THE IRRESISTIBLE FIRE BURNING IN THE NIGHT
Itzli looked up sharply he could already see the fertility goddess temple in the distance. Ohtli wouldn't be happy about him landing on the main keep again but the truth was that he no longer cared. Xena was going to die he had no choice he would not allow that to happen. Gabrielle may have died but in his eyes from here on in, he would be Xena's loyal servant. He would do everything in his power to help her, what ever she wanted he'd get. Where ever she went he would follow, he wished that he'd gotten to the city sooner! If had been earlier he could have saved Gabrielle. He breathed in deeply pushing his emotions down, he could grieve and hate himself later now was not the time or the place.
He could already see warriors running up the temples steps with lit torches reading their weapons. He looked around hearing the un-dead horse screech as it suddenly pulling it self free before he could grab the reins. The un-dead animal just lost flight all at once it seemed to just give up as its wings stopped flapping. He watched in shock as it pile drove in to the floor of the main keep where it lay, its wings twitching as it lay on its side. He breathed in deeply as he brought the other horse down on to the ground hard. He grabbed Xena's waist to stop her falling off, his gaze turned sharply as he saw Ohtli appear followed by his warriors.
He could see his confusion, as he looked down from the horse, which slowly came to a stop next to its fallen companion who still didn't move. He turned slowly watching as Ohtli's shocked gaze moved over the Warrior Princess as he raised his flaming torch higher. Itzli looked up meeting the other mans shocked gaze. "Please you've got to help me!" Ohtli's blinked looking at the Warrior Princess whose blood was now staining the winged animal's fur. There were some serious wounds on the tall woman's body but nothing even compared to the one on her right arm which had been flayed. "What in hell!?" Itzli turned sharply meeting his gaze. "I don't have time to explain! Help me now or she's going to die!"
Ohtli shook his head coming to his senses he turned eyeing two of his warrior. "I want the best healers we have up here now!" He moved hands helping Itzli to ease the tall woman off the horse. He watched as the warriors bolted in to a run while the others helped bring Xena down to the floor carefully. Itzli turned looking at the un-dead horse which was still twitching. "Where are Xochiquetzal and Xochipilli!?" Ohtli turned to meet his gaze. "Xochiquetzal left not long ago we believe she went to Tezcatlipoca's city. Xochipilli disappeared hours before that after they had an argument, we have no idea when he'll return." Itzli breathed in sharply. "Ah hell! She needs the god of love she's going to die!" Ohtli breathed in deeply watching as his warriors pulled out bandages and herb remedies. "The Blood Jaguar survived till sunrise I'm sure her lover can."
He stopped in mid motion as he met the Itzli's gaze. "Where is the Blood Jaguar?" Itzli looked up slowly as he breathed out sharply. "She's dead, she died fighting Tezcatlipoca." He put a hand on his face trying to control his emotions as he ignored the stunned silence. "She ascended to the hummingbird heaven she gave up her life for her lover and died the noble death." Ohtli blinked as he looked up. "She died? But she can't die she is the Blood Jaguar…It's not possible." Itzli turned sharply feeling his rage boil up. "She's dead! She brought down the whole hummingbird army in her passing! It's destroying Tezcatlipoca's city as we speak!" Ohtli eased up his hands. "You couldn't save her?"
Itzli's looked up sharply meeting his gaze as his hand formed a fist. "I wanted to save her! I was forced to choose between her and my god! I hate myself for taking to long to choose!" He turned looking at Xena who was being wrapped in bandages. "I saved her lover now help her before she dies! She has to live!" He turned pulling off the back pack from the golden horse's saddle as he hit the floor hard on his knees. "I have the Blood Jaguar's skull in this bag, the window in to her soul. Her vessel of life and death and I need her lover to be alive so I can seek the truth of the eternal myth!" He raised the bag higher. "Do you understand me now do you understand why I have to do everything possible to save Xena!?"
His words were suddenly cut off as he watched the un-dead horse go still its head hit the floor hard as the red light faded from its eyes. The other golden horse moved over to it trying to nudge it with its nose only to see that it wouldn't move anymore. The golden animal tried again as it tapped a hoof in frustration. The golden horse suddenly pulled back as the flesh and muscle slowly designated away from the un-dead horses body. It turned in to dust which blew away with the wind. All that was left was a skeleton lying on the stone floor, which was motionless to the world. Itzli stood up slowly watching as the golden horse stepped back lowering its head. Gabrielle's soul had finally crossed over fully in to the hummingbird heaven and her servant animal which had been bound to her by blood was no longer needed. It had now crossed back over in to the realms of the dead its self. He breathed in putting his hand on his face as he looked at the Aztec bag in his hand he felt his grip on it tighten.
