Page 31 of Storm Caller

I sense a shift. Less open hostility and more wary curiosity.

“Did you find any other Storm Callers?” he asks Rook.

“What does Storm Caller mean? Why have you named us that?” I interrupt.

“We have a theory,” Summit says. “That Rook’s presence, and I suppose yours, actually pulls the storms in. That they are attracted to you and—” He cuts off, glancing at his son as though conscious of revealing too much.

“Remember when we talked about how the storms seem to seek us out?” Rook finishes. “That doesn’t happen with Whispers as far as we can tell. They also don’t experience the same degree of discomfort when storms are coming, or the need to touch Spark. In many cases, they don’t feel anything at all. We believe only the strongest Whispers exhibit the same symptoms, and even then, it’s rare.”

“Oh,” I say. “I see.”

Though I’m not sure that I see anything at all.

“I didn’t intend to bring Poet back with me,” Rook says, and those words sting, even though I knew that already. Hearing all this reminds me that Rook never intended to remain in New Manhattan. I’d been building a future for us in my head, all while he had his real life waiting for him. “But things went awry the night of the graduation ball, and I had no choice.”

He tells his father about Trinity’s accusation and our need to escape the city. When he’s finished talking, Summit doesn’t say anything for a few moments. He inhales deeply and shakes his head.

Something is clearly troubling him.

I suppose my presence is a threat. They blindfolded me for a reason. They all hate New Manhattan and The Shield, and I’m just beginning to scratch the surface of why.

“First, we need to deal with the Whisper’s death,” the high commander says, returning to the original purpose of our meeting. “And I’ll need to discipline Fisher. You were under his command.”

“It was my fault,” Rook says. “He was nowhere nearby when it happened. I regret it, but the Whisper was about to kill Poet. I had to make a choice.”

“A choice,” Summit says, nodding slowly. “I see that you’ve made several choices since the day you left us.”

Rook gives his father an inscrutable look, and I suspect they have a lot more to discuss when I’m no longer around.

“There will need to be public consequences for you as well,” Summit says, his gaze sliding to me.

“Leave her out of it,” Rook says. “I accept the consequences on her behalf. Punish me. Poet did nothing wrong. She was on the ground, and he was choking her. I acted alone.”

Summit’s eyes narrow. “Regardless, you both understand that she cannot stay here? She is one of them.”

Of course I know it’s true, but this verbal confirmation makes my fists clench tightly against my thighs, nails digging into my palms. “I have nowhere to go.” The words slip out, small and uncertain. “They know what I am. They’ll kill me if I go back.”

“I understand the rules of your world, Poet Graves, but your father is the one partly responsible for them, is he not?”

“Dad,” Rook says, and Summit holds up a hand.

“I’m sorry,” he says, his expression softening. “But your presence causes problems.”

“I understand,” I say.

“Will he come for you? Your father?”

I exhale a wry laugh that deepens Summit’s frown. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

It’s embarrassing to admit. I don’t know if my father loves or cares about me enough to come after me, especially knowing what I am. All I’ve done for the past year is defy him. Embarrass him. Make his life impossible.

Summit scans me up and down, thoughts flickering across his expression that I can’t even begin to interpret. “I’m not saying you need to leave immediately, but you will have to make a choice. Regardless, you are not welcome in the Veil.”

I don’t trust myself to speak, so I just nod.

“Then you’re free to go. Send Fisher in,” Summit says to Rook. “We’ll mete out your punishments tomorrow evening.”

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