New World

Chapter Eleven

For that entire hour, Tiergan tried different phrases over and over, trying to penetrate Savi's blocking. Emery did as well, but so far, they couldn't even hear her thoughts. And her emotions were just as clouded. As an Empath and a Telepath, she had been working on hiding her emotion from detection. As an Empath, she could access other people's emotional centers, and apparently hers as well, and she worked telepathically to shroud them away the same way she would memories.

Soon, there were only ten minutes left and Savi was due to go for Inflicting any moment. Emery's face was scrunched up in concentration, but he didn't look like he'd expected anything anyway. After all, he couldn't even penetrate Sophie's blocking. Neither could Tiergan, but they were determined to try anyway. Tiergan even suggested that they call in Mr Forkle to try and get through Savi's blocking.

Tiergan and Emery stopped at the last five minutes. "Is there anyone you trust?" Tiergan asked finally.

"Completely?" Savi asked. "No."

"Any friends you trust even a tiny bit? Do you trust Sophie or Keefe, or Serena?" Tiergan pressed.

"I don't trust Seri, definitely not. I'm honestly not sure about Mom and Dad. I kind of trust Cerulean from school, but he's not a Telepath, he's a Hydrokinetic."

"You trust a Tsynis?" Emery demanded.

Since he was a Councilor, Savi decided to close one eye, but she wasn't going to allow him to keep making fun of her friend. "As a Councilor, I thought you would have a better understanding of unnecessary prejudice," she said, in the most formal tone she could manage, her eyes locked onto Emery's.

Emery stiffened. "I do understand bad matches, or Talentless, but I'm not sure if you know about-"

"Brant?" Savi interrupted coldly. "I hope you'll pardon my interruption. But I do know about Brant. And what does it matter? Cerulean is not Brant. They may come from the same family, but that's like saying I don't belong in the Lost Cities because my mother was raised by humans."

"That's different. Sophie was also raised by Grady and Edaline," Emery snapped.

"Yet the first twelve years of her life, she knew nothing more than human culture. Is Cerulean any different? I'm sure you've pressed his grandmother, Theodora, and know she has nothing to do with the Neverseen. Yet we are prejudiced against his family anyway," Savi stated boldly.

Emery chewed his lip, clearly trying to find some way to counter what Savi had said while still staying courteous. He looked over to Tiergan for help, but Savi's Telepathy Mentor looked like he wasn't sure whether to agree with Savi or Emery, which wasn't good exactly, but it was better than if he was immediately siding with Emery.

"I think," said Tiergan, "that Cerulean and any prejudices have nothing to do with Telepathy or Inflicting, so I really think you should get on to your next session, Miss Sencen."

"Oh. Um, sure. And you can just call me Savannah – or Savi."

Tiergan smiled a little. "We'll see."

"Miss Sencen?" Emery asked tentatively. "Be careful of Bronte. He's not exactly seeing you in the best light right now."

"I know that," Savi said. "I was there when he was yelling at my parents about an adequate punishment. I'll deal with B- Councilor Bronte. Anyway, I know his weakness."

"Weakness?" Emery asked, looking surprised. "What?"

Savi smirked. "Happiness."