The Calling Quotes

“Remembering. Forgetting. I'm not sure which is worse.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“Maybe my expectations for honesty are too high.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“When you accept a leadership role, you take on extra responsibility for your actions toward others.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I'd always thought of myself as an open-minded person. I had no patience with anyone who put down other kids because of their race, religion, or sexuality. But that's just one kind of open-mindedness. There's another kind, too, the kind that's willing to see people for who they really are and admit when you were wrong about them. That's the part I still need to work on.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“Yes," I said "You were saved by a girl. Horrible, isn't it?"
He slid out and looked down at my bare legs. "Not just a girl, but a half-naked one. Now that's hot. If I'm still unconscious, don't wake me, okay?”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“It's a road!"
I patted his back." It's a lovely road. Now which way do we go?"
Corey looked one way, the brown ribbon extending into emptiness. He looked the other way, saw the same thing and his shoulders slumped.
"Damn.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“His gaze travelled down me, then zipped back to my face. "Sorry."
"Focus, Rafe."
"I am. Just on the wrong thing.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I'm just saying it's not time for that either. We need to focus and having Maya moon over Rafe is making everyone uncomfortable."
Rafe grinned. "Doesn't bother me.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“It's a road," Corey said, pointing.
"A dirt road," Hayley muttered.
"So? We've been slogging through the forest for two days. What do you want? A six-lane highway?”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“And unless I'm remembering it wrong, mermaids don't sing and sirens don't swim."
"Ariel sang in 'The Little Mermaid'," Corey said.
Sam came over to join us. "Do I even want to know why you remember her name?”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I understood that now. I wished I could have understood it then. I wished I could have said something in that last moment, before he let go.
He'd told me it was okay. His last words to me.
Why couldn't they have been my last words to him?”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“When you accept a leadership role, you take on extra responsibility for your actions toward others. If you shun someone, the effect will trickle down through those who value your opinion.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“ "Maya..."
"Where are you?" I called.
"Over here. I'm..." A sharp intake of breath. "Hurt."
"Okay, stay where you are. I'm coming."
I broke into a jog. Only no matter how fast I ran, his scent and his voice didn't get any stronger. I kept going until I tripped over a root and hit the ground hard.
"Maya..."
"Just—"
"Maya? Is that you?"
I pushed to my feet, wincing as I flexed my stinging hands. "I'm—"
"Maya! I need you."
His voice seemed to come from all around me. I spun, trying to pinpoint it, but he kept yelling, more panicking with every shout, my own panic rising until I flung myself forward—
Hands grabbed me and yanked me back. For a moment, all I saw was the darkness of night. Then it fell away, dawn light filtering through the trees, and I was standing in front of Daniel, his fingers wrapped around my wrist. Kenji was beside me, whimpering.
"Maya—"
"I have to go," I said, wrenching from his grasp. "It's Rafe. He's out here. He's hurt and..."
...
My eyes filled with tears.
"I—" I swallowed. "I—"
Daniel took both my wrists and turned me to face him. "You were sleepwalking, Maya."
"It just...I could hear Rafe and he was hurt and I was trying to get to him and—" My breath hitched. "It seemed real."
Daniel pulled me into a hug and I let myself collapse against his shoulder.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I had no patience with anyone who put down other kids because of their race, religion, or sexuality. But that’s just one kind of open-mindedness. There’s another kind, too, the kind that’s willing to see people for who they really are and admit when you were wrong about them.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“And, while I might be enjoying this--” He lifted his hand, which was still clasping mine. “I know it’s as temporary as a love spell. Give it a few hours and she’ll hate me again.”
“Hate’s a strong word,” I said.
“Strong emotion is better than indifference.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I…I still--”
“Can’t believe it?” Rafe shrugged. “I’m guessing a regular person wouldn’t have survived. But we’re part cat so maybe falls aren’t so bad. I think I lost one of my nine lives though.” He twisted to look at the stab wound. “Maybe two.”
I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him, and when I did, I knew he was real--the heat of him, the smell of him, the feel of him, the taste of him so incredibly real that it surpassed anything my memory could conjure up. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me back, and it was like every other amazing kiss he’d given me, multiplied ten-fold. I kissed him until I couldn’t breathe, and then I kissed him a little more, until I had to pull back, gasping.
“I have got to die more often,” he said. And he grinned, that incredible blaze of a grin that made me kiss him again.
When we finally pulled apart, he brushed his palm over my still-damp cheeks.
“Your parents are okay, Maya,” he murmured. “They’ve just left. The whole town left.”
“I know. That’s not…” I stepped back, out of his arms, and looked over at the fallen tree. “I came out here and I saw that, and I remembered us…You…”
He looked startled and…something else I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but definitely startled, like he hadn’t ever thought I’d be crying over him.
