Imprisoned Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,8
could notice weird things that are magical happening by accident. Humans have a curious nature, and the last thing I need when I’m trying to do my job is someone poking their nose where it doesn’t belong. Mads is a different story - she lives by herself, and I don’t have to worry about her catching on to my magical doings. Besides, at the end of the day, I really don’t mind living with my family. We keep to ourselves, and the house is spelled - part of a renovation my parents had done when my mom was pregnant with me. The charm makes it much larger on the inside than it appears on the outside, such that each of us has our own room, and it’s easy enough to avoid each other in the aftermath of a siblings quarrel… or a botched job, like the one I just did.
The house has a brown cobbled stone exterior, small white panelled windows, and moss growing up the one side. It’s the very definition of cute little houses, and the very last place you’d expect a family of karma gods to live. The street is full of these little detached houses with long gardens behind them, all in neat rows. The only difference is that, while the others in the neighborhood are probably struggling for space, that’s something we never have to worry about. In front of our house is the local park, which was awesome to live by as a kid. My old primary and high schools are two streets over, and there is a row of shops on the other side of the village. It has everything you could want, and really, you don’t have to leave unless you want more than a humble life. All in all, it’s the sort of unassuming place that’s perfect for someone who wants to fly under the radar.
I cross my arms as the wind blows against me, making the god awful smell of pond water that much stronger. I need a shower like yesterday. As I walk through the door that Peyton left open, closing it gently behind me, I’m immediately struck by the smell of mum’s cooking, which is followed by the pungent undertones of polish. Something is up. Mum doesn’t get the polish out unless there is a good reason.
The house is warm, bright and relaxing from the moment you step inside. The paneled windows let in a great deal of natural light, and the antique furniture and carefully-curated paintings on the walls give it an air of homeyness- even, I suspect, for someone who doesn’t live here. Elsewhere in the house, I can hear my other siblings bustling about, most of them probably just returning from their latest missions. The sound of mum cooking filters into the front entryway, but it immediately silences the moment I let the door fall shut behind me.
Mum sweeps out of the kitchen like a whirlwind, wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron as she stops on the threshold. I glance at her flowery top tucked into dark trousers and her dark red hair pulled neatly into a bun. Her eyes are like mine, big and green, but she is taller than I am - which isn’t fair, if you ask me. She puts her hands on her hips as she takes in my appearance, and looks as if she’s about to question me about it, but then seems to think the better of it, pursing her lips instead. Thank the gods for small favors. “Karma, there you are!” she says. “Where on earth have you been? And why are you soaking wet?”
I sigh. So much for that then. “Believe me,” I tell her, “you don’t want to know.” She eyes me incredulously, and it becomes clear that she’s not going to leave this alone. “I had a bit of an accident on my last job,” I mutter, breaking eye contact and scuffing the sole of my boot against the floor. “But it all worked out in the end - I delivered the karma. And don’t worry, don’t worry,” I add, putting up my hands when she opens her mouth to ask the inevitable question. “The guy’s fine. Not that he deserves it, if you ask me, but…”
Mum sighs and shakes her head. “What are we going to do with you, Karma?” she asks, and then shakes herself. “Well, at any rate, I’m glad you’re home. Your brother has a new girlfriend, and he is