8
Xochiquetzal looked up slightly from her position on the hill overlooking her ex husband's burning city. She had left with out saying a word to Xochipilli she hadn't been able to he hadn't returned from his own city. She had wanted so badly to say sorry for putting him through her pain, which had been hard for him. He was right she was becoming just like her ex husband, she just hadn't seen it until now. She hadn't wanted to see it, it made her feel better when she told herself that she wasn't that way. You could only lie to yourself for so long before you became disillusioned and believed that, that was the truth and she had gone that far.
She'd also put her head guard through her turmoil and any one who had angered her after the death of her lover. The Blood Jaguar had reached out to her knowing that suffering, only to be turned away. She hated herself now that she could see it all replaying with crystal clarity. The woman had begged for her help only to feel the burn of her inner anger. A cold anger which wasn't really directed at her, but she'd become an easy target for because of her past wrongs. The root of her anger was her loss and her despair, which she was still having problems dealing with even now. She just couldn't let go and it was tearing her apart deep in side, she lowered her gaze she still didn't want to let go even now.
She had no idea were to start or how to ease this heart wrenching pain. The only thing she did know was that venting and hurting others because of it was wrong, no matter how she looked at it. She wouldn't be able to ease this pain in a day and she may never ease it but as far as letting others suffer because of it that was a stage in her life that would end from this day forwards. The Blood Jaguar had never been able to do this successfully because she was bound her lover. To be lost from her meant that she could do nothing but implode emotionally. Maybe she was bound Chantico in the same way and maybe she was destined for the same fate, if so that wasn't a bad thing. She shook her head trying to clear her head of as she looked at the huge city which was in chaos.
Her gaze wandered over the fires burned in the distance. It was so sad to witness, so many innocent lives being destroyed what ever had happened here she could see that it was now beyond her ex husbands control. The hummingbird heaven had been opened fully, she could see more than ten silver and gold tunnels which were high above the city lighting it up the night sky. She looked down feeling the sadness suddenly overwhelm her all over again. The Blood Jaguar was dead she could no longer feel her presence which she'd felt through the serpent tattoo it had vanished just before she'd gotten here. Her brother was right she had sacrificed herself for her lover and given up her soul up to the sun god.
She could now see those green eyes pleading with her all over again, why did that woman have to born with the same coloured eyes as her dead lover! It was cruel fate that she had, had to see the light die in two pairs of green eyes. She'd had no power to stop her ex husband killing her lover and now she'd sent another person to her death because she had been selfish and cruel. She was a god and other gods would say that she was being weak for being miserable for a mortal's death. Yet through out her existence her warriors had fought for her because they loved her. She had never forced any of them to their deaths or put any of her people at risk just to gain ground. Yet she had sent this one warrior to her death knowing full well what would happen, she might as well have killed her herself.
The worst part was the Blood Jaguar's total expectance of her fate she'd seen it in her eyes when she refused to help her. She looked down sadly only to look up sharply as fire blasted up higher from one of the building in the distance. She felt herself tense as looked up at the main temple something was out of place, there was medium size river of hot lava running down its steps. She blinked shaking his head she was seeing things, she turned slightly only to turn back, no she wasn't seeing things that was a river of lava. There was only goddess capable of turning stone in to hot lava or bringing it up from the earth. She was insane to think, insane to believe but at this moment in time she couldn't stop the irresistible pull which was calling her.
It felt like a surreal dream as she began to walk forward, only to watch in utter shock as part of the street in the centre of the city was suddenly smashed apart as turret of lava explode upwards showering everything around it. She could feel her breathing quickening her heart almost stopped as she sensed the presence. She was going out of her mind! This wasn't real it was a dream but she couldn't stop herself the pull was getting harder. She was terrified of going in to her ex husband city she still had nightmares about how much she suffered under his rule. Yet she wanted to and her eyes had now caught sight of something even more perplexing there were two figures fighting on the main street bellow. She breathed in closing her eyes she had to get closer she had to see. She could no longer stop the urge which had now taken over her senses. Maybe in this moment she had finally cracked and lost her mind yet she no longer cared ether way. She was desperate to see which god was fighting her husband bellow.
8
Chantico roared in anger as her gaze met Tezcatlipoca's, the Jaguar god snarled as a huge fireball came out his hand separating into blazing white fire comets which sped towards her. She raised her hand watching as a river of lava smashed through the floor. She moved it upwards shielding her as the comet spires slammed in to it spraying their flames outwards causing more houses to catch fire. Tezcatlipoca breathed in deeply his city was in ruins! His beautifully city which he'd spent so long trying to build was gone, destroyed in the blink of an eye. His godly pendent had been taken along with his smashed collar and now he had to deal with this bitch! He hated Chantico for being alive and breathing his air!
