by G. Bailey
You really are going soft, Karma, pipes up a cheeky voice in the back of my mind, but I shake it off; no one can blame me for wanting to keep the guy safe, can they? Especially when he has a body like that...
“Okay, let’s go,” Storm says, his voice pulling me out of my thoughts. He turns and holds a hand out to me, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see his smug face and crooked smile. I don’t give him any attitude, instead wordlessly sliding my hand into his before glancing over at the justice twins. In spite of their uncharacteristically rugged appearance, they still have that distinct haughtiness about them, that air that made them so frustratingly attractive in the first place. But beneath their uppity expressions is a look of genuine concern, and it’s almost - almost - enough to make my heart melt. I’m still processing the fact that they came for me; these guys had to have known they were risking their lives and their jobs by interfering with the plans of the higher gods, and yet they did it without a second thought.
Nobody has ever fought for me like that before.
I flinch as Storm turns my hand over to examine the cut on my wrist. My quick healing abilities are helping it along, and it already looks less deep than it did when Xur first dug his nails into me, but it still hurts like a son of a bitch, and my arm is covered in a crust of dried blood. I hiss in a pained breath at Storm’s touch, and he looks up at me, meeting my eyes. “Sorry,” I mutter through gritted teeth. “The fucker got me good. If I had known it was a blood bond he was doing…” I trail off as Storm smooths a hand gently over my wrist, his touch light and deft, and even though he doesn’t have healing magic the feeling of his hands on me alone is enough to soothe me a little. He’s touching me like…
Like a lover, I think, and feel my face start to heat up in spite of myself.
In the blink of an eye, Killian rips the bottom of his shirt off, drawing my attention mercifully away from Storm and his galaxy eyes. The justice god makes his way over to us, standing beside me as he folds the strip of fabric into a makeshift bandage. He wraps the cut gently before tying it tightly enough to keep any more blood from leaking out.
I smile thankfully at him, my face betraying genuine emotion. He meets my eyes with his own, like pools of liquid gold, and it’s enough to make my stomach turn over in my stomach. My lips suddenly feel like they are burning from the memory of his kiss, a kiss I so want to repeat again and again. And perhaps find out what it’s like to do more than kiss Killian. I’m struck by the fleeting image of his hands on my body, looking up into his gorgeous eyes as he pushes me onto a bed, and that only makes me blush harder; why is it that everywhere I turn these days, I find myself going red in the face like a virgin schoolgirl? I feel the same way about Storm every time I look at him, even though the rational part of me knows romance should be the last thing on my mind right now.
Not even Seth gives me a reprieve from the heat I can feel inside me in the presence of these men, and for a while I thought he was the biggest arse I’d ever laid eyes on. I suppose there was a reason I went on that ill-fated date with him all those months ago, though… My eyes betray my interest, and when Seth meets my gaze, he tips his head to one side, looking like he’s on the verge of making a smart comment.
I drop my gaze to the ground, biting my lip. I’ve never been this confused in my entire life.
“Thank you for coming for me. All of you,” I tell them, because it needed to be said. I’m not under any illusions; if they hadn’t shown up when they did, I would be at the complete mercy of Xur and his sisters. Even if I still am, it helps to know that I’m not in this by myself. I clear my throat, feeling the sudden urge to throw my eyes around them and hug them close, no matter how awkward it would be. “I know you could have gone anywhere and not stayed here to defend me.”
“It was an easy decision to make,” Storm replies. “Xur and the other higher gods are a threat to everyone in the supernatural realm. And besides…” He grins at me, tipping me a wink that would probably enough to make most girls’ panties disappear in an instant. “It would be a shame to lose you, little one.”
I make a show of rolling my eyes, giving him a playful nudge with my elbow, and peer up at him from behind the curtain of my red hair.
