Zipacna knew from the beginning he was jumping form the frying pan into the fire when he stepped into his brother's castle that night, and he still wasn't certain if what he was doing was prudent, considering that the last time he and Xibalba saw each other it was not on the best of circumstances. He had not unleashed his hounds on him, thankfully, but knowing him he was certain Xibalba would not be so tolerant this time. But he had to do this, he had hidden for too long, it was time he faced the consequences of his actions for once in his life. Emilio was reluctant to let him in, but technically the caiman-headed god had just walked in without even asking if he could, which would further anger Xibalba.

As soon as he stepped into his brother's bedchambers and the younger deity glared at him with disbelief and all the hate he could muster, Zipacna knew this was not such a good idea. But he would not run away this time. He was startled at the aspect his brother had; his moustache and beard, so carefully trimmed and combed, were a mess of tangles, his eyes were bloodshot from so much crying, and his bathrobe concealed his torso and chest, but he could catch a glimpse of a discarded wedding ring hanging on a small chain around Xibalba's neck. He contained the urge to make a comment about how terrible he looked, now was not the time for jokes.

"Hermanito, I need to talk to you."

Xibalba could not believe Zipacna had the nerve to come into his castle just like that, without even asking if he could come in. "Wow… at least you decided something. What makes you think I am willing to hear your serenades?" he spat the words with cruel sarcasm.

Zipacna didn't back off this time, however. "There's something you need to know."

"What? That you are sorry or…? Oh, wait, I guess we already had this discussion."

"It's not about that this time, it's-"

"About?!" he recalled something. "And who gave you permission to come in in the first place?!"

"Emilio did."

Emilio gulped. He knew this topic was very touchy for his master, and he would not be happy to learn he had let Zipacna in after being ordered strictly not to. His fears became reality when Xibalba shot him an accusing glare, and motioned him with his head to leave the room, which he did in a hurry.

"Besides, you seem to forget who always won in hide-and-seek."

"I'll have to remind him the rules, I guess…" Xibalba muttered under his breath, before turning his attention back to his brother. "And for your information, I remember perfectly that you always won because you cheated!"

Zipacna realized they were deviating from the topic. "Forget about it! I need you to listen!"

"Why should I?" Xibalba crossed his arms matter-of-factly. "Give me a reason of why I should listen to you."

Zipacna narrowed his eyes. "Because I'm your older brother, in case you forgot! You're supposed to listen to what I say!"

The younger god chuckled darkly. "I guess you forgot in whose realm you are and to who you are talking to. And if you are my older brother then why didn't you act like one when I needed it?" he smirked in satisfaction when Zipacna's features showed guilt and hesitance, but then he frowned again and clenched his fists. "Older brothers should protect their younger siblings! Not just run away! I would have protected and cared for my sibling if I had the chance to become an older brother myself!" Xibalba's expression turned both sour and regretful. "You had the chance… I didn't…."

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"What I'm talking about?! WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?!"

By then, Xibalba was yelling and cornering his older brother against the wall. Zipacna tried not to back off, but Xibalba's tone was sending shivers down his spine; he even saw the tears gathering in his eyes.

"THE FACT THAT IF MAMÁ HADN'T DIED WE WOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER BROTHER OR SISTER!" Xibalba took a few shaky breaths to calm himself down. "So that you know…"

Zipacna stared at him in utter shock and disbelief. What was he talking about?! Did it mean…? Their mother had been enceinte when she died?! Did that have something to do with her death? This new piece of information not only reopened an old wound he had so desperately attempted to keep closed, but also created a new one; knowing there would have been three of them… He had the feeling Akrinok was behind it all. "Wha…" his eyes were swelling up with tears as well. "How did you…?"

Xibalba turned away. "I've been there…" this time he spoke with regret, but it sounded like he didn't want to say it at all. "I saw… It was horrible."

"But how…?"

"The room, Zipacna. Mother's room… Remember the music box?" Zipacna nodded slowly. "When the song plays, somehow it projects memories into the listener…" he stiffened. "Memories of him…"

"Look, I know I haven't a good brother, but-"

The dark god flared out his wings impatiently, snapping. "But what?!"

