As she made her way into the courtyard to try and take a breath of fresh air(if she could call this air that smelt of ash fresh at all), she heard organ playing from within the castle, once again the tune it played made her skin crawl and gut her soul with sadness, it always sounded like Xibalba expressed all his sorrow and pain through his playing, and she could tell it was his favorite pastime.
The courtyard was, lie the rest of the castle and realm, gray and dark with no signs of life, other than the tall, withered tree with chalky gray bark whose branches spread out like clawed hands reaching out to catch whatever came too close. There was a think layer of snow that covered the stone path and the rest of the garden, while more ash and snow fell from the sky and accumulated in the branches of the tree. A great obsidian wall surrounded the whole courtyard, though there were stone paths that led to other sections of it she had yet to see. Trembling from the cold, she made her way towards the nearby bench on the side of the yard and removed the snow away with a wave of her hand, and sat down. Her red dress and sombrero contrasted strongly with the dark colors of her surroundings, and the candles adorning them were just a dim light in a consuming darkness, though they did help keep her warm.
A caw caught her attention, and she turned her head around to see where it had come from. Another caw, and she looked towards the upper branches of the tree, where she spotted an unnaturally large crow perched, staring down at her with green eyes that seemed to glow. Its feathers seemed worn and ragged, almost like Xibalba's wings, but she knew this animal couldn't be him, the music was still playing, which meant the dark god still had to be playing. Out of sudden the crow stretched its wings and glided down the tree to land at her feet, looking up at her curiously. La Muerte's love for animals got the better of her, and she smiled down at the bird.
"Hello there, amiguito." She spoke gently, leaning down to stare at it. "How did you get here?" In fact, how come there was a crow in this inhospitable land? She had not seen any animals other than Xibalba's, or maybe they lived in another part of the Land of the Forgotten.
The crow cawed at her and flew towards one of the paths, stopping in mid-air at the mouth of the stone arc above it and looking back at the goddess. Realizing the animal wanted her to follow it, she stood up from her seat and lifted the skirt of her dress to go after it. The crow led her through the labyrinth, though it was wary not to get out of her sight; La Muerte was a bit puzzled by the bird's behavior, it was like it knew its way around here. Finally they came to the center of the labyrinth, to a circular opening with a fountain of frozen water in the middle. The crow landed on top of it, and glanced down at her. Then, the unthinkable happened.
The bird spoke. "So, you're La Muerte?"
La Muerte's eyes widened and her pupils shrunk as she stepped back in fright, looking up at the dark raven in shock and fright. The bird noticed. "Oh, my apologies. You do not know who I am in this silly disguise."
The crow flew down to land on the ground, and as soon as its talons touched the snow a green flame that grew larger and larger surrounded it. The fire grew until it was taller than her, and when it extinguished La Muerte couldn't contain a gasp. Before her lay a dark, bulky yet slim god with the head of a crocodile, and human torso, but he had crow talons as legs, and a long feathery tail. Most of his body was covered in dark feathers, and his long bat ears had a feathery look to them as well, there was also a crest of crowning feathers of his head that were currently raised curiously. His wings, unlike the rest of his body, were completely naked without a single feather, like bats. The only clothing he wore was a long dark brown cloak that touched the floor, obsidian bracers on his forearms and forelegs, and a deep purple loincloth with symbols she couldn't recognize. His eyes were moderate harlequin, with dark grayish oval around two black slits.
La Muerte was frozen in fear at the being in front of her, in fear he was going to do something to her, but something gave her the feeling he had no bad intentions with her. He was examining her upside-down, before he gave her a toothy grin. "You sure are a beautiful woman, My Lady."
It took La Muerte a great effort to reply. "T-Thank you…"
"Oh, sorry! Where are my manners? I'm Lord Zipacna," the caiman-headed god bowed politely at her. "Ruler of the Land of the Cursed."
