AS THE DARKNESS BREACHES THE LIGHT
Baldomero felt his eyes snap open as freezing cold water was thrown in his face. He sat up breathing in sharply feeling it as it dripped off his face. "I don't want to die! Please don't drown me!" He looked down seeing that he was sitting on his boats deck, he watched as a pair of black knee high boots appeared. He swallowed as he looked up meeting the ice cold gaze of the Warrior Princess. "This…is so…not my day." He turned suddenly hearing hooves on the deck his gaze slowly drifted there were two winged horses on his boat. One was golden in colour and had feathered wings like a bird. The other was as black as night and from the looks of it was un-dead, it had glowing red eyes and huge bat wings which were ripped and torn as well as razor sharp teeth which were poking out of its mouth in places.
"You put a cursed un-dead horse on my deck!"
Xena folded her arms watching as Gabrielle freed the rope from the dock. "Yes we did, do you have a problem with that?" She turned seeing that Itzli was still tied up by his wrists he was standing close by watching with great interest. Baldomero scowled in annoyance. "You can't do this to me! You'll curse my ship!" Xena raised an eyebrow. "Frankly I can do what ever I want to you." She leaned down meeting his terrified gaze, she raised her hand slightly. "You know I've never liked people who steal money from others and then leave them high and dry." She grabbed him by the collar harshly. "I like people who do it to my lover even less!"
Gabrielle grabbed her lover's hand. "Xena…." Xena turned slightly meeting her lovers gaze. "What?" Gabrielle turned slightly. "Let me." Xena took a step back. Her gaze wandered over the Chinese ship which was still docked. Gabrielle smiled slightly as she met Baldomero's gaze. "I need you to take us to the Xiuhcoatl shore." Baldomero blinked as he looked up. "Are you insane? I'm not taking you there!" He paused meeting her gaze fully. "I knew you were a depressed bitch when I met you, but seriously did what's felt of your intelligence pour out of your ear in Mexica or something?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "It's not a request Baldomero."
Baldomero laughed slightly. "Listen you can't make me do anything, I don't want to." Gabrielle her felt teeth as they started to grind together. "You know I can and I will and I'm asking you nicely…I won't ask nicely again." Xena took a step forward. "I'll deal with him." Gabrielle pulled both hands up sharply stopping her. "No really it's fine I've got this." She slowly leaned down meeting his gaze. "Take us to the Xiuhcoatl shore." Baldomero laughed slightly eyeing her sai blades. "You know your weapons don't scare me! You never follow through on any of the threats you make Gabrielle. No matter how terrifying you are when you threaten people." He raised his hands. "It's pathetic…you don't even have a means of torture."
Gabrielle laughed slightly but it was hysterical laugh. "A means of torture." She didn't think as she slammed both finger points in to his neck full force. She snarled aloud as he fell back clutching his throat. "I've just cut of the flow of blood brain you'll be dead in about thirty seconds if you don't do as I say!" She leaned forward watching as he started to gag. "How's that for a means of torture?" Xena took her lover's hand pulling her around to face her. "Take that off!" Gabrielle turned slowly meeting her lovers gaze. "No!" Xena raised her hand slightly. "Take it off him Gabrielle." Gabrielle pulled her hand free. "That's what the pinch is for isn't it? Getting evil people to do what you want, or give you information you really need."
Xena raised her finger stopping her from speaking. "He is not evil he's a stupid captain with a big mouth." Gabrielle turned eyeing Baldomero who was still gagging. "Yes just like the many captains that you've put the pinch on in the past." Xena grunted in annoyance. "That's not the same!" Gabrielle pulled back slightly. "Yes it is, it's just the same." Xena eyed Baldomero who still gagging. "Don't argue with me!" Gabrielle eased out both hands ignoring the sounds of Baldomero hitting the floor on his back hard. "You're the one who said I want to teach you everything I know!" Xena sneered slightly. "Yes I did but this is not what I meant."
Gabrielle folded her arms. "Well I'm sorry you never really got around to explaining it to me, because you decided to die and leave me all on my own." She watched as her lover pulled back the hurt showing in her light blue eyes. Xena breathed in painfully meeting her lovers green gaze. "I never meant to leave you on your own like that." Gabrielle raised her hand. "No you never meant to, be you did anyway and it hurts!" She turned slightly. "Do you know what it is to be on your own and feel like your heart is breaking?" Xena lowered her gaze. "Yes I do." Gabrielle turned sharply. "Then if you know how it feels why, did you do it anyway? Do have any idea how selfish that is!?"