"You don't know how it's like to live in exile!"

"If I can remember well, you were the one who ran away. And exile from who?"

Zipacna could not take it anymore. He roared at the top of his lungs, the tears rolling down his cheeks. "FROM AKRINOK!"

Xibalba responded with a yell of his own. "WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S WORSE?! LIVING IN EXILE OR SUFFERING TORTURES AND ABUSES EVERY SINGLE DAY?! YOU WERE TOO AFRAID TO FACE HIM AND YOU DID THIS WITH YOUR OWN HAND, WHILE YOU DIDN'T EVEN CARE ABOUT ME!"

"YOU THINK I WAS HAPPY TO LEAVE YOU BEHIND?! YOU THINK I LEFT YOU OUT OF SHEER PLEASURE?! I SPENT CENTURIES DROWNING IN MY OWN GUILT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP YOU!"

"AND YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING?!"

Finally, both Xibalba and Zipacna had to recover their breaths, but the two of them were weeping, one of anger and the other of regret. As soon as he could talk again, Xibalba turned his back on his older brother, rubbing his forearms. "If this is why you came… If you just came to reopen old wounds then leave." He talked as if this was the end of the conversation.

It was not.

"No, Xibalba." Zipacna growled, standing his ground. "I'm not walking away from you this time."

"What makes you think I need your help now? I learned to go on without you a long time ago."

"I'm not letting you ruin your life because of your damn insecurity! You know why?! Because despite everything I still love you!"

Xibalba refused to look at him, becoming defensive almost instantly. "What insecurity?! And please spare me from all that drama, I'm simply not in the mood!"

"What about La Muerte?! She told me what you did to her! That woman is suffering very much without you!"

At the mention of his wife Xibalba instantly turned around with a shocked expression, but Zipacna could also caught unto some hope in his gaze.

"You… You know about La Muerte?" She was suffering without him? She actually missed him? He couldn't believe it, and yet he was happy that she did, it meant she still loved him. "She told you…?"

"I went to see her. Did you know Sol is planning on finding her a new husband?"

Xibalba scoffed. "Tell me something new. Good luck with that."

"Don't act like you don't care, because I know you better than you yourself."

"I doubt it. And if Sol wants to find her a new husband, he will have to make me divorce first."

"What makes you think he won't?" Zipacna inquired with crossed arms and a scolding look. "After your little act even the kings are on his side now."

"Wonder why… Sol won't make me divorce… He can offer me anything in the world…" Xibalba dug his claws into the sleeves of his bathrobe. "I will never sign those papers. And I guess La Muerte is so ashamed of having given herself over to me that she did not inform her daddy about out little 'wedding night', otherwise Sol would know that a divorce is impossible now."

"Stop condemning La Muerte, would you?! Would you leave her and your child helpless?!"

Xibalba abruptly turned his head to look at his brother, his eyes wide in shock and his pupils shrunk. Had he heard right? Child? What did he…? Fear and mortification started to bubble up in his chest, no matter how much he tried to deny it. It couldn't be…!

No…

Nononono! He couldn't have…!

"What?" Was all he left his mouth.

"La Muerte is carrying your child."

Almost instantly, Xibalba entered the denial stage. "What are you talking about?! Do you hear yourself?! If you have come here to mock me-!"

That was the last straw.

Zipacna could not bear it anymore.

Xibalba didn't have time to react as suddenly his brother pushed him against the wall and grabbed him by the shoulders, glaring at him with a great fury but overall frustration. Xibalba was frozen. He didn't know how to react, Zipacna had never acted like this; his eyes, usually a warm playful green, had turned an icy cold blue, and there was some kind of mist emanating from them. He had seen this look before. Zipacna had developed it when he had tried to defend him from Akrinok numerous times. Zipacna glared at his brother, tears streaming down his cheeks once more. "ARE YOU LISTENING TO YOURSELF?! LA MUERTE IS PREGNANT! SHE IS FIVE WEEKS PREGNANT! AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIX THINGS UP YOU KEEP WALLOWING IN YOUR DAMN PRIDE! DO YOU WANT THAT CHILD TO GROW WITHOUT HIS FATHER?! DO YOU WANT LA MUERTE TO BE CAST OUT FOR OF HAVING A CHILD ON HER OWN?! IS THAT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HER?!"

