Chapter 2- The Meeting
He was starting to think this wasn't a good idea.
He had taken every single measure to make sure she wouldn't fall off, but it was very uncomfortable, both for him and La Muerte. She was sitting on his lap, holding tightly unto his neck, while he had his wings wrapped protectively around her, one arm around her waist, his other hand holding Medianoche's reins. The steed was advancing at its slowest pace, something he wasn't very happy to do, but it was his master's wife and child he carried, and so he had no other option. Luckily, they would be arriving soon at their destination.
"Couldn't we just have teleported, my dear?" Xibalba inquired for about the third time, trying his best not to lose his balance.
"Did you forget what Cihuacótl said? I can't teleport while pregnant, or it could have a foul effect on the baby." La Muerte replied, lowering one of her hands from Xibalba's neck and placing it on her abdomen.
"More than this? I doubt it."
"Come on, Balby, you didn't stop bragging about how good rider you were and now you're complaining? You even jumped over a cliff the first time you took me for a ride."
"You were not pregnant that time!"
La Muerte rolled her eyes, but rested her head against Xibalba's chest and returned her arm around his neck.
"Speaking of which, mi amor, how's our little bundle of joy doing?" Xibalba whispered into his wife's ear with a smile, as he rubbed her abdomen gently.
"Napping." La Muerte replied with a smile. "She hasn't given a single kick ever since we set out."
"You know, I think the first thing I'm going to do once we arrive is to get a massage, my back is killing me…"
"Oh, no, señor! We have to go see our costumes for the masquerade before anything."
"Do I have to wear a costume?" Xibalba whined. "I feel ridiculous in those things."
Suddenly, Medianoche snorted and let out a snort, stretching out his neck and pointing forward, motioning his riders to look ahead. The familiar towers of gold and the sound of music were into view, casting its majestic shadow unto any travelers that came across it.
"Finally!" Xibalba cried out, tightening his hold on his wife and kicking his horse's sides to make him trot, surprising La Muerte and making her hide her face into his chest. The great doors of gold opened as soon as they were advancing across the bridge, and came into the main courtyard, Medianoche's hooves clopping unto the white stone floor. The courtyard was alive with bright green plant life and colorful flowers, as well as fountains of clear, crystalline water. When the doors leading inside Quetzalcoatl's palace opened, and two figures emerged from the hallowed halls. One, an elderly lady with light green skin, white hair with black streaks and a dress sewn out of leaves. The other, a humanoid with the head of a golden eagle and Aztec armor, his bracers adorned with more dark plumes.
As soon as the old lady saw La Muerte on top of her husband's lap, in turn on top of the horse, she took a hand to her mouth. Xibalba groaned in dismay, knowing what would come. Even Medianoche snorted and lowered his head and ears.
"Here we go again…" he muttered under his breath.
"Hombre irresponsable!" the old lady screeched. "How could you bring your pregnant wife like this?! What if she fell from the horse?! Something could happen to the baby!"
"I took precautions for that, in case you haven't noticed." Xibalba replied simply.
"Don't worry, señora Toci." La Muerte smiled, placing a hand on her abdomen. "Mi bebé is fine. She was tranquil all the way."
The eagle headed God approached the side of Xibalba's horse and held out his arms for the Goddess. "Allow me to help you get down, La Muerte." He gulped nervously when Xibalba grunted at him with narrowed eyes.
"Don't worry, Xibalba, Ehécatl's just being gentlemanly." La Muerte rolled her eyes at her husband. "You should try it one of these days." She added teasingly.
Xibalba frowned and looked away in annoyance as Ehécatl floated up and grabbed his wife by the waist gently, then carefully placed her down on her feet in the ground. The eagle God stepped back when Xibalba dismounted from his horse.
"Well, thanks for your help, but we have to go now- AY!" Xibalba yelped in pain and surprise when La Muerte elbowed him hard in the ribs.
"Don't be rude, Xibalba!" she scolded him, before smiling at Ehécatl. "Thanks for your help, Ehécatl."
"It is my pleasure, La Muerte." Ehécatl bowed his head.