Xena pulled back feeling her eyes dart as the words sunk in. "I thought what I was doing was right and for the greater good." Gabrielle raised her hand sharply. "No Xena it wasn't for the greater good it was for Akemi who you felt guilty about and look at what she did to you? She used you, manipulated you to free all those souls and then betrayed you." She snarled aloud "Please tell me do you have any more old lovers who are going to crawl out of the wood work? Because I'm sick off being second rate to people I hardly know and who always seem far more important than me." Xena pulled out her hands. "No Gabrielle I don't." She eased up her hand to her lover's face. "I never wanted to hurt you…if I could take it all back I would."
Gabrielle stepped back slightly so she was out of her reach. "You never include me in your life changing discussions you just make them anyway regardless of how I feel." She turned ignoring the captain's fist as he pounded it against the deck as he tried to get their attention. "The mighty Warrior Princess always takes the glorious hit, but it's always the Bard of Potidaea who has to suffer the heart breaking fall…." She looked down feeling her teeth grind together it felt her heart was about to explode. She just wanted to cry the only thing that was stopping her was her anger which burning through her system, like fire through a narrow tunnel. She could see the hurt and pain her lovers eyes and still she'd found it impossible to bite her tongue the pain had been building up and was just too great.
Itzli laughed slightly causing them both to turn around he grinned meeting the Blood Jaguars gaze as he pointed to the gagging captain who was on the verge of dieing. He could see the blood running down from the captain's nose. "You know Blood Jaguar that idiots going to die any second, but please carry on arguing." He laughed again. "Even though I don't understand what it is you're saying, it's really entertaining." Xena turned quickly taking the pitch off she watched as Baldomero hit the deck hard as he breathed out as the air moved back through his lungs. He pulled himself up choking painfully. "Couldn't…you…have your lovers tiff…some other time." Gabrielle snarled aloud as she met his gaze. "No we can't!" She didn't think as pulled the sai blade from her boot. "Take us to the Xiuhcoatl shore!"
Gabrielle watched as he opened his mouth to speak she didn't think as she grabbed him dragging him to his feet pushing the weapon against his throat. "If you don't take us there, I'm going to kill you very slowly and believe me when I say that I can make your last moments of life painfully beyond words." She ignored her lover's horrified expression. She leaned closer. "Or better yet I'll tell the goddess Itzpapalotl all about the gold you've been stealing from her temples. I'm sure she'll be happy to flay you alive or rip your heart out." Baldomero stared in to the cold almost psychotic green gaze which was terrifying on so many levels. He could see she meant it, he could see it in her eyes, before it had just been burning anger but this was pure un-caged violence.
He looked up slightly. "No I got that, the Xiuhcoatl shore." Gabrielle threw him back watching as he hit the wooden barrel behind hard. "Good now that we understand each other how's about you move this Chinese wreck you call a ship?" She turned watching as Itzli laughed again clearly enjoying the fact that someone else was on the firing end of her temper instead of him. Xena watched as her lover walked past her disappearing in to the hold slamming the door behind her full force. She followed her quickly opening the door and closing behind her. She could see Gabrielle shifting through Baldomero's cabin she watched her violently shove the Aztec items off the table as she carried on searching.
She moved forward keeping her voice gentle. "What are you looking for?" Gabrielle threw the Aztec axe of the table full force not caring where it landed. "My money…." She grabbed one of the draws pulling it out and shaking it only to see hundreds of gleaming gems stones fall at her feet. She threw the draw watching as it hit the wall. "Where's my money?!" She kicked the gems at her feet watching as they flew through the air. "All this is cursed and worthless." Xena didn't think as she took her arm bringing her around to face her. "Stop it Gabrielle." She gently took hold of her other arm she ignored her struggling as she backed her up against the wall. She leaned forward so she was close to her ear. "Please sweetheart, stop it."