Xibalba wanted to retort, how dare he question his love for La Muerte?! He wouldn't tolerate anyone daring to say that he didn't care for her. But his throat was dry from all the yelling, and he didn't know what to say anyway. For a few moments there was an awkward silence between the two gods, until Zipacna released his shoulders and stepped back, wiping the tears from his cheeks, but his gaze remaining hard. After a while, Xibalba finally whispered.

"A child…" the night he had spent with La Muerte had bore fruit. He had planted his seed on her, it could only mean one thing, but he was afraid to even think of it. "Z-Zipacna… if what you say is true…"

Zipacna nodded. "You are going to be a father."

A father… He was going to be a father. He was going to have a baby, they were going to have a baby… A little one, their little one, to make everything better. The idea of fatherhood no longer seemed so unappealing to him, his heart soared in joy when he thought of a little one growing inside the womb of the woman he loved…

The woman he had…

Xibalba gasped in realization.

Gods. What had he done?!

"What should I do…?" he whispered, before turning to his brother in regret. "Z-Zipacna, I can't leave her alone! I must do something! I have to tell her that I'm sorry!"

"Go talk to her, then."

"I…" Xibalba looked down, regret washing over his features as he recalled the horrible parting words he told her. She didn't want anything to do with him anymore. "I can't, she won't listen to me…"

"Since when has that stopped you? There are lots of goddesses who never wanted to listen to you, and you never gave up." Zipacna said, calmly this time. "And for goodness sake be sincere this time!"

If only it were so easy. "She is not just a simple goddess, Zipacna…" she was a wonderful, amazing woman who gave herself her place and did not forgive this kind of humiliations this easily. "Talking to her might be the best solution, but…" he sighed. "Only in the best of circumstances. How could I talk to her, and when?"

For the first time in the while conversation, Zipacna grinned as he searched in his cloak and took out a red envelope adorned with golden trimmings. "Her birthday. Sol is organizing a masquerade to celebrate, he has invited many potential suitors for her."

Xibalba stared at the envelope, probably an invitation. "As if, in case you forgot if I show my face around there he will put all his guards on me."

Zipacna rolled his eyes. "It's a 'masquerade, remember? You are supposed to wear a disguise."

"Right, that way she won't recognize me, but even if I manage to see her how will I talk to her?"

"You're a ladies man. You will figure it out." He smirked. "Weren't you always boasting that no woman could resist your charms?"

"Shut up." Xibalba looked away with a frown. But he couldn't help but let out a chuckle; he hadn't wanted to admit it, but he had missed his brother's sense of humor.

"So you still have some sense of humor in you…"

"Yeah… I guess…"

Xibalba looked down at the wedding band in his finger sadly. He wouldn't deny it, he was afraid to face his beloved La Muerte after what happened, after what he said to her, those horrible words he regretted ever speaking. She did not deserve such cruelty, he feared of her rejection and her hurting words like knives that would surely leave her mouth; but for her, and his child, he was willing to do anything. Speaking of which…

He glanced at Zipacna. It had been so long ever since they spoke, ever since they were in the same room. He couldn't help it, he couldn't deny it any longer. Maybe La Muerte had been right all this time, maybe it was time that he let go of his resentment. And what a better way to do so? Picking up his staff from where he last left it, he started to head towards the door. "Zipacna, follow me."

He felt a shiver down his spine. "To where?"

"The garden. You must have missed that place. You can catch a fly in your mouth open like that."

