Page 138 of The Souls Harvest
“He’s getting strongerandcloser. Galen? Any hint of his mind trying to infiltrate yours—” Another, angrier blow rattles the building from its foundations. Books and picture frames fall off the shelves, carved inside the walls, and the tubular lights oscillate above us, threatening to comeoff their hinges.
We regroup on the landing, around Tabitha, who rolls up her sleeves and pulls up her silver hair in a tight bun, the dancing lights catching at the metal rings decorating her thin braids.
“This is where we go our separate ways,” she whispers the dreadful words between her teeth, biting them as if to make them less painful. “Say your goodbyes now.” Her eyes linger on July and Kris before considering the rest of us.
Mack walks up to me, but his attention is on someone else. “I don’t need much, only a change of clothes, better boots, my maps and notes. I can helpothersgather their essentials.”
I’m about to open my mouth. I know how distracted he can get if he is overwhelmed by too many tasks, especially if he is on his own and in a rush.
But Lucretia precedes me. “I don’t know the building; I don’t mind having a guide. Besides, I can’t go anywhere in this.” She runs her hands up and down her body, on her poor choice of clothes.
“You’ve never been anywhere but Libera, have you, Harvester?” I comment, causing, to my surprise, not her reaction, but Mack’s.
“We don’t call them that anymore, sis. Remember?” He nudges me with his elbow.
I scoff, intercepting Tabitha’s stern look. “Fine, do what you must, but meet us by the lake in thirty. You as well,” - I point at Mack - “I’m not making exceptions. If you’re late, you’re on your own. Hesitation doesn’t rhyme with war.”
Butfamilydoes, and he’s all that I have left.
“Yes, sir!” he asserts, bringing his fist to his heart before holdingout his hand to Lucretia, causing a brief moment of amusement among the rest of us.
But as soon as they disappear up the stairs to the bedrooms and the attic, where we store spare clothes and backpacks, the atmosphere becomes oppressive again.
Tabitha starts pacing across the small square space, her boots smudging the white marble floor with mud and dry soil.
“Are you sure going separate ways is the best option?” Galen asks.
“Unless you want to serve us all to Roden in one meal.” Tabs retorts with a sharpness that doesn’t belong to her. But I understand that the thought of my only child being alone and in danger would turn me into a snapping snake all the same.
“I’m sure Galen didn’t mean to sound rude. Or selfish. Or ungrateful. Or…”
“We get it, Nik. Now shut up and get our stuff ready. We need extra backpacks for July, Galen and Lucretia.” Lily chimes in, annoyed, before focusing her eyes on July, like little diamonds in a sea of black lava. “You can ask your million questions, I’m sure you have, later. And, please, if you need to give Kris aspecialgoodbye, do it quickly and away from us.”
Moved by the increasing tension, or just needing a quick reminder that I’m still alive, I snort a laugh. A loud one that sounds more like a bark.
“I’m so—I’m sorry.”
“Thank. You.” Kris drops his elbow on my shoulder, resting hishead on it. “We’re not dead yet. We’ve been here before…” In the corner of my eye, I see him staring at July as if she’s the only one in the room.
“We will make it to the other sideagain.” He proclaims with such hope, I’d kiss him if he had no stubble and softer breasts. He spins towards me, grabbing me by the shoulders and gently bumping my forehead with his. “I couldn’t ask for a better soldier to go on an adventure with. Let this battle be the last so we can celebrate properly with some of that mind-blowing blue concoction Mack brewed by accident.”
He then turns to Tabitha. “I’ll miss your attempts at cooking soups. I promise I’ll show you all the spots in the garden where Sable and I poured our portions since she’s been able to walk and conspire like an adult.”
The loud echo of Tabitha’s steps fills the space as she marches towards him, hugging and lifting him off the floor.
“Okay, you can put me down now. I won’t tell Mack I’m your favourite.”
As she lowers him down, Tabitha gently pats his face. “You stay alive.” She touches a finger to his nose, sniffing the same way Sable does, scrunching her nose like a giant bunny. “Move at night and stay underground as much as possible,” she orders, quickly glancing at me.
I nod a silentDon’t worry.
On the opposite side of the landing, Galen has been observing us in silence, leaning against the wall with his hands behind hisback. What he did to July only a few hours ago still burns in my mind. Even knowing that Roden was behind his odd behaviour, stitching up his leg, without anaesthetic, was cathartic enough.
“Are you not going to say ‘see you soon’?” I mumble.
He scratches his neck, considering, before pushing away from the wall to stomp towards me. But I meet him halfway, throwing my arms around him.
“Keep an eye on those two ladies,” I say against his neck.