Storm looks like he’s about to say something else, but then Seth clears his throat. “We should go and check in with people. Find out what has been going on,” he says, turning to Killian and crossing his arms. Although his tone is surly and businesslike, I catch his eyes lingering on the wrapped up cut and my hand in Storm's as I lower it. Something passes between us in that moment, but it’s too foreign and confusing for me to think about it right now, and I shove it aside.
“You will both come back to me, right?” I ask, my voice low and quiet. I don’t like second guessing myself, but they somehow still have this effect on me. I’m suddenly terrified to not have them by my side, and the idea of losing them for real is almost too much to bear.
“They will,” Storm answers coldly before either of them can say anything, and I turn to him, my eyes going wide. I guess they aren’t on great terms still, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised; I still remember how Killian kissed me and how mad Storm was when he saw it. He’d come damn near close to killing him, I have no doubt. And yet, he worked with them to track me down. And now he wants to keep them around. Feckin’ hell, I don’t understand guys. I need a manual or something.
“We will always come back to you, Karma,” Seth tells me gently, and to my surprise, my cheeks go red again as a flush of emotion fills me. Did Seth - the Seth - the stick in the mud businessman who can’t take a joke and would rather order others around than get his hands dirty… Did that Seth just say something soft? It’s almost too much to believe, and I do what I always do when I’m confronted with an emotion I don’t understand: resort to sarcasm.
“Good to know, goldipops,” I tell him with a small smile, and to my surprise, Seth smiles back at me. It’s a real smile, and it looks strange on his face - almost foreign. You don’t see Seth smiling often. I think I like it. Hell, even Storm and Killian are furrowing their brows as they look between the two of us. Seth turns around without another word, giving no indication that he’s aware of the dynamic between the others, and extends his hand. Gold magic begins to flicker around his fingertips, and a circular portal manifests in front of him. He glances back at me over his shoulder before he steps into it, not waiting for his brother to follow.
Killian looks at me once more before following Seth through the portal, and it lingers for a moment before winking out of existence.
The clouds of rain have long left, leaving us cold and wet outside in the ruins. Another chilly breeze sweeps over us, making me shiver, and Storm pulls me close, almost instinctively. The feeling of his sculpted arm around my shoulders settles my nerves a little, and I peer up at him for a moment before clearing my throat and glancing around. The dresser is still sitting on the ground, looking anachronistic amidst the ancient ruins. Kit is sitting on top of it, looking awfully proud of himself for someone who spends his day biting fingers.
“How did you escape the prison?” I ask Storm as I lead him over to the dresser. I pick up Kit, who for once does not bite me like I fully expect him to. Instead, the little goblin just points to his chest, an expression on his face that could almost be mistaken for pride. Is he grinning? Either way, he looks very tired, and his eyes look like they’re ready to drift close at any minute.
“Are you seriously taking credit for this, Kit?” I ask the sleepy goblin, eyes wide.
“What do you know about goblins, Karma?” Storm asks me, and I turn back to him, brow furrowing.
“Only that everyone thinks they are bad luck,” I reply. “Although I really don’t think they’re all that bad. I mean, they’re cranky, sure, but they’ve got character. Isn’t that right, Kit?” Kit doesn’t respond, clambering up my arm before settling onto my shoulder. He peers around my neck at Storm before hiding himself in my hair, tucking his head down
below my ear. He has never done that before - usually a long look is the only thing that passes for affection for the goblin, and the change in behaviour is almost enough to make me forget about my injuries and present situation. I stay still, wondering if he’s going to bite my ear or something - I wouldn’t put it past him. But instead, he just goes to sleep in the tangle of my red hair, his chest rising and falling. Damn, I think. You think you’ve seen it all. Maybe the little bugger missed me.
“Goblins are powerful creatures,” Storm explains. “Even as children, like yours is, their capabilities are astounding. There’s a reason some supernaturals consider them wells of magical energy - their natural abilities are impressive, even compared to us gods. Add to that the fact that they take a long time to age, and you have yourself a powerful creature - even if it’s easy to overlook.”
