“What’s the Silent Dance?” I lean over to ask Danielle.
“Oh, it’s simple,” she assures. “You’ll catch on fast. Basically, everyone will grab a partner, doesn’t have to be romantic, the dance is about the emotional connection. Each person holds their hands behind their back. The point is to highlight the link between two souls beyond the physical realm.”
“There’s no music?”
“No. Just the dance. Oh, eye contact is important.”
“Sounds intimate.”
“It is, but it goes beyond attraction. That’s why it’s not only for couples. You see, here in the Infinite Sea Territories, we believe we are a soul in a body. Our physical form is simply the vessel. That’s why we put so much emphasis on soul binding before the wedding ceremony.”
“I love that,” I reply with a sincere smile. There’s something comforting about the idea that the body is just a vessel. It’s what being reborn felt like. I was still me and yet, more.
“Let the dance begin,” Zaro announces with the clap of his hands.
I expect to see Danielle go for Ion, but she heads straight for Damien, instead. When I see Ion pair up with Nio, it really drives home the idea that the meaning of this dance is far deeper than any I have experienced.
“May I have this dance?” I whirl around to find Ryder bowing with his hands bound behind his back.
“You may,” I answer with a curtsey, securing my own hands behind me.
I watch Danielle closely, following her move for move. When I glance back at Ryder, I notice he already knows the steps. I think about asking him how he learned, but no one is speaking. I guess the silence applies to not only the music. It takes me a few more tries before I finally get the movements down.
Thankfully, Danielle was right. They are simple. At first there’s a bit of awkwardness and I want to pull my gaze from Ryder’s, but I don’t. After a little while it starts to feel nice. It is intimate, but not in the way I’m used to. The longer we stare into each other’s eyes, it’s as if the world begins to melt away. Eventually, I don’t notice anything but his icy blue eyes that used to seem so distant and cold but now feel like a beacon. Calming me in the chaos. Comforting me in the currents of life. They’re the eyes I search for in a room full of people. The ones I see right before falling asleep.
As we dance, we no longer feel like two separate people. It’s like we’ve merged into one. I can hardly feel my legs moving beneath me anymore. There’s no thought to the steps or awareness to the others around us. There’s only this invisible string that seems to be connecting our two souls.
I don’t even notice when everyone stops. It’s like I’m in a trance that I can’t shake. It’s not until Amaya puts her hand on my shoulder that I’m pulled back to reality.
“Damn, you guys were really locked in!” she says with a proud smirk.
I still feel like I’m in a daze. Like I’m not back in my body. And I’m not sure I want to be.
“So, what did you guys think of it?” Danielle asks as her and Zane join us.
“I thought it was awesome!” Zane quickly answers. “I think I blacked out for a moment.”
“It really did feel like that!” Amaya adds.
“And you, Reign? What did you think?”
“I think I’m still recovering,” I admit with a lighthearted laugh.
“Honestly, same,” Zane agrees, slipping his hand into Amaya’s.
“Well, don’t worry. The Soul Cleansing Ceremony is going to snap you guys right back.” She flashes us all a devious look before skipping off towards Ion and Damien.
“What do you think she means by that?” Zane asks suspiciously.
“I think we’re about to find out.”
Chapter 58
Ryder
Asimple dance was all it took to change me forever. I’ll never be the same. Not after that. No amount of time will stop me from remembering what it felt like to be intertwined with her soul. For so long I have yearned for the physical connection, but nothing will ever compare to the feeling of our two souls merging with one another.
“Let’s begin the Soul Cleansing Ceremony!” Nio announces, gathering everyone around again. “As my brother and Anthony immerse themselves in the Infinite Sea, their souls will be cleansed and renewed, allowing them to start their new life together.”
