"You're a complete and utter asshole," I point out, moving my hands to my hips to emphasise my point and try to get his attention off my body. He meets my eyes, and there is nothing but amusement in them.

  “Did you just call me an asshole?” he asks in that posh, old-fashioned accent of his, cocking his head to the side. “No one has had the guts to insult me in hundreds of years.”

  “Trust me, they are all thinking it, and it’s just the fact no one has said it to your face,” I reply, which only makes him smile more. This god is distractingly handsome, just when the last thing I need is a distraction. I need to figure out everything about this place and how to keep myself safe. Oh, and wait for the twins and Jade to pass the test so I can keep them close. I have no doubt they will pass because the twins believe they have done nothing wrong. They may be locking people up that are innocent, but they don’t know that.

  “I think I’m going to keep you around, Karma,” the silly god decides. Clearly, all his muscle and pretty looks have zeroed out his brain cells.

  “You can try, but I tend to kill assholes like you. Just a warning,” I reply, totally lying my ass off. I mean, I did kill a god, but it was an accident. I don’t think I could pull it off twice, and the smirk on his lips suggests he already knows this.

  “Good thing I can’t be killed then, isn’t it?” he replies, leaning his face close to mine. “Now, why are you here, little Karma? What did you do?”

  “Did you just call me little again? I’m short, not little, and that is super offensive,” I say, wishing I had heels on so I could at least reach this god’s chin. Or throw my heels at him and hope for the best.

  “Says the girl that just called me an asshole,” he smoothly replies.

  “Touché,” I mutter. He has me there.

  "Storm, we should get on with the test. Everyone is waiting," a young guy with dark skin, black eyes, short grey hair and a cheeky grin says as he comes to our side. "You must be Karma, I'm Coxen." I go to shake his hand when Storm smoothly moves between us, blocking my view of Coxen so I can only see Storm’s back.

  "Hey, that's rude," I protest, having the urge to smack his back but deciding that stepping to his side is more appropriate. I don't think touching him would be good for me. Nope, it's bad enough he looks good enough to lick. I don't catch everything Storm whispers, but damn does Coxen look nervous when I look at him.

  "Coxen is going to show you to your new home. I will come and find you later," Storm states before he starts to walk off.

  "Wait!" I shout at his back, totally pissed off how he continues to walk to the bridge and ignore me. "You didn't give me my bag back!"

  "I sent it to your room, you can thank me later!" he shouts back before the crowd of people follows him, and I can't see him anymore.

  "He really thinks he is all that, doesn't he?" I ask Coxen, who sheepishly shrugs.

  "Come on, it's one hell of a walk to your home," he tells me, nodding his head towards the back of the ledge where there are stone stairs that go up and down. Coxen walks up the steps, and I shiver from the cold and the fact I'm soaking wet as I climb up the steps after him. We must climb hundreds of steps, passing dozens of ledges with bridges as we go and a few people who don’t make eye contact before Coxen finally stops. I'm out of breath, leaning against the cold stone wall as Coxen waits for me.

  "So," I breathlessly start, "what did you do to get locked up in here?"

  "My mum was locked up, and I was born here eighteen years ago. I didn't do anything, but I pay the price anyway," he explains to me, waiting for me to straighten up as I get my breath back. "And before you ask, I don't know what my mum did. The people brought me up as she died in childbirth like a lot of people here do. We don't have doctors or skilled healers, so we have to manage."

  "That's a shitty deal for you. How many people are born here? I saw children on my way in," I say, starting to realise how much of a bad deal some of these people have gotten. If all the gods knew children were being born in here, kept in here for their entire lives, I would like to think they would protest to get them out. That is a terrible fate for anyone.

