In the beginning there was ether and they were one. There was nothing else and they were content. Then came life and death rose from the ether and gather what was his. Then came thought and Destiny rose to gather what was his. Humanity rose, and love spun free of the ether. And when love rose close behind came hope and despair arm in arm, every growing, ever receding.
There are many more, more are yet to come as the world changes. As new needs arise, they are not gods they are an essence a substance to which the world must abide. When they rose and what brought them forth is not known. Simply that they are now and have been for as long as the word has been spoken and history passed down.
Different names, different shapes different forms, sometimes one more dominate than the other but always there. Lurking in the shadows, keeping their personal balance as they dance through human history, their reach far their effects well known but still bound by the ties of destiny.
_____Greece_______
"Ate, Ate," the worshipers cried and sitting beside his sister he simply stared.
"Greeks are strange," he mumbled.
"And why is that dear brother?"
"They worship misfortune!"
"No they pray for misfortune to befall their enemies, they obviously recognize my worth. She said with a grin. Now don't be sad because they see you as part of their other god. I'm only a minor deity dear brother. We are in a tiny temple in a tiny city state. I will give them what they ask for and they will move on to worship war."
"Why then?"
"Well it's the first time I haven't been asked not to rain misfortune it's a welcome change." When he simply rolled his eyes she smiled. "Look at it this way brother, the other's misfortune is their fortune, and you don't even have to do anything instant balance."
"So you have your fun and take away mine?"
"Why must you be so negative brother dear?" She said in a flurry of light as she made herself visible to praying masses. Her eyes were a penetrating green, her hair falling down her back in long black curls, in a gray blue, tunic and white sandals on her feet. She sent him one last wink as the humans cowered before her.
"Who dares summon Ate?"
The humans if possible cowered more and her brother tried very hard not to laugh outright, knowing the humans would be confused if his sister was distracted. He watched as the bravest of the humans step forward a platter filled with fruits placed reverently before her.
"For you goddess, the best of the harvest."
"Why have you called me?"
"We go into battle today, to defend our small home; we ask that you use your considerable power to bring us victory today."
"Would your prayers not be more useful to war?"
"He will not hear us. Our enemies have yet to be defeated. He heeds only their prayers."
"Athena," she said but shrugged what did she care why they had chosen her to worship. "I will aid you, in this," she said before vanishing. "Too much?"
"You're starting to act like one of them," he mumbled.
"I did not come in a rain of thunder and lightening and demand a larger sacrifice. Stop moping misfortune is a way of life," she added knowing that was what truly troubled him. If he could have his way everyone would be fortunate all the time. She had watched him time and time again create fortune in a way that no one else would be misfortunate causing her to do even more and for that she could only love him and his strange little mortal loving heart.
"I can't help it; I just like to see them happy."
"You do not have to come if you do not wish it, battles are never pretty."
"I will be fine, I have seen worse."
"I'm sure Eros will be happy to amuse you."
"Why does our friendship amuse you so? He is much like us, he came out of the ether."
"Because I am quite sure he wants you to fall pray to that little power of his."
"Sister you will always be strange."
"Strange are these gods, they are much like mortals."
"Because they feel emotions?"
"No because they are ruled by them, you feel pity and love for mortals but you do not try to stop me. Now watch how war will react."
They walked hand in hand across what would be the battle field come morning. Only one noticed them and at first he smiled until he noticed they passed the weaker camp and started moving towards his men. He waited though but something about fortune's demeanor made him sure it would be Ate who would decide the tide of battle.
"They are great warriors! They worship me! Stay back you demon!"
"Did you forget that I am beyond you gods? I can befall misery on you as easily as I can on these men. You do not care; you will get your blood just not the blood of who you expected."
"These are my warriors they worship me I promised them victory!" Ares snarled. "You can not do this!"
"And I promised their defeat, we'll just have to see who's the strongest," she said with a dark smile already knowing the answer.
Ares frowned and with a stomp moved to a corner simply waiting for the blood bath to begin. He had no wish to test his power against Ate, he had seen her fell Zeus with her power and all the while her brother as she liked to call him had simply stood and watched. Moving to her brother's side she slipped an arm around his waist. Leaning against him she simply watched the storm clouds form. The rain fell in torrents, soaking the ground and the invading Greeks. Ares glared at the pair and she smiled.
By morning it was a very disgruntled group that marched. With no fires they had huddled together in the cold and had enjoyed rained soaked bread as a meal. They were annoyed wet and hungry as the sun broke the horizon.
Their enemies on the other hand were well rested and dry having assembled on the muddy battlefield the moment the rain had stopped. Their misfortune did not end there however. The spear throwers could not hold their bloated twisted weapons as they bent oddly, from the rain and slippery in their hold. Apparently their weapons supplier had used cheap weak wood, which would easily fall to pieces in water.
Misfortune giggled as a spear holder dropped his spear three times and fortune simply rolled his eyes. Ares shook his head, just waiting for the battle to begin. Misfortune was the only one to watch the battle intensely at one point walking among it making ever false move a fatal one. By midday it was decided, she rejoined the duo. Taking her brother's hand she kissed Ares on the cheek and the god snarled before disappearing in a flash of fire.
"Such a big baby," Misfortune whined.
"Sister you just destroyed his pet army, for some unknown city state."
"Sparta."
"Fine you destroyed his little pet army for Sparta. He is bitter."
"Let's go visit Olympus."
"You want to tease war."
"I simply enjoy the company."
"You enjoy the decadence much for one who is beyond emotion."
"I am not beyond emotion, I just do not allow it to over rule my mind."
"Before we go I need to rain some fortune dear sister."
"Must you be so happy about it?" Misfortune asked.
"Do not sound so bitter. The course of a battle accumulates a lot of misfortune."
"The fortune of the victors."
"And the extra misfortune you heaped on the opposing force when victory was assured?" Misfortune glared at her brother. "Terrifying truly," he drawled sarcastically.
"Fine can we make this quick?"
"As quick as need be," Fortune said with a smile.
"What do you have in mind?" Misfortune asked eyeing her brother suspiciously.
"I just want to experience some Grecian hospitality."
"Fine," Misfortune said with a roll of her eyes as he appearance became that of a withered old woman with rags hanging off her old thin body for clothes. Fortune did the same, completing his aged look with a gnarled piece of wood being used as his makeshift cane.
"Can't you just leave some gold in the street and wait for some fortunate soul to pick it up?"
"This is more interesting."
"Doesn't it bother you that you are mimicking a trick of the gods?"
"Where did you think I got the idea?" Fortune asked with a smile.
"Let's get on with it them."
"Together they walked through the nearest village to the fighting and continued on to the next arriving as night fell. They approached an Inn and were turned away before they had even reached the front door.
"Be gone beggars!" The owner called as he threw a bucket of water out the front door into the soft earth. Fortune dragged his sister away to keep her from taking vengeance on the tavern owner.
"Tonight is mine dear sister," Misfortune growled but allowed her brother to lead her away.
"Just one little fire."
"Sister," Fortune said with a sigh.
"Fine, I'll behave."
"Thank you," Fortune said and they continued to walk. They passed houses of and watched as families turned a blind eye to them. One home went as far as to pull their shutters shut as the pair approached. The last house on the street was beautifully decorated with banners hanging from the doors.
"Well I doubt the newly weds will let us in. Can you leave a bag of gold in the street now?"
"Wait," Fortune said as the bride emerged from the house her husband close behind looking slightly wary of the pair.
"Are you two alright?"
"We…have simply fallen on difficult times we were looking for some hospitality for the night before we continue on our way to our children's homes. They are another three days walk from here."
"Do you have nowhere to stay?" The wife asked and Fortune could sense his sister's annoyance. She hated to repeat herself.
"No we do not," she rasped.
"Come come, we have much more than we could ever use from the wedding," the wife said and both Fortune and Misfortune glanced at the husband who nodded.
"But this is your wedding night," Fortune said.
"What better night to share our bounty? We have much left from the feast. And empty beds from those who have departed," the husband said finally speaking. "What kind of people would we be if we ignored those in need?"
"Thank you, you are very kind," Fortune said following the couple into their modest home.
"You have a lovely home," Fortune said as they sat them down at the table bringing out food from the wedding feast for them to have. Fortune and Misfortune ate their fill and were surprised when they were led into the newlywed's bed chamber.
"No we couldn't possibly take your marriage bed."
"Nonsense, we are young, this is the softest bed in the house we could give you no less. We also have some sleep clothes for you," they said presenting two light cotton garments.
"How can we ever repay you?" Fortune asked.
"It was nothing we need no payment. Have a good night the couple said leaving the room and closing the door behind them.
"Can we go now?" Misfortune asked the moment they were gone.
"Sister patience," Fortune said standing. Touching the sleep clothes first they became made of the finest silk and he did the same for the bed sheets. Finally he created a large bag of gold and placed it in the center of the bed. He shut his eyes and concentrated. He needed one more thing to even the balance, and decided to gift the couple with long healthy lives.
"Is that all now?"
Fortune nodded, "they have gotten their fair share of fortune so we may go." Leaving a note on the bed he took his sisters hand and together they vanished.
It was dawn when the couple, not the least uncomfortable for having slept in the hard cots entered the room and were surprised to see the changes. The husband approached the bag first and gasped when he saw the sheer volume of the gold in the bag. His wife lifted the note and read it aloud.
"Though you asked nothing in return, we gift your kindness with good fortune, long life and wealth, no other in your village would look at us, so I happily bless you with what you deserve." Tears welled in the couple's eyes as they enjoyed their good fortune.
Appearing at the home of the gods they were surrounded by the best of mortal decadence. Platters and platters of mortal and godly food alike littered the tables and lively music played as some favored nymphs danced about. There was no current celebration happening, Olympus was simply always abuzz. Only when serious council had to be called did the revelry stop. Usually to announce the birth of another god or two express grievances with another god. Though the truly major gods were rarely there many minor gods seemed always to be present. Like Eris who was approaching Misfortune.
"Ate, and brother," she said and Misfortune smiled as her brother released her hand and he drifted away from the strange conversations the two similar creatures had. Eris was one of the few creatures not affected by his sister's power and he was sure that was a powerful point in their friendship.
He drifted about the halls passing Hermes who nodded his in acknowledgment as he zipped away intent on delivering a message to some god or another who rarely saw reason to visit this mountain hideaway of the gods. Pausing when he sensed he was being followed he saw Eros standing and nodded to the god. Eros led him to his quarters and they simply continued their ongoing conversation as if it had never ended.
"I'm not sure she even realizes it. Nothing has ever happened to cause her misfortune."
"Yes but it is clearly something singular to us, because that child cupid has no such problems, nor his mother and as you see all the gods here are wrapped in their gifts. They can experience them as well as dole them out," Eros said. "But have you tested my theory?"
"Yes, and she can experience fortune though it is difficult as I can not directly affect her nor her me. Now I have another question. Were you always with these gods?"
"No but I have been with them for a long time now if you travel east you will find traces of me."
"Ah, it seems we took different paths. We were to the west of here. The mortals here do not even know the land is there yet."
"Interesting, my time may soon pass here, already they are calling that babe Eros among the mortals, I may simply depart visit this western land."
"They were very different mortals. One group is no more they upset sister so. There are two that remain."
"I will look into it. I could use a change from the Greeks. Wonderful as they are you can only take them for so long if you are not of their gods. They thrive on this. It is their true ambrosia. It is what sustains them and I wonder at times do they know."
"They know," Fortune said quietly, "they answer prayers for a reason they know the Greeks need to feel that they are real to continue to pray. It is hard to disbelieve in something you have seen with your very eyes," Eros nodded though Fortune suddenly turned and shook his head. "Sister can you not behave for a moment?" He murmured aloud.
"What has she done?"
"We may be leaving you sooner than expected. I think she again pushed Zeus too far."
"That god is much too stubborn to be trifled with."
"Which is exactly why sister likes to torment him," Fortune said quietly. Together they walked back into the main hall of Olympus where Misfortune was standing with her arms crossed as Zeus raved. Nodding to Eros Fortune made his way to his sister's side just in time to hear Zeus' final proclamation.
"You are forthwith banished from Olympus!"
"I can't leave you alone for a moment can I?"
"I suppose you can't," She said with grin.
"Did you hear me?! You are banished!"
"We're going," Fortune said calmly.
"Not you, just her!"
Fortune stared up at Zeus. "We will not be separated." Fortune turned to smile sadly at Eros before vanishing with his sister.
"Were do you want to go?" Fortune asked as they appeared at the base of the mountain.
"Let us just walk. See who draws us," she said and they began walking hand in hand to the south. Soon they reached the shore. Without a word or thought passed between them they sat down on the shore. Just far near enough that the water would never actually reach them.
"I want to feel the sand under my feet," Fortune said.
"We can go where the shore takes us."
"Let us rest now," Fortune said leaning against his sister as they both lay in the sand.
_______2 ________

The sky was littered with stars as they walked. And as par to Fortune's request they stayed on the shore. He was highly amused by the sand squishing between his toes. Their speed was a slow walk even by human standards, but they were in no rush to get anywhere.
They simply followed the shore lines for the night and into the next day and into the night that followed. The only reason they noticed the passage of time truly was the change from light to dark and back again. They had been walking non stop for nearly a week when Misfortune spotted something that shone in the distance.
"What is that?" She asked pointing.
"I do not know the heat makes all things look strange let us get a closer look."
Night had fallen before they actually arrived at what they had seen in the distance. It was brightly painted but that wasn't what truly drew their attention. It was the form of a large cat, with a human face and beard.
"That is different," Misfortune said and Fortune merely grinned.
"I like it here already," he said his form shifting to that of a large black cat. His sister looked down at him them mimicked the transformation. She let loose a roar, and so did he.
"I think we have found a home brother."
"I think we have," he replied through their mental link unable to speak in this form. They both circled the sphinx and when the reached the front were surprised to see a tall man standing there. They both looked him over, knowing he was a god of the land, for no other would be able to perceive them.
"It is the Sphinx, it stands guard over the burial places of the kings."
"Will we be able to make our home here? We are drawn to it," Misfortune asked taking a human form as she wondering about this god, who did not question them or anything else.
"You can do with it as you will the mortals believe it solid, they will never disturb you here. It is truly sacred and the thieves have no use for it."
"Thieves?" Fortune asked curious as he took on a human form as well.
"They do not believe in the gods or the rituals others practice to bring eternal life, they will be devoured by the hound."
"Why do you not question us?" Misfortune asked.
"You took the form of a creature sacred to us, you are drawn to the guardian of the land. I sense no evil in you, and your souls will never pass to me; what is there to question?"
The pair nodded and Fortune looked over at the god. "What is your name?"
"Osiris, I am lord of the dead."
"We are Fortune and Misfortune. We do not know this land, what is it called?"
"This is the land of the eye, Egypt."
"Egypt," the pair repeated looking about them.
"If you want to reside in the sphinx you will have to create your own chambers, the mortals believe it solid because they made it that way. I would recommend in the heart, I must go, new souls come to me."
Fortune and Misfortune exchanged looks as the god vanished from the spot. But they could trace him to this lands underworld. Moving together they passed through the solid stone walls of the sphinx and headed to the center where the heart was. Pausing their forms remade the inside of the area hollow, creating a small chamber. Returning to solid form they quickly conjured up a replica of the space they had had in Olympus except with a darker color pattern of deep reds and blues.
Once done they had a soft place of decadence for their rests. One which was long overdue. Laying down side by side on a large fur rug littered with pillows they looked up and despite the yards of solid rock over their heads they saw the clear night sky and the stars that were overhead.
"Sister, do you ever think there are others like us? Besides Eros I mean."
"There may be, I believe there is at least one more. And that someday our paths will cross."
"Who?"
"Death."
"Why do you believe that?"
"Because they never have death, they have a guardian who leads the soul to after death, a judge after death, a caretaker of the afterlife, but never death itself. I think like love, fortune and misfortune it is beyond all gods and all places."
"That is true but could the same not be said for life?"
"I suppose it could," Misfortune said. "Let us rest for tomorrow I would like to study these new people see how they worship."
_______3 ________

