LOST BATTLES IN THE WAKE OF TIME
Xena felt her gaze wander as she looked at the stone floor, nothing about any off this filled her with happiness. The thought of Gabrielle being stripped off her memories was vile, what made it worse was that her lover had no choice in the matter. If what they had said was true then she was being forced to live a half life by the Aztec god of war. Who was this vile bastard anyway? She'd heard very little about him apart from that he was the god of sun and war and that he had a thing for her lover. Maybe she should have realized that to begin with, when Gabrielle had said that he had made her an offer. No god of war would ever offer anything like that unless they felt something for the person.
She sneered slightly not that this bastard knew how to love or what it meant. War gods only knew how to take what they wanted and they didn't care if others suffered for it. She felt her hand form a fist as her gaze wandered over the city bellow. She only had half the story, Gabrielle would have no doubt told her the rest, if they'd had, had more time together before she'd been captured. The thought that lover might be alive and that couldn't feel her made her feel even worse. There was not a time in her life that she couldn't remember not feeling Gabrielle's presence after they'd first met, other than when Akemi had blocked her from feeling it in limbo. It had been painful then and it was no different now, it hurt just as much.
The bitch had just blocked her from Gabrielle though she hadn't torn the very fabric of her soul apart. She breathed in deeply feeling her gaze wander she didn't even realize that she could be separated from her lover like that. She had always assumed that the bond was unbreakable. That seemed like an arrogant thought now thinking about it. It seemed in Mexica all the rules she had seen with the Greek gods and other gods were just thrown out of the window. These gods had so much more power she had come here believing that she could win this battle like any other. The fact was that it didn't work that way in this land and it was time that she paid attention to that fact.
She snarled aloud turning to look at Itzli who was standing close by watching her. "Tell me how did Gabrielle meet that bastard Huitzilopochtli?" Itzli looked up sharply he knew this question was the one that she wanted to ask even before the words left her lips. He met her ice cold gaze for a long moment before turning slightly. He hadn't been looking forward to this he knew how bad he would look in front of Xena. He had tried to do something which was truly dishonourable and he had nothing to be proud of looking back at the event. He shook his head as he slowly lowered his gaze feeling the pain as it went through his chest before looking up slowly.
8
Itzli looked down slightly as he stepped in to ankle the murky water, this swamp never smelt nice. It hadn't when he'd been here in his childhood and it still didn't now. Still he wasn't here for sight seeing he was here to put his plan in to motion. A plan which if it worked would end his service to the Blood Jaguar permanently. It seemed like such a shame to waste her but what did it matter? She was an evil twisted bitch anyway who deserved no less. After seeing her blow up Itzpapalotl temple he had been awe stuck. The feeling had slowly faded away though after he'd watched her drink herself to sleep with alcohol which she'd stolen when she taken the feathered serpent's items.
She was even more disgusting when she was drunk she kept talking about her dead lover. Frankly he didn't care who the bitch was or what she looked like or even what she did with her in bed. Normally he'd jump at the chance to hear about sexual escapes but when it came from the Blood Jaguar it just made him want to cringe. Why would any woman want her anyway? She was violent, cruel and insane, had she chosen a woman over a man because no man would go any where near her? Frankly that thought didn't surprise him he wouldn't sleep with her even if she was the last woman on earth. Who ever this Xena was she was ether just as insane as the Blood Jaguar or really desperate.
He wouldn't waste his time on such a mean little bitch, no matter how much some one paid him in gold or gem stone. He rolled his eyes after she'd passed out she had started talked in her sleep in Greek, so he had no idea what she was saying. It was a constant annoying muttering which had kept him wide awake! Then she'd topped it all off by throwing up first thing in the morning. His sister was right she deserved to die what right did she have to live anyway? She was the cause of all his suffering and she had killed his brother! Well her miserable life was about to come to sharp end he'd make sure of that today. There was no point in trying to kill her himself.
She was too violent and strong and it was far too risky to try and stab her in the back. No he'd get Milintica the grand serpent to finish her off she had one weakness in this place and that was that she didn't know Mexica. She was very dependent on him to tell her everything she needed to know and he could now use that against her. Milintica was a huge python a monster in this swamp region he had been a pet belonging to Tezcatlipoca but had broken free of his pen over fifty seasons ago. He had just become too big and far too strong and now he was the second biggest snake in all of Mexica next to the feathered serpent. Every one feared him and no one dared to go near his huge swamp territory.
