Guild of Truth 02 - Shield from the Heart (18 page)

“Well, I think it’s amazing,” Luke said as she locked up. “Do you ever need, like, help or anything?”

Sydney pulled back from the door to look Luke up and down. He was no longer dressed in his scrubs. He had on worn jeans and a black jacket that wasn’t quite zipped up all the way revealing a …
Star Wars
shirt?

Joel …

She shook her head at the idea of Joel happily giving Luke a shirt to wear.

With his outfit Luke looked like any regular kid. But what was he before he was kidnapped by Vander? Had he been homeless? She knew Juliet had a family to return to. Hazel admitted to having no one but she hadn’t elaborated beyond that.

“Luke,” Sydney said, “did you have a home you needed to return to? Parents that you needed to contact?”

“Uh.” Luke studied the floor, shifting nervously.

Sydney waited patiently. She knew that he was twenty years old, so he didn’t have to go anywhere he didn’t want to go.

“I’m not going to force you to do anything. You know that, right?”

He lifted his blue eyes from the ground. “I-I know.” He twisted his hands a few times before continuing. “I was in the foster care system for a while. The home I was taken from … the people were really nice.” He shrugged. “I just don’t see what good talking to them will do. I mean they were great and all and I’m really glad I was placed with them but I don’t want to cause them any more problems. I’d rather stay away. They probably thought I ran away anyway.” He continued to fiddle with his hands, his eyes darting around.

She decided not to press him anymore. “Why don’t you help Niella get situated in the Hummer?”

He looked grateful to have something to do and disappeared to the back of the car to help Niella.

When they reached Felix’s, Sydney’s heart flipped at the sight of Joel’s truck parked out front.

She felt Niella’s eyes on her and tried to keep her outward appearance calm and collected.

Tom’s words floated through her head as she brought the pizza in. Felix, Cali, Merrick, and Joel were all seated on the couches. Joel and Merrick were on the same couch. Sitting side by side the two looked so different, yet so similar.

Everyone turned when she entered the room and Sydney found her eyes locked with Merrick’s. Her heart pounded in her chest.

“Where are the others?” Cali asked.

She pulled her gaze from Merrick and pointed behind her. “Luke’s helping Niella.”

“Nice.” Felix came over to her and took the pizza box. “Who’s hungry?”

Merrick and Joel got to their feet. Sydney was stuck rooted to the ground. Joel gave her a smile though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He pulled her in tight for a hug. She closed her eyes instantly so she wouldn’t see Merrick’s expression over Joel’s shoulder.

“Sorry I had to work,” Joel said as he released her.

“It’s fine.” She forced her own smile while her heart raced. It was so hard to stare into his face when she knew she had to break it off with him. She’d spent the entire car ride back to Felix’s bolstering her confidence. She had to do what was right. Right?

Indecision warred within her.

Merrick climbed into the back of the Hummer where Luke was practically jumping up and down.

“This is so cool,” said Luke. “We’re going to break into a hospital so you can use your powers.”

“Technically,” Felix said from the driver’s seat, “we’re not breaking in. We’re visiting during visiting hours but the rest of that statement is true. You think you’re going to be able to get anything?” Felix directed that last question at Merrick.

“I won’t know until I get there,” he said honestly.

Joel sat silently in the passenger seat. Merrick tried not to watch him but he couldn’t help it. Once Sydney had returned with the pizza Joel had never left her side. As if he wanted to keep Sydney away from Merrick on purpose.

Stop being such a fucking asshole. That’s his girlfriend and he has every right to want to spend time with her.

Sydney might be Joel’s girlfriend but after Merrick’s conversation with Felix about Mirror Mates, Merrick was almost positive that Sydney was his.

Everything Felix had described had happened between them. A jolt through his system when they touched, an ache in his chest when they were apart, and an overwhelming need to be with Sydney — to taste her and touch her.

He bit back a groan of frustration as his cock hardened.

All these sensations couldn’t have been one sided. Sydney had to have felt them too, which begged the question: why didn’t she do anything about it? Did she not want Merrick as a Mirror Mate?

I thought you weren’t buying into this soul mate shit?

