WHERE THE SUN BLEEDS BLOOD AND THE BONES SCRATCH THE LAND

Xena's gaze drifted slowly across the shore, she felt herself tense as she caught sight of the hundreds of huge wooden crosses which were all over the beach. She pulled Argo forward as she looked up at the skeletons which were nailed to them. She narrowed her gaze something was really wrong here. She could see the Roman legion armour clearly and she could see the fallen tower shields lying all over the beach along with other weapons. She took a step closer why would a Roman legion nail its own warriors to crosses? It was as if someone had masquerade all the warriors and then forced them to endure the punishment they gave to all their conquered.

She moved closer looking at the tattered roman banner which was lying in the sand. Next to it was a dead roman solider that had by the looks of things stabbed himself with his own Gladius. She eyed the banner again it wasn't Julius Caesar's she leaned closer in fact it was from long before him. It belonged to the late Roman Emperor Claudius. She moved her hand out to touch it only to watch in surprise as Gabrielle stopped her hand. She turned slightly meeting her lovers gaze, the younger woman had been standing behind her but she hadn't realized it until now. Gabrielle eased her lovers hand away slowly. "You shouldn't touch anything on this beach…no matter how tempting it is."

Xena slowly pulled herself up staring at the crosses. "What in Tartarus happened here?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she looked at the roman crosses. "They came to conquer and were conquered…." She kicked a red crab at her foot out of the way watching as it hit the water causing a splash. "Be careful of the crabs they have a taste for human flesh." Xena turned sharply. "This was a whole Roman legion though there must be over a hundred men here." Gabrielle sneered slightly. "Roman, Persian, Japanese, it doesn't matter just about everyone who sets foot here dies one way or another." She eased her un-dead horse forward. "Their weapons were all useless on these shores."

She leaned down easing a sai blade free from her boot her gaze turned to Itzli. "Come here." Itzli slowly came forward, he slowly met her gaze. "How can I serve you?" Gabrielle twirled the weapon slightly ignoring the sarcasm in his tone. "I'm going to cut you free." Itzli narrowed his gaze. "Of course because I wouldn't try to run away in these lands now would I?" Gabrielle raised the weapon slightly. "No you wouldn't…unless you want to die…you know that they'll be hunting you as well as me." Itzli raised both bounds hands. "How wonderful I return to my own lands and I'm going to be a bounty for other warriors." He snarled aloud. "I have you thank for that don't I? Because you know how to anger just about every god you meet!"

Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "You helped me to anger them all or have you forgotten that?" Itzli spat in disgust ignoring the taller warrior as she came to stand next to them, she still had no idea what they were saying he could see it in her light blue eyes. "I was just being the obedient servant you did after all threaten to kill me on a regular basis." He pulled up his bound hands. "You still do threaten to kill me daily so nothing's really changed has it?" Gabrielle grabbed his hands slicing the rope she watched as it fell to the floor. "You're going to do something for me." Itzli eased up his hand closing his fingers. "What would that be?" Gabrielle twirled the weapon again. "Protect Xena."

Itzli laughed slightly enjoying his own mocking laugher. "You want me to protect her? Do you know how stupid that sounds?" Gabrielle sneered as she met his gaze. "It's not a request…I don't care what happens to me, I want her watched over and if I get captured you will take her to Xochiquetzal's keep." Itzli grunted aloud. "You know the ferity goddess doesn't like you, you stole from her." Gabrielle turned sharply. "She stole from me! I think we are even in that respect." Itzli pulled up sharply. "If your lover dies it won't be my fault you know that Xochiquetzal can be just as cruel as the other gods here, when it suits her purpose." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "She won't kill Xena she wants her brother Xochipilli to see a soul mate pair."

Itzli folded his arms. "As you wish but I think you're being foolish, the goddess will take out her anger on your lover because she can't get to you." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "I don't care what you think." She sneered slightly. "You're my servant, you do as I command." Itzli turned sharply he raised his hand slowly. "One day I won't be your servant! When that day comes I'm going to kill you." Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together. "I'll kill you first…." Xena folded her arms as she raised an eyebrow. "Is everything okay?" Gabrielle turned sharply she spun the sai blade again. "Everything's fine I was just telling him the rules." Xena eyed Itzli who was gave her a cold look their raised voices had told her that it had been a heated argument. "Can he be trusted now he's unbound."

