We Were Gods: Oleander: Book One

II. Make Your Judgements, As You See Fit

Did I scare you, pet? You didn't honestly think Anubis would be the only one getting his story told, did you? Of course you did, mortal. I forget that mortals are not as sharp as they should be. But what mortals lack in thought they make up for in emotions. Strong emotions are for the weak.

It wasn't always like this. The fighting, I mean. At one point I am certain my brother and I got along. But that was long, long ago. Far before this mortal body ensnared me.

I have heard, through the grapevine that my brother is having problems adjusting to his true form; to this new life. I've heard it said that he is denying his true identity and begging to stay a mortal.

It's a shame really.

I certainly hope, dear puppet, that you have not grown too fond of Anubis. Attachments to Gods never end pleasantly. You'll understand this better as the story progresses further, but for now just know humans and Gods should never love one another.

You might think me harsh or "evil" but I can assure you that I am not the only one with blood on my hands.

Anubis is just as guilty as I am.

Calm now, dear reader. Do not go and defend him. Do not make false assumptions garnered from his side only. You do not know my brother like I do. You do not know what he is capable of. Gods are terrible and powerful entities. We enjoy destruction, chaos, and watching humans suffer. You might be saying to yourself that your Christian God is not like that. Have you even read His book written by man? The bible starts out with His washing away of many lives. It starts with cursing. It starts with vengeance. No God is innocent.

Did I strike a chord with you, human? I certainly hope so.

I am not here to entertain your thoughts of heroism or the dreams that good triumphs over evil. Heroes do not exist. Good people die all of the time. Good people do bad things. Life happens and the world stays in balance because the Gods deem it necessary.

I am going to challenge you, my sweet listener, to see Anubis for who he really is. See me as I really am. Life is but a balancing act and if the scales were tipped this way or that... Chaos, right?

You see, mortal, that is where you are wrong. The scales are already tipped. The world is already against you and there is no true balance to the world. Chaos is life. The thought that the world is full of equally good people as there are bad or more good than bad is but a child's dream. The world is inherently bad. The world is in balance when there is no balance.

You assume that I am a villain because of how I see the world. But what if I told you I was beat as a child? What if I told you I went hungry every night? What if I told you some not so nice things happened to me on one summer's night?

If I say all of these things to you, what say you, human? Am I bad? Or did the world, who sought to abuse me, create who and what I am in this life?

A tragic backstory fixes everything to you mortals, doesn't it?

If I am sad and in pain then my torment is justified. Two wrongs make a right, after all. Though we are taught as children to "turn the other cheek" it is acceptable to act out violently if you feel sympathy for me or my character.

I will leave you here for now, poppet. I do hope you figure out who the villains are soon though...