THE ETHEREAL WINDOW IN TO A SOULS BURNING LIGHT

Xena slowly walked down the keeps steps she looked at the skull in her hands for a moment. Her gaze drifted to Itzli who was followed her. She breathed in as Xochiquetzal and Chantico turned to look at her as she came to a stop in front of them. She could see Xochipilli seated on the throne the god of love nodded his head slightly. She eased the skull in her hands up carefully. "I've made up my mind." Xochipilli sat up slightly watching as his sister pulled away from Chantico. "What have you decided?" Xena sneered as she raised her hand eyeing Xochiquetzal intensely. "You're going to help me fix this, since you're to blame for my lover's death."

She ignored Chantico who was sneered at her. "Tell me what this ritual is and how Gabrielle's skull fits in to it. " Her gaze shifted as Itzli came to stand next to her. Xochiquetzal took a slow step forward. "As I said before Gabrielle's skull is the cradle of her existence, she cannot run from it nor can it hide from it no matter how hard she tries." She breathed in deeply. "Her skull will be covered in jade patterns each pattern represents the weaving of a soul's light." Xena narrowed her gaze. "What do you mean by souls light?" Xochipilli looked up slightly from his sitting position on the throne. "It represents the personalities with in a person's soul. Much like how the Greek fates weave life threads in your homeland."

He raised a hand slightly. "Each person's soul is made from separate threads which are elements of their personality. All these separate personality traits are woven together and a soul is created. Although in yours case and Gabrielle's its taken one step further in that both your souls are then intertwining together. He leaned back slightly. "The jade patterns that will coat your lover's skull can be moved and adjusted. Once the correct pattern is put in place the skull will recapture her soul. The skulls jaws will lock shut and she won't be able to free herself from it. You will then have to take her skull to pool of creation and throw it in."

Xena raised an eyebrow slightly. "These pools of creation, what are they?" Xochipilli looked up slightly. "They are pools of boiling blood, all gods have them. They are used to create warriors and resurrect innocent souls." He put both hands together. "The pools bloody water will tear apart Huitzilopochtli's fake body and then it will rebuild her original one and put her soul back in to it." Xena looked up sharply. "The pool tears her body, won't that hurt her?!" Xochipilli shook his head. "Yes it will but take in to mind that this Gabrielle is not her Xena. It may look like her and sound like her it may even feel like her but it is not her. She will be a soul whose threads have been tampered with. Hurting her may sound awful but you are doing what's right for her."

He breathed in deeply. "Once her soul has been repaired it should rebind to yours and you will start to feel like yourself again." Itzli looked up slightly. "That is how it should be." Xena sneered slightly. "Assuming I can get even get in to this bastards city where in Tartarus do I find this pool of creation that you're talking about?" Itzli looked up sharply. "I know where my gods pool of creation is located…I can get you to it the only problem is opening it. I've only ever seen it opened by my god's hand. Trust me though there is always a separate device to open any godly door or lock which can be used by mortal hands." He breathed in deeply. "I'm sure we can both find it."

Xochipilli put a hand on his chin. "I have a map which gives Huitzilopochtli's city lay out, I was a prisoner there once and I had a lot of time to myself in which to look around his city. I doubt that anything has changed a great deal since I was last there." Xena turned meeting his gaze. "Why were you held prisoner there?" Xochipilli took in a deep breath feeling his hand grip the throne slightly, he ignored Chantico look of confusion. "In his younger years Huitzilopochtli was so desperate to understand love that he captured me and tortured me all just to find out his answer. An answer which I refused to give him, to this day he still hates me for doing that."

He sat up slightly. "I have always stayed my distance from him and even now our warriors don't fight each other on the battle field. In his view I'm not worth fighting because I have no stomach for violence so there's no honour to be had in trying to take my realm. His great laws of war say that to be honourable is to only fight those who are warriors, and in his view I'm not a warrior." Chantico turned slightly. "Well that explains a lot I always wondered why he hated you." Xochipilli eyed her for a long moment. "You know he tortured me in the same way that Tezcatlipoca tortured you." Chantico sneered slightly. "Well aren't you lucky you don't have any permanent scars to live with." Xochipilli narrowed his gaze. "That's because mine are hidden bellow the waist and under my jaguar skin!"

He ignored her surprise. "Yes that's right he tried to destroy the part of me that defines me as a man, I'm just lucky that the damage wasn't permanent and I can still father children. As for the marks on my back made by his godly blade they will be with me for eternity much like yours." Chantico looked down slightly. "I never knew…no one ever said." Xochipilli breathed in sharply. "Yes there is so much you don't know about me, you've always just assumed that my life has always been so bright and beautiful because I'm the god of love…." Xochiquetzal turned meeting the dark haired woman's ice cold blue gaze. "My brother knows Huitzilopochtli's kingdom better than anyone."

