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

of this. She punched her pillow again, bad mouthing all the people involved in creating her current predicament. “I hate people,” she grumbled.
    • • •
    Felix paced restlessly back and forth across his living room. “We shouldn’t have left her there alone.”
    Joel rubbed at his temples. “She’s fine,” he repeated for the umpteenth time. “Sydney told you nothing was out of place when she left. Now can you please go to sleep so I can stop being a good friend and go to bed with my girlfriend?”
    Felix spun on his heel to stride the length of his couch. He rubbed idly at his chest, the hollow ache continuing to gnaw at him. “I really don’t think we should have left her alone.”
    Joel dropped his head back onto the couch. “You don’t say.” His sarcasm was lost on Felix.
    Felix couldn’t stop thinking about Cali. Alone. Somewhere Collette could easily find her. Felix had never told Collette about Sydney’s clinic when they had been friends years ago, but she was clever and had resources at her fingertips. Resources that were becoming increasingly suspicious to Felix. He’d learned long ago that she’d sold her soul to the devil for a well-paying job, one with the shady prospect of paying people large amounts of money if they used their powers. As for what they used those people’s powers for … he never asked Collette. He didn’t want to know. It had been too much for him to take that she would give up her dreams, her hopes, everything, for money, for a chance to feel superior.
    “It has to be more than revenge,” he mused aloud.
    Joel’s eyes were closed. His head still rested back against the couch.
    Felix kicked his shoe and Joel came awake with a curse.
    His dark blue eyes searched for what had woken him before they focused on Felix. “What?”
    “Revenge,” Felix repeated. “It doesn’t add up.” He rubbed at his chest again.
    Joel’s eyes followed the movement. “What’s wrong with you? You got a rash or something?”
    Irritated that Joel wasn’t listening to him he snapped, “No, I don’t have a rash. My chest just feels … compressed. It’s like I can’t get a full lungful of air. It doesn’t matter right now. What matters — ”
    “Is that you get some sleep. Felix, you look like hell. You’ve been up since what, three this morning working? You took on Collette and probably expended a lot of energy using your powers. You need sleep. Everything will fall into place after a full night’s rest. And to be perfectly honest, if I don’t get some sleep I’m going to be fucking miserable tomorrow at work. Cali is fine. Collette’s not coming after her tonight. The most likely scenario is that she’s locked up behind bars after being found at Cali’s parent’s house. No one will get to her tonight.”
    Before Felix could even protest, Joel got up from the couch and headed to the extra bedroom where Sydney was already fast asleep.
    Felix stood alone in his living room only a few minutes longer. He was exhausted. But he couldn’t explain the nervousness that coursed through him.
    He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh.
    Joel was right. He’d be no good to anyone tomorrow if his brain wasn’t working right from lack of sleep.
    Cali will be fine.
    He tried to make himself believe it, but the cold that ran along his spine wouldn’t cease. The others didn’t know Collette like he did. The reason behind her ability to succeed at anything was her dedication. Some would call it obsession. And for whatever reason, Cali was that new target.
    • • •
    Cali awoke without having any idea as to why. Darkness engulfed her and she blinked furiously. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust and for her brain to catch up with her location. She wasn’t in her apartment. She was at Sydney’s vet clinic. The rest of the day’s events caught up to her, and she was amazed that she’d even fallen asleep.
    She must’ve been exhausted.
    Exhausted from using your powers.
    She