OF BLOOD BONE AND HATRED
Ehecatl looked up slowly from the table with the scrolls on it his un-dead red gaze slowly travelled over the pages the monthly tribute from the villages was poor. He tossed the scroll aside in disgust, Tezcatlipoca wouldn't be pleased. He could already see five people getting their hearts torn from their bodies. The Jaguar god wasn't patient but his patience had been even less lately. He watched as Amimitl walked in to the room his blue feathered headdress moving slightly. He looked up adjusting his own head dress as he ran his skeleton hand over the scrolls. He had forgotten what flesh was and he no longer cared for it, unlike the feathered serpent his god didn't give flesh even fake flesh.
His cruel sense of humour was to give the bones feeling so that every touch was felt every kiss every hug, yet no one would touch the dead. They would shrink away in fear and terror. Through his glowing red eyes he could see the world the way they did and he couldn't have anything in it, nothing living or breathing. The feathered serpent's warrior could at least sleep with people even if they couldn't feel anything. He watched as his companion moved his bleached skeleton body slightly his red eyes glowing in the fire light. "What is it!?" He moved another scroll closer to him. "Can't you see I'm busy?" Amimitl bowed slightly. "I'm sorry it's important."
Ehecatl moved the next scroll forward. "So is this…I do it so you have people to kill." Amimitl breathed in Ehecatl was the most foul tempered bastard he'd ever come across. Mind you he was one of the first un-dead warriors created by Tezcatlipoca he was probably over a hundred years old if not older. He had been in change for so long now that he had lost his patience along with his pride. All he cared about was pleasing the Jaguar god and staying in his good graces. "There's someone important here to see you." He raised his skeleton hand slowly. "Some one you have to see." Ehecatl looked up grinding his jaws together. "Unless it's our great god, I'm not interested, why don't you tell them to go away before I loose my patience and kill them."
"You disappoint me Ehecatl."
Ehecatl looked up hearing the female voice which drifted through the air filling his senses. His companion instantly backed away as a small woman entered the room. Her gold plated head dress gleamed in firelight its huge Coyote jaws over shadowing her face as the red jewelled eyes caught the light. The white and black feathers swayed as the headdress moved. The white and black coils swayed on both her arms and her legs, he could see the gold and black bodice which had the same golden patterns on her hanging skirt. Very long black hair hung down well over her shoulders and he could see her light bronze skin and her brown eyes as they narrowed. "Star Coyote my deepest apologises."
He got up almost kicking the table in the process as he grabbed the scrolls pushing them aside as he bowed his head. Her brown gaze narrowed slowly. "Don't get up Ehecatl I don't want to look at your un-dead carcass." Ehecatl seated himself quickly. "How may I help you?" He could smell her living blood even hear her heart as it pounded in her chest it was a beautiful living sound of a beautiful living woman. Her hand slowly formed a fist. "The question is how can I help you?" Ehecatl felt his glowing gaze shift. "I don't understand what you mean by that." She walked forward slamming her fist down hard on his table causing everything on it to shake. "No you don't understand a lot do you? Your brain likes to abandon you doesn't it?"
Ehecatl put his hand on hers feeling her warm flesh. "Now there's no need to be insulting though I do love your insults they are such a turn on." Her gaze lowered. "You don't have a manhood to get turned on with." Ehecatl looked up wishing he could smile. "I can always imagine that I have one, even though I don't." He watched as Amimitl blinked in surprise at his comment but said nothing. He looked at her again moving his skeleton fingers up her wrist. "Now what it that you know that I don't? I do love our little talks." He moved her fingers up her arm. "There so nice." She grabbed his hand harshly pulling it away. "Who does your god hate more than life itself?"
Ehecatl eased his hand out of her grip moving it to her shoulder enjoying the feeling of her hair as he ran it through his finger. "Quetzalcoatl?" She leaned closer. "Think smaller think mortal." Ehecatl moved his fingers down her arm again. "Ah yes the Blood Jaguar." She raised an eyebrow. "Well what if I told you that she had returned to Mexica?" Ehecatl pulled up sharply. "You're not serious!" Her hand moved prying his off again. "You know I don't care for telling lies." Her teeth grinded together. "I have no reason to." She moved her finger up tapping it against his jaw bone. "Imagine how pleased your god will be when he hears that you gave him this valuable information. Why he might be so kind as to give your body back for a day." Ehecatl felt his gaze shift. "Where was she seen?" Her smile widened. "She was passing through the Xiuhcoatl shore and she's not alone."