The caiman headed god chuckled sadly. "I didn't mean to that time…"

Zipacna didn't need a second thought on that, he instantly followed after his younger sibling. He did miss that place, he had not seen it in millennia. There was an awkward silence as they made their way down the dark hallways, they didn't know what to say after so much time. It was like they forgot how to be brothers. When they passed by the west hall, Xibalba decided to break the silence. "So, Zipacna… what were you doing? You know… all this time…"

"Wandering around… There's not much to do down there, you know…"

"Still ain't got that girl to stop you from being so childish and goofy?"

"Nah. My nature is freedom, I doubt I'll ever settle down.

Xibalba chuckled. "Aww, how sentimental, but you do have your crush. Admit it." He had heard from the mouths of other gods from the pantheon that his brother had been head over heels with Xochiquétzal for a long time.

"Well, I admit, I do have a bit of interest in Xochiquétzal…"

"Oh yeah… Definitely just a bit." Xibalba grinned lightly. "Come on, hermano, say it."

Zipacna groaned. "Fine, I like Xochiquétzal. Too bad she doesn't think the same."

"Do something about it! You think La Muerte liked me at first?" Xibalba's smile faltered a bit. "Well, now she hates me, but anyway… You know what I mean."

"At least you now have something that will bond you forever…"

"Not in the way I wanted…" They came upon the door leading to the garden, and he opened it with the usual chanting. "Well, here we are." As they walked up the staircase, Zipacna spoke again.

"She will forgive you… Eventually."

"I hope so."

When they walked into the garden, Zipacna couldn't help but gasp in reminiscence and nostalgia. It was just like he remembered, the blooming flowers, the jacaranda tree whose petals floated down to the ground, the sunlight, everything. He saw the bench where he and Xibalba used to sit with their mother, and she hummed a lullaby for them. His eyes were swelling up with tears. "It's as beautiful as the last time…"

Xibalba sighed, nodding. "This place… brings memories…" he thought for a moment. His brother had the right to know. "Zipacna, now it's my turn to tell you something."

"What is it?"

Xibalba led him to the bench and sat down, his wings shifting and his feathers bristling in discomfort. "You know I said that I've been in mamá's room and a memory not my own came back to me."

Zipacna sat down next to him. "You did."

"I saw something. Something that involves us both… and mother."

"What do you mean?"

"I…" Xibalba closed his eyes, frowning. "I saw the way mamá died…"

Zipacna's eyelids opened wide, and his pupils shrunk. "What…?"

"Akrinok killed her because she tried to protect us. She wanted to leave but father hit her."

"Leave?"

"With us… Run from Akrinok, he did not only kill mamá…" Xibalba dug his claws into the wood of the bench, his eyes moistening. "He also killed our sibling."

"She was…?" he already knew the answer, but he was afraid to hear it or even say it.

"Yes. That's why I…" Xibalba finally allowed the tears to roll down his cheeks, recalling La Muerte's words about bottling things up. "I never had the chance to be an older brother…"

Zipacna stared at his brother with a sympathetic expression. "I'm so sorry, hermanito…" He wasn't certain if it was the right thing to do right now, but he placed a hand on Xibalba's shoulder, offering him a comforting smile. "I bet you would have been a wonderful brother…"

Xibalba returned the gesture. "Yeah… I had someone to show me what it means to be that…" he looked away. "Although sometimes that someone messes things up."

"You don't have to rub it in my face, you know… I know I messed up pretty bad…"

"Hmm… Yeah, you did." The dark god sighed. "But… thank you for coming now, and for telling me those things."

"I just couldn't let you ruin your happiness like that…"

"You know… You can come from time to time if you want, I don't mind…"

Zipacna's expression brightened. "Does that mean you forgive me?"

Xibalba remained silent for a few minutes, rubbing his forearms and shifting in his seat. He didn't want to lie to him. "No." he felt terrible when he saw Zipacna's expression grow hurt. "I cannot… not just yet. I need time… But…" he glanced at him with a small smile. "That doesn't mean I'm not taking it into consideration."

Besides, he needed help with his disguise.


Four days after her last talk with Zipacna passed.

