and forced down your throat like that isn’t a pleasant experience - it’s overwhelming, and it’s making me regret ever having taken that job in the first place. I’m sure as hell not the introspective type, and I hate having to look through some of my weakest memories like that.
I didn’t sign up for any of this.
I become aware that Storm’s eyes are very slowly beginning to drift over my body, the look on his face curious and inquisitive, but not lecherous, like I might have expected. I have no doubt my wet clothes are see-through in some places, and I shiver as I feel his gaze sweeping over me. I feel like a drowned rat, but he isn't looking at me like one. Gods, I wish he weren’t so distracting.
"You're a complete and utter asshole," I point out, moving my hands to my hips to emphasise my point and try to get his attention off my body. It’s strange - I don’t feel violated to have him looking at me; on the contrary, some part of me enjoys having his eyes on my figure. I think that’s what’s making me uncomfortable. Now’s not the time for schoolyard crushes.
Storm meets my eyes, and there is nothing but amusement on his face. “Did you just call me an asshole?” he asks in that posh, old-fashioned accent of his, cocking his head to the side. “No one has had the guts to insult me in hundreds of years.”
“Trust me, they are all thinking it,” I assure him. “They just haven’t said it to your face. Honestly, I’m surprised you’re still in charge around here, considering what a pompous prick you are.” He blinks, looking a little taken aback, and for a brief moment I wonder if I overdid it on the insults, but then he just starts grinning even more broadly. It’s almost like he knows his smile is dangerously charming, and his eyes glimmer in the dim lights of the prison as he crosses his arms over his chest. This god is distractingly handsome, and the last thing I need right now is to be distracted. What I need to be focusing on is finding out everything I can about this place. The more information I have, the easier it will be to keep myself safe… and keep the others safe, if it comes to that. It’s not that I think I can protect them any better than they can protect themselves, per se; it’s just that… I don’t know. Maybe I feel a little connected to them, since we’re all stuck in here together. Even though Seth and Killian put me in here, I don’t want to see them get ripped limb from limb by a bunch of angry prisoners.
Damn, Karma, I think to myself, are you getting soft, or what?
Either way, I’ll have to wait until the twins and Jade have passed their test, and then stick close to them. I have no doubt they will pass; the creature, whatever it was, seemed to be looking through my memories to decide if I was an ethical person. Jade won’t have any troubles; she was framed, and the creature will see that. And as for the twins… Well, they believe they’ve done nothing wrong. They might be locking up innocent people, but they don’t know that, and I suspect that creature will see that when it looks through their memories. I hope.
“I think I’m going to keep you around, Karma,” Storm decides, nodding decisively in my direction. Seriously? After I’ve just called him an asshole and wondered why the prisoners haven’t rebelled already? Clearly this guy’s lacking in the brain department, even if he’s got the body of an Adonis.
“You can try,” I tell him, “but I tend to kill assholes like you. At least, that’s what they keep telling me.” I force a grin, wondering if by now he’s heard what I did to end up in here. Considering his position here, I would be surprised if he hasn’t. “Just a warning.” I mean, to be fair, I did kill a god, but it was an accident. I don’t think I could pull it off twice… but he doesn’t know that.
He smirks, shaking his head condescendingly enough to make me bristle. Okay, maybe he does know.
“Good thing I can’t be killed then, isn’t it?” he replies, leaning down so his face is inches from mine. This close, I have a chance to appreciate every ruggedly handsome feature, his eyes