He smiled as he carried on walking through the murky water he turned watching as the Blood Jaguar stopped putting a hand through her short messy blonde hair, the fact that she had a hang over today was a bonus. She had been slow all morning and she was having trouble keeping up with him. He could see the Katana which she'd used to kill the elite was now strapped to her back. She also had the bag with all the godly items swung over her shoulder, he grinned slightly as soon as she was dead he was going to take them from her. Maybe he could use the godly items to win his gods favour, he smiled again. People would worship his name and love him if he brought back such an almighty prize to his god.
He could see it now drinking with rich nobles having sex with any woman he wanted and being worshipped by all for his name. Oh yes that'd be the good life, that was the life he dreamed about. Not a life of towing around some annoying little bitch from Greece who was a psychopath and who used to do some warrior woman back in her homeland. Gabrielle groaned painfully, gods her head was hurting, it was a throbbing headache which just wouldn't stop pounding! How much had she drunk last night? Too much to be sure she could hardly remember anything she stumbled forward feeling her stomach twist again. She really wanted to throw up right now.
Where were they and why were they trudging through this god forsaken swamp? She groaned looking up slightly. "Where are we going?" Itzli grinned slightly as he eyed her. "This is a short cut." Gabrielle groaned again she wanted nothing more than to crawl under a rock and die at this moment in time. "Short cut to where?" Itzli turned sharply. "It's a short cut to C'thulon!" He folded his arms sneering in disgust. "So pick up the pace already you bitch!" Gabrielle snarled aloud as she eyed him. "Bastard, go to Tartarus!" Itzli turned eyeing her. "You know what I would go to hell if they asked me! Anything not to have to listen to you talk about how big your lover's breasts are when you're drunk!"
He watched as the shock filled her eyes and her face drained of colour. "Yes that's right! Or were you to drunk to remember what you said last night?" He raised his hands as an evil grin spread across his face, oh what a pleasure it was to see her looking so out of her depth. "You were also talking about how she undresses you and puts her…." Gabrielle turned feeling her cry of anger hit the air before she could stop it. "Shut up!" Itzli looked up slightly catching sight of the huge water cave close. "You know you really should be quite, it's very rude to wake up Milintica." Gabrielle stopped still in an instant. "Who is Milintica?!" Itzli smiled as he stepped away slowly. "Some one who will be very angry if you don't keep quite…."
He leaned over slightly watching as the lake behind her started to bubble and churn. "Oh well…it would appear that your to late." Gabrielle felt every muscle in body freeze she felt the water as it flew outwards hitting her back full force. A long drawn out hiss which made her blood run cold in an instant hit the air behind her. She could see its reflection as it slowly appeared above her, the huge python head rose up higher followed by the huge neck which was brown with green stripes, she could see ripples flowing outwards around her as the massive snake moved it neck. Its red and yellow eyes staring down at her as its jaws opened causing another long drawn out hiss to hit the air.
Oh gods this was so not her day! She watched the monsters eyes as they slowly narrowed, why did it have to be a snake? She was starting to like these reptiles less and less every day. She couldn't seem to escape the memory of having her ribs cracked in the feathered serpent's coils. It made her cringe with fear every time she thought about it. She felt her heart stop as a horrible realization hit home as she stared at the monstrous constrictor, she had been brought here! This was a set up! She looked up only to feel the horror overtake her as she watched Itzli bolt in to a run moving away from her. She could see the evil grin and the gleam in his eyes as he looked back at her for a moment before disappearing in to the embankments thick tropical forest.
Her world seemed to slow down all at once she should just let this monster kill her. She had nothing to live for anyway…she was a murder a cold blooded murder that deserved death. Her life wasn't worth half as much as those lives she'd taken in cold blood, she slowly easing the Katana free from its scabbard on her back. It was better this way she'd have the noble death she craved for, it was the only way out. She didn't care if no one ever remembered her. If all they remembered was that was she had stood against this snake then that was enough. The only thing she had left was the last sliver of her honour which she'd been loosing, it was better to loose it here and now than anywhere else.
She didn't think as she burst in to a run just in time to see the huge head come down as it struck her, only to miss which sent water flying outwards. She could feel her feet as they smashed the water surface as she tried to run faster. She could see it turning in the corner of her eyes as its huge coils swung around and its head came towards her. Her breath got caught in her throat as the man size jaws snapped with in inches of her shoulder. She was nothing compared to this monster she suddenly felt the pain as a mass of water hit her as its huge tail smashed down in front of her blocking her retreat. She felt the pain in her chest as she turned to meet the red eyes which slowly narrowed.