Gabrielle felt herself tense up only to feel herself breath in painfully. "You left me all on my own." She could feel the tears as they started to run down her face. "I was lonely and you weren't there!" Xena slowly let go of her arms bringing up the hand to her face. She had no idea where all this violence and pent up aggression was coming from it was like some animal that had just broken out from its cage and it needed to lash out. She looked down slightly may be these painful emotions had been building up for a long time and Gabrielle hadn't been able to hold them back anymore. Her lover really hadn't said much after she'd been brought back she hadn't mentioned Akemi ether. She moved her hands through the long blonde hair. "I love you Gabrielle, you are the only person who matters to me."
She slowly wrapped her arms around her. "I should've told you that more often and I should've listened to you, I've regretted every time when I didn't. I'm sorry that you suffered because of what I did in Japan." She brought her closer. "You didn't deserve that." She felt her lovers arm wrap around her waist in a sudden and desperate manner. She in breathed deeply hearing her strangled tears. "Every moment I was stuck in that horrible limbo all I could think about was you. I thought about you all the time, I missed you so much." She tightened her hold around her lover's waist. "Every time I freed a soul I wanted it to be that last one. So I could come back and be with you."
She pulled back meeting Gabrielle's tear streaked gaze. "I've never felt so lonely and empty and in all my life." She slowly used her hand to wipe away the younger woman's tears. "What ever happens I will never leave you like that again. I won't let you walk through life alone." Gabrielle felt her gaze dart slightly. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to say what I said." She breathed in feeling more tears run down her face. "I just feel so…." Xena leaned closer. "Afraid?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Yes…I feel afraid." Xena breathed in deeply and painfully as she pulled her back in to her embrace. "It's okay sweetheart." She held her tighter. "I know how you're feeling…I know your hurting inside."
She leaned down kissing her gently on the lips. "It makes you feel angry and you don't feel in control." She breathed in meeting her gaze again. "I'm right here for you please don't shut me out." Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "I could never shut you out Xena…you're the only person who knows my soul." Gabrielle slowly met her lips again she felt the taller woman's hand as it moved through her hair. She closed her eyes not catching sight of the Aztec pendent as it glowed with white light for a moment before fading as she ran her hand through the long dark hair. It felt like her lover was touching her soul she could feel her so strongly that all she could do was melt under her gently touch. She couldn't bring herself to move not that she could have if she wanted to she just wanted to loose her self in the sensation.
8
Ares pulled the golden chariot to stop he could see the boat far bellow which Xena and Gabrielle were on. He sneered in disgust he been following them very slowly up till now. When they'd stopped on one of the Canaria islands he stopped on another waiting for them to take flight again. He also landed on another island close to Cuba. They'd left a couple of hours later and now the slow moving battered Chinese boat was pointed in the right direction. He snarled aloud truth was he didn't need them anymore. He could sense Mexica even from this distance the power orientating from it was immense. He'd never felt anything like it in his whole life it was raw and intense.
It penetrated every fibber of his being like a knife and it felt so intoxicating. His gaze slowly narrowed as he cracked the reins he had to get there ahead of them only then would he find C'thulon's cavern. He cracked the reins harder watching as the horses moved through the clouds and the boat Xena and Gabrielle were on disappeared behind him. He watched as the golden light flew out from the horses hooves as they quickened their gallop. He smiled as he caught sight of the huge land mass that was Mexica. He looked behind him it would be another four hours or more before Xena and Gabrielle landed on these shores. He slowed the horses down slightly looking at the mass of tropical jungle bellow.
He turned slightly he could see lakes rivers and waterfalls as well as area's of marsh land and open plains with grassy area's. There were stone temples rising up all over the land, some were very small while others towered over the tree line. He could already see villages and fields up on fields of coca trees stretching out in some places. He moved the horses slightly catching sight of a massive city with one huge central temple which rose above everything else. He could hundreds of mortal in it swarming about like insects. He moved the horses closer he had no idea which god it belonged to but he could feel their presence even from the distance he was at.
He narrowed his gaze watching as the people at the top of the temple suddenly scattered. He leaned closer watching as a huge were jaguar walked out of the temple his tail moving violently as he looked up. The blue and purple head dress could be seen as the Jaguar god roared in anger his orange gaze slowly met his. Ares brought the chariot to a stop looking down again at the god who was still looking up his teeth now showing as he sneered. Despite the pure power he could feel this god didn't look anything very special despite his muscular seven foot stature. He had expected something bigger like the feathered serpent but this god looked no different to Anubis the Egyptian god of the underworld.
