"Get your… fiery hands off Medianoche!" Juarez snapped at the fire creatures, almost banging on the bars of the caged wagon he and the rest of the lizards had been put in.
"Juarez, they are not listening, just give it up." Roberto said, annoyed.
"Lord Xibalba loved that horse! You think I'll let Itzlacol put his hands on him?!"
For the first time in months (again), Lorenzo spoke. "Considering we're caged, helpless and he has blackmailed Lady La Muerte into submission with not only our lives, but also that of her family's, yes."
"Thanks, captain obvious!" Gael snapped, though in truth he was terrified. All of them were. They had no idea of where Itzlacol was taking them, or if he would keep his word of keeping them alive until La Muerte married him, or if he had other plans in mind.
Medianoche didn't give up, however. He fought and reared against the halter, stomping his hooves on one of the creatures, making it disappear in a burst of flames. Despite it, the creatures continued to pull the rope of the halter, fearing their master's wrath if they didn't did as told.
"As they say, if you want something done right, do it yourself."
Medianoche's ears went back when he saw Itzlacol approaching. The fire creatures stepped back in fear as the Fire god passed by them and went towards the horse, crop held tightly in his hand. He assumed Xibalba had no whips or crops in the stables, and was right, his minions didn't find anything he could use to punish the horse. One of the things he was going to change.
"Looks like I will have to teach you to respect your new master." Itzlacol said, his expression dark.
Medianoche was not intimidated, and stomped his hooves on the ground, neighing loudly, his ears pressed against his head.
"Get away from him!" Juarez yelled, before being pulled back by Lorenzo. "Lorenzo, que diablos?!"
"He'll be okay." Roberto said. "The red head won't be able to break him that easily."
"But I don't think this is something you should see."
The battle started. The fire creatures pulled and held the ropes tightly as Itzlacol stepped forward, avoiding Medianoche's teeth and large hooves, when started whipping him with the crop. Medianoche screamed in pain, but he didn't give up and nearly gave Itzlacol a good kick in the head.
"Maldito animal!" Itzlacol growled, managing to grab some of Medianoche's mane and pulling it roughly. However, this time Medianoche did manage to dig his teeth into Itzlacol's arm, making the god step back in anger, and in a fit of strength released himself from the grip of the fire creatures before galloping off down the bridge, passing by the wagons.
"Go, Medianoche!" Juarez cried. He wasn't sure where the horse would go to, but even though it hurt him, he knew Medianoche would be better off free than in Itzlacol's stables. Xibalba would have known it.
Itzlacol grabbed his bitten hand, glaring at the teeth marks on it, and then at the bridge, where the precious horse's black coat soon disappeared into the dark realm. He glared at the fire creatures. "Don't you imbéciles stand there! Go and bring him back!"
His minions were gone in streams of fire, as well as the caged wagons, just as he walked back towards the castle's doors. He had waited for so long to be finally rid of Xibalba, and now that he was close to claiming that horse, it just had to defy him and get away. No matter, he'd deal with it once they brought it back, it would learn to respect him the good or bad way. Speaking of which, he still had to figure out a way to enter that garden on top of the castle, where Xibalba kept his blue roses. He had tried everything, spells, enchantments, weapons, but that door didn't budge. He had it examined and found it had been carved with ancestral dark magic, and would only open with a very specific incantation. He had various researchers look into dark magic books to see if they could find something, but up to now, the search had been fruitless.
As Itzlacol passed by the west hall, suddenly he felt a dark aura coming from one of the rooms. The fire god followed the source of the aura until he was before a large black door covered in claw marks. He wondered what Xibalba used to keep here that send such an energy that even made him tremble. Maybe it's where he kept the forbidden artifacts? No, it couldn't be, this door was too much easy to open, and Xibalba was no fool. Those marks looked as if they had been carved a long time ago, maybe by a dragon.
Itzlacol reached out to the handle of the door, but as soon as his hand came into contact with it, a horrible pain overcame him and he quickly retreated it; the handle of the door was glowing a hot red, and it cooled down when he stepped back from the door. This didn't seem like something Xibalba would do, rather it seemed it was his brother who cast this spell to keep whatever was in there…
A sudden rise in temperature told him the Ruler of the land of the Cursed (and Forgotten, too) had arrived. Speak of the devil, and judging by the roars coming from the outside.
"WHERE IS THAT BASTARDO?! NO, NO, YOU HAVE NO AUTHORIZATION TO TELL ME TO COME BACK LATER, YOU FLAMIE!"
Great, he had forgotten he'd have to deal with Zipacna. He might obtain the Land of the Remembered with his marriage to La Muerte, but since Xibalba had been dethroned before his death, the Land of the Forgotten was in Zipacna's hands. Itzlacol calmly teleported himself back into the entrance, and no sooner had he placed a foot outside had a punch to the face sent him to the ground. Itzlacol spat blood and snapped his jaw back into place before looking up, and seeing a pissed Zipacna. The caiman-head was glaring down at him with glowing eyes, his sharp teeth bared and his aura emanating a great fury. Epona was behind him, equally glancing at Itzlacol with hate and a twinge of surprise.