At the revelation of his identity, La Muerte felt her heart skip a beat and her eyes widened a bit more in shock. She had heard about that land, it was where humans who committed grave faults against the gods were punished for all eternity, but no one knew other than that about it, since its ruler was somewhat of a recluse, which made her wonder what she was doing here, in a foreign realm.
"I'm La Muerte," she replied with a curtsy, calmly this time upon realizing that, indeed, Zipacna had no foul intentions.
"Ah, yes, I've heard about you. You're the eldest daughter of King Sol and Queen Esperanza, right?"
La Muerte felt a pang of sadness at the mention of her mother. "Yes."
"I never thought Xibalba would ever find himself a wife." Zipacna chuckled. "He's not precisely… friendly with others, he doesn't even like to be around women."
"You… know my husband?"
"Know him? He's my brother."
For the third time, La Muerte's eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat as she stared at Zipacna. This was Xibalba's mysterious brother? IT was not that she found it so hard to believe, but he looked nothing like Xibalba, there was not even a bit of resemblance between them in any way. Zipacna noticed the look she was giving him. "You don't believe me, do you?"
"It's not that! It's just that…" the goddess bit her lip, not knowing how to express it without offending him. "Well…"
"He has not mentioned me, has me?"
"When I tried to ask him, he refused to tell me anything."
"I see…" Zipacna drooped his ears and crown feathers and looked down sadly, and muttered under his breath. "So he's still mad at me…" he lifted his gaze to meet La Muerte's. "How has he been treating you?"
"Quite fairly, I must say. I never thought he'd treat me nicely, we do have our arguments every now and then but overall he's been quite the gentleman."
"He's not that bad, cariño. It's just he's suffered so much…" he sat down in the edge of the fountain, his voice giving off sorrow and regret.
La Muerte sat down next to him. "Regina did mention that he wasn't always the way he is now…"
"Ah, Regina, sometimes she tells the wrong people what she shouldn't… Don't take me wrong, it's just that my brother has never liked to talk about the past. It brings him painful memories, so he chose to bury it away."
"You sound like you love him very much."
"Why wouldn't I? He's my hermanito."
"Why are you estranged now?"
Zipacna sighed sadly. "It's a long story, cariño."
"I wouldn't mind to hear it, I haven't got much to do, anyway."
After a few seconds, Zipacna rubbed his arms and a small smile spread across his feathery maw. "We weren't always like this, you know. We were very close when we were kids…"
Children laughter echoed through the dark realm as a flock of crows and a ball of tar chased after one another, avoiding the sharp edges and stalactites scattered randomly and of different sizes. After a good while, they materialized on top of a cliff, revealing their appearances. A caiman-headed eight-year-old godchild covered in feathers, and another of five years old with the appearance of a winged dark skeleton. The older godling laughed hysterically, but the younger one pouted and crossed his arms.
"No fair!" Xibalba grumbled.
"Come on, hermanito! Don't be a sore loser!" Zipacna replied tauntingly, patting his little brother's head.
"I touched the tip of your tail!"
"It doesn't count, you were supposed to touch me with your hand, not only with your finger."
"Aww!"
Zipacna grinned and pulled his little brother closer into a bear hug. "Don't worry, I'll let you win the next time, hermanito."
Xibalba looked up at his brother with teary eyes. "You promise?"
"I promise."
The two brothers played for a few more hours, before the Zipacna realized it was getting late. It was not that they liked to be in the castle, especially when their father was home, but what other choice did they have.
"It's time to go back, Xibalba."
"No…" the younger godchild trembled at the thought. "What if Father is home?"
"Don't worry, I won't let him do anything to you. Besides, you don't want mamá to worry, do you?"
At the mention of his mother, Xibalba's looks softened. "No, I don't want her to worry."
"Then come on, let's go before Father finds out we're missing."
