9-In which it's a matter of believing in others or not...
"Mi señora! Help! Please wake up!" came a voice from the door, along with a series of urgent knocks. La Muerte started awake with a small yelp, sitting in bewildered grogginess for a moment, before rubbing her eyelids softly and slipping out of the bed and onto colorful tiles. The air had a chill that told her it was still way too early for her to be up as she wrapped her shape on a robe, brushing bushy black hair from her eyes -and her mouth- and walked to the door, stretching her back and stiffling a yawn, brain still half-asleep and unable to process the urgent tone of her handmaiden's calls from beyond the door as she cracked it open.
"Yes, Quetzali, what is it?" she mumbled in a groggy, hoarse voice.
The alluded all but hugged her robe, pointing down at the hallway urgently, voice fearful between clattering teeth.
"S-señora– it's horrible! Those horrible eyes– and– and th-the teeth and–!"
"M-hmm" hummed La Muerte, weight resting against the edge of the door and eyes still half-lidded "Y luego?"
"Señora–! It's a monster!"
And with that, La Muerte's eyes snapped open and she straightened, alert.
"What?! Where?!"
Quetzali opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of breaking, cursing and screaming coming from the main hall told her she was about to find out, as she looked at the end of the hallway expectantly. Line after line of Spaniard soldiers came tumbling into her vision line, spears and swords raised, side-to-side with eagle and jaguar soldiers, mazacuhtlis and shields prepared for the attack, forming a barrier between whatever it was that had scared Quetzali and the Queen.
The creature in question finally came into view, a flash of purple shooting like a lightning across the tiled floor. Quetzali let out a long shriek, hiding her face between her hands, as the soldiers and warriors rushed forward, weapons swinging madly in an intent to stop it's course, but the edges bounced off and most of them ended up in pieces, rolling on the floor, as the perpetrator halted for a moment, a couple of yards away from La Muerte, eyes raised towards her, before rushing towards her at a sickening speed. Quetzali cried out and ran for it, as the creature circled around La Muerte -who was wondering whether this was one of those crazy dreams. It was until it stopped circling and raised one head to look up at her again, that she let out an incredulous, relieved laugh. The snake straightened both heads with a curved, toothy gesture on his mouths, before she offered her hand and he leaped to it, wrapping gently around her wrist and forearm, much to the general surprise.
"Mi señora!" Quetzali hissed in alarm, still hidden behind one of the eagle warriors "Put that thing down before it bites you!"
"This is Mas y Menos" La Muerte announced calmly, scratching under each chin in turns with her free hand, much to the snake's enjoyment "He wouldn't hurt me. Isn't that right, cutie?"
For all reply, the snake climbed up to wrap across her shoulders and nuzzle her face on either side, ticking and eliciting giggles from her.
"But what is that doing here, then?" one of the Spaniard guards asked, sword still hesitantly raised "It entered the Kingdom uninvited, terrorizing the Remembered everywhere, and then even dared to break into your castle!"
"Marcelo has a point. That was not nice of you" La Muerte softly chided, shaking a finger at both heads in turns -they feigned to cower on shame for a second- before she smiled again, extending her arm so the snake could trail back to her wrist "And that is an excellent question! What brings you here?" her smile lost a tad of it's joy as she continued "What does Xibalba want from me this time?"
Mas y Menos seemed to remember what was it that had him in such a hurry, the smile falling from both his mouths and breaking into panicky, urgent hisses that made La Muerte's brow furrow in confusion.
"He seems scared" she mumbled.
"Scared?!" Quetzali huffed "Scared is what all of us where just a minute ago, thanks to...him!"
"Why is he so scared?" asked one of the Jaguar warriors, approaching.
"I don't know. I can't understand him" La Muerte replied, but an ominous feeling was already nibbling at her insides.
"Can he understand you?" Marcelo asked.
"Yes"
"Then why not...?" once he realized all eyes (Even those of the Remembered literally putting themselves together) were on him, he paused, bashfully. The eagle warrior moved closer to him.
"What?" he softly asked. Marcelo shifted his eyes between him and La Muerte, who urged him with a gesture.
"Go on"
"He can...say yes or no with his heads alone, can he not?"
La Muerte considered it for a second, before nodding.
