by G. Bailey
"So these gobshites threw you in here without listening to the truth as well then, huh?" I ask her, pointing a thumb behind me at the twins. “I guess that’s to be expected from agents of the higher gods, but I would’ve expected better.” I struggle to keep my voice from sounding too condescending, but can’t help the smug satisfaction I feel when I see Killian and Seth bristle at my words
"You too?" she asks, looking vaguely surprised. She peers around me at the twins, looking utterly disdainful. "You guys really are shit at your job, aren't you?"
"You are both guilty," Seth bites out. “Just because we’re acting on a higher authority and you can’t understand that…” But his voice trails off as he realizes that everyone in the cell is staring at him. He exchanges a look with Killian, who just shrugs his shoulders, and then makes a frustrated noise. He throws his hands up, shaking his head, and seems to decide to ignore us instead, moving to sit in the corner of the cell like a stroppy child. Killian surprises me by coming to stand by my side. He’s obviously got more balls than his brother, although I’ve known that for a while now.
Killian crosses his arms tightly over his chest, staring at Jade for a long moment. He looks like he’s debating something, and finally he sighs, his shoulders dropping a little. "I have to admit,” he says finally, “I did wonder why I sensed a higher god’s magic at your apartment.”
“I told you,” Jade says.
“You were unconscious,” Killian continues, “which actually made no sense, now that I think about it. We were told you killed the girl, and I guess…” He sighs again. “I guess we just wanted the job over with so we could move on. I’m sorry we didn’t look into it further.” Just for that, he earns some brownie points in my books. It takes a lot to admit you are wrong about something. Only the best people do it.
Jade presses her lips together, seemingly trying to decide whether to let it go. “Well,” she says finally, “better late than never, I guess.”
"So how old was she?” I ask. “The girl who was killed? And who killed her, anyway?" I desperately want to understand why a higher god would go after a child. As much as they can be assholes, I would have thought even higher gods to be above killing children.
"Nelly was eight,” Jade replies, looking like she’s struggling to get the words out. The wind seems to have gone out of her sails, and I feel a pang of sympathy for her. “I was babysitting her for my best friend. She’s also a cat goddess, but she had to work - an uprising of tabby cats in New York, but that’s a longer story. She was like a sister to me, and Nelly might as well have been my niece. I certainly loved her like one.” Her voice breaks when she says this last part, and I see a couple of tears begin to run down her face. I have to resist the sudden urge to go over and hug her, not wanting to get my eyes clawed out. “Anyway,” she continues, her voice shaky, “the higher god turned up threw me across the room, and held me down with some kind of magic. I watched him stab a sword through Nelly’s chest like it was nothing. I was trying to fight the whole time, trying to save her, but I couldn’t do anything. He watched her die, and then he knocked me out. I woke up with chains around my wrists, and the next thing I knew, those two were blaming me for her death.” She nods in the direction of Killian and Seth, shooting the latter a dirty look. “I didn’t even get to tell my friend what happened to her child,” she says sadly. “I didn’t get to say goodbye to Nelly, even though I loved her like my own.” She sniffs, wiping her tears away almost aggressively, like she doesn’t want to be caught showing weakness. I can’t help myself this time; I reach forward and place a hand on her arm, half-bracing myself for her to shake me off or hiss at me again. Instead, she just sniffles, meeting my eyes for a moment before straightening up and nodding at me.
I feel sick at the idea a higher god would do that to an innocent child. Do they really have no conscience at all? I knew they were dictators, and I knew they were volatile, but this is the first I’ve ever heard of them attacking the defenseless. I’m now hoping the higher god I accidently killed was the one who did that. He would have certainly deserved bad karma. Maybe that was why he was my job…because he killed Nelly. It’s a nice fantasy at least, and it fills me with a sense of grim satisfaction.
"Not that I don’t believe you,” Killian says tentatively, “but why would a higher god kill a child? A lesser goddess who could never be a threat to him?" I want to smack the silly out of him, and it takes everything I have not to roll my eyes. I take back the brownie points; he doesn’t deserve them. Could someone really be that short-sighted? Although I guess if you spent your whole life under the influence of the higher gods, you probably wouldn’t consider other points of view.