"Step aside, you feather head!" Toci pushed him aside and immediately placed her hand on La Muerte's belly to check on the unborn baby. After a while, she smiled. "She's napping."
"Excuse me, you two, but you shouldn't be referring to my son as 'she' so often." Xibalba pointed out with crossed arms.
"You can't know she's a boy."
"And you can't know he's a girl either!"
"How about we go inside?" Ehécatl quickly added before the arguing escalated into a who-can-yell-louder contest. "You two must be really tired."
"Now that you mention it, my back is still killing me…" the dark god replied, rubbing his sore back, between his wings. "And I could get something to eat."
La Muerte rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless at her husband. She grabbed unto her husband's arm as he led her inside, following Toci and Ehécatl. The inside of the palace was as equally majestic as the exteriors; every single marble floor, wall and pillar was shiningly stainless, of an elegant cream color, with red carpets decorating the floor and adorning the walls. Windows that let the light of the sun filter and reflect against the marble.
As soon as they were inside, La Muerte was surrounded by various Goddesses that had been awaiting for her arrival, and started fawning over the tummy, greeting the unborn child with high-pitched adorable voices and even stroking it; soon Xibalba was driven away from his wife. La Muerte let the other Goddesses interact with her tummy a bit more, until she felt her baby starting to squirm inside her, apparently upset for having its sleep disturbed.
"Girls, let her breathe!" Toci raised her voice sternly, making her way through the crowd of excited Goddesses and gave La Muerte some space.
The Goddesses walked away in disappointment when the old woman sent them away; when she was certain they were out of earshot, Toci glanced at the younger Goddess. "La Muerte, have you gotten your dress just yet?"
"Actually, that's the first thing I was going to do when we arrived"
Xibalba was fidgeting with his staff until he heard the word 'dress'. Oh, no, the last thing he wanted was to see that crazy woman so soon. "Well, mi amor, I'd like to go with you, but Ehécatl just told me that Mixcóatl wants to tell me something!"
The eagle head blinked in confusion. "I did?" he winced when Xibalba elbowed him hard. "I mean, I did."
La Muerte rolled her eyes. She knew her husband, she knew this was just an excuse so he wouldn't have to get a costume (at least, not yet), but she decided to let him have his way for this time. "Okay, mi vida. I'll see you later, okay?"
When his wife and Toci walked down the hallway, Xibalba let out a sigh of relief. "That was a close one."
"Hey, Xibalba, now that I recall, there is something you should know."
The dark god raised an eyebrow at his fellow deity. "Oh?"
"Lord Quetzalcoatl has just received two guests, a brother and sister. They arrived yesterday and asked for shelter. I thought you should know in case you encounter any stranger faces around here."
Xibalba nodded. "I see."
"By the way, don't tell La Muerte about this, but…" the eagle God motioned him to lean in closer. "Everyone is betting on the your child's gender. Half has bet that it'll be a girl, half that it'll be a boy."
Xibalba let out a groan and massaged his temples with one hand. "And they say I'm the one who has deep gambling problems."
In one of Aztlan's spacious parlors, Xochiquétzal the Goddess of female sexuality, flowers and weaving (and many other female-related things), laid out her fabrics and adjusted the placement of her ponikins. She tested her sewing machine to make sure it hadn't died (the other Gods couldn't understand why she used such a thing, invented by mere mortals), and doubled checked that all her threads and needles were present and placed where she could find them. The servants had learned better than to come in and disturb the rooms where she worked, but it simply would not do for her to be fumbling around for the tools of her trade in the presence of her fellow deities. She was so proud of her work that she would never decline a petition from the other Goddesses, no matter how hard it was.
The room were she worked was wide and spacious, with walls papered in mint green with dark lemon swirling leaf pattern and a dome ceiling painted white. The mirror was an elaborate gild edged triptych which any mortal would have dearly loved to take home, and the cushions of the thinking couch were stuffed with swan feathers.
There was a knock upon the gold-varnished oak door, and one of the servants in the palace entered. "Lady Toci and Lady La Muerte wish to see you, milady."