She swallowed feeling her wet fridge as it fell in front of her face, it was playing with her. She watched as the huge tail moved further outwards blocking the last of her retreat fully. She moved trying to avoid the head as it struck again missing her once more. It hissed in anger as it raised its neck again its red eyes turning to look at her. She eased the sword higher, only to feel the pain in her wrists as it impacted with the creatures face as it came towards her, red blood flew through the air hitting the lakes surface hard as the snake roared pulling back. She didn't think as she turned slamming the weapon in to the huge coil close by pushing it in as deep as possible before pulling it out.
The creature's tail swung back all at once, she didn't think as she bolted in to a run leaping clean over the tails tip which crashed down behind her sending water flying outwards. She could hear the water churning as the monstrous snake turned moving towards her again. She could see the blood staining her sword as she ran faster. She could feel her breathing getting faster as she ran towards the other rock embankment which was on the opposite side to the other embankment which was filled with trees. She could see a waterfall which was in the far distance spilling its clear water in to the vast swamp. High above it were crooked trees which had vines hanging down.
She felt the pain in her chest as she leapt on to rocks trying desperately to get higher as her feet hit the stone. She could feel her breath coming out in sharp grasps as she scrambled higher. She found herself tensing as the snakes huge head came down only to smash in to the rocks where she had been she watched as it pulled back hissing in pain. She swung the sword watching as it impacted with its nose as it tried to strike again causing it to pull back. She felt her feet slip on the wet stone above causing her to stumble almost loosing her grip on her weapon. She breathed out painfully trying to steady herself she looked up only to feel the agony as the snakes tail impacted with body.
She felt her feet leave the floor as she smashed against the stone back first which caused her to cry out in pain as the sword left her hand. She looked up only to see the huge jaws coming towards her their razor sharp curved teeth gleaming in the low light. She found herself turning in panic as she watched the gleaming katana start to grind as moved towards the rocks edge. She felt her hand fly outwards only to impact with the stone as the sword slid further out of her reach. She looked up seeing the jaws move closer she felt her whole body move as she grabbed the weapon. Her scream of pain hit the air as the front teeth tips sliced across her shoulder as she avoided the jaws which flew past her.
Her whole body started to spasm only to cause more pain as she fell of the ledge. She felt the pain as her body impacted with rock bellow hard, she couldn't hold back her scream of pain. The huge snake turned its head to look at her its huge tongue flicked out as its head moved closer it could taste her blood in the air. Its mouth opened showing off its teeth which had her blood on them as its long drawn out hiss hit the air. She snarled aloud ignoring the pain as pulled herself on to her knees ignoring the blood as it ran down her arm. She couldn't stop her scream of anger as she swung the sword which hit the snakes face as its neck moved past her, as she stepped to one side.
It whole head suddenly turned in a coiling motion smashing in to her body. She couldn't stop her feet as they left the floor completely she watched the rock embankment pass her by, only to feel more pain as her body impacted with the water bellow. The water seemed to swell up around her as she sunk in to its murky depths in which she couldn't see anything. There was no sun not even the light of fish scales only the choking smog of blackness. She looked up feeling the light headedness take over and the screaming of her lungs wanting to breathe as she hit the swamps murky bottom causing a cloud of black dirt to move around her. All this was replaced with terror as the huge teeth appeared moving towards her.
She couldn't move her body was frozen she felt the teeth as the sliced down on one of her legs causing her mouth to open and take in a breath filled with water. She felt her fingers tighten around the sword as she was dragged upwards and out of the water in a violent motion. All could she do was scream as the teeth dug in to her upper leg. She was hanging just above the water she snarled as she tried to kick out only to hit the hard flesh on the snake's nose. She breathed in she could feel the blood running down her knee and the skin as it began to slowly tear. She felt the sudden terror kick in as the snake twisted its head as it started to coil, she couldn't go through that again!
She didn't think as she grabbed the sai blade out of her knees strap as the neck coils came towards her and the head turned towards them. She could see the snake's eye as it neck coils came down on her and it moved its head lower so its coils could move around her body. She screamed feeling the weapon leave her hand heading towards its target. The next moments turned to excruciating pain as the jaws opened as the weapon slammed in to its eye. Her body was thrown upwards as the coils moved back as its screech of pain hit the air. She felt the pain again as her body impacted with the water along with sting of her leg wound. She moved under the water trying to take the pain.