The jackal faced god was about the same height and had the same amount of muscle on him just like this god. What could all the gods in all the different lands possibly be so afraid of? Maybe what they were really afraid of was C'thulon and not his pitiful Aztec children who from the looks of this one weren't anything to shout about. Tezcatlipoca snarled aloud eyeing the golden chariot of the lesser god which was now floating above his temple's keep. He felt his clawed hand form a fist how, dare this lesser weakling invade his territory! He raised his clawed hand in disgust he'd make sure that this pitiful little god learnt the true meaning of pain and suffering and death.
He had too many issues to deal with as it was and he didn't need any one else getting in his way. He swung his tail harshly as he felt the heat in his fingers he would not be denied anything in his own region not by any one or anything. He narrowed his gaze focusing on the lesser god whose smug face looked pathetic. He could hear his thoughts even from this distance and pure arrogance of them. Ares looked down he pulled back in surprise as a huge godly fire red ball left the Jaguar gods clawed hand. He could see lightning streaming out of it as it sped towards him like a comet. He sneered as he pulled back his hand watching as a fireball formed in it. As if he was going to cower to this gods one fireball which though large wasn't that dangerous looking in appearance.
He watched in surprise as it suddenly separated becoming four comets of streaming fire which all had white lightning at their tails. The huge comets expanded in size as they came closer. He threw a fire ball at the closest watching as it hit the comet only to disintegrate in an instant. He didn't get a chance to think as the first comet hit the chariot's side. Wood, gold and godly metal flew through the air along with the wheels which shattered in half as it smashed through the back of the chariot. Blood flew through the air as the godly horses were torn to pieces by the next comet as it hit home. He felt him self panic as the third comet hit the only remaining horse killing it instantly and disintegrating the reins.
He turned but it was to late the chariot had begun its decent downwards and away from the city towards the dense jungle. Its destroyed back half was a light with godly flames which caused intense pain as they touched his exposed arms. He looked up in horror only to see the last comet hit the chariot's side it's lightning slamming in to his body. He found his cry of agonizing pain hitting the air as blood flew through his teeth. The lightning tour in to his flesh, creating deep wounds which started to bleed instantly he opened his eyes only to see the jungle trees the next moments became even more painfully as he smashed through them. His whole body felt the intense pain as the broken chariot smashed in to ground.
The chariot tore up the jungle floor as it toppled throwing him out on to the solid ground, he winced hearing it grind as it came to slow stop. He watched as the lightning disappeared from his body. His muscles were stinking with pain and he couldn't move. He could feel his blood as it ran down from the gashing wounds he felt his head hit the ground as he passed out in to darkness. Tezcatlipoca sneered as he watched the smoke move upwards from the far jungle where the chariot had hit the ground. He turned eyeing one of his un-dead skeleton warriors who looked up slightly his red eyes glowing. "Take some of your best warriors and find that pitiful lesser god! If he's alive I want him brought to me!" He watched as he nodded putting his skeleton hand on his open rib cage. "Yes great lord Tezcatlipoca." Tezcatlipoca turned slightly "If the chariot is still in one piece I want it as well…its gold can be melted down and turned in to items for my treasury." He watched as he sped in to action with five other skeleton warriors who followed him as he ran down the temple steps.
8
Gabrielle looked up from her position which wasn't very pleasant she had her head hung over the ships side. She breathed in trying not to throw up. Baldomero sneered as he walked past her he hated that he found her and her girlfriend kissing passionately in his quarters when he'd walked in earlier wanting to look at his map. Normally a sight like this would please him but somehow this didn't one bit because he disliked them both immensely. Xena liked giving out pain and Gabrielle was just insane, her insanity was just hidden by her youthful and sweet looks. She had spilled out one of his draws and wrecked his neatly set out desk just to make matters worse.
