BREATHE IN AND FEEL THE TIDES OF TIME FLOW
Gabrielle breathed in slowly meeting her lovers gaze as they walked through the large Amphipolis market place. She turned eyeing the weapon stall as she learned on her staff. Her gaze drifted to the sai blades in the corner. She moved forward watching as the store owner looked up smiling. "Hello Xena and Gabrielle how can I help you today?" Gabrielle eyed the brown leather handled weapons. "I want your sai blades, how much?" The store keeper blinked as he eyed her. "Gabrielle I don't think these are your kind of weapon." Gabrielle eyed him as she leaned forward. "How much?" Xena breathed in moving there supplies to her other arm she grunted aloud she was already hating this little shopping trip.
Mostly because she was starting to feel like a pack mule, she was carrying new bedding, five pots of herbs and two Parang swords with long curved blades no doubt for hacking through thick foliage which had been nothing but trouble to buy as her lover wanted a certain type with steel handles as oppose to wood which meant they'd had to trudge back and forth until they found some. She was starting to hate how crowded the market place was becoming and she could feel her temper starting to fray. She slammed her fist down hard on the table causing one of the swords to rattle. "How much?" The store keeper pulled back sharply. "Fifteen dinars…" Gabrielle folded her arms as she moved closer to her lover. "That's a rip off there not even best quality."
The stall keeper grunted aloud. "Please these are the best quality there from China." Xena narrowed her gaze as she leaned closer to him causing him to pull back in fright. "Give her the weapons now…for the right price." The shop keeper swallowed. "Ten dinars?" Xena snarled aloud. "Think lower…" The shop keeper eased the leather handled weapons free from the rack. "Five?" Xena pulled back her smile suddenly widening. "Good man." Gabrielle threw the money across the counter watching as the man greedily took it. She picked up the sai blades she twirled them both for a moment. "That's it we already have the food bags ready at the tavern." She slowly took the bedding from her lover watching as the Warrior Princess sighed with relief.
Cyrene had insisted that they use her dinars to purchase these items despite that they didn't need it, but there no point in arguing with her mother. They'd give the money back before they left. They still had a bag of gold which has been a gift from the werewolf rebels after killing the werewolf king Lycaon. She moved closer to her lover as they left the market place, she paused before turning to meet her gaze. "Why did Quetzalcoatl call you Eztli Ocelotl?" Gabrielle felt herself stiffen slightly. "It means Blood Jaguar." She raised the sai blade slightly putting her fingers in between the blades gaps as she held it up high. "Because I bled the lands with my claws and broke the order of the gods with my sorrows."
Xena moved closer to her. "Please tell me what happened in Mexica." Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she met her lovers gaze. She'd tried so hard to forget, everything that had happened in Mexica. She'd been a shadow of her former self. Living from day to day in sorrow and despair, a broken warrior whose temper could so easily flair up. Who just seemed to sink deeper in to alcohol, which she'd used to numb the heart wrenching pain of being left all alone after the events in Japan. Seeing her lover's headless body hanging like that had never left her dreams. Aphrodite had warned even begged her not to go to the lands of the blood gods and the Vikings on board the ship to that land had labelled her as insane.
Everyone she came across thought the same thing, that she was the crazy warrior who had lost it truth of matter was she had been loosing it on some levels. Even the scholars and bards had laughed at her as she'd tossed through the ancient scrolls in their libraries. She had just wanted to find a way to bring her lover back and the world she had once known. She steadied herself as she looked in her lover's eyes again, there was no point in hiding these painfully memories anymore. They had haunted her for so long. Xena put her hand on her lover's shoulder. "Tell me what happened sweetheart." Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment taking a deep breath to try and calm her self. "I was going to be sacrificed."
8
Gabrielle could feel her heart racing as she moved behind a tree she could still hear her captures chasing her. She gripped the sai blade tighter only to watch as her hand began to shake. She suddenly felt a wave of nausea go through her, her other hand desperately clutched the tree as she lost of the contents of her stomach. She swallowed painfully watching as the world blurred for a moment before returning to normal. She shivered as a feeling of cold went through her. What ever the drug was that they'd given her it wasn't sitting well and it wasn't going away. None of it was helped by the pain and the two wounds she had from the fall from the temple.
