Page 61 of Catalyst

“Shin? Are you okay?” Callie said, her voice far rougher than it ever deserved to be.

My pulse spiked, and I pressed a hand to my chest as if that could calm my heart.

“You call me every day,” I said, not wanting my concern to bleed into her. “It’s rude to not keep your plans.”

“I’m sorry.” Her covers rustled as she shifted around. “I was going to, I promise. I just–”

“Are you home alone?”

“Jace is here.”

My eyes rolled at the mention of the Rossi boy. Jace had exactly two brain cells, and instead of working together, they were in a fight to the death.

“He is anidiot, where’s Kane?”

Her breath hitched, and suddenly, the air around me felt denser. Like I was trying to breathe maple syrup.

“Calista, where’s Kane?” My knuckles blanched as I gripped my phone far harder than I should of.

“Work.” She said, voice shaking.

“I’m coming over.” A sharp pain stabbed through my knees as I forced myself to stand, phone nestled between my shoulder and cheek. “Do you have medicine? Are you hungry? Thirsty?”

“Shin, you don’t have to–”

“Ah, ah, ah.” I tsked, my brow lowering at her protest. “I am your family. You are sick. It is my job to take care of you.”

She sighed. Why did my son have to pick such a difficult woman? Had no one taken care of her? Obviously not. That’s why she had no manners when it came to this subject.

“Well? Do you need anything?” I snapped.

“I–I don’t think so? I have water, and I think we have more medicine.”

“Think? Callie, you need to know. What if you need more in the middle of the night and I’m not awake to help? I’m coming over.”

Her protest was immediate, but her voice was far too rough for me to listen. “Shin, please. You don’t need to—”

“We are not doing this–the boys may let you do whatever you want, but I know what’s best. I will be there in half an hour, don’t move until then.”

I hung up before Callie could argue with me. Shoving the phone in my pocket, I made a mental list of everything she could need.

Callie had been fevered every time I’d seen her, and if it was making her too sick to function, I needed to know. Maybe, if I could do enough, her pregnancy would end differently than Eun’s.

The world outside Sulien’s apartment was cold and dreary, the kind of weather that made my joints hurt. Gianna had warned me that it’d be best for me to stay home, but that woman never thought about anything she couldn’t see in a mirror.

I reached into the passenger seat, grabbing the paper bags full of supplies. The weight pressed into my hands as I marched to the security door. In the past, Sulien would either greet me or prop the door open. Either action would have resulted in Callie being in trouble. I glared at the steel for a moment before sitting the bags down.

Carefully, I removed the makeshift gloves covering my palm, thumb, and pinky. With my hand uncovered, I placed it flat against the door—an orange glow formed under my hand, one that spread as the metal became malleable. After a minute, my hand pushed through the obstacle as if it had been made of wet tissue paper. I patted around for a moment to find the doorknob before twisting it open with two fingers. It groaned open, and I readjusted my gloves before picking up my bags and trotting inside.

The disgusting carpet softened my steps. The boys really let her live here? Shameful. When I reached the door, I knocked. Jace was home, and the least he could do was let me in. I didn’t want to make this place any less safe than it already seemed.

Just as I poised myself to knock again, it opened. A scowl twisted my features as I realized Callie hadn’t listened to me. She was wrapped in a blanket, a thin sheen of sweat caused her hair to stick to her face.

“Why are you up?” I pushed myself into the apartment. At least the place was clean.

“I–you knocked.” She protested.

“What if it had been someone dangerous? Where’s Jace?” I plopped the bags on a table near the entryway.

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