WISHES MADE FROM THE HEARTS FLOWING BLOOD

Xena slowly eased up the pendent looking at it for a long moment. "Great just great." She turned eyeing Itzli. "Don't I get to pick a colour because I hate white?" Itzli groaned as he turned to her. "Will you please just get on with it?" Xena eased the pendent up higher. "Make us look like Mexican cocoa bean traders." She breathed in as the white and red light burst outwards as the ghosts all came out. Their red eyes and skeleton arms and skulled faces came in to view as floated high above her. One of the ghosts red eyes narrowed as it studied her for a long moment, she eyed it in disgust. "I said make me look Mexican, do it now!"

Itzli quickly pushed her back a step he turned to meet the head ghosts red eyes. "Excuse her rudeness she doesn't understand what you want." He lowered his voice to a whisper as he leaned forward. "They want your blood you have to pay with it before they'll give us what we want." He leaned closer to her ear. "So please pay them or they will tear us both apart." Xena watched as he stepped aside she snarled pulling her breast dagger free. "You know you could have told me that sooner." She ignored the pain as she ran the dagger across her palm watching as the blood ran free. Itzli folded his arms. "I thought Gabrielle told you." Xena looked up as the head ghosts came closer. "No she just told me about blood being the payment."

She winced as she felt the ghost's jaws bite down on her palm as it started to drink. It pulled away as the others followed slowly drinking more of her blood, this wasn't a nice sensation. It wasn't like the time when her lover had bitten unto her neck during the battle with Bacchus. Granted Gabrielle hadn't remembered most of what had happened that night only very hazy details in places. She could though she could remember not wanting the younger woman to stop. She couldn't bring herself to stab Gabrielle with a dryad bone so she had just surrendered to her willingly. At the time she was starting to have thoughts about kissing her and holding her. Thoughts which she'd shaken off during the long nights and cursed her self for thinking about only to find that thinking about it had made her want what she couldn't have all the more.

The truth was that at the time she'd felt that she had no right to say she loved the younger woman, since she had nothing to offer her. She'd also felt that Gabrielle deserved better and that she should have all she wanted and someone who could give her everything. Not a broken ex warlord who was far more trouble than she was worth. It was more than that though she felt unclean for wanting to hold innocence and that it was shame full to allow such a beautiful young person to have her dirty, bloody hands holding them. Gabrielle had still been a very young woman and she'd felt that she would be forcing her down path that she had no right to take her down.

The younger woman had, had very few sexual experiences at the time and despite all her vast understanding of scrolls, plays and culture she had been slightly naïve about same gender relationships. True she knew about them who didn't in Greece but her sheltered upbringing meant that she knew very little about them apart from a few stories and details which were a tad vague. Her main concern was that she'd be forcing her in to a relationship that she didn't want and wasn't ready for. It was wrong to make to people believe that they were interested in a sexual preference when they weren't. She'd learnt in her warlord days that anyone who didn't like that kind of relationship wouldn't enjoy it in the bedroom.

Gods If only she'd realized then that Gabrielle didn't care about gender, treasure or even property or any thing else that people had to offer her. That the only thing the younger woman wanted was to be loved and held. She would have seen how truly foolish she was being for not taking the chance and telling Gabrielle that she was in love with her. She watched as the last ghost finished she quickly pulled her hand away closing it trying to ignore the stinging pain. She didn't care anymore what she had to do if it meant getting her lover back, she'd give up everything up for her if it meant saving her. She narrowed her gaze as a ghost came closer to her it seemed to take a long breath then breathed out red and white flowing light in to her face.

The next moments caused her to shut her eyes as felt incense pain go through them, she bent over feeling it travel through her body. Itzli watched as the tall woman's skin darkened matching his own. The dark leathers seemed to melt as they turned in to long white robes. The bronze armour disappeared as it formed long bands of gold down the edges of her white clothing. He carried on staring as she opening her eyes seeing the dark brown colour slowly spread outwards from her pupil causing the intense blue to vanish. Itzli felt his head dress melt away his clothes turned in to white robes with gold lining complete with a thick gold and blue patterned belt. He looked up seeming that his robe had a hood. The ghosts screeched as they flew back vanishing in side the pendent. He turned seeing the winged horse nay as it blasted in to red light for a moment only to reappear as a golden llama with four heavy back packs on its back.