Fortune awoke and stretched lazily. Sitting up he paused. The humans were experiencing great fortune nearby. He wanted to see what it was and looked about for his sister. She was sitting right beside him in a smaller black feline form. He lifted her into his arms. "I'm sure I could keep you out of trouble like this," he said to the cat and she nuzzled his hand.
He shifted his sister into his other hand feeling slightly strange. Looking at his hand he saw a symbol he didn't recognize. It was of a cross with a loop at the end. He supposed it could be a symbol for humans. But why was it on his hand.
His sister sat before him in her natural human form, skin so pale it seemed white, with severely straight black hair and piercing green eyes which were currently narrowed in confusion. He took her hands and saw no such adornment and attempted to remove the one on his hand to no avail.
"What is it?" She asked tracing it with her fingers.
"I do not know. Maybe we can learn once we go among these people. Or we can go visit that god."
"Do you think they have a place like Olympus?"
"I do not know it seems like it is quieter here. Come the humans have been fortunate. I want to know what it is that they see as fortune."
"I say we go as the small felines, the god did say they were sacred, let us see what that means here."
"And if they try to sacrifice us to ensure the rising of the sun?"
"Then we will simply have to make sure it never rises again for the fools."
"You will not forget those people will you? You act as if they could have harmed you."
"That is not the point, they should not have tried."
Fortune smiled and pulled his sister with him as he led her to the celebrating humans. They wale together and were amused to see the humans even in their drunken celebration were skirting around to let them pass and seemed to pause to watch them for a moment before continuing.
"Baset has come to view the god Apis," one human said and cats exchanged a look. These humans were certainly interesting; they continued to observe the celebration learning more about this aspect of Egyptian culture.
Fortune was especially interested when he learned that the bull god was an oracle and was instrumental in making decisions of the valley. Especially since he knew that the bull wasn't a god it was mere chance if the bull made the right decisions. A chance he could improve.
Rising and stretching he walked a path to the bull and rubbed his cheek on the calf's leg. Raising a paw to touch it his hand froze when he saw a silvery discoloration of his paw pad in the same strange shape that had been on his hand as a mortal. He marched to his sister's side and nudged her to her feet.
She yawned showing off a set of sharp canines and plodded after her brother who once out of sight transformed into human form. She did the noticing he still looked like a Greek instead of looking like one of the many people they had just seen.
"What are you doing? Where are you planning to go?"
"I want to see their books I want to know what this is," he said indicating the symbol on his hand.
"Do they have books?"
"They always have some kind of written form lately. I'm sure we can find something that will help explain this to us."
Misfortune nodded. Each culture they learned about was different and the way they learned always seemed to vary. In Greece it had been the very gods themselves who had told them their tales and history. But they both seemed to know somehow that here the gods were not the same.
Passing through the market square, they paused at a merchant that was selling parchment. Seeing their interest he quickly held up his best work a translation in Greek of the tale of Osiris and Isis. Fortune reached for the parchment and handed the merchant a few gold coins.
"Ahh I see you have visited us before. Maybe you would like an Ank for the lovely lady."
"Ank?" Misfortune asked.
"Yes it is a symbol of gods and kings. Very expensive."
"What does it mean?"
"Immortality," the merchant said. "I have a book that may interest your lady friend. So she could learn more about out lovely land."
Fortuned nodded and calmly paid for the overpriced book and picked up a few more items at the merchant. They continued to walk down what was apparently a market street and even picked up some food. Not that they actually needed to eat, but they did sometimes like the tastes of mortal foods and the scents that were coming off of these foods were intoxicating.
Fortune walked with his sister a canvas sack laden with goods over his shoulder as they left the market and simply continued to explore the city. They realized they had entered the poorer area when the houses were crowed together and looked like they were in shambles.
"I think we have found all that we will find of interest we should get home. I would like to read these stories," Fortune said as they turned into a dead end alleyway. Pausing for a moment he turned only to realize two humans had followed them into the alleyway. Misfortune looked at him for just a moment then smiled releasing his hand.
"Just give us all your gold and we'll let you live," one said pulling out a scimitar as the other leered at Misfortune. The pair could easily read their plan in their minds. The were to kill fortune and steal his goods then have their way with Misfortune before killing her as well.
Sighing Fortune simply shook his head as Misfortune grinned. Then without warning she transformed into the large black cat beast and with a great slash tore out the middle of the human with the scimitar. The other screamed as he turned to run blindly down the alley way and into what he assumed would be safety
Misfortune allowed him to run for a few moments before pouncing on his back and with a great paw slicing at his throat and severing the major blood vessels there. She returned to Fortune to see him just exiting the alleyway the body of the first victim nowhere to be seen. She did not question her brother as he led them back out of the alleyway and towards their sandy home.
Once they were sure that they were alone the pair closed the distance quickly and were in their chamber in the sphinx in the blink of and eye. Opening the canvas bags, Fortune took out the scrolls and books and divided them between them.
They learned the words and symbols of Coptic as they read. The few glyphs also making sense to the pair though it was the first time they had seen such symbols. Reading the story of Osirius and Isis Fortune immediately motioned his sister over so she could read the tale as well. When done, they sat back on their pillows sampling the foods they had bought and discussed what they had already learned about Egypt and its gods.
"That must have been devastating," Fortune said.
"To be dismembered by one's own brother, I could never understand it," Misfortune added.
"Nor could I. Yes they are opposing forces but how can one exist without the other? How will that achieve balance?"
"They are not looking for balance they are looking for triumph."
"Will these gods never learn?" Misfortune asked.
"Someday, I hope they will and pass it on to the humans. I have never before witnessed an entire culture so completely focused on death. It is strange to live your life with thoughts of death looming over you so."
"Not so, they see deaths as an extension on life, the rightfully believe it lasts longer than life and they are right. The afterlife is as real as they make it and it is very real."
"I suppose," Fortune said simply. "But why not dance in the light instead of plan for when you will be locked away in a stone tomb."
"To be robbed by thieves," Misfortune added. "That was interesting was it not?"
"To you you had your fun destroying those mortals."
"Yes I did it was amazing, maybe we should do it again?"
"If you wish it."
"I do I do, dear brother."
Fortune sighed but did not say anything to deter his sister. "You know what this means."
"Oh yes go spread your fortune," she said with a sigh.
"Do not sound so enthused sister."
Outside the sphinx another young man stood smiling. His white hair blowing in the wind as he drew a bullseye with his fingers over the sphinx's nose he looked towards the teasing pair and shook his head. Together they would never grow beyond petty play and so this was the way it would have to be.
"Sorry little one, but are still so young," he said looking at the huge figure and shook his head. "You will look so much better without the big nose."
Strolling off whistling a song that had yet to be written as he walked off into the sand, leaving no foot prints in his wake.
"Did you feel that?" Fortune asked suddenly sitting up from where he had his head resting in his sister's lap.
"No what?"
"I don't know, it felt different strange."
"Maybe one of the gods here coming to look in on us."
"Oh I suppose," Fortune said knowing he was not used to these new gods and that their aura's could disturb him. "Why haven't they come in then?" He asked after a few minutes.
"Who knows, maybe they are less friendly not all gods are like the Greeks instantly inviting."
"True, this land has made them harsh, and those tales, its no wonder they are wary."
"Well you got one wish brother."
Fortune looked at his sister confused. "What wish?"
"You will feel the sand beneath your feet for years to come."
"Oh!" Fortune said and laughed. "Yes I will!"


___4______
Apis would be killed today. It had reached its 25th year so it was his turn. He plodded through the herds allowing the humans he knew watched to see him. He knew the priests were getting nearer. Stalking quietly he found her a cow about to give birth to a calf. This calf was would be the new Apis. Walking over he licked her hind legs and moved on. Smiling when he noticed a dish of milk placed outside the door. He licked daintily and knew that was the least of the good fortune that was to come to the family this year for their gift. Darting back into the shadows as the sun rose; he arrived at his home to find his sister stretched lazily in the main room.
Sighing he plopped down besides her knowing the price of his actions today would be hers tomorrow. They had to keep the balance though at times he wished it could be another way. It was a scared bull after all. The people would fall apart without the 'power' of Apis. He was the physical representation of their deity and they would not be able to survive without him. But fortune was fortune. And had to be balanced with misfortune. Curling up beside her he planned to sleep when he heard her voice.
"I will never understand why you find it important to aid these mortals in such a foolish prospect. They trust their decisions on what a bull eats."
"It is their faith I will not condemn them for such, it is that same fate that sustains them."
"It is that same faith that tells them you are an ugly dwarf."
"I did not say it was perfect but they get the greater picture, leave me be I am tired," Fortune said with a yawn.
"Oh brother, that foolish cow will be your downfall."
"So you say dear sister, so you say."
"Rest brother for tonight there will be a chase."
He sighed of all her ploys he disliked this one the most. "Could you not simply destroy some crops? Must it be a chase?"
"Brother we have not had one in ages," he sighed even in the darkness he could see the joy in her eyes. The hope that there would be a good chase, he could just make out her tail swishing in the darkness of the tomb. Always he hoped the humans would not take the bait but they always did. He shut his eyes and with his minds eye he saw that the calf had already been found. They would be celebrating for over a month now. The oracle had been found.
"Let me rest than you know you will have your fun when night falls."
"You are not resting you are watching the fools fawn over a calf."
"Then let me watch my fools," Fortune said as he drifted off to sleep curled up closer to her.
_____5______

Malik stood in front of his temple contact as he held up the jewels from his latest job. It was a good arrangement. The priests had sold the same three sets of jewels to grieving families for almost five years. And Malik would steal them each time. It was his one set fee and as they exchanged the jewels for a small sack of coins. Proper burial ritual; Malik rolled his eyes at the absurdity of it all.
"Any new cases?"
"Not yet, give it time," the priest said and Malik nodded. Heading to his moderate home he found his partners waiting. Even dividing the spoils from this and other robberies they made a comfortable living. They could walk the streets in daylight and not be instantly dismissed as thieves.
It also helped that they rarely socialized with the other grave robbers it had granted them a reputation of believing that they were better than everyone they worked with. They accepted the title lightly not caring as long as the others interfered in their work.
"Anything?"
"No, it seems to be a lively month, tonight we can go to the tavern, see what the word is. I hear some think there is a hidden chamber in the Sphinx. That could be worth investigating," Malik said as he sat down and poured out the pouch. Taking a slightly larger share for himself. It was the way; whoever formed the contact always had the greater risk.
"In ten days the burial will happen with my priest. It is a wealthy family but double the take if we can do it in the same night, seems he is over stocked, there was some sort of accident," Atun said as he gathered his share.
"Well the better for us then," Malik said sitting back into his chair running a hand over his bald head as his partners stood to leave.
"We will see you tonight," Atun said with a nod.
____________

Night had fallen and try as he may he could not find any reason to not go out. He tried to get her to stay when the sand storm started and she laughed.
"What is a little sand to us?" She asked extending her small human had to him. He reached out to her and hand in hand they walked out of the tomb. They came out of the storm with out a grain of sand on their exposed bodies. Dressed in the finest black silk children who could be no more than six walked hand in hand into the city. Both of them had long jet black hair, sun kissed skin and the same sparkling green eyes.
Looking at his hands he shook his head at the vast amount of wealth he was wearing . They were laden with silver bracelets and rings. He had silver asps crawling up each arm and a jeweled utat on his forehead held there with thin silver strands. His sister was similarly attired in gold. The meaning of the jewels were his idea. Many were superstitious enough that the asp bands would be enough to deter them.
He allowed her to lead and they turned into a alley way where grave robbers and thieves were known to congregate and he sighed. He should have know any thing he did to try and deter the humans she would find a way to try and eliminate that small chance.
"Do not think because I think that they are fools I do not know what they believe. These fear no gods, I could almost respect them," he shut his eyes and tried to abide himself by saying that these men at least deserved the misfortune that was about to fall on them. He carefully took his seat beside her and they wrapped their arms about each other and started to sob. The sound sounding much like the mournful wails of cats.
It was only a few moments when the nearest tavern owner came to shoo the beast away. For disturbing his customers when he saw the children. He called quietly to one of the tavern's whores sure she would have better luck in luring the children inside. Coming out she was adorned much like the children were though she wore only false wooden jewels with chipping paint not foolish enough to wear anything of worth when dealing with thieves and murders.
"Amaris get them to the cellar," he said with a grin then made a chopping motion she nodded and moved over to the children. Though she was only 20 her face was old and she had lines creasing her forehead and around her mouth the rare times she smiled. This was one of those times as she kneeled beside the children.
"Oh my poor dears what's wrong?"
"Mamma?" One asked and her heart broke. But she could do nothing for them yet. She turned and the tavern owner tilted his head toward the cellar before heading inside at the sound of another fight.
"I am not your mamma but I can't help you find yours but you two need to do something for me." The children looked up at her with wide tear stained eyes. "I am going to take you down to the cellar to rest and go look for your mother for you."
"You will find our mamma?"
"Yes little one," she said leading them towards the cellar. As she walked them away to the cellar she lifted one child into her arms not sure if it was a girl or boy. "When I leave run! There are bad men here." He smiled and stroked her cheek. "Do you understand? You must go!" He nodded and she placed him down. "Yes just go down there, that's good, I will find your mother for you," She said loudly not looking at the children. The boy tugged on her stained skirt and held out one of his asps to her.
"I can't."
"For mamma," he whispered knowing it would be a few months before she understood as he lightly petted her stomach.
"That's it you are good children we will find your mamma." She turned and went into the tavern. "They are there, are you sure you want to do this? They are children, they are wearing asps! What if they are royalty?"
"In the worst streets of Memphis? Where is their escort? The guards searching for them? They are bait, now go, you have a customer."
"So should we wait or run now?"
"Brother dear would it be a chase if we waited here?" She asked quickly going up the stairs and running between two rogues sent down to kill them and take their jewels and finery. Sighing he chased after his sister. They ran through alleys, and down main streets herding the humans to where they wanted them. They split up and met again teasing the humans and outrunning them easily.
They ran into an alley that they knew ended in a dead end and she veered off into the shadows. Three men came into the shadows and spotting only him backed up against the wall one went to search for his sister. He played his role perfectly the frightened child trying to become one with the wall as they drew knives.
His eyes flitted to the shadows of the alley but had lost sight of his sister being distracted by the shine of the knife did not know where she was. When they were just a few feet in front of him she pounced; large sleek black and deadly the first man didn't have chance to scream as the giant claws sliced through the desert wear and skin like cheap papyrus.
The partner not one to risk his life began to run down the alley to get away. He watched as she finished off the first would be murder and ran after the fleeing partner. She turned to him quickly and snarled for him to get the third. Transforming he quickly sniffed out the final man. He was searching some empty jars that would have been large enough to hold them when he sprung on him. His powerful hind legs knocking him down and knocking the breath out of him.
"Please no!" The human begged. He growled low in his throat a terrifying sound to the human but looked into the pleading eyes and backed up. He quickly slashed into the human's leg letting the spray of blood coat his fur. It was not a deep wound and the human would survive. He opened his mouth and let out a low growl and quickly shifted to human form. "Run," he said before dashing in the opposite direction to counter his sister.
"You done?" She asked licking the blood off her paws.
"Yes can we go now?" He said scratching at the sand.
"What did you do?" She growled.
"What you wanted what do you want from me?"
"You act as if these humans matter. A thousand of their lives would not be worth one day we walk among them. You are beyond them. You are beyond their gods. Why do you refuse to understand that?"
"All I do not understand is why you feel like the humans are nothing. Without them where would we be? Floating mindlessly through the ether of eternity. Would any other creature have brought us forth?"
"Your foolish philosophy bores me. They worship us not the other way around. You wanted to go home let us go home."
"Go I will meet you there later."
"Why?"
"I want to check on my foolish cow," he said changing form again this time into a smaller black cat, like the ones worshiped throughout the land. She watched him for a moment before turning off in the indifferent way of a cat and strolling off back towards their home. From the screams he heard he knew she had not made her self invisible to their eyes and was most likely tormenting the crowd and causing more mischief.
Distracted he made his way to the temple where the celebrations for Apis were still in full swing. A far different area then where he had just been. He took the form of an adult male before slipping into the celebrations.
He was no were near as lavishly adorned as he had been though he had a single asp crawling up his left forearm and what looked like a solid silver ank laid in the palm of his and held by a strap on his wrist. The one marking he could never hide. In feline form it was on his forepaw and impossible to see.
He tried to lose himself in the celebration but as the hour neared dawn he found himself slipping past the priest and sneaking into the Apis' quarters. Servants were washing it at the moment. Peering into the calf's mind he realized while content with all this strange fuss he would have been content on the farm with his mother.
Lost in thought he wondered if maybe his sister was right, maybe the humans did not need them. The essence of what they were, was still powerful in the world they simply focused it directly and purposely from time to time. Maybe it would be better if they returned to nothingness.
Back to the ether from whence they came. They had been in Egypt for years and the greatest misfortune that had fallen on the valley was the work of a strange god they did not know. The greatest luck nothing as easily as tangible. It was the simple fact that their faith survived. That they continued after thousands of years to believe even though very few could read the true words any more. They still lived as they did when he and his sister had come.
Slipping out of the temple he saw that dawn was nearing and slowly made his way to his home. It was built by the people years before he and his sister had arrived. It was not a tomb and so they never had to worry about grave robbers, the humans did not even believe that the sphinx had chambers and that suited them well. They did not need food and simply needed a place to rest. And the bright paint had drawn them in the night.
Entering the chamber he shared with his sister he flopped down on the pillows and her voice spoke up. "The Romans are coming."
"What about them? They have been invaded before."
"It will not be the same, will you place your sway in such a large decision? Will you decide if these people fall?"
"They can not win with fortune alone."
"But they can fall with misfortune alone," She said with a bitter smile and it was then heI noticed she had taken on an adult human form like he had done earlier that night. Somehow it seemed more fitting then the child form she preferred for the chase. Children always seemed so innocent and sweet, and just a gift to everyone involved. He liked children and if it was his wish he would most likely keep that form most often.
"You do what you will and so will I." He said simply lying on his back among pillows and soft silks as he started to think more about human children.