  "Most the people alive in here now were born here. The monster below kills anyone who truly deserves to be in here, and Storm makes sure everyone takes the test," he explains to me before walking to the archway. He steps out, and I follow him, pausing for a second as I take in the sight in front of me. The ledge is covered in moss that spreads onto the three bridges connected to it. The bridges lead off to rows of caves, but the one in the middle leads to a big house that is made from carved stone and wood at the front, and it seems to extend into a cave behind it. Out in the front are dozens of pots and planting bays, filled with everything from herbs to strawberry plants, healthily growing. Sunlight beams in from tiny glass holes at the top of the building, almost teasing of the outside. You can't get to the glass holes because of the big metal bars that stretch across the ceiling. The bars look burnt, scratched and damaged no doubt from people trying to escape. This high up, I can see the swirling ball of light above us, floating in the air. What is that? Another question for later.

  "This way," Coxen says, walking to the middle bridge, and I quickly walk after him. I see that the other bridges lead to more caves and a ledge with more plants on it.

  "No way am I staying in this big house. Who lives here?" I ask Coxen, who doesn't answer me as we walk across the bridge, and I try not to look down as the bridge lightly sways.

  "Storm lives here, but he has spare rooms. He wants to keep you close," Coxen tells me, glancing back for a moment with a look that I can’t read.

  "I'm not living with him," I firmly state, stopping on the stone step just off the bridge.

  "It isn't because he likes you, it's just a thing he does with everyone new. They live with him for a week, settle in, and choose where they would like to live in the prison. If the others in that cage survive, he will move them in as well," Coxen gently explains to me, though for some reason I'm a little disappointed that I'm the same as everyone else. "Honestly, Storm may be all talk, but he is a good guy. I've never seen him do anything but help those who need it. He even opens his home to strangers because they need it. That's who he is."

  "He is still an asshole," I point out.

  "You'll learn," he says, shaking his head at me with a smile. I roll my eyes and walk after him through the plants, gently running my fingers across the leaves. Coxen pushes open the wooden door, which apparently doesn't need to be locked, although anyone that tried to steal from Storm would have to be pretty brave.

  "Welcome to your temporary home," Coxen says as I walk into the entrance hall, shutting the door behind me. It's a small corridor with big stone archways on either side, and a staircase at the end which is made of wood, taking up all the space. Everything looks hand carved from scratch, and I have to admit it's done extremely well. "To the right is the kitchen and dining room combined, and Storm's private study is right behind there. That's the only room you aren't allowed in." He pauses to make sure I nod in understanding before looking to the left. "The living room is this way, and it opens up into the steam room at the back."

  "Steam room?"

  "Yes, there is even a natural rock pool in there. The caves were naturally here before the prison was built around them. Lucky really, as they are our water supply and help us grow food enough to feed everyone. Though we are all vegetarians," he explains to me, and I cringe. I love my burgers, bacon and everything meat related. I guess I will learn to cope...possibly. Coxen walks to the staircase, and I follow him, walking up them and into the stone-walled corridor. This is inside the cave now, I'm sure. There are at least seven doors down the corridor on the left side, and the right is a dead end. Coxen walks with me all the way to the end of the corridor before opening the last door and waving a hand for me to go inside.

  "Thanks," I tell him.

  "This is your room. Storm's room is the first door closest to the stairs, and mine is right next to it," he explains to me. “Though we all like our private space, so I wouldn’t go walking in people’s rooms.”

  "So, you live here?" I ask him.

  "Storm took me in when I was ten and causing big trouble. I needed a strong role model, and he was that for me. I don’t know, he helped me find my strengths and use them, so I just ended up sticking around much to his annoyance,” he explains, somewhat awkwardly brushing a hand through his hair. "I will be around if you need me, Karma. Dinner is in about four hours. Oh, and your powers are weakened here. Any magical objects won’t work either, it’s part of the magic of the prison. I thought you should know.” Well, at least I don’t have my necklace for it not to work.

