THE FORGOTTEN SERVANT OF THE JAGUARS HAND.
Xena looked at her lover again who was looking at the dying field in front of them. They'd spent the last hour trying to find the field the truth was that she was tired and she wanted to sleep. She shook her head trying to ignore her body's impulse to rest Gabrielle wanted to get this over with and so did she. Once they had these godly objects then she could rest easier. Gabrielle moved slowly forward eyeing the large field in front of her with its wheat which was dying. Even in the fire light she could see that it wasn't healthy in looked out of place compared to the field behind it which was golden and beautiful as well as healthy. She watched as the farmer in the house slowly near by came out he raised his torch looking at her. "You've been looking at my field for ages what do you want?"
He pulled back as Xena turned sharply eyeing him he swallowed as he looked up at her adjudicating his shirt his gaze moving to Gabrielle. "I'm sorry I didn't know it was you Gabrielle." He tried to smile only to reserve no smile back from the Warrior Princess. "Or you Xena." He stepped slowly forward. "How can I help you both?" Gabrielle eyed the field again ignoring the farmer's sudden confusion. "Tell me has anything ever grown or lived in this field." The farmer breathed in he could see that people were now appearing wanting to know why Xena and Gabrielle where looking at his field. "No nothing…" He stroked his beard. "My horse died and I lost a herd of sheep. Nothing will grow on it, nothing healthy that is."
He looked down watching as his wife appeared. "The blind Cyclops came up here and ate one of my sheep some time ago. I heard that it killed him because the meat was so off despite that the sheep was alive when he ate it." Gabrielle kneeled down slightly running the half dead wheat through her fingers. "Did all your sheep rot from the inside out despite being still living?" The farmer folded his arms. "Yes…so did my horse…I hate this field it's cursed." Gabrielle sighed aloud. "I'll give you the money for your horse." The farmer blinked. "My horse is dead…" Gabrielle turned slowly seeing Xena's slight surprise. "It won't be for long…" Xena moved closer putting a hand on her lovers arm stopping her from moving forward. "Gabrielle?" Gabrielle turned meeting her gaze. "The chest is here Xena…I'll explain everything when I get it out of the ground."
Xena leaned closer. "I have the rope." She eased up the rope slightly. "Is it for the chest?" Gabrielle slowly pulled the rope out of the bag she grabbed it tying it around her waist. "What ever happens don't let go of the rope." Xena raised an eyebrow. "Don't let go?" Gabrielle moved forward slowly feeling herself breathe in deeply. "Yes don't let go." She took a slow step forward feeling her feet touch the ground. She moved further forward trying to ignore the cold evil feeling as it swept through her body. She slowly raised her hand feeling it shake as she rose up higher, she turned seeing that a large crowd who had now gathered behind Xena none daring to come any closer.
She watched as her lover came closer. "Don't step on the field…" Xena looked up sharply pulling her boot back she wasn't going to question her lover despite how strange all of this was. Gabrielle turned sharply watching as the worms began to crawl out from under her boots she tensed up painfully feeling a presence in the air. She raised her hand higher watching as old cuts reopened on her fingers and palm most made from cutting herself on the kitchen knife which she'd done so often. She watched as the blood began to run down her fingers. Her blood slowly dripped down her hand hitting the ground causing living veins of red to appear which pulsed through the field.
She pulled back hearing the sound of rumbling under her feet, she breathed in closing her eyes as she grabbed the rope with one hand she should've expected this. Xena looked up watching in horror as the field suddenly caved inwards it's very ground tearing apart in huge chunks. She felt the rope as it moved violently through her fingers. She grabbed it slamming her boot full force in to the ground as she tightened her hold feeling the rope burn her fingers as it came to a stop. She gritted her teeth ignoring the village's screams as the last of the field fell away. She could see people flocking from there houses now wanting to see what had just happened, no doubt Lector and Gabrielle's parents would be joining them soon enough.
She held the rope tighter watching as the dust began to clear. "Gabrielle!" She leaned further over the edge only to blink as she caught sight of a huge stone cave bellow. The stone was ugly and black and even from where she was standing she could see that it was covered in black and green jade skulls which were all screaming as they looked back at her. A huge door of stone was in the centre closing the cave off from the outside world. In its centre was a huge decorated round symbol which was covered in jade and gold. She looked down further seeing the skeletons of animals littering the outside of the closed entrance. She could make out sheep skeletons and the skeleton of a horse.