Damn. All these thoughts of brownies is making my stomach grumble, a loud and awkward sound in here.
"I don't need you to believe me,” Jade replies, “but I want my friend to know the truth. I suspect it was because Nelly was the higher god’s illegitimate child. My friend confided in me that she slept with a higher god, but there was also a chance that Nelly was someone else’s child. Either way, she never saw the guy again, and Nelly was a normal child for all accounts. Still, if she was the daughter of a higher god, then I could see him coming back to make sure there was no proof that he broke the law,” she explains. I shake my head. It’s still such a horrible thing to do. Poor Nelly did nothing but be born.
"Shit," I mutter, wide-eyed. If I didn’t have reason to believe her before, I certainly do now. I don't care what Killian thinks, I really do think Jade is telling the truth. Especially considering it seems higher gods are around more than they are meant to be. By all accounts, they’re supposed to stay high up in their palaces, never deigning to interact with lesser gods unless they need something from us. Now, though, they seem to be everywhere we go. I mean, hell - I accidentally killed one. I look over at the other two guys in the room, who are cuddled up on the floor. Their attention seems to have finally been drawn away from Killian and Seth, and I notice that they seem to be shaking in fear as they stare at something outside the bars. "What did they do?" I ask, hoping to distract Jade from her grief.
"Oh, those two?” she says, glancing over her shoulder and giving them a dirty look. “Don’t feel sorry for them. They are assholes who deserve to be in here. I just had to kick their asses for trying to hurt me.” She shrugs, turning back to me. “I was keeping them alive just in case I needed to throw them at our captors before escaping.”
I chuckle and wink at her. She thinks just like me. Kind of. I mean, Jade is clearly more badass than I am, because I’d hide behind the guys instead. Still, we could be friends, and it would help to have a cat goddess on my side. They’re fast, agile, and armed with claws, teeth, and heightened senses. Besides, if we have any hope of getting out of here, we’re going to need all the help we can get.
"Well, you got two out of four right,” I tell Killian. “I mean that would be okay if your job wasn’t handing out life sentences.” I raise an eyebrow in Killian’s direction, and he mutters something under his breath. That comment seems to have gotten to him, and his shoulders slump as he goes to sit by his brother. I choose a spot in the middle of the cage with my back against the wall as I drop down onto the ground, pulling off my bag. At least I’ve still got the food Mum packed for me… although who knows how long it will last in this place?
Jade hesitates for a moment, and then comes and sits next to me, leaning back against the bars and looking at me in the darkness with her catlike eyes. I eye her for a moment, deciding that teaming up with her in this test might be a good idea.
"Any food in that bag of yours?” she asks. “They haven't given us anything but slush in a bowl since we got here. I mean, you don’t have to share, but I’d really appreciate it.”
"I have a jar of peanut butter I could share," I tell her reluctantly, because I really don't want to share it. But still, I’m here to make friends, not enemies… even if that means giving up my most prized possession. Thankfully, I needn’t have worried; Jade
screws up her face in disgust and shakes her head.
"Never mind, that is worse than nothing," she says, shaking her head.
"You're crazy," I say, pulling my bag open and staring longingly down at the jar of peanut butter. Better to wait, I tell myself, as painful as it is. You’re going to want that soon, and you don’t want to waste it all in one go. Reluctantly I look away from the peanut butter, my eyes settling on Jade. Her shirt is ripped up the middle, and she’s managed to tie it together awkwardly in the front… although I can’t imagine it could be comfortable. I carefully shove my hand in my bag and pull out a shirt before closing it up again. I look up to see Jade staring at me like I’ve lost my mind…which to be honest, could be an option right about now.
"What was that?" she asks.
"Oh, I have a goblin in there called Kit, and he likes to bite. Anyways, you can have this shirt if you want, we look near enough the same size," I say, offering her the top.