She turned again looking at the dark jungle around her there was a deep embankment to the side of her which had a huge lake at the bottom. The crystal clear lake was surrounded by rocks. She turned slightly she had no idea where she was or even how to get back to temple she'd been close to. She put her other hand on her head feeling the pounding of her skull. Her gaze narrowed as the anger burnt though her system as she heard the crack of a twig close behind her. Her blade shot outwards as she turned only to stop as she was met by the eyes of a five year old child. The little boy dropped the sticks as the fear showed in his face along with the panic as his brown eyes widened. Apart from his white hanging cloth he had no other clothes. His short black hair could be seen in the dim light of the jungle.
Gabrielle stopped shaking her head again as her sight blurred momentarily she could see the child was going to cry any moment. She quickly pulled the blade away from his face she breathed in trying to ignore the wound on her leg as she leaned down. She moved the weapon back fully hearing a straggled sob from the child. "It's okay I'm not going to hurt you." She tried to smile only to see that it had no effect and that the child was on the verge of tears. The fact that her understanding of the native people's language was so poor didn't help ether, when she'd fought the other warrior of she'd sworn at him in Greek. She eased out her hand slowly. "It's okay I won't hurt you."
She lowered the weapon further. "I promise...please just don't cry." The child seemed to start sniffing deeply as if holding back his tears. "That's it." Her body suddenly froze as a young white robed woman appeared no doubt looking for her child. She swallowed as their eyes met it was all too late to speak as the mothers eyes showed horror as she caught sight of her hand reaching towards her child. Gabrielle breathed in sharply. "No please…no." The woman's screams hit the air all at once. She found herself bolting only to feel pain as some one collided with her, her whole body was thrown sideways. She hit the side of the embankment hard only to carry on tumbling down it with painful force. The person who fell with her was shoving her face downwards as they both tumbled towards the huge lake.
Tlaloc felt the bottom of the embankment as he hit it along with the already wounded woman. He grabbed hold of his heavy spiked club raising it as they came to a stop he twisted it as he swung it. He watched as the hilt hit her squarely in the jaw causing blood to fly through her teeth her whole body hit the ground hard. He swung it again knocking the three clawed weapon from her hand before she could strike. He could see blood trickling down her chin, he sneered as he kneeled down in front of her. He was going to make her pay for harming his younger brother! He raised the club as he grabbed her head by its sun coloured hair.
He watched as her green eyes widened as the horror of her appending death was realized. He'd seen this look a hundred times before and even in the forest coloured eyes it remained the same. He slammed his foot down on her other hand hard as she tried to reach for her other clawed weapon in her boot he grinned ignoring her yelp of pain. Gabrielle watched as the club twirled upwards so its spiked points were aimed at her head. Her head was throbbing with pain as were her limbs which had taken such a beating from both falls. She felt her self breath out deeply as her body surrendered, death didn't bother her it would be her freedom from the world which had tormented her so and taken away everything from her.
The possibility to meet her lover on the other side was also there calling her and tempting her. She had walked to long and felt nothing but pain and despair and now she no longer cared. She slowly closed her eyes she could hear the warrior's companion coming towards her. She hadn't slept well in months anyway and she was about to die a warriors death so what did it matter? The next moments caused her eyes to snap open as she heard a cry of terror followed by the sound of churning water hitting the air. She looked up watching as a huge snake like head with a massive purple feathered mane appeared high above both her and the warrior leaning over her. A huge serpent tail with a huge feathered tip flew out of the water.
She turned watching as the warrior she'd previously wounded was hit by it, his body was thrown back causing him to hit the nearest tree full force. She winced as she heard some of his ribs shatter as he fell to ground. The tail came down again smashing in to his back causing him to loose consciousness. The serpents head and neck rose higher as the jaws opened showing of their razor sharp teeth as the red snake eyes narrowed. She could hear the monster as it breathed see every glistening green scale on its face. She had seen the snakes here and the crocodiles they were monsters but this creatures was enormous compared to them it dwarfed them in every way. She looked up seeing the man's face fill with panic as he turned to see the hideous face high above him.
