THE DARK RED BLOOD THAT FLOWS LIKE FIRE

Itzli pulled on the golden horse's reins hard, causing it to stop in mid flight he didn't mean the mare any wrong it was just his own frustration getting in the way. He had hold of the un-dead horse's reins the animal had been just were Gabrielle had stated it would be in the scroll. It had been at very edge of the mountain where he could land and pick it up. He patted the golden horse's neck, he had chosen this path and he didn't care what happened from here on in. He was going to defy Huitzilopochtli's orders and he no longer cared. There was no honour in those orders and he knew it. He watched as the city came in to view only to pull back in surprise, some of the streets bellow had been smashed and there houses were in ruins.

Black smoke was bellowing out of a huge store house which was still on fire. Its red flames were rising high as they set fire to other buildings. Here could hear screaming and shouting bellow. His gaze drifted to a huge dead body of a crocodile which was lying on the main street. People were desperately trying to move it. He could see even the darkness that one of the huge animal pens had been opened on the far side of the city. He blinked in shock Gabrielle had done all this on her own? He breathed in deeply of course she had, he knew that she was relentless. It was the quality he admired most about her and he'd never stop admiring. This was even better than what she'd done to the feathered serpent he smiled slightly, oh how he loved her strategies.

He now wanted to know if she'd learnt all this from Xena, or if this was all her own pure genius. Her plan was so obvious and beautifully simple cause chaos in all areas so the warriors would be scattered allowing her to work her way up to the main temple. He breathed in sharply kicking the flying horse in to action. He was going to fly straight to main keep and land both horses near the main altar. He had to hurry he had no idea how long Gabrielle had left or even how far up the temple she had gotten!

8

Gabrielle didn't think as she watched the Chakram leave her hand as her scream of anger hit the air. The weapon slammed in to the stone pillar close by hard. It flew through the air towards the god face as he came forward, only to miss as he moved sideways in a blur of speed which was hard for her eyes to see. Tezcatlipoca narrowed his gaze as the weapon smashed in the keeps wall behind him before coming back. He didn't think as he rose his hand watching as it slowed down in mid air to a snail pace. He turned as he eyed her in disgust as he slowly pushed the weapon off course. "You stupid little bitch." He moved its direction again, so it was towards her.

He narrowed his gaze as it went back to its normal speed in time. "Weapons of the lesser gods have no power here!" Gabrielle didn't get a chance to think as the weapon suddenly spun towards her full speed. She raised her hands only to feel the agonizing pain as she caught it before it hit her chest. She felt the pain as she slammed in to the floor back first. She winced looking at her palms which were had been cut she could see blood trails as they started to run down her hand. She ignored it as she shook her head as she painfully got to her knees grabbing the Chakram she felt it leave her hand again. Tezcatlipoca moved his hand watching as the blood covered weapon moved past him slamming directly in to one of the wooden beam high above the Warrior Princess's head.

Xena blinked eyeing the Chakram which was with in her reach, she couldn't move because of the painful hold Itzpapalotl had on her. Gabrielle pulled her other sai blade free, in a swift violent motion. Tezcatlipoca eyed the gleaming ring of steel which now imbedded in the wood of the beam. How pathetic and this weapon had supposedly knocked down a mountains face. He roared as he came forward smashing his fist in to the stone floor only to watch her step sideways. Gabrielle moved back further narrowly avoiding the clawed hand as it swept with in inches of her right leg. She found herself side stepping as his other clawed hands swept past her shoulder. Tezcatlipoca was large and heavy and that was her only advantage.

She sneered bring the weapon around watching as it sliced against his nose causing him to pull back his roar of anger hitting the air. She spun on her heels narrowly missing his fist as it came down hard smashing in to the stone floor. She found herself ducking as the clawed hand swept over her head ripping some of the feathers out of her headdress in the process. She was no longer a werewolf that ability had been lost to her some months ago after the final battle with the werewolf king Lycaon. Yet now in this moment she wished she was again. She would have more strength and more speed and claws and teeth to fight with. She pulled back as the claws swept past her narrowly missing her face.