This was in essence all an illusion nothing had changed on them it was just everyone's perception of them would now change. He pulling up the walking stick which had been his weapon watched as turned back in to his axe for a spilt second, he eased it down seeing it change back. It was an illusion which would no doubt fool everyone. Xena turned eyeing the robe which didn't feel comfortable at all, for some reason the chest area was way too tight as were a few other areas. She eased up her feet seeing the brown sandals were her boots had been. "How do I look?" Itzli grinned as he came closer. "You look like the perfect Mexican trader." He grabbed Argo's reins. "Complete with a llama."

Xena eyed Argo for a long moment. "They turned my horse in to a llama!?" She watched the llama snort she leaned forward rubbing its nose. "I'm sorry girl." Itzli moved a step closer to her. "This is all an illusion, nothings changed, how you and I look and how your horse looks. It's all no more than a layer of paint that will fool people." Xena leaned over opening Gabrielle scroll bag only to see scrolls in side in stead of coca beans. "I see what you mean." She pulled out Gabrielle's silver hand mirror. She slowly brought it up to her face only to see a pair of dark brown eyes look back at her. Everything was the same on her face and her body only the skin and eyes had changed. "I look awful with brown eyes and darker skin."

Itzli gently put a hand on her white robe. "I think they did a great job, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference if I didn't know you. Hell I might even want to sleep with you." Xena felt a sneer form on her lips as she eyed him. Itzli raised his hands as he met her cold gaze. "I was joking, don't look so angry." He turned eyeing the Jungle. "Now all we have to do is get by the guards on the bridge." He felt his smile widen. "This will be really easy all you have to do is bow your head and smile and let me do the talking." Xena shook her head as she put the hand mirror back in her lover's bag. She was not looking forward to this one bit.

8

Gabrielle slowly walked up the temples steps she smiled as the little dog followed her. Huitzilopochtli hadn't come back yet she leaned down gently picking up the dog stroking its head. She was glad that her headache had finally passed, it seemed as though she had blacked out and been floating for a long time. She hadn't wanted to stay with the musicians anymore, the music just made her feel sad. How did she even know how to play that instrument that they'd shown her? She couldn't even remember ever playing it until she had brought it to her lips. The second song she'd played had been so sad yet her first tune had been so much happier, why was that?

It was something from her life that she couldn't remember she was sure of it. She lowered her gaze, but why would she play such a tune when she'd always been as happy as her Lord has claimed? It made no sense what's so ever. She carried on moving ignoring the warriors who all stepped aside looking at her oddly. She breathed in deeply, she'd apologise to her Lord for coming back to temple later and explain why she had so, he would understand. She stopped as she came towards the inner keeps steps realizing that something was very wrong. It was so deadly quite she walked down the steps seeing that both the hummingbird warriors who normally guarded the keep were missing. She swallowed as she walked in side only to see that the main table had been tipped over all its food and drink littered the floor. She stepped closer, seeing one of the Hummingbird warriors passed out behind it. The female warrior she'd spoken to last night was lying motionless on the floor opposite side fresh blood was running down her chin.

"Come here."

Gabrielle turned catching sight of the Greek war god she could see the smile on his face and she didn't like it, it was cold and evil. Ares sneered in disgust why was she playing innocent? She hadn't been so innocent an hour ago far from it, there was defiantly something really wrong with her. It looked like she was switching personalities or hiding behind a false one. No doubt the people who blamed her this morning were thinking the same thing. It was just Huitzilopochtli had refused to contemplate that notion. It was obvious now that he couldn't have been more wrong. The stupid bastard was so blinded by his want for Gabrielle that he couldn't see her doing any wrong even when she did it outright.