Gabrielle smiled slightly. "He won't do anything here." She took hold of her horse's reins. "He'll lead us safely through this place." Xena took hold of Argo's reins watching as the Aztec warrior moved to the front. "Shouldn't you give him a weapon?" Gabrielle turned sharply. "As soon as we get through this place I'll give him one not until then." She turned looking at the huge Aztec axe which she'd strapped to her horse's saddle it had been in Baldomero's cabin. Baldomero moved slightly as he looked at the beach. "Could we please leave? I hate this place!" Xena turned slightly. "Be quite!" She watched as the captain hung his head in defeat as he stood next to Itzli. Xena turned back she gently put a hand on her lover's arm. "How long will it take us to get through this place?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Two hours at the most." Xena breathed in deeply she didn't like this place one bit there was something about it that made chills run down her spine. If anything Aphrodite's words about the savagery here were already starting to sink in.

8

Ares felt his eyes slowly open his whole body was stinging with intense pain he turned slightly seeing the blood which was bleeding from wounds all down his arms. He could also feel blood dripping down from his forehead he groaned painfully feeling himself cough which brought up more blood his gaze suddenly shifted as he realized that someone was watching him. He groaned again turning slightly as he caught sight of a young woman who was wearing a black bodice which had gleaming red Aztec patterns on it. Her long skirt had these same patterns and was the same colour. He looked up slowly seeing the lean muscles on her arms which were covered in long jagged scars which were old by the looks of them.

Her long black hair hung down over her shoulders and he could see a black and red feathered headdress which had silver and red patterns. He couldn't help but notice that there was a long scar running down the left side of her face her eye on that side was half closed. Her good eye was green in colour and it stared at him with intense interest. His gaze darted she was goddess he could feel the power from her body although it wasn't strong. Her bare feet crunched the ground as she came closer her smile widening showing off a gleaming set of overly long canine teeth on both her upper and lower jaw. He swallowed as she kneeled down eyeing him again as she ran her tongue over her long teeth.

Her hand came down suddenly grabbing him by his black leather shirt, he looked up slowly. "Get off me!" Chantico felt her stomach growl it had been so long since she'd had blood. She was starving and feeding off animals only filled her stomach but it never satisfied her burning hunger which demanded human blood or something better. What was even better was this was a wounded lesser god from some other land. She smiled meeting his gaze. "If you want to live lesser god you'll let me feed…I'm so very hungry." Tezcatlipoca had cursed her making it so her power was greatly diminished. She had to stay in constant hiding just to survive, but even so she still had far more than power than this pathetic lesser god. She tightened her grip on him. "My hunger is like nothing you can ever imagine and you're going to satiety it."

Ares didn't get a chance to pull away as her jaws came down hard on his neck. He felt her razor sharp canines as they pieced his skin and the blood as it began to flow free. He couldn't help but cry out in pain as she pushed her teeth in further. Chantico felt her body shiver the blood tasted so good even through it was a little bitter in taste. It was still far better than anything she'd tasted in a long while her gaze shifted as she felt the god's body tense painfully. She pulled her away she could see the gods face had turned slightly pale. She licked her lips narrowing her gaze. "I could leave you here…or I could save you lesser god. Tezcatlipoca will kill you slowly and painfully if he finds you."

Ares coughed painfully his body now felt weak and he couldn't move and he was also having trouble trying to speak. Chantico looked up hearing the sound of warriors as they ran through the jungle. She snarled in humanly as she eyed the god. "Well I guess you don't get to decide…because I need more of your blood." She yanked him off the floor so he was in a standing position her gaze turned sharply as she heard the warriors getting closer. Pathetic dead fools all of them she slowly closed her eyes. The next moments caused everything to turn to fire as she teleported out of the area. No doubt all those dead fools would find would be what was felt of the godly horses and a burning chariot.

8

Xena's gaze drifted over the skeletons all around them as she walked down the beaten jungle path. The climate was tropical here and it made the smell of death even worse. She stopped still staring at the skeletons of Japanese Samurai who had committed Seppuku, their form of ritual suicide. There gleaming armour was still in place even their swords still gleamed vitality unused from what she could see. She looked away sharply she didn't want to remember Japan right now her lover had, had to see her headless body hanging up in a gruesome display. She could only imagine the emotions the younger woman had gone through when seeing it. She shook her thoughts away looking at the skeletons all around her whose armours was all still in place their tattered banners hung from trees.

