Chapter 20.
The Land of The Forgotten
Manolo, Alexander, Ingram, Carmen and Luis were now in a land filled with ruins of civilizations, pyramids, castles and towers.
"Are you sure we're in the right place?" asked Luis.
"You Sanchezes need to look before you go jumping into magic waterfalls," said the Candle Maker, "What if you jump into the wrong one? You might end up in Tijuana."
"I think I died there," said Luis.
"Could you tell us where we are, Candle Maker?" asked Alexander.
"Welcome to the Land of the Forgotten. Sad, huh?" said the Candle Maker.
Manolo, Alexander, Ingram, Carmen and Luis looked about the Land of the Forgotten and could see sad souls turn into dust.
"You poor things," said Carmen.
"And that's gonna happen to you guys if we don't hurry," said Ingram.
"Come on," said Manolo.
Manolo, Alexander, Ingram, Carmen, Luis and the Candle Maker hurried through the Land of the Forgotten until they came to a castle that looked more like a leaning tower, with walls of stone, a moat of molten lava or a lake of molten lava, there was also a a bridge in the shape of a snake, and a carving of a two-headed snake built in.
"There it is," said the Candle Maker, "Xibalba's castle."
Manolo, Alexander, Ingram, Carmen, Luis and the Candle Maker entered the castle and there was La Muerte.
"La Muerte!" said Manolo, "I need a word with you, my lady!"
"Manolo? But how did you, Alexander & Ingram get here?" asked La Muerte.
"We had some help," said Ingram.
"Hey, there," said the Candle Maker.
"Candle Maker. Carmen! And the head of Luis?" said La Muerte and she clicked her fingers. Luis's body came back together.
"Great, my arthritis is back," said Luis.
"We know about the wager," said Manolo, "Xibalba cheated."
"He did what?" asked La Muerte.
"Yeah! With a two – headed snake!" said Alexander.
"You might want to cover your ears right now," said the Candle Maker and he, Manolo, Alexander, Ingram, Carmen and Luis quickly covered their ears as La Muerte was about to blow her temper.
"XIBALBA!" screamed La Muerte.
"Yes, my dear?" asked Xilbalba.
"You misbegotten son of a leprous donkey!" snapped La Muerte, "You cheated! Again!"
"I did no such thing," said Xilbalba, "Oh, that. It has a mind of its own. Or two."
"That is unforgivable!" snapped La Muerte.
"Oh, please!" said Xilbalba, "I never sent that snake to Maria, and I never gave that medal to Joaquin!"
"What medal?" asked La Muerte.
"The one I never gave him," said Xilbalba, "Ever. At all. Never. Who is this Joaquin?"
"You gave Joaquin the Medal of Everlasting Life?" growled La Muerte.
"Yes," said Xilbalba.
"What is the "Medal of Everlasting Life"?" asked Ingram.
"Whoever wears the medal cannot die or be injured," said La Muerte.
La Muerte slapped Xilbalba.
"Please, can you help me up?" asked La Muerte.
Carmen floated up to Xilbalba and slapped him.
"Thank you," said Carmen.
"Can I get a slap, too?" asked the Candle Maker.
"My son and his friends did not deserve this," said Carmen.
"Come on, me, Alexander and Ingram have to go back," said Manolo.
"It's only fair," said La Muerte, "Please, Balby?"
"Balby"?" asked Alexander and Ingram.
"No. Never," said Xilbalba.
"You better do this!" growled La Muerte.
"No," said Xilbalba.
"Hey, what about a wager?" asked Manolo.
"A wager?" asked La Muerte and Xilbalba.
"If I win . . ." said Manolo, "You give me, Alexander and Ingram our lives back."
"You have nothing I want," said Xibalba.
"But I do," said La Muerte, "If you win, Xibalba, you can rule both realms."
"You name the task, anything you want, and Manolo will beat you," said Alexander.
"What? Are you afraid you might lose?" asked Ingram.