Page 84 of The Souls Harvest
“Because we have more important matters to discuss.” Galen’s voice draws my attention away from the stranger.
Heavy boots approach, followed by a resolute remark.“Ahem.”
“Yes, Mack?” both Galen and the stranger ask curtly.
A short, nervous laugh, then, “Sorry, knights in shining armour, I just wanted to say, well…Not that my barrier is something to be sorry for, but…”
I know what he’s trying to say, and turning my head toward the tall blur standing behind the stranger, I utter hoarsely, “It’s all right, Fumo. Apologies accepted.”
The hazy figure claps once, or so I believe, his movements are too quick and too energetic. “Amazing, she called me by my war name—she’s officially one of us. Welcome to New Hera, July Sofia Crimson!”
For a split second, everything and everyone seems to freeze.
“Aaaand—that’s my cue. I’m just. Going. Yes. I’ll be downstairsif you need me…Gone.” The Mack-mass seems to retreat towards what I think is the door.
“Good idea,” the stranger replies, huffing a laugh. So natural and so real it squeezes something inside my chest.
There are other people in the background, including Merya.
Galen, however, ignores them and sits next to me. “You need some rest. I’ll kick them out.”
I begin to smile, but a sudden, soft kiss on my cheek shuts down all my thoughts, but one. The memory of Roden’s hand on my cheek, back in the monitors room, flashes behind my eyes, unstable as if not receiving enough signal.How about I show you the truth?
Maybe it’s the lack of sight, maybe my body is completely drained, or perhaps my senses are all messed up.
Galen’s demonstration of affection makes my heart hammer in my chest, as if he’s never kissed me before.
And hearts only beat this fast in excitement—or fear.
Chapter 33 - The Pang of Life
July
“That pang you feel in your chest is not your heart failing. It is the life of a Harvester or Horigean running out of time,” Popplewish said while we sat at my mother’s living room table, the good one, made of crystal and white oak that she only used when we had guests.
“But I don’t want it. It hurts.” I was just a little girl who didn’t know anything about death. Only that it comes and takes away people and animals forever. But I was the one suffering every time and having nightmares after it’d happened, sometimes for weeks.
“It’s okay, dear. I will teach you how to turn that pain into strength and about the beauty of your gift.”
That was the moment my parents left the room without a word. I saw them again when they handed me my luggage and waved goodbye from their front door.
“You have a special heart, like mine, and many other people like you.” Popplewish had a book with her that day, and she opened it before me. “Have a look at this. Tell me, can you read, Sofia?”
I never liked that name; it didn’t feel likemine.
“Yes.” I lied. I was scared the nice lady would leave without me if she thought I wasn’t good enough.
My little fingers run across the lines, back and forth, tapping on the words. “We…ar…are…pr…pro-te…protrep…”
“Protectors. We are protectors of souls. Do you know what aprotectoris?”
I kept my eyes on the page, hoping to find the meaning there. But it wasn’t the word ‘protector’ that bothered me.
“What’s a soul?” I asked instead.
That was the first time I experienced a hug, a real one, not a cold pat on the head. Popplewish held me tight and only let go when I was ready to walk on my own, with her by my side.
I crack open my right eye, happy with the almost total absence of light because even the weakest ray of sunshine would split my head wide open. There’s a pounding discomfort behind my eyes, and my mouth is so dry I could drink water until I drown.
