Lost Energy Read Online Free PDF Page B

We laughed a little, argued a little more, and
didn't bother to acknowledge the trembling sack of bones in the wicker. After a
while, Dad reverted to the silent Indian-wall observer, ignoring us, too.
    "…and it's not funny. She did
say–" Farren's passionate defense of some starlet's recent brush with the
law using his tabloid research stopped. "They're here."
    He went for the window, all traces
of relaxed gone. Thirty seconds later, the fuzz entered my brain, too. I moved
from the kitchen counter to join Farren at the window.
    "Dad? Go in your room and be
quiet. Don't come out." I could fake calm with the best of them. But when
he didn't get up, I dragged him from his chair and heaved him in the room. "Stay
here." Not waiting for a reply, I shut the door and went back to Farren.
    Two figures who definitely didn't
belong to the white trash mafia strode down from the graveled hill leading into
the park. Both were female. The smaller one sporting a less obvious
leotard-like outfit Tarek used to call his warrior suit walked in front of a
taller, thin woman wearing a flowing dress that didn't look comfortable in the
sweltering July heat.
    By the tension in their faces, they
knew we were there, too.
    "I'll be damned." Farren scrubbed
a hand through his hair. "This isn't good." He met my questioning
face. "Looks like the Synod decided to make a personal visit."
    "This is an 'oh shit' moment,
isn't it?"
    Farren's attention went back to the
window. "I'd say it's the moment. You see that Protector?" Like
I could miss her.. . "She's five-cycled and ruthless as hell, and her
Guide's been a Synod member since before my first cycle."
    "What do you think they want?"
As if I didn't know that.
    The "you have to be kidding me"
glare Farren threw showed he thought the question just as stupid. He closed the
curtains and went to the door. "The best thing we can do is go out there,
confront them."
    I stumbled into the kitchen. "Ah…disagree.
Going out the back window and getting in the car sounds better."
    Farren stomped over, grabbed my
hand, and went to the front door. He stuffed the car keys into my front pocket.
"In case..."
    He tugged on my hand, but all he
got was a no-go, my feet planted on the floor and sprouting roots. "No."
    Farren bent down to my ear. "Running
won't work; they'll keep coming back."
    "Shouldn't we wait for Wilma?"
    "Love to, but I don't think
they'd be willing to wait with us."
    I really hated when he made sense.
    "Stay behind me. If shit goes
down, take off. Avery won't do anything to you."
    "And Avery is?"
    "The Guide. She's the Synod's
Creation Lab overseer, the person who controls in-coming and out-going energy.
A fucking big shot. But you Guides aren't known for your strength," he
tapped his temple, "just this."
    "What are you gonna do?"
    "Try not to let Nicolette kick
my ass too bad."
    Well, what could be said to that?
    We stepped off the cement blocks as
the women approached. Nicolette stopped short. Her clear blue eyes shot to
Farren then behind him, past me, and into the house. "Where's Wilma?"
    "Around." Farren
sauntered over to face her, all arrogant with confidence I really hoped he had.
"Better question is why are you here?"
    Her eyes narrowed as she widened
her stance. "Doing my duty, Protector ."
    Farren rolled his shoulders. "Sticks
and stones, Nikki. But let me make something clear." He stood two inches
from the woman, cocking his head to the side as he looked down at her. "You're
not getting anywhere near the girl, got it?"
    When she spoke, I looked down to
make sure my shoes were tied–didn't want to trip when running for my life.
    "Hmm, so you," she tapped
Ginger's chest with her pointer, "are going to…what? Stand in my way? A
few months in this place soften your brain, Farren?"
    A low snarl escaped as he moved in
the last two inches. "You b–"
    "Enough." The sharp
command from the Guide caused Nicolette to back down. Farren made an obvious
effort to relax, though his fists stayed clenched at