Gabrielle took a slow step towards the Greek god. "What do you want?" Ares laughed enjoying how mocking his laugher sounded. "Why I wanted to thank you for your lovely kiss." Gabrielle stopped in mid motion she looked up meeting his dark brown gaze. "You must be mistaken I would never kiss you, I would only kiss My Lord." Ares leaned forward feeling his smile widen. "Drop the innocent act Gabrielle it's irritating." Gabrielle eyed him for a long moment what in Tartarus was he talking about? She gently stroked her dogs head again. "I don't know what you're talking about." Ares eyed her. "Yes you do, this is all you're doing I never realized that you had such a violent streak in you."

Gabrielle looked at the fallen warriors. "I didn't do this!" Ares folded his arms. "Oh you didn't, well why don't you wake up one the warriors and find out if that's true?" Ares turned hearing the female warrior close by groan as she started to come around. "Look ones waking up for you right now, I'm sure she'll tell you all about how you knocked her unconscious." Gabrielle moved quickly away from him, he was lying just to make her feel uncomfortable. She leaned down watching as the female warrior sat up clutching her head as she groaned in pain. "Are you alright?" The next moments turned to agonizing pain as the woman's fist impacted with her face. She stumbled back holding her dog tighter.

The female warrior turned spitting the blood out of her mouth. "You want to kill me Blood Jaguar then that's fine! Take in to mind I'm happy to die at your hands it would be an honourable death!" Gabrielle shook her head feeling the pain subside she stepped back watching as the woman got up raising her weapon. "Please I don't want to fight you." The female warrior eyed her in disgust. "Oh but knocking my head off my shoulders is okay!?" Gabrielle took another step back. "Please I didn't do this to you, you have to believe me. I was down to the house where they play music I came back…because I felt lonely." She looked down realizing something that hadn't occurred to her before, she was lonely.

She had all the wonders she could ever want in this city and yet she was lonely. It was an echoing loneliness, as if she had always been alone despite everyone around her, as if something was truly missing in her existence. Even when she'd made love to her Lord at the moment when pleasure had stuck her like a hammer and the lightning sensation had travelled through her body she hadn't felt any contentment at the end. The song on her panpipes had been a sad song because that was what she had felt deep down in side with out even realizing it. She looked up at the warrior who was wiping the blood of her lips with her other hand. "Please if I did this I'm so sorry, something's wrong with me." The female warriors gaze narrowed her voice hit the air full of venom. "Yes something's wrong with you, I can see that."

The female warrior looked around watching as the hummingbird warrior close by staggered to his feet, she slowly met his confused gaze. "She knocked you out as well?" The hummingbird warrior looked up slightly. "In a manner of speaking yes…." He turned eyeing the Blood Jaguar. "I feel it is time that you should be returned to our god, something is wrong with your soul." Gabrielle looked down as the dog in her arm started to bark and growl showing of its teeth as both warriors came closer. "Look can't we talk about this? I don't know what I've done I can't even remember doing it!" She looked up watching as the servant girl came down the steps only to stop dead in her tracks as their eyes met.

She raised her hand. "I'm so sorry about your food I'll clean it up for you." The girl stepped slowly in to the room her face showing fear as she moved to stand behind the female warrior who sneered slightly before speaking again. "So I guess you don't remember trying to force yourself on this harmless young woman?" Gabrielle looked at her and then at the servant girl she could see the fear in her eyes, from where she was standing. Fear that was directed at her, she suddenly didn't feel so good there was feeling her stomach that was so new to her. It took her a moment to realize what it was, it was the feeling of wanting to be sick, because she was shocked as well as disgusted by the thought of doing that to anyone.

To force yourself on to anyone who didn't want you, or wasn't interested was an evil thing to do. She felt her gaze dart as the panic started to set in would she do something like that? Was she truly that twisted and vile? She raised her hand to the young woman. "Please believe me I don't remember doing that I would never do that to anyone." Ares laughed causing her to turn. "Oh but you did do it to her Gabrielle, I saw you." Gabrielle ran a hand through her hair she could feel the frustration mounting. She turned back to the young woman who now looked as confused as the other two warriors she couldn't hold back the panic and desperation as her next words came out. "Why would I do that? I'm not like that!"

