HEAVENLY FEATHERS OF THE GODS

Huitzilopochtli carried on walking up the street seeing the cloud of black smoke which was floating high above the market place. He'd seen everything from another street. Gabrielle's soul had smashed through the roof in its flaming form which was more like a huge fireball than a comet. In doing so it had caused the whole roof of the building to break length ways and then come down. The massive ball of flames had sped off in to the sky out of sight he had no idea where it had landed. He turned eyeing a female warrior who was standing close by. "I want Gabrielle found now!" He watched as she swallowed before looking up. "I was sent from the keep to find her myself great sun god." She looked down slightly. "There was an incident this morning."

Huitzilopochtli turned sharply eyeing her. "What kind of incident?" The young woman looked down slightly. "I was told that she came in to the keep and tried to force one of the servant girls to have sex with her. One of the hummingbird warriors present said that was acting very violently he also said that she also knocked out a living warrior and the hummingbird warrior who was with him, he then left trying to find Coaxoch." She shook her head seeing the shock as it spread over her gods face. "The other hummingbird warrior said that she later returned claiming to know nothing about what she'd done. They tried to stop her leaving so she could be brought to you but she panicked and fled. He sent me and nine other warriors to find her. We have been trying to find her all day but she's always been one step ahead."

She put a hand on her face. "We thought we had her at Coatlicue's ancient temple but she fled and we saw her go here. We have no idea why she came here, only that it seemed strange that she'd come out in to the open like this and not try to hide away again." She looked up her weapon. "We will find her great sun god." Huitzilopochtli narrowed his gaze, oh yes this was turning out to be such a wonderful day. This impostor was starting to truly anger him! At every turn she was there trying to ruin Gabrielle's life and his. He felt annoyed that he couldn't just fix this like he did all his other problems which he always managed to resolve with ease.

He felt his teeth grind together, perhaps this was Xena's doing maybe this was a big part of the bitches plan which was to cause him chaos so she could get Gabrielle back! He looked up slightly it seemed so much like something she'd do she wasn't stupid in fact she was quite intelligent from what he'd seen in Gabrielle's memories which he'd looked through before he'd resurrected her. After seeing all of Gabrielle's memories though he was even more disgusted by the Warrior Princess. On not just one occasion but two she had tried to kill the blonde woman. She'd tried to drag her to her death using a horse. The second time she'd thrown the ringed weapon called the Chakram in to her head in a moment of violent rage.

At the time Gabrielle had been going insane something which she'd failed to notice despite a few very obvious sighs. The only reason Gabrielle had survived on that occasion was because the Greek war god had healed her head wound. If this head wound had been unhealed it would have left her permanently disabled. The magic in the world of Illusia had Gabrielle's healed wounds after she'd been dragged to her death. Before that though she'd left her on her own for two months which had almost pushed her to breaking point. She had suffering so badly blaming her self for everything that had happened with Xena's son and her daughter.

They had gotten back together only for her to later be pushed out of Xena's life once again when she'd had another child. She'd then had to take the intense pain of watching as the Warrior Princess went after random men and the Greek war god searching for a father figure. All this was because the Warrior Princess had judged her based on what had happened with her daughter, which was very unfair. The ultimate sting though had been Xena's death in Japan this was what had first brought Gabrielle to Mexica in search of the elder god. He'd stripped Gabrielle's memories to take away all this pain and heartache so she could be happy and with out sadness. He'd also done it so she would want him and accept him as her true lover.

Xena didn't deserve her, she deserved to die a slow death and to no what it was to see through Gabrielle's eyes. To suffer in silence and want to be loved only to be rejected or left for someone else who was apparently more important. He turned eyeing the young warrior who was looking at him in confusion. "You've done the right thing please carry on your search." She nodded then turned running up the street he looked up as two more warriors came up to him, the coming forward nervously. "Great sun god we are so glad you are here. The roof of a house collapsed, we've just dragged out one man he looks to be a trader but we thing someone's still trapped in there!" Huitzilopochtli eyed him hearing the venom in his voice as he spoke. "Yes…someone is still trapped in there."

8

Xena groaned in pain as she opened her eyes only to look in to nothing but darkness. Her whole body was aching and she could feel a heavy weight on top of her almost crushing her. The sounds of people shouting could be heard all around her although they seemed to echo due to the amount of rubble she was under. She could hear wood and stones all around her as it was lifted off. God's she knew wood and stone hurt but to be buried under it felt even worse, she felt like a rabbit that was stuck in its own warren. She couldn't move because part of one of the heavy wooden rafters was lying on her back. On top of that there were more planks of wood and stone trapping her in place so she couldn't move.

