THE RISING SUN WHICH CAN NO LONGER BE SEEN
Chantico didn't think as she roared bringing down her fist smashing it in to the other god's face. She watched as his head dress was thrown off as blood flew through his jaws. She grabbed his head again bringing it forward smashing it in to Cipactli's scaled upper jaw which caused more blood to flow as the scales edges cut like razors. She smiled pulling his head back only to smash it in to the scaled jaws again she eased up her other hand watching as the lava river rose higher. "Unlike me your not fire and lava proof, so this should be very entertaining." She watched as the river smashed in to the ground as it moved forward till it was close to her feet. "How's about we see if you like being flayed."
She twitched her fingers watching as the lava shot up wrapping its self thickly around the other gods back and shoulders clinging tightly as it started to get hotter. She took a step back hearing his roar of pain as it broke through the night air. She raised her fingers watching as the red liquid became hotter as it began to really burn. She looked at the blood all over his fur his blood loss would keep his healing from working as it should. She moved her good eye something she knew all to well from experience. It was the reason most of her body was covered by his claws marks which she'd never been able to heal, because at the time her blood loss had just been too great.
She could smell his flesh burning along with his fur as he roared in agony, what a pleasing sound. She didn't think as she brought down her fist smashing it in to his face again with all her might hearing his other canine tooth crack. She pulled her hand away looking at the blood on her knuckles even if this was the last blood in Mexica she wouldn't drink it. Why would she need to, she was still coming off the high of drinking Huitzilopochtli's blood. She twitched her fingers ignoring his painful roars as they echoed across the city. She could take her time what was the point in rushing this? By the time she was done, she was going to have half his body skinned and some of it torn down to the bone. She was most looking forward to ripping his eye from its socket, and crushing it underfoot. Would that not be a fitting punishment for the loss of her sight in her eye? She ignored his screaming as she moved the lava further over his body to his arms she could smell his flesh and fur as it burnt it off and then started to burn his muscle underneath.
"Chantico!?"
Chantico felt every muscle in her body stiffen, all at once which caused the lava flow to free itself from the Jaguar god's body it hit the floor all around her. She'd heard that soft voice she knew she had, but she didn't want to believe it. She looked down it wasn't real it was her vivid imagination playing tricks on her. She turned smashing her fist in to Tezcatlipoca's face full force. "You bastard!" Tezcatlipoca felt the blood as it poured down his snout he was in escalating pain. His skin was on fire and most of his fur had been burnt away on his back and upper arms. He felt his head hit the scaled jaws as he tried to breathe he couldn't take anymore of this he was going to die. He knew it now and he was terrified on every level.
Chantico would not give him mercy he could see it in face she was enjoying this on every level. He closed his eyes trying to focus he could feel his very life force draining away as he lost even more blood. Chantico grabbed the jaguar god's ear harshly. "Are you stupid enough to play mind games with me when your about to die!"
"Is that really you Chantico?"
Chantico felt every muscle freeze again she could sense the presence. She felt herself turning slowly to meet the ferity goddess shocked violet gaze. Xochiquetzal blinked in shock as the one good green eye stared back at her filled with surprise, the other was half closed and stared forward its pupil unmoving. She swallowed as she walked forward not caring for the hot lava under her feet, it didn't hurt. It never had, she was the only goddess who could walk through Chantico's fire and lava with it even harming her skin. She moved closer she could feel her heart as it started to beat faster in her chest as she slowly brought her hand upwards towards the taller goddess's face.
Chantico couldn't move she was frozen to the spot she couldn't will her body to move as Xochiquetzal came slowly towards her, walking through her lava like it was no more than water. She was dreaming, wasn't she? This couldn't be happening, why would it? Why would this beautiful goddess be here coming towards her right now? She could feel her emotions starting to truly race, her mind was telling her to say something but she couldn't will her body to make it happen. Had she lost her mind in her own rage, was she creating this illusion from her lava because she wanted it so badly? No she wasn't doing this she couldn't copy Xochiquetzal presence correctly and she had tried so many times on dark nights to try and ease her pain.
