THE INNER FIRES OF TURMOIL AND RAGE

Tezcatlipoca watched as the fire and smoke rose up from the store house far bellow which was followed by more panic and screaming. He roared in anger it was just one thing after another, the little bitch was causing utter chaos in his city! He could see people and warriors trying desperately to put out the fire which was now a raging inferno. He should have seen this coming the Blood Jaguar was far from stupid she was a cunning little bitch who liked to get her way. Frankly he would compliment her if he didn't want to rip her insides out in front of her face. He slammed his clawed hand down hard on the platform she was so close now, he just didn't know who she was posing as.

He turned raising his hand tapping the red and gold weaving centre piece of his gold collar. The Naui Quiahuitl pendent, had been put in to his gold collar, every few people realized that he always had it on him. The one in the temple was a fake and nothing more than a thicket which wouldn't do anything for the person who took it. Only the two head warriors knew that this was the true pendent and the one which gave him the power to move faster in time. In the beginning C'thulon had given every Aztec god a godly object or item which was for them and them alone. He ran his finger over the weaving circle with its red gem stone his was a true time pendent.

All the Aztec gods including him weren't allowed to play with time on a large scale, changing the past or the present was also forbidden. C'thulon was the lord of time, to play with it in this way would bring about his wraith. He smiled slightly but playing small scale wasn't forbidden and nether was using time to win battles against his enemies. Ehecatl backed away further as he tried to put his broken arm back in place with great difficulty. He eyed Amimitl in disgust the bastard was trying to take his position as head warrior! He felt his arm click back in to place, what did it matter anyway? He knew this would happen someday it wasn't like he really cared anymore for being head of this army.

He was sick of being the Jaguar god's puppet he had done it for over a hundred years and for what? He had never been given back his living flesh despite his loyalty and the countless armies he had destroyed. He just wanted the Star Coyote, he just hadn't realised how much until now. He had been too caught up in everything else to see it. Amimitl turned slightly the moon was starting to appear high in the sky now, it was late and everyone was waiting. He'd called over thirty living warriors to the temples keep and he also had another twenty skeleton warriors who were all at the ready. It was all he could get hold off, the rest were preoccupied bellow, they now had less than half the numbers they needed at the temple.

This was a total mess the Blood Jaguar had played the better game, the question was though would she make it to the top of the keep alive? He had the remainder of his best warriors here now, would she be able to cut through them? The myth about her was spot on she was relentless in her pursuits when she wanted something and that scared him somewhat. Xena looked up slightly watching as black smoke rose upwards bellowing high above the city she couldn't see what was happening bellow but she knew there was chaos. Her lover had done everything possible to put the city in to turmoil so she could separate the warriors and spread them. If anything it was working perfectly.

She felt her gaze dart she could feel Gabrielle she shook her head trying to clear the haze in her mind. It wasn't her imagination she knew the feeling the presence, she was so close. She closed her eyes slowly trying to feel for her trying reach out, she could feel her heart beat as it started to move faster, all of a sudden. Tezcatlipoca felt his ear twitch he turned eyeing the Warrior Princess he had heard her heart beat go faster all of sudden. He narrowed his gaze as he felt the rage start to burn, he knew what it meant. Rumour had it some people in Greece had a connection of some kind. He had never believed much in that vile drivel spouted by the Greek gods about their pitifully entwined creations.

He could now sense the change in the Warrior Princess's and that was more than enough. It was also a sigh that her life was about to get a whole lot worse and that thrilled him. He felt a cruel smile form as he twitched his fingers he had so been looking forward to this. The waiting had been driving him mad. Itzpapalotl looked up slightly. "She's here isn't she?" Tezcatlipoca sneered slightly. "Yes…she is." He slowly moved towards the Warrior Princess who looked up sharply. "I'm going to make you scream until your last breath Warrior Princess. You'll be begging for your death when the end finally comes." He raised a clawed hand watching as the chains loosened slightly causing the dark haired woman to stumble forward a step so she was closer to him.

