Kraken Blood

Kraken blood tattoos cast soft blue light on the pirate captain’s brandy. Once, he’d boasted of the monster he’d slain for that ink. How his crew’s appraising eyes had gleamed at the swirling designs!

But that stolen blood he wore turned the ocean against him. Fearing a curse, his crew cast him overboard with two worn coins and a bottle of spirits. Unable to drown him, the waves spat him ashore.

His untouched liquor glimmered like moonlight on forlorn seas. He pulled his sleeves down, masking the glow, as he coughed up brine.

The kraken had defeated him after all.