Wow, it has seriously been over 2 years since I have updated this story. I apologize for that. Hopefully now that it is summer and I have a little more time, I should be able to get the remaining chapters of this story up in reasonable time. Thank you to everyone that has still followed this story and left reviews. Here is chapter 9.
9
"This is your fault," Tzekel-Kan growled at Chel.
"I told you, I didn't poison him!" Chel snapped back. "He must have done it to himself."
Tzekel-Kan glared at her. "Just why would be do that?"
"Probably to expose us," Chel answered in a matching tone. "He knew it would look like I did it, and you would open your mouth!"
The high priest turned his back angrily on Chel and walked to a corner of the chamber they were being held in. "I despise you."
"No you don't," Chel said. "You're the one with the powers, why don't you get us out of here? The guard left, now would be the time."
Tzekel-Kan thought for a moment, and then walked to the center of the chamber. He put his hands together and began to mumble a spell of some sort, forming a green glow around his hands. He pointed his hands at the chamber door, shooting the green flames at it and melting the locks. He grinned to himself and walked towards the now open door.
"Wait for me!" Chel called, rushing out after him.
Tzekel-Kan turned to face her. "You will leave this city."
"I will not!" Chel said angrily, glaring at the high priest.
"You will if you wish to remain alive! Now leave me, I have business to attend to." He turned and left, leaving a very angry Chel in his dust.
***EL DORADO***
Thelina approached the chief and bowed. "Chief? I have come to inform you of Lord Miguel's health."
"Lady Thelina," the chief acknowledged her. "How is he doing?"
"He responded well to the antidote. He is resting now, and Lord Tulio has remained with him."
"You have done well," the chief said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "This city is lucky to have a healer such as you."
"Thank you," she answered quietly. "Lord Tulio is severely distressed. He told me he believes he should leave El Dorado and Miguel should remain here with me."
The chief frowned. "Lord Tulio has had some issues with Lord Miguel that he regrets. But why does he feel he should leave him behind?"
"He said he doesn't want to cause Miguel any more pain," Thelina replied sadly. "But would it not hurt Miguel even more if he left?"
The chief nodded solemnly. "Perhaps he feels it would be better if he left."
"How can I convince him to stay?" Thelina asked desperately. "He has to…I fear for Miguel's life if he doesn't."
The chief studied her for a moment. "You care very much for Lord Miguel."
"I do…but I will not come between him and Tulio."
"What if Lord Tulio does leave?"
Thelina thought for a moment. "Then I will stand by Miguel's side. I will remain with him, as his wife if he chooses. But I must first try to convince Tulio to stay."
The chief nodded. "You are a wise woman. You must tell Lord Tulio what you believe will happen if he leaves. He will trust you."
Thelina nodded and sighed. "Okay…I will go and talk to him. Thank you, chief." She bowed once more before leaving, and then made her way back to her temple, contemplating what she was going to say to Tulio. She was almost at the entrance to the temple when a cold voice stopped her.
"You do not follow directions very well, healer," the voice growled.
Thelina stopped and whirled around. "Who is there?!" She was shocked when a pair of hands suddenly grabbed her by the throat and began to squeeze. "S-Stop," she pleaded, gasping for air. She began to feel dizzy and weak, and finally crumbled to the ground. Miguel was her last thought before darkness took over.
***EL DORADO***
Tulio looked down when Miguel started to fidget in his sleep. "Hey."
"N-No," Miguel whimpered, a pained expression appearing on his face.
Tulio reached over and stroked his cheek. "Hey, it's okay, I'm right here."
Miguel seemed to calm down a little at Tulio's touch. "Tulio," he said quietly.
Tulio smiled a little. "I'm here, Miguel, don't worry." He heard the curtain rustle behind him and figured it was Thelina. "He's still asleep, but-" He was cut off when something hard struck him on the back of the head and knocked him to the ground. He gasped, seeing stars as he hit the floor. He heard the intruder walking…towards Miguel's bed. "Miguel…n-no," he choked, and then suddenly blacked out.
*** SEVERAL HOURS LATER ***
Tulio was walking down a side street in Spain, seeing if he could find any loose change. He was only ten years old, and left to fend for himself. His parents had found God, and decided to join a group of people who traveled to preach. Children were not a part of the group, so Tulio was left alone in his bed without a second thought. He continued walking, missing his parents, when an angry voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You are a pathetic child!" and angry sounding man yelled from one of the nearby homes.
"Father, please don't hurt me!" a boy cried out.
Tulio listened, gasping when he heard the sound of a whip, and the boy screaming. He took a step back when a nearby door was pulled open and a boy was viciously thrown to the ground outside.
"Useless boy!" the angry man spat. "I'm getting my gun." He turned and disappeared back into the house.
Tulio gasped. He was certain that if he didn't do something, the other boy would be murdered right in front of him. He quickly picked up the boy, who was surprisingly light, and took off running before the man could come back.