Everything hurt as she moved upwards feeling herself break the surface of the water which filled her lungs with cold air. The pain came again as she moved forward swimming towards the waterfall. The huge snake screeching as it swung it head in violent motions then smashed it against the rock embankment trying desperately to get rid of the sai blade now embedded deeply in its eye. She grabbed at the embankment close to the water fall, heaving herself up on to the grass. Only to feel her body fall forward as she hit the ground hard on her side as her strength left all at once. She wanted to pass out but the agonizing sting of pain was keeping her awake. She clutched the Katana's hilt tighter as she looked down ignoring the snake as it carried on screeching while hitting its face harder against rock face.
She sneered at it, it was never the large wounds that really hurt it was the small ones and this was proof of this. She watched as it moved its coils twisting them around its head trying again to dislodge her weapon. She ignored it as she looked down only to feel herself shiver her upper knee was a terrible mess. Where the tattoo and her normal skin had been it had been all but torn away showing the red muscle underneath. Blood was running down from it, what was left of her skin hung down in strips. She grabbed the nearest tree easing her self up feeling every muscle in her body cry out all at once, she had to get away from the huge snake!
She eyed her wound only to turn away ignoring it there was no point in stopping the bleeding or even bandaging it. What was the point to anything anymore? All she did was suffer pain. She looked at the huge water fall as she started to move up towards it ignoring the intense pain that every step took as she moved higher up. It seemed like a painfully eternity when her blood stained leg hit the very top. She grabbed one of the hanging vines feeling her self breathe in sharply. She could see the huge snake moving away in the distance still smashing its head against trees as it carried on trying to free her sai blade. She breathed in stepping on to the huge water fall watching as the water raging close by.
It crashed over the edge savagely before hitting the swamps waters far bellow. She looked at the long drop which just seemed to speak to something in the back of her mind. If she were to fall the impact would kill her outright, hitting water from any height was like smashing in to stone. What a welcoming thought that was. She limped forward ignoring the light headed feeling which was taking over her very slowly, she ignored it as she let go of the vines she'd been holding. All she did was suffer all she felt was pain excruciating pain day in and day out. She wasn't even noble she was disgusting and vile and she'd murdered others in cold blood.
She didn't know who she was anymore she couldn't even remember who she used to be ether. Only distant memories that filled her with an empty echoing pain and a barren loneliness which had engulfed her heart because her lover was gone. She could feel the tears as they started to run down her face, she'd walked too far and to for long and she didn't want to walk anymore, she wanted oblivion. She eased up the bloody katana looking at it, life had done her wrong and she hated it. The truth was she couldn't escape this time Xena wasn't here to rescue her, no one was all of her rescues had gone. She felt the hurt and hated as it twisted in a violent knot in her stomach, her lover had picked Akemi over her the little Japanese bitch had won.
Her lover didn't want her no one did, even her own servant despised her she looked at the bloody katana again as she ripped its scabbard from her back. She slowly re-sheathed it then easing it out in front of her it was the weapon of her sorrows and her misery and it had seen to much blood. She let go of it watching as it slipped free from her bloody grip. It fell free falling down in to the water fall bellow a final flash of light from its hilt piercing the darkness before it hit the churning mass of water bellow disappearing all together from sight. She closed her eyes limping closer to the edge as she pulled her hands outwards breathing in the cold rush of air as she felt the spray of water as it surrounded her.
"Why do you want to throw away your life when the whole of Mexica is starting to know your name?"
Gabrielle felt her eyes snap open as she turned around only to meet the amber gaze of a well muscled man who was standing behind her. He was six foot tall and in his late thirties. She could see a huge headdress of golden and white feathers which was swaying with the morning breeze. His collar of jade and gem stone caught the sunlight as did his silver and gold gauntlets. His long gold and silver hanging cloth moved as he stepped forward putting a hand on his gold and jade belt. He tapped one of his yellow sandals as he smiled showing of the long canine teeth on his upper and lower jaw. He had to be a god another annoying bastard god who she really didn't care for speaking to right now.
She felt the hated twist in her stomach as she looked at him not bothering to hide her disgust. "I don't care who you are but you can't go to Tartarus!" Huitzilopochtli felt his smile widen what magnificent courage, she was completely with out fear. He had never heard of anyone doing the things that she'd done and she'd done them without even a care. He looked at her leg for a long moment. "I am sorry that your leg is in such a terrible state. It would seem that Milintica's teeth have torn your tattoo away." Gabrielle eyed the torn flesh and exposed muscle. "I never cared for that tattoo it just reminds me of things that I hate." Huitzilopochtli smiled easing his hand outwards. "I see then allow me to strip it from you completely."
