“Changing you from human to a higher god didn’t work so well for Storm’s mother. You are a monster,” I reply.
“Do as I ask,” he dryly responds, like I’m wasting his time. I meet Ruby’s eyes, and I know I have to do this. He will kill her and so many more, and by then, I would be so weak he could control me.
This was his plan all along. Letting me get close to Ruby was the plan because he knows I won’t refuse him.
By saving her, I’m condemning thousands. How will I ever be able to live with myself after this?
The answer is simple. I won’t.
“Ruby—” My voice catches on a sob. “Close your eyes and don’t open them no matter what. I need you to do that for me. Please, Ruby.”
I shamelessly beg her because no child should see a city destroyed, and it’s the last good thing I will be able to do. She slowly closes her eyes, and the relief I feel is short-lived, soon replaced with dread and fear. And so much guilt it hurts.
I turn to the city and walk to the edge of the red barrier and lift my hands in the air. The power pushes against me all the time, and when I set it free, it blasts out of my body like a bird flying for the first time. I feel my feet leave the ground, the warmth of the power surrounding my body, and as I open my eyes, I watch my power crash into the city in a green wave. The high-rises are burnt away like dust and replaced with forests, tall mountains in the middle of them and so much green it hurts to see. The wave doesn’t stop for miles, never tiring me, even as I try to pull it back. With a fight, I manage to stop the waves leaving my hands, and I collapse to the dirty sidewalk, my cheek pressed into the gravel.
Ruby’s cries are the only thing that I manage to hold onto as I crawl to my feet. Neritous watches the city with wonder and something akin to love in his cold eyes.
“Let her go, you promised me,” I spit out, and he shoves her towards me, removing the dagger as he continues to watch the city. She runs as fast as she can to me, just as a car spins off the main path, directly at her. “Ruby!” I scream as the car hits her, knocking her over the edge of the bridge and into the air. For a second, the world slows down as Ruby screams and falls in the air, and I can’t use this new power to save her. Without needing to think about it, I run and climb up the barrier of the bridge and jump off the side. The fall seems longer than it likely is, and it’s seconds before I crash into the cold water, going far deeper than I wanted to. I search the water for Ruby, spinning around as I pick up my necklace. I place the water charm into my mouth, letting the power wash over me and give me the ability to breathe underwater for a few minutes. I swim around until I see her red hair and immediately head straight to her. I’m inches away when the water changes around me, turning into a whirlwind and sucking me down further to the bed. I can’t even scream as it takes me.
Chapter 58
Coughing up water, I dig my hands into the sand as I focus on trying to breathe. A tiny hand pats my back, and soon I suck in a deep breath. I turn my head to the side as Ruby hugs me, soaking wet in the blue dress she was wearing when she fell into the river. I hug her tightly as I sit up, wondering if I’m dreaming or more likely, dead. We are on a sweeping beach that I don’t recognise at all, and it’s warm, borderline hot, as the sun dries our clothes. My ball gown is torn in many places, and my heels are gone. I’m sure the tiara got lost in the water too, but none of that matters; I actually think we are alive. I remember the whirlwind of water, and then everything is dark after that.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, and she nods.
“Water goddess saved us and healed me from the car,” she explains to me, still coughing on the water a little bit.
“My name is Heaven, and yes, I am a water goddess,” a silky woman’s voice replies to Ruby, and I turn to see a woman sitting a few feet away in the waves. Her skin shines in the sun, covered in scales, and a white, mostly see-through lace dress flows from her neck. Her white hair looks so soft as it falls down her back, and her blue eyes remind me of the sea as she meets my gaze. “You are Karma Kismet, correct?”
“How do you know that?”
“A friend of yours sent word to the world. They are looking for you, and I recognised you in the water. I felt I must save your life, even when I witnessed what you did to my home city,” she responds, and I can tell she does not like me. Guilt burns in my chest as I try to block out what I did, desperately trying to make myself not break down right now. “I am taking this as payment.” Heaven holds up the tiara, and I nod, happy for her to have it.
“Thank you,” I whisper to her.
“You can thank our friend.” She nods her head behind me, and I turn to see Seth walking right for me. Ruby climbs off my lap as I nudge her, standing to my feet and running to him without a care in the world if he even wants me anymore. Seth has a white shirt on, a few buttons loose, and it is tucked into his classic black trousers. His sleeves are rolled up, and his blond hair is slightly messier, making him look almost like Killian. We crash into each other, and he holds me tightly, fixing my soul with his embrace. His lips press against the side of my head as I breathe in how he smells like home. He kisses the side of my cheek and then finally my lips, taking them in a sweeping embrace.
Gods, I’ve missed kissing Seth.
“Ewww.” Ruby breaks up our moment with her protest, and Seth chuckles, leaning back, his face soft.
“You okay?” he asks, and I shake my head, because that is the best answer I have. Ruby comes to my side and offers Seth her hand.
“Which one of Karma’s boyfriends are you? She told me about three,” she bluntly asks, and I want to die in a hole of embarrassment.
Seth coughs out an amused laugh. “Seth, god of justice to your rescue, kid.”
“I’m not a kid, I’m Ruby. Karma’s sister,” she says, her hands on her hips to prove her point. I smile at her, not able to help it, and Seth shakes her tiny hand.
“Nice to meet you, Ruby,” he tells her as Heaven walks over to us, still standing near the waves.
“Seth, it has been too long,” Heaven murmurs. They look at each other with fondness, and I can’t help the jealousy that burns in my chest as Seth thanks her.
“We should be leaving,” Seth eventually suggests. “We aren’t safe out here for long.”
“Thank you for saving me and my sister. I owe you more than a tiara,” I tell Heaven, and she ponders on it.
“Promise me you will never return to my city. If you break this promise, I will drown you with my people,” she asks, narrowing her eyes on me.
“Heaven, why would you—”
“I promise,” I tell her, interrupting Seth. I don’t want him to know what I did, but there will be no hiding it soon. The world will soon have to know what I did. They will have to know how bad the powers under my skin really are. Heaven waves us goodbye before running into the sea and disappearing from view.
“Are you going to tell me what has happened?” Seth asks me, and I shake my head.
“Please just take me home, Seth,” I whisper to him. Without another word, he wraps me in his arms, holds onto Ruby, and takes us home.
Chapter 59
Gold dust sprinkles the floor near our feet, and as I slowly look up, I see my home I have longed to see for so long. The house I grew up in, the home my family lives in and somewhere I’ve dreamed of coming back to for what seems like a long time. I never expected to have the chance again to see the white picket fence or smell the flowers from the potted plants lining the path.
“Where are we?” Ruby asks us as Seth drops his hand from her shoulder. His gold eyes stay fixed on me like he is waiting for me to fall apart so he can be there to catch me. “And do they have food? I’m really hungry.”
Despite everything, I smile. “I’m sure Seth can take you to the kitchen. I will find everyone and let them know I’m back. This is my home. We can’t take you to your home until we know whether you’ll be safe there.”