Jade looks at me gratefully. “"Thanks,” she says. “Those bastards over there are fire gods, and beating their asses cost me half this shirt. A shame, too - it was one of my favorite ones.” She accepts the top from me and pulls it on over her other shirt. She must be crazier than I am, if she’s willing to take on fire gods. They’re notorious, and not just for their hot tempers - anyone with control of the elements is a force to be reckoned with, and I can’t imagine being trapped in a cell with a couple of elementals who want to hurt me. How she managed to survive this long, I have no idea.
Jade pulls her long hair out of her top and lets it cascade over her shoulders before resting back, her eyes darting between the twins and the fire gods. “Well,” she says, her tone resigned, "we are surrounded by assholes. Gods help us."
"I don't like the twins, but I think they were just doing their job, and I get that,” I tell her. “I'm a karma goddess, and I have to deliver karma to whomever I'm sent to. Sometimes it's hard to see past the job and make your own judgment. I have no idea why I’m sticking up for these guys all of a sudden, especially as they sit there glaring at us. Well, Seth is glaring, anyway. Killian is resting his forehead on his knees, and I can’t see his face.
"You don't like them, huh? Could have fooled me," Jade teases, shaking her head at me while resting back on the wall. "What did you do to get thrown in here anyway? And how did they get locked up too?"
"I killed a higher god," I start off, seeing her eyes widen, and she coughs on thin air. I guess she wasn’t expecting me to say that. “I know, I know,” I say, waving a hand lazily at her. “I have no idea how. It was an accident, though, I can promise you that much. It was part of a job - I thought he was just a normal target, and the next thing I knew, the twins were coming after me. They brought me here, and it looked like they were ready to leave, but then these hooded guys outside chucked them in here with me.”
“Who were they?” Jade asks.
I shrug. “No idea. They were using ice magic - that’s all I know. I don't get what is going on, and all I really want is to get out of here to see my family."
"Doesn't everyone in here want the same thing?" she asks. “Well, I think so anyway.”
"I'm thinking the gods of justice will be saved by someone, and I'm going to stick close enough to their sides so that I can escape with them," I whisper to her. “They are my ticket out of here.”
"It's a good plan. You're taking me with you," she says. "I need to see my friend and tell her the truth about her daughter’s death before I die. It's the only important thing to me now."
"Then you're coming with me," I say, knowing I'm likely going to regret that promise when I need to focus on getting my own ass out of here. "Do you know what this test is?"
"No clue, but I'm betting it isn't going to be fun," she says, resting further back and closing her eyes, clearly done with this conversation. I glance over at Seth, who is looking at me like I'm the bane of his existence, and I can't help but wink at him before looking away. Whatever this test is, I have to survive it somehow, because one thing is for sure—I'm not dying here.
16
"Karma, wake up."
I become aware of a hand shaking my shoulder insistently, rousing me from a delightful dream about a shop sale of pretty heels. I just managed to buy out the whole shop, and was getting to the trying on part. Shame that my current reality is decidedly less pretty. I peel my eyes open, blinking in the darkness until I’m able to make out the form of Killian standing over me, his hand on my shoulder. He has pretty eyes to wake up to, I think, taking a moment to appreciate his bright golden gaze… but then I become aware of what I was just thinking, and shake myself. My face goes a little red, but Killian doesn’t seem to notice in the darkness of the cell. I realize he’s talking, nodding frantically in Jade’s direction. "Wake your friend up,” he says. “That leader, Storm, is walking this way.”
I sit bolt upright, all thoughts of Killian’s pretty eyes gone from my mind. “What? What does he want?”
“I have no idea,” Killian replies. “But he’s got a crowd behind him.”
I blink, clearing my throat. “Thanks for waking me up,” I mutter, feeling a little bashful. I’m surprised that he would bother to warn me, considering how rocky our relationship has been so far, but now’s not the time to look a gift horse in the mouth. I turn to Jade and begin to shake her shoulder, much like Killian did with me. Except when she wakes up, she’s all claws and sharp teeth, and I let out a little screech as I jump away from her.