Ironically this huge wooden rafter had saved her life since part of it was above her head it had kept most of the other broken planks from falling on her. It had also created a gap for her chest arms and head she looked down feeling the skull in her hands. She ran her fingers over every bone groove and tooth in the darkness making sure that, there were no cracks and that nothing had been damaged. She felt a long breathe she'd been holding in leave her Gabrielle's skull was fully intact. She snarled aloud trying to push her body up only to feel nothing move, she had to get out of this mess! That bastard Huitzilopochtli could arrive any minute, she pushed harder hearing the rafter grind as it started to lift up the shouting above seemed to get louder and closer.

People voices could be heard all around her now they'd no doubt seen the movement of the rubble. She felt her eyes dart as a ray of light came through as someone pulled a heavy plank away which was above her. There voice hit the air. "Are you alright in there!?" Xena rolled her eyes, what a stupid question. "Get me out of here!" The voice came again. "We are working on it, we managed to get your husband out and we'll have you free in a moment." Xena breathed in deeply hearing more rubble and wood as it was shifted all around her. This was even worse than the time she'd been tossed down a well by that bunch of Israelite thugs, no wait that wasn't so bad at least Gabrielle had been wrapped around her body.

That was first time she had, had a sexual though go through her mind about the younger woman. She'd had not been able to stop it and she had been utterly disgusted with herself later on for thinking it because Gabrielle had still been no more than a teenager at the time. The truth was a part of her didn't mind being crawled over by a beautiful young woman in life and death situations. She looked up realizing that the noise had stopped she narrowed her gaze, what in Tartarus was going on? She felt her body freeze as an odd sensation hit her for one moment she thought it was Ares, only to realize in the next instant that it wasn't. It was a much stronger presence that made every part of her body tingle.

It wasn't a nice sensation though far from it, it felt hot like she was sweating even though she wasn't. Everything around her suddenly started to rattle violently. The huge broken rafter slowly lifted up in the air along with everything causing sunlight to pour in as she was freed from under it. She turned just in time to see everything as it was thrown towards the stone wall behind her full force causing broken wood and rock to fly everywhere. She watched as the rafter crashed in to the pile she felt her gaze dart as she realized that she was completely free. She could see Itzli lying close by on the floor unlike her he was unconscious and his bleeding wounds were being bandaged by two women. From what she could see he still had no his fake appearance, she looked down seeing that hers was still unchanged.

She pulled herself up slowly so she was on her knees pushing a plank aside with her free hand only to stop still as a six foot tall well muscled man appeared he lowered his hand as his golden eyes fell up on her. Gabrielle's description and Itzli's had been perfect in terms of describing him they hadn't missed a thing. She stood up slowly putting the skull behind her back as she watched his eyes narrow. She knew who he was the gold clothes and headdress even his pose was very much like something Ares would do except he wasn't Ares he was Huitzilopochtli. She watched as his long upper and lower canine teeth caught the light as he sneered at her before his face became unreadable.

She felt her free hand form a fist she wanted to scream at him while ripping his lungs out. She also wanted to smash his long canine teeth just to see the pain in his eyes! She felt her teeth grind together as he came to stand over her. It was a stupid thought but maybe he couldn't see through her fake appearance as he hadn't said anything. Maybe she could buy herself time, by playing her role out as much as possible. Huitzilopochtli eyed the woman in front of him oh yes it was Xena, how nice. He felt his hand form a fist he wanted to kill her by ripping out her insides while she was still breathing. How dare this bitch come in to his city and use this pathetic trick! Did she honestly think that he couldn't see through her little disguise! He felt his mouth form a smile he'd play along with her little game just for the fun of it.

Xena forced a smile as she held Gabrielle's skull tighter. "Thank you great sun god, I thought myself and my husband, were both going to die." Huitzilopochtli folded his arms she was close to his height which he didn't like ether. "Very tall aren't you?" Xena felt her teeth grind together as she looked up at him. "I'm an Inca great sun god." Huitzilopochtli could see the skull behind her back which had been covered in jade patterns which now lay flat against the bone. He didn't need to guess to know it was Chantico's handy work. Maybe he shouldn't have been surprised by that Chantico would do anything for Xochiquetzal. Her love for the fertility goddess was endless and she didn't care who she pissed off if it meant keeping the other woman happy.