He narrowed his gaze as he raised his hand ripping her apart would be quick but not as fun as slow torture. Plus he could tear out her insides last of all but right now he had something more interesting in mind. He grabbed her wrist yanking her up full force so only her boot tips were touching the floor. "Allow me to show you how your friend Baldomero suffered before he died." Xena sneered slightly as she met his cold gaze. "He was never my friend…I hated the bastard." Tezcatlipoca raised his hand so it was over her hand which was in a tight fist. "No I don't suppose he could be your friend after all he told us where we could find you and the Blood Jaguar." He twitched his fingers. "Let's see if you can stand the same punishment."

He watched as the skin on her fingers started to peel causing blood to flow over her fist. "They say it is not huge wounds that are the worst, but those that are small, painful and slow." Xena felt her eye snap shut as the shearing pain shot through her hand, which got worse with every second. It was excruciating like hot little knifes being pushed in to her fingers inch by inch. Tezcatlipoca smiled watching as more skin was torn back causing her fist to spasm forcing her hand open. "Don't fight it Warrior Princess you can't, you should let it out and scream." Xena tried to struggle but her weaken body made her attempts useless. She'd been stabbed and she'd been beaten, yet hadn't been as painful as this, she was starting to loose the feeling in her fingers and hand.

The only thing she could compare it to was the gauntlet that she'd run before Darfus had taken control over her army and she'd been thrown out. She'd walked that vile gauntlet and taken very blow that had been given to her. Every moment that the clubs had hit her skin was pure agony and the visions of that day had always remained clearly in her mind. She struggled harder she could feel her blood pouring down her open hand but she couldn't see to tell because of the huge clawed hand holding her wrist. The pain came again but this time it was war worse and she found herself crying out. She was yanked up higher as the stabbing pain shot through all her fingers.

She grinded her teeth trying to take the pain, she was staring to feel ill and she couldn't help but cry out again. Tezcatlipoca felt his smile widen, he could see the skinned fingers twitching he moved his fingers to her hand, this was only the beginning. He was going to work his way slowly down her arm, the chains that were holding her gauntlets in place wouldn't stop him he could strip skin under any clothing. He narrowed his gaze she was being very restraint, lesser men and woman normally started screaming now. Obliviously she had a high pain threshold just like her lover who could take quite a beating before passing out. He watched as her red blood flowed over his fur, he just needed to be a little more patient. He'd get that scream soon enough and the Blood Jaguar would hear it which thrilled him even more.

8

Gabrielle slowly moved towards the temples steps, she could see the five living elite warriors at the bottom eyeing her. The first pulled up his weapon sharply stopping her just before she could put her foot on the step. He eyed her for a long moment" State your purpose!" Gabrielle took a slow step back narrowing her gaze. "I'm here to see the great Jaguar god." The man turned giving her a disgusting leer. "Aren't you a little early for the morning blood letting? No priest or priestess comes here late at night!" Gabrielle looked up sharply as a scream of agony suddenly hit the air it was long and drawn out and unmistakable as her lovers. She felt every muscle in her body stiffen as she looked up sharply feeling her gaze widen.

Her attention was suddenly drawn back by the pain of the warrior's axe being jabbing in to her stomach. He followed her gaze. "As you can see their torturing the Blood Jaguars bitch of a lover right now." He jabbed her again only much harder. "So your services aren't necessary priestess." Gabrielle felt her hand form a fist as the anger started to burn, she breathed in trying to control herself. She looked up sharply hearing her lovers scream echo through the air again, she couldn't stand this it was torture in its self. The warrior eyed her as he raised his axe. "What's wrong with you?" Gabrielle sneered slightly feeling her fist tighten. "You're in my way!" The man narrowed his gaze eyeing her before leaning forward. "Wait a second your not…."

Gabrielle watched as the star light started to shimmer all over her body as the illusion was broken. She should have expected this, the elite were always far better trained than the normal warriors. She looked up seeing the star light fade fully as raised her axe slowly. She could see the sudden panic in their eyes as they raised their weapons. "No I'm not." She felt every muscle in her body stiffen as she moved her foot forward reading herself she felt her teeth grind together. "You can ether move out of my way or I will move you…your choice." She raised the axe higher as she heard another scream from high above she couldn't stand this anymore! She could feel the rage as it started to burn in the pit of her stomach.