"That should work"
"Good thinking!" the Jaguar warrior beamed, approaching to clap his back, as the surrounding Remembered broke into applause. La Muerte raised a finger, demanding silence, and all obeyed instantly, as she turned to the snake.
"Just nod for yes and shake your head for no, alright?" Mas y Menos nodded with both heads and she nodded back "Very well..." she opened her mouth, but her mind was devoid of actual questions, too nervous to put any together. What was she so worked up about?
'Start simple. Obvious even'
"Um...w-were you looking for me?" she staggered. Nod, the weight in her chest lightened the tiniest bit. At least, she was making sense. Her instinct told her she should ask about Xibalba's well-being, but the sole thought of doing it was, immaturely enough, infuriating. Thus, she tried to figure the best way to ask about him without actually asking.
"Let's see...is this about the..." she paused. She had been about to use the words 'Break-up' but how could she use them if there had been nothing between her and Xibalba to begin with? She settled for something different "...about the wager?" the snake threw her what was easily an indignant glance and shook both heads. She couldn't tell whether she was feeling relieved or disappointed at that reply.
"What wager, señora?" came Quetzali's worried and disapproving voice.
"It's not important" La Muerte quickly deflected. It was no secret to the Remembered that their Queen had a tendency to get herself in uncomfortable situations thanks to it- the most recent one being when, she'd had a session of strip poker with her sister in the middle of a Day of the Dead celebration- and it made her squirm to realize just how uncomfortable explaining the entire situation would be. Then again, she was a Queen, she could refuse to give explanations, but pressing her rank was one thing she didn't enjoy doing, unless completely necessary "Has it got to do with La Noche?" she hurriedly asked, turning back to the snake. One small hesitation, then he shook his head. A thought that had been struggling to show it's face in her mind finally won the struggle "It's not about...last night, is it?"
Frantic nodding. La Muerte didn't miss how a small splatter of muttering could be heard around her and her face heated the slightest. Her words had been vague enough that they could be otherwise interpreted. However, and as her only resource, she pretended not to notice.
"Is it about the Cursed Beasts, then?" she ventured, remembering how their last conversation had started. The snake shook both heads, before pausing and nodding. Yes and No? La Muerte twisted her mouth, thinking. Xibalba had seemed rather tired the night before, even if he insisted in making it seem like it was nothing. Maybe he'd been hurt by them? Or his energy had dried out? Maybe he'd bitten more than he could chew? "Did he send you to get help?
Mas y Menos let out a loud, somewhat angry hiss and nodded again. The Remembered shuddered, some of them even crossing themselves. Most had learned upon their arrival that the Cursed where the things they had feared in the night when still living, and the old fear still remained. A nervous, queasy feeling took hold of La Muerte. Something cold and heavy seemed to extend through her limbs as she prepared to ask another question. She had to wet her lips before speaking.
"Is Xibalba in danger?"
More frantic nodding and a somewhat triumphant hiss. Her stomach dropped. Ignorant to this, mutters broke among the multitude again.
"But what does that have to do with you, majestad?" someone asked
"Let the Forgotten King fend by himself!"
"Maybe he'll finally bite the dust"
"Good riddance!"
"The Land of the Forgotten and the Land of the Remembered exist in a balanced relationship" she declared, keeping her voice calm, although she could feel her her hands quivering with mild indignation "If the Ruler of the Forgotten falls, what lies in his kingdom or passes through it will be free to climb to other levels, the closest one being this land"
"But, then what can we do?" pleaded a soldier.
"First of all, I must depart" she replied, turning for her chambers.
"You're leaving us, señora?" Quetzali cried, worrying her hands.
"Very briefly" she assured, halting on the doorway "I must know exactly what the situation is, and I know just where to find it out...in the meantime, I need for all of you to gather all of the families in the Kingdom and bring them here for their protection" she set her eyes on the many frightened faces looking up to her, trusting and loving, and her face softened "I will protect you...that is a promise"
The first one to move was Marcelo, clicking his heels solemnly and saluting. Every warrior in the room followed, the natives hitting their lances against their shields and letting out fierce cries.
"Si, Señora!"
With a final nod of her head and a warmth within her, she shut the door behind her to get dressed.