She could smell the oils in her hair and the feel her intense presence which was blasting through her like a raging inferno, making every nerve in her body fire on impulse. She could feel the fire in her stomach which was travelling lower, she breathed out heavily trying to focus her self. It was Xochiquetzal only Xochiquetzal could make her body act this way. She was finding it difficult to breath as the slender hand came towards her face. She couldn't break away from the violet gaze it was drawing her in mesmerizing her. The woman was so close to her, she was almost up against her and still she couldn't move. She felt the fingers as they moved along her face in a gentle motion.
She couldn't stop the hot tears as they started to run down her face, the rush of emotions was just too much for her to handle. She felt her head as it was pulled forward to meet the other woman's lips. It was such a soft kiss so feeling, it filled her senses and all she could do was respond. Her lip's wanting more with each passing second as she closed her eyes. Xochiquetzal could feel Chantico responding to her with a desperate wanting. It was her with out a doubt she could feel the heat from the boiling lava under her feet. She could hear her heart racing in her chest as she pulled away from the other woman's lips she slowly ran her hands through the long dark hair as their eyes met again.
Chantico looked down swallowing trying hard to think of what to say, she struggled with her next words. "You're here…your really here." Xochiquetzal breathed in deeply meeting her good eye she didn't care for the scars, or even that the other eye couldn't see. All she cared about was seeing this face again. "Yes I'm here…I missed you so much." Chantico swallowed she suddenly felt the stinging pain as the other goddess slapped her. It wasn't a hard slap but it was enough to bring her to her senses. Xochiquetzal couldn't stop the tears as they flowed painfully down her face. "Why did you leave me, why didn't you return to me? I was all alone! I thought you were dead I cried for you every night!"
Chantico blinked it felt like her heart was about to explode in chest she couldn't stop her anger as it boiled up again. "Look at me! Look at my face! Does looking at scared flesh please you, would you really want the scared body of a defeated goddess, lying against your own!?" Xochiquetzal couldn't stop herself as she grabbed both sides of her face. "Stop it! Please stop it!" She pulled her face closer in harsh motion feeling the tears as they stated to spill down her cheeks. "I love you! I've always loved you I don't care about yours scars! I can't stand being with out you! Don't put me through this…I need you." Chantico breathed in sharply looking in to the smaller woman's tear stained eyes for a lie or anything else that told her that these words weren't true.
She swallowed knowing full well that this beautiful goddess didn't lie she had never lied to her when they had been together. She could hear the Blood Jaguar's words like a whisper in the wind which hit her hard, she found herself blinking. If I loved you it wouldn't matter to me, how you looked. She looked down feeling herself weaken inside. Now she understood what the blonde woman meant, she couldn't stop her tears as they started again she didn't have any fight left in her. All she wanted to do was sink in to the other woman's embrace and cry. Xochiquetzal looked up staring at her ex husband whose blood now soaked the floor. He was very close to death and had passed out due to the pain.
She looked up slowly. "What are you doing? Why have you done this?" Chantico looked down slowly trying to control her tears. "I was doing this for…you…I was doing it to win your love." Xochiquetzal pulled back in shock. "To win my love…how is this winning my love!? You're killing him! You don't kill people or other gods!" Chantico raised her hands as she breathed in deeply. "I wanted revenge, for my scars I felt that I was a worthless god, because I failed you. I thought that if I defeated him in battle you would want me, despite my scars." Xochiquetzal looked up feeling everything fit in to place, she could see the desperation in the other goddess's eyes and feel the tension in her body.
She had felt worthless after the loss of her city and hadn't coped well her scars. She'd hidden herself away feeling that she could only get her worth back by defeating her ex husband. Chantico had always been proud, and her pride had stopped her returning home. She'd become to afraid to show her face until she had done what she thought was right. She looked up slightly putting her arms around her she could feel the lava sweeping away under her feet returning to the earth as the last of the other woman's rage disappeared and her fight finally left her. "You never needed to win my love I just want you with me. I know you're proud but you never had to prove anything to me ether. Don't spill blood for me, not like this it's not right and you know it."