She wanted to let go so badly, she could feel the turmoil in her mind. To let go and she would be to become the monster who called herself Blood Jaguar and that was the only thing stopping her. She wasn't going to give in to her desires or her demons this time around, her anger would not rule her again and it wouldn't win here. Though out her life she snapped on so many occasions and most hadn't been noble. She had once had so much control over her inner soul and somewhere along the road she'd lost that calm, a calm which she wanted back now desperately. She knew from the beginning that she'd had no choice but to fight her way up these steps.

She twirled the axe in what felt like slow motion trying to calm her self and focus her thoughts. Only to feel the force as the lead warriors axe slammed in her own. She didn't think as pulled her weapon free in a swift violent motion she could already see the other men coming towards her with their weapons raised. She brought her weapon around slamming it in to the hand of the first ignoring the blood as it flew through the air followed by his screams. She brought up her foot watching as it impacted with his face sending him flying backwards, he hit the stairs back first hard. She twirled the weapon as she slammed it in the next mans arm as he came at her from the side.

She wanted to wound them all, but not kill them unless there was no other way. She could stop them the same way she had done the others in the mountain. She twirled the weapon around smashing its hilt in to the face of the man who was kneeling as he held his bloody arm, causing him to hit the floor in a crumbled heap. She narrowed her gaze twisting the weapon back around as she smashed in to the leg of the next men who fell to the floor his scream hitting the air. She turned smashing her elbow in to his face as he tried to get up. She slammed her foot in to the next mans stomach watching as he fell back hard. He got up on to his knees only to hit the floor hard as her knee impacted with his face.

The last man seemed to stop as he eyed his group who were now all on the floor ether passed out or holding bleeding wounds. She snarled aloud watching as he backed away the fear showing in his face as he reconsidered his actions. She didn't care for his choice and she had no time to wait. Her feet hit the floor hard as she broke in to a run moving up the steps. She turned only to see him smash the round flat metal skull near the bottom of the steps with all his might, which clung like a bell. He bolted in to a run going in the opposite direction. She gripped her weapon tighter as she ran for all she was worth. Everyone knew she was here now and they would be coming for her in a matter of seconds. She snarled picking up her pace despite how much it hurt she had to get as high up the temple as possible!

8

Akemi breathed in sharply as a spike of pain went through her shoulder. She looked up pulling the make shift bandage tighter ignoring the intense pain. Her gaze drifted to the store house which was still on fire. People were trying to throw buckets of water in side which was doing nothing at all to stop the flames still burning inside. She felt her hand form a fist they were wasting their time Greek fire couldn't just be put out, it burned for days on end. She looked at two of the skeleton warriors who were sitting on the floor their clothes had been burnt off completely revealing all the bones which were black from the flames. The two guards weren't much better to look at.

She looked up at the thick black smoke which was drifting above them she should have seen this coming. Gabrielle was probably at the main keep right now. She pulled out her long Katana watching as the fire light moved across the gleaming blade she wasn't there to welcome her. She sneered slightly checking that the scroll hadn't been damaged. She twirled her blade in a violent motion she was going to have Gabrielle's head! The little bitch would not crawl past her again, she watched as one of the burnt skeleton warriors came towards her. She couldn't tell if it was a he or she due the missing clothes. "What is it now?!" The skeleton warrior pulled back slightly. "Do you think the Blood Jaguar is still here?"

Akemi narrowed her gaze. "No you idiot I don't think she is! Would you stay around a place you just blew up?" The male skeleton warrior turned watching as another burning screaming skeleton warrior ran through the wrecked doors of the store house leaping head first in to the fountain. "I did read in a scroll somewhere that insane individuals do like to stay at the scene of the destruction to watch." Akemi rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Shut up!" She was about to say more only to stop as screaming hit the air. "What now?" She found herself going still as one of house further up the street was smashed apart with immense force which sent stone and wood everywhere. A huge scaled face appeared followed by a massive body in an instant people were fleeing in panic and screaming.

She watched as fifteen warriors appeared all trying desperately to grab the chains and ropes which they'd wrapped around the monsters neck and legs. They were all thrown off as the huge beast moving from side to side making it impossible for them to hold on to the ropes and chain. Akemi sighed aloud she was so sick off this! The idiots hadn't managed to successfully catch the crocodile despite their efforts. She snarled aloud as moved towards the scaled monster who was thrashing violent as more chains were being thrown over at it. She raised her pendent seeing the red light burst out from it, she was sick off this beast and it was time to end the trouble it was causing.

