Through the grasslands, pass the deserts, over the seas, harboring in the darkest corner of the earth, believed to have housed the most vile scum to have ever walked the planet, the Village of Woe. Murder, treachery, , theft, badgering, and every other foul acts known to man happened on a daily basis there. The birthplace of anarchy some believe.

One evening when the sun bled into the sky, the Village of Woe was visited by a young woman named Karma, a misunderstood lady skilled in the magic arts, with her pet raven perched on her shoulder. Waterfalls of scarlet cascaded down her back, bundles of sage encased in round orbs observed the villagers, ivory tinted flesh cloaked muscle and bones.

The villagers huddled in groups, whispering questions and their distaste for the strange woman. Karma was sent on a quest by the Gods to attempt to change the villagers sinful ways. However, she was unable to express herself for the people had deemed her evil and untrustworthy. Villagers of Woe had never seen anyone like her. Everyone there had bushes of brown rooting from their skulls and eyes of coal and mud.

The villagers did not like alteration and began to spew their hatred for Karma, the very image of change. They spoke such words that would make any spirit mournful. They exiled her from their small village, chucking rocks at her and her bird. They did not believe she was sent by the Gods, but a demon sent to execute them for their sins.

Karma's ears had heard many words of scorn and disrespect throughout her whole life on earth. Though it planted sorrow in her heart, she had taught herself to dismiss such foul sounds. With blood dripping from her head, purple and blue splotches bleeding into her flesh, she left their village. With magic, Karma created a small shelter in the forest while healing herself, not realizing some of the villagers had followed her. They watched as her wounds disappeared, how the blood slithered back into her skin.

The villagers quickly rushed back to tell the others, but a tale now dowsed in falsehood. Soon stories of Karma tunneled through the village. "She eats children eyes to survive." "She has to bathe in the blood of tall men for her hair to stay red." "Her skin is made from bones of previous adversaries." "She is the devil in disguise." Children went to sleep with nightmares of Karma, men slumbered with thoughts of molesting Karma, women dreamed of forever silencing Karma.

The next day Karma tried to speak with the villagers again, this time without her raven by her side. The villagers shouted and screamed for her to never return, throwing more stones and battering her with sticks. For many days, when Karma tried to reason with them, they grew even more violent with each sun rise. Women yanked chunks of her hair, men defiled her body, children shouted words of hatred.

One evening when the villagers were through with their harassment, they shuffled dirt in her face and wandered away. Karma had showed no emotion while they assaulted her for she knew bad energy only attracted more. Picking up her sore limbs she traveled back to her shelter again. Upon returning, she found her pet raven slaughtered, a black mound on the dirt, snickers flowing from the bushes around.

Karma contacted the Gods and reported what the villagers had done. She did not think she could change the people of Woe. Yet the Gods stated if she wanted to be a deity as well, she had to carry out her conquest, no matter what happened she had to change the villagers ways, by any means necessary or the future would be disastrous. Karma knew she had to complete the mission if she wanted to prove herself and join her sister Fate with the other Gods.

Back at the village, the villagers gathered for a small meeting. Ideas of killing the red-headed demon burst out of their mouths. They knew she would come back to their village and they did not want her anywhere near them nor their young lings. Devising a plan, all of the women put the children to rest while the men gathered makeshift weapons and rope.

As the moon reached its limit, the villagers slunk their way to the demon's, who was burying her lifeless raven. Once they spotted her, they threw stones, rendering her unconscious. Waking, Karma found herself tied to a huge wooden steak, hands bound behind her back, a mound of rocks and sticks surrounding her body.

Men, women and a few furtive children circle the red-headed demon, their eyes filled with rage, blinking with detest. A man ablaze some fabric mantled around a stick, throwing it into the pile that trapped the demon.

Karma knew her eyes would never gaze upon dawn again, her only form of reincarnation slayed by the villagers. She had failed her mission, she had failed her sister, but she could not leave this earth giving them the satisfaction of peace, they had to pay. She would never physically hurt another human being but she could not let them go freely.

As the smoke started to smother Karma's lungs, the fire beginning to liquify the skin of her legs, she smiled down at the village people. They all shuddered at the sudden show of affection.

