Chapter 21 - Roofs and Chesterfield Chairs
July
I try to keep a relaxed, steady pace as I walk towards my building, but as soon as its main door closes behind me, I rest my back against it, one hand on my chest, waiting for my heart to slow down.
Us…
I could’ve picked any other excuse to change the subject—but, no, I had to mention that little word that makes our relationship grey and foggy.
I peel myself off the door, forcing my legs to take the stairs. I still have a few hours before my meeting with Popplewish, and I could use a change of clothes and a refreshed brain.
Perhaps, if I go to the library now, I may find it empty.
I don’t even know what kind of book I can pull off the shelves to while away some time.
Maybe a guide on Sector 43. I’ve only visited once, ages ago, and I never wandered the city unless I had to deal with my Nistares.
No matter how intrigued I was by the narrow alleys and dark corners, my crop was my first thought in the morning, and my last as I lay down for the night.
Besides, the air on Horigos doesn’t sit well with Harvesters. Roden always warns us that spending too long away from Libera could impact our abilities.
But this time is different—my Rogue is different. Not sure I should even call him that.
I thought I’d found a way out in that room with the Chapter.
Let me speak to him. I can convince him to follow me here and join us—I’d spoken with my heart out, only to face a living wall of harsh cruelty.
Bring his soul back to me whole or end him. I’m giving you more choices than other Harvesters ever had. Roden’s voice still rings, menacingly, in my ears.
I’m nearly out of breath when I finally reach my floor after jumping the stairs two at a time.
The long, empty corridor stretches before me, lined by a row of white doors to the left and tall windows to the right, exposed to the island’s south side.
The sun warms my face when I peer down to ensure Galen has gone and is not lingering outside my building.
I should be relieved when all I can see are bushes in early bloom, gently waving as the wind plays with them. But a sad smile tugs at my lips when I realise Galen listened to my request and didn’t follow me.
I rest my back against my door, breathing in some trace of normalcy, before stepping inside my tiny flat.
For the first time in my life, the narrow hall feels unfamiliar and cold, as if I don’t belong here.
The mess of dishes and glasses I left in the kitchen sink, the paintings on the walls - even the pile of shoes by the entrance - nothing screams my name.
An itchy feeling creeps up on me, forcing me to hurry up as I quickly collect random pens and a notepad from the kitchen table and head out.
Once outside, I ignore Roden’s face carved on the red brick wall and head straight for the back of the building. It’s a longer way to the library but less crowded than the main streets, where bakeries and other shops attract people from all parts of Libera during the weekends.
I lift my hood so it swallows my head completely, keeping my eyes on the path before me and checking my surroundings to avoid colliding with bikes, trees and people.
However, my mind is still overloaded, and my attention slips even if I try my hardest. When I hear steps behind me, it’s already too late.
A hand with perfectly painted nails lands on my shoulder. “Good morning, you,” Lucretia chirps in my ears.
And yet, today, the prickly feeling I experience in her presence doesn’t weigh like a ton of bricks on my head. It’s hard to admit—but I’m glad to see her still alive and more than capable of pouting.
“Lue, hey. What…are you doing here?” I don’t mean to sound rude, but being friendly now could make her suspicious. People like her may be shallow, but never gullible.
“I was looking for you, silly.”
“Me? Listen, if this is about what you saw earlier—”
She presses a finger to my lips before I can finish.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you really wish to know, I think Galen agreed to be my senior co-crosser.
” Her face brightens up as if soaking up all the sunlight.
“I just wanted to thank you. I don’t know what you did or said, but I’ve received a letter and an official call from Mr. Breith in person!
He told me to be prepared for a big change. Tonight! That can only be it.”
Her eyes gleam with excitement, and she seems genuinely happy, but I can’t hold back a laugh. “He what now?”
When her smile drops to a flat line, I try to fix what I’ve broken, if only to make her disappear. “I’m sorry, it’s just… Galen doesn’t need to tell me everything, but he rarely changes his mind.” I shrug.
The corners of her lips curve up as if my words were just background noise.
“Will you come and see us? They say you will always have a special bond with the person who guides you through your first crossing…But you don’t need to be jealous.
