Imprisoned Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,6

sight. If you ask me, it’s not all that fair; we’re stuck with our assignments from birth. Being sent to deal with selfish, spoiled, and cruel people all the livelong day starts to wear on your nerves after a while, and there aren’t many gods who actively seek out bad people the way I do. But someone has to do it, and I for one enjoy seeing people get their comeuppance. It’s far more entertaining than bringing fortune to the goody-two-shoes of the world, although I know I’m in the minority to think so. The only problem, of course, is that when something goes wrong like it did today, it’s on us to clean up the messes we make, one way or another.

And by us, I mean someone other than me. Usually one of my brothers. But hey, it’s not my fault I still haven’t gotten the hang of my memory charm!

I’m trudging along and shivering in the damp forest air for some time before I become aware of the humming sound behind me. Curious, I turn around and raise my eyebrows when I see that the swarm of bees I summoned earlier is still trailing behind me like a lost puppy. Whoops. Things went to hell so fast back there that I completely forgot to release them. Digging my animal summoning charm back out, I murmur, “Creatures of the land, sky, and sea, I relinquish you from your service to me.” An instant later, the swarm of bees begins to dissolve, and the rather confused-looking insects buzz away into the forest. The charm would have worn off in time, considering it’s a bargain basement medallion that most trolls would probably turn their noses up at, but the last thing I want is to have a bunch of stinging insects following me home… even if they were on my side.

Tossing my long red hair back over my shoulder, I turn back around and continue to pick my way between the trees. Mental note, I think as I move past a bramble bush, its thorns scratching at my arms as I go, next time wait until you know the guy isn’t leaving the house. Hey, we all make mistakes, right?

Before long, I begin to hear the sounds of muffled voices, and a few more moments of walking bring me to a small clearing. There are bushes on the far side, and I can make out the faint shape of a dirt path winding away between the trees - that’s our ticket home, if Peyton doesn’t decide to have mercy on me and transport us back to civilization. John is standing by the road, backing up slowly and pointing accusingly at Peyton as he moves. “I don’t give a shit who you are,” he snaps. “I just want you to stay away from me, you… you… you freak of nature!”

Peyton sighs, rolling his eyes. “John, this would be a lot easier for all of us if you would just stand still for a moment,” he says.

“Like hell!” John exclaims. “Why don’t you tell me how you were floating first, huh? How about that?!” He catches sight of me and bristles, turning his angry gaze on me. “And what the hell were you doing back there? Why were you on my bike?”

I raise my eyebrows, a little surprised that he noticed while he was dangling over the edge of a cliff. “Believe me,” I tell him, “you really don’t want to know.”

Peyton shoots me a glance when he hears my voice. “Not now, Karma,” he mutters. “You’ve done enough damage here.”

I roll my eyes and turn my attention back to John. “Just hold still,” I tell him, savoring the barely-disguised panic in his expression when I say it. “This will all be over soon.”

“What are you-” John begins, but he hesitates, and that brief moment is all Peyton needs. His hand is already flying to his pocket, pulling out one of his own charms. I see him rub a small circle over its brass surface with his thumb, his gaze fixed on John, and moments later, the douchebag’s eyes are glowing a pale blue color, the same way Peyton’s spear did earlier. His shoulders slump, his jaw goes slack, and as soon as his eyes stop glowing, they glaze over, no more recognition in them. “What…?” he begins, looking around as if in a daze. “Where am I…?” His eyes suddenly widen, and he whirls around, his arms flying out. “The bees!” he