Tezcatlipoca snarled aloud slamming his clawed foot down only to see her dodge it, even for a worn down mortal she was fast, much faster than her lover it seemed. He growled aloud seeing her leap back as his clawed hand swung past her chest. This had confirmed his thoughts the Warrior Princess wasn't about speed she was all about strength and that was the reason she lasted the torture so long. The Blood Jaguar wasn't as strong in fact she was much weaker but her speed was her big advantage. He felt the wound heal up on his nose it was no more than a graze but it was enough to fill him with rage, that she had been able to get that close to him and strike him with her clawed weapon!

He just had to grab her he smashed his hand in to the ground only to see her leap back once again. She was a stupid little mortal who was biding her time not that it would save her in the long run. He had infuriate energy were as she would finally loose her pace from exhaustion. One part of his animal nature that had never left was that he liked to toy with people. There was no better joy than watching a mortal think that they had won or had a hope of winning and then to take it away from them in a cruel heartbeat. Only one other warrior in over a hundred years had made it this far but he hadn't succeeded and nether would she! Gabrielle turned sideway narrowly missing the huge clawed hand as it swept past his chest.

Gabrielle swung the weapon around watching as it sliced across his other palm as his hand moved past her. She was breathing so much faster now. Her gaze narrowed as she leapt side ways as both his clawed hands came down missing her once more. She snarled aloud sliced the blade across his tail as it swept past her in a blur. Tezcatlipoca snarled aloud as he turned on his heel missing her once more as she leapt backwards. He grunted feeling his fist hit the stone floor once more he could feel his new wounds healing up. He didn't think as he stepped forward this time would be different he now knew her space and her speed which was all he needed. He felt his feet move faster as began to draw power from his pendent.

Gabrielle raised her weapon as the god came at her only to watch as he became a blur. The next moments caused her to scream in pain as his fist slammed in to her before she could bring her weapon up. The pain came again as she was hit in the shoulder while she was falling in mid air. Every muscle in body spiked with pain as she slammed in to the ground hard on her side, she coughed painfully bringing up saliva. Tezcatlipoca smiled slightly watching as she coughed again then began to stagger to her feet. He raised his clawed hands slowly as her gaze met his. "Did you forget that I'm the god who holds time in my pendent!?" He snarled as he brought down his fist hard watching as it slammed in her stomach causing to stumble back before hitting the ground hard.

Gabrielle breathed in painfully trying to stop herself from throwing up as she struggled to get her knees only to feel intense pain as his clawed hand grabbed her she felt the claws as they dug in to her shoulder. Her feet left the floor as she dragged in to the air she could feel cold blood as it began to run down her shoulder as his razor sharp claws dug in deeper. Tezcatlipoca sneered as he threw her full force he watched as she smashed in to the stone pillar back first. Her body slammed in the ground going still, he smiled only to feel the smile fade as she groaned he could hear his men cheering. Gabrielle felt her hands clutch her weapons tighter as she got her knees trying to ignore the pain in her upper back.

She couldn't stop herself as she threw up violently as her whole body went in to spasm as she tried to stand. She shook her head trying to clear the daze she turned slightly only to feel the breath leave her as she saw the open clawed hand coming towards her. She couldn't stop her scream off pain as they slashed downwards across her face causing her headdress to be thrown off. It wasn't a glancing blow and it felt like her right eye was on fire. She fell back bringing her arm to her face feeling the cold blood as it started to drip down from the two long gashes that were on the right side of her face, one had gone through her right eye. She tried to get up only to fall over again due the pain, she could hear the men cheering at their god's victory.

She snarled aloud as she fought all her pain pulling herself to her knees opening both her eyes only to realize that something was wrong. Her right eye had gone black. She could see blood on the arm which had been against her face she'd had this same wound before as a werewolf. It had healed itself and she hadn't been blinded. She stumbled trying to recompose herself despite the pain in her body, she wasn't going to fall her knees in defeat in front of this bastard! Tezcatlipoca turned sharply eyeing the Blood Jaguar in disgust, she was still standing how dare she! He moved forward seeing her look up, the damage to her face was so clear now she had two huge bleeding gashes on her face and her right eye was half closed.

There was no light in it despite that he could see her soul burning through it in a wave of green smoke not see able to mortal eyes. It meant that he'd blinded her in that eye for good. He roared as he came closer. "With out that serpent tattoo you have no defence against me!" He raised his clawed hand. "Now kneel down in front of me and beg for mercy before you die!" Gabrielle looked up slowly. "No." She didn't get a chance to move as the clawed hand sliced across her side leaving bloody gashes as the other came down smashing in to her shoulder causing her to hit the floor hard on her knees. She blinked trying to focus only to see his clawed hand as it grabbed her by her hair forcing her up on to her feet.

