THE TORMENTED SOUL THAT CRIES OUT IN DESPAIR

Xena walked forward watching as the city bellow come in to view she could hear the screaming even from a distance. She turned watching as Itzli came to stand next to her along with Ares who had followed them. Huitzilopochtli turned watching as the others appeared close by a blast of fire, multicolour and flowers. He breathed in deeply as his eyes travelled downwards he could see the grand serpent even from this distance. He looked up just in time to see it smash through one of store houses sending wood and food flying all over the main street. He could see all the destruction it had caused even from this distance away.

From his father's temple right up to the store house everything was in utter ruins. There were smashed buildings as well as broken fountains which were spilling water all over the streets. Injured people littering the floor and buildings which had collapsed sideways, along with ruined market stalls whose food lay scattered all around. The snake was now moving up the main street towards his temple. He narrowed his eyes its huge head his neck was a blaze with red flames and he could see some thing at the top of its head. It was difficult to see properly because off the intense flame surrounding it. The only thing he could see were two black horns both reaching high up towards the sky above the flames.

He looked down he didn't need to be told what it was he already knew and none of that made it any easier. It was the dark side of Gabrielle's soul he'd been such fool for doing what he'd done and this was the price that he's people had paid for his act. He had played with a soul's essence with out knowing what he was truly dealing with. He looked up catching sight of something flying over head of the snake its huge wings beating the air as it tried to come down and pull its counterpart loose by grabbing her horns only to be thrown off in a violent motion. He turned looking at Xena for a long moment he could see the heart wrenching pain in her eyes.

Pain for her lover and pain that she was stuck this way and not herself along with the pain of loving her and wanting her back. He carried on staring at her may be they weren't so different in their love for Gabrielle. He could debate this later though at this moment stopping this monstrous snake was much more important. He turned to face her hearing the screaming as the snake came closer to the temple he could hear it screeching in pain. He wasn't sure that it knew where it was headed only that all this had to end now. He eyed Xena as he shoved the Greek god of war back ignoring his look of disgust he could stay with the others.

He'd caused enough trouble as it was and he didn't want to be near him at this moment in time. As soon as this was over and done with he was would let him go. It was pointless keeping him now any way he no longer cared for teaching him the lesser god had already taken his first step on the road to understanding selflessness. He turned back seeing that the snake was now slowing down, no doubt from the pain of its burns. He knew he couldn't throw a fireball at it from this distance he'd put his people at to much risk, instead he'd need to be up close and personal to take the killer shot. He slowly stepped forward so he was front of the Warrior Princess. "Are you ready?"

Xena turned looking at the huge snake taking in a deep breath this felt as though it had been the longest day of her life. She put a hand on her face trying to ignore how tired she felt. A part of her wanting nothing more than to pass out just so she could sleep but she knew she couldn't do that now her lover's was the most important thing right now. She looked up meeting Huitzilopochtli's golden gaze. "Take me to her." She put a hand on Itzli's shoulder. "Take Itzli as well." She closed her eyes as the gold light blasted outwards almost blinding her for an instant. She could feel the fear welling up deep in the pit of in her stomach, she wasn't sure that she was ready to this.

8

Blood Jaguar didn't think as she slammed her clawed hand down on one of Milintica's eyelids causing blood to run free. She could barely feel the fire not that she really cared about it anyway. She watched as the serpents huge body came to a stop near the street closest to the main square. The pain was now starting to slow him down the fire had also started to go out leaving burnt scales. She could smell the burning flesh and see his only good green eye which was looking up at her. She eased up her clawed hand she'd been so looking forward to this. She brought down her clawed hand all the force she could muster. She found her smile widening as her claws hit the target dead on causing blood to fly outwards.

Her clawed hand penetrated the eye deeper, she grinned as she grabbed hold of it fully feeling it tear as she ripped it completely free from its socket. She laughed tearing it completely free of the socket listening to the snakes screech of pain which was long and drawn out. If he thought having one eye blinded was bad then she'd like to see how the bastard liked loosing two. She threw the eyeball to one side watching as it hit the stall bellow smashing up part of it. This was what she'd been waiting for! She pushed her clawed feet in deeper as she raised herself on to her hind legs. She didn't think as she leapt off feeling her claws scratch the ground as she landed on it turning to see Milintica swing his head violently.

