Storm Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,24

homework?” I persist, reaching out and taking her by the shoulders. She flinches at my touch, looking panicked. “Who was it who always told me when I’d picked an ugly outfit or when I had food on my face? Who was it who came through for me every damn time I needed her?”

“Stop!” she yells. “Stop it! Get out! I can’t…”

She’s fighting it, I realise with a surge of hope. She’s feeling something, but she’s fighting it. Looking down, I’m shocked to see green magic drifting out of me in tiny streams across the floor, stretching all the way to her. She doesn’t move as they wrap around her like vines, smothering her body all the way to her head, looking like a crown.

“Mads, listen to me,” I say, pulling her closer. “I’m your best friend. I’m Karma, and you’re Mads. And I’m not leaving you behind.”

“Please…” It sounds half like an order and half like begging. The magic in the room seems to get stronger, pushing out of my soul and hers. Connecting us.

I never thought the way back might be the way she was changed. This magic ruined her…but can it fix her memories?

I lean in, resting my forehead against hers and staring into her eyes. There’s uncertainty there…but also the faintest flicker of recognition. “Look at me,” I command. “Look at me and tell me you don’t know who I am. Tell me you don’t know who you are.”

She struggles, trying to push me away, but I hold onto her tightly, not breaking eye contact. Tears leak out of her eyes, her face contorting with frustration and confusion, but I remain steady, boring into her eyes with a look that I hope conveys my desperation. A second passes, and then another, and slowly, I feel her start to still in my arms. I realise she’s trembling, and moments later, a single word slips out of her mouth.

“Karma?”

And the magic disappears with a slam that leaves me dizzy and smiling.

Chapter 12

I feel like the weight of the world has just been lifted off my shoulders, relief washing over me in a sweet wave. I pull Mads into a tight embrace, squeezing her as hard as I can. She returns the gesture, her arms coming up to my back almost wonderingly, like she’s just been woken up from a deep sleep. “Mads,” I say, finally pulling back to look her in the eyes. “Do you…?”

She swallows and nods, her eyes already shining with tears. “I remember…” Her voice trails off, and her eyebrows furrow. “I remember Eenta,” she says slowly, as if she’s wracking her memory. “She…they…did something to me, back at the castle. Oh my god,” she says, her eyes going wide. “The fight—the sword—I… Karma, I’m so…”

“Hey, it’s okay,” I assure her, smoothing some matted white hair out of her face. “You weren’t you.”

“It’s all still a little hazy,” Mads admits, shaking her head slowly, “but I remember you. I remember my job, and your family, and…” She freezes, her whole body stiffening. “Peyton,” she breathes, meeting my eyes frantically. “Peyton, he—we—”

“I know,” I assure her, keeping a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “It’s all right, Mads. He’s fine. They’re all fine.”

“Thank god,” she says, burying her face in her hands. “I said so many horrible things to him. To you. Karma, I’m so sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” I insist. “They wiped your memories, Mads. We were starting to think we would never get you back.”

Mads hesitates, staring down at her bound hands like she’s never seen them before in her life. “Not just the memories,” she says in a low, scared voice. “They did something else to me, didn’t they? Magic.”

I bite my lip, unsure what to tell her. “Yes,” I reply at last. “They gave you magic. They actually…” I take a breath. “They made you into one of us. A goddess.”

Mads swallows hard, looking like she’s going to be sick. “Why would they do this to me?”

“They needed a puppet,” I reply, shrugging. “And they needed leverage. To them, you were both. But you’re safe now, Mads. You’re here.”

“But I can’t be a goddess,” she protests, sounding panicked. “I’m not like you, Karma! I’m just a person. There’s nothing special about me. You were always the special one.”

“That’s not true,” I tell her. “You’ve always been special. They’ve just…made you a little more special, that’s all.”

Mads chuckles dryly, leaning back against the windowsill and raking a hand through her hair. “Just so