Page 165 of Storm Caller

Ada leans forward to speak into a secondary mic standing up on Edward’s desk. “We have the blueprints. There are no other cells in the building.”

“Not a cell, then,” Henry says. “Somewhere else?”

“Nothing is coming up,” Edward says. “Most of the building is empty. All I can find are the chancellors and their personal guards.”

“Where’s the general?” I ask. “Out on the Towers?”

“I can check,” Edward says, typing away. We cycle through the various Tower feeds, but nothing comes up. He flips to the top of the Citadel. Also empty. “I can’t find her, either.”

“Rook must be with her,” I say, suddenly sure of it. “She wanted him for some reason. That’s why she orchestrated this entire thing. Tricked us into coming back. Arrested him. She needs him.”

“For what?” Calliope asks from the corner.

I shake my head. “I’m not sure.” I chew on my lip, trying to remember if she offered a clue at some point.

“Where’s Dr. Mowry?” I ask.

“In the second bedroom,” Dr. Eze says. “Why?”

I turn around, march down the hall, and slam open the door.

Dr. Mowry sits chained to the bed, staring out the window.

He jumps as the door crashes against the wall.

“Where is he?” I demand.

“What?” he asks, his heels scrabbling against the bedspread.

“Where has she taken him?”

“I don’t know what—”

“You reacted when I said my name,” I say, pointing a finger at him. “You looked at my hair. You know what I am. You refused to tell us anything, then suddenly you wouldn’t stop talking. What are you keeping from us?”

Dr. Mowry opens his mouth, fear seeping into his bloodshot eyes.

“Tell me the truth!” I scream. “Do you know what I am? Do you know about Rook?” I stomp over and grab him by the shoulders. “Tell me! Where. Is. He.”

Someone is trying to pull me off, but I resist, yanking myself from their hold.

“Tell us! Where is he!”

“Poet!” Hands cage me with a strong grip. I realize it’s Henry. “You have to stop!”

Dr. Mowry opens his palm and holds it up, the cuffs around his wrists limiting his movements. “Please, let me explain.”

It takes me a moment to go quiet. I stand over him, my chest heaving.

“I will tell you everything. The truth this time, but you must swear to get me out of New Manhattan.”

“What truth?” Henry asks.

“I do know what you are,” Mowry says, addressing me. “And why Nyxia needed you.”

“Why?”

He stares at me with deep-brown eyes and then blinks. “A cure . . . for her.”