He sighed. He didn’t know what to think anymore. Was it too much to hope for a woman he could get close to and not have to fear her inner thoughts?

“You think Juliet and Hazel are all right?” Luke’s voice snapped Merrick out of his inner musings.

He glanced over at the kid and saw real concern on his face. “I’m sure they’re fine. I told Hazel to call if she needed anything. If she’s in trouble, we’ll know.”

Or at least he hoped so. Regina hadn’t shown her pretty little mug since they came to Southern California. He would have thought Vander would send her after him, or that she’d at least volunteer, but he hoped that not seeing her meant she was ordered to stay in San Francisco.

Luke nodded. “I miss them,” he mumbled.

Merrick blinked in surprise. He hadn’t thought their friendships had grown that strong, but then he remembered that all his time was spent with Sydney.

And look how attached you got to her.

“I’m sure they miss you too,” he said earnestly.

Some of the sadness left Luke’s face. “I bet they would have had fun going on this mission.”

Merrick felt like telling him that it wasn’t really a mission. They were walking into a hospital room, end of story. But he didn’t want to ruin Luke’s illusion.

They arrived at the hospital with a little less than an hour to “visit.”

Felix led them to a private wing. A few nurses eyed them skeptically but no one stopped them. Merrick kept a close eye out for anything suspicious. He had that tickle at the back of his neck again, like someone was watching him. Could it be that Jente guy again?

They shouldn’t have left Sydney at the house.

They had no way of knowing if they were being followed but she had looked beyond exhausted and Merrick had agreed with Joel and Felix that she needed to stay behind and rest.

“Here we are,” Felix announced as they stepped into a sterile smelling room. The temperature was on the cool side. Merrick instinctively scanned the room. There wasn’t much to look at. There was nothing there. No flowers, nothing to indicate that anyone came to visit.

Merrick stepped closer to the bed. It was surreal to look down into the faces of Collette and Kevin and feel like he already knew them. He’d seen them awake, walking and talking. He’d been inside Kevin’s head, feeling what he felt.

They both looked washed out now. White faces, drab hair, and sunken cheekbones.

Felix stared at both of them with a strange expression on his face. Some kind of mix between sympathy and loathing.

Joel remained off to the side, arms crossed over his chest. Luke stood nearby looking as if he wanted to come closer but wasn’t sure if it was appropriate.

Merrick stood between the two beds acutely aware of all the tubes that were attached to both Collette and Kevin. Maybe it was a good thing Sydney had stayed away. She hated hospitals; he couldn’t imagine what seeing someone like this would do to her.

“Have you ever gotten information off of an actual person before?” asked Felix.

“No, just things they’ve touched. I’m not sure this’ll even work. I’ve never tried to read something off of someone in a coma before. They might not give off impressions like a normally active person would.”

“Just give it your best. We might as well start at the main source.” Felix moved away to give him more room.

Merrick ran his fingers along the sheets as he focused. He’d never tried to get inside a person’s head before. Not to mention one that was in a coma. Was it possible for him to become trapped inside another person’s mind?

He fucking hoped not.

He inhaled. The back of his neck prickled. He reached out and brushed the limp brown hair off of Kevin’s forehead. His skin was lukewarm. Merrick repressed a shiver.

You won’t get trapped.

He pressed his fingers more firmly against Kevin’s skin and shut his eyes.

Nothing happened.

He gave it a few more seconds but no visions came.

“Anything?” asked Felix.

Merrick shook his head in awe. “Nothing.” He couldn’t read people. A tightness in his chest released. “I’ll try his clothes and the sheets, just to make sure.” He touched Kevin’s hospital gown and instantly got sucked into a strange black void. He was aware of being moved and that was it. He jerked his hand back.

Holy shit, had that been Kevin’s thoughts?

He touched the clothing again. This time he didn’t get any black voids. He picked up on the nurses: their boredom, their sympathy. He pulled away when a few nurses got curious about how hung Kevin was.

He moved onto the sheets. More nurses. He was ready to pull away when he stopped. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He skimmed the sheets like someone would skim the pages of a book until he found what he was looking for. There.

“Where is she?”

It was Vander.