Tezcatlipoca smiled slightly as he brought his fist back. "Didn't the feathered serpent break your ribs?" He listened as her scream of pure agony hit the air as he smashed his fist in to her lower chest hearing the painful crack as one of her ribs broke. Gabrielle fell back hard hitting the floor as the pain took over it was pure agony and she couldn't hold back her scream. One off her ribs was broken she could feel it and it hurt to breath, she looked up but not in time to see the clawed foot as slammed in to her body causing her to be thrown. She felt the ice cold floor as she tumbled across it coming to a painfully stop in front of one of the skeleton warrior's feet. Her lower leg was burning with pain she'd twisted it when she'd hit the ground.

"Please stop! I'll do anything you want!"

Xena pulled on her chains ignoring Itzpapalotl's surprise as the goddess let her go. She leaned forward feeling utter desperation she couldn't take this anymore her lovers screams were tearing through her soul like a knife he was killing her she could see and feel it. She looked up meeting his gaze. "I'll go to your hell! Please just don't hurt her anymore!" Tezcatlipoca turned sharply he hadn't expected this he narrowed his gaze stepping forward. So the Warrior Princess was truly weak and this was her weakness, she wasn't strong enough to watch the Blood Jaguar die. Gabrielle looked up grabbed her fallen sai blade, as she gripped the other as she once again struggled to get to her knees. "Her soul isn't yours its mine!"

She pulled herself to feet trying so hard to ignore all the pain as well as how much it hurt to breathe. "Until I die you own nothing!" Tezcatlipoca turned back he snarled as he raised his hand. "I have no interest in your lovers offer!" He watched as the long spires of fire came out of his palm towards her. Gabrielle pulled up both hands to project her face as the fire swept past her. She felt it hit both her shoulders burning her collar away and her skin which was torn off and burnt away revealing her muscle underneath. Tezcatlipoca watched as she stumbled back as he lowered his hand slightly. He felt his cruel smile widen seeing the red blood as it ran down her upper arms. "Didn't you have a tattoo on your leg?" Gabrielle looked up only to feel the skin on her outer leg tear of as it was bunt away.

She could barely think anymore as she stumbled back further, her mind was starting to feel hazy. A painful feeling of light headedness was also filling her senses, there was blood dripping on to the floor and it was all hers. Tezcatlipoca turned sharply his men were no longer cheering and he didn't know why they were all as silent as a graveyard. Ehecatl looked up slightly watching the Blood Jaguar stumble back further but remained standing. It was pure defiance the refusal to fall to her knees despite how serious the wounds were pure self belief was keeping her standing. How ironic it was that she was living up her name but in such a different way. She was not drawing blood and killing but she was covered in her own blood.

It was sad to watch more because it was a bold death and very honourable and matched none of the qualities the Blood Jaguar was so well known for. She'd even refused to let go of her weapons in all of this. No wonder Akemi hated her so much she was with out fear even when her own death was staring her in the face. Amimitl sneered in disgust what a pitiful display from the Blood Jaguar he'd been so hoping for a more worthy display. Instead she was being a coward and allowing her end to come. She was meant to a violent monster yet she'd displayed nothing off this. It was an utter disappointment he had wanted to see that violent animal which had been such a legend, not this!

Tezcatlipoca raised his hand watching as the flaming spires moved outwards. "You had one on you're back as well." Xena felt every muscle in her body stiffen in horror as she watched as the skin was torn and burnt away from her lovers back. The younger woman just lowered her head further gritting her teeth. It had to be unimaginably painfully yet her lover didn't cry out or scream. It was also obvious that the younger woman had come to the point were she was loosing too much blood and was becoming weak. It was horrible to watch, she couldn't take this anymore her life wasn't worth the pain and suffering her lover was going through.