Zipacna picked his little brother up and put him on his back, then he extended his wings and took flight, flying back to the castle as fast as he could. Soon they arrived, and he landed at the castle gates, then he placed Xibalba back on the ground and took a peek through the door to make sure their father wasn't around. When he was certain the coast was clear, he motioned his little brother to follow him, the both of them made their way to their mother's chamber. But as the doors came into view, Zipacna noticed something was going on. Emilio, Roberto and various other servants were gathered outside with downtrodden expressions, almost sorrowful expressions. Regina was sobbing and drying her eyes with a napkin. Zipacna instantly knew something bad had happened, but Xibalba didn't figure it out.
"Regina?" the young godchild asked. "Why are you crying?"
"Where's mamá?" Zipacna asked with a feeling of dread inside his chest, fearing the answer.
None of the lizards looked at them. The looks of anguish in their faces just intensified.
"Boys… oh, boys…" Regina sobbed.
"Where's mami?!" Xibalba tried to go into the room, but Lorenzo stopped him by the waist.
"Don't go in there, you shouldn't see what you will find." He spoke. That's when Xibalba knew something was wrong. Lorenzo almost never spoke unless it was something serious.
"What happened?!" Zipacna grew as desperate as his little brother.
"Boys, listen…" Emilio didn't know what to say. "You have to be strong for wat I'm going to tell you. Your mother…"
"Did something happen to her?!"
Emilio closed his eyes shut, not bearing to see the two boys' shocked and heartbroken expressions when the next words left his lips.
La Muerte took her hand to her lips as her eyes swelled up with tears. She could see old pain and sorrow in Zipacna's eyes, and he wrapped his wings around his body, trying his best not to cry at the memory. "I'm so sorry…" she whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I overcame it a long while ago. But Xibalba never did, he doesn't like speaking about Mom at all, he won't admit it but it brings him hurtful memories, but I think I mentioned it before."
"What happened after that?"
"We were left alone with Father. He was not the best father, he was cruel not only to others, he was cruel to us, even though we were his flesh and blood. He was even cruel to Mom, sincerely I wouldn't be surprised if she died out of a broken heart. His punishments were very cruel; he punished us if we didn't obey, if we went against him, or if he simply was on a bad mood."
"I can't believe it…"
"One day, I just couldn't take it anymore…"
It had been months since she died, but to them it felt like yesterday. The two brothers were brokenhearted, and they were as close than ever before, but their father's abuses just got worse and worse. Zipacna decided he could not stand this kind of life. He was free-spirited, and he felt like a bird in a cage, besides he was not getting the crown anyway. Their father had already decided on who would be his successor, for some reason he found Zipacna repulsive, something that the young god could never understand. The point was he had chosen Xibalba as his successor, and so Zipacna had little to do here.
He wanted to see the world, and be free.
As he opened his window and stretched his wings, preparing to take off, he heard footsteps behind him. Zipacna perked up his ears in alarm as he glanced back into the room, fearing his father had caught him, but it was not him.
"Zippy?" Xibalba was staring at him with teary eyes, clutching a stuffed snake in his arms. "Where are you going?"
What could he say? He was too young, he wouldn't understand. A part of him wanted to take Xibalba with him, but he didn't want him to live a runaway's life. His eyes glistened with tears as he looked down at his little brother one last time.
"I'm sorry, hermanito…"
With that, he took off and flew away from the castle, away from the place that caused him so much pain, and he tried not to look back as his little brother called out to him in despair, begging him to take him along.
La Muerte remained silent for the following minutes, hanging unto the caiman-headed god's every word. There was a look of regret in his face that made her heart churn in pity for him.
"After I left, I travelled to lots of Lands, I even visited other countries. I missed Xibalba, but I was too afraid to return and face Father, so I didn't dare go back. When I turned eighteen I was given the custody over the Land of the Cursed, and so I didn't have time to go and take a look at how things were doing."
"You abandoned him?" Still, no matter how sorry she felt for him, she couldn't believe he had abandoned his younger brother and left him alone, just after their mother passed, and with such a cruel father. As an elder sister herself, she couldn't even imagine it.