The Candlemaker didn't seem very surprised to see her with Mas y Menos wrapped around her shoulders, and that bothered her for some reason, but she had more important matters to think of, so she pushed the annoyance aside an explained the situation. He listened to her patiently, throwing both snake heads worried glances and muttering to himself every now and then, but didn't really speak to her until she was done, then he got to his feet, hands behind his back.
"...let me guess: You want me to tell you what's goin' on, huh?" he finally said, his tone struggling to stay playful despite the fact that he is evidently worried. She couldn't blame him, because even if she didn't quite come to accept it out loud, she was worried as well, very. There was a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach that settled there once she found out this involved Xibalba and never quite left and with ever passing minute it seemed to extend, to reach her fingers, her toes and drain her of all her energy. An odd feeling of...grayness seemed to hover above her like a storm cloud, as if threatening to steal away the color and light of the world. And all because of him! It was infuriating.
"Yes"
"La Muerte" he sighed "Look, I'm not really supposed to spoil anyone on what the Book of Life says..."
"I know, but– I also know that, on extraordinary cases, you tend to overlook that rule"
His shoulders hunched guiltily and he grimaced, looking around as if someone where to come give him hell about it any minute.
"W-well, yeah, but– who says this is one'o'those anyway? A special case?"
"Candlemaker, he sent his last resource to me!" she whispered urgently, signaling for the snake, that slid to her arm and glanced at the Candlemaker somewhat defiantly "Proud as he is, do you think he would do that unless it where something serious?"
"Well, no..." he scratched the back of his head for a moment "...I mean, unless..."
"What?"
He pursed his mouth, seeming almost sorry he'd spoken in the first place, fidgeting his fingers nervously.
"...uh, did y'two have one of your fights before this?"
She mouthed for a second. Both heads of the snake exchanged looks and cowered slightly.
"What does that have to do with anything?!" finally came her reply, two hot spots settling on her cheeks.
"Nothing! I mean...probably nothing, but, um...I've known Xibalba long enough to, uh...know he's not above lyin' to get on the ladies's good side if he knows he's done somethin' wrong"
She blinked for a moment, doubt adding itself to the mix of emotions already boiling within her.
"N-not that I think that's what he's doin' right now!" the Candlemaker hurriedly added, raising his hands as if placating her "I just– I think it's somethin' you should consider"
But both knew he was being kind. It sounded exactly like the kind of move Xibalba would pull to ensure she would look for him after a bad argument like the one the night before. However, Mas y Menos turned to La Muerte, hissing frantically, as if to defend his master. She studied at the four eyes pleadingly staring at her, chewing on her lip for a moment, before sighing, shoulders drooping slightly.
"We can only know for sure through the Book" she muttered, absently petting the snake as she turned to the Candlemaker again. Likely as it seemed that Xibalba were doing just what the Candlemaker had suggested, she knew she wouldn't be at peace until she knew it for sure. She uneasily realized the sole prospect that he were deceiving her was a relief. At the very least, it would mean he was safe from all harm "...that way, I can strangle him myself if he turns out to be faking it"
"Sounds fair" mumbled the Candlemaker with a small smile, before whistling loudly. The Book, having been reclined in a podium until then, floated towards him quickly "Alright, buddy, we need to know where Xibalba is right now"
The book flapped it's pages quickly, halting without a hesitation and opening wide to show the content on the pages, showing it to the Candlemaker only. La Muerte stayed behind, knowing if there was something she needed seeing, the Book itself would show it to her or Candlemaker would tell her to look.
"Ay, Santa Cachucha..." he exclaimed, hands flying to the sides of his head in shock and worry. La Muerte felt the cold extend even further than her extremities, seeming to surround her heart.
"What? What is it?"
The Candlemaker quickly slid the book out of her reach, trying to look innocent.
"Nuthin'. I mean, well, there is somethin' but, uh...well...the important part is he isn't fakin' it"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it is sort of serious– I mean, not serious enough that no one else can take care of it, but, uhh–!"
"Candlemaker" she growled as a warning, crossing her arms.
"We should probably call an assembly? You know, perhaps get ol' Ixbalanque out of his retirement, let him take care of this...or any other of the warrior deities, you know those guys love a good fight–"
"Candlemaker"
"El Chamuco holds him a prisoner in his own castle" the Candlemaker finally admitted.
