Free Guild of Truth 01 - Silent as the Grave by Mary K. Norris

own abilities they won’t be able to and … that’s all I’m basically used for.”
    “You mean you guys all don’t know some crazy special kung-fu fighting technique?”
    Sydney’s gaze could have frozen water. “We’ve already told you, we’re not a military branch.”
    More was the pity. How the hell were they supposed to defend themselves if all they had was a woman who could negate power and another who could manipulate sound? Where were the super strength and fire-wielding powers when you needed them?
    The rustling came again.
    Sydney grasped the door and gave her a nod. We take this nice and slow, it said.
    Together they crept out into the large hallway. A faint light came in through the reception area caused by the streetlights outside. Sydney took the lead as they filed into the smaller hall that opened into the front lobby. Sydney stopped and took a deep breath before turning the corner.
    She poked her head out just enough to see into the main room before she pulled back. “It’s coming from behind the reception desk.”
    She leaned out to take another look. Cali was tall enough to lean over her and peer around the corner above her head.
    The lobby was empty.
    The faint rustling came from the far corner, right where Sydney had said. There was no light of any kind, which begged the question how the hell did whoever was over there see anything? Didn’t they need a flashlight?
    A small part of Cali had worried Collette had come after her, but with Sydney nullifying any and all powers, Collette would be useless. Plus, Collette didn’t strike her as the type of woman who would hide out behind a reception desk.
    Sydney’s thoughts must have been following her own. She bravely made her way into the lobby, Cali right behind her. When they reached the desk, Sydney waved her back, signaling her to stay put.
    Cali bit her tongue to keep from protesting but ultimately stayed where she was.
    Sydney stepped behind the reception desk.
    And screamed.
    Cali reacted instantly. She grabbed the first thing within reach. It turned out to be a dog leash hanging on the wall closest to her.
    She rushed the reception desk and nearly got bowled over by Sydney.
    “What is it?” she demanded. There was nothing in sight.
    Something moved past her foot and Cali yelped.
    The fuzzy gray blob scuttled toward the dog food, giving Cali a moment to identify it. “Gadget?”
    Felix’s rat continued to make a break for the dog food. Sydney jumped out of the rodent’s way with another screech.
    Cali forced her laughter down. She hurried to scoop the fat rat up before it gave Sydney a heart attack. “Easy, Sydney, it’s just Gadget.”
    Sydney’s face was murderous. “I’m going to kill Felix.”
    Cali highly doubted it, but she kept her comments to herself as Gadget nuzzled into her palm. Sydney might hate the fact that Felix sometimes left his pet rat in her vet but he was important to her, special …
    The dull ache in her chest throbbed. “Hey, Sydney?”
    She was busy dusting herself off. “Hm?”
    “What’s a Mirror Mate?”
    Her hands faltered before continuing to brush at her clothing. She looked up to give her a bright smile. “You are.”
    Cali wasn’t buying it. “That doesn’t tell me anything. Everyone keeps calling me Felix’s Mirror Mate but no one’s really told me what that means. How do you even know that I’m his or that he’s mine? I don’t get it.”
    Sydney held her hands out in surrender. “I understand, and I wish I had more information for you, but to be perfectly honest we’re not even sure what it is. When I met Felix years ago, he thought he was the only one with powers. When we figured out I had them too, I freaked out thinking perhaps they were contagious. They’re not. Felix eventually met Collette and found that she too had powers. Our little network of powered people was growing, but that still didn’t give us any insight. All of us had different powers. Were there others out there