  "Thanks again," I reply before he nods and walks off down the corridor. I shut the door, resting my head against the wood and trying not to panic at how permanent this situation is starting to feel. I turn around, looking at the room I have been given. My bag sits on a single bed with blue sheets and a throw pillow that looks handmade. There is a woven trunk at the end of the bed and a blue rug in front of it. The room has another door in it, which I walk over and pull open to find a bathroom. Well, it's an old-fashioned one with a hole for a toilet, but as I go and look down it, I see it goes to a stream of running water. There is no shower, so I'm assuming the sauna and pool room downstairs is for that. There is a counter with a basin filled with hot water; a soap and sponge cloth are on the side waiting for me along with a rough feeling towel. I place the sponge cloth in the water and breathe out a deep sigh after cleaning my face. I just have to wait for the twins to pass the test, and then I can ask them how they plan to get out of here.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I finally finish washing my body with the cloth when there is a knock on my door. I pick the towel up, wrapping it around my naked body before leaving the bathroom. I go to the door, edging it open to see Killian there, soaking wet with his arms crossed. Damn, he looks good wet.

  "I wanted to check you were alright," he tells me, and like he suddenly realises I'm just in a towel, his eyes widen. "I didn't expect you to have no clothes on when I knocked."

  "I have a towel on, and as you can see, I'm good. Did Seth and Jade pass the test?" I ask him, slightly relieved to know he passed and I’m not on my own. Plus, he is my ticket out of here, and I need him alive for that.

  "I don't know. They threw a screaming Jade off the bridge the last time I saw them, and Seth was still in the cage. Storm wanted him to go last for some reason," Killian explains. "My room is next to yours." He points a thumb to my right.

  "For what it is worth, I'm happy you didn't die," I admit, pulling my bottom lip into my mouth as I start to really register how attractive Killian looks like this. His top is stuck to his chest, making his muscular and toned body easy to see. His blond hair is darker wet, pushed to the side as little drops drip down past his dark eyebrows and his full lashes. How is it even fair he has eyelashes like that? I'd have to wear some pretty expensive fake ones to even get close to his.

  "Are you alright?" he asks, and I shake my head, snapping out of it.

  "Just cold. I'm going to get dressed, and you might want to clean up. You smell," I say, needing to say something that is far from the truth. He doesn't smell, well not bad anyways.

  "Yeah, I might do," he laughs, wiping some water droplets off his forehead. We smile at each for a moment, and I shake my head. What am I doing? He is my kidnapper, and I have to remember that. He hasn’t even said sorry yet.

  "I still haven't forgiven you for throwing me in here, you know that, right?" I say as he steps away, pausing, though he doesn’t look back. "That test would have killed me if I were evil. If I were lying to you about killing that god by accident, I would be dead. Now I'm locked in here because you wouldn't listen. I really hope someone comes for you two, to save you and get you back to your job, because when that happens, you are taking Jade and me with you. You know deep down that we shouldn't be here."

  "It seems I don't know anything, Karma," he softly replies, and I wonder what the little slideshow of his life showed him. He turns his head back to look me in the eye. "I did my job...but I am sorry. That's all I can say or do for now."

  "It's enough..." I reply and step back, shutting the door before he sees any more emotions from me. Dammit, these attractive guys are messing with my head. I glance at my bag, knowing the last thing I want to do is get bitten by a goblin to get my clothes out. Groaning, I pull myself away from the door and get the bag, opening the top and tipping the contents out on my bed. Kit bounces out my bag, glaring up at me as he hisses.

  "Sorry, Kit. Though, I have a new bed for you to hide under," I say, putting the bag down, pausing when I see my necklace pushed under the gap of the door and hear someone’s footsteps walking away. My necklace that Seth took off me and gave to Killian. Why would Killian give me it back? I pick it up as Kit hisses once more before jumping off and hurrying under the bed to no doubt make his new home. Bloody weird creature, that one is.