"El Chamuco?" La Muerte repeated, flaring at the sole mention.
"Y-yeah, but hey, on the good side, that's not even the worse part" he paused, face falling "D'you ever just listen to what you're sayin' and–?" he shrugged, shaking his head, as if confused beyond words.
"How can that not be the worse part?"
"Well, you see...in normal conditions, they're probably pretty even in powers but...let's say El Chamuco is just as obsessed with winning as Xibalba– Umm, I should probably not go too much into detail, you know, it's not a nice story.."
"Candlemaker"
"Alright, alright, jeez! He's got dragons with him"
La Muerte's blood runs even colder.
"Dragons…!"
"I know, I know, they're supposed to be extinct and all, but really they just retreated into the Land of the Cursed. All that lava and rocks, it's like a holiday to them!"
"What did El Chamuco want them for?"
"Can'tcha tell?"
It wasn't exactly hard to tell, but she resisted the thought, mainly because imagining Xibalba facing a bunch of those creatures on his own produced a painful breathless sensation in her. She knew what dragons could do full well, having heard tales about them from her mother, and even having one time witnessed how dragon artisans crafted gold and silver after melting it with just a small exhalation. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and she all but pounced the Candlemaker almost without noticing, hands latching onto his neck-piece.
"Is he…!?" she started, her voice faltering. It couldn't be, she resisted even saying it, even thinking about it. Fortunately, he caught her drift.
"He's alive" the Candlemaker quickly assured, un-prying her hands from him and holding them, reassuring "Very hurt, yes, specially his ego, but alive"
It was like a weight's lifted from her chest. She could breath again. She didn't even realize she was all but leaning on the Candlemaker until he cleared his throat.
"But hold it, that's not even the actual worst part"
She groaned, retreating.
"What now?"
"Well...it would seem it has to do with your Kingdom...you know it's the one closest to that of the Livin', from there it's practically one step away..."
"Oh, so it's a matter of territory" she growled, rubbing the bridge of her nose "I should have known"
"Well, yes...and no"
She glanced at him, annoyed.
"Why not?"
The Candlemaker stared for a moment, deciding whether to speak or not.
"Because it does also relate to...well, you"
She sighed, hiding her eyes against her palm. So it all came down to that, who got to keep the prize. At the very least she knew Xibalba was doing it for a wager but El Chamuco? Was he really low or crazy enough to think she'd take him back if he won against this brother? The Candlemaker and Mas y Menos looked at her as though weighing her reaction.
"Wanna know the very, very worst part, though-?" he started.
"No. I think that suffices, thank you"
"What will you do, then?"
"Protect my Kingdom, of course" came her immediate reply. Naturally, her first responsibility was to those souls under her care.
"And Xibalba?" the Candlemaker pressed gently. Even the Book leaned forward slightly, as if eager to hear her reply.
She pursed her mouth, eyes flaring and a very evident flush coloring her cheeks. Tension and crossed feelings seemed to coil in her until she finally gave up, letting out a long breath.
"...him too" she mumbled "Gods know he doesn't deserve it, but I care for him..." Mas y Menos hissed, wide eyes setting on her in what she interpreted as urgency "I can't do it alone, though, I will need your help, and...someone else's too"
"Help?" he seemed genuinely puzzled "La Muerte, I hate to say this, but I don't think anyone likes Xibalba enough to go against El Chamuco for'im… no one except us two softies. Who are you going to ask for help?"
She let the air out through her nose slowly.
"Don't ask. I'm regretting it already"
It turned out that what she thought was regret, was nowhere near as powerful a regret as what she felt finding herself in her sister's castle to find her still in bed and rather annoyed at being awakened so early, her tongue slightly sharper than usual. Yet, she was patient enough to allow her into the room as she lazily reclined on her plush comforters and pillows, all but purring like a cat, white skin wrapped into a robe and dark, sleep-mused hair cascading around her head. La Muerte explained the situation as best as she could, starting with how she'd been awakened by Mas y Menos's irruption into her castle and ending with what the Candlemaker had said the situation was, leaving her fight with Xibalba or other topics that would require an explanation she wasn't willing to give out, but as the story progressed and her sister seemed, above all, unimpressed, impatience started to get a hold of her.