Contrary to what some would expect, Zipacna did not yell, instead he hissed. "What are you doing here?"
Itzlacol stood up, wiping the blood off his lips, and replying calmly. "Why, Zipacna, I was merely taking a look around while waiting for my future wife to come out of her-"
"Future wife?" Zipacna spat. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, pardon me! La Muerte and I are getting married."
Both Zipacna and Epona looked at him as if he had lost his mind, before Zipacna spoke again. "What are you saying?! Future wife?!"
"Well, the little baby she's carrying will need a paternal figure, won't he-?"
"A father, not a monster like you!" Zipacna stated, and noted Medianoche's stall was empty. "Where is my brother's horse? Oh, wait, I don't need an answer to that! You tried to steal him, didn't you?!"
Itzlacol's eye twitched at the reminder of his failure. "I thought that without his master, the animal would have perished out of sorrow, so I thought my veterinary could take a look-"
"Don't give us that crap!" Epona hissed. "You merely wanted to take advantage that Xibalba is gone to rob his horse!"
"And now that we're on it, even if what you say about La Muerte is true, you have no authorization to do anything around here!" Zipacna growled. He was irritated that Itzlacol was seemingly paying no attention to him, and was instead getting his dirty stare on Epona's body. Bad moment for her to be wearing a v-cut dress. "I am the ruler of this realm, and you are not welcome here. I give you exactly ten seconds to leave."
"Very well, Lord Zipacna, I will just go fetch La Muerte and-"
"You misunderstand me, Itzlacol. I only meant you to leave. La Muerte is more than welcome to stay here, since she is my brother's wife and the mother of his child…" his voice nearly shook as he mentioned Xibalba, but he managed to keep himself together.
"And my fiancée."
"Too bad. She's in my realm, which means she's under my jurisdiction, and since I have the feeling she won't want to leave with you, I will be more than glad to make you leave."
Itzlacol seemed to consider his options, but much to Zipacna's chagrin, his damn gaze was still on Epona's body. "Okay, Lord Zipacna." The fire god said, shrugging. "I will leave for the time being, on one condition." Epona felt a shiver run down her spine when she realized what Itzlacol's eyes were focused on. "She comes with me."
Neither of them could believe he had the nerve to ask for such a thing, or to even ask for something at all. "Over my dead corpse." Epona hissed.
"Come now, Epona…" Itzlacol said, licking his lips. "You are such a good friend, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you do that for La Muerte?"
"She wouldn't want me to fall for your games."
Surprisingly, Itzlacol's expression turned into a hurt one. "My dear Epona, here I thought we were on better terms? Have you forgotten our times together?"
"What do you mean?" Zipacna hissed, narrowing is eyes.
"Why, Zipacna, you were present, remember? Back when you two stole all of my horses, and Epona got all… cozy with me. In fact, that was the only reason I never asked for your head, Zipacna. I could do nothing against Epona because she belongs to another pantheon, but I could have had you punished…"
Epona frowned. "I just toyed a bit with you, but you're not really worth my time."
"And what about our… experience in your realm?"
"Oh, you mean when you nearly choked me?!"
Itzlacol smirked internally. He saw Zipacna's expression and felt the anger boiling up. If he was right about Epona, her fuse was shorter than Zipacna's, and she was even more attractive when she was angry. "If I didn't know you better, Epona, which I don't, I would say you're mad because I'm going to marry La Muerte instead of you."
Epona scoffed. "I don't know the circumstances, but I'm certain you have her threatened, or worse."
"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't, but I can't help but note a little pinch of… jealously in your voice, my dear Epona. But there's no need to worry, La Muerte is, unfortunately, still carrying that little engender and I cannot truly taste her, and I still have my needs as a man…" he gave her a sickening grin. "It's too bad you're not a virgin anymore…"
Her face red, Epona step away from Zipacna's protective frame and lunged at Itzlacol, but he was expecting that reaction and in a swift movement he caught her, holding her by the waist with one arm, the other pulling her close to him by the chest.
"ITZLACOL; LET HER GO IN THIS INSTANT!" Zipacna was about to rush to help Epona when Itzlacol grabbed her throat.
"Don't you dare, Zipacna." Itzlacol hissed, his hand grabbing Epona's neck. "I can break her neck if I wanted… It would be a pity if I did, though…" he sniffed Epona's hair, feeling overwhelmed by her aroma of hay and wild grass. "You have such a beautiful neck…"
"Get your dirty hands off me!" Epona tried and failed to free herself. His grip on her neck was too tight.
"Doesn't this remind you of that time, my dear…? We could have gone even further, but unfortunately, I was quite in a hurry. That's something we can fix, however, if you would be so kind to come with me."