  I pull on my underwear, including my favourite red lacy bra before putting on my top and jeans. After putting my jar of peanut butter on the bedside table, I count that I have two more spare underwear and only one more top before I run out of clean clothes. I put all the clothes and my bag into the box at the end of the bed before hanging the wet clothes from the bathroom over the bathroom door for them to dry. I glance down at my necklace, feeling a million times better now I have it on. I'm not powerless exactly without it, but all my powers are mental and not physical, which I think won't help me here. Even if the charms don’t work, they make me feel better. Deciding it's best I have a look around, I walk to my door and pull it open, heading out into the corridor. I get to the stairs just as Jade is walking up them with Coxen. She is soaking wet, but damn, am I happy to see her alive.

  "Did I ever mention how much cats fucking hate cold water?" she says, stopping in front of me, huffing. "We really, really hate it. Like, swimming is not something I like to do unless it’s a spa."

  "I didn't think of that, but hey, at least you are alive," I say, trying to give her something to smile about.

  "Yeah, swimming and reliving all of my worst memories. This is just the best fucking day ever," she huffs, and I can't help the laugh that leaves my lips. My laugh must be infectious as she smiles before laughing herself. Even Coxen smiles.

  "We should find you a room," Coxen gently suggests, and our laughs drift off.

  "Good idea. I need to get dry," Jade says and then pauses. "But I don't have any other clothes to wear."

  "Storm is on his way back with clothes for you all. He went to the market not long after Karma came up," Coxen explains to us. "I'm sure Karma could wait downstairs for him and bring you some clothes up."

  "Would you?" Jade asks me.

  "Of course," I reply, crossing my arms. "I wanted to have a look around anyway." Jade smiles at me before heading back up the stairs, and I walk down to the bottom. I walk into the kitchen first, which is like no kitchen I've seen before. The counters are made of pure stone with dark wood surfaces, and above them are the same colour wood cupboards. Herbs and dried fruits hang from the cupboards, and under them are various kitchen utensils that are all handmade. The other side of the room has a long wooden table with enough wooden chairs to seat at least eight people. The room is lit up by lights, but they don't look electric as I can't see any wires. No, these are glowing orbs that hang around the place. They are everywhere, in all the rooms, on the ceilings, by the looks of it. I wander around the kitchen before leaving it and heading into the corridor just as the door slams open. Storm stomps in with a big bag on his shoulder, which he drops on the floor as Seth follows him in the room.

  "Hey, you survived!" I say, but he only glares at me before walking up the stairs, leaving us in an awkward silence.

  "He's an angry one, isn't he?" Storm points out the obvious.

  "I think I pissed him off on our one date," I reply, moving my gaze to Storm.

  "So, you two are a thing?" he asks.

  "Oh, nope, not one little bit. He hates me," I reply with a chuckle. "He literally ran away from me on our one time date a while back. I don’t have a boyfriend." I don’t know why I add that in, but his smile suggests he is happy. God, I don’t need to make the asshole happy. I don’t even know him.

  "Good. I'm glad to hear that," Storm remarks. I don't get to ask him why as he walks back to the door, holding it open as he turns his head back. "The clothes and shit you all might need are in there. I will be back for dinner." I watch him leave, shutting the door, and for some odd reason, the house feels colder without him in it, and I feel lost.

  Chapter Nineteen

  "Something smells good," Killian says, coming into the kitchen where Coxen is cooking dinner for us all, and I will admit it does smell good even though there is no meat. It's some kind of soup, by the looks of it, and fresh bread. Jade winks at me as Killian chooses to come and sit right next to me instead of any of the other spare eight seats. "How are you?"

  "Fine, considering I'm trapped in here and have no chance of seeing my family any time soon. You?" I sarcastically answer just as Storm comes into the room, followed by Seth.

  "Do you have a big family?" Storm asks me, choosing to sit opposite me while Seth sits next to his brother.

  "Well kinda. I have three brothers, one older and two younger," I tell him.

  "Don't forget the goat," Killian adds in, reminding me that he went to see my family at some point before finding me. "He told me I was a big shite."