"After a few centuries, I found out father had died, and Xibalba had ascended to the throne. I thought maybe I could go and see him, so we could start over…" he chuckled bitterly. "I was foolish to think he'd take me back so easily…"
"What happened between you?"
"I hadn't seen him in so much time, naturally I was excited. So excited I didn't stop to think if he would feel the same…"
It had been so long ever since he had been in these halls. The castle hadn't changed that much, it seemed Xibalba hadn't bothered to redecorate in all these years. Emilio and the others were surprised, and happy to see him after all these centuries, though they were nervous as to how their Lord would react. Emilio told him Xibalba would meet him in the throne room.
For the first time in centuries, Zipacna felt his stomach churning nervously, and he was thinking on what he would say, but overall he was worried on how his brother would receive him. The last time they had seen each other was a very sad occasion, and he couldn't help worrying about it.
"Zipacna." A baritone voice echoed in the throne room. A stranger, yet familiar voice.
Gulping internally, Zipacna turned around to meet the owned of the voice, and he found his younger brother in the doorway. Zipacna couldn't believe how much Xibalba had changed from that shy, lonely little boy. Aside from growing in size, he now wore a conquistador chest armor over a regal black cloak, black gloves adorned with teal flames, with one hand he was clutching unto his snake staff, the other hidden behind his back. Xibalba had grown two curly moustaches and a matching beard, colored white, making him look older than he actually was, his wings had grown strong and he tucked them close to his body. A silver crown with swirly horns lay on top of his head, signaling his status as King of the Land of the Forgotten. He stood tall and regal, his back was straight and his expression was stern.
When had this happened? When had Xibalba gone through this transformation? When had he grown from a smiling little boy to the strong, regal god he had in in front of him? What had happened?
"Hey, Xibalba." Zipacna smiled at his younger brother. "How have you been doing-?"
"What do you want?" Xibalba asked him harshly, his grip on his staff tightening and his snow-white eyebrows furrowing deeply, his eyes showing nothing but contempt. His voice was sharp as a broken glass, and as cold as winter.
"I just…" he felt intimidated by his tone of voice. "I just wanted to see if you were okay."
"Oh, so now you care? Don't you think it's a little too late for that?"
"Look, I know you must still be angry at me, but-"
"Angry?" Xibalba chuckled darkly. "If I were angry, I would have unleashed my hounds on you the moment you set a foot here, but I did not." He narrowed his eyes at his older brother. "But it doesn't change anything. If you have nothing more to tell me, leave."
The hope and delight Zipacna felt instantly evaporated at those words. "B-But…"
"But what?" his tone hardened, as well as his features.
"Xibalba, I came here to tell you that maybe we could start over… Now that Father is dead, we could make up for lost time!"
If glares could kill, Zipacna would be dead now. Xibalba gave him a hateful, bitter glare that sent reminded Zipacna of his father's glares.
"That's all?" Xibalba spat, his teeth turning into pointy fangs, his eyes reflecting old pain even though he tried not to show it. "You abandon me to Father's abuse, you never bother to see if I was alright, and then you come out of nowhere saying you want me to receive you back like nothing happened? No, Zipacna, you had your chance, and you blew it." He turned his back on his brother and started walking away, like he was done with the conversation.
"Hermanito-!"
"Don't call me that!" Xibalba snapped, his wings flaring open with bristled feathers, his teeth gone sharp once more, and his skull pupils rotated forward. When he calmed down, he turned his gaze away, refusing to look at his brother any longer. "Now leave. I do not want to see you again. Go waste your time somewhere else, I don't care, just leave and do not come back."
Before Zipacna could say anything, Xibalba was already gone.
"He had changed." Zipacna was looking down in full regret, his eyes glistening. "The little brother I knew was gone, I almost didn't recognize him. I've tried everything to make up with him, but he keeps shutting me out no matter what I try."
La Muerte felt her eyes swelling up with tears at the sad story, but in a way she understood why Xibalba was so angry at his brother. "Why did you bring me here?"