"I will be dead before I let you put your hands on me."
Zipacna growled. "Itzlacol, do not test my patience!"
Itzlacol knew he was hitting the right spot when he realized Zipacna near his breaking point. "Zipacna, of all people you're the least indicated to tell me anything. How many women did you bed? Fifteen? Twenty? Do you even know if you let them a little 'present' when you discarded them afterwards?"
That was the last straw. Zipacna's eyes started to emanate green mist, and the swirly green marks on his cape started glowing as well. With one stamp of his talon to the ground, it started to tremble, and Epona noticed the lava in the moat stated bubbling more than usual. Both she and Itzlacol jumped when suddenly a massive snake with dark scales and glowing hot orange marks emerged from the lava. The giant reptile towered over the trio of gods, but its gaze was only directed at Itzlacol, who was visibly shaken by the creature. Epona recovered first from the shock and hit Itzlacol's side with her elbow, running a few good steps away from him.
"I will not repeat it, Itzlacol." Zipacna spoke, his voice dark. "I'm not as merciful as Xibalba was. I will unleash the full wrath of this Realm unto you if I have to. Now get out of my sight."
Despite his frustration and the pain on his ribs, deep down Itzlacol was snickering. He had hit Zipacna hard, and even though he would probably ban him from returning here, La Muerte had no other choice but to do as he said as long as the lives of her family and those lizards were in his hands. He smiled smugly. "Be sure to attend our wedding in three days, if you'd please. It would mean very much for La Muerte and I."
Epona wondered if what he meant wasn't the opposite, but he disappeared in a burst of fire before she could ask him anything.
Once he was certain Itzlacol was gone for good, Zipacna's eyes stopped glowing, and the snake dove down back into the lava. "Hijo de…"
"Do you think he was telling the truth?" Epona inquired, rubbing her neck.
"I have to talk to La Muerte."
"Wait, let's not jump to conclusions! Even if it was true, there must be a reason she would! Maybe he's threatened her with something-"
"I'm aware of that. La Muerte wouldn't marry him on her own free will, there's something fishy here."
As they went into the castle, the first thing Zipacna noticed was that Emilio hadn't come to receive him, he didn't see any of the lizards on their way to La Muerte's room. He had a bad feeling inside his gut. When they got to the door, Zipacna found it to be locked when he failed to turn the handle.
"Go away, Itzlacol!" He heard La Muerte's voice from behind.
"La Muerte, it's me and Zipacna." Epona said, knocking gently on the door. They heard footsteps from behind the door, and the door swung open. La Muerte ran out and wrapped her arms around Epona, sobbing uncontrollably. Epona embraced her, telling her it was going to be alright.
"La Muerte, what happened?" Zipacna asked, his voice serious and unplayful for once. "Is what Itzlacol said true…?"
La Muerte stiffened. "Maldito… he gave me no other choice…"
"Where are Regina and the others?" Epona inquired.
"Gone. He took them, he took my father and sister, he took everyone I cared about…"
"I knew there was something fishy, maldita sea!" Zipacna hissed. Then again, it was no surprise Itzlacol had resorted to this. He simply had to have what he wanted. "Let me guess, he said he'd do something to them if you didn't marry him, am I right?"
La Muerte couldn't contain a sob. "What am I going to do…? I don't want to do this, but what if… I don't doubt he will hurt them. He might even do something to my baby…"
"Well, I will not allow him to put a foot here." Zipacna said. "He won't lay a hand on you or my nephew as long as I'm alive and breathing."
They accompanied La Muerte back to the room, and due to Regina's absence Epona herself had to go down to the kitchen and prepare some tea for La Muerte. Meanwhile, Zipacna stayed with his sister-in-law, making sure she was comfortable and covering her over with the duvet. It took her a while and a warm cup of Epona's tea for her to calm down, and fall asleep.
"What are we going to do?" Epona sighed sadly, watching as La Muerte turned in the bed. "We can't let Itzlacol get away with it!"
"But to accuse him to the Kings we have to take proof. We could see the Book of Life, but knowing Itzlacol he wouldn't have done this without making sure there would be no way to prove it."
"You think he did something to the Book?"
"Like I said, there's no guarantee, but he didn't get to where he is without learning a few tricks, most of them underhanded."
"Itzlacol said the wedding is in three days. Think we could find Sol, Aimé and the others before that happens?"
"We have to try. However, if I'm right and the Book of Life for some reason cannot show where he took them, we'll need another way to find them asap."
"Asap?"
"As Soon As Possible. I've been hearing it quite often among spirits these days, they learned it from humans."
Epona would have chuckled if the circumstances were different.
Zipacna stared at La Muerte's sleeping figure with a serious stare. He would make sure to find them all, not only for La Muerte's sake, but also for that of the child's. "I'll get some help."