Every single dead warrior in this place had endured their own form of punishment which they normally gave to their conquered. Whole legions of warriors from very country were lying here. Not a single one of these armies had gotten in to Mexica they'd all died and those who weren't from armies had just been dumped on the shore as a warning to others. She leaned down looking at a rather beautiful broad sword at her feet which was beautifully crafted. She smiling slightly it was such a nice piece of work man ship she moved her hand slowly towards it. She didn't get a chance to think about its work man ship further as Gabrielle grabbed her hand. She turned sharply meeting her lovers gaze. "Hey!"

Gabrielle didn't think as she kicked the sword as side so it was out of her lover's line of sight. "I said don't touch anything." Xena pulled her hand out of her grip. "I wasn't going to touch anything." Gabrielle sighed aloud. "These men were driven mad they killed each other. Their insanity started because they took weapons belonging to these dead men. They were forced to endure death and suffering to the extreme and in the end they lost their minds." She looked at the skeletons around her. "They killed them selves or each other and now they've become beckons to lore in people who will die like them." Itzli grunted aloud. "May be you should blind fold her." Gabrielle turned slightly. "Just leads us out of here." Itzli narrowed his gaze he turned slightly not caring for the sarcasm in his voice "As you wish."

He watching as Baldomero rubbed his hands with glee as he picked up a gold chain putting it in his shirt the captain leaned down pulling gold rings of the skeletons fingers. The greedy fool was just asking for death, the more he took the more likely it was that he'd be driven insane by this grave yard. He turned back seeing that the Blood Jaguar hadn't noticed her gaze was still fixed on her taller woman's. He breathed in deeply he had a feeling they were being watched even though he couldn't see who was watching them. Not that it would be easy to tell some of the warriors in his country were no more than skeletons themselves. Baldomero pulled off another ring he slowly placed it in his pocket if he'd have know how much gold there was here he wouldn't have stolen from temples. This was far better and it was less risky to obtain. He looked up watching as Gabrielle led Xena forward keeping her hand on the tall warriors. He sneered slightly as they all started moving again perhaps he could ditch them and go back to this place.

8

Lila looked down slightly she felt so alone despite that she had servants in the keep who where going about their business. The two warriors were sitting close by both watching her but saying nothing. There just seemed to a cold silence in the air, she put a hand on her face. She wished she was back home and safe. She put her knees up slightly, she was no warrior and she had no idea how to deal with all this. She had never been a prisoner for this long and the most scared she'd ever been before this was when Hope had pushed her on to a broken bridge. Xena had saved her stopping her from plummeting to her death but that fear was nothing compared to this.

She'd feared for her life at every passing moment, was this how Gabrielle felt? She stopped still the sister she knew though wasn't the same sister she thought she knew, so why was she asking her self that question? Her real sister sounded like a savage monster who liked to kill people and for them to suffer before they died. She breathed in deeply her sister had never shown her any evil towards her but she had no idea when her sister had been replaced with the one from the alternate timeline. Why had her sister changed time? Did she do it to cover up the killing she'd done or did she do it for some other reason? What could have been so bad that time needed to be changed?

She knew her sister could be very stubborn and sometime very single minded in her focus but this was always when it came to Xena. She breathed in sharply, if Gabrielle wasn't the sister she knew then was Xena still the same Warrior Princess or was she from the other time line as well? What did she know about time anyway? She was a village girl she wasn't meant to be asking herself these questions. She had, always had a simple life and she liked her simple life, okay she wasn't the warrior of the family but that had never really bothered her. She turned seeing both the warriors suddenly look up sharply panic filling their faces. They both kneeled down instantly putting their faces to the floor. She watched as water began to drip down around her which caused her to turn slowly.

The feathered serpents head was within inches of her body she kept still as his jaws slowly opened showing off his razor sharp teeth. She slowly met his red gaze as a long drawn out hiss echoed through the air. He had woken up and she hadn't even realized she hadn't even heard him break the waters surface because she'd been too focused in her thoughts. She swallowed as she moved back slightly getting in a kneeling position as quickly as she could. Quetzalcoatl sneered slightly. "So glad to see that you are learning, your place girl." Lila said nothing she lowered her gaze further. Quetzalcoatl pulled one of his wings out of the water flicking it. "Not very talkative to day I see."