Ehecatl grabbed her hand as she pulled it away. "What do you want?" Her gaze shifted to meet his. "I want the location of Naui Quiahuitl." Ehecatl narrowed his glowing gaze. "That's not possible!" She leaned forward. "Make it possible!" Ehecatl tapped his fingers in thought. "If you take Tezcatlipoca's godly object you must return it, he will destroy me if he realizes that it's gone." She smiled again. "I only need it for an hour." Ehecatl stood up slowly walking away from her. "I'll check your claim first if I find it to be true I'll tell my god and you'll get his godly item for an hour." He watched as she smashed her fist down hard again her teeth grinding together. She suddenly moved away from the table shoving Amimitl out of the way. "Your temper is beautiful Star Coyote I believe it matches that off the Blood Jaguar." She turned slowly. "The Blood Jaguar is no match for me…you should be concerned though because she's more than a match for you."
8
Zeus walked across the hall again he breathed in deeply turning to his wife. "I can't let him die…he's my son." Hera breathed in deeply sitting back on her throne. "I taught him to hate, I taught him to be vengeful." Zeus turned looking at Aphrodite and Hephaestus who were saying nothing. "You say he stole Apollo's chariot?" Aphrodite nodded slightly. "I tried to stop him I tried to talk him out of it but he wouldn't listen." Zeus stroked his beard. "Then I have no choice but to call up on the only god I know who can save him." Hera sat up sharply. "There is only one other god I know who has been to Mexica and that's Anubis and as we both know he can't be trusted, he's a trouble maker even in his own lands."
Zeus turned slightly. "I was not referring to him, I was referring to another." He walked forward easing out his hand. "I once saved his life he has always owed me a favour and I feel that the time has come to call it in." He turned slightly watching as the water filled in the huge pool close by. He eased out a green jade pendent from under his robe. Hera sat up slightly. "Who is this god?" Zeus breathed in watching as the twisting hook symbol began to glow white. "A guardian from a far away land called Te Ika a Maui who I met before I married you." He dropped the pendent in to the pool watching as it began to bubble and churn. He stepped back watching as the steam began to rise. "He has been to Mexica and lived to talk about it."
He watched as the water carried on churning a huge head suddenly to broke the surface, sending water every where. The eagle face with its faded yellow hooked beak caught the light. It had a face of black feather which gleamed with green patterns which could be seen in the low light as they spread outwards like a huge mane. A huge serpent body followed which was covered in gleaming rainbow scales which shimmered with silver flecks. Two enormous eagle wings broke the surface covered in the black feathers which gleamed with same green patterns on every feather. The wings ends had three eagle claws which acted like fingers. Its tail end broke the surface it was that of a whale along the whole of its back a huge fish fin rose up.
Its eyes were that of a bird and they were gold in colour, it shook its head slightly getting rid of the last of the water. It was slightly smaller than the feather serpent in size but still huge compared to him. Zeus ignored everyone utter shock as he stepped forward. "It is good to see you again Manaia, it has been to long." Manaia shook his feathered eagle head again. "It's been far too long old friend." He lowered his wings putting them against the pools side as he gripped the edge with his claws. "I always said that you could call for me, I just thought that you'd call me sooner." He moved slightly stretching his snake like body. "I heard a rumour that you'd died." Zeus folded his arms looking at his old friend. "An over exaggeration I can assure you."
Hephaestus limped forward slightly. "You're a serpent?" Manaia turned sharply. "I am no serpent! Do not confuse my body with that of a snakes my body is that of a fish." Zeus turned slightly. "I apologise for my son Hephaestus he's just seen a real serpent and he had wings like you and a body which was similar." Manaia shook his huge mane of feathers. "Quetzalcoatl…I assume." Zeus nodded slightly. "Yes I'm very sorry to say." Manaia narrowed his gaze. "I don't like the fact that I share similar features to that savage god. I might be related to him through the godly bloodline but I share none of his vile traits." He swung his tail slightly. "I don't kill my own people just because I find it a form of amusement."
Zeus smiled slightly. "You're a noble god who loves his people Manaia no one can fault that." Aphrodite moved slowly forward. "Manaia, what a beautiful name." Manaia turned slightly his mouth forming a soft smile. "Why thank you and who are you pretty young goddess?" Zeus turned slightly. "This is Aphrodite she's Hephaestus's wife." He turned slightly to Hera who was still sitting on the throne watching with great interest. "This is my wife Hera." Manaia turned slightly. "I see you've done well for yourself." Zeus looked down slightly. "Not so well, I have another son who has done something foolish, which is why I've called you here." Manaia looked up slightly. "Would that son be Ares?"
Zeus looked up sharply. "Yes, how did you know his name?" Manaia turned slightly. "In my boredom I sometimes swim under mortal ships listening to conversations. I hear a lot in conversation and two names do tend to crop up often that off Ares and Anubis, who both seem to cause a lot trouble in there own lands." Manaia turned slightly. "Not that I feel you're to blame for all this, some children can be very rebellious." Zeus breathed in deeply. "I think rebellious isn't quite the word I'd use, my son has gone to Mexica." Manaia looked up sharply. "I see your problem…and I can also see now why I'm here." Zeus looked up slowly. "You survived the gods of Mexica."