She stepped back seeing that the entrance was still clear to the keeps inner steps she had to get away from this. She eased up her hand knowing that she acting like a frightened child yet she still couldn't stop her actions. "I would never touch a woman in that way! My lover is a man, I don't sleep with women! I've never had any reason to do so!" She clutching her dog tighter, realizing that it was the only one who was trying to protect her right now. She could feel her panic rising and she didn't care anymore, the urge to run was too great. She held her dog to her hoping that she wouldn't hurt if she became a hummingbird. She could see the green fire as blasted outwards from her chest as she started to change. Nothing mattered to her as her body took on its other form, only the getting away mattered. She could see her dog floating unharmed inside the comet flames of her tail it was completely still as if it had gone to sleep. Everything just seemed to go by in a blur as she left the inner keep not once looking back as she flew over the city taking her dog with her.

8

Xena looked up seeing the bridge come to view it was huge bridge than ran half of the length of the huge lake in which the massive city was situated on. Xochipilli hadn't lied it was a massive city much bigger than Tezcatlipoca's and it was far wider than Xochiquetzal's. May be she shouldn't have surprised this was a war gods city and one thing war gods were well know for was taking things to the extreme. Ares halls of war really embraced that ideal in every sense with his weapons and favourite throne as well as lavish lay outs. His priestess and priests were always making pretentious speeches on how excellent he was on a daily basis. This wasn't a hall of war though this was a whole city built to be huge and beautiful all in the name of a war god.

This was a pure show of arrogance to top any other, she stepped on to the bridge trying to ignore the tight uncomfortable feeling which she getting from her robes. She found herself fidgeting as tried to get comfy in them only to find that nothing she did made them any more comfortable. They were ether to tight or to small and she didn't have a clue which. She pulled Argo along hearing the llama snort she had no doubt in her mind that her mare didn't like this ether. She could see the two guards looking at them as they came closer, she found herself fidgeting again. Itzli turned eyeing the warrior woman who was pulling at her robes. "Will you please stop fidgeting, it makes you look odd?"

Xena turned eyeing him. "Look this isn't comfortable its hurts when I try to breathe and I swear part of this robe is riding up my…." Itzli turned sharply. "You know Gabrielle never complained when she had to put on different clothes!" Xena snarled as she eyed him. "Gabrielle is half my height she can fit in to anything with out it being uncomfortable!" Itzli looked at her for a long moment. "May be the ghosts made a mistake and thought you were her which is why your robes don't fit, your both in essence one soul that's been separated after all." Xena pulled on the collar of the robe. "Or maybe the bastards did this out of spite, because I didn't pay up quickly enough."

Itzli moved forward slowly. "That is a possibility…." He watched as the two guards came closer to them he lowered his voice slightly. "Now just stay quite and go along with the plan you're my wife and I'm your husband and we are just trading here." He watched as she sneered slightly before straightening herself up. Itzli eyed the two warriors who smiled as they came closer the first raised his hand bringing them to a stop. He gave him a wide grin. "Hello great warriors of the sun gods city." The first warrior eyed him and then Xena. "Why have you come here?" Itzli walked over to the llama opening the bags he knew that despite what was in it they would only see coca beans. "I bring you lots of pure coca from the great mountains." He watched as they both took a step closer. "Very good quality you come and see."

The second warrior eased out his hand towards the bag he pulled out his stopping him in mid motion. "You mustn't touch the merchandise, you'll ruin the flavour." The warrior pulled his hand away eyeing him for a moment before eyeing Xena. "I haven't seen you two before and I know everyone so who are you?" Itzli put his hands on his robes. "I am the great Itotia." He turned walking up to Xena whose face was unreadable. "And this is my beautiful wife Nenetl." He didn't think as he smacked her behind causing her to breathe out sharply in surprise. "Quite a dish wouldn't you say? She really delivers in the bedroom don't you dear?"