The anticipated day arrived. La Muerte's birthday was here, and the masquerade in honor of such event was tonight. All the Remembered did their very best that day, they wanted to give their beloved Princess the best birthday, they worked hard to make everything perfect and to Sol's verbatim. The ballroom's marble floor was thoroughly polished so that one could see his reflection perfectly, the tables were laid and the best utensils and silverware accommodated meticulously. The cooks were busy all day, preparing all main courses of food, the large cake was being decorated in La Muerte's favorite colors, and a great red carpet was spread out at the main hall for the upcoming guests. Only for that night, the castle would be closed for the citizens, since all who would come were gods and deities, and Sol wanted to avoid his subjects the displeasure of dealing with the haughtiest ones regarding humans.

The guests started arriving at 6 P.M. Most of them arrived in golden, silver or fine carriages pulled by majestic steeds of all shapes and colors, all forming a line as the gods and goddesses (mostly former) descended from their vehicles, dressed in their best clothing, and received by some of the servants that would serve tonight. It wasn't long before the ballroom and the dining hall inside the castle were overwhelmed with deities from far and wide, but all belonging to the Aztec pantheon. Lords Quetzalcóatl and Tezcatlipoca were seated at the honor guest table, were the cumpleañera would sit with her family. But first, she'd receive congratulations and gifts from her guests.

Meanwhile, La Muerte and Aimé were in the former's bedchambers, Aimé was just finishing the last touches to her sister's hair, adorned with sparkles and combed in a curlier way than usual. La festejada had to be the most beautiful in that room, though actually there were few who could even hold a candle to her beauty.

"There, all done." Aimé chirped, and stood up holding her sister's hands. "Isn't it exciting? All the women down there are going to be jealous when they see you!"

La Muerte wanted to smile, she really would like to, but she was still thinking about her encounter with Zipacna. Aimé noticed.

"What is it, Muertita? Aren't you happy?"

"It's not that, Amy, it's just…" La Muerte stood up, still holding her sister's hands, but her gaze was cast downwards.

"You're still worried about what Zipacna told you?"

"I just… He said Xibalba had a reason to act like he did, but he is his brother, he could be just defending him… But at the same time, something tells me he was being sincere."

"Maybe he is right…"

La Muerte stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her formal gala dress had been thoroughly worked on by the best seamstresses in the Land of the Remembered, of red and champagne colors, adorned with ribbons, marigolds and tiny sparkling crystals. It was truly a masterpiece, she was so grateful… Thankfully she was still in the early stage of the pregnancy, and her abdomen wouldn't bulge out for another two months, but she was still worried about the fainting spells, if she fainted in the middle of the party her father would surely have her checked by a doctor, and he'd find out…

"You think Zipacna noticed?" Aimé asked in worry.

"I hope not, he would tell Xibalba, there's no doubt about it…"

"Well, let's not think about it any longer." Aimé smiled at her sister. "Let's go! It'll do you good to enjoy yourself a bit."

La Muerte smiled at her little sister. "I bet it will."

The two sisters put on their adorned masks before they left the bedchambers, and walked down the hall hand-in-hand. Though La Muerte agreed that she needed to distract herself from her thoughts and memories of Xibalba, she didn't agree with this way of doing it. She did not need to be swooned by every single god in the pantheon; all she wanted right now was a friend. Not a poor fool trying to win her heart; besides, she knew most of those 'suitors' were only after her wealth and status in the pantheon, and they still thought she was still a virgin. During their visits to Aztlan she had often been told by almost everyone how pretty and beautiful she was. Her mother was, so naturally she would be. But adding her sizeable inheritance and dowery as future Queen to the mix, it made them exaggerate a bit in their attempts. If it wasn't riches, then her beauty, and if not all that, then her title, that called all of these suitors her father had invited. King Sol had been very picky in which available gods he invited; he picked the ones he thought would provide his daughter with love, comfort and overall a stable relationship in which she could be happy.

But none of them was Xibalba.

La Muerte quickly forced the thought out of her head as they finally neared the doors leading into the throne room, where all the guests were, and the announcement was given so the princesses would make their entrance into the crowded throne room.

