Soulseer ✔️ *COMPLETE*

Chapter Twenty-Six

The moment Galina's eyes lock onto mine, I feel a wave of cool, calm peace. Like the first Greeting I ever did with Sahar. And in a flash, I remember Sahar's words on the power of human connection: We Soulseers require it more, not less, with others who perceive as we do. Souls need other souls.

A memory of the pub springs up in my brain and soul, of the happy smiling faces of friends enjoying the company of others. I send it to Galina.

A slow smile blooms on her face as confidence flushes through her soul and into mine. She casts one single look around us, taking in our predicament, falling through a vast emptiness. Before I can feel even a hint of relief, we are gone from nowhere.

And just as suddenly, we crash back with everyone. The initial morgue-like silence is ruptured by the cacophony of a bar filled with cheering and great guffaws of laughter and relief.

I fucking did it.

+++

"Tell me everything!"

I would like to respond to Maia's demand but I'm thoroughly incapable right now. My physical body never left the pub's booth but my soul's efforts have left me hunched over the table. It's all I can do to keep my forehead from banging on the table. Even my jaw is sagging.

My eyes manage to find Galina, sitting beside me on the bench. Diarmid is practically wrapped around her, utterly absorbed in her every movement. She is oddly pert, her soul rippling like happy seaweed, flushed with the calm, warm tones of a serene joy.

How the fuck can she even hold her head up? Mine bobs towards the table top again and I barely catch it in time.

Standing beside Diarmid, Maia's amber eyes flit from face to face around the table. But neither Mohsin nor Ximena have a fucking clue what's happened and Diarmid's whole world is Galina right now. Maia zeroes in on me, her enormous soul rising up like an ocean swell. She's going to Soulsearch me. Fuck me.

The fear must hit my face- I think my soul is sunk so low it isn't visible to anyone - but Galina turns her bright-eyed smile to Maia.

"Is this the star's whenwhere or my thenthere?"

I'm relieved when I'm not the only one to stare blankly at Galina. The first firings of panic well up in me: what if our little adventure caused her to lose her marbles - completely?

But Galina forestalls any further questions by bringing her soul up to Greet Maia. And the anger and fear melt from Maia's face as she relives the ordeal and our safe return. The little bubble of a soul hiding behind my bum radiates gratitude at her. But I think that just sinks into the cushion.

I let my eyes close, resting my face in my palms. The gentle buffeting of Mohsin's calm soothes me.

"Breathe through it," Ximena whispers from across the table. This is one of the most comforting and empathetic things I've heard from her. I must look pretty shit right now to warrant that kind of attention but for the first time in a while, I've experienced success. Galina and I are both back. Feeling crappy as fuck actually seems worthwhile for a change.

I follow Ximena's advice and breathe.

In and out. Pause. In and out. Pause. I keep repeating it like it's a yoga exercise until Maia's voice breaks my nearly meditative state.

"Extraordinary."

Opening my eyes, I find that I can now hold my head up without the use of my arms. Moh and Mena have been Inflating me and I smile a thank you. But my soul is still a sad, pathetic blob behind me.