Xochiquétzal's ears twitched in excitement and she smiled a pleasant smiled. "Show them in."
As soon as Toci and La Muerte walked in, the jaguar Goddess greeted La Muerte with a mutual excited hug. "La Muerte! I'm so glad you came!" she placed a paw on her friend's abdomen. "And how's this little baby-boo doing?"
La Muerte giggled. "She's fine. She napped all the way here, so I expect she'll start kicking in a few more hours."
"She? It's going to be a girl?"
"Well, Xibalba is hoping it'll be a boy, but I have the feeling we're having a niña." La Muerte placed her hands on her belly with a smile. "And a mother's intuition never fails."
"I assume you came here for a dress, right?" Xochiquétzal took notice of something. "And where's that tar face you call your husband?"
"He'll be here later." La Muerte replied with a sigh. "When I can find him, at least."
"Oh, no, don't worry. I already have an attire in mind for him." Toci noticed the familiar gleam of mischievousness. "I will be more than glad to make you a dress, amiga, but would you mind if we wait for someone first?"
"Someone else?" Toci inquired. "Who, if we may know?"
"One of Lord Quetzalcoatl's guests wishes a dress for the gala too. I have not met her, but the others say she's… How to put it, a bit of a diva. She arrived with her brother yesterday."
There was yet another knock on the door. "Milady, another woman wishes to talk to you."
"Speak of the devil." Xochiquétzal snickered. "Tell her to come in."
A young Goddess who could only be the sister of the two guests strutted forwards. The white-feathered goddess strode forward as if she owned the room, the whole palace even. The Goddess glowed with presence, radiated authority, she wore the attention of all present in the room as if it were a faithful gown she wore each day and was well used to putting on.
Her long straight hair was red, matching the color of her eyes, which seemed a little cold. She was wearing a shiny black dress, not too shabby but quite obviously off-the-shelf and not bespoke fitted to Xochiquétzal's experienced eye. A hat-black too- was balanced atop her head with a lacy veil hanging down from it to half cover her face. Said face was heavily made up, with ruby red lipstick heavily laid on, and it would have verged on vulgarity in anyone with less self-confidence. The Goddess, however, carried it off with aplomb.
"Well, now that you're here, let me introduce you." Xochiquétzal clapped her paws. "La Muerte, this is La Noche, Spirit of the Nightfall.
"A pleasure to meet you, milady." La Muerte nodded at the newly arrived Goddess with a smile.
"Most charming," La Noche replied in a vague and unplaceable accent. She stalked past La Muerte and strode around the room like a catwalk model, feet directly in front of one another and hips swaying even under her dress. "I've come from afar with my dear brother when we heard of the majesty of your fair home." La Noche set her eyes on La Muerte's swollen belly. "Is that what I think it is…?"
La Muerte nodded. "Yes. I'm expecting a baby." There was warmth and love in her voice as she looked down at her unborn child
"You are married, I presume."
"Yes, I am. I will introduce you to my husband later if I have the chance."
"Well, ladies, excuse me for interrupting, but we are robbing Xochiquétzal of her precious time." Toci suddenly spoke with a mildly hard look.
"I must agree with you, Lady Toci." La Noche nodded, before turning to the Jaguar Goddess. "All the other Goddesses have told me that you are the finest dressmaker in Aztlan, and perhaps the whole universe, and I would like to look my very best."
"Of course, of course." Xochiquétzal nodded eagerly. "Would you mind if I start with La Muerte first?"
"No, I don't mind."
"Excellent. Now, if you will just let me take your measurement." Xochiquétzal took her tape measure and began to measure La Muerte, occasionally dropping the tape to note down the size. As she went, she murmured to herself as to her plans. "Hmmm, something orange I think, to match your eyes. With red and a bit of champagne, those colors suit you very well. I will have to stretch the bodice a bit so it won't tighten into your stomach, wouldn't you mind?"
"As long as mi bebé is comfortable, I don't mind." La Muerte smiled.