Chantico breathed in deeply as she took a slow step forward easing the dagger of treasures free. "Give me the skull." Xena pulled the skull back eyeing her. "No." Chantico sneered slightly as came closer. "Give me the skull I need it to perform the ritual!" Xochiquetzal came closer easing out her hands. "Please you have to trust us." Xena eyed her for a long moment she turned meeting Xochipilli's gaze. "I don't trust you, but I trust him so he can take Gabrielle's skull not you!" Xochiquetzal stepped back watching as her brother eased himself of the throne coming forward. She lowered her gaze slightly. "As you wish…." Xochipilli breathed in deeply as carefully placed the white skull in his.

Xochipilli looked at the skull in his hands as he turned to Chantico seeing that the dagger of treasures was now glowing with red light which was lighting up the blade. He slowly raised the skull. "Go ahead." Xena turned eyeing Chantico as she raised the dagger higher her next words came out in a low hiss. "You break her skull and I'll break you…." Chantico looked up sharply eyeing her in disgust. "You should take in mind that I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this because Xochiquetzal asked me to." She sneered slightly as she raised the blade higher moving it slowly towards the skull. "You know I don't like you that much, frankly I think that you're a…."

"Chantico the ritual!"

Xochiquetzal turned sharply eyeing the goddess of fire who looked at her for a moment before looking down. Chantico snarled aloud as she eyed the Warrior Princess for a long moment. She leered slightly before turning back watching as Xochipilli eased his hands away leaving the skull floating in mid air in front of her. She raised her other hand watching as streams of fire shot out from her fingers. They slowly began to move around the skull creating circles of fire she smiled feeling the words slip of her tongue with ease. "The tree of life grows in the land of mystery." She looked up slightly watching as the rings of fires spun faster causing the lower skulls jaw to slowly open allowing two of fire spires to separate and move through the jaw and out the eye sockets.

She slowly eased up her hand again watching as dust formed in it she breathed out watching as it was blown forward creating a snake like form which began to move around the skull avoiding the flames. "There we were created. There we were born." She watched as the skull drifted towards her, she slowly raised the dagger ignoring the gaze of the others. She looked up slightly. "There he, by whom all things live, spins the thread of our lives." She felt her smile widen it was so nice to talk in a godly voice she'd missed doing it she'd also forgotten how much fun it was. She rose the dagger watching as its tip hit the skull's upper eye socket. She slowly dragged it forward creating burning red lines which were deeply engraved in to the solid bone.

She carried on drawing the thick lines. "You have become the tree of life, dying, you have been born again." She eased the dagger away watching as the red lines glowed showing off all the patterns which she'd carved. "Swaying, you spread your branches, and stand before the giver of all life." She smiled moving her hands through the sand in a gentle motion. "In your boughs our home shall be. We will be your flowers." She eased her hand away watching as the fire twisting around the skull moved upwards merging with the sand causing sparks to fly as it created beautiful little blocks of gleaming jade stone. "Here, where the tree of life is standing, here, in the place of drums and flutes. The jade blocks moved instantly slamming down on to the patterns recreating them in all there beauty as they formed intricate lines.

She eased her dagger back in to its holder as the fire weaving through the eye sockets moved outwards slamming down on all jade blocks. It moved through them burning them permanently in to place. Both flaming streams moved back inside the eye sockets causing fire to blast outwards from them as the jaw bone closed she watched as the fire slowly dissipated and the floating skull became still. She took a step back as Xochipilli carefully took hold of the skull pulling it out of mid air, she eyed the Warrior Princess. "It's done." Xochipilli eased up the jade covered skull putting it carefully back in to the dark haired woman's hands which caused the eye sockets to instantly glow with green and white light for an instant.

He looked at the skull for a long moment seeing that she was looking at it. "The glowing eye sockets are normal the skull is just connecting with you. The sockets will also glow the closer you get to her soul." Xena looked at the jade skull. "Thank you." She breathed in slightly. "What that bastard Huitzilopochtli did to you sounds vile…." Xochipilli shook his head. "Don't concern yourself with my troubles just bring the one you love home. Don't take on Huitzilopochtli in battle it will be a battle that you cannot win." Xena sneered slightly before nodding her head. "I understand." She eased up the skull looking at it feeling the pain as it went through her chest as she looked in to the empty eye sockets. "I understand everything…."

8

Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly watching as everything came back in to focus in the bed chamber. She breathed in feeling Huitzilopochtli naked body lying up against her own. She could feel the heavy strong arm which lay over her waist, she felt her gaze shift to the floor were both their clothes were lying around in a messy manner. She could feel him breathing in deeply as he slept, which seemed so strange to her in that she didn't think that gods had to sleep. She looked down slightly it was everything that she had envisioned. Everything had been slow, passionate and gentle and all she'd hoped for. He had so much feeling and so much to give. She looked down sadly and yet she still couldn't remember anything, she rolled her eyes maybe she was asking to much. Maybe she should just go with this and stop questioning everything.