"You want me to help him" La Noche finally said, in what almost sounded like a yawn. A handmaiden had gone get her a champurrado a couple of minutes before and still hadn't returned and she looked like that worried her more than Xibalba's fate. La Muerte's hands tightened in fists over her dress and her mouth pursed.
"You are the one he was courting, aren't you?"
"Ah, but that's the past, hermanita. I detest to dwell on the past when the future looks so bright"
"Meaning you won't help" La Muerte cried.
"Help with what? Defeating El Chamuco and his dragons and recovering Xibalba's land for him?" La Noche let out a breathy laugh "Oh, La Muerte, you can't be serious"
"Don't you care?!"
"Should I, after the way he treated me?" La Noche inquired, an edge hidden I the calculated grogginess of her tone as she turned on the bed, hugging her pillow "Would you?"
'Yes, of course! Why do you think I am here?' La Muerte bit back her reply.
"What I don't get is why he sent that snake to you even though you can't stand him" La Noche commented, motioning for La Muerte's forearm, where Mas y Menos was still wrapped like a bracelet, uneasy eyes glancing at both sisters alternatively "You, of all people"
"We're neighbors" La Muerte quickly said "He probably thought I'd be faster to reach than any other- that alone should tell you how serious this is!"
La Noche cocked both eyebrows, stretching the corners of her mouth the slightest.
"Believe me, if I didn't know Xibalba, I would be worried...unfortunately for him, I am far too smart not to see through his trickery"
The reply was so seemingly unrelated for La Muerte that it took her a second to process it.
"What are you talking about? What trickery? I told you, the Candlemaker said this was real!"
"Hmmm, yes, he would say that" La Noche took one delicate finger to her chin in a display "He's just as naive as you, after all"
La Muerte forced herself to breathe deep and have patience.
"Explain"
"Ay, hermanita, isn't it obvious? He sent you the snake counting onyou acting before you thought, as you usually do, and come to me for help. This is yet another trick of his. He's lying"
La Muerte felt her heartbeat drumming madly within her ears, and half-heard the snake hissing angrily, but shook her head.
"Nonononono– even Xibalba wouldn't lie about something like this!"
"Technically he isn't, and that's the beauty of this plan of his. The moment we showed up there and saw nothing is going on, he could excuse himself that no one never 'Said' he was in danger, and that it was all a misunderstanding. Maybe even blame the snake" La Noche hummed in amusement "All so I would worry about him and go looking for him- well, he can forget about that!"
"You're not listening! The Book of Life showed–!"
"So what? It's not infallible, we both know it! The words written on it are always changing, because that is the way of fate. How can I trust such an unreliable source? Besides...if someone can find a way to lie to the Book of Life itself, that would be Xibalba"
'She has a point'
"No– augh, look..." La Muerte raised her hands as if to placate herself. She knew it was useless to try and change la Noche's mind once she'd made it up, so she changed the subject "Even if it does turn out to not be truth, it couldn't hurt to check"
La Noche's gesture immediately went from playful to bitter.
"Not you, perhaps. I suppose you've forgotten how he humiliated me in my own home the last time I saw him"
La Muerte groaned, raising her hands in exasperation, but still called upon the last of her patience, coming to the edge of the bed to lay down next to her sister for a moment.
"La Noche, I have seen what El Chamuco is capable of doing when he thinks he's entitled to it" an uneasy look crossed La Noche's face for a moment "Just...come with me to the Land of the Forgotten. If you're right about this, I will..." she hesitated a bit, what could she offer? "...I'll let youpick and take ten bottles from my wine cellar! It's five minutes of your time for then bottles"
La Noche considered for a moment, but ultimately, pride won.
"I'm afraid not, hermanita, my dignity has suffered enough blows from him already"
"La Noche–"
"No" the goddess sat up and scrambled away from her sister, her eyes aflame and narrowed in a new suspiscion "Why are you on his side? You're supposed to support me! I'm your sister!"
"This isn't about that!" La Muerte said through gritted teeth, sitting up, patience all but spent. Typical La Noche, making everything about her and her wounded ego!
"Why should I be the one to yield?! He should be the one begging me to take him back, not me!"
"You said you didn't care!"
"And I don't!"