___6____

Malik staggered into the tavern clutching his leg as blood dribbled along his fingers. The owner looked him over and laughed.
"Don't tell me the great Malik was over powered by two children!"
"They were not children they were demons! They killed Atun and Oberon! They were large beasts. It attacked me with its claws."
"Now if they were such vicious killers that killed both your partners why is it that you escaped with your life and a simple scratch?"
"The beasts were toying with us! I heard their screams. It was all part of their demonic plan. There were never any children!"
"Malik come sit down, let me tend to your leg."
"Be gone whore!" He snarled backhanding Amaris and having her fall over a bar table. Shaking Amaris stood and and took a seat at her usual table inspecting her wooden jewelry for any additional damage. Refusing to show any outward appearance of her hurt. She supposed she was being foolish anyway. Even if she was right why would Malik believe it to be him when it could easily be half a dozen other men that she regular entertained.
But something in her heart told her that this child. That would finally make her leave this life was Malik's. She was proud of herself. She had kept up the farce for years no one thought she had enough money to even replace her fake wooden jewels. And with the solid gold Apis with the emerald eyes still hidden in the folds of her dress she would be gone.
She would wait until she started to be heavy with child and then she would allow the tavern owner to throw her out. She did not want to run and spend years looking over her shoulder. Better to let him think he had won. So lost in her own thoughts she never heard Malik as he told the story until she heard the burst of laugher.
Looking up she saw Malik with a rag around his leg as he hobbled his way out of the bar.
"Don't leave Malik I'll protect you from the big bat cat," Drack laughed banging his hand on the table and spilling Ameron's drink. Amaris sighed and simply turned her chair around as the battle spread out across the floor.
She had her plan and if all went well it wouldn't be long before she was established in Cairo as a moderately well off widow about to birth her first child. To be named after his sadly departed father.
She sat at the bar stool for another hour but nothing was forthcoming. Accepting that she would not have any work for the night she tuned to the tavern owner and nodded to him. The simple nod and he knew she was going to bed in her room. It meant he accepted that she would not make any more coins for him tonight and that was a blessing. As she had assumed there would be a price to pay for the children getting away though he could not directly blame her. She would not be surprised if he did decide somehow it was her fault and she was the one to blame as well for whatever had happened to Malik.
As she headed up to her room she wished she had paid attention to what Malik had been saying and simply hoped that the man would be fine in a few days and would get over the deaths of his partners.

Malik hobbled into another tavern. This one frequented by the lower class but upstanding citizens of Memphis and ordered himself a drink. After being laughed out of the Tavern he did not want to think. Holding the glass high he mumbled aloud.
"For you my brother's you will be avenged," he said before drinking down the glass in a single gulp. Banging it on the counter he asked for another refill and was gratifued when the bartender quickly came close and filled his glass. By his fifth cup he was blissfully drunk and slurring through the story about what had happened. Each time he mention the name of one of his fallen companions he would raise his glass in a silent tribute before drinking it down again.
"One more for my friend here," a young man with a head full of white hair and clear blue eyes said tossing some coins on the table. The bartender quickly snatched the coins and filled Malik's glass yet again.
"So I hear you were attacked by demons."
"They posed…as children," Malik slurred. Talking mostly to his crisp blue shirt as lifting his head became a feat he had forgotten how to accomplish. "Killed my best men," raising his glass for the dozenth time that night he offered a silent prayer in the name of his fallen friends.
The young man smiled and lifted his own glass to match the toast though he did not drink any of his own ale. He simply watched as Malik managed to drink two more glasses of ale before finally passing out.
The young man simply stroked his cheek and vanished out into the night. Once the tavern closed the owner tossed out Malik who startling managed to make it home safely despite his condition. The next morning he expected to wake hung over and dizzy but instead he sat up and his head was clear for the most part. He remembered the drinking and the strange man. And mostly he remembered being laughed out of the thieves tavern. He would show them. It not be tonight he would be able to get his revenge on them for the way that they had insulted him.

__________

Malik went about the next few days not morning his friends but instead lost in the archives of the priest he had an arrangement with. The man had been surprised to see him at first but had easily allowed him accesses, even sending an apprentice to help him search the volumes.
Reading he wondered what it was he had encountered. He had yet to come across any references to the beast that he had seen. And he stopped trying to find them under cat creatures and simply looked up evil sprits.
It was the dead of the night when Mailk finally found something that could be of use to him. A way to keep away evil spirits at bay. Looking over the ritual he was sure he could improvise some of the tools.
He would need a different kind of blessed weapon as the clay figures wouldn't be enough to stop those monster cats they had become. His only chance would be to capture them while they were still in human form.
He was walking idly through Memphis wondering what it was he could do. What kind of precious weapons would be used when he landed in the midst of wild celebrating in front of a building. It took him a moment to recognize the Apis celebrations which were in full swing.
He paused to watch for a moment always interested in the fact that the people could go so wild over a bull. Though had been much too young to fully remember the one before and this was just a sight he had to watch to believe. People were fawning right and left over a calf. It was just the epitome of the foolish religion his people followed.
He watched as a priest came forward. Holding a jeweled scimitar up as brought it down to slice a melon before the young calf. All watched in a hush to see what side of the melon the calf would choose and Malik had to work hard not to laugh.
He was sure if there were any gods they were not currently residing on the body of a bull. And he was sure they had more important and more interesting things to do than to decide which side of a melon was more interesting to eat.
Looking at the priest again he thought that the scimitar would be much better served slicing off the beasts head and feeding someone than being worshiped for the next twenty five years. Looking at the Scimitar again Malik grinned. It would take a while but that would be perfect for what he needed it for. Blessed by priests it would be enough to kill those dark spirits.
Approaching the temple steps plastering a false joyous smile on his face he began observing the temple and the priests and noticed another with a whip. While he was not sure how he would get it he was sure that it would be perfect for wrapping around those demon's necks as if he were to catch them in human form.
With a single mindedness that wasn't all his own he stalked the temple. He planned and wondered how he would steal the tools. The first realization he came to was that he would have to do it before the celebrations ended. But at the same time it would be the most difficult time to attempt it.
Sighing Malik wondered if anything in his life would ever be easy again. He knew the penalty if he was caught attempting such a desecration would be death, without the proper burial rituals. Thought the last past did not worry him he was not eager to meet to leave the land of the living, he was quite happy being alive and had no urge to see death up close and personal. Walking back to his home he constantly cast glances into alleyways and every sound had him on edge. Sure he would be sprung on and devoured at any moment like his unfortunate compatriots.
Realizing he would need a plan for this to work he started to think on who he could trust and who he would feel little if any remorse for if they were taken or even killed. The list for the latter was quite long but for the former it was much harder to name even one person still among the living that he would be willing to trust so fully with such an outlandish plan.


____7_____
It was two days before Malik returned to the temple. The tempo and feverishness of the celebrations were still at a high point and it did not seem like anyone took any special notice of him. He arrived at sun up and through sheer force of will remained there until sun down. Repeating the pattern twice more he was sure he had the priest's routine memorized. But he still did not know how he would be able to do this alone.
But how would he find someone willing to do this for him? Willing to risk capture or worse for no payment what so ever. Brooding on his third night he headed to the tavern. It had been nearly a week since he had last shown his face but it seemed his last appearance had made an impact on the patrons because the moment he entered silence fell on the tavern. Then after a moment some one whispered to his partner and they both started chuckling.
They raised their glasses and turned to Malik, "to the demon slayer," they laughed before downing their ale. Malik rolled his eyes how would he possibly find an alley here in this den of fools who didn't believe him in the first place. Looking around his eyes settled on Amaris.
She was not a fool and he did not need her to steal anything just provide a suitable distraction for the switch. Approaching her she looked up at him. For a moment he stopped there was something in her eyes that made him pause but he quickly pushed it aside and tossed a few coins at her.
She did not look at him at first taking the coins she walked over the owner and handed him half of what she had just received then led the way into the bedroom of the tavern.
"What do you do during the day?" Malik asked batting her hands away when she tried to remove his shirt.
"Why?"
"I need a favor, I could make it worth your while," Malik said knowing he could pay her a forth of what a normal partner would receive and she would be getting much more than she ever did. And it would be next to nothing in the amount of money he had saved for a lively season.
What do think is worth my while?"
"200."
"200?! What must I do and will it get me killed?"
"I simply need you to provide a distraction as long as they do not realize you are involved."
"Who are they?" Amaris asked suspiciously.
"Just some temple priests," Malik said.
"I thought you worked for the temple priests," she asked confused.
"These are others, at the Apis temple.
"Of all the temples in Memphis you want me to distract the one surrounded by hundreds of people day and night? I could run through the crowd naked and they would not notice."
"They will notice this distraction, do not worry I have it all planned out. It will happen near the end of the festivities. When it gets the wildest and craziest, there would be a better a chance of escape through the crowd."
"Do not blame me for doubting you but this seems like a fools run to me."
"I have some ideas," Malik said finally "to use their superstitious nature against them."
"Like what?"
"Oh I will gather my allies, you will merely have to free them from their confines. The chaos that will ensue will easily cover both our escapes. You must dress toned down for this. You must look like everyone else. It would be even better if you could pass as a slave."
"We will see, when will I get paid?" Malik did a quick mental calculation then opened his pouch and placed 50 coins on the table.
"I am sure more will be noticed here, if asked say I asked you to buy a new dress." Malik said with a nod.
"Fine," Amaris said wondering why she was agreeing to this fool hardy plan. Most likely because she was almost positive that Malik was the one who fathered the child she was carrying. Or was that simply wishful thinking that she wanted one of the few decent men she serviced to be tied to her in such a way.

_________

The Romans did come and they did not seem to need fortune in any capacity. The pair grew restless with the visiting senators and emperors seeming to dampen the true spirit of the valley/ They should have taken it as sign but instead traveled among the people more. Sometimes in the Roman garb sometimes in the Egyptian.
They watched this king of the world and the Queen they all called his Egyptian whore. It had been 10 years since either of them were active when she decided she wanted to do another chase. Waking him in the afternoon he growled and playfully batted her away with a large black forepaw. She jumped away then pounced on him as a small human child.
"I want a chase."
"We just had one."
"That was nearly a decade ago. Plus I want to see how they would treat a pair of Roman children. The people all hate them."
"You are strange."
"You are the strange one; you spend all your time with a cow."
"He is an oracle."
"He is a cow, and it is only the touch of fortune at birth that allows him to make the right choices for these foolish people."
"Fine let us get this over with, so Roman jewels?"
"Well of course, we can not go prancing about in togas with asps dangling from our wrists."
He nodded and together they again walked the streets of Memphis. They simply drifted down the street, having no particular spot to go to. They were truly fair game and even some Romans may try to rob or kill them. He didn't know when it happened but they were back in the same alleyway. Sighing he looked at her and she grinned innocently.
Inside the tavern Malik sat nursing a drink. He didn't know why he bothered to come here anymore. After ten years he was nothing more then a fool to them. Every few nights some fool would approach him like now.
"See any demon cats today?" He asked causing a drunken chuckle round the room. He wanted to slit the fool's throat. His hand was reaching for his knife when he heard it. That mournful wailing sound. That same sound from nearly a decade ago. One that had cost him two partners that were actually loyal to him and been the end to any respect he could ever hope to have again. Until tonight, standing he quickly made his way out of the bar ignoring the teasing and taunts.
He walked quickly to the dead end alleyway and pulled out a whip and a knife. He was prepared, both had been blessed by the priest in the temple at Memphis for use on the Apis but they would work well on the demon cat as well. He had never believed in such things before, but now there was no question.
He waited until one entered the alley hidden in the shadows ignoring the one human that was chasing after him. Snapping his whip he wrapped it around the boys neck and smiled as his eyes widened. He tore at the cord as the other beast pounced on the human, killing it quickly. Held the knife aloft as it headed towards him. It jumped and he quickly thrust the knife into her. Twins screams ripped through the pair as she fell to the ground.
He finally loosed the whip from about his neck and crouched besides his sister. Hands shaking he turned her over but before he could check he was yanked by the whip around his throat again. Tossed to the ground he started wide eyed at his attacker.
"But I…" he started and was back handed for his troubles.
"Take them off!" Malik snarled and fortune shook in shock as he could not simply make the jewels fall off his wrists. With shaking hands that couldn't take his eyes off his sister he slid all the jewels off tears streaming off his face.
"That one too!" Malik snarled pointing at the ank on his hand. He shook his head; the bracelet had appeared on his hand when they had arrived in Egypt. Neither he nor his sister knew what it was. And it had always bothered him that she did not have one as well.
He never noticed as Malik raised the knife to his hand. He felt a strange burning searing pain. He didn't cry out as the world went dark but Malik did as the body withered and became like that of a mummy. He quickly scrambled gathering the jewels and looking at the hand that looked young and perfect with out a drop of blood. Taking it as well he fled down the alleyway with his horde.
Moments later misfortune stirred her side felt as if it was on fire. Looking around everything was hazy and she felt quite disjointed. Her eyes were not adjusting to the dark sky and she felt for the first time in her long existence weariness. Looking in the semi darkness she noticed the edge of her brothers form and crawled over to him.
"Brother?" She asked wondering if it would take longer for him to wake. "Brother?" She called again pushing herself to a kneeling position to look at him and screamed. His face was sunken in and hollow, his eyes closed to her. His entire body had been shriveled and dried like a mummy of these people. Stroking the dry skin she felt his last tears on his face as she broke out into her own.
Screaming again she lifted him carefully into his arms. Shaking she shut her eyes and opened them again inside the sphinx. She reverently placed him down on their bed placing and placed his hands on his chest and started screaming again when she noticed the severed limb.
Vanishing again she appeared before Anubis who had just finished scaling the mortal she had just killed his screams as the hell hound devoured him did little to calm her mood.
"Give him back," she snarled.
The jackal god looked up at her with slight confusion written on his face. "He was devoured, you saw."
"Not the filthy human, I will rain Egypt red with their blood I want my brother!"
"He did not pass here, his soul is not human, take me to him," Osiris said and in a blink they were both back in the sphinx. The Egyptian good peered at fortune and frowned.
"His soul is still in place. He is alive," the god said calmly.
"He is not, I can not feel him, he is not there." Osiris studied the form and paused at the arms.
"Where is his hand?"
"I don't know the mortal must have taken it, I will deal with it later."
"How does your charm work exactly?"
"Charm?! We are not charms!"
"How does it work?" Osiris asked again stroking fortune's cheek. "If you want me to aid Bes I need to understand your spirits, you are not of here but have taken our ways."
"His touch, in any form, will bring fortune, as mine will bring Misfortune, when we clasp hands or otherwise touch there will be neither. He likes to use his hands or paws."
"Return the hand and return the life."
"Why did he have your symbol emblazoned on is hand? I do not have one."
"Which symbol?" Osiris asked as a beautiful tomb formed to encase her brother.
"Immortality, I do not have such a symbol."
"On his hand?"
"Yes."
"Fate touches on this, I can do no more for you," Osiris said before vanishing from the large cat.
Misfortune sat down on the ground cross legged as she tried to focus on the human. It took her a few moments. When she found him he was sitting inside on of the more expensive brothel's spending the money he had gotten from the gold stripped from her brother. Growling easily became one of the house whores.
She approached Malik and with out any pretense to what she was doing grabbed him by the throat.
"The hand!" She snarled rage burning in her green eyes.
"What? Get off of me you crazy whore!"
"You took my brother's hand where is it?"
"Demon! I killed you, you're dead," Malik said his eyes wide.
"Fool, you can not kill me, all you did was harm the only thing that ever kept me from raining hell on you all. Where. Is. His. Hand."
"I so..sold it, days ago! To a priest, he was traveling to see Cleopatra. There I told you what you wanted let me go."
"You must have mistaken me for my brother he was the one with the heart, you would have never left that alley alive in the first place if it had been me," Misfortune said and snapped the humans neck. She dropped his lifeless body on the ground and vanished from the brothel. Appearing in a temple she simply snatched the hand off the altar and vanished.
She appeared before her brother and hovered over the tomb. Taking his hand she carefully attached it to his wrist and watched as the life from his hand spread to his body. Gasping he blinked.
"Sister?" He murmured weakly.
"Oh brother don't ever do that again," she exclaimed as she hugged him tightly.
"Sister I feel odd, I can't feel my legs." Misfortune looked down and watched in horror as his body slowly mummified again.
"No! No! I got your hand! There is nothing else!"
"My hand?" He asked tiredly.
"In the alley the human stole it."
"He gave it back?"
"I took it back, he is dead."
"I am fortune sister, stealing is simply misfortune."
"But it is your fortune!"
"I can not experience fortune no more than you can experience misfortune," he gasped as the withering crawled up his chest.
"I can not bring fortune!"
"It must be someone else's fortune that…" fortune fell silent as the hand fell off and his head was again withered. Misfortune collapsed beside the tomb clutching the dismembered hand. It was still warm she realized as her body shook rocking her frame as tears rolled down her face.
Her mind was spinning how could she cause fortune? How could she get a human to willingly give her this hand? The moment it was in their possession they would be besieged by good fortune, even the most foolish mortal would realize what that meant. No one would willingly give up the hand.
Sighing she quickly placed it back on the alter glad that none of the mortals had noticed its disappearance. She vanished from the mortal sight, and watched and waited wondering how she could get what she needed. She watched as the priests came and examined the hand.
Pacing the Sphinx she wondered what she would have to do to get a hold of the hand through someone else's fortune. While it would not technically be misfortune for her brother, as they had always said, one's misfortune, is another's fortune.
Walking back and forth she remembered that the Romans had their eyes set on Egypt. She wondered how she could use that to her advantage as she continued to pace the small chamber.