La Noche was a bit harder. Xochiquétzal didn't know the newly-arrived Goddess, she couldn't tell which colors would match her personality. Maybe it would be best to pick a color that would contrast with any of her physical traits. Perhaps… her eyes, her eyes were very striking, a brilliant shade of red, fiery but with a tinge of coldness. Yes, a dress the shade of her eyes to bring them out. Perfect!
"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Lady La Muerte." La Noche nodded her head and curtsied.
"Equally, La Noche." La Muerte smiled back. "I'm sure we'll be good friends."
Suddenly, without warning, La Muerte winced and grit her teeth in pain when she felt a strong pain in her belly, and instinctively clutched her abdomen protectively; Toci and Xochiquétzal quickly caught her before she could fall to the ground from pain.
"Are you okay, querida?" Toci asked with almost motherly concern.
"It's okay, I'm fine…" La Muerte replied with grit teeth, managing to stand back up. "Just a kick…"
"If a kick can make you lose your footing, I can't imagine what it does when it moves…" Xochiquétzal commented. "Looks like the baby wants to come out already."
La Muerte giggled at the remark as she rubbed her belly, but none of the three Goddesses noticed the dark look La Noche was throwing at La Muerte's pregnant stomach as she walked out.
"So, how have things been going?" Xibalba inquired casually, as he and Ehécatl made their way through one of the many gardens of Aztlan.
"Well, if I describe it with details it'll take me too long, so I'll resume it." The eagle-headed god replied, his feathers shifting. "Tlaloc's daughters are complaining that their father has become too suffocating, Ixtab tried to hang herself again, and Tezcatlipoca got into an argument with his wife again."
"Yeah, I know what it feels like… But tell me about the newcomers. The brother and sister."
"No one has talked much out of them, they are a mysterious couple. I'm starting to think they're actually lovers."
"The typical scam of being brother and sister, right?"
"The sister is called La Noche. She has a good body and features, you should have seen how Ometochtli's jaw dropped as soon as he set his pervert eyes on her. I'd be careful around her if I were you, she looks like the type who could hook up a man should she wish so."
Xibalba sighed. "Maybe. But I only have eyes for mi Muertita."
"I thought she didn't like to be called like that."
"But she's not here, is she?"
Suddenly, the two gods spotted an unfamiliar figure to those parts, wandering around the gardens as if looking for someone. "That's the brother." Ehécatl pointed out at the serpentine god. "I haven's spoken to him myself, but those who have say his name is Veneno."
Xibalba stared at the God named Veneno with critical eyes, almost like an art critic examining and oil painting, but not in a good way. There was something familiar about that person, but he didn't know why; he should doubt about his already worn-down intuition, but it had never failed him in the past. When Veneno turned to look at him, Xibalba felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Lord Xibalba, I presume?" Veneno inquired with an accent from an unknown region, extending out his hand as a greeting. "I've been hearing much about you these days."
Reluctantly, Xibalba shook the serpentine God's hand, internally shivering as he did so. "A pleasure to meet you, señor… Veneno, right?"
"Indeed. I heard your wife is expecting a child."
"She is, I'm glad to say it's only two more weeks to go." Xibalba couldn't help but smile at the thought of his soon-to-be-born son or daughter.
"Oh, yes, parenthood can be such a wonderful thing, especially with the person you love the most." By then, Veneno was circling around Xibalba with a toothy grin, his tongue slithering out of his mouth. Xibalba could swear his tone sounded… forced, as if he was making a great effort to speak calmly. "So much it would be emotionally devastating to suddenly find the child you thought your own flesh and blood actually isn't."
Xibalba abruptly twisted his neck around to look at the God with a frown. "Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nada, dear friend. I was just talking to myself. Well, it appears that I've interrupted your conversation, so if you'll excuse me…" With those words, Veneno walked away form the pair, into the marble halls of Aztlan. Xibalba just glanced into the direction he had gone away through with narrowed eyes, his chest brewing with feelings of suspicion and dread. There was something off about that newly arrived God, but he couldn't tell what; besides, that nasty comment he made about his child wasn't very pleasant at all.
He'd have to learn more about this Veneno guy.