"Well, when I heard he had gotten married I didn't actually believe it at first. But I knew he wouldn't tell me anything, so I came to see if it was true."
"You want me to talk to him, do you?"
"You don't have to if you don't want to. In fact, I think it'll be best if you don't mention him I was here or he'll be mad at me. He doesn't want to see my picture, let alone hear my name being spoken in front of him."
"Is that why he doesn't like to talk about his family?"
Suddenly, Zipacna raised his ears in alarm, and he changed back into a crow to fly away, leaving La Muerte confused as to why he had left out of sudden, until she noticed the organ had stopped playing and she heard footsteps. A few seconds later, Xibalba emerged from the mouth of the labyrinth with a grim look on his face. "Who were you talking to, my dear?"
La Muerte felt her heart throb inside her chest, struggling to think on what to tell him, and finally she spoke whatever first came into her mind. "I was talking to myself." She responded quickly, she would have sweated if it weren't so cold out here.
Xibalba narrowed his eyes and looked like he didn't buy it, but he changed the conversation. "How did you find your way here?"
"I got lost, and somehow I walked into this place."
"Well, we should go back inside. It's getting late, and besides dinner is ready."
Internally shivering at his tone of voice, La Muerte nevertheless accepted his hand as he led her away out of the labyrinth, though she could still feel Zipacna's eyes bore unto her. She turned her head around, and the last thing she saw of him was his crow form staring at them with sorrowful eyes, before he flew away.
The dining hall was quiet for once, except for the sound of utensils cutting meat or touching the plates, since neither La Muerte nor Xibalba had said anything during the whole course. She was thinking on whether she should try and talk to Xibalba about her encounter with Zipacna or not, but if Zipacna had been so serious about the whole thing, plus the fact Xibalba always got on the defensive wherever she tried to ask him about his family, it was another point against mentioning it to him. But She had also been deeply moved by Zipacna's story, and thought maybe she could help a bit in helping the brothers reconcile. Sometimes her kind nature got the better of her, though not everyone appreciated it.
Finally she decided it was worth the risk, but it didn't mean she wasn't nervous about it. "Xibalba?"
"Hm?" the dark god inquired, munching on his leg of venison, then taking a sip of wine.
"May I ask you something?"
Finally he gulped the food in his mouth, and spoke clearly this time. "What is it?"
Once again, she became nervous at the thought of how he'd react, but nevertheless she went ahead. "About your brother…"
As expected, as soon as she mentioned it he stiffened, and his feathers bristled. "I'd rather not talk about it."
"Why not? It's nothing bad."
"Nothing bad, you say. You don't know what he did to me."
"I do know…" She thought to herself. That's what she wanted to tell him, but she'd have to tell him Zipacna had come to see her, and the least thing she wanted was to get him into trouble. "Then tell me."
"It's in the past, and besides it's none of your business."
"Excuse me? In case you've forgotten, we're married." La Muerte crossed her arms and frowned lightly.
"It doesn't give you right to inquire about my past."
"Look, I understand if it's painful for you, but-"
"I'm fine." Xibalba was losing his patience, judging on how his nails were digging unto the table, his teeth grew sharp and his feathers bristled.
"It's not healthy to bottle things up! Maybe you'd feel better if you unburdened yourself-"
"ENOUGH!"
La Muerte nearly jumped in fright when out of sudden Xibalba stood abruptly from his chair with outstretched wings, sharp teeth and the ire of a demon, banging his hands on the table abruptly. He was glaring right through her, nearly blowing off steam, but soon he calmed down and his anger cooled down into an icy expression. "I've lost my appetite." With that, he left La Muerte alone in the dining hall, not bothering to look back at her nor wish her a good night. La Muerte sighed and shook her head sadly, it seemed it was still painful for him, but it would take lots of efforts and a long while to get him to open up to her.
Though she wasn't sure if the wounds of his heart would heal so easily.