” She wrinkles her nose, and I have to restrain myself from laughing again.
“Sweetie,” I cringe at the sound of that word, but I know she thinks it’s lovely, “I have to go now, but I promise I’ll save the date in my calendar, deal?”
And that’s another word that will make me cringe from now on. Deal…
Lucretia nods so vehemently, I expect to see her head rolling off her neck.
She is still nodding when I move a couple of steps back to put some distance between us.
“Okay then, bye now…” I half smile, and only breathe when she finally spins on her heel and starts walking in the opposite direction.
I try to swat away the image of Lucretia and Galen crossing together in a pod so small you can’t avoid physical contact every time you move, but it stays with me until I reach the library.
I pick a small table in a corner, the surface of which is perfectly divided in two by a column of light pouring from a round ceiling window above my head—dust dances in front of me when I set my jacket on it.
Larger desks and tall shelves loaded with books dot the space around me and offer enough privacy for those who only seek silence. Some of the books are so old I don’t even dare look at them because I’m afraid their covers will turn to dust or be stained by my purple breath.
Unfortunately, the pleasant experience soon ends when the trilling voice of an exotic bird informs me that someone has messaged me, and makes me jump.
“Sorry…” I say to the empty room. I’m alone, and I think even the librarian only woke up this morning to open the building before returning to bed.
Meet me on the roof at 8 p.m. No fancy outfit. By the way, I told Lucretia I’d cross with her. Don’t be jealous. I have good reasons.
Another text.
Stop laughing.
I am.
The screen lights up again.
I’m serious; stop it!
I have no idea what Galen is planning or why he wants to meet me on the roof.
If there’s one thing we all know about Roden, it’s that he loves a nice rooftop. Every building has one: small or large, with chairs and benches, some with many plants. They’re there for people to relax, spend time with friends, and enjoy the always-clear sky of Libera.
But Galen and I have a special place, on top of one of the highest towers of the Castle—The Blind Wise.
A little square with just enough space for two or three people to admire the sky while sitting on hard, uneven stones imported from Horigos.
Away from the yellowish glare of lamp posts and houses, the roof offers the most enchanting view of the island and its evergreen hills that stretch towards the sea until they meet the coast in a dance of water and sand.
When I start toying with the idea that maybe Galen has organised something for our upcoming birthday, another message makes me swear under my breath. Apparently, its vibration is as aggressive as the stupid bird-ring.
Do not think the us-talk made me forget your unbelievable, reckless decision to return to Horigos so soon.
I sink into my chair and stare at the oval glass ceiling, a modern addition to the original turret.
Horigos and Libera share the same sky, but everything stops moving and stands still when it enters our reality.
We only have a few gulls and tiny birds, which fly so low we can touch them.
Even our clouds are odd. They have dull shapes, never a dragon cloud or a floating boat cloud.
Just white masses. Immobile. I can count and name them all because they have never changed since the day Popplewish brought me here.
But our sky turns dark purple at night and light blue in the morning—Horigos has not seen such a phenomenon in centuries.
I’m not a child of the Great Famine, and I don’t know how Horigos’ sky looked before those terrible years. But those who lived there before seeking refuge on Libera swear it was breathtaking, with a different shade of blue for each season, and pink and orange brushstrokes from dusk to dawn.
Now, Horigos’ sky is just a mass of dirty grey that only gifts its people with memories of its past beauty when it rains, and rays of a sickly violet hue bleed through its thick surface.
I blink before the sunlight blinds me for good, and straighten myself up. “Time to go…” I slam my hand on the desk to scare away the nagging feeling I’ve had since I met the Chapter—tell Galen what happened the night before and ask him to run away with me.
But where? And who says he will follow me?
I will never forget you, Sof…
But he already has, if only a tiny part of me.
Miss P.’s door opens slowly, soundlessly under the weight of my hand when I knock.
I peer inside, spotting her sitting in one of her Chesterfield armchairs, the most expensive and beautiful piece of furniture I’ve ever seen; a unique work of art she bought from an antique shop in Horigos when she was offered the role of Master Reaper.
“We can’t talk if you linger by the threshold. Come in, please.”