Storm Gods - G. Bailey Page 0,55
relationship with the twins, but what about them? I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a feeling for what they want, and time is running out…but I can’t bring myself to break the silence. Instead, I continue to lead them down the sloping lane and along the main road leading to the overlook.
The cliff overlooks a sprawling meadow, and although the area is developed, this is one piece of nature that hasn’t been touched. Few people know about it, and fewer visit it, which makes it even more special—I don’t think I’ve ever taken someone else here before. We trudge up the overgrown slope leading to the top, emerging in a copse of trees that opens onto a raised ledge. Below us, the verdant valley sprawls out in the light of the low sun, and I’m brought back to all the times I’ve come here seeking solace. Storm seems particularly moved after all his time spent in prison, while even Killian doesn’t make a single snarky remark. We all just stare out over the fields for some time, and if I didn’t know any better, from here, I might even think that the world wasn’t falling apart.
“I used to come up here as a little girl,” I say, walking out farther onto the ledge and slowly taking a seat. The stone is warm from the day’s sunlight, and I put my chin in my hand as I bask in the feeling. “I think the city has mostly forgotten about it. I found it by mistake.”
“This I have to hear,” Killian says, and I elbow him playfully as he and the others come to sit beside me.
“I botched my very first karma job,” I reply. “Pissed off the wrong guy—turns out, he wasn’t the one I was supposed to be messing with. Anyway, he was mad, and I ran, didn’t really care where I was going, and ended up here. He wasn’t even following me, but I didn’t know that.” I sigh. “I guess some things never change.”
I’m half-expecting one of them to give me some platitude, some shallow reassurance that we all make mistakes and that I’ve gotten better since then, but instead, they stay silent. I’m more grateful than I can express. The truth is that I was never cut out to be a karma goddess—there’s other blood running through my veins…and that’s okay. Mum’s words echo in my head, her request that I maintain my optimism, and I find myself feeling at ease for the first time in ages. Looking down at the plant tattoos on my arms, it’s not disgust I feel anymore, but acceptance. This all started because I was trying to force myself to be something that I wasn’t. What I didn’t realise was that by doing that, I was keeping myself from becoming something better.
It’s a long time before any of us speaks, until finally Seth brings up the elephant in the room. “It’s going to be bad tomorrow.”
Killian nods slowly. “Yeah. It is.”
Choosing his words carefully, Seth continues, “I know that things haven’t always been… That is, it’s been rocky, and there’s no denying that.” Killian looks at the ground but says nothing. “I just think we need to consider, in case something happens—”
Storm surprises me with the intensity of his tone. “Don’t talk like that.” Seth turns to him, eyes wide, but the weather god holds his ground. “We’re going to kill Neritous. We’re going to stop the twins. And we’re going to be fine—all of us.”
“I…didn’t expect you to care so much,” Seth replies, not making eye contact.
“I didn’t, for a long time,” Storm admits. “But there are things that are more important than pride.” Taking a shaky breath, he looks from Seth to Killian. “And if the two of you love her the way that I do, then we’re on the same side. I’m…I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to see that.”
Seth blinks. “Apology accepted.”
“Ditto,” says Killian.
“Guys…” I say, overcome with emotion. None of them says anything; nothing needs to be said. Instead, each one shifts closer to me. I relax back into Storm’s chest, my hands intertwined with the justice twins’, and even the sight of the vista below us pales in comparison to the warmth I’m feeling in my heart.
The sun drops below the horizon not long after, and we decide that it’s time to head back. I probably won’t sleep well tonight, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try to get to bed early all the