He folded his arms sneering at her. "Do you have to throw up every five minutes?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Do you have to speak? You're wasting precious air." Baldomero eyed her. "Has any one ever told you how much of a bitch you are?" Gabrielle turned slightly a cold smile spreading across her lips. "Yes my Mexican friend Itzli tells me all the time…the only reason he's not dead is because I need him." She leaned over further. "After this trip I won't need you, so don't push it…." Xena didn't think as she grabbed Baldomero by his collar. "Get away from her." She pulled him around forcefully ignoring his look of utter fear. "You owe her a hundred dinars…find it right now before I find a part of you I want to break." Baldomero sneered as he stepped back. "Your wish is my command."
Xena watched as he disappeared back in to the cabin slamming the door behind him. She turned looking at her lover. "Would you like something for the seasickness?" Gabrielle lowered her gaze. "No I'm fine…we'll be there soon." Xena slowly eased up her hand stroking her hair. "You know a little of my special herbs won't hurt you." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "They make me drowsy and I don't want to fall asleep now, I need to be focused." She groaned feeling her stomach twist she breathed in deeply trying to stop herself from loosing her lunch. "I hate boats." Xena smiled slightly. "You know this was your idea." Gabrielle eyed her for a moment. "I know it was my idea…you don't have to remind me."
She looked at the ocean again. "If we have flown in we'd both be dead by now, this was the better option." Xena breathed in slightly they were going have to have a long talk soon. She was seeing more and more violent behaviour from the younger woman. She wanted to think that it was due to the boat which always put her lover in a sour mood but her gut was telling her otherwise. What worried her even more was that in those ice cold green eyes she had seen looks of pleasure, especially when the younger woman had someone right where she wanted them. So far she'd heard that Mexica was an evil a place, what was it about this place other than its gods that terrified people so much and turned them so cruel? Was it the cruelty around them that twisted them or the presence of such evil gods?
The Greek gods were terrified of the Mexican gods, but why? C'thulon himself was all powerful his power had been terrifying in her eyes. He was a leviathan who could do any thing he pleased. She remembered when he'd torn up Akemi's prison vividly with very little effort at all. He was an ancient god though and seemed much more focused because of it. As if he always wanted to know or learn something of value. For Zeus to be afraid of him made sense but why the fear of the Aztec gods they couldn't be nearly as powerful as C'thulon could they? She breathed in deeply. She was thinking to far too hard about all this when the answers were waiting for her in Mexica. She was sure that they'd be able to fix the things Gabrielle had done in the country.
"Here's your money…all hundred dinars."
Xena turned sharply grabbing the money from Baldomero's hand she opened it pulling out one of the coins she turned it slowly in her fingers only to stop. Her gaze moved sharply meeting his. "Do you have a death wish?" Baldomero put both hands together. "Is that a rhetorical question?" Xena snarled aloud as she grabbed his collar. "These are fake I know moulded talcamite dinars when I see them!" She eased up the dinars. "When they get wet they dissolve, no wonder my lover threaten to kill you, you're a slimy dishonourable little bastard." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "You know this why I said I didn't want money from him." She breathed again trying to stop another wave of sickness as she looked at the captain. "He's a con man."
Xena growled aloud as she met Baldomero shocked gaze. "Give my lover the money you owe her." She didn't think as she grabbed his hand squeezing it tightly as her mouth formed a cruel smile. "I don't believe you took my threat seriously." She ignored his cry of agony as one of his fingers cracked with the pressure. "I can break more if you still need persuading." She squeezed his hand tighter watching as hit the floor on his knees. Baldomero cried out in pain. "I got it…please let go of my hand…I'll give you your money." Xena leaned forward. "If you fail to do as I say again I'll kill you myself." She let go of his hand ignoring his cry of pain. She pulled the bag up watching as the dinars poured down on his head. "I'll get a lot more pleasure out of it than Gabrielle, believe me!"
She watched as he bolted in to a run disappearing in side his cabin she breathed in deeply as she leaned against the side. Her gaze moved back to her lover who still looked pale. "Are you sure you don't want a pinch to the wrist, you know it helps you." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "No really I'll be fine." Xena breathed in as she put an arm around her shoulder pulling the younger woman closer. Her gaze moved back to the sea it wouldn't be much longer she was sure of it, frankly she couldn't wait to get off this wreck of a boat. The captain was a scum bag in every sense of the word. Her lover was right those from the dock on Cuba were idiots and disgusting captains. She gently kissed her lover's head feeling the younger woman tense as she tried to stop another wave of seasickness.
