Storm Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,50
my hands, unable to summon the energy to even go hide in my hair. “Kit, what’s wrong?” I ask, but the goblin doesn’t respond, his head dropping onto his chest and his eyes closing. A second later, he collapses into my open hands, his breathing slow and laboured.
“What’s wrong with him?” asks Ruby.
“I don’t know,” I reply, my voice shaking. I prod at the goblin gently, murmuring his name a couple times, but he doesn’t even react. If it weren’t for the shallow movements of his chest, I might mistake him for dead. Panicking, I look at Storm. “Did we push him too hard?”
Storm shakes his head, at a loss. “I don’t know. I’ve never spent much time with goblins.” I swallow hard, fighting back tears. Losing Hugo was bad enough. After that, losing Kit feels damn near unthinkable. I feel a gentle hand on my arm and look to see the weather god watching me. “We need to find Emerald,” he says. “Carry Kit; I can port us home.”
“Is he sick?” I ask, the fear making my voice shake.
Storm can only shake his head. “I wish I knew. Maybe he’s just resting.” Gently, he takes my free hand in his. “Come on. It shouldn’t be far from here.”
Feeling numb, I allow him to pull me in the direction of the main road. The portal has closed behind us now, and the only evidence that remains of our transport is the fact that Kit is lying comatose in my hands. Struggling to fight off the ball of worry that’s fallen over me, I tuck the little goblin into my bag, giving him one last concerned look as we make our way down to the city centre. It feels strange to be back here, foreign like our last visit was a lifetime ago. It’s hard to believe it was so recent; so much has changed since then. Ruby remains quiet as we walk, almost sombre in her attitude, and my heart goes out to her. She’s already learned not to be optimistic, and she’s only a child. This is what the higher gods have done to us.
Trying not to think about Kit, I follow Storm’s lead; I can’t remember where we went last time, but he seems to, and before long we’re approaching a familiar alleyway. The brick wall still looks deceptively like a dead end, except this time I’m not worried as I watch Storm disappear through the shimmering barrier. Exchanging a look with Ruby, I nod and lead her through. There’s that same strange rush, and then we’re emerging on the other side. The magical market is much like it was last time, although some of the stalls seem to have rotated. The temptation of the products is dulled by my mental state, though, and I doggedly make a beeline for the stairs leading up to the overhead apartments, with Storm and Ruby at my sides. When we arrive at Emerald’s door, I feel a surge of nervousness as I knock once and then twice.
There’s the sound of movement on the other side, and then the familiar blonde woman pokes her head through. She opens her mouth to speak to me and Storm, but before she can say anything, her eyes land on Ruby, and then everything is happening at once. She swoops in, scooping the girl up before I have a chance to react, and she’s crying as she says her daughter’s name again and again. “Oh my god,” she murmurs, stroking Ruby’s hair and squeezing her against her chest. “Oh my god, Ruby. It’s you. You’re back.”
“It’s okay, mum,” Ruby assures her. “It’s me. Karma saved me.”
“Where was she?” Emerald asks us, still not letting go of her daughter.
“Neritous had her,” I reply grimly. “He was trying to use his children as lab rats.” Seeing the panic on her face, I hasten to add, “He didn’t do anything to Ruby, though. We made it out in time.”
“Thank the gods,” Emerald murmurs. “I have no idea how to repay you.”
“You don’t have to,” I tell her. “She’s my half-sister. I’m just glad I was able to bring her back.”
“You can’t let Neritous get away with this,” Emerald says, her eyes flashing. “Ruby was alive this whole time, which means Jade was innocent. He framed her.”
“I know,” I reply, voice hard. “But this will at least clear her name. It’s the least we can do.” Pressing my lips into a thin line, I add, “I’m going to make Neritous