Manaia pulled up one wing slightly. "I survived by pretending to be like them, the feathered serpent liked me, though I hated him with a passion. His love off me allowed me to leave Mexica alive." Zeus sighed aloud. "My son is there right now and I fear for his life, I don't have the power to stand up the gods of Mexica." Manaia sighed aloud. "I see your cruel predicament…you can't leave because to leave may allow the demon god Dahak to return in your absence." He looked up slowly. "You wish for me to bring your son back?" Zeus breathed in deeply. "Yes I know what I ask of you is dangerous but I have no one else who I can turn to." He shook his head sadly. "Ra isn't as forth coming as he used to be, despite our alliance. I know that if you find him you can teach him things and mentor him in finding a balance…like you did me." Manaia breathed in deeply. "You once saved my life, allow me to bring you your son back to you as a better man then we are even in our debts old friend."
8
Tezcatlipoca sat back on his throne watching as five warriors placed the broken golden chariot down in front of him. "Where is the lesser god?" He tapped his clawed fingers impatiently as he watched all the skeletons warriors look at each other. The first nervously stepped forward. "We couldn't find the lesser god great lord Tezcatlipoca, only the chariot." Tezcatlipoca slashed his tail in a violent motion. "You dare come back to me with out the god!?" The skeleton warrior shivered slightly. "Please great lord all we found was the chariot and we brought it to just as you asked." He kneeled down slightly. "Please have mercy on us great Jaguar god." Tezcatlipoca tapped his clawed fingers again. "Mercy is for the weak…."
Ehecatl breathed in deeply as he entered the Jaguars gods keep he was over a hundred years old and still he was filled with dread every time he faced his god. He looked at the highly decorated walls and huge black throne with its golden Aztec patterns which his god was sitting on. He breathed in again he could do this. He held the scroll tighter while watching his god closely. "Great lord…I have news." Tezcatlipoca roared aloud as he turned. "What is this about?!" Ehecatl blinked as he raised the scroll in his hand. "It's about your tribute." Tezcatlipoca snarled aloud showing of his huge teeth. "You bother me with this? Rip out the hearts of the fools who didn't bring me enough!"
Ehecatl moved forward seeing how nervous the other warriors were. "Yes I know My Lord its just I have another piece of news that you might find interesting." He breathed in deeply steadying himself. "I have news that the Blood Jaguar has returned." Tezcatlipoca stopped in mid motion turning to face him his huge clawed hand slammed down hard on the throne. "What did you say?" Ehecatl looked up meeting his burning orange gaze with their black cat like slits. "The Blood Jaguar has returned…she was last seen moving through the Xiuhcoatl shore." Tezcatlipoca eased up his clawed finger. His eyes suddenly showed great interest. "Is she alone?" Ehecatl took a slow deep breath. "No My Lord…I don't have the details in full of who she's travelling with."
Tezcatlipoca felt his grin suddenly widen he slowly stood up walking forward he tapped his clawed foot on the floor lightly. He turned slowly eyeing the five others warriors "Get out!" He watched as the bolted in to a run leaving his keep he turned back to his head warrior he moved forward narrowing his gaze. "Did you find this information out for yourself or did someone sell it to you for a price?" Ehecatl turned watching as Amimitl walked in to the room. "The Star Coyote gave me this information…she didn't want a price." He shifted his gaze slightly that was a lie which he hoped his god wouldn't notice. Tezcatlipoca swung his tail violently. "I despise that cursed servant." Ehecatl looked up slightly. "The Star Coyote doesn't lie though great lord."
Tezcatlipoca narrowed his gaze as he slowly sat back down on his throne. "I want warriors sent out! I want them to see with their own eyes if her claim is true!" Ehecatl lowered his head slightly. "As you wish great Jaguar god…." Ehecatl stood up slightly. "What if we find it to be the true Blood Jaguar?" Tezcatlipoca snarled aloud. "Then I want her brought to me alive." He slammed his clawed hand down hard on his throne. "I want to watch her die and witness every delicious moment of her pain as I rip out her insides while she's still breathing." He felt his claws dig deeper in to the throne. "I had Xochiquetzal as my wife and she destroyed everything for me…I was about to overthrow the feathered serpent and I lost it all because of her!"
8
Gabrielle twirled her sai blade absentmindedly she moved her horse further forward her gaze drifted to her lover who was following. They would be out of this grave yard in less than an hour. Some how she'd be happy to leave this place behind it was a disturbing and cruel testament to the Aztec gods sick sense of humour. She stopped eyeing the skeletons around her she could feel a dark presence as if she was being watched. She narrowed her gaze looking at the skulls and bodies someone was hiding in these bones and they were very close. Xena stopped sharply. "What's wrong?" Itzli stopped turned sharply he watched as the captain did the same.