8
Lila watched as Tlaloc walked in to the keep his face full of anger, she swallowed crawling back on the fur skin her gaze darted as Amoxtli slowly stood up. Amoxtli looked up slightly. "How bad is it?" Tlaloc lowered his gaze. "Sixty of the un-dead warriors had their fake flesh burnt from their bones. Twenty more have had parts of their flesh burnt away." He felt his grip tighten on his weapon. "Thirty living warriors were killed and as far as the upper and lower classes and children, their still counting the dead. Safe to say, the great feathered serpent will have hundreds of new warriors to add to the skeleton army." Amoxtli looked down slightly. "We have great numbers…why did he kill all those people there was no need…."
Tlaloc shook his head. "An army is never big enough in this land, you know that as well as I do Tezcatlipoca has somehow learnt how to create un-dead warriors and is massing a skeleton army to match the feathered serpents. Huitzilopochtli's army is also growing immensely soon his Hummingbird armies size will match our gods as well and we both know that Hummingbird warriors are very difficult to kill." He snarled aloud. "His dead warriors are just like us but they are living in everyway and they feel everything. None of their soul is trapped in any way and none of their body has been taken from them or changed, they have a freedom like no other. They followed the sun god willingly and with out being forced." He looked down sadly he had fought for this freedom but had failed to obtain it.
He had believed that once he died it would be waiting for him he had heard that it didn't matter where the sun gods warriors died. Because they would ascend to the heavens and take the form of the hummingbird and the sun god would greet them on the other side. It had not happened and he had felt betrayed when he'd opened his eyes again only to find himself looking in to the feathered serpents gaze. His god had lied to him and given the gift to others who like him had been willing to serve. He turned slowly catching sight of the Greek girl who was sitting on the floor. "No doubt one day these armies will descend upon our city which is why our numbers must always be greater." He moved forward meeting Lila's gaze. "So you're the Blood Jaguar's sister…."
Lila swallowed moving back slightly. "Yes…." Tlaloc snarled as he raised his huge spiked axe. "Then allow me to make you suffer before you die!" Amoxtli grabbed his weapon hand as it came down full force. "Don't be a fool Tlaloc!" Tlaloc snarled eyeing her. "Let go of my arm!" Amoxtli sneered slightly tightening her grip. "You stupid bastard you kill her and the feathered serpent will punish you!" Tlaloc pushed harder one thing he'd always hated about Amoxtli other than her class was that she was a good fighter despite her size. "I don't care if I'm punished it would be worth just to see her die! I was so close to killing her sister! I was going to send her to hell!" Amoxtli breathed in pushing on his weapon hand full force. "Do you think killing her will ease your suffering?"
She narrowed her gaze watching as Lila moved back even further the panic showing her eyes. "She's a harmless little girl! Isn't the first law of Huitzilopochtli that there is no honour in killing a helpless or even wounded warrior and to kill those who aren't strong enough to protect themselves is a true act of cowardice?" Tlaloc snarled aloud. "I'm a slave of the feathered serpent that law means nothing to me anymore!" Amoxtli met his gaze as she pushed her feet in to the ground trying to hold him back with great difficulty. "They did once!" Tlaloc eyed her. "Those laws are meaningless I followed them and I never got my reward! I never saw heaven or became a hummingbird!"
Amoxtli breathed in deeply. "You followed them yes but you said that you never believed in them fully and that is why you're here!" She eyed Lila. "This girl isn't worth your hated she's a peasant like I was. She doesn't know about evil, she's never seen the hated of warriors and she wasn't the one who got you killed that was her sister…." She breathed in deeply. "It should be obvious to you by now that she's here as bait, why else would the feathered serpent keep her alive like he has? You know as well as I do that she should already be dead." Tlaloc looked at her slightly he pulled away watching as she stepped aside. He didn't think as he brought the axe down with in inches of the girl's body. "I hate the Blood Jaguar!"
