“And you think that would make Nyx happy? She loves me too! Not like you, but she and I are friends, companions, playmates. Can you not find it within you to share even a small piece of her love with me?”
At this Kalona softened, and Erebus could see hopelessness in his eyes. “I want to. Truly I do. But I do not know how to combat the dark thoughts within me. Brother, I can feel it. Even now, even after you have told me how baseless my imaginings have been, I can still feel my jealousy brewing, waiting to boil over into anger.” Kalona’s broad shoulders slumped and he shook his head. “I should leave—not you. I should take my jealous rage and retreat to Earth.”
Erebus went to his brother and stood before him. “If you could have your heart’s desire, what would that be?”
“That Nyx and I spend eternity together, of course,” he said. When Erebus said nothing, Kalona sighed and added. “And I would like to overcome my jealousy. I would like to know what it would be to feel like you do—joyful, free, playful, happy.”
“Without me leaving the Otherworld?”
“If I could overcome my jealousy, there would be no reason for you to leave. And you are right. It would sadden Nyx if her playmate went away,” Kalona quipped dryly.
“Well, then, I can help you with that,” said Erebus.
“How?”
“To overcome jealousy and anger you only need joy.”
“Great. Like I didn’t know that already? I told you. I have tried, but for me holding joy is like carrying water with a sieve. It always leaks away,” said Kalona miserably.
“I think that’s because something is missing within you,” said Erebus.
“Are you trying to insult me?”
Erebus grinned. “Not at the moment. I only want to speak the truth. We were created together. I think when Mother Earth and the Moon joined to make you warrior and lover, they were far too focused on the warrior part—and perhaps, they also didn’t believe a lover needed to be given joy.”
“Why wouldn’t a lover need joy?” asked Kalona, seeming honestly curious.
“Because if you’re a goddess’s lover, why would you need to be given joy? Being Nyx’s Consort should be joyous enough.”
“That’s what I have been trying to convince myself for centuries, and I can tell you it is a misconception,” said Kalona.
“I agree. How can you feel joy if you’ve never really known it? So, let’s fix that now. Today.”
“Sounds good and impossible. Where am I going to get joy? Mother Earth sleeps, and the Moon hasn’t stirred since the night I was created.”
“We don’t need them. I’m going to give you some of my joy,” Erebus told his brother.
Kalona’s eyes widened in shock. “You would do that? For me?”
“Yes.”
“But why? I have treated you terribly.”
“Because you are my brother. My family. I love you and want the best for you, as well as for our Goddess.” Erebus spoke simply and honestly—and he was surprised to see tears pool in his brother’s eyes again.
“Thank you, Erebus. Brother. I will gladly accept whatever joy you can share with me.”
“That makes me very happy!” Erebus started forward, arms open as if he would hug his brother, but Kalona frowned and moved back a step. Erebus smiled sheepishly. “Guess I should wait until after you have the joy to try a hug?”
“That would probably be for the best,” said Kalona.
3
Other Kalona
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Kalona asked Erebus, who stood silently, head bowed and eyes closed, in the middle of the sunny clearing just outside the grove where his brother had found him.
Erebus opened one eye and lifted his head. “Yes. Well, I’m sure I’m going to give you some of my joy. What you do with it is up to you.”
“I will remain by my Goddess’s side—true to her and loyal!” Kalona responded quickly.
“Good. Then be quiet so I can concentrate. It’s not easy for a playmate and friend to conjure a weapon of war.”
“Huh?” Kalona shook his head, completely confused. “How are you going to give me joy with a—”
Kalona’s words broke off as a short sword, which appeared to be made entirely of gold, manifested with a startling POP just above Erebus’s head.
“Yes! I knew I could do it!” Erebus cheered as his hand closed on the glistening grip and he plucked it out of the air.
“Brother, gold is a weak metal. It isn’t a good choice for a sw—”
“I know that!” Erebus frowned at Kalona. “It isn’t gold. It’s golden, as in made from the power of the sun. You touch this and your hand melts.”
“Oh. Good to know. Carry on.”
“Okay. You need to take off your shirt.” Erebus explained as he pulled off his own shirt.
“What are you going to do?” Kalona watched his brother with narrowed eyes, not liking the golden sword, which was now back in Erebus’s hand, and the command to bare his chest and be weaponless, vulnerable, before him.
Erebus sighed. “For this to work you’re going to have to trust me.”
“Can that sword kill me?”
“Definitely. Take your shirt off.”
“If it can kill me why should I stand here weaponless waiting for you to stab me with it?”
“I’m going to cut myself first. Here, over my heart.” Erebus pointed to the spot on his bared chest. “And draw out a drop of joy. Then I’m going to take that drop of joy and put it into you.”
“Does that mean you’re cutting over my heart too?”
“It does. Unless you’d rather have a joyful butt. Then I’ll stick you there. Or wherever else you’d like joy inserted.” The tip of the golden sword wavered as Erebus pointed it between his brother’s legs. “I prefer feeling it in my heart, but …”
“Okay—okay,” Kalona interrupted him, pulling off his shirt and tossing it aside. “Now what?”
“Just stand there and get ready to accept joy. I’ll do the rest.”
Kalona pressed his lips together to keep more questions—and sarcastic comments—from escaping. He watched Erebus bow his golden head and close his eyes. He could see his brother’s lips move, and he heard some of what he was whispering.
“Blue skies … a feather bed … earth’s songbirds … spring rain … Nyx in all of her forms.”