Chapter 25 Just Standing
Just Standing
—Rook—
As soon as Poet finishes her tests with Dr. Eze, I leave the room, still a little shaky and unsteady on my feet. The doctor said I’d feel the effects for about an hour.
I wanted to leave immediately, but I had to make sure the Extinguishers wouldn’t bother Poet.
Because I know what she is.
I followed her that night, and I knew she was keeping secrets.
She’s like me. It explains so much.
I think. Or maybe this fascination I have with her is about something else entirely.
Something I’m too scared to admit to myself.
The truth is, she’s more dangerous to me than ever.
She attracts too much attention.
I should keep my distance.
And yet.
I succumb to a wave of dizziness and lean against a wall, my head tipping back. I think about my test. It didn’t feel like real Spark, not that I expected it to, but I wasn’t sure what would happen when they attached those nodes to my skin.
I think I can handle this. Fool them into believing I’m just a regular person.
Those Extinguishers, though. They really think they’re something special. Doing something important. Rounding up people who can’t help what they are.
Do they really think they can stop me with their little stunners?
I scoff. Lieutenant Dire would’ve been dead before he could blink.
I’d have killed him if he touched Poet, too. Consequences be damned.
A moment later, I hear raised voices and rapid footsteps.
I know her voice immediately.
It’s Poet and that asshole. Knox.
She told me he wasn’t her boyfriend when I found her in the library that night.
It was almost like she wanted me to know.
That revelation shouldn’t have thrilled me so much.
“Can we talk about this later?” I hear her say.
Another second passes.
“Let go of me!”
I tense up. Did he just grab her?
The yelling continues as I make my way around the corner. While they argue, neither notices me watching.
“Knox, I don’t give a fuck,” she says, weary. Defeated. Wearing that sadness like a cloak. I want to pull it off her and rip it into a million pieces.
“What has gotten into you lately?” Knox hisses as he drags her toward him.
I’ll kill him. I shouldn’t get involved. This is none of my business, but I’ll fucking kill him.
“Let go!” she shouts, trying to pull away.
“Is there a problem here?” I ask, standing with my arms crossed, leaning against the wall, trying to suppress the trembling fury in my limbs.
Knox sneers. “Nothing that has anything to do with you, scat.”
He really thinks that name is supposed to bother me.
“Stop calling him that!” Poet snaps. “What is wrong with you?”
“You’re defending him?”
She is defending me, and something warm explodes in my chest.
“Solitudes killed Raine, or have you forgotten?” Knox says, and that catches my attention.
Who was Raine? If she lost someone important because of my people, then maybe I understand her a little better.
“I know who killed Raine,” she hisses. “You don’t have to remind me. But Raine was a Storm Guard, and he knew the risks.”
I hate seeing her like this. I know she’s capable of handling herself, but this guy knows exactly how to break her.
“You should probably let go of her,” I say, because he’s still holding her, and red is bleeding across my vision. The only reason I haven’t killed him yet is because Poet probably doesn’t want to watch this asshole die. “Now.”
“This is none of your fucking business,” Knox says to me, his skin flushing.
I lever myself from the wall and saunter over. My gaze flicks to Poet. She’s frozen. Brought down by this lowlife. I need to remind her what she’s capable of. She ran the tower of fire. She wants to join the Storm Guard. She’s stronger than she thinks.
I circle my shoulder, reminding her how to snap out of his hold.
She knows this, she’s just forgotten.
“I’m not going to ask you again. Let. Go. Of. Her,” I say, towering over Knox. Thankfully, I’m bigger. Taller. I suspect that bothers him.
Fear passes over his expression for a moment, and I clamp down on a smile.
“Who’s gonna stop me?”
I lean in. “I will.”
That’s when Poet moves, breaking out of his grip, just like I showed her. Pride burns in my chest as she shuffles away. She looks at me, and I swear I catch a hint of gratitude in her eyes.
Then I pounce, pinning Knox to the wall, crushing his windpipe with my forearm.
“Apologize,” I demand.
I notice Poet rubbing her wrist, and it takes everything in me not to snap this dickhead’s neck with my bare hands.
“You can’t—” Knox attempts to say, but I press harder. I want him to understand just how much his life currently hangs in the balance.
“Why must we keep doing this?” I ask. “How many times do I have to humiliate you before you fucking get it? Apologize.”
He tries to get away, but he stands no chance.
Finally, he mumbles something that sounds like an apology. For now, I’ll accept it.
“If I ever see you touch her like that again, we’ll do this until you learn a fucking lesson,” I say.
Then I step back, and Knox glares at me. “You’ll pay for this, sc—”
He breaks off. I don’t know why, but maybe he’s finally getting it. “I doubt it.”
I stuff my hands into my pockets and wait.
“You can move along now,” Knox says, as if he’s the one in control here. “We aren’t done here, and this doesn’t concern you.”
Even if I wanted to leave, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. I shrug. “I don’t think so. I like standing here.”
Poet’s eyes widen the barest fraction. I wonder if she remembers. I waited for her outside the med wing when her friend was recovering. Despite every reason I should keep my distance, I wanted to make sure she was okay.
She laughs.
Fuck, it’s the most beautiful sound.
“What’s going on?” Knox demands. “What’s funny?”
Poet rolls her eyes, and I don’t know why I like that so much.
She tells Knox where to stuff it, and then she storms off. Good girl.
A moment later, I’m left alone with this asshole.
He spins around, glares, and opens his mouth like he’s about to say something else.
I cock my head and study him.
“Yes?” I ask.
Then he huffs and walks away.
I make sure he can hear it when I laugh.