“I’ll be damned,” I say, shaking my head. “And here I was thinking he was only good for hissing and biting.”
Storm laughs. “You know,” he continues, “back in the time when I was a child, there were many of them who freely wandered the earth, making friends with gods. They would bind themselves to powerful gods or goddesses and protect them however they could, but those bonds weren’t to be taken lightly. Each goblin can only bind itself to one god or goddess, and only after deeming them worthy. That’s a hell of a task on it’s own - how’d you manage that?”
I grin and shrug my shoulders. “You’d be surprised what not being an arse can get you.”
Storm snorts. “Right.” He shakes his head. “Anyway, the story goes that once a goblin has chosen its patron god or goddess, it will never betray them, no matter what comes between them. Goblins can never be separated from their goddess by any magic, as their inherent powers are stronger than anything on earth,” he explains to me.
I’m pretty sure my mouth is gaping open at this new information. “You’re saying Kit is more powerful than me? Than us?” I turn my head to look at the sleeping goblin, awestruck that something so small could hold so much power.
Storm nods, and there’s not a hint of sarcasm on his face. “Breaking past the prison magic was nothing more than a walk in the park for Kit,” he tells me. He casts his eyes to the ground, his face twisting into a grimace. “I just wish I could have gotten all my people out of there,” he says, shaking his head as his broad shoulders slump. This is what leadership does to a person, I realize. Well, it’s what being a good leader does to a person. Storm cares about everyone in that prison, and it breaks my heart to see him hurting for them - enough for me to soften my gaze and clear my throat.
“Hey,” I say, turning to face him and squeezing his hand with my own. The action sends a jolt of pain up my wrist, but I hardly feel it as I look up into Storm’s eyes. “You did the best you could. And you saved my life - I owe you… Well, everything.”
“I know,” Storm says, nodding and lifting his head. “And I know I can do more for them out here than trapped in here. This thing is bigger than the prison - hell, it’s bigger than all of us. We’re talking about the higher gods here, and their ability to keep being tyrants. If I can help put a stop to them, then it will all be worth it.” A small smile appears on his face, and he bends his neck to peer at Kit. “I’m just glad this little guy was there to help us out. We would’ve been fucked otherwise.”
“I’ll say,” I agree, shaking my head in disbelief. “I mean, holy cow. I thought he was just a greedy fecker that lived under my bed that I put up with because…” I stop, grinning. “Well, he is cute at times.”
“They eat a lot to gain power, and then they sleep it off,” Storm explains. “That’s where his appetite comes from. The more you feed him, the more quickly his magical abilities will increase.” He looks at me. “You should be proud of yourself, little one - goblins only bond to gods and goddesses that they sense are powerful.”
“People keep telling me that I’m powerful,” I say, looking at the ground. “Maybe one of these days I’ll believe it.”
“Just as long as you don’t get a big head,” Storm teases, and I roll my eyes.
“That’s rich, coming from you.”
He laughs. “Fair enough. You know, goblins have a sad history in some respect; they can only be created by the deaths of their parents. They are immortal unless they have a child, which is the only way they can die. I’ve always had a soft spot for them, but I never was chosen by them for any reason. My mother had a goblin, though - that’s why I know so much about them. She died when she had her child.”
“So Kit is alone in this world?” I ask, actually feeling sorry for him.
“That’s right,” Storm replies, nodding slowly. “I understand what he felt like. No family, no loved ones, no one to feel for… I always had the other prisoners, sure, but I didn’t ever really feel a true connection...that is, until I met you.” His voice is soft and gentle, almost tentative, but his words hit me as hard as if he had screamed them at me. “Seems Kit and I have a lot in common.”
There’s a moment of silence that stretches between the two of us until it’s almost unbearable. “Did you know who I was?” I ask him quietly. “When you first met me, did you know I was immortal? Was that why you took a liking to me - because you knew I would never leave you?”