She raised her hand watching as the Cipactli jaws opened causing her ex husband to hit the floor close by. She moved her fingers partly healing all his wounds, to stop the bleeding. She watched as Chantico turned slightly watching but said nothing as she turned back to look at her. "I know in your heart that you know this is the right thing to do. He will live with his wounds and always know that you defeated him." She took hold of her arm moving her away from her ex husband. "He'll never come near us again, he has no city, no army and it will take him centuries to gain back his power." She moved her further away. "Please come back to my keep, I need you." Chantico looked around her before nodding she had no will of her own she just wanted to led by the other goddess. She didn't care that she had no control, she was also tired. She wanted to close her eyes and sleep and worry about things some other time when her mind was more settled. She also wanted to hold this woman again so desperately and kiss her, anything just to remember how much she loved her. She closed her eyes teleporting with her not caring as the first rays of dawn flooded there light over the destroyed city whose smoke bellowed upwards in to the blue sky.
8
Xena opened one eye slowly only to close it again due to the pain. She didn't feel well at all, every muscle in her body was on fire with intense pain. Her head was also throbbing and she felt light headed. She tried to move only to realise that her damaged arm was being held up somehow. She opened both eyes watching as everything started to blur. She was lying on her back, she twitched slightly her armour and leathers had all been removed with the exception of her underwear. She could feel a fur skin underneath her and one on top of her which was keeping her warm. She felt a wet cloth being wiped across her face as someone tried to clean the dried blood off her, while someone else was wrapping her left leg with a bandage.
She had no idea where she was and that made her feel uneasy and afraid. She was badly wounded and she was at someone else's mercy and she couldn't fight back or stop them from doing things to her. Her mind was hazy and all she could remember was Itzli putting her in Argos saddle then getting on him self after which she'd passed out. She looked up hearing voices around her but all she could see were blurred shapes moving. "She's awake." She winced the sound was hurting her ears. She looked seeing another shadow move. "You haven't given her enough sedative! She should be out cold!" The other voice came back again only louder. "I've given her two doses! I give her anymore it might hurt her!"
Another voice cut in suddenly. "She's like the Blood Jaguar she can't seem to handle the drug." The deeper voice to her right came again. "You need to knock her out again…she stays awake she'll die." The other shadow moved slightly. "I knock her out she might not ever wake up! She's lucky to be alive as it is." Xena blinked still not being able to focus she didn't want to be alive right now everything hurt like Tartarus. She struggled as she tried to talk. "Gabrielle…." One of the blurred shadows turned to look at her. "What did she just say? I don't understand what she said." The third shape moved again near her leg. "I don't understand, she's talking in Greek."
Xena tensed up as her anger suddenly boiled through as she tried to rise only to be quickly pushed down by her shoulder. "Gabrielle! Get off of me you bastards!" She struggled harder screaming in anger only to hear foot steps as two other hands grabbed her trying to hold her down. The first voice came again. "What the hell, how is it she can still struggle like this!?" Xena felt another person grab both her legs her emotions suddenly raced as she considered what who was holding her was trying to do. She didn't think as she pulled her good leg free. She slammed it up wards hearing it hit the person directly in the face, causing them to cry out in pain. She felt another person grab her legs trying to push them down the voice near her legs came again. "Gabrielle? Wait wasn't that the Blood Jaguar's real name?"
"Be quite all off you!"
Xena turned slightly recognising Itzli's voice she felt a two hand on the side of her face. Everything was suddenly blocked out by someone looking down at her. "You have to calm down Xena. You're not in the enemy's hands your safe you're in Xochiquetzal's keep. We can't stitch and bandage your wounds correctly if you struggle, do you understand?" Xena felt her gaze dart as she stopped struggling she felt the other hands let her go. It was Itzli who was leaning over her, she was positive of it. She felt his hand move through her hair, which she didn't really like but she couldn't do anything about it. His voice hit the air again but it was much softer this time. "Does anything hurt inside you, in your stomach or your chest?"
Xena blinked looking up slightly. "No nothing hurts inside I just can't see properly my sights blurred." Itzli looked down at the Warrior Princess who was looking past him. He eyed the priests and the two other warriors who were helping the other up, who had been kicked in the face. The poor man was holding his jaw trying to take the pain if anything that had to hurt it had been one hard kick. He paused wondering how to pose his next question, he looked down meeting her light blue gaze. "Did anyone force themselves up on you in Tezcatlipoca's keep Xena…did they hurt you in that way at all?" Xena looked at the blurred shape again, feeling a slight surprise over the question. She lowered her gaze slightly maybe she shouldn't be surprised that it was being asked.
