Page 51 of The Souls Harvest
At that, she smiles but with a hint of sadness. “A favour. I know I’m not in a position to ask for one. You can throw it away should you wish. But I hope you’ll give it at least a chance.”
I look down at the brass key now resting in my palm. “Surely it won’t hurt me more than you and Roden have already done,” I mutter with a shrug.
“He doesn’t need to know. Nobody does. Please.” She retreats to her desk.
I stare at her back for a long second before moving towards the door. But something is trailing behind me, the nagging thought that - maybe - I didn’t get everything straight.
I glance at Popplewish over my shoulder. She’s leaning over her desk, her fingers twitching as if trying to hold back her thoughts while she stares at the painting on the wall.
This is not right.With my hand already on the doorknob, I turn onmy heels, slamming the door frame with frustration, “He’s just a person; he cannot control us—”
When she takes a deep breath, I hope—I genuinely hope…
But she proclaims as if reading a script, “We have to be grateful. We are his creatures. If it wasn't for him—”
“I would have probably still left my parents and made a better life for myself. I didn’t ask to be taken away orsaved,” I snap. “You don’t know what could have happened if I hadn’t let Roden trainmygift. I mean, am I not just about to go to Horigos to kill someone who’s been living a perfectly normal existence despite ourfuckingtalent? Despite Roden being completely, utterly absent from his life? No frenzy, no violent episode. Has this poor bastard ever tried to steal a soul for the pure pleasure of it?”
A big sigh. “Roden explained that—”
“What? That this Rogue may be behind a group of rebels capturing his precious souls? An assumption! We are following his orders based on freaking assumptions. Where are all these enemies ready to destroy our people? Galen and I have been to Horigos hundreds of times and never felt threatened.” I look at the hand I’ve just raised as if I could grab her shoulder from a distance and force her to look at me. My chest heaves.
“Explaining that is not my duty. I’m sorry, July.” Her voice is so fucking calm.
“Explain this then—Why have I never heard of a Rogue running after Horigeans to eat their souls? Am I so fucking brilliant that I truly catch them before shit happens? Tell me, did you ever see oneof these mythical creatures?”
Popplewish’s shoulders drop, her fingers scratching so hard on the desk that I wouldn’t be surprised to see marks on its surface. “That. Is. Not something you want to see…”
I cock my head as if she could see my reaction even with her back turned.
“I can take it.”
She is shaking visibly, but her voice still demonstrates restraint when she says, “Don’t ask for truths you may regret knowing.”
“Why?”
She spins on her heels so fast I back against the door. Her face is pale, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Because the more you know, the more your arrangements with Roden will change.” Her breath catches in her throat.
“My deal is with the Chapter—”
“Our time is over...” Her eyes pierce me, imploring me to stop. I’m dismissed.
But is it fear I read in her eyes?
I look down at my shoes, defeated. The marble floor is so shiny beneath me that I can almost see my reflection, like on my first day in Libera when Miss P. let me sit in one of her beautiful armchairs and offered me vanilla biscuits. She held my hand for so long that day while I cried until my tears ran dry. I missed my home—even my parents, a little—and had experienced the surreal journey from Horigos to Libera for the first time. I was shocked and nauseated.
My stomach is churning, like years ago, but for a differentreason. And I doubt vanilla biscuits would help.
Popplewish speaks again softly, “Promise me you’ll come to me for any questions. Don’t go scavenging on your own. I know you don’t trust me anymore but...please, do not put your faith in anyone who may promise you an easy way out of this deal.”
“Thatwill be a problem. Misplaced faith is my speciality, apparently.” I hold her gaze, forcing myself to sound final, adding, “After this mission, I want you to erase my memories. I want to start from scratch—no rebels, no deals, no Rogues…” I take a deep breath, “And if it doesn’t go well—”
“Nothing will happen to you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re right, but I know you.”
I mumble something, maybe a stupidthanks,and she smiles. But I’m not ready to return the feeling.