He thought he'd killed her that day she had been at his feet a bleeding wreck! He'd watched as both her upper and lower canines had extended beyond her mouth as her need for blood had become desperate before he'd smashed his final blow in to her bleeding and crippled body. How had she survived? She must have, had to drain from animals just to stay alive! He felt the white and blue fire blast out his hand only to see it hit her moving lava river which was getting larger and was tearing up the houses on the main street. He pulled back hearing his roar of anger hit the air, how was she so strong? She wasn't nearly this strong when they had battled before. Was it her pure hated guiding her?
He smiled evilly as he met her gaze. "How did you survive, did you have to drink from vermin?" Chantico eyed him in disgust as she raised the lava river higher. "I will not tell you about how I suffered because of you!" She brought the river crashing down only to see him avoided it as he leaped high in the air before coming down hard close by. She slowly raised the river again snarling aloud. "I'd rather kill you." Tezcatlipoca felt a cruel smile form on his lips. "I'm impressed perhaps I underestimated you. It's seems you do have a spine after all." He moved a step closer. "Perhaps you've come to realize that the only way you can get anywhere in life is by force."
He raised his clawed hand slowly. "To survive you have to be cruel and unkind and impose your power on others. In that you are becoming like me, you now know what it is to desire, lust and hate others." Chantico narrowed her gaze. "We are nothing alike! You're an evil bastard and I'm nothing like you! I never will be!" Tezcatlipoca laughed slightly but it was a cold laugh. "We are the same! You know what it is to hate and to want to kill!" He put a clawed hand on his chest. "You are so close to becoming a true god and not the pathetic lesser that you were." He eased out his clawed hand. "Join me and help me conquer Mexica, you can have Xochiquetzal, I won't get in your way."
Chantico snarled again as she met his gaze she eyed his hand how dare he try this with her! Did he think she was that stupid that she'd fall for this ploy? He was only using this pathetic ploy, because he had no where left to run to! The thought that he'd hurt Xochiquetzal by beating her and forcing her in to his bed make her inside twist with rage. She looked up meeting his gaze again. "How many times did you force Xochiquetzal in to your bed against her will?" She was probably enraging herself further by asking him this but she was past the point of caring. Tezcatlipoca eyed her in confusion what was her game? Why would she ask that? He looked up slightly perhaps now was the right time to use her weakness against her.
He laughed again meeting her hatful gaze. "As you know it's impossible to make Xochiquetzal sire your offspring when she doesn't like you. I tried many times only to be met with failure. One of the reasons I stole her from you was so I could have a godly child. She can control birth so well though even her own, it's sickening. She preferred her mortal toys to me she'd make love to men and woman behind my back. I killed them though when I found them with her and I punished her." He smiled slightly seeing the pain in her eyes. "She can't have thought much of you after you died, since she was screwing these mortal toys. You have to ask if she ever loved you at all." His smile widened. "I doubt she would want you back now though being as ugly and scarred as you are." He watched as she lowered her gaze as his the words hit home painfully.
He raised his clawed hand. "So you see we both failed, so do you really see any reason to carry on this battle with me? Even if you win this battle she won't want you back. You're not as beautiful as you were and she enjoys her mortal toys more, so ether way you loose." Chantico laughed slightly but it was chilling laugh even to her own ears and it seemed echo for far too long. Her emotions felt torn and pulled she had not wanted to hear any of that, she hated the thought that he'd forced himself up on Xochiquetzal. She hated knowing now that she had slept with mortals, not that she blamed the mortals or her lover she blamed the situation. She had hid herself away and in her absence Xochiquetzal had reached out to others.
Loneliness and hurt brewed up desperate feelings and fleeting desires, she knew that all to well. She'd felt them so much and had contemplated grabbing mortals just for a release of her painful needs. Then she'd turned away realizing that no one wanted to see a scared body and face or a blind eye that stared in to nothingness, it would repulse them. That part at least was truth even a goddess as beautiful as Xochiquetzal wouldn't want her now. Why waste your time with broken goods when you can have another unscarred god or goddess who was pleasant to look at? None of this changed the fact that Tezcatlipoca had stolen her lover from her and that in itself would not change the face of this battle.
She was still going to kill him she no longer cared what would come after this battle even if it meant she would be rejected by Xochiquetzal. She had lost everything anyway so loosing what she wanted most was just the final step in her downfall. No she'd have her revenge for these wounds, just to please her self. She snarled aloud as she met his gaze. "You forget that I've always punished those who steal from me." She moved closer watching as the floor under feet started to crack as lava came out. "I won't rest until your at my feet begging for your miserable life!" Tezcatlipoca looked up in disgust as he closed his fist. "So be it!"