One of his spies had told him all about their meeting before he'd gone to see the skeleton warriors. Apparently after he'd left Tezcatlipoca's city Chantico had beaten the Jaguar god almost to the point of death but not before melted the floor and releasing the dying Cualli on to him. The fertility goddess had appeared stopping her from finishing the job, after which they'd both left together. He leaned forward meeting Xena's brown eyes feeling a cruel smile form. "You should be kneeling no head should ever be higher than mine." Xena looked down for a moment feeling her self tense in anger, as she tried to think of a reply which would sound correct. She could see the people all around them who were looking on in ether surprise or confusion.

She lowered her gaze trying to ignore the silence which clung to the air all around her. She didn't like it at all it made her even more on edge and it was getting very difficult for her to hide the tension she was feeling. She looked up meeting Huitzilopochtli's golden gaze "I mean no offence great sun god but I only kneel before my own gods. Huitzilopochtli didn't think as he slammed out his hand wrapping it around her throat. "If you were a real Inca then you'd know that any Inca worth his salt would be kneeling before me!" He felt the sunlight as it blasted through his fingers giving him even more strength. "I conquered all their gods in my violent youth!"

He sneered slightly raising her up even higher seeing the surprise in her eyes which turned to pain as her feet left the ground fully. "But you wouldn't know that now would you Xena, because unlike Gabrielle you don't spend time reading scrolls do you?" He snarled aloud watching as her feet kicked through nothing but air. He could now see the pain in her eyes, which was so pleasant to witness at this moment in time. "Did you honestly think that I would not see through your fake flesh?" Xena felt the pain as his hand tightened around her throat it felt like her windpipe was being crushed. She looked at him feeling her feet kick out harder in mid air.

She felt Gabrielle's skull leave her hands she watched as it hit the broken wood close by on its side coming to a stop still fully intact. She pulled up her hands trying desperately to pry his hand loose. His grip was like iron she struggled harder only to feel the pain increase causing her lungs to cry out for more air. Huitzilopochtli looked at her in disgust a part of him felt a vulture waiting for something to die, which made it all the more pleasurable. "Did you honestly believe that I would not recognise you? I know that overly muscled body of yours along with its slack jawed square face any where!" He eyed her for a long moment. "If you were half as smart as Gabrielle is you would have realized that I would not fall for this pathetic trick."

He narrowed his gaze. "There are two things I hate in this world and one of them is you." Xena felt her teeth grind together. "Bastard she doesn't belong to you!" Huitzilopochtli looked up slightly. "I find that very amusing coming from you at this moment in time. We'll talk more about that later though in private, after I have shown everyone who you really are." He eased up his free hand watching as golden lightning started to fly out of his palm. "Unfortunately this is going to hurt an awful lot but since it is you I am not sure that, that really matters." He watched as the lightning flew out of his hand hitting her body, it tore across her fresh stripping away the fake flesh revealing the lighter skin underneath.

He could see the agony in her face as she tried to take the pain he watching as the lightning became even more intense as it started to tear away her white robes revealing the dark leathers underneath. He felt his smile widen as he heard her scream of agony hit the air. It wasn't just the pain which was making her scream no with every strike her body was being paralyzed inch by inch. He moved his lightning filled hand forward slamming it in to her chest watching as flesh and clothing flew through the air as it was all torn off violently. He let go of her throat watching as her body was thrown thought the air sending the last of her fake flesh and clothing skywards. Xena felt the agony as her body slammed in to the rubble back first causing everything to spasm.

She could see white cloth and pieces of dark flesh showering down all around her. She tried to move only to cry out due to the knife like pain which burned every part of her body. She couldn't move, her whole body was paralyzed even her fingers wouldn't move when she tried to move them. She groaned feeling the blood as it ran down her chin. She looked at the wood and stone all around her only to see her eyes meet Gabrielle's skull which was lying on its side staring back at her. Gods everything hurt so much! Huitzilopochtli felt an evil smile form as he stared at the woman in front on him lying in the rubble. She looked very formidable with her shining steel weapons and dark leathers with its bronze plating.

It was all just clothing though and it meant nothing right now since her whole body was paralyzed. He watched as the brown colour faded in her eyes revealing the piercing light blue underneath. He slowly brought up his foot eyeing her, just like everyone else she could bleed. He brought his foot down full force slamming it in to her lower mid section. He listened to her cry of pain as it hit the air he already knew where her weak spot was. She had once had a lower spinal injury and it meant that some of the muscles in her lower stomach weren't as strong as the rest. Under her leathers in that area there was a very thin layer of padding for extra protection it wasn't obvious but he could see it perfectly.

