I had no idea that when Vander wanted you, this is what he would do to you.”
Her temper spiked. “Oh, you thought I’d be staying at a five-star hotel with full room service? Bullshit. You knew what was in store for me.”
Genuine shame flashed briefly in his eyes. “I don’t have to prove myself to you. All I’m saying is that no one should have to endure what you have. I didn’t know and now that I do, I’m getting you out.”
He typed a code into the front door too fast for her to see.
“I thought you weren’t up high enough on the food chain to know super secret things?”
He shot her a mischievous smirk. “You’d be amazed how many ‘super secret things’ I learn when no one thinks I’m around.”
The light on the control turned green, and Jente gestured for her to precede him through the front.
Fresh air had never smelled so good.
Cali hadn’t realized just how musty the inside of Vander’s home was until she sucked down lungful after lungful of cool, salty air. The sun was setting, the breeze kicking up to ruffle her hair.
; “Come on.” Jente re-laced their fingers and towed her down to the street where a sleek, black motorcycle was parked one house down.
She pulled her hand from his, uncomfortable with how easily his hand seemed to fit in hers. “Why are you doing this?”
Jente gave her an exasperated look. “I thought we’d been over this.”
“So you saw what he was doing to me?” Somehow that knowledge made her feel worse. She might have screwed up in her life when it came to Tyson, but at least there was no one there to witness her humiliation. Now she’d always know Jente had seen her at her weakest, at the mercy of a man trying to claim her as his own.
Jente had the grace to look away. “I wasn’t there for all of it. I had … work to do.”
“And what was that? Spying on my friends?”
“Do you really want to spend your time yelling at me? Right here in front of Vander’s home where he can hear or see us at any moment? Or do you want to get the fuck out of here?”
He threw one of his black jean-clad legs over his cycle and eyed her expectantly. With the way his hair was styled he looked like some kind of anime or Final Fantasy character come to life.
“Clock’s ticking, Cali.”
She hopped on behind him and made a valiant attempt to ignore the way his body stiffened when she wrapped her arms around him. “So now you’re a villain with a conscience?” she asked as he kick-started his motorcycle.
The engine started with barely even a rumble.
Well, it wouldn’t do for a spy to have a noisy mode of transportation, now, would it?
Jente took off down the street. “I could leave you here, you know,” he retorted over his shoulder.
Cali didn’t bother answering that. She knew he didn’t mean it.
As they continued driving, Cali took in her surroundings to get her mind off the fact she was pressed up very firmly to a man who wasn’t Felix. They were on Irvine Avenue in Costa Mesa, the Upper Newport Bay out on her right. The sight was beautiful, and for one fleeting moment Cali wanted to spread her arms out as if she could fly.
Freedom.
It was like being released from the detention facility back in high school all over again.
“Where to?” Jente asked when they stopped for a red light.
She stared down at her clothes. She was going to burn them as soon as she stripped them from her body. “My apartment.”
She really should have had him drive her to her parents’ so she could pick up her car that she’d left there, but the drive was too far and she wanted out of her clothes as soon as possible.
It wasn’t until her building came into view that she remembered her overdue rent. Her heart sank at the idea of all her belongings being dumped. Would there even be anything left?
She knocked hesitantly on Mrs. Deder’s door. When she didn’t hear anything after a few seconds she knocked again. Louder.
“I’m coming,” came the grumbled response. “Keep your fucking panties on.”
The door opened.
“What do you want, criminal?”
Jente bristled behind Cali, and she prayed he wouldn’t say anything to ruin this for her. Jente was just the type to stand out on Mrs. Deder’s radar. Hell, she probably thought he was a fellow criminal.
She clasped her hands in front of her and prepared to grovel like she’d never groveled before. “Mrs. Deder, I’m so sorry I missed my rent, and I swear I’ll move out as soon as I can, but can I please be let into my apartment? Please tell me you haven’t dumped my stuff.”
The wrinkles in Mrs. Deder’s forehead deepened. “What are you rambling on about? Your rent’s been paid.”
Cali must not have heard right.
“What? By who?”
Mrs. Deder was already shutting her door. She waved her hand carelessly. “By the same man that came by and replaced the locks. Some tall, good-looking fellow. He had dark, slightly curled hair, held himself like a real man, most definitely not a criminal.” She eyed Cali. “Don’t know how he got tangled up with you.”
Cali didn’t even care that Mrs. Deder had checked Felix out more than anyone her age had the right to. He’d paid her rent.
Suddenly there wasn’t enough air in her lungs.
Mrs. Deder shut her door. “Wait.” Cali lodged her foot before it could click closed. “Can I have a key? I misplaced mine … again.”
There was a tirade of grumbling as Mrs. Deder vanished behind her door. It didn’t take her very long to collect the spare. Once it was in hand, Cali raced up the three flights of stairs to her apartment.