Gabrielle didn't get a chance to think as burning pain shot through her upper leg as the torn skin including the tattoo were suddenly burnt away in one agonizingly painfully moment. She felt her teeth grind together as the pain took over again as new skin suddenly grew upwards covering the exposed muscle in an instant. She stumbled backwards as the feeling fired back in to her leg in one painfully moment. She closed her eyes breathing in painfully before eyeing the god who was still smiling at her as he pulled his hand away. "Bastard I don't want your help!" Huitzilopochtli stepped forward looking in to her green eyes which burnt in to him with hated.
He could feel the power coming off her soul it was so stunning, he hadn't felt this from anyone in so long. He could even see her souls light streaming out from her eyes like smoke which was couldn't be seen by mortal eyes. They hadn't lied about her appearance ether she did have pale cream skin and short blonde hair as golden as the sun. She had green eyes the same colour as a jungle and a well toned small body. Her strange clothing consisted of a red, orange and yellow bodice and a knee high red and black velvet skirt, which was held up by a black leather belt with silver patterns. He could also see her dark brown boots which looked well worn and were now missing both their claws.
He smiled as he stepped closer. "My name is Huitzilopochtli I am the god of war in this lands." Gabrielle sneered slightly. "Is that supposed to impress me?" Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly such fire, so untamed and with out a care. "It would impress most Blood Jaguar but I see that titles don't mean much to you as you have no fear of anyone or so I have been told." Gabrielle turned looking over the waterfall again as an image flashed through her mind she snarled aloud. "I know your name, two of your warriors gave me some sort of vile drug then they tried to sacrifice me in one of your temples." Huitzilopochtli breathed in deeply. "I do apologise for that my warriors can be very foolish and some do not understand my honourable codes fully. If you tell me their names I shall see that they are punished for such dishonour."
Gabrielle laughed slightly but it was cold laugh even to her ears. "It doesn't matter any more, nothing does." Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly. "Tell me why you would want to just throw your life away like this?" Gabrielle sneered slightly. "It's none of your concern!" She looked down slightly watching as the water churned bellow. Huitzilopochtli took a slow step forward easing up his hand watching as the gleaming ring of steel appeared in it. He held it up slightly seeing her gaze widened. "I believe that this weapon is yours, one of my warriors brought it back to me they found it in a bag close to one of my temples." He turned seeing the torn bag appear close by his feet in a flash of gold light. "He also found in this bag which is filled with other items, which belong to you."
Gabrielle didn't think as she grabbed the Chakram from his hand in a violent motion. "Get off that! It belonged to my…" Huitzilopochtli smiled slightly. "Who did it belong to Blood Jaguar?" Gabrielle stared at the gleaming Chakram before looking up slightly. "It belonged to my lover." Huitzilopochtli looked at the strange weapon watching as her green eyes traced the curves. "Where is he now?" Gabrielle looked up sharply. "He is a she and she is dead!" Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly he hadn't expected that answer at least not that this lover who ever she was, was female. He looked at her for a long moment only to feel the smile creep back on to his face. "Then she was a truly foolish woman to die and leave you all alone. She must not have thought a great deal of you ether if she would be so cruel."
He smiled as he read the sudden thoughts as they cascaded through her mind the name Xena seemed to crash through over and over again. He eased up his hands. "I have been watching you and I find you so very impressive, you are completely with out fear of any creature or god. Because of this I want to put forward an offer which may interest you." Gabrielle snarled aloud. "There is nothing you can offer me that I have any interest in. I don't care about power, jewels or any thing else you have!" Huitzilopochtli shook his head. "I offer you none of those things Blood Jaguar, I offer you happiness." He watched as she turned to look at him, the surprise as clear as day. "I would give you this happiness if you would come and be by my side."
He raised his hands slowly moving closer as he placed them on her shoulders. "I would give you all that you desire I would shower in sun light for all eternity. All I ask in return is that you lead my living armies to victory against my enemies." Gabrielle jerked away from his grip feeling the hated burn. "Why would I want to do that for you?" Huitzilopochtli smiled as he moved his hand up running it through her short blonde hair, he could feel her powerful rage and it was so beautiful. "Because as you say there is nothing left for you here and with me you may find that happiness and peace that you seek. You don't deserve to suffer anymore, not for someone who is dead and obviously never loved you the way she should have."