He eased up his foot only to bring it down even harder hearing her scream again, only this time it was a scream of utter agony. He looked up seeing the pain in her eyes as they turned to look at Gabrielle's skull again. The pain in her eyes seemed to turn to utter despair before her eyes closed and her body slumped as she lost consciousness completely. He turned seeing four warriors run up behind him, he eyed the Warrior Princess and Itzli and as well as the golden llama which was close by before turning to look at them. "I want Xena and Itzli and that animal back in my keep!" He watched as they all sped in to action in an instant, he turned watching as the lightning in his hand slowly faded away.

8

Gabrielle felt the wet cloth was it pushed against her face, she groaned trying to open her eyes only to close them again due to the hash light. She opened them again only much slower this time watching as everything came in to focus. She was lying on her back and there were people all around her, she watched as the woman closest shouted something which sounded mumbled to her. She winced as the sound came back in to ears and she heard the woman's voice clearly. "She's awake!" Gabrielle groaned again eyeing her. "Please don't shout my head hurts." A number of young children and men looked at her as the woman raised her wet cloth. "You took quite a blow Blood Jaguar, we were all worried."

She paused looking at the stone well behind them. "We had no idea that you had the power to give yourself eagle's wings." Gabrielle looked at her for a long moment. "What?" The man closest kneeled down slowly putting his hand down pushing up what looked like a huge wing tip. It was filled with huge gleaming green wing feathers which ran down the length of the lower wing. The upper feathers were a mixture of reds and oranges. All their colours matched those that had been on her hummingbird wings. The man turned to her. "These are mighty wings." Gabrielle ignored the pain as she slowly she sat up watching as everyone stepped back giving her room. It all made sense now the weight on her back which she'd felt and the pain in both her shoulder blades.

She looked up as an elderly woman moved through the crowds who was carrying her dog. The little dog instantly jumped out of her arms running towards her. It leapt up licking her fingers she smiled before leaning down to pick it up. "Thank you for finding my dog." The elderly woman gave her smile as she put her hands together. "Glad to be of help Blood Jaguar, although he came to find you I saw him running through the street towards you." Gabrielle ignored the pain as she slowly eased herself to her feet feeling the muscles in both her wings tense causing the flight feathers to quiver. She carefully moved the wings feeling them go back and forth in a flapping motion. The pain seemed to lessen as she used to them, she slowly moved forward watching as her reflection appeared in the fountains waters.

She could see her green eyes which were still glowing and the huge wings rising out from behind her shoulders oddly nether had torn her clothing. She stretched them out and upwards looking at the size of them. Each one was almost the size of her body from shoulder to tip, although they could be folded which made them seem smaller. She stroked her dogs head nothing about this made any sense to her, why in Tartarus did she have wings like this? It was obvious now that she couldn't become a humming bird anymore. Was this what that woman had done to her? Why do this though it made no sense what so ever. Maybe this had been an accident, but even then it seemed very strange.

She couldn't remember ever having wings like these before now, not that this changed anything she was stuck with them by the looks of things. She eased them out to full length again watching as the wind moved through the feathers. There was something very similar about them though but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. She shook her head she couldn't get that woman out of her head now. She had never felt like that before when kissing someone. She looked down slowly It had made her heart race with joy and pleasure and all her loneliness had vanished. She put her hand on her face she was getting in to this to deeply and yet she couldn't help herself.

Why did everything she was doing feel so right even though it was wrong but most of all why had betraying her Lord left so right? She knew the difference between right and wrong, yet at this moment they seemed so blurred. Kissing that woman had been like a dream one that her body seemed to fall in to it blissfully before her mind could catch up. She looked up at the main keep in the distance, she was sick of not having any answers! Her Lord was keeping something from her she was so sure of it now it was time to stop running away. She wanted the truth about everything and about his love for her! She wouldn't run away again she flapped her wings then stretched them again she would come back willingly and accept the consequences. Her thoughts were suddenly cut off by a spike of pain which shot through her head causing to cry out, she found her self stumbled back. She pushed her foot in the ground stopping her self before she could fall over. She looked up watching as a young woman came towards her from the crowd she tried to ignore the intense pain as she heard the woman's soft voice hit the air. "Are you aright Blood Jaguar?"

End of part 70

Silvermoonlight

Sorry about the last chapter all, I know this is the chapter you've been waiting for. In this chapter Gabrielle's angel's wings are meant to be a mirror of those from Fallen Angel, just with different coloured feathers :)