She looked hearing her mocking laugher hit the air as the snake smashed its burnt face and neck in to the nearest building. She stepped closer on all fours watching as broken rock fell to the floor. "You stupid bastard worm come on and try to hurt me now!" Milintica turned sharply hearing where her voice was coming from, he flicked out his tongue trying to smell the air ignoring the pain and darkness which now filled everything. Blood Jaguar sneered as she stood up slowly on her hind legs picking up a large pot which was lying on the floor. She smiled inwardly as she threw the pot at the wall of a house opposite listening to sound as it shattered. The huge snake turned instantly striking the house with the full force of its upper neck only to screech as he hit solid stone.

Milintica roared in pain as he his jaws struck the stone smashing it apart, he tried to ignore the pain as he turned hearing the sound of the Blood Jaguar's laughter she'd tricked him! Blood Jaguar smiled she could see her counterpart still flying high above obviously she going to land she lowered herself on to all fours tensing her whole body. She narrowed her eyes as she lined herself up watching as Milintica's head stopped moving, she would get one shot at this and she wanted it to be beautiful, death was not beautiful unless it was creative and perfect. She moved her claws across the floor hearing the sound hit the air which caused the grand serpent to instantly turn in her direction.

She pricked up her ear hearing the sounds of foot steps as they hit the air she turned catching sight of ten living warriors as they came running in to the square carrying chains and rope. She snarled aloud they wouldn't take away her kill! She wouldn't let them she turned back eyeing the grand serpent who was getting ready to strike. She felt her feet leave the floor as he came towards her, his mouth opening fully she snarled as lowered her head further. She could see the jaws opening even wider. He was going to try and grab her in mid air she was sure of it, she had been grabbed before by these teeth so what did it matter, pain was just pain.

Gabrielle looked down as she flapped her wings she could see her counterpart flying towards the huge snakes open mouth. What was she thinking was she insane? She was going to kill herself! She swallowed she knew she shouldn't care but she did care, even though a part of her deeply disliked her counter part. She found the breath getting caught in her throat as the jaws closed around her counterpart fully in mid air. She flew downwards landing on the building closest just in time to see both huge black horns appear as they penetrated through the snakes head. Blood flew outwards as they came out fully through the centre of its upper head.

Its huge jaws opened and she could now see her counterpart on her hind legs pushed up against the lower jaw with all her might. Her huge wolf like head was forced upwards allowing each of the meter long horns to be forced even further through the serpent inner jaw and in to its main head causing more blood to flow. It leaked down hitting the ground bellow as a very long drawn out silence hit the air. The warriors had all stopped at the edge of the square not knowing what to do, or what to say. The snakes dying screech suddenly hit the air breaking the cold silence in an instant, she looked up again just in time to see two golden fireballs fly through the air one going over her head while the other moved past her.

They had been fired from a distance of that she was sure and she knew that they were the sun gods. They weren't meant for her or her counterpart she knew that just by looking at them, they were both killer blows. A killer blow which the serpent, would feel in an instant both these blows would no doubt finish him off stopping his rampage through the city. The first fireball slammed in to the serpent lower body blowing it apart while the other slammed in to its neck causing blood to fly outwards as the golden fire blasted apart it's ribs and central spine. The snake's whole body seemed to shake and quizzer, its huge neck fell sideways smashing apart one of the houses of the main street as it hit the ground with immense force causing everything to shake.

It all seemed to go quite again as it lay still its heavy breathing filling the air. She almost felt a sense of sadness for it, it was such a mighty serpent that had probably lived for years and had seen so many wonders and changes, yet now it was no more. In a single instant its whole life had been lost to the echoes of time. Milintica breathed in looking in to the darkness he could feel the Blood Jaguar in his mouth struggling to free herself. He could close his jaws and suffocate her but what was the point of that? He didn't believe in unfairness and in his dying moments he saw no point, he head lived a very long life. He had waited for years to be bested by some one, so many have come and gone and failed and now one had succeeded.

He had read the writing on C'thulon's great wall the words of the elder gods were final, all things had their end. He took in a deep breath feeling the blood as it flowed out over his scales his end had come and he was fine with it. He blinked with his sightless eyes watching as everything filled with orange light all around him. Gabrielle breathed in deeply watching as her counterpart tried to free herself only to find that she couldn't her horns were now stuck in place. She watched as her counterpart roared in anger as she tried harder to pry herself loose from the upper jaw. Gabrielle eased out her wings feeling a sense of sadness, she was foolish but she couldn't help herself.