"Then why are you making this about your relationship with him? This is about much more important things!"
At this, La Noche let out a bark-like, angry laughter
"Oh, but what am I thinking, this is you we're talking about! The all-forgiving, perfect, Santa La Muerte!" she spit the words through gritted, exposed teeth "Who honors rules over family, and still has the gull to act like the higher moral ground belongs to her. Who easily gets whatever she wants and then wants to feel better about herself because she's so kind! Let me guess, this is about the bigger good and protecting those smelly bone sacks you rule over? How silly of me not to support your charity work of the day!"
La Muerte's temper flared at the accusations. For a moment, the temptation to fall on her sister, as they were, and pull her hair and knock some sense into her was almost too much to bear. The only thing holding her back was the knowledge that, if she did that, La Noche would have won. This still didn't stop her eyes and candles from flaring in a way where it was surprising nothing in the room had caught fire.
"And how silly of me, supposing you would care for anyone but yourself!" she hissed back, looking at her sister up and down with the biggest despise she could muster, trying not to betray the know tying around her throat "Absolutely everything has to be about you!"
"Yes, how very selfish from me, to expect my sister to act like one for once in her life"
"Oh, quit feeling sorry for yourself already!" La Muerte barked, quickly moving closer to her in a flare of petals "It's easy to weep and moan about how the others treat you wrong, but have you stopped and looked at how you treat them–?!"
"Spare me the morality lesson!" La Noche's voice trailed into a quivery whisper. She looked like she was trying very hard not to cry in anger "Tahtli and Nantli already made their point about how good you are and how bad I am and how little I deserve for it–!"
She interrupted herself with a shaky gasp, arms crossed tightly around her and eyes averted and La Muerte took a few breaths, trying to get herself to stop seeing red, to remind herself this was her sister she was talking to, this was family, and things were bad enough between them without her pushing a topic that had opened the breach between them back when they were still like halves of a whole.
"And what if we're the only ones who can help him and you just refuse to?" she finally said, in a whisper that didn't sound as contained as she would have liked "Would you let him die out of spite?"
La Noche froze, her eyes, damp and flaring, opening wide as though the possibility hadn't occurred to her. But it lasted very little. Her hair fanned into the air as she turned her back on her sister dramatically, getting to her feet.
"For the last time, La Muerte, he is not in any sort of danger...and even if he is– he can rot, for all I care!" she declared, feet trailing naked over the stone towards one of her tall, tall windows. La Muerte felt a cold, numbing sensation settling within her at those words, pushing her beyond anger, beyond anything but a bewildered disappointment. She forced herself to take a couple of steps towards La Noche, slowly, as though not to scare a butterfly standing on a nearby flower.
"Is that your last word?" she muttered softly, unable to keep her voice from quivering.
"Indeed" La Noche retorted, almost casually, without looking at her. There was a pause during which both of them felt as thought the sound of a breath would break into a storm, before she continued, her tone as though La Muerte had just dropped by for a normal visit "You can stay for breakfast if you like, but please leave me to get dressed, I need to comb my hair"
La Muerte stared at her sister's back for a moment longer, before bowing her head the slightest in a nod.
"Sorry, hermana, but I have matters to attend right now"
She walked out of the bedroom -the poor handmaiden was standing out the door, the tray with champurrado trembling between her hands- and waited for the door to close before resting her back against the spiral-adorned wall, eyes closed shut and fingers fumbling with the golden locket.
And she breathed, and breathed, and breathed.
As per usual when in inner turmoil, she poured herself into her work twice as intently as she normally would. Her return to the Land of the Remembered was greeted with an anxious multitude piling within the castle. The warriors were still trying to completely evacuate the streets and the castle already seemed filled to the brim with lively calacas, all seeming very worried and anxious, eager to hear everything was fine. She wished she could tell them that. Instead, she sent Mas and Menos to her study and took her place in the throne, waiting for everyone to settle down, at least a little, before speaking and explaining the situation to them.