“Not until you told me you killed Neritous,” Storm replies, and I feel the knot of anxiety in my stomach ease up a little. “I swear it,” he adds. “I liked you because you told it to me straight. You didn’t balk at my power, even though by all accounts, you should have.” He shrugs. “Your cute sassy attitude is addictive. I realised the truth about you when you told me at the party, because only a higher god or a child with higher god power could have done what you did. But if you’re asking whether my feelings for you were genuine before that, the answer is yes.” No hesitation. Relief begins to spread through me. A deeper part of me doesn’t want Storm to like me just because we are so similar and both immortal. Is this going to change the way he looks at me? Will he feel… obligated to me, somehow? But he opens his mouth to speak, seizing my eyes with his own. “You ran away, and I was chasing you so I could tell you. To stop you before the higher gods found you. Then I saw Jade…” He shakes his head.
“Jade is really dead,” I say, but the words are so hard to say that I can’t help but cry as I say them. It still doesn’t seem real, even though I saw her jump in front of the blast. I can’t believe I’m not going to see her smile again, or to laugh the way only she could make me. Although we didn’t know each other for long, she felt like a real friend, like a Mads who understood what it was like to be a goddess. And poor Coxen... I wish I could give him a hug and tell him how sorry I am. “She died to save the twins. I don’t understand why she would do that; she didn’t even like them much.”
“But she loved you, and she knew how you felt for them,” Storm soothingly tells me. “You will always miss her, but she died in an honourable way that will not be forgotten. Jade was a good friend, and we all will miss her.”
“The world and her friend still think she killed a child,” I reply. “I have to find her friend and make sure everyone knows the truth.” That was her dying wish, and I’m sure as hell going to make it happen if I can. I’m not going to die in these games, or whatever comes afterwards, without telling her friend the truth.
“I promise I will help you find her,” Storm tells me, and then he looks up at the clouds. He just stares for a long time, and it really only then strikes home how he is outside the prison for the first time. It’s been hundreds of years, and his only connection with the outside world has been the door and the openings in the roof of the prison. It was magnificent to see the sky for the first time when I got out, and I was only in prison for a short while - how must he feel, after all this?
I admire how he looks in this moment, watching the sky. The dim lighting reflects across his eyes, making them brighter as he looks up. I can see the stars he is looking at, without asking him what he is looking for. Storm is free, and despite everyt
hing, I smile for him.
“Okay,” I eventually say. “Are you alright? Being out for the first time, well, in a long time?”
“I forgot how pretty the stars are and how fresh the air is out here. I forgot a lot,” he tells me, looking up at the sky still as he speaks to me, but he closes his eyes briefly. “The wind blowing against me, it’s so different and like a long lost friend. It has been so long. Too long.”
“You won’t be going back,” I softly make sure he knows. I want Storm with me always, and that means if the higher gods are still against him, he isn’t alone anymore. He is the only light in this world, and if anyone should be ruling the gods, it should be him. He was born to be the ruler after his parents.
“I will go back one more time—when I’ve killed the higher gods, because right then, I’m freeing my people,” Storm tells me, finally turning his eyes to me. “I will help them adjust to this world and everything they have missed.”
“Sounds like a plan I can get behind and help with,” I say, because I’d really like to be by Storm’s side when we open the prison and let everyone out. Even Vivian deserves to be free, despite how much I don’t like her.
“The higher gods are your family, Karma,” Storm tries to remind me. “They were mine once, but it is so raw to you. They are so new to your life, and you are yet to hate them like I do.”
“No, they aren’t my family. Blood doesn’t make family, Storm. My family—my parents and brothers—brought me up, and my friends are more my family than the higher gods could be. My family is not them,” I firmly say.
“Remember that, and don’t trust them. Whatever happens, never trust them, Karma. They haven’t changed, I can see it in their eyes,” he tells me, like I’m going to start a secret book club with the lunatics or something.
“I don’t trust anyone easily,” I remind him. It took a while for me to learn to trust Storm, but now I would never do anything but trust him.