He pulled his other wing free of the water. "I can hear your thought though so don't think that because you don't say a word that I don't understand what your feeling." Lila breathed in deeply. "You killed all those people." Quetzalcoatl laughed slightly. "You make people stronger by making them suffer, also for as many as I kill there will always be enough mortal women to give birth to more." Lila looked up slightly. "You make us sound like rats." Quetzalcoatl felt a cruel smile spread across his face. "You are rats to me, but your useful vermin who I can use how ever I please." He grinned slightly. "You've never seen death have you?" Lila breathed in deeply. "I've seen death yes." Quetzalcoatl turned slightly. "You've never been the one holding the weapon though have you?"

Lila lowered her gaze. "No I haven't." Quetzalcoatl pulled himself up higher. "Then you have no idea how good it feels." He flicked out his tongue. "Your sister had such a taste for killing." Lila turned sharply. "You're lying my sister is not a cold blooded murder!" Quetzalcoatl flicked his tail slightly. "You tell your self that but you know that it's not true, the proof is in the room of the dead which you saw." He leaned closer "Let me show everything that happened in that room through your sister's eyes." Lila looked up sharply. "I don't want to see what went on in that room!" Quetzalcoatl's smile widened. "Oh but you do, other wise why would you fight me so? Your afraid of the truth your thoughts are proof enough of that."

He flicked out his tongue. "You want to know because that is what drives you. You want the proof yet you don't want to grasp it." He eyed the two warriors. "Hold her!" Lila didn't get a chance to think as Tlaloc grabbed her by the arms forcing her to her feet she struggled only to feel his grip tighten. "Let go of me!" Quetzalcoatl watched as Amoxtli backed away slowly as he came even closer. "You want to embrace your forgotten past then you have to see the monster of your past for what she truly is first." Lila felt the force as she pushed further forward the gods jaws opened wide as his the slits in his eyes disappeared once again and they began to glow red.

8

Gabrielle could feel her heart pounding in her chest like a drum, that bastard! She turned a street staying out of sight as a number of warriors walked past. She breathed in feeling herself snarl aloud. She'd only gotten this far in to the feathered serpent's city because she was wearing the clothes of an Eagle warrior and parts of her body had war paint on it. She breathed in deeply feeling the red feathered coils move slightly on her arms and legs. The red Aztec skirt flowed with her movement it was covering her own red and black skirt. She had a red material bodice with gold patterns which was covered her shoulder straps keeping her leather bodice out of sight and the two together didn't draw any attention.

She didn't have her boots on only the highly decorated black sandals which the Mexican warrior's wore. Her boots would have been too much of a give away and no one in Mexica wore boots they were ether bare foot or had sandals. Her remaining sai blade was hidden under her upper skirt out of sight. The heavy axe with its razor points was just for show. She pushed the Eagle warriors mask further down so it overshadowed her face not that her skin tone seemed to catch anyone's eye in the darkness. She could feel very muscle in her body tensing as she carried on moving. Itzli turned sharply looking at the temple steps to the feathered serpents keep. "You're insane, he'll kill you!" Gabrielle turned sharply. "He'll kill you to…so you can ether die out here or die with me! So take your pick servant!"

Itzli pulled back slightly. "I am not your servant!" Gabrielle turned sharply. "You are my servant! I own you and if you don't do as I command I'll kill you!" She slammed the axe upwards watching as it hit his chin forcing his head back. "Or aren't I making my point clear enough?" Itzli pulled back slightly. "I hate you." Gabrielle pulled back watching as another set of warriors walked past. "I hate you to." She moved forward slowly catching sight of two warriors at the top of the temple. She narrowed her gaze noticing gold feathers and silver plumes. "Why the gold and silver feathers head dresses?" Itzli looked at the warriors. "They are the feathered serpent's twelve elite." He turned slightly. "His finest warriors all living unlike the rest of his un-dead army all trained for only one thing, to kill any one who enters his keep." He smirked slightly. "You'll be dead before you reach the inner keep." Gabrielle turned slightly. "You're such an optimist…."

