Imprisoned Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,63
makes sense; if the creature devours anyone truly evil during their test, then the horrible reality is that nobody who survives actually deserves to be in here. I wonder if the original purpose of the prison was to try prisoners, and not necessarily convict them - maybe the creature was placed here to see if people truly deserved to be imprisoned, with the intention of eventually releasing those who passed the test. But somewhere along the line, the higher gods forgot… or maybe they just never cared in the first place. Either way, the flaws in the system are all starting to dawn on me at once, and I feel a fresh surge of anger toward the higher gods. I had known they were assholes, but I didn’t have any idea of just how much. It’s enough to make my blood boil, and I can feel my nails digging into the palms of my hands.
If Coxen notices my anger, he doesn’t give any indication. I guess at this point he must have just accepted his lot in life, no matter how unjust. That must be the only way to survive in a place like this, and feeling sorry for yourself when there’s no way out is a waste of time, at the end of the day. He turns away from me, not looking back to make sure I’m following, and begins to walk towards a large stone archway leading to a ledge.
He steps out, and I follow him, pausing for a second as I take in the sight in front of me. The ledge is covered in moss, which spreads like a carpet onto the three bridges connected to it. Two of the bridges lead off to rows of caves, but the one in the middle leads to a big house. It looks completely out of place in this austere environment - almost cozy, if that’s even possible in a place like this. It’s made from carved stone and wood at the front, and it seems to extend into a cave behind it, as if it was built into the stone itself. Out in the front are dozens of pots and planting bays, filled with everything from herbs to strawberry plants. They all seem healthy, although I won’t pretend to be a gardening expert, and I’m stunned to see a beam of sunlight shining in from a set of tiny glass holes on the ceiling. We must be on the very top floor, and I wonder why on earth Storm would send me all the way up here.
The openings in the roof are a tease of the outside, and I’m reminded of how long it’s been since I’ve seen sunlight; the sight of it is almost enough to make me cry. The glass holes are inaccessible because of the big metal bars that stretch across the ceiling. The bars look burnt, scratched and damaged no doubt from people trying to escape. This high up, I can also see a swirling ball of light above us, floating in the air. What is that? It looks like some sort of magical energy, although I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Another question for later, I think dryly. That is, if anyone is even willing to give me answers around here.
"This way," Coxen says, his tone businesslike as he walks to the middle bridge, and I hurry after him. From here, I can get a better look at the other bridges, and I see that they lead away to more caves, as well as a ledge that’s also covered in plants. It dawns on me that Coxen is leading me toward the house, and I’m stunned. Why the hell would they put me in a place like this when everyone else around here is stuck in caves and cages? It doesn’t make sense.
"No way am I staying in this big house,” I say, my eyes wide as I take in the sight in front of us. “Who lives here, anyway?" Cozen doesn't answer me as we walk across the bridge, and I try not to look down as it sways gently beneath us. Being forced to jump off the last bridge I crossed didn’t do anything good for my fear of heights.
"Storm lives here, but he has spare rooms. He wants to keep you close," Coxen tells me, glancing back for a moment with a look that I can’t read.
I stop dead on the stone step just off the bridge, crossing my arms