"We are on our own not that the Queen of the Unknown has refused to aid us" she said, after a very brief summary "Assistance could be asked to other kingdoms, and would probably be granted, but..." she made a pause, studying the audience and deciding whether they could hear what she wanted to say next before continuing "...but getting other realms involved could make this conflict bigger. It could easily turn into an all-out war between those who think El Chamuco is right and those who don't"
"Pardon, Señora, but what is there to lose?" a young soldier asked "It's not like we could die again"
"But you could disappear" she patiently explained "Cursed beasts are cruel and heartless. They feed on fear and suffering and hate and all those things that can blacken a heart. And additionally, their fangs and claws possess the ability to infect and wither all spiritual beings, even Gods, should they get a good hit"
Worried whispers spread through the room. She knew what the doubtful glances directed at her meant. Did that mean she was in the same danger as they were too? That she couldn't protect them completely?
"I offer you two choices. You can all stay here, protected by a barrier I will set around the castle and the structure itself, while the danger passes...but those of the Remembered who haven't yet reached the castle would be left to their devices" just saying it tasted bitter in her mouth, but she wanted to grant the people a chance to decide for themselves, since it was going to be their necks on the line rather than hers "Or I can send those of you who can fight to the very frontiers of the realm to take a stand for the Remembered while those of you who can't take shelter here. The choice is yours. I will respect whichever you make"
"And you?" an artisan asked, hesitant.
"I will go to the Land of the Forgotten and free King Xibalba" she had to raise her hand to demand silence, for mutters and gasps broke through the room "He will help nip this invasion in the bud. He's been protecting the Land of the Remembered for years, albeit indirectly. I am sure if I were to ask for his help in this matter, he will grant it, specially after I've freed him. But I need to know what you will do for yourselves in the meantime"
A short silence spread among the calacas, as they looked at each other, unsure. For one terrifying moment, La Muerte thought they would choose their own safety over that of the others.
But then, a figure made it's way among the crowd, that started to make a way for it. Big even among tall men, strong even among warriors. Even devoid of flesh, his chest looked broad and powerfull, a coat of brown and white fur, like an eared cap, covered his head, turning into a mask when it reached his face. A tail swished pedantically at his heels and clawed gauntlets covered his hands. Bright green eyes set on La Muerte as he stood tall in front of her, every eye on the room setting on him and him bearing the weight without effort. She knew him well, his family being often part of what made her job hard at times: El Tigre Rivera
"I speak for no one but myself, Señora" he said bowing the slightest before her, his voice firm and his mouth curved in a smirk "But I, for one, would rather fight than hide here like a coward while those freaks run rampage through our beautiful city. And the only pride bigger than fighting for you is fightig for my family"
Despite the initial reactions to him, he seemed to inspire the rest, because soon enough every warrior in the room was offering and arm for the battle. A heavy weight seemed to lift off La Muerte's chest looking at all the brave souls in her Kingdom, her face lighting up with a tender and proud smile. She got to her feet, candles sending excited, colorful sparkles around and eyes gleaming.
"Will you fight?" she called out, her voice regal and fierce as her arms extended towards them.
"Si, mi señora!" hundreds, perhaps thousands of voices called back at her on a roar, spears and swords and frying pans and sticks and axes raising to present themselves to her.
"Then may the Gods guard us all!"
"Did you find what we were looking for?"
The Candlemaker, who'd been patiently waiting for her in her studio as she dictated formations and strategies to the warriors, let out a high-pitched, airy whistle and nodded towards himself, as if to say 'Who do you take me for?', before letting the many scrolls of amate held under his arms go. They floated around them, spreading as though in the grasp of invisible hands, displaying colorful maps of the complete extension of the Land of the Dead, now divided in thirteen kingdoms.
"Right, so you so normally, you would either enter through the waterfall or float down from the very edges of the Kindgdom, but the possibilities of being spotted are really high if you do it"
"I've been thinking, what if I just teleport there?" La Muerte stroked Mas y Menos's back absently and the snake squirmed the slightest, enjoying "If he asked for my help, chances are he's granting me permission to move freely between realms"
"I guess that could be but..." the Candlemaker trailed off, as if hesitating, before adding "Y'know, why don't you try it? Just to be sure" but she didn't go far with the try, as soon as she tried to spin into the ground, she could feel the same invisible force, like magnetism, keeping her away. When she stopped and looked at Candlemaker interrogatively, he nodded "Yah, I thought so..."
"What?"