He snarled aloud pulling the weapon free meeting her terrified gaze. "You will see your sister die by my hands girl! I will gut her alive and I'll make you watch." He leaned closer grabbing her by her dress he savagely pulled her up by it so their faces met. "I won't kill you because I hate her, but don't think I won't break your limbs if it takes my pleasing." Lila felt the floor as she hit it hard as he threw her back, she groaned painfully as she turned. "If my sister killed all those warriors in that room then I doubt you stand a chance." Tlaloc sneered in disgust as walked towards the steps that led out of the keep. Amoxtli breathed in watching as he disappeared she slowly leaned down helping the girl in to a sitting position. "Are you all right?" Lila looked up sharply her gaze darted as she met the woman's white gaze. "You…you saved me." Amoxtli stood up folding her arms. "Yes I saved you for the feathered serpent he wouldn't like it if your life got cut short."
Lila looked down slightly. "I thought…" Amoxtli snarled slightly. "You thought wrong little fool I wasn't trying to save you!" She watched as the girl lowered her head she looked away hoping that the girl wouldn't see the uncertainty in her eyes. She could have just let her die she should have if she had Tlaloc would have been destroyed and she would have gained position as head warrior of the keep. It was what she'd always wanted the power and the full ear of her god and she had been closer to the position of the twelve who had been made flesh. She looked down yet here she had not taken the opportunity. She'd walked over hundreds of warriors before now with out care or thought to get to this position. She eyed the girl who was looking away sadly, why was she being so weak now? Why couldn't she bring herself to be cold like she had always been in these situations?
8
Xena looked up slowly catching sight of the shore and a huge green land mass behind it. Her gaze slowly narrowed as she looked harder the shore was white. She could see its coral breaching the waters surface and its white and red rocks which loomed up out of the sea. There were trees of red and white which was even stranger. "I see the shore!" She watched as her lover came up leaning against the rail next to her. "That's it, that's the Xiuhcoatl shore." Xena watched as they drifted closer. "You know the coral and rocks are so white they look beautiful from here." Gabrielle felt herself tense as she narrowed her gaze. "It's not coral and there are no rocks…."
Xena pulled back in surprise. "Not rocks or coral?" Gabrielle watched as drifted slowly closer. "Look harder Xena, there is no beauty here." Xena leaned over narrowing her gaze. She found the breath getting caught of her throat as she realized what she looking at. The whole reef was filled with dried white human bones all packed so high that they were breaching the waters surfaces. The rocks were just mountains of bones which were piled high on the shore she could hundreds of gleaming object packed in with them, swords, shields and armour. The whole reef bellow her was swarming with red crabs she could see the skeletons skulled faces all looking back at her in a screaming gruesome manner.
She looked up realizing why the trees had white them it was because of the skeletons which were hanging off them. "By the Gods…how did these people die?" Gabrielle sneered. "The Xiuhcoatl shore killed them." She looked down watching as the boat came to a stop on the beach causing some of the bones to crunch and crack. Baldomero came to stand next to them he placed a money bag the dark haired woman's hand. "Here you are, now you can both leave?" Xena grabbed him with her other hand. "Oh no, I don't think so! You can help us through this dead shore before you leave…." Gabrielle turned slightly trying to ignore the smell of death which was making her skin crawl. "We don't need him that's what Itzli's for."
Xena slowly pushed the coin bag in to her lover's hands. "Yeah but I want him to come since he stranded you here. I think a dose of fear might be good for him." She leaned over to the captain's ear. "Move the ladder down so we can get our horses off." She shoved him forward watching he sped in to action in an instant she eyed Itzli who was watching patiently. She turned back look at the horrify sight in front of her again it was beyond disgusting. She could feel her stomach churning which was making her feel like she wanted to throw up. She'd seen rotting battle fields before but this was nothing compared to this, this was skeleton grave yard of massive proportions and there was something which bothering her about it.
Not a single body on this dead beach looked like they belonged to any Mexican warrior she could see hundreds of different types of weapons clothes and armour but these all looked random. She turned as Gabrielle put a hand on hers. "These people…who were they?" Gabrielle breathed in. "Thieves, treasure hunter and arrogant fools." Her gaze turned. "The armies who came here are on the way in to the jungle…at least some of them are. Others you'll see when we get on to the beach." Xena felt herself tense. "Armies?" Gabrielle slowly met her gaze. "Armies from all over the world have been here, none of them were ever fortunate enough to return home."
End of part 18
Silvermoonlight
Thank you for all the kind reviews and input.