Xena felt her teeth grind together as she forced a smile. "Yes I do." Itzli turned taking hold of her face under the chin. "She's got good teeth to and great birthing hips." He watched as the two warriors eyed Xena looking her up and down, that was just wanted he wanted the idiots to do right now. Pay attention to her looks and not to anything else. The second warrior grinned slightly. "Why is she so tall?" Itzli pulled his hand away from Xena's face even with her brown coloured eyes the ice cold look was unmistakable. He clapped his hands. "Are you insulting my wife!?" The warrior raised his hand. "No of course not, I'm not used to seeing tall women." Itzli folded his arms as he eyed the man. "She's an Inca you fool, they breed them tall."

He watched as the other warrior came forward his voice hitting the air. "Oh yes, now that makes sense don't they live in the mountains?" Itzli smiled inwardly he couldn't believe they were buying this he gave them both a wide grin. "Yes high in the mountain region of Cuzco." He put his hand on the first warriors shoulder thumping his chest. "I think it's all that mountain air that makes them so tall." He stepped away from both men putting his arm around Xena's waist he could still see the wide forced smile on her face. "So would you let me and my beautiful wife through?" He put his hand on Xena's stomach ignoring her low growl. "You see my wife is very tired and would really like to rest we've both travelled such a long way."

He patted her stomach with his hand. "I need her in tip top condition, you see we trying so hard for a right baby now." He sighed aloud as he patted her stomach again. "Gods only know why the magic isn't working, I think she's just been so tired you know how it is right?" He watched as both men laughed and then nodded, he gave them a wide smile and then winked. "So can we go through and rest?" The first warrior laughed again. "Sure you both go right ahead." Itzli clapped his hands together. "You are most wonderful warriors, thank you." He moved forward watching as Xena slowly followed the anger showing in her eyes. "Come on dear must not keep our valued customers waiting." Xena forced her smile again as she passed the warriors who eyes were full of lust. "Yes great Itotia I'm coming."

Itzli smiled as they carried on moving he could see a small building in the middle of the bridge it was a very small open hut out of view of the warriors, were you could get a drink. He turned going inside it watching as Xena followed letting go Argo's reins. He picked up a goblet looking as the vases of fresh water. "Well looks like we did it, the idiots fell for it hook, line and sinker." He turned only to feel the agony as her hand wrapped around his throat he felt the pain as he was slammed in to the side wall which caused him to drop his goblet. He looked up seeing the brown eyes staring back at him their fire raging. Xena leaned forward snarling aloud as she tightened her grip around his throat her voice hit the air in a low hiss. "You ever touch me like that again and I will break every bone in your body!"

Itzli struggled feeling her grip tighten even more. "It was part of the plan…I had to do it otherwise…those idiots on the bridge wouldn't have fallen for it." He put his hand on hers trying desperately to pry it loose. "I swear to the gods I don't think of you that way! I admire you, your Gabrielle's one and only equal! Xena eyed him for a long moment she let go off him watching as he grabbed the wall trying to hold himself up, as he tried to get his breath back. "The only reason I'm not going to hurt you is because your Gabrielle's friend and she'd kill me if any harm comes to you." Itzli stood up finally getting his breath back. "I'm as much your friend as I am hers."

He leaned down picking up the fallen goblet then slowly filled it with water he eased it up looking at her. "I promise I won't do that again, I just needed to make it look good." He took a slow step forward seeing a hint of sadness in her eyes she was thinking about her lover again he was sure of it. "Would you like a drink?" Xena eyed the goblet she took it from his hands looking at it for a long moment. "Thanks." She looked down trying not to think about what her lover was going through right now. She didn't like the thought of her with out her memories being so innocent and naïve and so easily led by others. Who were just taking advantage of her, she ran a hand through her hair in frustration by the gods this whole thing was such a mess.

End of part 64

Silvermoonlight