He stepped closer running a finger down her face before she could pull away. "Ask your self Blood Jaguar don't you deserve more than to suffer like this?" Gabrielle took a slow step back so she was away from him she suddenly didn't feel so good. It felt like her heart was trying to shatter her rib cage as it pounded harder and her breathing quickened. There was a painful truth to his words and she didn't want to admit it, a part of her was begging for release from this torment. The problem was that she kept on seeing her lovers face in her mind she just couldn't free herself from it. She loved that face those eyes and that smile and at the same time she loathed and despised it.
Huitzilopochtli leaned forward slightly. "Don't you want that Blood Jaguar?" Gabrielle slowly turned looking at the Chakram in her hand which she was holding tightly as if she'd never let go. She closed her eyes, oh gods a part of her wanted this badly but the truth was so obvious that it hurt. What ever this god had to offer it didn't change the fact that he was a god of war. All gods of war were the same they offered delights and wonders but the price was always far too high. She had too many memories of Ares and how much he had made her suffer to want to fall for this gods offer now. She shuddered slightly finally composing herself as she met his amber gaze. "I have no interest in your offer."
Huitzilopochtli took a slow step back trying to hide his sadness and it was sadness he felt. Sadness that such a great warrior was being wasted away by some bitch who was dead and who was truly undeserving of her love. He looked at her for a long moment before smiling as he met her magnificent green gaze. "No that my offer is always open Blood Jaguar should you ever change your mind." Gabrielle watched as he disappeared in a flash of bright gold light which lit up everything around her for a long moment. She could feel the panic taking over she had to find C'thulon and then get away from this land! She wanted to go home she wanted to look upon the fields of Potidaea! Because right now she felt as though she was being torn open and stripped off all her defences, she lowered her head feeling her eyes trace the floor painfully.
8
Xena looked up slightly staring in to Itzli's gaze which was filled with sadness. "You tried to kill her?" Itzli looked down slightly. "Yes and it's the most dishonourable thing I've ever done. I knew she stood no chance against Milintica, she barely escaped with her life I believe even now that it was that lucky throw that saved her life." He looked up slightly seeing the anger in her eyes. "If you want to hit me again then please do I deserve it?" Xena turned away sharply feeling her teeth grind together. "I'm done hitting you!" Itzli took a slow step forward. "Believe me when I say she only ever loved you, you were the only thing that ever mattered to her she turned Mexica upside down and it was all for you."
Xena eyed him for a long moment. "What else did she say that night before when she drank herself to sleep?" Itzli looked down feeling the pain in his stomach he sighed aloud. "Not all of it was that perverse I just told her that to make her feel out of her depth." He shook his head. "She said something truly poetic that night." He looked down slightly. "She said that when she touched you and kissed you she felt like the Elysian Fields were wrapping around her heart and that all her fears melted away. "He shuffled slightly. "I hate myself for laughing at that comment after she said it. Because if I'd have known any better I would have realized that in that moment I was seeing the real Gabrielle and not the Blood Jaguar."
Xena eyed him for a long moment despite the anger she was feeling it wasn't because of what he'd done. She could understand his view point as much as she could understand Gabrielle's when she'd lost her way. Both her lover and Itzli had become lost warriors who had enjoyed seeing each others misery and had tried to hurt one another out of spite and hatred. Also what ever he had done to her lover in the past he very much made up for it with his actions now. Despite that she didn't like hearing about how he had tried to hurt her. She knew now that he would never do it again because the both of them had come to an understanding during her capture and he'd even betrayed his god to save her.
No her anger was now very much focused on Huitzilopochtli, the vile bastard. If what she'd heard now was anything to go by he had tried even then to muscle in to her lover's life. It's just his manner of doing it was much gentler than Ares's methods and he obviously didn't like her in any way. She had done a terrible thing when she'd remained dead in Japan and he had used that to try and take advantage of her lover's miserable state. She looked up slightly meeting Itzli gaze. "Does Huitzilopochtli love her?" She raised her hand. "Tell me the truth!" Itzli looked up slightly meeting her gaze. "No Xena he doesn't." He looked up slightly watching as she turned away from him. "I don't claim to know love but I know that you would never take away who she is, just because it suited you, it seems in my eyes that you love her for who she is, not who you want her to be."
End of part 56
Silvermoonlight
The battle scene with Milintica the grand serpent is a nod to the Harry Potter Chamber of secrets end scene with the Basilisk which I loved.