She leapt of the building spreading out her wings as she drifted down wards feeling her feet touch the solid floor. She moved forward ignoring the warriors who where staring at the dead snake in front of them. She raised her sai blade higher as she came closer to the huge head she thrust the blade in to the snakes flesh cutting deeply around one of her counter parts horns tips. She breathed in watching as her counterpart started to twist her horn slowly freeing it from the area she'd sliced. She moved quickly over to the second horn which was slightly more difficult to free because it had been broken to begin with. She worked faster slicing the flesh around it while pushing against it with her other weapons hilt feeling it start to come free.

Blood Jaguar roared as she eased herself loose in a violent motion which caused her to fall out of the dead monsters mouth. She hit the ground hard on her side she eased out her clawed hand breathing in deeply. She could see blood dripping down from both her horns she shook her head slightly trying to get rid of it. She ran her claws across the floor as she took in another deep breath they were in the main market place just up from the sun gods keep. In the centre was the huge sun stone symbol the place where she'd been born. She sneered letting her good eye drift over everything she didn't want to be here she hated this place!

She could see her counterpart getting closer stupid little bitch, did she honestly believe that any act of good meant anything to her? Her good eye moved to the warriors who seemed unsure as to what to do next. They'd been sent to stop the snake not to stop her she felt a cruel smile form not that any of them could stop her. She ran her claws deeper in to the solid stone, they didn't even know what she was she could see it in all their faces. They'd find out just was she was as soon as she was finished with her counterpart. She eased herself up on to her hind legs digging her claws in to the sold stone ground as she met her counterpart's anxious gaze.

Gabrielle stepped closer to her counterpart see her glowing green eye fix on her she raised her hand slowly as her soft words hit the air. "Are you alright?" The next moment turned to blinding pain as the clawed hand smashed in to her face causing blood to fly out through her teeth. She stumbled back trying to take it feeling her wings tense instantly causing her feathers to ruffle. Blood Jaguar looked at her in disgust. "Little bitch! Do you honestly think that I care that you freed me!" Gabrielle coughed as she stepped back trying to take the pain. "I…thought you…might." Blood Jaguar sneered slightly as she came to stand over her, her seven foot tall body casting a dark shadow. "Then you're a fool, for even thinking that!"

She leaned over until their faces were almost touching she pulled back her lips showing off her teeth. "I want nothing more than to see you die! Weren't you listening the first time around?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Why do you want to kill me? I know my being part of you is partly true but I know it's not the whole truth!" Blood Jaguar felt her teeth grind together may be she should tell her counterpart the truth she was going to die anyway, so what did it matter if she took it to her grave? She eased up her clawed hand moving her long clawed fingers slightly. "Well, well aren't you perceptive, may be your finally getting the hang of understanding lies."

She eased up her hand pulling up some of her counterpart's golden hair, she watched as it spilt through her clawed fingers. "It's very simple really." She eased up a clawed thumb running it down the other woman's face very gently. She ignored the unsure expression which the other woman was giving her. "You will always be loved." She eased her clawed thumb up stroking again. "Xena will always love you until the end of time." She stroked harder seeing her counterpart wince as the sharp point of her claw scratched her face not enough to hurt but not enough to leave a light scratch. "Because you're beautiful, attractive, kind and you love those around you."

She eased up her claw again feeling the hated as it started to burn. "She'd die for you, save you from harm and shield you from the hate of others. She'd make love to you on the coldest of nights when the stars burn their brightest." She brought her claw down on to the other woman's face. "She'd never do this for me, she hates me, she ignores me and she says cruel things to me so she can look good in front of others." She pushed her claw in harder watching as blood started to run down from the deep cut which caused the blonde haired woman to wince in pain. "She blames me for all her wrongs and uses me. I think she only had sex with me just to please herself, she's also left me more than once to suffer and I hate her for it!"