“I dreamed you were alive,” I said. “You were calling me and you needed help, and I wanted to go but…” I swallowed. “It didn’t make sense. I told myself you couldn’t be, so I didn’t, and I’m sorry if--”
“You wouldn’t have found me, Maya. If I called you, it was only in my dreams, when I was out cold. I never expected you to come after me. I should be dead.” He tugged me into his arms. “I’m just really, really glad I’m not.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“Angst. Fear. Stark, gut-twisting terror. It didn’t make for an easy sleep.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“The interior looked like I expected. Two rooms--a main one and a tiny bedroom. Dusty stuffed fish and moth-eaten elk heads on bare walls. A wood plank floor that seemed as if it hadn’t been swept in years. Cobwebs decorating the ceiling. Furniture that would have been rejected by Goodwill. Mouse droppings everywhere. A few dark furry bat forms hung from the upper eaves. In the city, the place would have been condemned as a public health hazard. Here, it was just a typical hunting shack.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I saw a road,” I blurted as Daniel rounded a bend in the path, Sam right behind him. “There’s a road down there. I think there’s a cabin, too.”
“What?” Corey brushed past Daniel and Sam. “A house? You saw a house?”
Hayley barreled forward. “There’s a house? Where?”
I took a deep breath. “I think I saw a cabin. Whether there’s anyone in it or not--”
“Who cares?” Corey said. “It’s civilization. Let’s go.”
He broke into a jog, and his knee gave way. I managed to catch him before he fell.
“The only place you’re going is flat on your ass,” Daniel said. “Slow down. Even if it is a cabin, it’s not going anywhere.” He turned to me and I could tell he was struggling to play it cool. “You said there’s a road?”
“I did. That part I’m sure of. And where there’s a road, there are people. In theory."
The grin burst through. “In theory.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“ "I...I still—"
"Can't believe it?" Rafe shrugged. "I'm guessing a regular person wouldn't have survived. But we're part cat so maybe falls aren't so bad. I think I lost one of my nine lives though." He twisted to look at the stab wound. "Maybe two."
I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him, and when I did, I knew he was real—the heat of him, the smell of him, the feel of him, the taste of him so incredibly real that it surpassed anything my memory could conjure up. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me back, and it was like every other amazing kiss he'd given me, multiplied ten-fold. I kissed him until I couldn't breathe, and then I kissed him a little more, until I had to pull back, gasping.
"I have got to die more often," he said. And he grinned, that incredible blaze of a grin that made me kiss him again.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“We splurged in the gift shop, buying hoodies. Then we split up to buy the ferry tickets, and didn’t reunite until the boat left the harbor.
We stood on the back deck, watching our island fade into the mist. When it disappeared, I took out the notes from Rafe again and reread the second page--details on the subjects who’d escaped. Rafe had added notes at the bottom, about a real contact his mother had given him.
He might know more, he’d written. Find him. Then find them.
“Find them,” I whispered, shaking my head. “How do we find them if the St. Clouds can’t?”
Daniel put his arm around my shoulders as we leaned over the railing, cold mist spattering our faces, our island long vanished. “We try.”
I leaned against him and nodded. Try. That was all we could do. And we would.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“We ditched the car in one of the big shopping plazas in Nanaimo’s north end. From there, we’d hop a city bus to the ferry. Before that, though, I found a pay phone. I put in my money and dialed my grandmother’s number in Skidegate.
It rang four times. I knew the machine was going to pick up, and as I waited, I considered what I’d say. I had to make sure she knew it was me, not some ghoul pretending to be her dead granddaughter. I couldn’t give any information about where I was. I just wanted to get a message to my parents that I was okay. I imagined what would happen then. I imagined them confronting the St. Clouds, demanding to know where I was, accusing them of lying and threatening to call the authorities.
I imagined how the St. Clouds would react to that.
My grandmother’s voice invited me to leave a message. I closed my eyes and listened to her. As I hung up, I whispered “I love you.” Then I went back to the guys.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“According to the notes, some of the kids had problems. So they locked them up in a group home. The kids figured out why they were there and escaped. And apparently came back and destroyed the laboratory, killing Dr. Davidoff and several others.
“Why can’t we do that?” Corey said.
“Because we don’t know where to find anyone,” I said. “Even if we did, we aren’t ready for that.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“As supernatural types went, that seemed weird, and I suspected there was more to it. According to the notes, some of the kids had problems. So they locked them up in a group home. The kids figured out why they were there and escaped. And apparently came back and destroyed the laboratory, killing Dr. Davidoff and several others.
“Why can’t we do that?” Corey said.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“It’s about the experiment that went wrong. Project Genesis. Details of what happened.”
“And what happened?” Corey said.
I had to finish reading the first page before I could answer. Then I explained. As we’d guessed, Project Genesis was another experiment with genetically modified supernaturals. Only these ones seemed to be normal types. Well, “normal” in the sense that we’d heard about them before. Witches, sorcerers, half-demons, werewolves, and something called necromancers.