Gabrielle calmly let go of the reins she moved past her lover. "Some ones watching us…." Xena turned sharply feeling her eyes dart. "I don't see anyone or hear them." Gabrielle twirled her weapon looking harder at all the skeletons. "That's because their right in front of us." She jammed the sai blade in to nose of one of the skeletons only to watch as its glowing red eyes shot open. There was a scream of pain as it leaped up crashing through the bones as it dropped its Aztec axe. She forced the weapon in deeper as she grabbed its waving skeleton arm yanking him free from the grave yard. Xena found her self pulling back in shock as the skeletons whole body came in to view. It was covered in Aztec clothes much like Itzli's but no head dress.
She pulled back, living breathing bones that walked she narrowed her gaze suddenly feeling out of her depth. She'd seen all manner of creatures but she'd never seen a walking skeleton with the exception of Alti in the other life time but even then that had been a dreamscape and not real in any sense. Yet this warrior was no more that a set of bones and he was moving and he felt pain. Gabrielle snarled as she kept her weapon in place. "You should've picked your hiding place better!" The skeletons glowing eyes blinked a very young male voice hit the air as it spoke. "My nose you're hurting my nose!" Gabrielle pushed the blade up higher. "Tell me who owns your soul before I hurt more!" The skeletons blinked as it raised its other hand. "I'm one of Itzpapalotl's warriors!"
He raised his skeleton hand. "I was sent to scout and to check on the other god's army numbers." Gabrielle twisted the blade. "You're going to have to do better than that! I know that there are no armies here for you to count." Itzli folded his arm eyeing the un-dead warrior. "Unless you want end up crawling back to your city in pieces you'll answer her questions boy." Xena turned eyeing Baldomero. "Do you understand what their saying?" Baldomero turned sharply. "No I don't know what their saying I don't waste my time trying to understand the savage tongue." Xena raised her hand pointing at the skeleton warrior. "Is that normal here?" Baldomero laughed slightly. "You really haven't been here before have you warrior?"
Xena narrowed her gaze snarling aloud. "No I haven't." Baldomero folded his arms. "Lucky you…." He ignored her look of surprise as he turned back. Gabrielle eyed the un-dead warrior whose skeleton arm was trying to pull itself free from her hand. His red gaze shifted. "I saw your ship land I was going to capture one of you as a sacrifice to please my goddess." Itzli narrowed his gaze eyeing the other warrior. "How thoughtful of you…." He sneered slightly as he met his red gaze. "Your trainers should've trained you in hiding better boy." Gabrielle eyed the skeleton warrior if he had been alive he'd have been no more than fifteen seasons old, he was no more than a child.
Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "Are their any more warriors here?" The red eyes blinked. "No! I'm the only one!" He raised his skeleton hand. "I was trying to get away from the city…I was afraid…I don't want to be there anymore." Gabrielle pulled the weapon out of his nose opening ignoring his yelp of pain. "Then you can carry on running." She let go of his hand forcing him back so he was standing. "You just never saw us though did you?" The skeleton warrior raised his hands. "I won't tell any one anything I swear!" Gabrielle watched as he bolted in to a run disappearing in to the thick jungle. Itzli blinked as he eyed her. "You should've made him limp home." Gabrielle turned sharply meeting his gaze. "He's just a child!" Itzli pulled back slightly. "Well that never stopped you before Blood Jaguar…."
Xena stepped forward so she was beside her lover she heard Argo snort behind her. "What was that all about?" Gabrielle looked at her sai blade for a long moment her gaze moved slightly. "The skeleton warrior was a run way from goddess Itzpapalotl's region." She sighed aloud. "I let him go, he's was just an innocent child who been turned in to skeleton warrior and he was afraid." Xena breathed in deeply. "Turning a child in to that…that's just disgusting." Baldomero laughed slightly causing them both to turn. "I'm stunned that the might Warrior Princess is so clueless about Mexica…I mean here I was thinking you were the all knowing warrior." He raised his hand. "My, my how disappointing, you really don't live up to your great legend." Gabrielle raised her hand. Shut up!" She turned realizing that that her lover had said the same thing she watched as the taller woman gave her a smile. Gabrielle turned taking hold of her horses reins. "We should keep moving the sooner we get out this place the better. Xena slowly took hold of Argo's reins. "I agree…."
End of part 20
Silvermoonlight.
Thank you for all your kind reviews.
Manaia is a mythical bird-headed being, a Maori spirit guardian and messenger of the gods. Te Ika a Maui is the ancient name for the North Island of New Zealand.
