"One day, I'm going to show you everything out there. We will get out," Jade says to Coxen, and they kiss as we get to the top of the stairs. I step around them, walking down the stairs to see Storm, Seth and Killian waiting at the bottom of the stairs. They each look as handsome as the other, and it has quite the impact to see all three of them together, looking at me the way they are. A flush burns on my cheeks as I walk down, needing to do or say something awkward to get their gaze off me.
“Coxen and Jade are making out up there, we should just go without them,” I explain, but it takes a while before any of them reply to me. Of course, it has to be Seth that is sarcastic first.
“You sound jealous, Karma,” Seth remarks.
“No, why would I be?” I ask.
“You tell me,” Storm replies before Seth can, and I turn to see he has a flirty smile to go with that comment. Seth clears his throat, and Killian just looks between Storm and me, not seeming impressed. Nope, this is more awkward than I was going for. I shake my head before pushing through them and making my way to the door, feeling them close behind me. I don’t get brave enough to look back once until we get outside, and Storm is the last out, closing the door behind him.
“I thought we could take the easy route down,” Storm loudly says, coming over to us.
“Which is?” Seth asks just before Storm pulls out three glowing pink stones. They look like the glowing purple flying gemstones, or that’s what I have decided to call them, but these are pink instead.
“I think I’d rather walk than touch one of those magic gemstones again,” Seth plainly states, whereas Killian holds out his hand.
“Well, these are the opposite to the purple ones. Just live a little for once, Seth,” Storm says, throwing a stone at Seth who has no choice but to catch it. Killian takes his stone, winks at me before running and jumping off the bridge in one smooth motion. I run to the bridge, looking down to see Killian gently floating down past the bridges, swirling pink magic glowing around him. Seth mutters something about proving a point before leaping off the bridge, leaving me alone with Storm as he floats down.
“Where is my stone then? I only see three,” I ask, placing my hands on my hips.
“You’re coming with me, little Karma,” he replies, and I widen my eyes. I see that as being more than a little dangerous. Storm doesn’t care one bit as he steps closer to me, picking me up, and I’m forced to hold onto his neck in case I fall. Storm walks us back to the ledge before stepping off it, and I gasp as my stomach has butterflies from the drop until we begin to slow down as we fall. After a while, I can open my eyes, and I find Storm smiling down at me, like there aren’t other things to be looking at. It’s quite beautiful all around us from the pink magic, but I barely notice, because Storm’s eyes are beautiful too.
“Is the creature I met in the lake with these gems created by your family?” I ask him, feeling curious.
“Yes. She is the last living creature. Many died within the first ten years,” he tells me. “I know it is a harsh way to introduce people into this prison, but she is a fair test. I’m sure she is immortal, though we don’t talk. She hasn’t eaten me though.”
“Does she have a name?” I ask with a chuckle. I’m pretty sure not being eaten by someone isn’t a good way to judge a friendship.
“No, at least she never told me of one,” he explains to me. “These stones litter the beaches of my old home. They make me miss it.”
“Tell me what it looks like, what you loved the most about it,” I ask him, and without thinking of it, my fingers stroke his hair as he talks, and his eyes close for a moment.
“The shores are filled with a multicolour of stones, hidden in the sand while the red water of the sea brushes against them. The sun shines bright all year round, making the stones glitter and shimmer in the prettiest way. I never thought I’d see that bright, beautiful light again, but then I saw your eyes on that first day. That moment you told me I’d never need to push you, your eyes shone bright with how brave you are. You reminded me of home in that moment, Karma,” he tells me. Our feet touch the ground as I stare, speechless, and my heart feels warm in a way that almost makes me forget the world as Storm lowers me down onto the ground.
“Can I steal Karma for a dance?” Killian asks, his hand going to my shoulder, and in a moment, the entire world comes back in a flash. There is soft music in the background, people laughing, and the sounds of children playing nearby. It smells like cooking, but I can’t tell what, and there is also a sweet smell in the air. When I look away from Storm to see Killian, I spot the eight or so children near us who are laughing and chasing bubbles that an old lady is making appear from her hands. It’s magical to see, and I can’t help but smile.
“I’d love to dance,” I tell Killian, even though he and Storm are tensely staring at each other. It doesn’t take much to see jealousy there, especially with how Killian is always flirting and Storm kissed me yesterday.
