Storm Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,10

mother. You are a monster,” I reply.

“Do as I ask,” he dryly responds, like I’m wasting his time. I meet Ruby’s eyes, and I know I have to do this. He will kill her and so many more, and by then, I would be so weak he could control me.

This was his plan all along. Letting me get close to Ruby was the plan because he knows I won’t refuse him.

By saving her, I’m condemning thousands. How will I ever be able to live with myself after this?

The answer is simple. I won’t.

“Ruby—” My voice catches on a sob. “Close your eyes and don’t open them no matter what. I need you to do that for me. Please, Ruby.”

I shamelessly beg her because no child should see a city destroyed, and it’s the last good thing I will be able to do. She slowly closes her eyes, and the relief I feel is short-lived, soon replaced with dread and fear. And so much guilt it hurts.

I turn to the city and walk to the edge of the red barrier and lift my hands in the air. The power pushes against me all the time, and when I set it free, it blasts out of my body like a bird flying for the first time. I feel my feet leave the ground, the warmth of the power surrounding my body, and as I open my eyes, I watch my power crash into the city in a green wave. The high-rises are burnt away like dust and replaced with forests, tall mountains in the middle of them and so much green it hurts to see. The wave doesn’t stop for miles, never tiring me, even as I try to pull it back. With a fight, I manage to stop the waves leaving my hands, and I collapse to the dirty sidewalk, my cheek pressed into the gravel.

Ruby’s cries are the only thing that I manage to hold onto as I crawl to my feet. Neritous watches the city with wonder and something akin to love in his cold eyes.

“Let her go, you promised me,” I spit out, and he shoves her towards me, removing the dagger as he continues to watch the city. She runs as fast as she can to me, just as a car spins off the main path, directly at her. “Ruby!” I scream as the car hits her, knocking her over the edge of the bridge and into the air. For a second, the world slows down as Ruby screams and falls in the air, and I can’t use this new power to save her. Without needing to think about it, I run and climb up the barrier of the bridge and jump off the side. The fall seems longer than it likely is, and it’s seconds before I crash into the cold water, going far deeper than I wanted to. I search the water for Ruby, spinning around as I pick up my necklace. I place the water charm into my mouth, letting the power wash over me and give me the ability to breathe underwater for a few minutes. I swim around until I see her red hair and immediately head straight to her. I’m inches away when the water changes around me, turning into a whirlwind and sucking me down further to the bed. I can’t even scream as it takes me.

Chapter 8

Coughing up water, I dig my hands into the sand as I focus on trying to breathe. A tiny hand pats my back, and soon I suck in a deep breath. I turn my head to the side as Ruby hugs me, soaking wet in the blue dress she was wearing when she fell into the river. I hug her tightly as I sit up, wondering if I’m dreaming or more likely, dead. We are on a sweeping beach that I don’t recognise at all, and it’s warm, borderline hot, as the sun dries our clothes. My ball gown is torn in many places, and my heels are gone. I’m sure the tiara got lost in the water too, but none of that matters; I actually think we are alive. I remember the whirlwind of water, and then everything is dark after that.

“Are you okay?” I ask her, and she nods.

“Water goddess saved us and healed me from the car,” she explains to me, still coughing on the water a little bit.

“My name is Heaven, and yes, I am a water goddess,” a