Blood and Gold

Chapter 2

As they sailed, the Goddess by the name of Karma paced in rage. She turned to her large window-that overlooked her island-her eyes glowing a blood-red. Screamed in a fit of rage, shaking the heavens above.

She vowed to destroy the thief that had stolen her golden tears. "I, Karma, promise to take everything from the mortal thief responsible for taking my golden tears; he will know only bad luck for the rest of his life." She roared, sending shivers down the spin of the second brother.

As the brothers sailed to their new wives, they became restless and began, comparing their achievements. "I've been to battle more times than you can count," said the first brother. "Well, I've saved more daughters of kings, gaining both the father and daughter affection. In different ways of course," laughed the Second brother.

They continued for hours, their little competition became very competitive. The brothers began to yell and call each other vulgar names. The second brother ran out of achievements. Remembering the tears, he yanked the pouch from his breast pocket, shining them in the light, bragging of their beauty to the other brother.

"You idiot. You'll get us killed!" Shouted the first brother. The thief brother laughed, "You fool, she won't care, she just wanted to scare us off her island."If you say so...brother." Agreed the first brother, knowing his younger brother was no longer safe, and he couldn't do anything to protect him.

The brothers, affected by their long day, had drifted into a deep sleep. When they awoke, the sky was painted in purples, yellows, and reds. Two tall, dark figures stood in front of them, only their silhouette visible. As the boat turned, the sun extinguishing their masks. Two women of the same face stared straight at them in disgust. One dressed in diamonds, gold, and silver. The other in tar and blood.

"You have stolen from my home," they spoke in unison, hatred dripping off both of their tongues. "Return my golden tears, and I will leave you to your journey. Or I will take It by force, and you will not leave this sea."

The second brother spoke first, "We have not stolen fro-."

"Lies" howled the darker Goddess. "I tried to be fair, now you will pay for your thievery." The women merged together to create a mountainous woman. She had red skin, white hair, four eyes and four arms, teeth sharp and jagged like broken glass, and eyes with stars in them though they still seemed empty and lost.

"Give them back," cried the first brother, "before you get us killed."

"All right, here take your tears," screamed the second brother, throwing them into the sea.

"No!" Cried the Goddess. The tears were lost, taken by the sea.

The GoddessGoddess searched in the water frantically, clawing at it, as if she could dig the tears back into her hands. When she finally realized she had truly lost her tears, she snapped her head toward the brother and smashed the boat. Both brothers went flying into the air as the ship splintered.

She took the boat, crafting a raft for the first brother. For Karma had seen that there was no evil in his heart. She plucked the brother from the waves placing him on her raft. He coughed and hacked up water.

He then screamed, searched for his brother. who had just gone under the waves. To the brother's luck, he resurfaced, coughing up water.

"Here," cried the brother swimming toward the vessel. The thief swam toward the raft.The GoddessGoddess exploded into a cloud of glitter and blood, but not before placing a curse on the brothers, one of good luck and one of evil.

The brothers made it to their destination. The second brother had contracted the common cold. When they reached the home of their betrothed, both ladies went for the first brother. He was bathed in riches and cared for by the women.

The other brother was cast out and banished from the lands, for he was not fit for the daughters. He attempted to sail home, but a storm wrecked him on a remote island far from any course a ship would willingly take.

His curse caused him to be unable to catch animals, build a shelter, and anything that would keep him alive. On the third week of being on the island, he began to starve. The final night the Goddess visited him. He begged for her forgiveness, but she only looked at him with a blank stare. She stayed with him until the thief had fallen asleep. She pulled a dagger made from the gold of the tears he threw into the sea.

"A gift from Poseidon," She muttered.

As the bladed broke his skin, he began to turn into gold. His eyes flew open, and he screamed. He could see his reflection in the goddesses' dark eyes. He turned to gold slowly,  painfully. The last thing he saw was his eyes turning blood-red in her own. Then he died.