“You people of Woe have blindly wielded a double edged sword. You have unwisely plied your blade upon me by breeding this witch-hunt, heedlessly expelling your dark energy towards me. For your preposterous actions and atrocious crime, I place a curse upon your village. A curse upon your children, upon your bloodlines.”

Panic shouts of disbelief erupted from everyone, but they all hushed to hear her next words.

“The eyes you so judge me with shall resemble the wrathful lightning that splits the fabric of earth. Your skin will adopt the ways of the very stones you've mercilessly bestowed upon my head. For the bloodshed of my companion, your spirits will intertwine and become one with the creatures that walk these lands, shall absorb their suffering and grief, to feel as visitors in your own sanctuary.

Sun and moon will look down upon you with no remorse, the sky will cry but with tears engorged with mockery. You will travel this earth enduring ridicule, victimization, and revilement for what you are. You will live through my eyes, walk in my shadow, speak my words to deaf ears. Excruciation will whisper your name, compunction will sing you into your dreamless slumber, mercy will shun your pleads and cries.

Days and years will wear the same face. Your lifespan shall be cold, unforgiving an endless as the restless seas. Death will not be an ally. Just like the blazing phoenix, you shall be reborn but have no recollection of your past life. Familiar will encase your mind, estrange will bleed into your bones. You will walk this ground being maltreated for acts you don't recall, hated for reasons you can't fathom, forsaken by the very people you confided in.

Your senses will molt suchlike a serpent. You shall now hear taunting whispers of those from great distances. Shall be able to distinctly see the disgust cross their expressions. Your bones now bare the strength of diamonds, allowing the pain you endure to appear never ending. Unattainable beauty will drench your silhouette, ideal perfection, to the point of feeling disfavor emit off others. Red will blind their sights when casting eyes upon you.”

The fire blazed with heat that could rival any sun, but Karma's smile never faltered nor did her tone waver.

“Humans, you are no longer. Your souls now forever cloaked by darkness. The Gods will desert you as I pull out the nails that hold up all you know. Everything you cherish will sear up in the light, every grave act you have committed against others shall return to you tenfold. Acceptance will become the stars you gaze upon, sympathy swirling in galaxies afar. The screaming flames of hell will hold no comparison to what awaits you in the forthcoming.

You will bare the mark of my curse for all eternity, scorched in your flesh, woven into your soul. I pity you foolish mortals for your everlasting cycle of torment, an endless knot of anguish. I place a curse upon your souls. I place a curse upon your offsprings, upon all of you, the villagers of Woe. I damn you all!”

Fear, a foreign emotion to the villagers, scattered throughout their body. Karma sensing their anxiety, closed her eyes, grin still intact while repeating the words out loud as the flames devoured her form.

Before the day is over

Before the night is through

With the words I speak

I place a curse upon you.

The wind sprinkled her ashes into the night, the ground now chard with only memories. The villagers didn't experience a drop of comfort when returning back to their homes for the night.

Upon waking, villagers scurried out of their hovels in affright, for everything Karma had foretold had become reality. Regret filtered their veins, fear clothed their pride. So they prayed, begged, and cried for forgiveness but got no reply. Just as had Karma said in her moment of triumph, they were forever cursed.

That same evening,The Gods saw a change in the future in result of Karma's curse. Though she had inflicted pain upon others she was accepted as a one of the Gods. She was known as Karma, the bestower of retribution; joining her sister Fate, foreseer of destiny. 

_________________________

Author's Note: I'm not ignoring any of my other stories, but I just had to get this idea on paper. This is kind of an AU that I created called Familiar, not that creative is it? But if any of you like it enough to want to write about it don't be afraid to message me questions or for any of the notes I took for this AU. ^^ 

A huge thank you to the designers at SQUAREPANTS graphics for the amazing poster. Click on their banner to directed to the shop, they won't disappoint.

This is also an entry story for a the Rare Couples Writing contest [Here] , please join so that I can read more stories with rare pairings, you know you have ideas crying to be written. Deadline Sept. 1 

Warnings: cussing, light ual activities