Sharing a reassuring look with Aimé, both goddesses lifted up their skirts and gracefully strode through as the doors were pulled back by some attendants.

A roar of clapping thundered through the spacious room where about one hundred guests were scattered, their identities concealed partly by their masks and disguises. La Muerte recognized a few of them even with the masks, but she recognized the Kings, along with Tlaloc, Tohil, Huitzilopochtli, Toci and Itzamna, the most important ones in the pantheon. She also caught a flurry of ribbons and colour that belonged to some of the invited Goddesses, among them Tlaloc's daughters and other minor or mayor deities. La Muerte immediately put on her smiling mask to hide her uncertainty, amicably waving her hand at Xochiquétzal, and receiving one in return.

King Sol was waiting for both his daughters in front of the thrones, wearing a smile on his lips, he was happy with the stock of men he had been able to find suitable for his daughter. He must have been certain he had found at least one that would be to her liking. But La Muerte still wasn't sure if she'd even accept their asks for a dance, as long as she was married she wouldn't accept another. And the marriage had been consummated; there could be no divorce now.

As tradition, La Muerte slowly made her way to her mother's unoccupied throne, while Aimé went to the other throne located on the other side, decorated with her colors and customized to her liking. King Sol's throne was in the middle of the two, and it was much more intricate and majestic.

Now the introductions would come. La Muerte actually knew most of these gods, but it was tradition, so she was stuck hearing them being introduced by a servant of the pantheon (a minor deity), then receive the gifts they had brought. All suitors who had come in hopes of earning her favor for a future marriage proposal once she was free of her current spouse lined up dutifully, being introduced one by one by name and title, then pranced out the steps to the thrones and took large gaudy bows to impress her.

The first to pass was Huitzilopochtli from the honor guests, god of war, one of the Lords of the Sky. A noble god who lived for battle, something which La Muerte disliked, she was not one to enjoy violence. La Muerte stood from the throne and walked forward for the introductions. Smiling, the god of war gently took her hand and his lips pressed a small kiss to the back of it.

"I wish you a happy birthday, milady. I hope you will like the gift I have brought for you. My most gentle horse, bred in my very stables, son of my prized stallion. A gift for the most beautiful princess in all the realms." Huitzilopochtli blustered as a few servants brought a beautiful palomino Andalusian around, pulling it into the room before leading it back into the hall and likely to the stables.

La Muerte didn't have the heart to tell him she already had a good horse, a white mare bred by Lady Epona, mistress of Horses, she figured it would bruise his pride to be overshadowed not only by a goddess, but by a foreign goddess. Instead, she smiled politely. "Thank you very much, milord. I shall take good care of him."

The god beamed brightly before descending the stairs, maybe he thought he had a point in his favor. Sol apparently had a similar thought, as he smiled hopefully at his daughter. The next several names were pronounced, and each suitor brought another gift for La Muerte. The most tasteful wines, exotic fresh spices, small or big pets brought from other parts of the world, shawls or dresses made form the best silk and of the brightest colors, and exquisite jewels of all the colors of the world. All eligible bachelors went on like this, minor and mayor deities, gods and spirits; La Muerte curtsied and kept on her kind smile, allowed them to kiss her hand and received their gifts politely.

But she was not attracted romantically to any of them.


Outside, the servants who received the arriving guests were about to head inside when they heard the sound of hoof steps approaching. They immediately readied themselves to open the door of another carriage, but much to their surprise the new arrival did not come on a carriage like all the others, he rode on a beautiful Friesian, but his identity was concealed both with his mask and the hood of his cloak, he led the with a firm, confident hand, and the animal had a very graceful canter. The mysterious figure clad in black pulled the reins when he was in front of the staircase leading to the doors, and jumped off his steed gracefully.

The servants could not see his features nor his face. The stranger handed them over the invitation, so he must be invited, maybe he had just arrived a bit late due to some unfortunate circumstance, so they granted him entry as one of them led his horse to the stables. The mysterious figure walked up the steps to the castle, his cloak flowing behind him.