She pushed her claw in deeper only to watch as her counterpart pulled away putting a hand on her face the pain showing in her eyes. "Deep down I hate her and I hate you! You see I'm a very jealous self centred person who's very focused on her self and I can't stand the thought of you having something which I can't have!" She eased up her hand looking at her bloody claw. "That is why you're going to die!" Gabrielle held her face feeling the blood as it ran down her cheek. "If Xena is our true lover then wouldn't she love you just the same? We are part of the same person!" Blood Jaguar laughed hearing her mocking laughter hit the air. "Don't insult me with your logic, you are the part she loves not me!"

She stepped forward watching as her counterpart stepped back. "Even you dislike me and fear me I can see it in your glowing eyes!" Gabrielle shook her head sadly. "Yes I do dislike you in some ways and I do fear you, but at the same time I feel sorrow and pain for you. You just want to be loved for who you are." Blood Jaguar narrowed her gaze. "I don't want your pity! I have enough of my own to last a life time!" She looked at her clawed hand moving her fingers slightly. "Every death looks the same to me now that is the price I pay for being what I am. Loneliness will forever be my close friend along with the cold darkness that comes with it."

Gabrielle pulled her hand slowly away from her face looking at the blood on it she looked up catching a glimpse of what could only be described as sadness in her counterpart's eye before they froze over again. "It doesn't have to be this way for you." She moved forward slowly. "We are one and the same we should become the real person we are meant to be then Xena can do nothing but love us as equals." Blood Jaguar growled as she turned to her. "I will not give up my life!" She didn't think as she brought down her fist smashing it in to the ground which was now covered in the red blood from the dead snake. "I will live and I won't let you or any one else stop me from drawing breathe!" She eased herself down on fully on to all fours. "I'm not tempted by your offer angel!"

Gabrielle swallowed her counterpart did want to kill her now she could see in her only good eye. It was inevitable and she couldn't change it, which made her feel even sadder. She was powerless against her counterpart who was both bigger and stronger. She eased up her sai blade looking at it all she could do was try to defend herself. She took a deep breath as her counterpart came closer her clawed feet moving across the floor. She spread out her wings out fully her one and only advantage was that she could fly, but it was her only advantage. She felt her feather ruffle as she tensed in fear what could any one do when faced with such blinding hatred as this?

She wanted to run but a part of her was through running and what would it accomplish anyway? She'd be leaving everyone to the mercy of her counterpart who couldn't hold back her nature which was hurt and kill. She pulled her feet back feeling them slide in to position she was not the greatest warrior in the world but by the gods she would try this day. No one could blame her for not trying and she owed it to all those who had been kind to her. She pulled back snapping out of her thoughts just in time to duck as the huge clawed hand came towards her as her counterparts inhuman roar hit the air. She leapt up in to the air flapping with all her might narrowly avoiding the horns as they swept past her legs.

She hit the ground hard on her knees only to jump up again as her counterparts clawed foot swept back trying to knock her down. She could feel her heart starting to beat faster but it wasn't from the fast movements she was making. She leapt back as the clawed hand came at her again narrowly skimming past her face. No it was the feeling of fear in the pit of her stomach, fear of loosing and failing everyone in this city because the odds were so much against her. Even now she didn't feel any rage or anger and something told her that she would never win this battle with out them. She had no idea where to begin when it came to ether emotion.

She swung her weapon up knocking the long claws away from her face only to find herself backing away as the jaws came down narrowly missing her shoulder. All her emotions were telling her to defend herself she felt the frustration as it started to take over. Why couldn't she find that anger with in her soul? This was no doubt the price she'd paid when they'd both been stripped from each other she had no sense of anger, rage or even aggressions only her counterpart did. That just made her feel even worse because it seemed that she was the weaker part of the true Gabrielle. She found herself screaming in pain as the claws sliced across her arm.

She pulled back watching as red blood began to seep down from the deep wounds, the next moments turned to blinding pain as she was hit again across the face. She stumbled back only to feel the claws slice across her leg before she could stop them the pain was awful it felt as if her soul was burning in her chest. She took in a deep breath as she stumbled back seeing the blood as it ran down in streams, a part of her wanted to cry but she knew that wasn't a good idea her counterpart could sense weakness in the same way that she could sense love. She stretched out her wings as she leapt upwards flying completely over her counterpart she turned ignoring her all her pain as she tried to ready herself as she came towards the ground.

End of part 78

Silvermoonlight