Jack
Stunned.
Silence.
Well, from the triplets at least.
Chiara didn’t look too surprised by my announcement. She simply gazed out the window, eyes unfocused. I think part of her had known.
The brothers, however? Slack-jawed. Their shock palpable.
After a few minutes of mouths hanging open, Dante let out a long hissing breath. “Didn’t see this conversation landing with our father, to be honest. So you’re saying Chiara is a medium who is channeling messages from Cesare? I’m not sure I’m buying it.”
“And are we convinced Chiara has a GUT? The evidence we have is circumstantial at best.” Tennyson shot a glance at her. “Sorry, sis.”
I expected Chiara to smirk and make a cheeky remark. Instead, she continued to stare out the window.
“I see meaning in the patterns of birds.” Her voice soft. “I’ve always considered myself superstitious, but as I’ve thought about it, I’ve realized that my superstitions have almost always been right.”
Quiet.
“And the lightning?” Dante asked.
Chiara gasped, walking toward the window, still staring out. Sea gulls darted over the water.
“Change comes,” she murmured. “We must find power for the lightning.”
The scar in the corner flickered, edges fluttering open.
“That was a prediction,” I said. Every head swung my way. “The scar opened.”
“Power flowing from the shadow world.” Branwell let out a slow breath.
“Lightning? Again, why lightning?” Dante muttered. “I haven’t heard this much talk about lightning since Babbo died.”
“That might just be the point,” I muttered.
Chiara turned back to us, her eyes automatically seeking mine. Her expression so lost, so haunted.
“What?” Dante said, looking between us. “What was that look?Isthis about Dad?”
“Do they know? About your father’s death?” I forced her to hold my gaze.
“No,” said so softly.
“They deserve to know.”
“Why? It . . . it’s old news.”
“If it’s still affecting the present—and possibly the future based on what you keep predicting—then it’s not.”
“Spill, you two.” Dante motioned with his fingers. “No secrets with this.”
“Tell them, Chiara.” My eyes held a promise—I would be there to catch her should she fall.
She swallowed and bit her lip, eyes blinking rapidly. She turned away from us all, staring at theFrozenposter.
“Chiara—” Tennyson began.