One way to hurt your enemy was to force yourself up them as a means to hurt them both emotionally and physically. She looked up slowly. "No, no one did anything like that to me. I'd have killed them if they'd tried to touch me!" Itzli breathed out deeply even if her reply was thick with anger it didn't matter, the fact that no one had hurt her like that made him feel better. He slowly took the sleeping sedative from the priests hand close by as he raised her head gently. "I need you to drink this Xena it'll take away the pain and put you back to sleep." Xena jerked slightly as she felt the cap of the water skin meet her lips. "My arm, what's going to happen to my arm?" her voice sounded weak even to her own ears.
Itzli looked up at the arm which had been propped up using a thin rope which was wrapped around her bandages to keep it up right. The rope ends were tied to a statue to keep it steady he could already see blood leaking through the binding in places. The truth was if Xochipilli didn't get here soon they'd have no choice but to amputate it, so it didn't get infected and kill her. He looked down again bringing the skin to her lips. "Your arm is going to be fine, Xochipilli will return soon and he will heal you just like he healed Gabrielle." He met her gaze as she looked in his direction. "You have to trust me Xena." Xena looked up nervously, she slowly took a long drink from the water skin only to feel the tiredness kick in almost instantly after swallowing it. Her head was lowered gently on to a pillow which hadn't been there before Itzli's voice came again as she felt her eyes start to close. "That's it Xena go back to sleep everything is going to be fine, I'll make it all better I promise you. Or so help me I'll die at your side trying." She breathed in hearing Ohtli's voice hit the air as she drifted in to darkness. "I finally understand why the Blood Jaguar was so infatuated with her…."
8
Meadows so many meadows all filled with multicoloured flowers stretching as far as the eye can see. You could fly through them yet you'd never reach the end of these meadows. There is no blue sky and no sun but why would you care about ether when all you can see is beautiful steaming silver and gold light which fills this place lighting up every flower around you? I fly through them with my wings, their tiny wings but then I'm small even compared to flowers, which look so big in my eyes. I keep on moving putting my long thin beak in to the flowers so I can lap up the nectar, which isn't gold, its red. It tastes wonderful it's sweeter than any honey or sugar. May be I'm dreaming, if I am dreaming then its wonderful dream.
Yet in the back of my mind I feel that something's missing, why is it I can't remember? May be I should lick up more nectar from another flower, why do I want food does it help me concentrate? What is this place? Why is it I don't remember coming here? Have I always been here? May be I live here, but then why doesn't it feel right? Maybe I've always been here its just I don't remember, I feel myself land on a small branch were I can see a pool of silver and gold water which shimmers. I move forward carefully I'm so small. Or maybe that's wrong may be the world is huge and I'm small I should write that down…but I don't know how. How do you write when you only have claws and feathers?
I look in to the silver pool finally seeing my rejection I'm a tiny little bird so small even to everything around me. I have a long small black beak which I can flick my tongue out of. I have a glowing green iris in the middle of pitch black eye, and I can't see my pupil the light from my iris is burning outwards like smoke. I have green feathers on my head and body but my wings and tail feathers are a mix of reds, yellows and oranges. I'm a Berylline Hummingbird, it odd how I remember that yet I don't remember anything else. It confuses me, there's something else that's starting to get to me. Where in Tartarus am I? Wait what is Tartarus? Why is nothing I'm saying making any sense it's scaring me I don't know if it's right that it should scare me.
There something that is frightening me now, I feel out of sorts and I feel lonely in this place, despite that it provides me with everything. I have flowers to drink from branches to sleep on. Yet I can't help but feel that something is missing it's not part of this world, its part of me. Why do I feel so unfulfilled despite all the wonders I have in front of me? How could someone have all they want and yet have no desire for any off it? Now there's a truly terrifying question which has sprung to mind I can feel it shaking my very soul to the core. I can feel the tiny heart in my chest racing with fear as I struggle with the answer. Every part of my being tells me that I should know the answer, yet I don't. Here I am looking in to a pool at a rejection I don't remember and all I can ask myself is…who am I and what is my name?
End of part 50
Silvermoonlight
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