Page 32 of The Souls Harvest
“It’s just your soul, child. It’s resounding with mine.” He explains as if I’m supposed to understand. And oddly—I feelsafe.
But you kept me here like a pris—
He flashes a cold smile at me, and my chaotic thoughts go silent again.
But this time, some sort of recognition lingers; even if I’m drowning, Roden will always allow me one big breath before I get too dangerously close to death.
We sigh simultaneously.
Our chests rise and fall in unison.
“I think you are ready now.” He turns and touches his fingers to the side wall. “To the Chapter, please”.
“Roden?”
He hums in response and taps the floor twice with the end of his golden-crowned cane. The doors slide shut without a sound,and the lift starts upwards.
“Yes, July?”
Not ‘his child’ anymore?
I hesitate, studying the tip of my shoes as though I’ve just discovered I have feet. “Will I remember these last few hours after the Chapter has finished with me?” I wait for that familiar and dreadful sense of forgetfulness to embrace me again. But it doesn’t come.
When I look up, Roden is studying me the way adults do when children ask, ‘Why doesn’t the sun fall,andcan frogs fly?’
“That depends on you, of course.”
The lift seems to ascend endlessly until it abruptly halts, its doors open, and white light envelops me with wisps of smoke that curl around my legs and waist. Within its milky mist, I hear voices - talking, singing, crying - but their words are unintelligible.
“Earlier, you saw their faces. This is how I listen to them.” Roden’s voice is smooth and calm.
“Nistarei.” My lips barely move, and I can’t stop staring at the light.
Within the compact misty mass are minuscule floating dots of brighter light, so shiny and inviting that I can’t stop myself from stretching a hand towards them. But all I experience is a sharp pain when Roden hits my fingers with his cane.
“Curiosity is not just the cat’s enemy, Miss Crimson. We are not there yet. Be patient becauseup-up-up we go again,” he croons, and his voice trails while he repeats that line a few more times.
Once more, the thoughts in my head turn light and thin becausethey do not matter.
I don’t matter unless Rodenallows it.
Chapter 17 - The Chapter
July
We restart our journey inside the lift, whose doors are so shiny I can see Roden’s reflection in them, watching my every move while he taps a finger on the head of his walking stick—a knot of silver and golden, intertwined threads, protecting a purple stone.
I notice we’ve come to a halt only when the doors open, revealing an oval hall made entirely of marble, with sleek walls lined by darkened windows. A space that smells like…
Emptiness.
“Ah, perfect timing.” Roden clicks his tongue and smiles at a petite young woman, dressed like she has to attend a ball, who appears on our left, carrying a bundle of papers too thick for her delicate arms.
“Mr Breith, they’re ready for you in room thirty-nine,” she chimes, with the voice of a bird.
“Many thanks, Theresa. How many years has it been since I offered you this role? You can call me Roden,” he purrs.
I shiver as if shaking off maggots crawling up my back.