“You hid her from me, didn’t you? Why?” Vander grunted. “It doesn’t matter. It was a fool’s mistake. You forget I hold Collette’s life in my hands. One phone call to the hospital and every machine that’s keeping her alive will be unplugged. This might not matter to you now but it will. I’ve found a way to bring you back to me. It might take time but we’ve both got plenty of that.”

Shouts erupted.

It took Merrick a moment to realize that they weren’t coming from his visions. He wrenched his hand away from Kevin’s bed in time to see Luke get shot in the chest by a taser. His body convulsed, then dropped.

“Shit.” Joel caught him on the way down.

Felix waved his hand and the taser disappeared from existence. He launched himself at the men in the doorway. Joel placed his hand flat on Luke’s chest. He held on for a second before jumping into the fray with Felix.

Merrick rushed to help. A fist shot out and took him in the solar plexus. He staggered back. The man who’d hit him crouched next to Luke and gripped him under the arms. He heaved but Luke’s body didn’t move an inch. It was like he was glued to the floor.

Not glued, Merrick realized, but Locked. He laughed aloud at Joel’s genius and flew into the fight with renewed vigor. His fist smashed into the face of the man trying to abduct Luke. The man flew, knocking into the back of Felix’s knees. Felix stumbled and took a hit in the gut.

Merrick winced. Cali was going to beat his ass if she ever found out about that.

Felix’s eyes locked with his.

My bad
, Merrick mouthed.

Felix grinned before slammed his elbow into his closest attacker’s ribcage. The man doubled over. Merrick kneed him in the face.

They systematically worked their way through their assailants. Joel Locked them in place and Felix and Merrick took them out. By the time they were through Merrick could taste his own blood in his mouth. They’d moved into the hallway but there were no nurses or doctors to be found.

“Convenient,” said Merrick.

“Come on.” Joel went back into the Bauers’ room to unlock Luke from the floor. “More could be on their way. We better head back.” He was sporting a cut on his forehead and a swollen lip.

“I’ll keep watch — you guys try to wake his ass up,” said Felix.

Joel shook Luke by the shoulders. “Come on, Skywalker, a little electricity never hurt anyone. I mean, look how fast Luke bounced back after being jolted by the emperor in the movies. This is nothing.”

Merrick gripped Luke’s other arm and together he and Joel lifted him to his feet.

Luke blinked.

“I think he’s coming around,” said Merrick.

Luke gave a pained groan.

Joel and Merrick walked him out of the hospital room. By the time they reached the elevators he could stand on his own. Merrick reached out and steadied him when he started to sway again.

“You’re fine,” Joel kept repeating. “You’re invincible, remember?”

“I don’t want to be invincible if it means I have to take all the hard hits,” Luke said as he rubbed the back of his head.

Felix patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll bet after a few more big hits like that you won’t even feel pain anymore.”

Luke stared at him incredulously.

“Welcome to the Guild of Truth,” Felix said with a grin.

“The Guild of Aletheia,” Joel said, exacerbated. He dabbed at his swollen lip with the hem of his shirt. “You know that fight would have gone a lot smoother if you would have brought back the taser for us to use,” he said to Felix.

Felix punched the button for the lobby. “Sorry, it’s force of habit to not bring something back.”

Joel grunted. “I’m going to have to think of a better excuse at work for all my bruises besides ‘I like to box.’ Everyone’s going to think I’m into S&M or something.”

“S and M?” asked Luke.

Felix and Joel exchanged a look. Felix raised his eyebrows as if to tell Joel that Luke was his trainee.

“Sadomasochism,” Merrick spoke up. “It means getting off on pain.”

Luke shuddered. “Who’d ever want that?”

“There are some … unique people out there,” Felix said carefully. It was very politically correct of him.

Merrick remembered the man in San Francisco whose power caused pain on contact. He studied Luke, took note of the way he held his arms around himself as if to ward off the world. He was pretty sure Luke would never want to experience pain ever again if he could avoid it.

The lobby was bustling with people and it took everything Merrick had to keep his head high as he walked out as if nothing had happened, as if he wasn’t sporting the beginnings of a black eye or a split lip.