“I’ve seen them in video games,” Corey said. “They control the dead.”
“Zombies?” I said.
“Right.”
As supernatural types went, that seemed weird, and I suspected there was more to it. According to the notes, some of the kids had problems. So they locked them up in a group home. The kids figured out why they were there and escaped. And apparently came back and destroyed the laboratory, killing Dr. Davidoff and several others.
“Why can’t we do that?” Corey said.
“Because we don’t know where to find anyone,” I said. “Even if we did, we aren’t ready for that. They had help. A father and an aunt who’d been in on the experiments.”
“So what happened?” Corey asked. “And what does this have to do with us?”
I read the second page. Then I told him.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“So you rescued us on your own?” Corey said.
“Yes,” I said. “You were saved by a girl. Horrible, isn’t it?”
He slid out and looked down at my bare legs. “Not just a girl, but a half-naked one. Now that’s hot. If I’m still unconscious, don’t wake me, okay?”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I was still tugging my shirt down as I opened the back doors of the van. A thump sounded from within. Then, before I could even see inside, Corey said, “Don’t! It’s Maya.”
I flung open the door to see Corey holding Daniel by the back of the shirt. In one hand, Daniel held what looked like a shard of metal. He let out a relieved sigh and dropped it.
“How’d you know it was me?” I said.
Corey shrugged. “Good guess.” His gaze shunted to the side, and I knew it wasn’t a guess at all.
No time to ask.
I looked in the van. I couldn’t see anyone else, but I looked anyway.
“Rafe’s not here,” Daniel murmured. “They must have taken him with Sam and Kenjii.”
“So you rescued us on your own?” Corey said.
“Yes,” I said. “You were saved by a girl. Horrible, isn’t it?”
He slid out and looked down at my bare legs. “Not just a girl, but a half-naked one. Now that’s hot. If I’m still unconscious, don’t wake me, okay?”
I rolled my eyes and waved them out, then went to find the rest of my clothing.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“Don’t startle her,” Dr. Inglis said.
“Don’t startle--?” he squeaked. “That--that’s a mountain lion.”
“She has the birthmark. It’s Maya.”
“I don’t care. It’s a goddamned mountain lion.”
“I know. Isn’t she beautiful? A young cougar in perfect physical condition. Did you see that leap? She must have been riding on the roof earlier. She climbed the tree to get on it. Do you know what that means?”
“Do I care what that--?”
“She planned this. There’s no loss of cognitive function. She’s an intelligent young woman in the body of one of the world’s finest predators. This is what we’ve been working toward. This is everything we’ve dreamed--”
I pounced.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“Go on, Maya,” he said, words slurring. “Remember what we said. Only one has to get away.”
“Then it’ll have to be Rafe or Corey. I’m not leaving--”
“They got Rafe and Corey. You know they did. Go.”
I shook my head. “I won’t.”
“One of us has to get away.” He managed to look up at me, his eyes so unfocused I knew he couldn’t see anything. “Please, Maya. Go.”
He dropped then, a dead weight, falling on his side. I could hear a team coming.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’ll make it up to you.” I bent and kissed Daniel’s cheek. Then I left.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling

“I’m fine,” he said. “Just a little woozy. Must not have gone in deep enough.”
I scanned the ridge, and I caught a flicker of light reflecting off metal.
“Sharpshooter,” I whispered. “But you can’t do that with tranq darts.”
“These people can resurrect extinct supernatural races, Maya,” Daniel whispered. “I think their technology goes a little beyond the norm.”
“Right. Okay.” I took a deep breath. “Follow me.”
I started crawling through the brush. I’d gone only a few steps when I realized Daniel wasn’t behind me. I turned to see him on his stomach, blinking hard.
“Nope,” he said. “It went in deep enough.”
I scrambled back to him.
“Go on, Maya,” he said.
“No.”
Ignoring his arguments, I tried to lift him, arm over my shoulders. When that failed, I tried dragging him from the bushes, pleading with him to help me, to just get himself a little ways away from where he’d fallen, please just a little ways. But he was almost unconscious, fighting just to keep his head up.
“Go on, Maya,” he said, words slurring. “Remember what we said. Only one has to get away.”
“Then it’ll have to be Rafe or Corey. I’m not leaving--”
“They got Rafe and Corey. You know they did. Go.”
I shook my head. “I won’t.”
“One of us has to get away.” He managed to look up at me, his eyes so unfocused I knew he couldn’t see anything. “Please, Maya. Go.”
He dropped then, a dead weight, falling on his side. I could hear a team coming.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’ll make it up to you.” I bent and kissed Daniel’s cheek. Then I left.”
― Kelley Armstrong, The Calling