Her gaze darted as she caught sight of her lover holding the rope. "Gabrielle are you okay!?" Gabrielle looked up slightly as she held the rope tighter. "I'm fine! Lower me down!" Xena raised an eyebrow ignoring the farmer horror at the huge opening which had once been his field. "Should I come with you?" Gabrielle felt the rope loosen as she was lowered. "No!" Xena watched as her lover's feet hit the ground. "I thought you said you buried this chest in a field?" Gabrielle pushed her feet in to the ground as she undid the rope around her waist. "I thought I did...!" Xena slowly eased her Chakram free. "Take this, just in case." She threw the weapon watching as it hit the wall bellow before flying toward her lover.
Gabrielle raised her hand catching the gleaming weapon in mid flight she slowly put the Chakram on her belts hook. "Thanks." Xena turned ignoring the villages surprise at her lover catching her Chakram. "If you're not out there in five minutes I'm coming down to get you!" Gabrielle turned watching as more insects and worms burst out from under her feet. "I'll be out before then!" She turned ignoring the horrible squelch under her feet as more worms burst through the soil this was awful she could already smell death. The presence of evil was much stronger now so strong that she could already feel her stomach churning as she tried not to loose her lunch. She watched as her blood carried on dripping down hitting the black soil.
She stopped as she caught sight of the horse skeleton she slowly raised her bleeding hand watching as her blood slowly dripped on to it. The horse's skeleton suddenly twitched, its empty sockets slowly lit up with glowing read light. It slowly got up its hooves hitting the ground as it rose to its feet. Its mouth opened as a horrible screech came out which caused her pull back. Its hooves crunched the insect ridden ground as it came towards her. She could see its breath in the cold air as it breathed out through its skeleton face whose teeth slowly grew to razor sharp points. Its head stopped with in inches from her face. Gabrielle froze keeping as still as possible she slowly raised her hand as the razor toothed jaws opened slowly. "I mean you no harm..."
Hearing the Aztec language on her tongue felt strange almost out of place. The horse screeched again its lower skulled jaws opening fully revealing a thick black tongue. Somehow she was glad that all its body had rotted away and only the bones were left. It was alive because of the evil which she had put in this place. She'd seen animals like this in Mexica who were awoken from death close to Aztec temples just by the spilling of fresh blood. These un-dead abominations would do anything for their owner for a price. She raised her hand slowly ignoring all the screaming from above as the horses black tongue came out licking her bleeding hand. "I created this place…which has created you…I'm sorry." She watched as the un-dead horse slowly stepped back lowering its head submissively as it glowing red eyes closed slightly. Gabrielle raised her bloody hand again. "Please serve me."
She watched as its muscle and fur slowly grew back covering its body, the fur was long and black as was huge mane which shook along with its long black tail. Two huge demonic bat wings suddenly burst out of its back both these ripped black torn wings flapped as the horse slowly sat down becoming calm again. A flat slightly padded dark brown saddle appeared on its back it had a red woven under blanket covered in yellow Aztec markings. Woven leather horse reins and tack appeared but with no bit in the un-dead winged horse's mouth. It shook its body as it looked at the saddle for a moment before shaking its long maned head as its red eyes narrowed.
Gabrielle breathed in sharply, watching the other skeletons sunk further in to the ground she stiffened as she came closer to the huge round circle which she recognized instantly. It was the Aztec gods calendar, she eased up her still bloody hand putting it on the calendar watching as the outer ring began to turn she eased up her other hand feeling the two other inner rings turn as she moved her fingers. She pulled away her gaze wandering over the calendar for a long moment. She eased up her hand again slowly turning the larger outer ring which represented the years then moved her fingers down wards turning second ring which represented weeks. Then the inner ring which represented days, she had no idea if putting in the date that she'd buried these objects was correct.
The next moments turned to agonizing pain as a red flaming light suddenly shot out of the rings centre slamming in to her. She felt the pain as she hit the floor on her back and the pain as she came to a slow stop. Xena looked at her fallen lover. "Gabrielle! Are you okay?" This whole thing was getting strange seeing the un-dead horse spring to life had been strange enough and now this. Not to mention the fact that she had no idea what her lover was saying because she was speaking in another language no doubt that of the Aztec gods. Gabrielle slowly sat up watching as the three rings spun back in to place as the red light faded. She coughed painfully turning slightly as she sat up. "I'm fine…I just got the wrong combination…"
Xena pulled back hearing her lovers understandable Greek voice again she breathed in deeply. Gabrielle coughed again eyeing the calendar then the un-dead horse who was watching her. "I don't suppose you know what the combination is?" The horse screeched again which was its version of naying. "No I guess you don't, by the gods this is stupid. I put this here and I don't even remember the combination…" She sat up fully looking at the slick mud of her skirt, this place was vile she slowly got up walked past the horse who snorted as she came to a stop next to the calendar, her gaze darted as a thought crossed her mind. She moved the days months and years again hearing the sound of sharp click as she put in the date of the day of the dead.