"What?" she demands and then seems to realise it's me as I get to my feet. "Shit, sorry, Karma. I'm used to those idiots waking me." She sticks a thumb in the direction of the two guys still hiding in the corner. They’re still cowering, and they haven’t said a single word since we arrived here, but they’re always watching with their beady little eyes. They remind me a little of ravens in looks with their long noses and black hair. When they aren’t staring forlornly out of the cell bars, they spend all their time playing with fire in their hands. It’s become obvious to me that they aren’t powerful enough to do more than make a small flame or two, which I suppose is a good thing, considering we’re stuck with them in a confined space. That said, I’m certainly not going to let my guard down just because they seem harmless enough - after all, look at what they did to Jade.
"We have incoming," I tell her, offering her a hand to help her stand up. She slides her hand in mine, getting up like the graceful cat she is. I couldn't do that for shit - I’m arguably the clumsiest person in the world, and that’s when I’m not drunk. I turn around and walk to the door, crossing my arms as Killian, Seth and Jade choose to stand behind me. It’s strange - they suddenly seem to be looking at me like they’re expecting me to be the decisive one, here. I don’t know when I suddenly became the de facto leader of this little ragtag group, and I don’t appreciate having even more responsibility dumped on me, but now isn’t the time to argue about it. I try to keep my expression neutral, not wanting to betray the fear I’m feeling inside as Storm and a few of his followers walk down the hallway towards us. I keep my gaze fixed on him, standing tall and reminding myself to do what Peyton would do. Storm pauses right in front of the cage, unnerving me with how close he decides to stand. As much as I try to resist the urge to look at his body, I can’t help but notice once again how bloody attractive he is. He’s dressed in similar clothes to yesterday, but he looks more cleaned up than before.
"Karma," he purrs my name, letting it roll off his tongue like he’s tasting a fine wine. A shiver goes up my back at the sound of his seductive voice, and I fight off a sudden wave of panic. Holy gods, this isn't the time to finally find a guy I'm attracted to. It's bad enough the justice twins are too attractive for their own good. Now I have three hotties to stare at. Mads would be laughing if she were here right now.
Oh, Mads, I think, wondering what she’s doing right now, if she’s okay. She’s probably worried sick about me. All I can do is hope that Peyton is keeping her in the loop… and protecting her fr
om whatever forces are trying to take me down.
“Did you sleep well?” Storm asks, tilting his head a little to one side, his bright eyes holding mine in a hypnotic gaze.
"Enough with the pleasantries,” I tell him. “What is the test?" I cross my arms over my chest and make it clear I'm not the slightest bit impressed by his sexy tone. Or him. Nope, not one little bit. Okay, maybe a little bit, but he doesn't need to know that. He’s the one who’s keeping us in here, after all, and besides, I'm sure a guy like him has women throwing themselves his way all day long.
"You're about to find out, aren't you?" he replies, and a chuckle leaves his lips like this is all one big joke to him. Why are the pretty ones always assholes? I only roll my eyes at him as he clicks his fingers, and two men with sharp looking horns sticking out of their heads run to the cage door and undo the lock.
"One at a time,” Storm warns, taking a step away from the cage as his henchmen pull open the door. “This test is not a group activity. So,” he continues, his eyes settling back on us as his cronies move aside. “Who is going to be the brave one and go first?" I glance back at the others, and we exchange a questioning look. Seth takes a deep breath and goes to step forward, but I beat him to it, jumping out of the door, which one of the horn guys slams shut behind me. Maybe it’s a stupid thing to do, but I want this test over with, whatever it is. This could be my chance to prove to Storm that his scare tactics aren’t going to work on me.
"I will," I say, keeping my head high and settling my gaze on them.
"I'd hoped you would say that," Storm says, a crooked smile spreading on his stupidly perfect face. “Well then,” he says, taking a step backward and making a sweeping gesture with his hand, “shall we?”
"Good luck," Jade shouts from behind me. I glance back and nod at her, moving my eyes to Killian, who doesn't look impressed, and finally to Seth, who is livid.