Tulio took the boy back to his empty home, taking him to his room and placing him on the bed. Once he had the boy settled, he looked him over. The boy was blonde, which Tulio thought was uncommon for a Spaniard. He was also terribly thin, as if he had been starved. Tulio guessed he was around the same age as himself, but he couldn't be certain. He jumped a little when the boy moaned and shifted. "Hey."
The boy opened his eyes, shocking green looking into Tulio's blue ones. "W-Who…are you?"
"My name is Tulio," Tuio answered. "I'm ten years old. What's your name?"
"Miguel," the boy said quietly. "I'm ten too. Where am I?"
"My house," Tulio said. "I saved you from the alley."
Miguel's eyes widened. "My father was going to kill me he hates me."
Tulio frowned. "My parents left me alone so they could go talk to people about God. Don't you have a mother who loves you?"
Miguel shook his head, tears welling in his green eyes. "She died after I was born. That's why my dad hates me. My sister hates me too." He suddenly started to cry.
"Hey, don't cry," Tulio said, pulling Miguel into a hug. "You can stay with me. We can be partners!"
Miguel looked at Tulio and smiled a little through his tears. "I'd like that."
"Lord Tulio?"
Tulio turned his head a little, shocked at the shooting pain in his head when he moved. He felt a soft bed underneath him. Where am I?
"Tulio? A woman's voice asked. She sounded weak.
"Mmh," Tulio mumbled, finally opening his eyes. He was still in the healing temple, but he was now on a bed. "What…happened?"
"My lord," the chief began quietly. "You were attacked by Tzekel-Kan."
"What?" Tulio asked in shock.
"He escaped the chamber," the chief continued solemnly. "My lord…he has taken Lord Miguel."
"No!" Tulio exclaimed, bolting upright. "Ow!" he cried out, grabbing the back of his head.
"My lord, you must try to remain calm," the chief said. "We know where they are, but we are prevented from entering the temple."
"I promised I wouldn't leave him alone," Tulio said sadly.
"We will get him back," a woman's raspy voice spoke.
Tulio looked over to find it was Thelina who was speaking. She was pale and her neck was bruised. "What happened?"
"Tzekel-Kan attacked me too," Thelina said quietly. "He choked me until I fainted."
"He wanted to make sure no one would prevent him from taking Lord Miguel," the chief added.
"Where has he taken him?" Tulio asked.
"To his temple," the chief answered. "But he has manifested a strong force around the temple so no one can enter."
"I have to get to Miguel," Tulio said desperately. "I have to save him!"
"You must rest for now, Tulio," Thelina said, putting her hand on his arm. "It will do no good if you try to confront Tzekel-Kan when you are still weak."
"But what if he tries to hurt Miguel?" Tulio asked.
"I do not believe it is Tzekel-Kan's intention to harm Lord Miguel," the chief said.
Tulio thought about it for a moment. All the looks Tzekel-Kan had given Miguel and all the times he tried to get him alone. It all made sense now. "He wants Miguel…"
"As his own," Thelina finished. She coughed suddenly, wincing and touching her neck lightly.
"You must rest now too, Thelina," the chief said.
"But Tulio needs my help," she barely whispered.
"Lord Tulio only needs more rest. He will heal just fine," the chief assured her.
Thelina nodded reluctantly and sighed. "I will make some herbal tea for myself."
"Good," the chief said, turning to look at Tulio. "My Lord, I-"
"Please," Tulio cut in. "Chief…I'm not a god, and neither is Miguel."
The chief grinned a little. "You have just now realized this?" He chuckled when Tulio gawked at him. "My Lord, I have known since your arrival that you were not gods."
"Then…then why didn't you stop us?" Tulio asked.
"You and Miguel have brought such happiness to our city," Thelina said. "Especially Miguel."
"Thelina is right," the chief said. He frowned suddenly. "Unfortunately everyone is currently afraid. With Tzekel-Kan having taken Lord Miguel, who is already ailing…it is not good."
Tulio was silent for a moment. "I have to fight him."
"What?!" the chief exclaimed. "My Lord, you musn't-"
"I have to," Tulio interrupted. "It's me he wants dead. I can lure him out of the temple, away from Miguel."
"Oh, Tulio, it's too dangerous!" Thelina said. "What if Tzekel-Kan kills you? What do you think will happen to Miguel?"
Tulio bit his lip, knowing Thelina was right. If he died, Tzekel-Kan would have Miguel forever. He also knew how devastated Miguel would be. I don't want to hurt him anymore.
The chief frowned at the sad look on Tulio's face. "My Lord, exactly how much do you care for Lord Miguel."
Tulio looked up at him. "I love him with every part of my soul," he said. "I'd give up anything, everything I've ever had to have him back." He bowed his head. "I…I just wish I'd told him sooner."