She watched as all the skulls around cave suddenly closed their mouths. She breathed in deeply "Even jade will shatter, even gold will crush, even Quetzal plumes will tear…one does not live forever on this earth, only for an instant do we endure." She pulled back watching as the caves door slowly pulled back as it opened causing a cold wave of chilling air to hit her causing her body to shake. She swallowed as she leaned down easing one of the sai blades free from her boot, she could feel herself stiffening as she carried on moving forward. She watched as the flaming torches inside instantly lit themselves as she walked in to the dark tunnel. She gripped the weapon tighter seeing the images of Aztec snakes painted on the walls.
She walked forward watching as the light bounced of the walls revealing a room ahead. She stopped as she heard the sudden crunching as something moved. She found herself turning sharply he was here, right where she'd left him. She moved forward again hearing the crunching as the being slithered along somewhere behind her, stalking her. She might have been drunk but she could remember trapping him here, vividly it was his punishment which she'd done just to spite him. She'd changed his form using one of the godly objects, turning him in to this monster. An intelligent monster trapped here so it would protect the godly items and stop any one from entering and stealing them.
She put a hand on her head it was all starting to come back now, in all its vivid detail. She'd created this place on that drunken night, all just to amuse herself. She'd played with one of the godly objects like it was a toy created the cave and the calendar. She felt her guts twist she wanted to be sick this place was nothing but a cruel pen with a trapped guardian. She moved closer catching sight of the well lit room ahead she couldn't help but notice the human skeletons littering the floor. Others had been here but she had a horrible feeling that the door had just opened for them, letting them walk in to the trap which she'd made and turning them in to food for the guardian. Her warped idea of a drunk joke which she'd found amusing because of her depressed mind.
She felt her boots tap the highly decorated jade floor as she entered the room a simple wooden chest was sitting at the edge of the room on a gold plated platform. The small round room was covered in jade and gold with weaving snakes and gods decorating the walls. The whole place was like a piece of Aztec temple, it wasn't a true temple though none of it…it was a mockery. She moved slowly forward coming to stand in front of the old chest which looked like it had been burnt. It's wooden outside darkened by the flames and its metal lock covered in dirt. She moved her hand slowly forward feeling the lid rise with her touch it was unlocked she had never locked it that night by the looks of things.
She eased out her hand again prying the dirty old chest's lid open one of its old hinders broke as she opened it fully. She narrowed her gaze seeing a small woven blue and green Aztec bag in side with its thick leather holding strap. It was full and she could make out the items inside which looked untouched and in perfect condition just like the carrier bag. She felt her body stiffened as she heard the grinding of scales on the floor directly behind her. She turned slowly feeling her grip on her sai blade tighten. "Hello Itzli." She turned slowly meeting the brown snake eyes with there dark black slits. The python like head and body were covered in bronze scales while its lower head was covered with a mane of large red feather.
On the right side of the python's face were three scared clawed marks which stood out. Two huge red feathered wings with four clawed fingers hit the floor hard as the monster python rose to its full height, it sneered showing of its curved teeth. The tail flicked its red feathers moving slightly. Itzli narrowed his gaze as he stared at the young woman bellow him he snarled aloud scratching his clawed fingers across the floor. Despite the different clothes and the long hair the face was the same so unforgettable with its forest green eyes. Which he had come to hate and loath and had haunted in his every waking night while he'd been trapped here. If he could have turned back time he'd have given anything to never meet her and never bring her to his temples sacrificial altar. She had cost him everything his freedom, his pride and his humanity!