She looked at the cover which was half way up her waist and wrapped around her leg slightly. She breathed in deeply as she eased her head of the pillow rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. After it had ended she had found herself falling in to a very deep sleep, which seemed odd considering that she was dead. She slowly eased herself out of the bed pushing his arm very gently off her as she got up in to a standing position. She breathed out sharply as the cold air hit her naked body causing her to shiver. Her gaze drifted as she quickly picked her clothes up off the floor slowly easing them back on piece by piece, as quickly as possible.

Why did she feel like she did back in the field as if she had so much yet unsure that she happy with any of it? She moved her hand to her headdress as she finished putting on her collar which was the last item of her clothing. She felt her hand stop as she moved it away from the headdress, Huitzilopochtli loved her didn't he? So why was she being so ungrateful? He'd just poured out his heart and soul and showed her bliss beyond anything she remembered and she had loved every moment off it. Gods why did nothing make any sense anymore? Love making was meant to make you happy wasn't it? Then why was she feeling so unsure now? She felt her fist tense this was so frustrating.

She groaned putting a hand on her head she could feel a headache coming on and it felt like a nail was being driven through her skull. She was meant to be dead didn't that exclude her from headaches? She looked at the feathered coils she couldn't be bothered to put them on. She paused maybe she was meant to eat something? She was dead though and she hadn't felt hungry since she'd been resurrected. She sighed aloud as she moved towards the curtain easing it back and walking out in to the main throne room. The room was quite apart from the sounds of a servant girl who was replacing the fruit. The Greek god who was sitting in the corner still in chains she ignored his cold gaze as she moved towards the servant girl who looked up before instantly bowing her head as she came to stand in front of her. "Hi."

The servant girl lowered her head further. "How may I serve you great Blood Jaguar?" Gabrielle smiled as she leaned sideways slightly trying to be playful. "Well you could look at me, there's no need to bow your head." She watched as the girl looked up nervously she leaned forward giving her a smile. "I was wondering if you could help me I need you to…." She watched as the girl hands moved to her robe pulling it down from her shoulders. She blinked in shock realizing just what was about to happen. She didn't think as she grabbed the other woman's hands in an instant. "No!" She watched as the eighteen year olds eyes met her own in surprise, she breathed in deeply. "No…I mean that's not what I meant…."

She pulled back seeing the girl blush as she pulled up her robes shoulders, before laughing awkwardly before she spoke. "I'm sorry great Blood Jaguar…I just assumed you being you, that you meant that you wanted that kind of pleasure." Gabrielle stared at her for a long moment, was she talking about making love? Why would she be talking about making love? She breathed in slightly making love to a woman wasn't that wrong? She groaned feeling the frustration hit home all at once why in any gods name would she want that? She took in a deep breath feeling her irritation pass, before looking at the girl again. "I wanted you to tell me if I'm supposed to eat…since I've been dead I just don't remember."

The girl looked up before laughing slightly. "No you don't eat the red nectar you drank in the godly fields will sustain you forever." Gabrielle looked at the food on the table. "Thank you." The girl looked at her curiously. "Is there anything else I can help you with great Blood Jaguar?" Gabrielle shook her head slightly. "No I'm fine, thank you." Ares smiled slightly watching as the young eighteen year old left the keep he stood up seeing that Gabrielle was still deep in thought. He moved a step closer to her, after listening to her cry out in the bedroom earlier he had almost welcomed the silence. He couldn't stand other gods having sex around him it made his skin crawl.

More because he had to listen he preferred to watch or have some part in the action that was the way it had always been in the past. Not that he was some prisoner on the outside looking in. He eyed his chains he hadn't expected her reaction to the girl undressing in front of her. Obviously she really had been changed she'd lost all interest in women. Also if he were to judge the reaction more carefully it was shock and confusion that a woman had even tried to come on to her. He smiled slightly moving a little closer but not to close. He could see the two hummingbird warriors near the keeps inner steps watching him closely. Maybe it was time to test that theory. "You know you could have just let her undress in front of you, she had plenty of assets."

Gabrielle turned slightly eyeing the Greek war god. "I didn't want her to." Ares smirked slightly. "So tell me, why is that? Wasn't she your type? Not tall enough, missing those light blue eyes?" Gabrielle took a step closer to him. "I don't make love to women…." Ares folded his arms ignoring how uncomfortable his chains felt. "Why don't you make love to women?" Ares watched as her glowing gaze started to dart as she began to think harder. He smiled inwardly he could see the conflict going through her mind in this instant and it was so fascinating to watch. Gabrielle looked up sharply taking a step back. "Because my lover is a man…." Ares laughed slightly enjoying how mocking it sounded. "Really did he tell you that?"