_____inter______

Much Later…
Misfortune sighed as she made her way to the Sphinx. Another failure as an another empire toppled. She approached the chamber and was shocked to sense another's presence there. Moving quickly fearing humans had finally discovered the chamber she entered only to find a young boy looking down at her brother.
"Who are you?"
"Death," he said simply.
"You can't have him! He can't die."
"I wasn't going to try I was looking for you."
"Me why?"
"We need to talk."
"About what?"
"Your constant need to topple empires," death said sitting down cross legged in front of the tomb. "You seem on creating mayhem in your wake. And I wanted to know what the reason was."
"You're looking at him," Misfortune said peeking in on her brother.
"What about him? I don't understand it, he is not dead yet his soul is trapped," death said as he pushed back his auburn hair. His depthless black eyes looking over Misfortune.
"The humans stole his hand. I must return it to him, but I can not use Misfortune to do it."
"Why not?"
"One's misfortune is another's fortune and my brother can't experience fortune as he is fortune."
Death nodded, "Yet all you bring to these kings are Misfortune."
"If they do not willingly want to give up the hand I may as well speed the process of it passing to the next holder hoping that they will be more open to me."
"Oh and here I thought you were being overruled by rage," Death said. "You do realize I can't be lied to?"
"That may have been a small part of the reason as well," Misfortune muttered. "It has been too long since he walked at my side. All I want is to have him again. If the price is a few humans then so be it. He is worth more than all of them combined."
"I see. I would like to aid you."
"Why?"
"Where you go Misfortune rains, and where that happens death usually follows. Why not just be there from the beginning?" Misfortune shrugged.
"If you wish it."
"I do," Death said standing. "Where do we go next?"
"I would like some time alone with my brother then we will depart for wherever the hand has fallen next." Death nodded leaving the sphinx as Misfortune took her brother's remain hand in her own.
"It seems I was right brother dear, death is one of us. I wish you were here to meet him. That seems to raise the count to four. Oh and I saw Eros, I know you want to know all about it," Misfortune said smiling sadly at the still form, knowing if her brother was with her he would be annoyed or at the very least embarrassed.

"Ate?" A voice called and Misfortune spun quickly. She hadn't been called that in ages. Turning she saw the familiar face and nodded. She noticed how his head instantly turned to her side and she felt a pang in her heart. "Where is your brother?"
"He is in Egypt," Misfortune said a slight quaver in her voice.
"Egypt? I would not have thought you would have been so far apart."
"It is not by choice," Misfortune said sadly. "There were factors beyond our understanding and control."
"Have you ever been to Egypt?"
"No but I have heard of it they have giant tombs rising out of the sand."
"So you know what a mummy is?"
"Yes. Why?"
"My brother is currently in a state that is much like a mummy."
"How is that possible? What happened?"
"I don't know, we never understood what it was."
"What what was?" Eros asked.
"The ank," Misfortune said then went on to explain to him what had happened to Fortune all those years ago in Egypt. Eros listened intently his expression visibly saddened when he learned the full truth of Fortune's fate.
"If there is anything I can do to help."
"There isn't I just have to find a way."
"Well if you ever need me please. I would love to be able to help you and your brother in any way I can," Eros added. Misfortune nodded and with a slight bow love walked off.
"I don't know why I wasn't willing to accept his help and so open to death. If you were here I 'm sure you would be able to give me some reason. But I suppose I have kept him waiting long enough." Misfortune said and kissed her brother on the forehead before heading out of the sphinx. Many a time she had thought of simply taking the hand again to just hear her brother's voice if only for a moment but she refused. She would have her brother whole and complete. Not just for a few strained pained words before falling into that state again.
Approaching death he turned to face her. "Ready?"
"Yes."
"Where do we go?"
"The America's seems some how it has gained passage to an Island called Roanoke. Maybe these people will be more open to giving up the hand."
"I don't understand why they do not fear it yet. Have they not seen the misfortune it causes?"
"Humans see what they will. They connect it to fortune but do not see how the misfortune follows it as well."
"Strange one's these little creatures are."
"They simply get stranger with each passing era," Misfortune said as they walked.
________________

"For once I have to say this is too much!" Death said as he tried to keep up with the pace of the dying. As misfortune simply made her rounds barring doors, darkening corridors that would lead to exits, and just generally wreaking havoc.
"Did you hear that fool? It will grant him luck on its maiden voyage, not that he needs it?"
"And if it ends up at the bottom of the ocean?"
"It will not, it has out lasted empires, it will not be undone by a little boat."
"A little boat?! Misfortune this is the RMS Titanic! It is not a little boat, it was supposed to be unsinkable!"
"Well if the fools were paying attention it would have survived." Death sighed as he passed through a cabin wall lightly touching a third class family as their cabin filled with water. They passed in their slumber and he went back out into the hall to find Misfortune barring another lower level door.
"Does it not bother you that none of these people had anything to do with this?"
"They would not survive anyway, their arrogance in building the indestructible they have failed to provide even half the needed boats. If they made it above deck do you think they would even get close to those boats before their rich and more "worthy" counter parts? I feel no pity for them, they think a few shiny baubles or lack there of actually makes a damn of difference to us."
Death sighed but could not deny the truth; the poor were as doomed as the boat. "Well then let me go visit some of the "worthy" I have kept them waiting long enough don't you think?"
"Let them freeze."
"You have spread your misfortune. Let me do my work."
They climbed up through the levels of the ship both wondering what more they could do to. Misfortune did not admit it but she no longer felt any joy in dealing her task. With Fortune it had been a game, play, but now she did it for vengeance and that felt wrong, petty and beneath her. She felt as if she was becoming like those vapid Greek gods she had loathed and despised for their ties to feeling.
She had lost sight of death in her musing and began to try and sense his presence. Instead of one she felt three strange tugs. Deciding to head to the strongest and most alien one she saw a pair of twin girls. But clearly not human girls. They were like her but what they were she could not even begin to understand. One girl was the size of doll the other a young girl who was the mirror image of the girl holding on to her down to the wetness on the hem of her blue dress.
"Who are you?"
"Hold sister, she is sad, only I can grow here," she said and held out the doll to Misfortune. Taking the doll though she was not sure why. She felt an instant surge of warmth. The doll stroked her skin and smiled sadly.
"Do not despair, there is always hope no matter how small."
Misfortune finally understood who she was holding. "Hope so that would make you despair?" She asked and was surprised to see that Despair had grown. She held out Hope to Despair who was now taller than she was.
Moving away she felt yet another alien presence but this one was familiar. She paused at a distance and watched as love hovered about families as husbands fought their way to the front not to save their own lives but to make way for their wives and children. Misfortune watched as they were divided in the hopes that they would find another boat.
Love paused in his work and saw Misfortune and raised a hand in greeting in the old fashion. She smiled politely and turned, on her way to find death.
"This is where I leave you," Misfortune said as she watched death move among those freezing in the water.
"What do you mean?"
"I have many things to think on," Misfortune said Hope's touch still lingering on her.
"Will I see you again?"
"At some point I suppose," Misfortune said with a nod.
"Where will you go?"
"The only place I can, I do not need to physically track the hand."
"It has already passed into one of the life boats," Misfortune nodded a bitter smile gracing her features. She knew it would take much more then the sea to defeat her brother's essence.
Leaving the cold bitter sea behind she approached Egypt amazed at how little had changed in the last few thousand years. The pyramids and the sphinx still stood sans a nose though she had taken care of those foolish Turks for daring to disturb her brother's resting place.
The only thing that had ever truly worried her was the Egyptologist. But even they believed the sphinx to be solid and were content to look at it from the outside and marvel on how it had survived the years.
"Hello brother," Misfortune said quietly wondering why dust never collected in this place. "I had an interesting night today. I think I have just made another historical moment of misfortune. Dear brother you have your work cut out for you once you return to me. But that is not what I have to tell you. I met someone today. Well two people actually. Hope and despair it was a strange meeting. I would not have thought of them as one of us.
You know they were the first pair besides ourselves that I had met. Love was there as well. Brother I do not know if I want to continue my time with death, it is fun but does not seem to be getting me to my goal. I want you back and death is not even a good substitute for your company. Oh brother I miss you so. It has been too long since I have seen your smile.
I wonder if I will ever be able to get past my rage and actually do what need to be done instead of refusing and attempting to destroy any fool that denies me. I never realized how much I relied on you to tone my rage until these last few millennia. It is a cycle I feel I must put an end to if I will ever be able to get you back.
At the same time it is so infuriating to be kept away from you by some fool humans. Of all the things to stop me that is not one of the ones I expected. I never thought I would take even half as long as this to get you back. But human after human they are stubborn and refuse to give up the hand even when I begin to rain down misfortune on them.
Brother I need to think I have to understand what it is I am doing wrong and what I need to do so I can finally have you back. Do you see this? Look how much I babble without you. It is quite sad. I do not even know what to do with my self. Thousands of years and I still need you by my side."
Sighing Misfortune sat down and wondered what she could do to get her brother back. It seemed after every grand scale of Misfortune she would end up back here her damage not brining nearly the same satisfaction that it used to. She really felt as if she hadn't gotten anywhere with her goal and deep down felt her brother would have been able to succeed in returning her to the living long ago.
She just could not understand what she did wrong what did the humans want in exchange for the hand. Did they not understand the hell she would reap on them if they did not? She warned them again and again, visited them when she began to reap the misfortune and yet they still did not believe. She could not believe that there would ever be a creature in existence more stubborn than humans.
Decided it had been long enough since she had had a rest she moved to the pillows and settled into them wishing of dreams of happier times with her brother. Outside destiny smiled. "Rest now. The worse of your work is yet to come my lovely one."
Walking away he was surprised to see death standing before him. "Why do you always try to hide from us? I know you were on the ship."
"There are things you do not and can not understand."
"Like why you lie? I am death, you may not believe it but I can see it. You are not like us. You are something else completely."
"That may be so but it is none of your concern. Be gone from here, you will not get your playmate again."
"But if you are not one of us what are you?"
"I am nothing you need concern yourself with, the humans would call me destiny if they knew me, you may do the same."
Death watched as the thing walked away. It has taken him a while but he had realized they were being shadowed. At first he had thought it was another one of them but it was not. It would be the first feeling you would get but as time passed you saw that he could not possibly be their equal. There was something far different about 'Destiny' and he could not place his finger on it.
He was no god that was clear for all the gods fell prey to them while with this one they all seemed to fall prey to him. And he did not like how he seemed to be leading them into something. Like chess pieces he seemed to be pushing them the way he wanted to go, and for death that was unacceptable. He did not like the thought of someone else controlling his life. Shaking his head he looked about Egypt. If he had been a god he would have chosen this sandy kingdom.
They seemed to understand him and his way so well. They did not see death as an evil but a necessary part of life and only an end if you believed it was so. And few did, death looked towards the sphinx and wondered again if there was fortune and misfortune, hope and despair, where were life and hate? They seemed as if they should exist but yet he never saw anything of the sort ever. He caught glimpses now and then of others he did not know but knew he had never felt what would be his opposite. And then he wondered if he would even want to meet such a creature.
To be the very embodiment of life. But at the same time was not love at the root of all hate? And had not life itself spawned death?
_____________

Opening the catalogue box Mavis stared. What on earth was a hand doing in the box? And by the looks of it as if it was brand new. But at the same time she knew this couldn't be so. The box had belonged to a survivor of the Titanic who had barely lost anything in the stockmarket crash in '29.
His case had been an interesting one only for the fact that for months before the crash he had the feelings to take the money out of the bank and even out of stocks even though he was a broker. But every time he did so as recorded in his diary his wife ordered him to return the money to its proper place.
Finally his diary recorded he had been slowly removing their savings and hiding it in his office. He had also begun to cash out many of his stocks. By the crash he had hidden away nearly 75% of his fortune in liquid assets. More than enough to have assured their lifestyle if things hadn't taken a turn for the worse.
His wife of course had had no idea and had slit her wrists, her note stating that it was her fault that they were now penniless as she had forced him time and time again to return the money . After that he had quickly packed his belongings and to travel west, shipping this box and many others before him and dying in a car crash.
Latex gloves firmly in place she pulled out the hand and could have sworn it felt warm. Looking at it she was confused, It looked to be a child's hand with a solid silver ank in the slightly curved palm. She held it up to a magnifying glass but could see no place where it could have been seared or otherwise attached.
She could not help shutting her eyes before looking to where an arm would have been attached had this been a real hand. Looking she saw an extension of the smooth white skin perfectly sealing the hand as if it had never been part of a body. Deciding she had to know what this was she carefully placed it in the clear plastic bag and looked through the box hoping for another journal and grinning when she found one older than the last.
Sitting back she opened the book, her current assignment of putting together a display of the great depression from a more human perspective gone. Not that she could have ever included the hand in such a display anyway. It would be her luck to inherit a mansion that side bared as a depression museum. Opening the journal to the first page she sat back and began to read.

Ever since I went through the pockets of that coat I put on before getting on the life boat. Things have been going well. I have shown no one the hand and I am glad I did not throw it in the water like I first thought. For it was a hand. But it was so neat and perfect and still warm.

Pausing in her reading she glanced at the year and realized the man would have been barely 15 years old. But already a very educated child. And to have made it to a life boat as a male and one old enough to be an adult he must have been upper class. Mavis touched the hand again and nodded the limb was indeed infused with warmth. Which simply should not be.
Despite the historical nature of the house Mavis had finally installed a central cooling unit that doubled as an air purifier, to keep the artifacts safe. Sure that this was the case simply because there were no true artifacts here. No mummies, no declarations, just a bunch of nick knacks from people who had bought the farm over half a century ago. She did not even have real display cases. Just some red rope and pedestals here and there.
Jumping forward she paused at an entry written by a hand more shaky than the others.

A woman appeared to me. She claimed I would suffer greatly if I did not relinquish the hand. I stared at her hard, her low breeding apparent by her gypsy garb. Superstitious lot they are, always reading fortunes. I sent her on her way, but I did find it strange. How did she know about the hand? I have shown it to no one, not even my new wife, the very picture of perfection. How could I disrupt her sensibilities with such a thing as a severed hand? No a woman could never understand that.

Mavis smiled even if he did not admit it the tremor in his writing showed how taken aback he had been by the appearance of the woman. She wondered as well if he had ever learned the truth. The woman had not been mention in the later diary. But neither had the hand, simply his dreams of monetary loss and fear of investing in banks and stocks. A fear that shook his entire lifestyle to the core.
Realizing she had to continue what she was doing she put the journal and the sealed hand aside and went through the box finding a few notes for cashed out bounds and eerily enough his wife's suicide note.
Deciding on a darker display she took the later journal and placing it on the page where he had described beginning to hide his withdrawals from his wife she placed it in the glass case at the entryway. And in the other, removing the stock record from the day before to the day after the crash, placed the wife's letter. Removing the placards she would rename them later.
Pulling off the gloves she tossed them into a nearby trash can and adjusting her ponytail wondering if the gypsy had ever been revealed as she headed back up the stairs to read the diary.