He leaned his neck down slightly feeling his whole snake like body tense as he roared aloud. "Hello Blood Jaguar…" Gabrielle raised her sai blade slightly. "The snake look suits you…wouldn't you agree?" Itzli narrowed his gaze it had been to long he could feel his teeth grinding together. "Your innocent look doesn't suit you…after all you're not innocent are you? Your cruel and hateful and left me here to starve!" Gabrielle eased her hand slowly towards the Aztec bag. "You haven't staved…I saw the remains of you food in the passage way." Itzli laughed slightly but it was cold laugh even to his ears. "Petty thief's you call that food?!" Gabrielle raised the blade higher. "What were you expecting Romans?" Itzli sneered slightly. "No but I might have enjoyed eating them more…I've heard they taste nice…"
Gabrielle snarled slightly. "Oh and were did you hear that?" Itzli snorted aloud. "I heard it from my food when it was begging for its life." Gabrielle sneered slightly. "You disgust me…" Itzli slammed down his red feathered wing hard causing the floor to shake. "So how long has been Blood Jaguar? Five, ten years or more…because your nice long hair tells me that it's been a while…" Gabrielle watched as his snake like face came with in inches of hers. "I turned time back…by twenty nine years and since then it's been a year and half…" Itzli eyes widened as his anger began to rise. "My family doesn't even have any status now!" He smashed his tail down hard. "I shouldn't even be here I should be back in Mexica waiting to be born!"
Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "The reason you're here is because time in Mexica hasn't changed! If it had I wouldn't be here and nether would you…" She felt her grip around her weapon tighten. "I'm here because I need your help!" Itzli turned his head slightly. "You need my help and you just expect me to help you do you?" Gabrielle felt herself tense up. "You have no choice you're my servant." Itzli laughed again. "Actuality I do have a choice…I can kill you." Gabrielle felt her smile as it slowly spread across her face. "Would like more permanent scars on your face Itzli?" Itzli pulled back slightly. "You turned me in to this form you little bitch! Do you honestly think one more scar is going to bother me?"
Gabrielle pulled back slightly. "It might if I turn you back in to your human form…" Itzli ground his teeth together. "Do you believe you can honestly do that? You barely escaped me that last time you put me here…the alcohol made you slow…" Gabrielle snarled aloud. "I'm not drunk this time around…I won't be so slow." Itzli moved forward easing his huge body around. "Turning me in to a winged python was foolish you hate snakes…" Gabrielle smirked as she moved her hand further in to the chest. "Because I hate them I work harder to defeat them…" Itzli laughed slightly enjoying the sound of his mocking voice as it echoed in side the temple cavern. "We'll see…"
Gabrielle felt her hand grab the bag she found herself moving sideways as the huge snake head came down. Itzli snarled as he turned striking again only to feel the pain as the empty chest was thrown in to his face full force causing it to shatter. He roared as he turned sharply only to see the Blood Jaguar run towards the room's only opening. He moved feeling his huge bulk move in to action as he moved with a real purpose. He felt his clawed fingers as they tour up the beautiful jade floor he wasn't going to let her escape this time! He had waited to long for this! He moved faster blocking the entrance with his body before she could get through it.
Gabrielle cried out in agony as the tail suddenly came around slamming in to her waist she felt the pain as her back hit the stone wall close by. She hit the floor hard causing the dust and dirt to fly up around her. Itzli sneered slightly as he slithered forward he leaned back getting ready to strike he narrowed his gaze as her eyes met his. Gabrielle sat up slightly only to cry out in pain as the Itzli's jaws came down full force they clamped down on her raised arm, she screamed in agony dropping the Aztec bag. Itzli pushed his curved teeth in further causing more blood to flow down her arm he didn't think as he used the full force of his neck to throw her he watched as she slammed in to the other wall back first knocking the Eagle warrior's headdress on it flying.
He sneered as he eyed the fallen Aztec bag he slowly wrapped his tail end around it raising it up as he licking his bloody teeth. "You're still slow Blood Jaguar…nothings changed." Gabrielle felt the blood as it ran down her lower arm she felt her gaze shift to the Eagle warrior's mask which now lay in front of her. Its huge hooked silver beak gleamed in the firelight along with its blue sapphire eyes the tattered purple feathers hung down showing there age. She leaned down staring at the old battered headdress she could feel herself tensing in panic. Itzli slithered forward with lightning speed his jaws opening as he roared at her with all his might, his body casting a dark shadow over her.
End of part 10
Silvermoonlight.
The line "Even jade will shatter, even gold will crush, even Quetzal plumes will tear…one does not live forever on this earth, only for an instant do we endure." Is from the Mexican day of the dead, It's not the full song just a part of it. A Quetzal is a Mexican bird, the Aztecs likes to use their feathers in their headdresses.