At that moment she could feel his fear even see his weapon as it shook the huge head suddenly came down. Its jaws slamming in to the helpless man they crunched down cracking bone and piercing flesh as his screams hit the air. The blood came down hard hitting her bodice, skirt and her waist. She watched in horror as the dead man was suddenly dropped, he hit the lake's surface close by causing the water to spray upwards. The serpents head slowly moved as the red eyes caught sight of her, she found herself going still as they eyed her with curiosity. The forked tongue flicked out as the head lowered coming closer to her. She could feel the hot breath as it hit her body, the blood stained teeth dripped as the mouth slowly formed a smile.
It suddenly spoke in the language of the native people which caused her to pull back. The head was with in inches of her body as its jaws opened wide she could see the saliva as it dripped off the teeth and hear long drawn out hiss as the words came again only louder. She pulled back feeling herself freeze. "I don't understand…you." The red eyes moved as the monster listened to her words the slow hiss came again the presence of this being was dark and felt evil. She swallowed as she spoke again realizing how small her voice sounded. "I don't understand you." The huge tail end suddenly came down causing the air to be knocked from her lungs as it held her in place. The red eyes narrowed as a stream of swirling purple light flowed from the mouth.
It hit her directly in her face causing her throat to burn and her eyes to water. The red eyes narrowed as the tongue flicked out again this time the words that felts it mouth were recognizable. "This is my region you pathetic little mortal how dare you cross it! You'll be lucky if I let you leave with your life!" Gabrielle pulled back as the jaws opened again. "I didn't know it was your region…" The serpent eyed her again its anger showing. "No I don't suppose you do, mortals with sun coloured hair aren't common around here." He leaned forward his deep male voice lowering. "Where are you from mortal?" Gabrielle eyed him trying to keep her voice even. "Greece." The serpent's jaws closed as a wide cruel smile appeared on its face.
The snake eyes narrowed. "Tell me what would an inbred little mortal from Greece be doing all the way out here?" Gabrielle looked up slowly meeting his gaze. "I'm searching for something." The serpent's cold laugh hit the air as his feathered head moved closer. "Well it would appear that you're not doing so well in your attempt mortal." He eyed the fallen warrior by the tree who was one of Huitzilopochtli's warriors. His rival had no taste when it came to picking men off war. His subjects were pathetic he licked some of the blood from his teeth with his tongue they tasted foul to. He smiled again as he looked the young woman. "I assume those idiots meant to sacrifice you to their god?"
Gabrielle felt her eyes dart as her mind slowly replayed the earlier scene in all its vivid detail. "Yes…" The serpent turned slightly. "Having hair the colour of the sun does you no favours mortal." He narrowed his gaze further. "Not in the land of the blood gods, here we love the strange and different and those who have something different normally pay the price with their blood." Gabrielle looked at him trying to stay calm. "Are you a blood god?" The serpents smiled again. "Yes I am mortal, my name is Quetzalcoatl or if you want an easier name then it's the feathered serpent." Gabrielle eyed the huge feathered mane. "Are you going to sacrifice me?" Quetzalcoatl laughed again as he eyed her. "I don't care for drinking your blood right now so I have no reason to sacrifice you."
Gabrielle didn't get a chance to think as his coils suddenly wrapped around her mid section and chest she grabbed her fallen sai blade as she was lifted up high in to the air. The serpents head rose up slowly. "No I'd rather kill you its much more entertaining." His coils slowly tightened around her chest as his smile lengthened. "I've always enjoyed hearing mortals scream." He paused as he turned slightly. "So how would you like to die? Should I squeeze you like a snake does? Or would prefer to be eaten alive?" Gabrielle felt her grip on her weapon tighten. "I didn't do anything to you, why do you want me dead?" Quetzalcoatl laughed slightly. "You really aren't very bright are you mortal? I like to entertain myself I do so by killing mortals like you.