She reached her door, wheezing. The burn in her lungs felt good. It meant she wasn’t trapped, helpless, or dead.
“You okay?” Jente asked as she unlocked her door.
“Fine,” she lied. She took a step into her apartment, but her leg buckled after the exertion up the stairs.
Jente caught her. Desire flared in his eyes, a quick flash he couldn’t hide fast enough.
Cali scrambled from his arms. “Why are you helping me?” she asked again.
Jente followed her into the main room. “Are you suffering from some kind of memory loss? We’ve been over this … ”
“But that’s not the only reason, is it?” She stared him down, waiting for him to look away in embarrassment.
He didn’t.
Kid had guts. He didn’t accept or deny her claim.
“I need to change,” she said abruptly when it was obvious neither was going to step down. “You can stay in here, visible.” She pointed down at the floor like Jente was a dog she was ordering to stay.
In lieu of an answer he gave her that up-to-no-good smile.
“I mean it,” said Cali. “If I so much as hear you anywhere near my door I’ll kick your ass right out my third-floor window.”
His smile deepened. “I solemnly swear not to go into your room.” He crossed his heart and took a seat on one of her barstools.
It was the best guarantee she could get. She slammed her door shut and stripped her clothes off. She hadn’t planned on taking a shower, but even with the clothes removed she felt dirty. She could still feel Vander’s hands on her, his lips on her.
After showering she brushed her teeth. Twice.
She threw on a pair of jeans and a plain black tee on the off chance Jente would take her to Felix’s.
He was rummaging through her fridge when she came out of her room.
“You got anything besides rotten food in here?”
She took the closest barstool and leaned over the counter. “Try the cupboard. There might be peanut butter in there or a box of instant something or other.”
He unearthed a microwavable kid’s dinner from the freezer.
Cali watched him as he cut the plastic covering and shoved it in the microwave. He moved with a martial arts type grace. She couldn’t help but think of how much good they could do if they had someone like Jente on their side.
“Is there a reason why you’re watching me so intently?” He didn’t even bother glancing at her.
“Why don’t you help us? The Guild of Truth could really use someone like you.”
He laughed. “The Guild of Truth? Is that what you call your little band of misfits?”
“Technically, we’re the Guild of Aletheia or something like that. But that’s not the point. The point is — ”
“The point is,” he finished for her, “that your little guild couldn’t do squat for me. You’re made up of, what? Five people? You have no power, no resources, no nothing.”
“Why do you need such fancy resources? Who are you searching for?” It was a shot in the dark that he was actually looking for someone and not something, but she knew she’d hit true when his mask cracked, and for just a moment she saw the raw hate behind his eyes.
“That’s none of your business.”
“So it’s fine that you know practically everything about me and I know nothing of you? Fine. Get the fuck out of my home.”
He motioned to t
he microwave. “My food’s not done yet.”
She didn’t know if she wanted to hit him or laugh at him. She decided to stay on course and try and pump him for more information.
“Why does Vander have you search for people with powers?”
The microwave beeped and he pulled out his meal. “Lots of reasons. The most recent one being that he’s looking for another person like Kevin. What did you call them?”
A chill swept down her spine. “Dreamers?”
“There you go. He’s searching for Dreamers. He’s been looking for one ever since his last one died. Old man was useless, anyway. Vander kept him so doped up on drugs I don’t think the poor man knew what was real and fake anymore.”
Her hate for Vander doubled along with her fear.
Did Jente know Niella was a Dreamer?
She could ask, but she didn’t trust Jente enough to risk Niella. She didn’t trust Jente, period. One act of good did not wipe away all the wrongs. She wasn’t going to fool herself. Just because it looked like he had a crush on her didn’t mean he’d confide in her or protect her. In fact, she had to keep her guard up even more around him. It’d be too easy to forget this kid worked for Vander.
“What about the fights he makes you and Collette participate in?”
Jente’s fork froze halfway to his mouth. Something dangerous passed over his face. “How do you know about that?”
She tapped her ear. “You’d be amazed by what I hear when nobody thinks I’m listening.”
He continued eating. “Fair enough,” he said around a mouthful of mashed potato. Cali waited, but he wasn’t forthcoming with any more information.
She pressed on. “Does he use you to find new people to fight for him? Is that how he guarantees his wins? By using those with powers?”
It’d be the perfect illegal scheme to nail Vander with.
Jente finished his meal and dumped the plastic container into the trash. “You’d best be careful where you tread, Cali. I helped you escape from Vander’s home, but if you’re caught again and sentenced to the arena there’s nothing I can do for you.”
“Nothing you can do or nothing you will do?”
Guild of Truth 01 - Silent as the Grave Page 22