He sneered slightly. "Tell me did he tell you that you don't make love to women?" Gabrielle breathed in trying to ignore her headache which was getting worse. She wanted this man to leave her alone she looked up sharply. "I don't make love to them…because. Well why would I want to I'm a woman shouldn't I love a man, isn't that how it's meant to be?" Ares looked up meeting her glowing gaze. "Why don't you tell me Gabrielle?" Gabrielle didn't think as she backed away trying to ignore his cruel leer. "Please leave me alone you don't know me, My Lord says you are a bad man and I believe him." Ares watched as she walked away moving towards the keeps steps. "I know more about you than that bastard who calls him self your Lord and Master does!"

He watched as she turned to look at him for a long moment before walking up the keeps steps disappearing from sight. He smiled slightly if the cogs in her head weren't turning before then they were now. She wasn't Huitzilopochtli lover and his pathetic ruse wouldn't last much longer once she started thinking about it. He felt his smile widen thinking and debating things, had always been something that Gabrielle excelled at. Gabrielle turned slightly moving up the keeps steps watching as the dark night sky came in to view. That Greek war god didn't know anything about her! He was lying she was sure of it! Her Lord loved her and he wouldn't lie to her, he had been nothing but kind to her from the moment she had been resurrected.

She moved forward watching as the warriors guarding the steps moved to one side bowing their heads respectfully. She needed to take a long walk and clear her mind of these thoughts. Nothing about anything was making sense anymore! All she wanted to do was remember something, why was that so hard for her to accomplish? She turned sharply what did The Greek war god mean when he said, the young woman wasn't not tall enough and missing light blue eyes? Why should light blue eyes have any meaning to her everyone apart from her Lord had brown eyes. She slowly sat down on the ledge that over looked the huge city. May be he was playing some kind of mind game with her like Ahexotl had on the training field.

Yes that was it, it was a mind game it had to be? She folded her legs while leaning on her elbows, yes that's it a mind game. He didn't know her did he? She groaned putting her hand on her face, feeling the pulsing pain in her skull why wouldn't it just go away? It hurt so much right now and she had no idea how to rid herself of it. She looked up at the moon piercing the night sky she tensed in pain watching as the image suddenly changed in front of her eyes. The moon slowly turned to a pitch black colour and a ring of red fire began to burn behind it. She winced leaning forward trying to take the pain as the fire from the eclipse burned in the night sky.

"Are you all right Blood Jaguar?"

Gabrielle pulled back sharply she blinked realizing that the moon had returned to normal, she eased up her hands looking at them. Had she just had a vision? Was that from past? She had no idea she looked at the moon again, a black moon eclipsed with a red ring of fire around it what in Tartarus did that mean? It made no sense to her at all. She turned slowly meeting the curious gaze of a young woman who standing close by. She pulled her hands down quickly before looking up again. "I'm fine…." The young woman adjusted her eagle headdress slightly. "I'm sorry it's just you don't look well great Blood Jaguar, you seemed to zone out for a moment."

Gabrielle sighed aloud as she stood up looking at the young warrior. "I'm fine really…I just need to take a walk to clear my head." The young woman who didn't look much older than her smiled slightly. "Would you like some company I could escort you?" Gabrielle didn't think as she stepped back. "No!" She breathed in noticing the shock as it spread across the other woman's face. She groaned again. "I'm sorry I've just had a long night I don't mean to be short with you I know your just being kind." She watched as the warrior smiled at her then nodded. She lowered her gaze why was she acting this way? Her Lords people were only looking after her. She slowly met the woman's dark brown gaze. "Thank you for your concern, your very kind."

She turned away moving down the steps not really caring which direction she was heading in. Her life was so confusing right now. She just needed more time to work things out with herself. She'd just had a vision and even though she didn't understand it she was bound to have more, wasn't that a good thing when she thought about it? She looked up feeling the sharp pain again in her skull, gods why was she having this problem? She tried harder to ignore it as she walked up the main street. She stopped leaning against the nearest houses wall, she felt like she wanted to pass out. By the gods It felt like someone was trying to crack her head open with an axe!

End of part 59

Silvermoonlight

The tree of life grows in the land of mystery. There we were created. There we were born. There he, by whom all things live, spins the thread of our lives. You have become the tree of life, dying, you have been born again. Swaying, you spread your branches, and stand before the giver of all life. In your boughs our home shall be. We will be your flowers. Here, where the tree of life is standing, here, in the place of drums and flutes. Is from the Aztec poem The Tree Of Life

The flaming eclipse may be recognizable to anyone who read the last story. For anyone who didn't it was when the Titan armours Horn Hind and Iseron took control of the sky.