Page 85 of Storm Caller

The general takes several steps and then turns around to face us. “Additionally, you can learn to control it. Harness it.”

“Like you do when you power the city?” Rook asks.

“Partly. I can gather and store some of it. It’s how I built the grid that covers the Central Park Tree Farm, for example. It’s how the Tempestade scientists are able to store some of the charge to use in your training simulations, and it’s how they’ve been able to craft the prototype for the vests they’re developing to protect Breakers.”

She peers up at the sky again, hands planted on her hips.

“And you’re going to teach us that?” Rook asks. The storm is growing fiercer now, thunder rumbling overhead.

She glances across the landscape and then back at us. “Tonight, I want to show you something I can’t ever reveal within the city limits. I took a risk leaving tonight, but I think it’s important that we start here. Plus, I promised to give you a reason to trust me, and I believe this will convince you of my sincere intentions.”

“Start with what?” I ask.

“Channeling Spark is one thing, and that already makes you a threat, but what I’m about to show you is what truly makes you dangerous.” She levels us with a look. “Because you—we—can also use Spark as a weapon.”

Chills climb over my scalp at the severity in her voice.

Maybe a part of me always knew this, too.

“The chancellors have no idea,” she says. “No one does. Or at least they don’t know for sure. I think they may have their suspicions, but I’ve been extremely careful never to reveal that I can do anything beyond channeling galvanic energy into something useful.”

Rook and I share a nervous glance.

Sol backs up a few more steps, jogging away. The storm is whipping into a frenzy now, and in the distance, I watch a few bursts of Spark hit the earth. Vibrant purple plasma arcs explode up from the dirt, illuminating the horizon.

The storm drifts closer, churning overhead. Rook reaches out to take my hand as we watch the general. She stands with her arms out and her head up, chin tipped to the sky. I wonder what she’s thinking. Is she addicted to the pain and euphoria, too? Thanks to the strained look on her face, I think I can guess.

Another burst of Spark hits the earth a few feet away. My body reacts, aching with the need to reach out and touch it, but it’s obvious that she needs to show us something important, so I resist.

Then another cloud explodes overhead, and a bolt of amethyst light strikes the general. I know she can withstand it, but after a lifetime of conditioning, I still tense up.

Purple sparks crackle over her skin as she brings her hands together, gathering a small orb of amethyst light in her palms. Rook’s grip on my hand tightens as he notices it, too.

A line of concentration forms between Sol’s brows as her limbs shake and sweat beads on her forehead. The light in her hand grows, swelling out almost like a miniature globe. It crackles and flashes, then shifts, turning from vibrant amethyst to brilliant magenta light.

As she’s engulfed by the plasma arc, she grits her teeth, clinging to the pulsing ball of energy in her hands. I watch in fascination as her hair rises from her head with the crackling electricity, and then the arc winks out. Still clutching the orb, she lifts her arm and hurls it. It goes flying across the landscape, hitting another pile of rocks about a hundred feet away.

They shatter on impact, exploding in a shower of stone and dust.

I watch in horrified fascination as the dirt settles, while the sounds of thunder crash overhead.

General Sol wipes her brow and then spins around to face us.

“That is what they’ll kill all of us for.”

29

For several seconds, I gape at the sight of the shattered rocks.

“How did you do that?” Rook asks. “You . . . held it?”

He’s reeling, nearly speechless.

I’ve never seen him so thrown off.

The general nods. “It took me many years to learn the technique, but yes. When I use Spark to power the city, I do the same thing—gather the energy, then transfer it to a collection point before it shifts. But if I don’t have anywhere to direct it, I have to do something with it.”

She gestures into the distance, indicating the destruction she just caused.