“Storm, can I borrow you a second?” Vivian interrupts the staring contest, and I glare at her as Killian takes my hand, pulling me away. We pass Seth who, to my surprise, is making gold glitter butterflies appear out of his hands, and they mix with the bubbles that the children are running through.
“I didn’t know Seth was such a softie,” I remark as we pass through people.
“I suspect there is a lot you don’t know about Seth, angel,” Killian tells me as we get to the dancers. Like we have always danced together, Killian sweeps me into his arms and sways us around to the soft beat. “You look enchanting tonight, Karma.”
“Really?” I ask him, keeping my eyes firmly locked on his. Though Killian’s eyes are darker than Seth’s, they still look like pits of gold dust that are so magical to gaze into. My green eyes must be dull in comparison.
“I wish you could see yourself how I see you. If we met before here, I think I would have broken every single one of the laws for a moment with you,” he tells me, before twirling me around and pulling me back to him. Killian is a good dancer, he knows how to move his body and control mine almost effortlessly.
“Maybe it was a good thing you kidnapped me in the end then. I’ve grown to like you a little bit,” I admit, and he laughs. God, I love his laugh.
“I’ve grown to like you a little bit too,” he softly remarks, leaning down and kissing me. I freeze in unexpected shock. Killian softly explores my lips as I arch myself into his touch, loving how he feels. My hands slide into his hair as he groans, pulling me closer, and I happily sink myself into him. Kissing Killian feels like finding a new home. Cold drops of water splash down on us, breaking us apart as we hear thunder rattle in the dark cloud that has appeared above us. Killian swiftly moves me aside just as Storm slams into him, smacking him to the ground as the rain harshly pours down on us all. Seth wraps an arm around my waist, stopping me when I try to run towards Killian and Storm, who are intent on smacking the shit out of each other. The cloud flashes white lightning across it, highlighting Killian’s face as he punches Storm, sending him flying across the ground.
“Let me go, Seth!” I demand.
“No, you could get hurt,” Seth says, shaking his head as Jade gets to us. Lifting one sharp nail, she places it under Seth’s neck, and he gulps.
“Let her go, Seth. They won’t hurt her, and she can handle herself. You can’t hold her back, if you care, you will have to help her,” Jade says. Seth mutters something about stubborn women as he lets me go, and I don’t think as I run, jumping between Killian and Storm. I place my hands on their chests as they stare at each other, blood dripping down their faces, and they both heavily breathe which I can feel under my hands.
“Enough! Don’t do this over me. Please,” I say, but neither of them says a word. Suddenly an alarm blasts out in the prison, the noise vibrating off the walls almost. What the hell is going wrong now?
Chapter 31
"What is that alarm?" I ask. My hands slide down from Killian’s and Storm's chests because the blaring alarm has distracted them for a second. I look up to Storm for answers, and he holds a hand out for me as the rain stops and the cloud disappears. If this is how powerful Storm is with his powers weakened in this place, god only knows what he would be like on the outside. Feckin’ hell it would be crazy to witness.
"The alarm means the doors have been opened," Storm answers, still sounding furious.
"Finally," Seth states, before running off towards the door with Killian fast behind him. I instantly try to follow them, only to have Storm grab my hand, stopping me.
"Let them go and stay here with me. They will only get you killed, and we won't ever be able to see each other again," he pleads with me, and it just about breaks me to hear him ask me this. His hair is soaking wet just like mine, but it suits him. His thick eyelashes drip droplets of water down his cheeks and to his lips. Everything about Storm is made to perfection, and he is right, I could stay here with him. I would be happy for a long time, and I have no doubt Storm would love me even when I got old. But that isn’t the future I feel is fated for me. I know deep down that I have to follow the twins. I have to escape here.
"They are our friends...and I have a life outside. A family," I tell him. This is my only chance to see my family and Mads again.
"So do I...but my family will kill you for even knowing about me," he warns, his voice is desperate and pleading. "I can't let you go and die."
"I've run from everything, from everyone. If I have to run from you so I can see my family and get the justice I deserve, then so be it," I tell him, even though I know it’s hurting him to hear it. I never wanted to hurt him.
"What did you do? You never told me, and if it's bad enough that they locked you in here and threw the justice gods in here with you, it must have been bad," he asks, and I so wish he hadn’t decided now was the perfect time to ask this question.