Gabrielle groaned every part of her body was stinging with pain and agony. She staggered again forcing herself to stay standing. Her back was aflame with knifes of pain and it hurt just to hold her weapons. Her lover was worth all this pain and the suffering, the blood and the horrific wounds meant little in her view it was the price she was willing to pay with out question. Tezcatlipoca snarled aloud what did it take to keep this little bitch permanently on her knees?! Why couldn't she just loose consciousness like every one else did? Was this all about pride or some twisted form of honour in which staying standing meant something? Did she really believe that any one cared that she was still standing and being defiant?

He could see blood streaming down her back and outer leg as well as her shoulders. He moved closer seeing her sway but keep herself standing he narrowed his gaze as the Aztec bag's burnt strap broke causing it to fall from her shoulder hitting the floor hard. All he had to do was slice her open and rip out her heart then this would be done with it. After that he could kill the Warrior Princess who had fallen painfully silent just like everyone else. Akemi ran faster not caring for the yelp of pain as she stepped on a fallen warrior who had been knocked out. Her scream of anger hit the air as she picked up her pace pulling the Katana up in a violently motion. Her shoulder was hurting her but she longer cared! She was going to make that little blonde bitch pay!

Xena would love her and she would need her she make it so! Even if it meant making her loose all her memories! She'd tell her that they'd been together forever and she'd just suffered memory loss. She shoved a wounded warrior who was getting up aside violently it would be pure bliss as it was meant to be! They'd make love to each other again and enjoy each others company! Just like it had been in Japan in the other lifetime which she had dreamed about in the seventh hell those memories had kept her going through the torture and the pain that no soul should ever have to endure. To be put through unspeakable pain by the Aztec demons and to want for your soul to be destroyed every moment as you suffered just so it would all end and you'd know peace.

She hadn't gone through that for nothing! This was her prize! She could see Gabrielle just above her stumbling backwards. The blonde woman's back was covered in blood which was slowly dripping to the floor. Half of the dragon tattoo symbol could be made out in all its glory it was the very symbol that she'd helped put on the skin. The fertility goddess had later replaced it with fresh un-tattooed skin which had now been burnt off. She could see the other flayed symbol on her leg and areas on her shoulders were the muscle was showing through. Tezcatlipoca was coming towards her to finish the job. She wasn't going to give him that prize it was going to be hers! She ran on to the stone of the main keep twisting on her heel so she was facing the blonde who didn't even see her, she could see the slash marks which meant that Gabrielle's right eye was damaged.

Xena looked up feeling the horror of what she was seeing hit home. Gabrielle wasn't registering Akemi's presence at all she now realized that her lover's right eye wasn't working and she was completely blind on that side. She got on to her feet ignoring all her pain as she looked at the younger woman. "Akemi's is on your right side Gabrielle! Get out of the way now!" Gabrielle blinked in shock as she heard her lover's words which forced her out of her painful daze. Her world slowed down in an instant as she raised her sai blades ignoring all her pain. She could see Tezcatlipoca surprise in her good eye but her other saw nothing. She turned her head to late to see the Katana as it came towards her at an angle as Akemi raised her weapon hand higher.

All she could do was cry out as the weapon came through the opening in her sai blades hitting her midsection. Akemi thrust the weapon forward full force watching as it hit its mark. Blood flowed out as it went through skin and deep inside the other woman's body causing her long drawn out scream of pain to hit the air. She snarled as she pushed the blade in further hearing bone crack as it came out of her back covered in blood. The blonde woman's scream ended all at once. She sneered as she came shoulder to shoulder with Gabrielle, whose good green eye was wide in utter shock. While the other stared forward lifelessly she smiled evilly as she came close to her ear. "I should have killed you in the swamp Gabrielle…it would have saved me the trouble of doing it now."

Xena couldn't stop her screaming she didn't care that it hurt her throat and her lungs burned. She couldn't believe this was happening! She wanted it to be a bad dream! She wanted to wake up! Her lover was going to die she could already feel it! Her eyes were watering and she couldn't stop her tears. Her heart felt like it was on fire with pain, she knew the wound was fatal. Gods she wanted to wake up! She wanted to kill Akemi she wanted to see the light die in her eyes as she strangled her! Yet she was powerless to even break her chains and free herself from this nightmare! All she could do was cry as she carried on screaming as the only person that meant everything to her stood there impaled by the very person she'd come to hate.

End of part 46

Silvermoonlight.

I know some of you might be feeling shocked right now, but please bare with me I promise you there is method in my madness.