Guild of Truth 01 - Silent as the Grave (28 page)

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 the 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?”

“Both. I wouldn’t keep sniffing around someone like Vander Donahughe. You won’t be able to escape his clutches twice.”

“And how is it fair that all the people you’ve helped him capture haven’t even escaped his clutches once? How can you save me and not feel guilty about leaving countless others?”

“Easy.” He turned to her as he opened her door. “I’m a villain, remember?”

“Trust me.” A new voice came from behind Jente. “I’ll never forget it.”

Felix’s fist slammed into Jente’s face.

Jente staggered back.

Felix wound up for another hit.

“Felix, wait.” Cali grabbed his arm. The shock of his skin against hers after so long sent a jolt all the way down to her toes. His eyes latched onto hers, the blue and green of his eyes filled with too many emotions for her to filter them all, but she knew he’d felt the shock too. “Don’t hurt him. He helped me escape.”

“He was also the one who put you there.” His voice was fierce. How had he known that?

Cali had never seen Felix this worked up before. He was terrifyingly beautiful in his rage, but underneath it all she could see the dark circles below his eyes. His five o’clock shadow was darker than usual, and his hair looked as if he’d woken up scant seconds ago.

She cupped his face. Her lungs could barely get enough air to breathe. “I’m okay.”

He opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it. He whirled around, Cali following his gaze.

Jente was gone.

“Fucking little bastard,” Felix growled. “How do we know he’s not in here somewhere?” Cali closed her eyes and strained her ears, searching for that low rumble. Her neck tingled, and far off in the distance she heard the start of Jente’s motorcycle.