"Who goes there? State your purpose!"

Gabrielle turned sharply seeing another warrior standing close by holding up her weapon. Amoxtli sneered watching as the two warriors stepped in to the firelight. The one who was all dressed in red and gold with a red Eagle warriors feathered head dress turned slightly. "I was bringing tribute to the feathered serpent." Amoxtli eyed the warrior. "What's your tribute?" Gabrielle didn't think as she swung the axe hilt slamming it in to the back of Itzli's head. She watched as he cried out in pain as he hit the floor on his front. "A spy from the sun god's realm…." Amoxtli looked down sharply. "I see…well make sure that the feathered serpent tears him half."

Gabrielle grabbed hold Itzli pulling him up violently. "Oh I will." Amoxtli raised her hand. "That's the main temple the elite will take him in to the inner keep." Gabrielle moved forward keeping her head low. If anything her eyes would give her away. "Thank you, commander." Amoxtli smiled slightly finally some respect! She carried on walking. "It was about time that she someone noticed her status…she was after all rising up the warrior ladder." She looked at her hand. One day she was going to be at the top of the ladder and no one would ever question her again, because she'd be able to gut them alive. She had served for thirty seasons as an un-dead warrior and her time to become head warrior was approaching."

She lowered her head may be one day she'd be free and could die mortal which was all she wanted. She didn't care if her life lasted less than ten minutes so long as she got to make love to some one living again and eat food that was all that mattered. Her gaze turned as another lower ranking warrior came towards her. "What is it?" The warrior folded his arms. "You're wanted in the temple of the dead." Amoxtli scowled slightly. "Why?" The warrior looked up slightly. "The feathered serpent has found a companion warrior for you." Amoxtli turned sharply. "I don't need a companion warrior!" The lower ranking warrior narrowed his gaze. "The orders are from the highest priests…he's just been resurrected by the feathered serpent and he's at your rank level."

Amoxtli growled aloud. "No one is at my rank level." The lower ranking warrior laughed slightly. "You're not head warrior yet Amoxtli…a peasant girl like you will never make head warrior." Amoxtli pulled up her weapon slamming it in to his arm full force watching as the fake flesh was ripped clean off. She ignored his cry of pain as he hit the full force on his knees. She grabbed his throat. "One day I will be head warrior and when I am I'm going kill you if you speak out of turn to me. "She tightened her grip. "Remember that!" She didn't think as she slammed the hilt in to his head knocking him out instantly. She sneered as she walked over his damaged body. The skin on his arm was already starting to heal. She spat in disgust, as she carried on moving she didn't need a companion warrior.

Gabrielle pulled Itzli up the steps savagely ignoring his groans of pain. Itzli turned sharply. "You bitch that hurt!" Gabrielle pulled him harshly. "That's pay back for Xochiquetzal's keep." Itzli groaned again. "I hit you in the ribs to make it look good." Gabrielle turned sharply. "Yes and I'm returning the favour…because it hurt like Tartarus!" Itzli carried on moving. "Tartarus what is that? Sounds like a name I'd call my llama." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "It's the name for hell where I come from." Itzli grunted aloud. "Your word for hell is pitiful." Gabrielle sneered she looked up watching as the two warriors at the temples entrance looked around as she came closer.

The first raised his spear. "State your purpose." Gabrielle lowered her head slightly as she shoved Itzli forward. "A spy from the sun gods realm for the feathered serpent…." Itzli felt the force as both elite warriors grabbed his arms. The first turned slightly. "We'll take him in you can follow us but only as far as our quarters." Gabrielle felt her cruel smile widen she was so looking forward to this. "I'm sure the feathered serpent will enjoy killing him." The female warrior opposite dragged Itzli forward along with her companion. "When the feathered serpent returns I'm sure he will." Gabrielle turned catching sight of the large highly decorated room opposite, she watched as Itzli was led in to the room she calmly followed.

The female warrior eyed her for a long moment. "What rank are you?" Gabrielle turned the corner seeing ten other warriors who were all eating food. None of them bothered to look up. She could see all their weapons lying close by they were all Aztec axes with the exception of one which she recognised instantly as a sheathed Japanese katana. The warrior who it belonged to smiled as he slowly picked up the sheathed sword. "I killed the warrior who owned this weapon. He was trespassed here, I had him flayed alive." He raised the sword higher. "I took this as a trophy." His smile widened. "You want to have look?" The woman who still held Itzli turned slightly. "You're going to let a lower ranking warrior like her look at your trophy?"

