Novel & Cerita All That Glitters Isn't Gold

He had no idea that the industrial solvent, the brass lamp, and the steel calligraphy nibs were already stowed beneath the floorboards in her lower-level quarters. A soft electronic chime signaled the arrival at the executive level. Solid brass doors glided open without a sound, exposing a massive floor bathed in the sharp, clinical glare of late-afternoon sunlight. Glass walls stretched from floor to ceiling, looking down over the gray, sprawling concrete of the financial district.

It is the world that should die! I want to destroy the world and kill all the evil people if I can! I think I hear my wolf growling. Did it wake up? Did it feel my anger and despair? Did it also want to destroy this bad world? Did it also want to kill all the nasty bastards? Suddenly, countless gold coins fell from above, interrupting the bidding. An uncountable rain of gold coins drove everyone crazy. "Gold coins! Gold coins! Pick them up!" "Don't grab it from me!"

she quickly added, "but that's what makes it cool." Oh, yeah. I also don't have the best reputation. But I'm over that. I'm starting anew, right? "Yeah, sure." I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and cleared my throat. "So, I've overheard them talking about the last personal object from the Great Witch. A golden trinket. They're going to use it in their ritual to have a stronger connection with her, in order to make this impossible ritual possible," I uttered. When no one spoke, I continued, "This golden trinket is somewhere in the world. And they're determined to find it."

Three dots appeared instantly. Mia: 'I was just about to go to sleep, but for you? I can stay up. Send it over, Reynolds.' A smile....a real, genuine smile....broke across my face for the first time that night. It turns out, all that glitters really isn't gold. Sometimes, it's just cheap plating over a hollow center. And sometimes, the real gold is the girl sitting in the training room, waiting for you to notice she's been there all along.

I ignored the greedy gazes of the security guards on me and looked at Sophia and Crystal's smug expressions instead, my lips curling into a smirk. "Are you really that interested in it?" I then slowly reached into the coat pockets under everyone's gaze. They held their breaths and watched. When I pulled my hand out again, a dazzling sapphire brooch appeared in the middle of my palm. The dark blue sapphire sparkled coldly and brilliantly under the lights. "Ah. There it is," Crystal said, breaking the silence. However, she suddenly realized that she said the wrong thing and quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes then turned red as she exclaimed, "Cheryl! You… How could you really…"

The answer he came up with that night did affect the rest of his life. Jason's father taught him the difference between God and gold. He said, "if you want to be more like God and turn anything into gold, you need to know the difference between God and gold." Explaining further, he said, "The difference between God and gold is the letter L. He then said "The letter L stands for loser, looter, lousy leader and lair. If you do not get rid of those descriptions from your character, you will never develop your Midas touch - the ability to turn anything you touch into Gold."

There was no use in saying that wasn't his idea. He could almost see the greed reflecting in the eyes around him. Bolder and brighter than the captain’s own, who had learned to shield his gaze from betraying him. Gold. The downfall of every person he'd known in his life. Yet, the siren call was too strong, and even he had the yearning for it. But in his case, goodness might be bought with it. Maybe, just maybe, he could stop one other youngster like himself, fall prey to the hardships and unscrupulous people in the world.

This was the stillness of a dog that has bitten before and knows it doesn’t need to bark every time. “Well,” he said. “Sleeping Beauty lives.” My mouth was dry enough that speaking hurt a little. “I try not to disappoint.” His eyes stayed on me a second longer than I liked. Then he tilted his head slightly, and the moonlight slipping through the high broken windows caught at his eyes. Gold. Not bright. Not theatrical. Not some glowing fairytale nonsense. Just a faint wrong gleam where human eyes should only have reflected and let go of the light. Here it caught and stayed a fraction too long, dull and predatory, like an ember buried under flesh.

There were plenty of ups like yesterday… ‘Ooh… you’re right—these glittery FLEURs look amazing with grey. Who would’ve thought!’ Goldie turned and twisted her knees to admire the thousand dollar heels strapped around her beautiful pedicured feet. ‘You finally used your brains, Dirty Rosie.’ I couldn’t hide my smile. ‘Rum wouldn’t look away from you, Miss Sparks.’

The latch clicked softly as I opened it. And immediately, a soft gasp escaped me. Necklaces rested atop dark velvet cushions, paired with matching earrings and rings. Delicate chains intertwined with gems that glittered brilliantly in the dim room. There were moonstones pale as frost, amber gems glowing warm as sunlight, diamonds sparkling sharply enough to hurt the eyes. But that was not what stunned me most. It was the gold. Every single piece was crafted in gold. Not silver. I blinked slowly, almost disbelievingly, as I picked up one of the necklaces.