Misfortune stirred. Her mind had been going in circles for years. Her brother could not experience fortune. So it had to be by some other's fortune that the hand would be returned. Misfortune would simply be considered her brother's fortune thus nullifying the effect of the return of the hand after a few moments.
Looking down at the frozen form of her brother she realized what had called her was another mortal discovering the hand. After so long sitting and waiting and planning she still had no idea what to do to fix things.
"Oh brother I wish you could just tell me what to do to have you back at my side. I have been trying for the better part of three millennia. What do I have to do?"
In the beginning there was ether and they were one. There was nothing else and they were content. Then came life and death rose from the ether and gather what was his. Then came thought and Destiny rose to gather what was his. Humanity rose, and love spun free of the ether. And when love rose close behind came hope and despair arm in arm, every growing, ever receding.
There are many more, more are yet to come as the world changes. As new needs arise, they are not gods they are an essence a substance to which the world must abide. When they rose and what brought them forth is not known. Simply that they are now and have been for as long as the word has been spoken and history passed down.
Different names, different shapes different forms, sometimes one more dominate than the other but always there. Lurking in the shadows, keeping their personal balance as they dance through human history, their reach far their effects well known but still bound by the ties of destiny.
_____Greece_______
"Ate, Ate," the worshipers cried and sitting beside his sister he simply stared.
"Greeks are strange," he mumbled.
"And why is that dear brother?"
"They worship misfortune!"
"No they pray for misfortune to befall their enemies, they obviously recognize my worth. She said with a grin. Now don't be sad because they see you as part of their other god. I'm only a minor deity dear brother. We are in a tiny temple in a tiny city state. I will give them what they ask for and they will move on to worship war."
"Why then?"
"Well it's the first time I haven't been asked not to rain misfortune it's a welcome change." When he simply rolled his eyes she smiled. "Look at it this way brother, the other's misfortune is their fortune, and you don't even have to do anything instant balance."
"So you have your fun and take away mine?"
"Why must you be so negative brother dear?" She said in a flurry of light as she made herself visible to praying masses. Her eyes were a penetrating green, her hair falling down her back in long black curls, in a gray blue, tunic and white sandals on her feet. She sent him one last wink as the humans cowered before her.
"Who dares summon Ate?"
The humans if possible cowered more and her brother tried very hard not to laugh outright, knowing the humans would be confused if his sister was distracted. He watched as the bravest of the humans step forward a platter filled with fruits placed reverently before her.
"For you goddess, the best of the harvest."
"Why have you called me?"
"We go into battle today, to defend our small home; we ask that you use your considerable power to bring us victory today."
"Would your prayers not be more useful to war?"
"He will not hear us. Our enemies have yet to be defeated. He heeds only their prayers."
"Athena," she said but shrugged what did she care why they had chosen her to worship. "I will aid you, in this," she said before vanishing. "Too much?"
"You're starting to act like one of them," he mumbled.
"I did not come in a rain of thunder and lightening and demand a larger sacrifice. Stop moping misfortune is a way of life," she added knowing that was what truly troubled him. If he could have his way everyone would be fortunate all the time. She had watched him time and time again create fortune in a way that no one else would be misfortunate causing her to do even more and for that she could only love him and his strange little mortal loving heart.
"I can't help it; I just like to see them happy."
"You do not have to come if you do not wish it, battles are never pretty."
"I will be fine, I have seen worse."
"I'm sure Eros will be happy to amuse you."
"Why does our friendship amuse you so? He is much like us, he came out of the ether."
"Because I am quite sure he wants you to fall pray to that little power of his."
"Sister you will always be strange."
"Strange are these gods, they are much like mortals."
"Because they feel emotions?"
"No because they are ruled by them, you feel pity and love for mortals but you do not try to stop me. Now watch how war will react."
They walked hand in hand across what would be the battle field come morning. Only one noticed them and at first he smiled until he noticed they passed the weaker camp and started moving towards his men. He waited though but something about fortune's demeanor made him sure it would be Ate who would decide the tide of battle.
"They are great warriors! They worship me! Stay back you demon!"
"Did you forget that I am beyond you gods? I can befall misery on you as easily as I can on these men. You do not care; you will get your blood just not the blood of who you expected."
"These are my warriors they worship me I promised them victory!" Ares snarled. "You can not do this!"
"And I promised their defeat, we'll just have to see who's the strongest," she said with a dark smile already knowing the answer.
Ares frowned and with a stomp moved to a corner simply waiting for the blood bath to begin. He had no wish to test his power against Ate, he had seen her fell Zeus with her power and all the while her brother as she liked to call him had simply stood and watched. Moving to her brother's side she slipped an arm around his waist. Leaning against him she simply watched the storm clouds form. The rain fell in torrents, soaking the ground and the invading Greeks. Ares glared at the pair and she smiled.
By morning it was a very disgruntled group that marched. With no fires they had huddled together in the cold and had enjoyed rained soaked bread as a meal. They were annoyed wet and hungry as the sun broke the horizon.
Their enemies on the other hand were well rested and dry having assembled on the muddy battlefield the moment the rain had stopped. Their misfortune did not end there however. The spear throwers could not hold their bloated twisted weapons as they bent oddly, from the rain and slippery in their hold. Apparently their weapons supplier had used cheap weak wood, which would easily fall to pieces in water.
Misfortune giggled as a spear holder dropped his spear three times and fortune simply rolled his eyes. Ares shook his head, just waiting for the battle to begin. Misfortune was the only one to watch the battle intensely at one point walking among it making ever false move a fatal one. By midday it was decided, she rejoined the duo. Taking her brother's hand she kissed Ares on the cheek and the god snarled before disappearing in a flash of fire.
"Such a big baby," Misfortune whined.
"Sister you just destroyed his pet army, for some unknown city state."
"Sparta."
"Fine you destroyed his little pet army for Sparta. He is bitter."
"Let's go visit Olympus."
"You want to tease war."
"I simply enjoy the company."
"You enjoy the decadence much for one who is beyond emotion."
"I am not beyond emotion, I just do not allow it to over rule my mind."
"Before we go I need to rain some fortune dear sister."
"Must you be so happy about it?" Misfortune asked.
"Do not sound so bitter. The course of a battle accumulates a lot of misfortune."
"The fortune of the victors."
"And the extra misfortune you heaped on the opposing force when victory was assured?" Misfortune glared at her brother. "Terrifying truly," he drawled sarcastically.
"Fine can we make this quick?"
"As quick as need be," Fortune said with a smile.
"What do you have in mind?" Misfortune asked eyeing her brother suspiciously.
"I just want to experience some Grecian hospitality."
"Fine," Misfortune said with a roll of her eyes as he appearance became that of a withered old woman with rags hanging off her old thin body for clothes. Fortune did the same, completing his aged look with a gnarled piece of wood being used as his makeshift cane.
"Can't you just leave some gold in the street and wait for some fortunate soul to pick it up?"
"This is more interesting."
"Doesn't it bother you that you are mimicking a trick of the gods?"
"Where did you think I got the idea?" Fortune asked with a smile.
"Let's get on with it them."
"Together they walked through the nearest village to the fighting and continued on to the next arriving as night fell. They approached an Inn and were turned away before they had even reached the front door.
"Be gone beggars!" The owner called as he threw a bucket of water out the front door into the soft earth. Fortune dragged his sister away to keep her from taking vengeance on the tavern owner.
"Tonight is mine dear sister," Misfortune growled but allowed her brother to lead her away.
"Just one little fire."
"Sister," Fortune said with a sigh.
"Fine, I'll behave."
"Thank you," Fortune said and they continued to walk. They passed houses of and watched as families turned a blind eye to them. One home went as far as to pull their shutters shut as the pair approached. The last house on the street was beautifully decorated with banners hanging from the doors.
"Well I doubt the newly weds will let us in. Can you leave a bag of gold in the street now?"
"Wait," Fortune said as the bride emerged from the house her husband close behind looking slightly wary of the pair.
"Are you two alright?"
"We…have simply fallen on difficult times we were looking for some hospitality for the night before we continue on our way to our children's homes. They are another three days walk from here."
"Do you have nowhere to stay?" The wife asked and Fortune could sense his sister's annoyance. She hated to repeat herself.
"No we do not," she rasped.
"Come come, we have much more than we could ever use from the wedding," the wife said and both Fortune and Misfortune glanced at the husband who nodded.
"But this is your wedding night," Fortune said.
"What better night to share our bounty? We have much left from the feast. And empty beds from those who have departed," the husband said finally speaking. "What kind of people would we be if we ignored those in need?"
"Thank you, you are very kind," Fortune said following the couple into their modest home.
"You have a lovely home," Fortune said as they sat them down at the table bringing out food from the wedding feast for them to have. Fortune and Misfortune ate their fill and were surprised when they were led into the newlywed's bed chamber.
"No we couldn't possibly take your marriage bed."
"Nonsense, we are young, this is the softest bed in the house we could give you no less. We also have some sleep clothes for you," they said presenting two light cotton garments.
"How can we ever repay you?" Fortune asked.
"It was nothing we need no payment. Have a good night the couple said leaving the room and closing the door behind them.
"Can we go now?" Misfortune asked the moment they were gone.
"Sister patience," Fortune said standing. Touching the sleep clothes first they became made of the finest silk and he did the same for the bed sheets. Finally he created a large bag of gold and placed it in the center of the bed. He shut his eyes and concentrated. He needed one more thing to even the balance, and decided to gift the couple with long healthy lives.
"Is that all now?"
Fortune nodded, "they have gotten their fair share of fortune so we may go." Leaving a note on the bed he took his sisters hand and together they vanished.
It was dawn when the couple, not the least uncomfortable for having slept in the hard cots entered the room and were surprised to see the changes. The husband approached the bag first and gasped when he saw the sheer volume of the gold in the bag. His wife lifted the note and read it aloud.
"Though you asked nothing in return, we gift your kindness with good fortune, long life and wealth, no other in your village would look at us, so I happily bless you with what you deserve." Tears welled in the couple's eyes as they enjoyed their good fortune.
Appearing at the home of the gods they were surrounded by the best of mortal decadence. Platters and platters of mortal and godly food alike littered the tables and lively music played as some favored nymphs danced about. There was no current celebration happening, Olympus was simply always abuzz. Only when serious council had to be called did the revelry stop. Usually to announce the birth of another god or two express grievances with another god. Though the truly major gods were rarely there many minor gods seemed always to be present. Like Eris who was approaching Misfortune.
"Ate, and brother," she said and Misfortune smiled as her brother released her hand and he drifted away from the strange conversations the two similar creatures had. Eris was one of the few creatures not affected by his sister's power and he was sure that was a powerful point in their friendship.
He drifted about the halls passing Hermes who nodded his in acknowledgment as he zipped away intent on delivering a message to some god or another who rarely saw reason to visit this mountain hideaway of the gods. Pausing when he sensed he was being followed he saw Eros standing and nodded to the god. Eros led him to his quarters and they simply continued their ongoing conversation as if it had never ended.
"I'm not sure she even realizes it. Nothing has ever happened to cause her misfortune."
"Yes but it is clearly something singular to us, because that child cupid has no such problems, nor his mother and as you see all the gods here are wrapped in their gifts. They can experience them as well as dole them out," Eros said. "But have you tested my theory?"
"Yes, and she can experience fortune though it is difficult as I can not directly affect her nor her me. Now I have another question. Were you always with these gods?"
"No but I have been with them for a long time now if you travel east you will find traces of me."
"Ah, it seems we took different paths. We were to the west of here. The mortals here do not even know the land is there yet."
"Interesting, my time may soon pass here, already they are calling that babe Eros among the mortals, I may simply depart visit this western land."
"They were very different mortals. One group is no more they upset sister so. There are two that remain."
"I will look into it. I could use a change from the Greeks. Wonderful as they are you can only take them for so long if you are not of their gods. They thrive on this. It is their true ambrosia. It is what sustains them and I wonder at times do they know."
"They know," Fortune said quietly, "they answer prayers for a reason they know the Greeks need to feel that they are real to continue to pray. It is hard to disbelieve in something you have seen with your very eyes," Eros nodded though Fortune suddenly turned and shook his head. "Sister can you not behave for a moment?" He murmured aloud.
"What has she done?"
"We may be leaving you sooner than expected. I think she again pushed Zeus too far."
"That god is much too stubborn to be trifled with."
"Which is exactly why sister likes to torment him," Fortune said quietly. Together they walked back into the main hall of Olympus where Misfortune was standing with her arms crossed as Zeus raved. Nodding to Eros Fortune made his way to his sister's side just in time to hear Zeus' final proclamation.
"You are forthwith banished from Olympus!"
"I can't leave you alone for a moment can I?"
"I suppose you can't," She said with grin.
"Did you hear me?! You are banished!"
"We're going," Fortune said calmly.
"Not you, just her!"
Fortune stared up at Zeus. "We will not be separated." Fortune turned to smile sadly at Eros before vanishing with his sister.
"Were do you want to go?" Fortune asked as they appeared at the base of the mountain.
"Let us just walk. See who draws us," she said and they began walking hand in hand to the south. Soon they reached the shore. Without a word or thought passed between them they sat down on the shore. Just far near enough that the water would never actually reach them.
"I want to feel the sand under my feet," Fortune said.
"We can go where the shore takes us."
"Let us rest now," Fortune said leaning against his sister as they both lay in the sand.
_______2 ________

The sky was littered with stars as they walked. And as par to Fortune's request they stayed on the shore. He was highly amused by the sand squishing between his toes. Their speed was a slow walk even by human standards, but they were in no rush to get anywhere.
They simply followed the shore lines for the night and into the next day and into the night that followed. The only reason they noticed the passage of time truly was the change from light to dark and back again. They had been walking non stop for nearly a week when Misfortune spotted something that shone in the distance.
"What is that?" She asked pointing.
"I do not know the heat makes all things look strange let us get a closer look."
Night had fallen before they actually arrived at what they had seen in the distance. It was brightly painted but that wasn't what truly drew their attention. It was the form of a large cat, with a human face and beard.
"That is different," Misfortune said and Fortune merely grinned.
"I like it here already," he said his form shifting to that of a large black cat. His sister looked down at him them mimicked the transformation. She let loose a roar, and so did he.
"I think we have found a home brother."
"I think we have," he replied through their mental link unable to speak in this form. They both circled the sphinx and when the reached the front were surprised to see a tall man standing there. They both looked him over, knowing he was a god of the land, for no other would be able to perceive them.
"It is the Sphinx, it stands guard over the burial places of the kings."
"Will we be able to make our home here? We are drawn to it," Misfortune asked taking a human form as she wondering about this god, who did not question them or anything else.
"You can do with it as you will the mortals believe it solid, they will never disturb you here. It is truly sacred and the thieves have no use for it."
"Thieves?" Fortune asked curious as he took on a human form as well.
"They do not believe in the gods or the rituals others practice to bring eternal life, they will be devoured by the hound."
"Why do you not question us?" Misfortune asked.
"You took the form of a creature sacred to us, you are drawn to the guardian of the land. I sense no evil in you, and your souls will never pass to me; what is there to question?"
The pair nodded and Fortune looked over at the god. "What is your name?"
"Osiris, I am lord of the dead."
"We are Fortune and Misfortune. We do not know this land, what is it called?"
"This is the land of the eye, Egypt."
"Egypt," the pair repeated looking about them.
"If you want to reside in the sphinx you will have to create your own chambers, the mortals believe it solid because they made it that way. I would recommend in the heart, I must go, new souls come to me."
Fortune and Misfortune exchanged looks as the god vanished from the spot. But they could trace him to this lands underworld. Moving together they passed through the solid stone walls of the sphinx and headed to the center where the heart was. Pausing their forms remade the inside of the area hollow, creating a small chamber. Returning to solid form they quickly conjured up a replica of the space they had had in Olympus except with a darker color pattern of deep reds and blues.
Once done they had a soft place of decadence for their rests. One which was long overdue. Laying down side by side on a large fur rug littered with pillows they looked up and despite the yards of solid rock over their heads they saw the clear night sky and the stars that were overhead.
"Sister, do you ever think there are others like us? Besides Eros I mean."
"There may be, I believe there is at least one more. And that someday our paths will cross."
"Who?"
"Death."
"Why do you believe that?"
"Because they never have death, they have a guardian who leads the soul to after death, a judge after death, a caretaker of the afterlife, but never death itself. I think like love, fortune and misfortune it is beyond all gods and all places."
"That is true but could the same not be said for life?"
"I suppose it could," Misfortune said. "Let us rest for tomorrow I would like to study these new people see how they worship."
_______3 ________