He moved forward only to stop in an instant he could see her raising her lava wall higher. He watched in horror as the floor behind him started to sink. It wasn't the lava it was something else far darker and far more brutal. He watched as the floor was suddenly ripped apart as a set of huge crocodile jaws filled teeth came in to view. Huge clawed hands smashed the floor apart as the scaled back rose up, the lava ran of it scales causing no damage at all. The huge glowing yellow eyes pieced the darkness. The huge body was covered by thick multi coloured fish scales which gleamed with orange, gold and silver. All were thicker than any armour plating and impossible to piece even by gods.
The huge lower body smashed through the floor a huge fish fin ran down the length of the body right down to its tale. At every joint a mouth could be seen full of long thin razor sharp teeth. A huge torn fish fin adorned the tail end which smashed apart the houses as the monstrous beast came closer, as his jaws slowly opened wider. It was Cipactli the godly earth monster whose inner body had been used to create the lands of Mexica by the gods. He had fought this godly monster once before and it had lost him his foot, which had taken eons to heal. He found himself panicking as the realization hit home of why he was here. He'd kept the dying monster gods skin and bones under his city as a trophy.
He had encased him in solid rock so it could never be freed and he'd kept him alive as punishment for his foot being torn off. He had come to forget that he had been here. He had forgotten that he had built his city over the top of his body to show of his greatness to the other gods who had always been jealous of his victory over this godly monster. The lava that Chantico was creating had melted away Cipactli's prison and now with the last of its dying breathes the monster god had surfaced once more to attack him. He watched as the jaws widened even more as the monster turned with lighting speed running at him. Its torn scales moved revealing the bones underneath and the still beating heart which had kept him alive all this time.
He didn't get a chance to move as the huge jaws grabbed hold of his upper legs before he could react. He could do nothing but scream in agony as he was swung back and forth as the teeth dug in to his leg deeper causing his blood to flow. Cipactli carried on thrashing his body around like a rag doll smashing his face and neck against the houses and road causing him agonizing pain. Chantico watched as the earth monster smashed Tezcatlipoca's body against anything and everything. She had no idea that Cipactli's dying body had been imprisoned under the city. She felt her evil laugh start it was long loud and clear and filled with enjoyment, could she have asked for anything better than this?
Cipactli was doing half the work for her in his last dying breaths and it would allow her to finish the bastard off. She carried on laughing oh how beautiful it was to watch this display. Tezcatlipoca was no more than a rag doll to Cipactli whose power had once shaped the world during the early reign of the first gods, but who was now dying his long over due death. Tezcatlipoca didn't get a chance to react as his body was pulled deeper in to the jaws which bit down crushed the bones in both his legs. His scream of agony filled the air he could hear Chantico's evil laugher filling the air. He felt the pain as Cipactli's head suddenly smashed in to the ground as his heart stopped beating, his body went limp as the yellow glowing light faded from his eyes and death took hold.
He didn't think as he grabbed at the jaws prying at them in panic, he pulled one of leg forward only to cry out as the teeth tore through his flesh ripping it clean off. He could feel blood running down from the horrific wounds on his upper legs which were trapped by the huge jaws. He breathed in trying to take the agonizing pain. He looked up as terror took over as he could see Chantico moving closer to him, the river of lava followed her as it tore up the street. He eased out his clawed hand realizing the full horror of it all. He was sitting target he tried to move again only to feel intense agony as he managed to get part of his leg free causing more flesh to tear and more blood to run free.
He slowly met her good green eye as she came to stop close to him, he could see the evil smile travelling across his lips. He knew the expression it was the one when your prey was trapped and you could do anything to them you pleased. Chantico smiled as she put a hand on the dead monster jaws looking at Tezcatlipoca seeing the fear in his cat like gaze. "It's an interesting sensation isn't it?" She laughed slightly. "Everything hurts and you're trapped." She watched as he struggled harder only to tear more of his own flesh away causing blood to run down his fury body. "Every time you move you want to die, just so the pain will end." She leaned closer. "Hurts even more when you realize that there is no way out…"
She ran her fingers over the fish like scales. "I thank your trapped prisoner Cipactli for doing part of my job for me." She leaned closer grabbing hold of his ear pulling his head back savagely as she felt the rage start to boil up in the pit of her stomach. She leaned closer watching as his hands clawed at the scales desperately. "I'm going to make you suffer before you die Tezcatlipoca and I won't make it quick for you. Every moment you breathe it will be a slow and painful agony, just like the agony you put me though…."
End of part 49
Silvermoonlight.
