Page 96 of The Souls Harvest
“A birthday?” Tabitha presses on.
I bite my lips, and my eyes fling open, resting on Galen’s familiar gaze. His bruises and cuts have been cleaned and stitched, and his skin has regained some of its natural, healthy tone.
“Do you remember your room? The colour of the walls…”
I know he’s trying to help, but any attempt to recall a past that I’m not even sure belongs to me feels like heavy rain hammering my head.
“No…”
“Your favourite toy?”
“No, I don’t…” I dig my nails into my palms to silence the soaring nausea.
I don’t even know who’s asking what anymore.
Galen gently cups my cheek, and I lean into his reassuring scent.
“Roden took all my memories,” I say in one breath.
Galen nods, letting go of my face and leaving a sudden cold patch on my skin, where his hands were until a second ago.
For a moment, I forgot Tabitha was still sitting next to me.
Again.I slowly turn to face her, this stranger who seems to know me more than I do.
“How many times has Roden asked me to bring him back, to makehimsuffer—Kris?Howdid I fail?” A sudden rush of sadness and longing burns inside me when his name touches my lips.
She doesn’t answer, but waits as if knowing I’m not done with my question.
How many times?I’m about to turn twenty-two. It’s not like I’ve completed so many missions that I forgot one or two.
My eyes widen, and Tabitha lowers her head.
My chest aches.
“How old am I?”
Galen’s hand reaches over my back, closing over my shoulder as if something terrible is about to happen, and he’s preparing to stop me if I decide to run away.
Tabitha slowly peels herself off the bench as if in the presence of a wild, scared animal ready to attack her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Galen asks without moving an inch away from me.
She smiles, pinning her silver mass of braids on top of her head and fanning the back of her neck. “It’s getting too hot for me outhere.” She addresses Galen, and they exchange some silent understanding for a moment.
Galen drops his hand from my shoulder, conceding to whatever unspoken request he read on Tabitha’s face. “I guess you’re right. It is better if this comes from me.” There is gravity in his voice.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” She hesitates a moment. I can feel her eyes on me.
I lift my head, shading my eyes from the sun rising behind her. She looks like a marble statue, solemn and imposing.
“Relax, I won’t punch him,” I shrug. “He still has a lot to answer for. But I need you to promise me something…”
Curiosity and the hint of a smile bloom on Tabitha’s face. “We can negotiate.”
“I am free to leave this place. Whatever the truth about me, whatever the consequences if I don’t follow Roden’s order. I want to pick my next path. Even if it turns out to be short—and my very last one.”
I’m not even sure what I’m referring to, but Tabitha seems to understand.