"Xibalba's intention was never for you to go save him" she shook her head in evident disbelief, brow furrowing, but Candlemaker continued, calmly "I figured as much when the Book showed me he'd sent you the snake for something serious, that's why I kept telling you to call a meeting in the pantheon and let someone else handle it"
"Figured what?"
"That his only intention was to warn you" he turned to another scroll, alert eyes scanning it "His goal was for you to be able to protect yourself, nothing more"
La Muerte's eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat, as was evident by the momentary snuffing out of the flames on her hat and dress.
"That's–! No, he...that can't be. Why would he do that?"
The Candlemaker sighed, eyes still set on the amate in front of him.
"Alright, I've tried to stay outta this as much as possible, but since you ask, here's the deal... 'cause he does care for you, despite what you think"
Perhaps because she'd already had so much said and happened to her on the span of a few hours, but she found herself unable to understand she'd just heard, to put together what the sentence meant. She mouthed for a second, trying to force the old wheels to turn and think of something to say. Xibalba cared for her? Yes, if she was completely sincere, she had to say she knew that already. The fact that he'd care enough to forget to be selfish was what caught her by surprise. The Candlemaker, who'd been looking through the maps in the meantime, let out a loud 'Hah!', distracting her from her thoughts.
"Gotcha!" he cried, triumphant, as the rolls around him closed and flew to position themselves over the desk, orderly, all save the one in front of him and another depicting the Land of the Forgotten "I knew there was an entrance near what used to be the blood river–"
"Now the red gorge, thankfully" La Muerte said, making a face. A river of blood, although very mystical and imposing, had seemed rather ill-tasted for her, and so she'd had the flux run directly into the lower, more fitting levels without cutting through the Desert of Colors around the city.
"The entrance to the passage is here" the Candlemaker pointed at three bright blue spots running alongside a bright red line that ran practically from side to side of the amate roll in a squiggly line "Among the monoliths"
"Where, exactly?" La Muerte asked, approaching to look over his shoulder,
"The one on the middle, on the left face, I think. It's little ore than a crack, but you should be able to go through it"
"And where in the Land of the Forgotten would I come out?"
"If my calculations are correct" he said, as the scroll depicting the Land of the Forgotten moved on top of the other one and he tapped at a spiral right in the heart of the realm "You'd come out near the throne room, inside the Snake Castle"
Xibalba's Castle. Come to think of it, he'd never wanted her anywhere near it, or his kingdom, for that matter. The last time she'd been there, by her mother's hand, she had been just a child and all she could remember was black stones and whispers. What would she find now, insanity and cruelty like the one she had witnessed in the Land of the Cursed? Screams and lamentations? Fire and torment? Provoqued by El Chamuco or maybe by Xibalba himself?
'If you're doing this because you have chosen to believe in him, you shouldn't go back on that choice'
"You sure I shouldn't come with you?" the Candlemaker said, looking at her apprehensively "Or we could– you know, we're still in time to call Huhanpú and his brother for the job"
La Muerte shook her head.
"Like I said to the Remembered, I don't want to drag anyone else into this and risk it becoming a war"
"But you look...well...you look..."
"Scared?" she said, almost without noticing. But he nodded. And well, yes, she was scared. For her Kingdom and the balance and the world of the living and herself...and Xibalba. However, all she had to do was remember how the people in her castle had raised to the challenge with courage and faith in her and the fear seemed to shrink, to cower within her. Her mouth curved into something she hoped would look like a smile "I'm still doing it, you know"
He shook his head, with a disbelieving and fond grin of his own.
"Of course you are"
C.C (A) the Author here.
I really did intend for the tragic backstory reveal to happen on this chapter. I promise. But a lot of other conflicts needing to be aknowledged came along (Like La Noche's bitterness, for which you will learn the reason on further chapters, and the fact that this personal conflicts between rulers also affect those souls under their care) and I had to give them space as well. It nded up making the chapter longer than I had originally planned it out to be so I had to spilt what would have been chapter nine in two. Throwing a bit of headcanon on the Land of the Remembered and the general Land of the Dead structure...figured since this fic is pretty much an AU after all that's been revealed by Don Jorge since I started writting, I'd make the most of it and go crazy with some ideas on the matter without fear of being inaccurate. Imma shut up now, this commentary's fat enough as it is
Comments, as per usual, are very appreciated!