Fortune awoke and stretched lazily. Sitting up he paused. The humans were experiencing great fortune nearby. He wanted to see what it was and looked about for his sister. She was sitting right beside him in a smaller black feline form. He lifted her into his arms. "I'm sure I could keep you out of trouble like this," he said to the cat and she nuzzled his hand.
He shifted his sister into his other hand feeling slightly strange. Looking at his hand he saw a symbol he didn't recognize. It was of a cross with a loop at the end. He supposed it could be a symbol for humans. But why was it on his hand.
His sister sat before him in her natural human form, skin so pale it seemed white, with severely straight black hair and piercing green eyes which were currently narrowed in confusion. He took her hands and saw no such adornment and attempted to remove the one on his hand to no avail.
"What is it?" She asked tracing it with her fingers.
"I do not know. Maybe we can learn once we go among these people. Or we can go visit that god."
"Do you think they have a place like Olympus?"
"I do not know it seems like it is quieter here. Come the humans have been fortunate. I want to know what it is that they see as fortune."
"I say we go as the small felines, the god did say they were sacred, let us see what that means here."
"And if they try to sacrifice us to ensure the rising of the sun?"
"Then we will simply have to make sure it never rises again for the fools."
"You will not forget those people will you? You act as if they could have harmed you."
"That is not the point, they should not have tried."
Fortune smiled and pulled his sister with him as he led her to the celebrating humans. They wale together and were amused to see the humans even in their drunken celebration were skirting around to let them pass and seemed to pause to watch them for a moment before continuing.
"Baset has come to view the god Apis," one human said and cats exchanged a look. These humans were certainly interesting; they continued to observe the celebration learning more about this aspect of Egyptian culture.
Fortune was especially interested when he learned that the bull god was an oracle and was instrumental in making decisions of the valley. Especially since he knew that the bull wasn't a god it was mere chance if the bull made the right decisions. A chance he could improve.
Rising and stretching he walked a path to the bull and rubbed his cheek on the calf's leg. Raising a paw to touch it his hand froze when he saw a silvery discoloration of his paw pad in the same strange shape that had been on his hand as a mortal. He marched to his sister's side and nudged her to her feet.
She yawned showing off a set of sharp canines and plodded after her brother who once out of sight transformed into human form. She did the noticing he still looked like a Greek instead of looking like one of the many people they had just seen.
"What are you doing? Where are you planning to go?"
"I want to see their books I want to know what this is," he said indicating the symbol on his hand.
"Do they have books?"
"They always have some kind of written form lately. I'm sure we can find something that will help explain this to us."
Misfortune nodded. Each culture they learned about was different and the way they learned always seemed to vary. In Greece it had been the very gods themselves who had told them their tales and history. But they both seemed to know somehow that here the gods were not the same.
Passing through the market square, they paused at a merchant that was selling parchment. Seeing their interest he quickly held up his best work a translation in Greek of the tale of Osiris and Isis. Fortune reached for the parchment and handed the merchant a few gold coins.
"Ahh I see you have visited us before. Maybe you would like an Ank for the lovely lady."
"Ank?" Misfortune asked.
"Yes it is a symbol of gods and kings. Very expensive."
"What does it mean?"
"Immortality," the merchant said. "I have a book that may interest your lady friend. So she could learn more about out lovely land."
Fortuned nodded and calmly paid for the overpriced book and picked up a few more items at the merchant. They continued to walk down what was apparently a market street and even picked up some food. Not that they actually needed to eat, but they did sometimes like the tastes of mortal foods and the scents that were coming off of these foods were intoxicating.
Fortune walked with his sister a canvas sack laden with goods over his shoulder as they left the market and simply continued to explore the city. They realized they had entered the poorer area when the houses were crowed together and looked like they were in shambles.
"I think we have found all that we will find of interest we should get home. I would like to read these stories," Fortune said as they turned into a dead end alleyway. Pausing for a moment he turned only to realize two humans had followed them into the alleyway. Misfortune looked at him for just a moment then smiled releasing his hand.
"Just give us all your gold and we'll let you live," one said pulling out a scimitar as the other leered at Misfortune. The pair could easily read their plan in their minds. The were to kill fortune and steal his goods then have their way with Misfortune before killing her as well.
Sighing Fortune simply shook his head as Misfortune grinned. Then without warning she transformed into the large black cat beast and with a great slash tore out the middle of the human with the scimitar. The other screamed as he turned to run blindly down the alley way and into what he assumed would be safety
Misfortune allowed him to run for a few moments before pouncing on his back and with a great paw slicing at his throat and severing the major blood vessels there. She returned to Fortune to see him just exiting the alleyway the body of the first victim nowhere to be seen. She did not question her brother as he led them back out of the alleyway and towards their sandy home.
Once they were sure that they were alone the pair closed the distance quickly and were in their chamber in the sphinx in the blink of and eye. Opening the canvas bags, Fortune took out the scrolls and books and divided them between them.
They learned the words and symbols of Coptic as they read. The few glyphs also making sense to the pair though it was the first time they had seen such symbols. Reading the story of Osirius and Isis Fortune immediately motioned his sister over so she could read the tale as well. When done, they sat back on their pillows sampling the foods they had bought and discussed what they had already learned about Egypt and its gods.
"That must have been devastating," Fortune said.
"To be dismembered by one's own brother, I could never understand it," Misfortune added.
"Nor could I. Yes they are opposing forces but how can one exist without the other? How will that achieve balance?"
"They are not looking for balance they are looking for triumph."
"Will these gods never learn?" Misfortune asked.
"Someday, I hope they will and pass it on to the humans. I have never before witnessed an entire culture so completely focused on death. It is strange to live your life with thoughts of death looming over you so."
"Not so, they see deaths as an extension on life, the rightfully believe it lasts longer than life and they are right. The afterlife is as real as they make it and it is very real."
"I suppose," Fortune said simply. "But why not dance in the light instead of plan for when you will be locked away in a stone tomb."
"To be robbed by thieves," Misfortune added. "That was interesting was it not?"
"To you you had your fun destroying those mortals."
"Yes I did it was amazing, maybe we should do it again?"
"If you wish it."
"I do I do, dear brother."
Fortune sighed but did not say anything to deter his sister. "You know what this means."
"Oh yes go spread your fortune," she said with a sigh.
"Do not sound so enthused sister."
Outside the sphinx another young man stood smiling. His white hair blowing in the wind as he drew a bullseye with his fingers over the sphinx's nose he looked towards the teasing pair and shook his head. Together they would never grow beyond petty play and so this was the way it would have to be.
"Sorry little one, but are still so young," he said looking at the huge figure and shook his head. "You will look so much better without the big nose."
Strolling off whistling a song that had yet to be written as he walked off into the sand, leaving no foot prints in his wake.
"Did you feel that?" Fortune asked suddenly sitting up from where he had his head resting in his sister's lap.
"No what?"
"I don't know, it felt different strange."
"Maybe one of the gods here coming to look in on us."
"Oh I suppose," Fortune said knowing he was not used to these new gods and that their aura's could disturb him. "Why haven't they come in then?" He asked after a few minutes.
"Who knows, maybe they are less friendly not all gods are like the Greeks instantly inviting."
"True, this land has made them harsh, and those tales, its no wonder they are wary."
"Well you got one wish brother."
Fortune looked at his sister confused. "What wish?"
"You will feel the sand beneath your feet for years to come."
"Oh!" Fortune said and laughed. "Yes I will!"


___4______
Apis would be killed today. It had reached its 25th year so it was his turn. He plodded through the herds allowing the humans he knew watched to see him. He knew the priests were getting nearer. Stalking quietly he found her a cow about to give birth to a calf. This calf was would be the new Apis. Walking over he licked her hind legs and moved on. Smiling when he noticed a dish of milk placed outside the door. He licked daintily and knew that was the least of the good fortune that was to come to the family this year for their gift. Darting back into the shadows as the sun rose; he arrived at his home to find his sister stretched lazily in the main room.
Sighing he plopped down besides her knowing the price of his actions today would be hers tomorrow. They had to keep the balance though at times he wished it could be another way. It was a scared bull after all. The people would fall apart without the 'power' of Apis. He was the physical representation of their deity and they would not be able to survive without him. But fortune was fortune. And had to be balanced with misfortune. Curling up beside her he planned to sleep when he heard her voice.
"I will never understand why you find it important to aid these mortals in such a foolish prospect. They trust their decisions on what a bull eats."
"It is their faith I will not condemn them for such, it is that same fate that sustains them."
"It is that same faith that tells them you are an ugly dwarf."
"I did not say it was perfect but they get the greater picture, leave me be I am tired," Fortune said with a yawn.
"Oh brother, that foolish cow will be your downfall."
"So you say dear sister, so you say."
"Rest brother for tonight there will be a chase."
He sighed of all her ploys he disliked this one the most. "Could you not simply destroy some crops? Must it be a chase?"
"Brother we have not had one in ages," he sighed even in the darkness he could see the joy in her eyes. The hope that there would be a good chase, he could just make out her tail swishing in the darkness of the tomb. Always he hoped the humans would not take the bait but they always did. He shut his eyes and with his minds eye he saw that the calf had already been found. They would be celebrating for over a month now. The oracle had been found.
"Let me rest than you know you will have your fun when night falls."
"You are not resting you are watching the fools fawn over a calf."
"Then let me watch my fools," Fortune said as he drifted off to sleep curled up closer to her.
_____5______

Malik stood in front of his temple contact as he held up the jewels from his latest job. It was a good arrangement. The priests had sold the same three sets of jewels to grieving families for almost five years. And Malik would steal them each time. It was his one set fee and as they exchanged the jewels for a small sack of coins. Proper burial ritual; Malik rolled his eyes at the absurdity of it all.
"Any new cases?"
"Not yet, give it time," the priest said and Malik nodded. Heading to his moderate home he found his partners waiting. Even dividing the spoils from this and other robberies they made a comfortable living. They could walk the streets in daylight and not be instantly dismissed as thieves.
It also helped that they rarely socialized with the other grave robbers it had granted them a reputation of believing that they were better than everyone they worked with. They accepted the title lightly not caring as long as the others interfered in their work.
"Anything?"
"No, it seems to be a lively month, tonight we can go to the tavern, see what the word is. I hear some think there is a hidden chamber in the Sphinx. That could be worth investigating," Malik said as he sat down and poured out the pouch. Taking a slightly larger share for himself. It was the way; whoever formed the contact always had the greater risk.
"In ten days the burial will happen with my priest. It is a wealthy family but double the take if we can do it in the same night, seems he is over stocked, there was some sort of accident," Atun said as he gathered his share.
"Well the better for us then," Malik said sitting back into his chair running a hand over his bald head as his partners stood to leave.
"We will see you tonight," Atun said with a nod.
____________

Night had fallen and try as he may he could not find any reason to not go out. He tried to get her to stay when the sand storm started and she laughed.
"What is a little sand to us?" She asked extending her small human had to him. He reached out to her and hand in hand they walked out of the tomb. They came out of the storm with out a grain of sand on their exposed bodies. Dressed in the finest black silk children who could be no more than six walked hand in hand into the city. Both of them had long jet black hair, sun kissed skin and the same sparkling green eyes.
Looking at his hands he shook his head at the vast amount of wealth he was wearing . They were laden with silver bracelets and rings. He had silver asps crawling up each arm and a jeweled utat on his forehead held there with thin silver strands. His sister was similarly attired in gold. The meaning of the jewels were his idea. Many were superstitious enough that the asp bands would be enough to deter them.
He allowed her to lead and they turned into a alley way where grave robbers and thieves were known to congregate and he sighed. He should have know any thing he did to try and deter the humans she would find a way to try and eliminate that small chance.
"Do not think because I think that they are fools I do not know what they believe. These fear no gods, I could almost respect them," he shut his eyes and tried to abide himself by saying that these men at least deserved the misfortune that was about to fall on them. He carefully took his seat beside her and they wrapped their arms about each other and started to sob. The sound sounding much like the mournful wails of cats.
It was only a few moments when the nearest tavern owner came to shoo the beast away. For disturbing his customers when he saw the children. He called quietly to one of the tavern's whores sure she would have better luck in luring the children inside. Coming out she was adorned much like the children were though she wore only false wooden jewels with chipping paint not foolish enough to wear anything of worth when dealing with thieves and murders.
"Amaris get them to the cellar," he said with a grin then made a chopping motion she nodded and moved over to the children. Though she was only 20 her face was old and she had lines creasing her forehead and around her mouth the rare times she smiled. This was one of those times as she kneeled beside the children.
"Oh my poor dears what's wrong?"
"Mamma?" One asked and her heart broke. But she could do nothing for them yet. She turned and the tavern owner tilted his head toward the cellar before heading inside at the sound of another fight.
"I am not your mamma but I can't help you find yours but you two need to do something for me." The children looked up at her with wide tear stained eyes. "I am going to take you down to the cellar to rest and go look for your mother for you."
"You will find our mamma?"
"Yes little one," she said leading them towards the cellar. As she walked them away to the cellar she lifted one child into her arms not sure if it was a girl or boy. "When I leave run! There are bad men here." He smiled and stroked her cheek. "Do you understand? You must go!" He nodded and she placed him down. "Yes just go down there, that's good, I will find your mother for you," She said loudly not looking at the children. The boy tugged on her stained skirt and held out one of his asps to her.
"I can't."
"For mamma," he whispered knowing it would be a few months before she understood as he lightly petted her stomach.
"That's it you are good children we will find your mamma." She turned and went into the tavern. "They are there, are you sure you want to do this? They are children, they are wearing asps! What if they are royalty?"
"In the worst streets of Memphis? Where is their escort? The guards searching for them? They are bait, now go, you have a customer."
"So should we wait or run now?"
"Brother dear would it be a chase if we waited here?" She asked quickly going up the stairs and running between two rogues sent down to kill them and take their jewels and finery. Sighing he chased after his sister. They ran through alleys, and down main streets herding the humans to where they wanted them. They split up and met again teasing the humans and outrunning them easily.
They ran into an alley that they knew ended in a dead end and she veered off into the shadows. Three men came into the shadows and spotting only him backed up against the wall one went to search for his sister. He played his role perfectly the frightened child trying to become one with the wall as they drew knives.
His eyes flitted to the shadows of the alley but had lost sight of his sister being distracted by the shine of the knife did not know where she was. When they were just a few feet in front of him she pounced; large sleek black and deadly the first man didn't have chance to scream as the giant claws sliced through the desert wear and skin like cheap papyrus.
The partner not one to risk his life began to run down the alley to get away. He watched as she finished off the first would be murder and ran after the fleeing partner. She turned to him quickly and snarled for him to get the third. Transforming he quickly sniffed out the final man. He was searching some empty jars that would have been large enough to hold them when he sprung on him. His powerful hind legs knocking him down and knocking the breath out of him.
"Please no!" The human begged. He growled low in his throat a terrifying sound to the human but looked into the pleading eyes and backed up. He quickly slashed into the human's leg letting the spray of blood coat his fur. It was not a deep wound and the human would survive. He opened his mouth and let out a low growl and quickly shifted to human form. "Run," he said before dashing in the opposite direction to counter his sister.
"You done?" She asked licking the blood off her paws.
"Yes can we go now?" He said scratching at the sand.
"What did you do?" She growled.
"What you wanted what do you want from me?"
"You act as if these humans matter. A thousand of their lives would not be worth one day we walk among them. You are beyond them. You are beyond their gods. Why do you refuse to understand that?"
"All I do not understand is why you feel like the humans are nothing. Without them where would we be? Floating mindlessly through the ether of eternity. Would any other creature have brought us forth?"
"Your foolish philosophy bores me. They worship us not the other way around. You wanted to go home let us go home."
"Go I will meet you there later."
"Why?"
"I want to check on my foolish cow," he said changing form again this time into a smaller black cat, like the ones worshiped throughout the land. She watched him for a moment before turning off in the indifferent way of a cat and strolling off back towards their home. From the screams he heard he knew she had not made her self invisible to their eyes and was most likely tormenting the crowd and causing more mischief.
Distracted he made his way to the temple where the celebrations for Apis were still in full swing. A far different area then where he had just been. He took the form of an adult male before slipping into the celebrations.
He was no were near as lavishly adorned as he had been though he had a single asp crawling up his left forearm and what looked like a solid silver ank laid in the palm of his and held by a strap on his wrist. The one marking he could never hide. In feline form it was on his forepaw and impossible to see.
He tried to lose himself in the celebration but as the hour neared dawn he found himself slipping past the priest and sneaking into the Apis' quarters. Servants were washing it at the moment. Peering into the calf's mind he realized while content with all this strange fuss he would have been content on the farm with his mother.
Lost in thought he wondered if maybe his sister was right, maybe the humans did not need them. The essence of what they were, was still powerful in the world they simply focused it directly and purposely from time to time. Maybe it would be better if they returned to nothingness.
Back to the ether from whence they came. They had been in Egypt for years and the greatest misfortune that had fallen on the valley was the work of a strange god they did not know. The greatest luck nothing as easily as tangible. It was the simple fact that their faith survived. That they continued after thousands of years to believe even though very few could read the true words any more. They still lived as they did when he and his sister had come.
Slipping out of the temple he saw that dawn was nearing and slowly made his way to his home. It was built by the people years before he and his sister had arrived. It was not a tomb and so they never had to worry about grave robbers, the humans did not even believe that the sphinx had chambers and that suited them well. They did not need food and simply needed a place to rest. And the bright paint had drawn them in the night.
Entering the chamber he shared with his sister he flopped down on the pillows and her voice spoke up. "The Romans are coming."
"What about them? They have been invaded before."
"It will not be the same, will you place your sway in such a large decision? Will you decide if these people fall?"
"They can not win with fortune alone."
"But they can fall with misfortune alone," She said with a bitter smile and it was then heI noticed she had taken on an adult human form like he had done earlier that night. Somehow it seemed more fitting then the child form she preferred for the chase. Children always seemed so innocent and sweet, and just a gift to everyone involved. He liked children and if it was his wish he would most likely keep that form most often.
"You do what you will and so will I." He said simply lying on his back among pillows and soft silks as he started to think more about human children.

