then again, maybe I should have. The one time Peyton used this portal, he described the sensation as like a bad hangover. Did I really think it would be this easy to just jump across the country?
I have to lie still for a little while longer as I wait for the pain to stop, and the blurry night sky comes into focus. I slowly sit up, seeing the empty rooftop I'm lying on, and the cold air is a welcome relief as it blows against me. I pull myself up, shaking a little as I try to keep my footing. Looking back at the portal, which is well hidden under a tarp, I know I need to get moving. There is no doubt in my mind the bartender will let the twins follow me through. As nice as he was to me, there's no way a human will risk crossing agents of the higher gods.
I spot the fire exit on the other side of the building and hurry over to it, doing my best not to upset my stomach further as I sling my backpack back over my shoulders. I pull myself over the other side just as the portal begins to flicker with magical energy once again, and suddenly two familiar-looking people are thrown out of it onto the roof. The feckin’ twins are good, I’ll give them that. I run down the steps of the fire exit, hearing nothing but the busy city noises of London at night and my own heartbeat pounding hard in my chest. If I’m lucky, they’ll have the same physical reaction as I did, and will need a few minutes to compose themselves before moving again. It won’t give me much time, but it will give me enough to put some distance between myself and the two of them.
The area smells like fast food, which only makes me hungry as I run and finally get to the last steps. I guess that’s a good thing, considering that just a few minutes ago I felt like I had the stomach flu. Thank the gods for Mum and her peanut butter. I jump into the alleyway, running down towards the end. I’ve barely made it halfway when suddenly someone jumps in front of me from right out of the air, gold dust littering the ground by his feet.
"Didn't know you could fly," I mutter, feeling frustrated as the casual justice twin steps into the dim street light, his arms crossed and a big grin on his pretty lips. This close, he is far more attractive than I thought. His carefree nature, the playful smirk, and pretty gold eyes are something else. I’m certain he has no trouble getting girls. “How are you not barfing your brains up right now?”
He smirks. “Call it a perk of being as powerful as we are.”
“Cocky asshole,” I say, putting a hand on my waist. Do I try to run? Will I even be able to? It’s clear that these guys have me outmatched in terms of stamina, and my only other option is to try fighting them, which will probably go about as well as you would expect. My only choice is to wait for an opportunity to turn the situation to my advantage.
"Why don't we just introduce ourselves and have little a chat?” The casual twin suggests, taking a few steps closer to me. “We aren't the bad guys here, Karma. My name is Killian.” He reaches out and offers me a hand to shake, but I’m not that stupid. I’m not shaking his hand, and I know his brother will be coming up right behind me at any point. Killian smirks, crossing his arms as he figures out I won’t be touching him.
There’s a whooshing sound, and I glance over my shoulder to see the other twin manifesting in a ring of gold sparks behind me. Now I really am trapped, and there’s no one else in the alleyway who’s going to be able to help me "There is no point in running; we will always find you," Killian's brother says, and I try to remember what his name was. He was so boring on our date, until everything went wrong and I saw another side to him. I do remember how seductively handsome he is, far more than anyone I had ever seen before. I never liked the colour gold before, until I saw his eyes. I never forgot his eyes.
"Way to get her to trust