Gabrielle slowly took the sword from his hand the warrior grinned. "I think our lesser warriors should see our trophies it reminds them off what they can't have." Gabrielle put her axe down she slowly unsheathed the sword looking at its gleaming blade. "Do you know how to use it?" The warrior took a long drink. "No." Gabrielle slowly raised her head so he could see her eyes. "Shame really, because it's an utter waste in the hands of a warrior like you. "The warrior's eyes met her own. "You're not an Eagle warrior!" Gabrielle pulled the blade back full force. "No I'm much worse." She brought the weapon across full force watching as slammed in to his raised arm blood flew through the air as his arm was severed from his body.

He hit the floor screaming in agony she didn't think as she turned the weapon slicing it across the chest of the warrior closest to her. She watched as he pulled back his cry of pain hitting the air. She swung the weapon around ignoring the blood which was dripping from the blade. She felt her evil smile widen as they all grabbed there weapons the shock showing in their faces. Itzli felt the force as the man holding him shoved him hard he felt the wall as he hit it shoulder first which caused him to wince in pain. His eyes slowly turned feeling the world slow down. He could see the warriors as they came at the Blood Jaguar who didn't flitch as she pulled the curved weapon back. Her green eyes burnt like a fire and he could see the hated in them.

Her teeth grinded together as her feet moved in to position as she readied herself. There was no fear in her eyes he watched as the sword swung again hitting its mark sending blood spattering across the high decorated walls as the nearest warriors head was taken off. The sword turned as it slamming in to the stomach of another only to be pulled free again. The weapon looped around taking another warrior head off it then swung around taking the leg off another. It slammed in to the chest of a warrior who was trying to attack from behind. Gabrielle let go off the sword watching as the woman behind her hit the floor her body shaking as death took over. She leaned down grabbing the Aztec axe.

She could feel her heart beating in her ears and the rush of blood as it streamed through her system unchallenged by her conscience or her morals. The feeling was so new. She felt like a horse that had just smashing free of its wooden pen. Unchallenged unstoppable and uncontrollable it felt better than any feeling she'd had in a long time. She felt the force as the nearest warrior's fist made contact with her face causing blood to fly through her teeth she winced in pain as she hit the statue behind her she ignored the pain as she ripped a piece of her hair of. She brought the axe around smashing it against his side hearing the cracking of his pelvis bone. She twirled the weapon around smashing it in to his hand watching as his weapon hit the ground hard.

She brought the weapon around as he fell to the floor slamming it in to the chest of another warrior hearing his rib bones break. So this was what blood lust felt like…by the gods it was intoxicating. It felt as good as the moments when Xena had been there and the tall warrior had over powered her and all she could do was enjoy the thrill. She slammed up her weapon smashing another warrior's weapon clean out of his hand. She brought up her leg kicking the face of another full force she pulled her sai blade free slamming it in the neck of the warrior who was clutching his bloody hand. She turned the point slamming in to the other warrior's chest.

She let go of the weapon watching as he fell to the floor shaking as death over took him. She turned grabbing one of the fallen axes. Her gaze turning to the fallen warriors whose blood was now soaking the floor. She raised the Aztec Axe as her gaze met the first. "I'm only going to ask you once…where does the feathered serpent keep his godly objects?" The wounded man clutched his bleeding stomach. "I'll go to hell before I tell you that!" Itzli found him self cringing in horror as the Aztec axe came down killing the warrior instantly. He closed his eyes hearing the screams for mercy as she slowly focused her hate and anger on the others who were still unfortunate to be alive and wounded.

He could hear every blow as she killed them when they failed to answer her question she left the axe embedded in one of the warriors as she stepped away. Gabrielle moved slowly towards the last fallen warrior who was trying desperately trying to drag himself away despite the loss of his leg. "Same question!" The man looked up the horror showing in his face. "I don't know! Please I beg mercy!" Gabrielle leaned down pulled her sai blade free. "They call you the elite warriors…your pitiful." She raised the bloody weapon. "Where are they?" She put the sai blade down as she kneeled in front of him. "If you want to live you'll tell me!" She slammed both finger points in to his neck watching as he started to choke. "Let me make it really easy for you."