___6____

Malik staggered into the tavern clutching his leg as blood dribbled along his fingers. The owner looked him over and laughed.
"Don't tell me the great Malik was over powered by two children!"
"They were not children they were demons! They killed Atun and Oberon! They were large beasts. It attacked me with its claws."
"Now if they were such vicious killers that killed both your partners why is it that you escaped with your life and a simple scratch?"
"The beasts were toying with us! I heard their screams. It was all part of their demonic plan. There were never any children!"
"Malik come sit down, let me tend to your leg."
"Be gone whore!" He snarled backhanding Amaris and having her fall over a bar table. Shaking Amaris stood and and took a seat at her usual table inspecting her wooden jewelry for any additional damage. Refusing to show any outward appearance of her hurt. She supposed she was being foolish anyway. Even if she was right why would Malik believe it to be him when it could easily be half a dozen other men that she regular entertained.
But something in her heart told her that this child. That would finally make her leave this life was Malik's. She was proud of herself. She had kept up the farce for years no one thought she had enough money to even replace her fake wooden jewels. And with the solid gold Apis with the emerald eyes still hidden in the folds of her dress she would be gone.
She would wait until she started to be heavy with child and then she would allow the tavern owner to throw her out. She did not want to run and spend years looking over her shoulder. Better to let him think he had won. So lost in her own thoughts she never heard Malik as he told the story until she heard the burst of laugher.
Looking up she saw Malik with a rag around his leg as he hobbled his way out of the bar.
"Don't leave Malik I'll protect you from the big bat cat," Drack laughed banging his hand on the table and spilling Ameron's drink. Amaris sighed and simply turned her chair around as the battle spread out across the floor.
She had her plan and if all went well it wouldn't be long before she was established in Cairo as a moderately well off widow about to birth her first child. To be named after his sadly departed father.
She sat at the bar stool for another hour but nothing was forthcoming. Accepting that she would not have any work for the night she tuned to the tavern owner and nodded to him. The simple nod and he knew she was going to bed in her room. It meant he accepted that she would not make any more coins for him tonight and that was a blessing. As she had assumed there would be a price to pay for the children getting away though he could not directly blame her. She would not be surprised if he did decide somehow it was her fault and she was the one to blame as well for whatever had happened to Malik.
As she headed up to her room she wished she had paid attention to what Malik had been saying and simply hoped that the man would be fine in a few days and would get over the deaths of his partners.

Malik hobbled into another tavern. This one frequented by the lower class but upstanding citizens of Memphis and ordered himself a drink. After being laughed out of the Tavern he did not want to think. Holding the glass high he mumbled aloud.
"For you my brother's you will be avenged," he said before drinking down the glass in a single gulp. Banging it on the counter he asked for another refill and was gratifued when the bartender quickly came close and filled his glass. By his fifth cup he was blissfully drunk and slurring through the story about what had happened. Each time he mention the name of one of his fallen companions he would raise his glass in a silent tribute before drinking it down again.
"One more for my friend here," a young man with a head full of white hair and clear blue eyes said tossing some coins on the table. The bartender quickly snatched the coins and filled Malik's glass yet again.
"So I hear you were attacked by demons."
"They posed…as children," Malik slurred. Talking mostly to his crisp blue shirt as lifting his head became a feat he had forgotten how to accomplish. "Killed my best men," raising his glass for the dozenth time that night he offered a silent prayer in the name of his fallen friends.
The young man smiled and lifted his own glass to match the toast though he did not drink any of his own ale. He simply watched as Malik managed to drink two more glasses of ale before finally passing out.
The young man simply stroked his cheek and vanished out into the night. Once the tavern closed the owner tossed out Malik who startling managed to make it home safely despite his condition. The next morning he expected to wake hung over and dizzy but instead he sat up and his head was clear for the most part. He remembered the drinking and the strange man. And mostly he remembered being laughed out of the thieves tavern. He would show them. It not be tonight he would be able to get his revenge on them for the way that they had insulted him.

__________

Malik went about the next few days not morning his friends but instead lost in the archives of the priest he had an arrangement with. The man had been surprised to see him at first but had easily allowed him accesses, even sending an apprentice to help him search the volumes.
Reading he wondered what it was he had encountered. He had yet to come across any references to the beast that he had seen. And he stopped trying to find them under cat creatures and simply looked up evil sprits.
It was the dead of the night when Mailk finally found something that could be of use to him. A way to keep away evil spirits at bay. Looking over the ritual he was sure he could improvise some of the tools.
He would need a different kind of blessed weapon as the clay figures wouldn't be enough to stop those monster cats they had become. His only chance would be to capture them while they were still in human form.
He was walking idly through Memphis wondering what it was he could do. What kind of precious weapons would be used when he landed in the midst of wild celebrating in front of a building. It took him a moment to recognize the Apis celebrations which were in full swing.
He paused to watch for a moment always interested in the fact that the people could go so wild over a bull. Though had been much too young to fully remember the one before and this was just a sight he had to watch to believe. People were fawning right and left over a calf. It was just the epitome of the foolish religion his people followed.
He watched as a priest came forward. Holding a jeweled scimitar up as brought it down to slice a melon before the young calf. All watched in a hush to see what side of the melon the calf would choose and Malik had to work hard not to laugh.
He was sure if there were any gods they were not currently residing on the body of a bull. And he was sure they had more important and more interesting things to do than to decide which side of a melon was more interesting to eat.
Looking at the priest again he thought that the scimitar would be much better served slicing off the beasts head and feeding someone than being worshiped for the next twenty five years. Looking at the Scimitar again Malik grinned. It would take a while but that would be perfect for what he needed it for. Blessed by priests it would be enough to kill those dark spirits.
Approaching the temple steps plastering a false joyous smile on his face he began observing the temple and the priests and noticed another with a whip. While he was not sure how he would get it he was sure that it would be perfect for wrapping around those demon's necks as if he were to catch them in human form.
With a single mindedness that wasn't all his own he stalked the temple. He planned and wondered how he would steal the tools. The first realization he came to was that he would have to do it before the celebrations ended. But at the same time it would be the most difficult time to attempt it.
Sighing Malik wondered if anything in his life would ever be easy again. He knew the penalty if he was caught attempting such a desecration would be death, without the proper burial rituals. Thought the last past did not worry him he was not eager to meet to leave the land of the living, he was quite happy being alive and had no urge to see death up close and personal. Walking back to his home he constantly cast glances into alleyways and every sound had him on edge. Sure he would be sprung on and devoured at any moment like his unfortunate compatriots.
Realizing he would need a plan for this to work he started to think on who he could trust and who he would feel little if any remorse for if they were taken or even killed. The list for the latter was quite long but for the former it was much harder to name even one person still among the living that he would be willing to trust so fully with such an outlandish plan.


____7_____
It was two days before Malik returned to the temple. The tempo and feverishness of the celebrations were still at a high point and it did not seem like anyone took any special notice of him. He arrived at sun up and through sheer force of will remained there until sun down. Repeating the pattern twice more he was sure he had the priest's routine memorized. But he still did not know how he would be able to do this alone.
But how would he find someone willing to do this for him? Willing to risk capture or worse for no payment what so ever. Brooding on his third night he headed to the tavern. It had been nearly a week since he had last shown his face but it seemed his last appearance had made an impact on the patrons because the moment he entered silence fell on the tavern. Then after a moment some one whispered to his partner and they both started chuckling.
They raised their glasses and turned to Malik, "to the demon slayer," they laughed before downing their ale. Malik rolled his eyes how would he possibly find an alley here in this den of fools who didn't believe him in the first place. Looking around his eyes settled on Amaris.
She was not a fool and he did not need her to steal anything just provide a suitable distraction for the switch. Approaching her she looked up at him. For a moment he stopped there was something in her eyes that made him pause but he quickly pushed it aside and tossed a few coins at her.
She did not look at him at first taking the coins she walked over the owner and handed him half of what she had just received then led the way into the bedroom of the tavern.
"What do you do during the day?" Malik asked batting her hands away when she tried to remove his shirt.
"Why?"
"I need a favor, I could make it worth your while," Malik said knowing he could pay her a forth of what a normal partner would receive and she would be getting much more than she ever did. And it would be next to nothing in the amount of money he had saved for a lively season.
What do think is worth my while?"
"200."
"200?! What must I do and will it get me killed?"
"I simply need you to provide a distraction as long as they do not realize you are involved."
"Who are they?" Amaris asked suspiciously.
"Just some temple priests," Malik said.
"I thought you worked for the temple priests," she asked confused.
"These are others, at the Apis temple.
"Of all the temples in Memphis you want me to distract the one surrounded by hundreds of people day and night? I could run through the crowd naked and they would not notice."
"They will notice this distraction, do not worry I have it all planned out. It will happen near the end of the festivities. When it gets the wildest and craziest, there would be a better a chance of escape through the crowd."
"Do not blame me for doubting you but this seems like a fools run to me."
"I have some ideas," Malik said finally "to use their superstitious nature against them."
"Like what?"
"Oh I will gather my allies, you will merely have to free them from their confines. The chaos that will ensue will easily cover both our escapes. You must dress toned down for this. You must look like everyone else. It would be even better if you could pass as a slave."
"We will see, when will I get paid?" Malik did a quick mental calculation then opened his pouch and placed 50 coins on the table.
"I am sure more will be noticed here, if asked say I asked you to buy a new dress." Malik said with a nod.
"Fine," Amaris said wondering why she was agreeing to this fool hardy plan. Most likely because she was almost positive that Malik was the one who fathered the child she was carrying. Or was that simply wishful thinking that she wanted one of the few decent men she serviced to be tied to her in such a way.

_________

The Romans did come and they did not seem to need fortune in any capacity. The pair grew restless with the visiting senators and emperors seeming to dampen the true spirit of the valley/ They should have taken it as sign but instead traveled among the people more. Sometimes in the Roman garb sometimes in the Egyptian.
They watched this king of the world and the Queen they all called his Egyptian whore. It had been 10 years since either of them were active when she decided she wanted to do another chase. Waking him in the afternoon he growled and playfully batted her away with a large black forepaw. She jumped away then pounced on him as a small human child.
"I want a chase."
"We just had one."
"That was nearly a decade ago. Plus I want to see how they would treat a pair of Roman children. The people all hate them."
"You are strange."
"You are the strange one; you spend all your time with a cow."
"He is an oracle."
"He is a cow, and it is only the touch of fortune at birth that allows him to make the right choices for these foolish people."
"Fine let us get this over with, so Roman jewels?"
"Well of course, we can not go prancing about in togas with asps dangling from our wrists."
He nodded and together they again walked the streets of Memphis. They simply drifted down the street, having no particular spot to go to. They were truly fair game and even some Romans may try to rob or kill them. He didn't know when it happened but they were back in the same alleyway. Sighing he looked at her and she grinned innocently.
Inside the tavern Malik sat nursing a drink. He didn't know why he bothered to come here anymore. After ten years he was nothing more then a fool to them. Every few nights some fool would approach him like now.
"See any demon cats today?" He asked causing a drunken chuckle round the room. He wanted to slit the fool's throat. His hand was reaching for his knife when he heard it. That mournful wailing sound. That same sound from nearly a decade ago. One that had cost him two partners that were actually loyal to him and been the end to any respect he could ever hope to have again. Until tonight, standing he quickly made his way out of the bar ignoring the teasing and taunts.
He walked quickly to the dead end alleyway and pulled out a whip and a knife. He was prepared, both had been blessed by the priest in the temple at Memphis for use on the Apis but they would work well on the demon cat as well. He had never believed in such things before, but now there was no question.
He waited until one entered the alley hidden in the shadows ignoring the one human that was chasing after him. Snapping his whip he wrapped it around the boys neck and smiled as his eyes widened. He tore at the cord as the other beast pounced on the human, killing it quickly. Held the knife aloft as it headed towards him. It jumped and he quickly thrust the knife into her. Twins screams ripped through the pair as she fell to the ground.
He finally loosed the whip from about his neck and crouched besides his sister. Hands shaking he turned her over but before he could check he was yanked by the whip around his throat again. Tossed to the ground he started wide eyed at his attacker.
"But I…" he started and was back handed for his troubles.
"Take them off!" Malik snarled and fortune shook in shock as he could not simply make the jewels fall off his wrists. With shaking hands that couldn't take his eyes off his sister he slid all the jewels off tears streaming off his face.
"That one too!" Malik snarled pointing at the ank on his hand. He shook his head; the bracelet had appeared on his hand when they had arrived in Egypt. Neither he nor his sister knew what it was. And it had always bothered him that she did not have one as well.
He never noticed as Malik raised the knife to his hand. He felt a strange burning searing pain. He didn't cry out as the world went dark but Malik did as the body withered and became like that of a mummy. He quickly scrambled gathering the jewels and looking at the hand that looked young and perfect with out a drop of blood. Taking it as well he fled down the alleyway with his horde.
Moments later misfortune stirred her side felt as if it was on fire. Looking around everything was hazy and she felt quite disjointed. Her eyes were not adjusting to the dark sky and she felt for the first time in her long existence weariness. Looking in the semi darkness she noticed the edge of her brothers form and crawled over to him.
"Brother?" She asked wondering if it would take longer for him to wake. "Brother?" She called again pushing herself to a kneeling position to look at him and screamed. His face was sunken in and hollow, his eyes closed to her. His entire body had been shriveled and dried like a mummy of these people. Stroking the dry skin she felt his last tears on his face as she broke out into her own.
Screaming again she lifted him carefully into his arms. Shaking she shut her eyes and opened them again inside the sphinx. She reverently placed him down on their bed placing and placed his hands on his chest and started screaming again when she noticed the severed limb.
Vanishing again she appeared before Anubis who had just finished scaling the mortal she had just killed his screams as the hell hound devoured him did little to calm her mood.
"Give him back," she snarled.
The jackal god looked up at her with slight confusion written on his face. "He was devoured, you saw."
"Not the filthy human, I will rain Egypt red with their blood I want my brother!"
"He did not pass here, his soul is not human, take me to him," Osiris said and in a blink they were both back in the sphinx. The Egyptian good peered at fortune and frowned.
"His soul is still in place. He is alive," the god said calmly.
"He is not, I can not feel him, he is not there." Osiris studied the form and paused at the arms.
"Where is his hand?"
"I don't know the mortal must have taken it, I will deal with it later."
"How does your charm work exactly?"
"Charm?! We are not charms!"
"How does it work?" Osiris asked again stroking fortune's cheek. "If you want me to aid Bes I need to understand your spirits, you are not of here but have taken our ways."
"His touch, in any form, will bring fortune, as mine will bring Misfortune, when we clasp hands or otherwise touch there will be neither. He likes to use his hands or paws."
"Return the hand and return the life."
"Why did he have your symbol emblazoned on is hand? I do not have one."
"Which symbol?" Osiris asked as a beautiful tomb formed to encase her brother.
"Immortality, I do not have such a symbol."
"On his hand?"
"Yes."
"Fate touches on this, I can do no more for you," Osiris said before vanishing from the large cat.
Misfortune sat down on the ground cross legged as she tried to focus on the human. It took her a few moments. When she found him he was sitting inside on of the more expensive brothel's spending the money he had gotten from the gold stripped from her brother. Growling easily became one of the house whores.
She approached Malik and with out any pretense to what she was doing grabbed him by the throat.
"The hand!" She snarled rage burning in her green eyes.
"What? Get off of me you crazy whore!"
"You took my brother's hand where is it?"
"Demon! I killed you, you're dead," Malik said his eyes wide.
"Fool, you can not kill me, all you did was harm the only thing that ever kept me from raining hell on you all. Where. Is. His. Hand."
"I so..sold it, days ago! To a priest, he was traveling to see Cleopatra. There I told you what you wanted let me go."
"You must have mistaken me for my brother he was the one with the heart, you would have never left that alley alive in the first place if it had been me," Misfortune said and snapped the humans neck. She dropped his lifeless body on the ground and vanished from the brothel. Appearing in a temple she simply snatched the hand off the altar and vanished.
She appeared before her brother and hovered over the tomb. Taking his hand she carefully attached it to his wrist and watched as the life from his hand spread to his body. Gasping he blinked.
"Sister?" He murmured weakly.
"Oh brother don't ever do that again," she exclaimed as she hugged him tightly.
"Sister I feel odd, I can't feel my legs." Misfortune looked down and watched in horror as his body slowly mummified again.
"No! No! I got your hand! There is nothing else!"
"My hand?" He asked tiredly.
"In the alley the human stole it."
"He gave it back?"
"I took it back, he is dead."
"I am fortune sister, stealing is simply misfortune."
"But it is your fortune!"
"I can not experience fortune no more than you can experience misfortune," he gasped as the withering crawled up his chest.
"I can not bring fortune!"
"It must be someone else's fortune that…" fortune fell silent as the hand fell off and his head was again withered. Misfortune collapsed beside the tomb clutching the dismembered hand. It was still warm she realized as her body shook rocking her frame as tears rolled down her face.
Her mind was spinning how could she cause fortune? How could she get a human to willingly give her this hand? The moment it was in their possession they would be besieged by good fortune, even the most foolish mortal would realize what that meant. No one would willingly give up the hand.
Sighing she quickly placed it back on the alter glad that none of the mortals had noticed its disappearance. She vanished from the mortal sight, and watched and waited wondering how she could get what she needed. She watched as the priests came and examined the hand.
Pacing the Sphinx she wondered what she would have to do to get a hold of the hand through someone else's fortune. While it would not technically be misfortune for her brother, as they had always said, one's misfortune, is another's fortune.
Walking back and forth she remembered that the Romans had their eyes set on Egypt. She wondered how she could use that to her advantage as she continued to pace the small chamber.