He breathed in deeply. "Not because you've done anything wrong and not because I'm hungry. No I do it just for the pleasure of doing it and because I can." Gabrielle suddenly felt the coils tighten around her chest she couldn't help but scream in pain. Quetzalcoatl smiled. "Do you know how snakes squeeze their prey?" He heard her cry out again he ignored the warrior who had hit the tree as the man came back in to consciousness, his glazed brown eyes looking upwards at him. "Snakes don't shatter limbs when they coil, they constrict as you breathe out slowly. They tighten their coils slowly flattening your lungs until you can't draw breath." He slowly tightened his coils watching as her body began to spasm in pain.
He came closer seeing her eyes widen as she tried to breathe as he tightened even more. "You can feel your lungs screaming as you try to breathe, can't you? It must be quite frightening but don't worry I won't let you pass out, unlike snakes I like for my victims to witness there death in all its agonizing glory. I like them to feel the pain of there bones breaking before I eat them alive." Gabrielle felt the intense pain followed by the cracking of two of her lower ribs which caused her to scream. The huge head came closer as the jaws widened. She felt herself freeze as they came towards her. She tried to ignore the pain as she felt another of her ribs crack causing her eyes to water with tears of pain and agony.
She could see in to the god's mouth and all his teeth even to the back of his throat which was black and dark. She could smell the stink of his breath she felt her shaking hand clutch the weapon tighter as the jaws closed in on her and she was pushed forward. Quetzalcoatl closed his jaws around the mortal he pulled his coils free all he had to do was swallow. Gabrielle watched as the world turned to darkness as the jaws closed saliva was dripping down all around her and she could feel the tongue as it wrapped around her. She didn't think as she slammed her sai blade upwards feeling it dig in to the upper throat of the god. She found herself wincing in pain as all at once the tattoo on her back started to burn as she held the sai blades handle tighter.
Itzli looked up watching painfully as Quetzalcoatl eyes suddenly opened wide as lightning and white light shot through his teeth. His roar of pain hit the air. The young woman in his mouth was forced out by his tongue as he opened his jaws wide in agony. Even under her bodice he could see the strange serpent tattoo on her back glowing with white light as lightning carried on shooting out from it hitting the serpent god in the mouth. He winced trying to ignore his own agonizing pain as she came down slamming in to the floor some way from him. He could hear her laboured breathing and the see the saliva all over her body. He watched as the snake god stopped roaring as the pain in his jaws subsided. His red eyes narrowed as he came forward.
Quetzalcoatl roared he could feel the weapon still in the back of his throat he pulled his tongue back trying to grasp it only to feel the lightning strike his tongues tip. He pulled back gritting his teeth as he came forward eyeing the woman's fallen body her eyes slowly opened gazing in to his. A weak smile formed on her face. "What was that? What did you do to me?!" He watched as the tattoo's light faded, he'd never felt such pain and he'd eaten hundreds of mortals. He tried to touch the weapon again only to feel the pain go through the roof of his mouth. Gabrielle looked up slowly watching as her sight began to blur. "Eating people…is wrong…you bastard." Quetzalcoatl snarled aloud. "What did you do to me you little bitch!"
Gabrielle laughed only to feel herself cough in agony as her broken ribs burned. "My tattoo protects me from evil like you…and that weapon in your mouth will hurt you…for a long time. Quetzalcoatl roared in anger. "What are you searching for in these lands?" Gabrielle could feel her world turning in to darkness. "I came for C'thulon…I wanted to find him…" Quetzalcoatl narrowed his gaze. "Why!" Gabrielle felt her smile widen. "To bring back the other half of my…soul."Quetzalcoatl spat in disgust. "You came here for love? How pathetic it's almost as pathetic as cryptic passage about your dead partner." He coughed trying to free the blade which was still stuck. "You waste your time on a god who wouldn't give you anything he'd kill you just like he does everyone else!"