A huge spire of red light flew out of the night sky about its huge flames blasting outwards. It came down full force smashing in to the crocodile's back sending blood everywhere. She moved closer watching as surprise and panic took over as the warriors turned to stare at her in shock. She narrowed her gaze watching as two more spires of fire came down. One smashed in to the house opposite blowing it apart, while the other hit the monster in its head blowing its jaws apart and slicing through its throat. Blood spattered across the floor as the huge beast roared as its death took hold. Its huge bulk fell sideways causing the ground to shake. She watched as it lay there trying to breath.

"What have you done?!"

She turned eyeing a skeleton warrior who was looking at her horrified. "I was getting rid of your problem!" She watched as the red eyes closed and the huge scaled body went limp. "Since you couldn't stop it I've dealt with it!" The skeleton warrior looked up eyeing the house opposite which was now on fire. "Our god will not stand for this!" Akemi pulled up her head dress easing it on. "I don't care what your god thinks…I have other more important matters to attend to." She raised the gleaming katana to his face in a violent motion. "Is that understood? Or would like me to use this sword to take of your head?" The skeleton warrior pulled back shaking his head. Akemi sneered slightly. "Good." She didn't think as she turned moving past the burning carcass, she could see the main temple in the distance. She picked up her pace she knew Gabrielle was there she could feel in her gut. She was going to rip her inside out and show them to her! She should've killed her back in the swamp it would have saved her the trouble of having to do it now!

8

Gabrielle watched as a number of living and skeleton warriors came at her. She felt her world slow down as she slowly raised the axe twirling it in a looping motion feeling her feet slide slowly in to position. She wasn't afraid she knew she should be and yet for the first time in her whole life she wasn't. She wasn't even filled with hate only a feeling of being truly focused. What ever her destiny was, she was fine with it as long as her lover walked free this day. Her life didn't matter if was forfeit it always had been in these lands where she had spilt blood with such joy and killed in cold blood with out remorse. She looked up hearing her lovers scream echo from the top of the temple, she would breath her last with honour.

She brought the axe around smashing it in to the nearest mans arm as he came at her causing him to cry out as he fell back. She brought the weapon around watching as it smashed in to a skeleton face taking his head clean off and sending it backwards, straight in the face of the living man coming up behind him. He hit the floor crying out in pain as the skeleton warrior's head less body tumbled down the steps legs flailing. She ducked as the nearest axe flew over her head. She didn't think as she brought up the hilt directly through the warriors opening as he raised his shield, her weapons hilt smashed in to his lower jaw, sending blood everywhere as he fell back hitting the steps hard.

She felt the pain as another axe skimmed past her shoulder drawing blood, it was followed by more pain as the wooden shield impacted with her chest throwing her backwards. She winced as she felt her feet hit the steps hard as she tried to stop herself falling back. She could see him running at her she didn't think as she moved sideways smashing her fist in to his face. She ignored his cry of pain, and the cry that followed as he lost his footing. She turned ignoring the sounds of him slamming in to the steps as she smashing her weapon's blade through the ribs of another skeleton warrior, sending cracked bone outwards. She spun the weapon as she rammed her shoulder in to the skeletons warrior's sending him flying backwards.

The weapon slammed in to the shoulder of another man causing him to scream as she pulled it free smashing the hilt in to another skeleton warriors knee smashing it clean off. She raised the bloody weapon slamming the hilt in to the man's nose as he held his bleeding shoulder. She turned grabbing his fallen shield from the ground using it to block another skeleton warrior's blow from the side. She brought the shield up watching as it hit another mans face causing him to hit the steps hard on his back. She ducked avoiding the skeleton warriors axe as she slammed her leg outward knocking him clean off his feet. He hit the steps hard tumbling down them, she brought the heavy wooden shield up smashing it full force in to another warriors shoulder as she stepped sideways dodging his axe. She brought the shield up only to smash shields with another warrior. She found herself ducking sideways as his weapon narrowly missed her head. She could feel her blows getting harder these warriors weren't going to stop her! She had come too far and these men weren't going to get in her way!

End of part 44

Silvermoonlight