_____inter______

Much Later…
Misfortune sighed as she made her way to the Sphinx. Another failure as an another empire toppled. She approached the chamber and was shocked to sense another's presence there. Moving quickly fearing humans had finally discovered the chamber she entered only to find a young boy looking down at her brother.
"Who are you?"
"Death," he said simply.
"You can't have him! He can't die."
"I wasn't going to try I was looking for you."
"Me why?"
"We need to talk."
"About what?"
"Your constant need to topple empires," death said sitting down cross legged in front of the tomb. "You seem on creating mayhem in your wake. And I wanted to know what the reason was."
"You're looking at him," Misfortune said peeking in on her brother.
"What about him? I don't understand it, he is not dead yet his soul is trapped," death said as he pushed back his auburn hair. His depthless black eyes looking over Misfortune.
"The humans stole his hand. I must return it to him, but I can not use Misfortune to do it."
"Why not?"
"One's misfortune is another's fortune and my brother can't experience fortune as he is fortune."
Death nodded, "Yet all you bring to these kings are Misfortune."
"If they do not willingly want to give up the hand I may as well speed the process of it passing to the next holder hoping that they will be more open to me."
"Oh and here I thought you were being overruled by rage," Death said. "You do realize I can't be lied to?"
"That may have been a small part of the reason as well," Misfortune muttered. "It has been too long since he walked at my side. All I want is to have him again. If the price is a few humans then so be it. He is worth more than all of them combined."
"I see. I would like to aid you."
"Why?"
"Where you go Misfortune rains, and where that happens death usually follows. Why not just be there from the beginning?" Misfortune shrugged.
"If you wish it."
"I do," Death said standing. "Where do we go next?"
"I would like some time alone with my brother then we will depart for wherever the hand has fallen next." Death nodded leaving the sphinx as Misfortune took her brother's remain hand in her own.
"It seems I was right brother dear, death is one of us. I wish you were here to meet him. That seems to raise the count to four. Oh and I saw Eros, I know you want to know all about it," Misfortune said smiling sadly at the still form, knowing if her brother was with her he would be annoyed or at the very least embarrassed.

"Ate?" A voice called and Misfortune spun quickly. She hadn't been called that in ages. Turning she saw the familiar face and nodded. She noticed how his head instantly turned to her side and she felt a pang in her heart. "Where is your brother?"
"He is in Egypt," Misfortune said a slight quaver in her voice.
"Egypt? I would not have thought you would have been so far apart."
"It is not by choice," Misfortune said sadly. "There were factors beyond our understanding and control."
"Have you ever been to Egypt?"
"No but I have heard of it they have giant tombs rising out of the sand."
"So you know what a mummy is?"
"Yes. Why?"
"My brother is currently in a state that is much like a mummy."
"How is that possible? What happened?"
"I don't know, we never understood what it was."
"What what was?" Eros asked.
"The ank," Misfortune said then went on to explain to him what had happened to Fortune all those years ago in Egypt. Eros listened intently his expression visibly saddened when he learned the full truth of Fortune's fate.
"If there is anything I can do to help."
"There isn't I just have to find a way."
"Well if you ever need me please. I would love to be able to help you and your brother in any way I can," Eros added. Misfortune nodded and with a slight bow love walked off.
"I don't know why I wasn't willing to accept his help and so open to death. If you were here I 'm sure you would be able to give me some reason. But I suppose I have kept him waiting long enough." Misfortune said and kissed her brother on the forehead before heading out of the sphinx. Many a time she had thought of simply taking the hand again to just hear her brother's voice if only for a moment but she refused. She would have her brother whole and complete. Not just for a few strained pained words before falling into that state again.
Approaching death he turned to face her. "Ready?"
"Yes."
"Where do we go?"
"The America's seems some how it has gained passage to an Island called Roanoke. Maybe these people will be more open to giving up the hand."
"I don't understand why they do not fear it yet. Have they not seen the misfortune it causes?"
"Humans see what they will. They connect it to fortune but do not see how the misfortune follows it as well."
"Strange one's these little creatures are."
"They simply get stranger with each passing era," Misfortune said as they walked.
________________

"For once I have to say this is too much!" Death said as he tried to keep up with the pace of the dying. As misfortune simply made her rounds barring doors, darkening corridors that would lead to exits, and just generally wreaking havoc.
"Did you hear that fool? It will grant him luck on its maiden voyage, not that he needs it?"
"And if it ends up at the bottom of the ocean?"
"It will not, it has out lasted empires, it will not be undone by a little boat."
"A little boat?! Misfortune this is the RMS Titanic! It is not a little boat, it was supposed to be unsinkable!"
"Well if the fools were paying attention it would have survived." Death sighed as he passed through a cabin wall lightly touching a third class family as their cabin filled with water. They passed in their slumber and he went back out into the hall to find Misfortune barring another lower level door.
"Does it not bother you that none of these people had anything to do with this?"
"They would not survive anyway, their arrogance in building the indestructible they have failed to provide even half the needed boats. If they made it above deck do you think they would even get close to those boats before their rich and more "worthy" counter parts? I feel no pity for them, they think a few shiny baubles or lack there of actually makes a damn of difference to us."
Death sighed but could not deny the truth; the poor were as doomed as the boat. "Well then let me go visit some of the "worthy" I have kept them waiting long enough don't you think?"
"Let them freeze."
"You have spread your misfortune. Let me do my work."
They climbed up through the levels of the ship both wondering what more they could do to. Misfortune did not admit it but she no longer felt any joy in dealing her task. With Fortune it had been a game, play, but now she did it for vengeance and that felt wrong, petty and beneath her. She felt as if she was becoming like those vapid Greek gods she had loathed and despised for their ties to feeling.
She had lost sight of death in her musing and began to try and sense his presence. Instead of one she felt three strange tugs. Deciding to head to the strongest and most alien one she saw a pair of twin girls. But clearly not human girls. They were like her but what they were she could not even begin to understand. One girl was the size of doll the other a young girl who was the mirror image of the girl holding on to her down to the wetness on the hem of her blue dress.
"Who are you?"
"Hold sister, she is sad, only I can grow here," she said and held out the doll to Misfortune. Taking the doll though she was not sure why. She felt an instant surge of warmth. The doll stroked her skin and smiled sadly.
"Do not despair, there is always hope no matter how small."
Misfortune finally understood who she was holding. "Hope so that would make you despair?" She asked and was surprised to see that Despair had grown. She held out Hope to Despair who was now taller than she was.
Moving away she felt yet another alien presence but this one was familiar. She paused at a distance and watched as love hovered about families as husbands fought their way to the front not to save their own lives but to make way for their wives and children. Misfortune watched as they were divided in the hopes that they would find another boat.
Love paused in his work and saw Misfortune and raised a hand in greeting in the old fashion. She smiled politely and turned, on her way to find death.
"This is where I leave you," Misfortune said as she watched death move among those freezing in the water.
"What do you mean?"
"I have many things to think on," Misfortune said Hope's touch still lingering on her.
"Will I see you again?"
"At some point I suppose," Misfortune said with a nod.
"Where will you go?"
"The only place I can, I do not need to physically track the hand."
"It has already passed into one of the life boats," Misfortune nodded a bitter smile gracing her features. She knew it would take much more then the sea to defeat her brother's essence.
Leaving the cold bitter sea behind she approached Egypt amazed at how little had changed in the last few thousand years. The pyramids and the sphinx still stood sans a nose though she had taken care of those foolish Turks for daring to disturb her brother's resting place.
The only thing that had ever truly worried her was the Egyptologist. But even they believed the sphinx to be solid and were content to look at it from the outside and marvel on how it had survived the years.
"Hello brother," Misfortune said quietly wondering why dust never collected in this place. "I had an interesting night today. I think I have just made another historical moment of misfortune. Dear brother you have your work cut out for you once you return to me. But that is not what I have to tell you. I met someone today. Well two people actually. Hope and despair it was a strange meeting. I would not have thought of them as one of us.
You know they were the first pair besides ourselves that I had met. Love was there as well. Brother I do not know if I want to continue my time with death, it is fun but does not seem to be getting me to my goal. I want you back and death is not even a good substitute for your company. Oh brother I miss you so. It has been too long since I have seen your smile.
I wonder if I will ever be able to get past my rage and actually do what need to be done instead of refusing and attempting to destroy any fool that denies me. I never realized how much I relied on you to tone my rage until these last few millennia. It is a cycle I feel I must put an end to if I will ever be able to get you back.
At the same time it is so infuriating to be kept away from you by some fool humans. Of all the things to stop me that is not one of the ones I expected. I never thought I would take even half as long as this to get you back. But human after human they are stubborn and refuse to give up the hand even when I begin to rain down misfortune on them.
Brother I need to think I have to understand what it is I am doing wrong and what I need to do so I can finally have you back. Do you see this? Look how much I babble without you. It is quite sad. I do not even know what to do with my self. Thousands of years and I still need you by my side."
Sighing Misfortune sat down and wondered what she could do to get her brother back. It seemed after every grand scale of Misfortune she would end up back here her damage not brining nearly the same satisfaction that it used to. She really felt as if she hadn't gotten anywhere with her goal and deep down felt her brother would have been able to succeed in returning her to the living long ago.
She just could not understand what she did wrong what did the humans want in exchange for the hand. Did they not understand the hell she would reap on them if they did not? She warned them again and again, visited them when she began to reap the misfortune and yet they still did not believe. She could not believe that there would ever be a creature in existence more stubborn than humans.
Decided it had been long enough since she had had a rest she moved to the pillows and settled into them wishing of dreams of happier times with her brother. Outside destiny smiled. "Rest now. The worse of your work is yet to come my lovely one."
Walking away he was surprised to see death standing before him. "Why do you always try to hide from us? I know you were on the ship."
"There are things you do not and can not understand."
"Like why you lie? I am death, you may not believe it but I can see it. You are not like us. You are something else completely."
"That may be so but it is none of your concern. Be gone from here, you will not get your playmate again."
"But if you are not one of us what are you?"
"I am nothing you need concern yourself with, the humans would call me destiny if they knew me, you may do the same."
Death watched as the thing walked away. It has taken him a while but he had realized they were being shadowed. At first he had thought it was another one of them but it was not. It would be the first feeling you would get but as time passed you saw that he could not possibly be their equal. There was something far different about 'Destiny' and he could not place his finger on it.
He was no god that was clear for all the gods fell prey to them while with this one they all seemed to fall prey to him. And he did not like how he seemed to be leading them into something. Like chess pieces he seemed to be pushing them the way he wanted to go, and for death that was unacceptable. He did not like the thought of someone else controlling his life. Shaking his head he looked about Egypt. If he had been a god he would have chosen this sandy kingdom.
They seemed to understand him and his way so well. They did not see death as an evil but a necessary part of life and only an end if you believed it was so. And few did, death looked towards the sphinx and wondered again if there was fortune and misfortune, hope and despair, where were life and hate? They seemed as if they should exist but yet he never saw anything of the sort ever. He caught glimpses now and then of others he did not know but knew he had never felt what would be his opposite. And then he wondered if he would even want to meet such a creature.
To be the very embodiment of life. But at the same time was not love at the root of all hate? And had not life itself spawned death?
_____________

Opening the catalogue box Mavis stared. What on earth was a hand doing in the box? And by the looks of it as if it was brand new. But at the same time she knew this couldn't be so. The box had belonged to a survivor of the Titanic who had barely lost anything in the stockmarket crash in '29.
His case had been an interesting one only for the fact that for months before the crash he had the feelings to take the money out of the bank and even out of stocks even though he was a broker. But every time he did so as recorded in his diary his wife ordered him to return the money to its proper place.
Finally his diary recorded he had been slowly removing their savings and hiding it in his office. He had also begun to cash out many of his stocks. By the crash he had hidden away nearly 75% of his fortune in liquid assets. More than enough to have assured their lifestyle if things hadn't taken a turn for the worse.
His wife of course had had no idea and had slit her wrists, her note stating that it was her fault that they were now penniless as she had forced him time and time again to return the money . After that he had quickly packed his belongings and to travel west, shipping this box and many others before him and dying in a car crash.
Latex gloves firmly in place she pulled out the hand and could have sworn it felt warm. Looking at it she was confused, It looked to be a child's hand with a solid silver ank in the slightly curved palm. She held it up to a magnifying glass but could see no place where it could have been seared or otherwise attached.
She could not help shutting her eyes before looking to where an arm would have been attached had this been a real hand. Looking she saw an extension of the smooth white skin perfectly sealing the hand as if it had never been part of a body. Deciding she had to know what this was she carefully placed it in the clear plastic bag and looked through the box hoping for another journal and grinning when she found one older than the last.
Sitting back she opened the book, her current assignment of putting together a display of the great depression from a more human perspective gone. Not that she could have ever included the hand in such a display anyway. It would be her luck to inherit a mansion that side bared as a depression museum. Opening the journal to the first page she sat back and began to read.

Ever since I went through the pockets of that coat I put on before getting on the life boat. Things have been going well. I have shown no one the hand and I am glad I did not throw it in the water like I first thought. For it was a hand. But it was so neat and perfect and still warm.

Pausing in her reading she glanced at the year and realized the man would have been barely 15 years old. But already a very educated child. And to have made it to a life boat as a male and one old enough to be an adult he must have been upper class. Mavis touched the hand again and nodded the limb was indeed infused with warmth. Which simply should not be.
Despite the historical nature of the house Mavis had finally installed a central cooling unit that doubled as an air purifier, to keep the artifacts safe. Sure that this was the case simply because there were no true artifacts here. No mummies, no declarations, just a bunch of nick knacks from people who had bought the farm over half a century ago. She did not even have real display cases. Just some red rope and pedestals here and there.
Jumping forward she paused at an entry written by a hand more shaky than the others.

A woman appeared to me. She claimed I would suffer greatly if I did not relinquish the hand. I stared at her hard, her low breeding apparent by her gypsy garb. Superstitious lot they are, always reading fortunes. I sent her on her way, but I did find it strange. How did she know about the hand? I have shown it to no one, not even my new wife, the very picture of perfection. How could I disrupt her sensibilities with such a thing as a severed hand? No a woman could never understand that.

Mavis smiled even if he did not admit it the tremor in his writing showed how taken aback he had been by the appearance of the woman. She wondered as well if he had ever learned the truth. The woman had not been mention in the later diary. But neither had the hand, simply his dreams of monetary loss and fear of investing in banks and stocks. A fear that shook his entire lifestyle to the core.
Realizing she had to continue what she was doing she put the journal and the sealed hand aside and went through the box finding a few notes for cashed out bounds and eerily enough his wife's suicide note.
Deciding on a darker display she took the later journal and placing it on the page where he had described beginning to hide his withdrawals from his wife she placed it in the glass case at the entryway. And in the other, removing the stock record from the day before to the day after the crash, placed the wife's letter. Removing the placards she would rename them later.
Pulling off the gloves she tossed them into a nearby trash can and adjusting her ponytail wondering if the gypsy had ever been revealed as she headed back up the stairs to read the diary.

Misfortune stirred. Her mind had been going in circles for years. Her brother could not experience fortune. So it had to be by some other's fortune that the hand would be returned. Misfortune would simply be considered her brother's fortune thus nullifying the effect of the return of the hand after a few moments.
Looking down at the frozen form of her brother she realized what had called her was another mortal discovering the hand. After so long sitting and waiting and planning she still had no idea what to do to fix things.
"Oh brother I wish you could just tell me what to do to have you back at my side. I have been trying for the better part of three millennia. What do I have to do?"