She leaned closer enjoying the sounds of his gagging. "I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain you've got thirty seconds to live." She sneered meeting his terrified gaze. "That numbness is the feeling of your eminent death and its going to travel through your whole body slowly and painfully." The warrior's eyes widened. "He keeps them in main keep! Their next to the food table! It's a secret compartment that opens with a lever!" Gabrielle smiled as she took hold of her sai blade standing up slowly. "Very good…." He looked up slowly. "Please take…this off." Gabrielle smiled raising the bloody sai blade. "Did I say I was going to take it off?" The warrior gagged sharply. "You did!" Gabrielle sneered slightly. "No I didn't…frankly I'd like to watch you die."

Itzli watched as the man hit the floor his body shaking violently. He could see blood dripping of the Blood Jaguar's mask and her arms he felt him self shiver as the man body stiffened as he died. He looked up slowly she was an animal a pure un-caged animal. Her brutality was truly unmatched, he felt his eyes dart. He could feel his own fear welling up how could any one stop such uncontrolled violence? Her violence had no fear of death and no care for life her skill was pure rage and desire. Mixed with the want for blood and hated and a selfish one track mind which only wanted what it wanted. He looked up seeing the blood dripping from her mask, clothes and body again…no one could stop this warrior who now truly lived up to her name of Blood Jaguar.

8

"Stop! Please stop!"

Quetzalcoatl pulled back watching as the girl hit the floor on her knees. "Now do you understand girl?" Lila coughed trying desperately not to throw up she couldn't stop herself as the contents of her stomach rebelled against her wishes and she lost her breakfast. Quetzalcoatl sneered in disgust the fact that mortals couldn't keep their food down had always disgusted him. He narrowed his gaze it was such a waste to loose what you eat, and it was also distasteful. Lila looked up slowly. "My sister killed those people…." Quetzalcoatl pulled up slightly. "Yes she did so now that you've seen it for yourself. Wouldn't you agree that your sister is evil and a murder?" Lila turned feeling the tears run down her face. "I…I…"

Quetzalcoatl turned slightly pushing his tail back under the water. "I'll leave you to think about what you've seen girl." Amoxtli watched as the feathered serpent hit the water disappearing under it. She looked down seeing the girl who was now crying she lowered her gaze sadly. The god was slowly breaking her innocence and destroying everything she believed in. Tlaloc laughed slightly as he looked at the distraught young woman who was wiping away her tears. "It must be heart breaking to find that your sisters a killer." He grinned evilly. "Tell me how does it feel?" Amoxtli didn't think as she shoved him back savagely. "Tell me something! Have you ever once said any thing honourable in your life?"

Tlaloc eyed her in annoyance. "What is wrong with you? Why are you protecting this girl?" Amoxtli shifted slightly. "I'm not protecting her!" Tlaloc sneered slightly. "You're lying peasant girl! The truth is you're going soft…you have been around for so long that you're loosing your mind." Amoxtli didn't thing as she back handed him full force. "I am not a peasant girl!" Tlaloc turned he ignored the painful twinge he wasn't used to being hit, not by anyone he snarled aloud. "How dare you hit me!" Amoxtli narrowed her gaze. "How dare you insult me! You know I hate you, you're a mindless insulting over muscled bastard with the temperament of a llama!" She raised her hand. "I put up with you because I have to and only because I have to."

She turned sharply. "I put up with your insults and your super ego day in day out. Truth is I've been dead for thirty years or more and in that time I've had to put up with the branding of peasant girl from everyone. I killed and tour my way up the ranks to be here and I'm much your equal as I could be and still I get your insults." She looked down trying to hide the pain her face. "Truth is I liked being a peasant girl I was happy then because I was free and I remember my innocence so well. I bet though out your whole life you've never been happy have you? My guess is because you've never been happy you take out your revenge on others…even though you're the one with the problem." Tlaloc stepped back slightly as he moved towards the stairs of the keep. "I don't have to listen to this." Amoxtli folded her arms. "No you don't but you really should." Tlaloc snarled as he walked up the stairs out of sight how dare she, she was wrong he was happy! He had been happy through out his life when he'd been alive.

End of part 19

Silvermoonlight.