Page 67 of The Souls Harvest
In the background, someone rushes to one of the phones, and a bottle rattles in the distance, followed by Nik’s voice, “Sorry, Lily, I didn’t mean to leave you out. I just didn’t have time. I’ll explain on our way to Horigos - if we make it, in one piece - I swear…”
“I’m good. No need. If Evelyn says Lorne is with us, I believe her.”
Silence, again. This time, from my side.
“Fine. Move carefully, I’m sure the night isn’t over yet. If you find them, don’t look for me; take the first pod to the continent.” I cut the conversation short.
“Will do,” Lily confirms before her phone goes silent.
“Stay safe, Eve.” Nikrah hangs up right after.
The phone drops from my hand onto my desk.
I wrap a woollen shawl around my shoulders, and I pace to the window, opening it to let in the truth ofourmiscalculation—the blast of hot air and flying stones hit me a few seconds later, and I falter, covering my eyes before dropping to my knees.
When everything seems to freeze, I reach for the windowsill with one hand and pull myself up to witness the wall of smoke and mist left by the sudden explosion. A dense orange fog turns the shade of muddy water as the rain touches it.
Beyond that, only a mass of stone, once strong and proud, and terrified voices trying to find their way out through darkness and smoke. Hundreds of them.
“It is all in your capable hands now,” I say to the dark sky.
My eyes fill with tears when little blue lights appear in the sky, dropping luminous tails like falling stars, one by one, as if following a precise order.
Chapter 28 - What Hurts the Most
July
There is no other way to cross through the Grace Wards except by wearing special gear. During the journey, our bodies shrink, flex, and plump back to their original form on the other side, and regular clothes cannot survive the journey.
It's not the best feeling, and honestly, it’s a bit gross to watch, but you get used to it after a while.
Also, only two Harvesters can cross in the same pod, as their chemical balance would not survive the process, and produce horrible results upon arrival. Nobody wants two heads or having to pee from an extra mouth on their forehead.
The Grace Wards dividing our Worlds are subtle and thin, but strong enough to bounce you back if you don’t follow the protocol.
At least, this is what I believed in—until today.
I approach Tabitha hesitantly. “I appreciate your help, but we can’t cross all together. We’re one Harvester too many. Unless—” I consider the pod floating on the water behind her, pressing my lips together and arching my brows at the very old, overused, andsurelynot licensed... thing.
Tabitha raises a thick eyebrow, mirroring me. “Oh, hell no! I’m not planning to stay behind and let you kids make the crossing alone.”
“That’s not what I was— ”
“Do you have an alternative? By all means, run back to Daddy Roden and ask if we can borrow his very own bloody pod.” She waves a hand, showing me the way back to the nightmare we’ve just left behind.
My heart sinks at the thought of returning there, and I lower my head, burdened by thoughts of the desperation of the past few hours.
As if reading my need for someone to take the reins from me and tell me everything will be fine, Tabitha moves towards me and lays a hand on my shoulder.
“Look, I came back to saveyou,not to give Roden and his pompous acolytes the privilege of carrying my dead body around the island like a trophy. I’m not a brainless martyr.” She glances behind me and adds with a smirk, “Even if I believe not much of the Chapter will remain after this glorious debacle—maybe just the ashes of their posh arses.”
The need to believe her pierces my chest with sharp claws.
“Why are you helping him?” I ask, unsure if I really want an answer while helping her slide open the pod's metal door—an egg-shaped cocoon that can command the Grace Wards to open and close.
Tabitha lowers Galen like a mother tucks her child into bed forthe night, and says softly, “Sometimes, you have to do what hurts the most to keep the people you love safe. Galen is a strong young man. He will make it through, or I will spank his little, back peach.”
A hint of a smile crosses Galen’s face, but I’m probably just imagining it.