"You will get your chance, my lord," the chief said. "Rest a while longer, and I will let you know if it is okay for you to go to Tzekel-Kan's temple."
Tulio nodded reluctantly and leaned back into the pillows. He sighed, wishing Miguel was with him. I'm going to save you, Miguel, I swear on my life.
***EL DORADO***
Miguel shifted in his sleep, slowly starting to wake up. The antidote Thelina had given him was working, but he still felt very weak. He rolled slowly onto his side, gasping a little as a small amount of pain erupted in his stomach. "Tulio?" he asked quietly, surprised when no answer came. "Tulio?" His senses suddenly kicked in, telling him something was wrong. He could tell he was no longer on a cot in the healing temple. It was dark and colder, and much too quiet. He opened his eyes to find that he was in a very different temple. "Tulio?!" he called in a frightened voice.
"Lord Tulio is not here," the voice of Tzekel-Kan said.
Miguel leapt up suddenly from the bed, doubling over when pain jolted through him. He fell back onto the bed gasping, and wrapped an arm around himself. "Where…am I?"
"My temple, of course," Tzekel-Kan answered. "You should not move so suddenly, you are still healing."
"How did I get here?" Miguel asked, dreading the answer.
"I brought you here," Tzekel-Kan said, simply. "I have put up a…force field of sorts…so nobody can disturb us."
"I wouldn't say nobody," the voice of Chel echoed loudly in the temple.
Tzekel-Kan spun around to face her. "How did you get in here?!" he growled.
"Unlike the rest of this city, I do not fear you," Chel answered, approaching the high priest. "I walked right through it." She smiled smugly at him. "Everyone is petrified after what you did to Tulio and that pathetic healer."
"Tulio?" Miguel asked, so quietly that Chel almost didn't hear him.
Chel glanced over at Miguel, who was huddled into himself on the bed, and grinned wickedly. "Why yes, you're precious Tulio…and your little girlfriend. They're dead now, finally."
Miguel's heart dropped as he stared at Chel. "D-Dead?"
"Yeah, you know, no longer living?" Chel mocked. "They were weak!"
"No," Miguel said, tears coming to his eyes. "No, not Tulio…not Tulio."
"Lord Tulio was in the way of what I wanted," Tzekel-Kan said. "As was the healer. They had to be destroyed."
"Yes, just as he is in the way of what I want!" Chel exclaimed, pointing accusingly at Miguel. "Let me kill him so you and I can be together. We can rule this city, the two of us!"
"You and I will never be together!" Tzekel-Kan roared.
Miguel ignored the fight occurring in front of him, curling himself into a ball as tears welled in his eyes. I can't believe Tulio is dead…this can't be happening! He burst into tears, hugging his knees to his chest as he sobbed.
"He is weak!" Chel argued. "Let me kill him!" She suddenly pulled a dagger from behind her back and started walking towards Miguel.
Tzekel-Kan reached out and grabbed her. "If you touch him, I will kill you."
Miguel choked out a sob and looked up. "Let her," he said sadly.
Both Tzekel-Kan and Chel looked over at him in confusion. "What?"
"Let her…kill me," Miguel said with a sniffle. "If the spirit world is where Tulio is, then that's where I want to be."
Chel grinned wickedly. "See? He welcomes death."
Tzekel-Kan glared at her. "Leave this temple, now!" He roughly pushed her away. "I will deal with you later."
"You certainly will!" Chel snapped, angrily backing out of the temple.
Tzekel-Kan waited until she was gone before turning to face Miguel. He frowned at how torn apart the blonde looked, and he suddenly felt awkward. "Well…"
"Why did you do it?" Miguel asked quietly.
Tzekel-Kan stared at him. "He was in my way."
"He never did anything to you!"
"He kept me from you, I-"
"Why me?" Miguel interrupted, finally looking up at the high priest. "You know I'm not a god. What's so special about me?"
Tzekel-Kan was surprised by the question. "You have an enthusiasm and a passion that that sorry excuse for a man did not see!"
"Don't talk about him like that!" Miguel cried. "He wasn't like that. He loved me, he told me so…and I love him." He was crying again and attempting to wipe away his tears. "I love him more than you'll ever know."
Tzekel-Kan shook his head. "You possess what I want."
"Not anymore," Miguel said sadly. "I'm nothing without Tulio. You might as well finish me off now."
"I will not kill you."
"Then I'll do it myself!" Miguel cried. "I'll throw myself off the ledge into Shilbalba."
"You will not!" Tzekel-Kan said, stepping forward and taking hold of Miguel.
"Let go of me," Miguel said.
"Not until you understand my feelings for you."
"I said let go!" Miguel struggled until he was free. "Leave me alone."
Tzekel-Kan stepped back and watched Miguel, figuring he was probably going to cry over Tulio again. He sighed and walked off, leaving Miguel to his misery for the time being. He went off to think, not knowing what the very much alive, and very angry, Tulio was planning.
TBC