Gabrielle felt the blood as it carried on trickling down his chin. "Perhaps…but I would give my life to try." Quetzalcoatl stopped still for a moment he turned slowly a smile forming. "Then perhaps I can give you an offer worth your while." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze her wounded body was screaming at her to sleep but her mind was fighting the impulse. "You tried to eat me why would I want to help you?" Quetzalcoatl turned slightly. "Because I have the map to the elder god you seek." He watched as her eyes widened he could see that it was taking her immense effort to do so. "If you live past today I want you to go the temple of the goddess Xochiquetzal. You see she has a godly object of mine…I want it back."
He paused ignoring the stinging pain in his throat. "Her husband is quite a bastard though, he's called Tezcatlipoca. You can't miss him he's all Jaguar and walks like a man." He flicked out his tongue. "Since you have that protection you'll be able stop him like you did me." He eased his feathered tail out from the water using it to prop her up. "Tell me is that offer worth your while?" Gabrielle looked up slowly. "Why would you help me…?" Quetzalcoatl felt his smile widened. "Because I like your gift, that serpent on your back it amuses me." Gabrielle coughed feeling more blood come up, her gaze slowly narrowed. "What is the object called…that you want?" Quetzalcoatl moved closer. "It's a pendent called Tlalli…get it for me." Gabrielle breathed in slowly and painful. "I don't know the way…" Quetzalcoatl turned as his gaze fell on the fallen warrior who was looking up in terror. "You will know the way he's going to show it to you." Gabrielle felt her eyes close she could hear the fallen warrior screams which faded as she lost consciousness.
8
Xena stopped still for a moment as her lovers story sunk in, her gaze drifted to her mother's tavern. "I can't believe that snake face bastard tried to eat you!" Gabrielle blinked as she put a hand through her hair. She hadn't expected her lover to say that off all things. "I don't like to think about it..." Xena breathed in deeply. "Akemi's tattoo protected you even though you were in a different land. I was always worried that it might not do so when you left Japan." Gabrielle looked down slightly. "I guess it did…" She turned watching as people moved past them. "It's just I wanted to be with you badly I cursed it for saving me." Xena squeezed her shoulder gently she slowly put her items down then eased the bedrolls from Gabrielle's hand placing them with the rest. "These people sound awful…they tried to kill you."
She used her other hand to ease Gabrielle's lowered head up. "I think I understand a little better now, the feathered serpent gave you a deal and in your moment of pain and agony you took it." Gabrielle felt herself breathe in sharply. "Pathetic isn't it?" Xena ran her hands gently down her lovers arm ignoring the looks she was getting from passes by. "No Gabrielle it isn't I'd have done the same." She shook her head slightly. "You were doing the same for me even if it meant you'd walk through hell to do so." She eased up her finger running it down her cheek. "I'm just so glad that you did." She leaned forward meeting the other woman's lips ignoring the sound of someone dropping something behind them no doubt from shock, not that she cared.
She pulled away only to stop as she noticed Gabrielle's eyes widen. "What?" She turned seeing that Acis was standing behind them. She could see the horse shoes which he'd dropped. The dark haired mans jaw was wide open. Xena raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" she leaned forward using her hand to push his jaw shut. "What is it Acis?" Acis breathed in as he looked up. "Em, your mother…your mother." Xena eased herself away from Gabrielle, she watched as her lover picked up there things. "Yes my mother." Acis swallowed. "So you two are…you know." Xena grabbed him harshly by his shirt pulling him up slightly. "Yes we are! Do you have a problem with that?"
Acis raised both his hands as he tried to smile. "No, no, problem…" Xena narrowed her gaze. "You were saying something about my mother." She let go of his shirt watching as he stepped back breathing in deeply. "Your mother said that she's packed both your things and is waiting for you." He grinned nervously. "She said to take your time…" Xena folded her arms as she gave her lover a wide smile. "Come on Gabrielle we shouldn't keep my mother waiting." Gabrielle smiled slightly as she nodded. "Yes we should get going." She watched as her the taller woman moved past Acis ignoring his fazed look. She turned slightly watching as he met her gaze. "Thank you Acis."
End of part 7
Because I'm going to be off Line for a while I thought you guys should have this chapter before Xmas instead of after.
Thank you for all your reviews Haxan and HAZMOT.
