CRYING OUT IN TO THE DARKNESS

Amoxtli eyed Tlaloc for a long moment she couldn't believe she was hearing this! He'd changed his mind but why? She knew her escape plan was futile and that they wouldn't even get beyond the gate. He had been right about that all along and she wasn't too proud to admit it. It was a suicide mission and they'd killed on sight if anyone saw that they had a prisoner. She breathed in deeply. "You said an escape plan wasn't a good idea you said that, there was no point." Tlaloc eased up his hand. "Yes well things have changed we have a reason to leave. We have each other and we are gaining back our living flesh, we are no longer prisoners here and we should take advantage of this moment."

He smiled slightly. "We can just tell the torturer that we are moving Lila. He'll buy it he's an idiot who never questions anything." He turned to the steps only to realize that he couldn't hear the echo of the whip anymore or even the roars of pain from the fallen god. He narrowed his gaze that was odd it wasn't like the bastard ever put down the whip he could hurt anyone for hours on end. He froze on the spot as he couldn't hear anything and something deep in gut was telling him that this just wasn't right at all. Everything had gone quite deadly quite. He didn't think as he pulled his weapon free in one swift motion. He watched as Amoxtli turned to him her one white eye showing confusion.

Her voice hit the air in a whisper. "What is it?" Tlaloc breathed in sharply as he moved his foot back reading himself. "Do you hear that?" Amoxtli listened hearing nothing more only a dead silence. "I don't hear anything." Tlaloc raised his weapon higher. "Exactly there's nothing something's wrong." Amoxtli didn't think as she stepped back pulling Lila up and easing her behind her, she turned slightly. "What ever happens, stay behind us." She looked at her seeing the fear in her sea blue eyes as she ripped of the wrapped bandage from her eye so she could see fully. "Don't worry we'll protect you no matter what."

She watched as Lila nodded staying still she slowly turned back hearing the slow sound of footsteps one following the other very closely. It was two people well at least that made the odds even. She breathed tensing as she readied herself only to hear the odd sound of something clicking she shook her head it was probably one of them pulling a dagger out of a fur skin scabbard. Tlaloc felt his hand tighten around his axe as he watched as a young woman came in to view, her light brown eyes stared back at him intensely her skin colour seemed much lighter any Mexican's he'd seen. It was no where near as light as the Blood Jaguars but it was still light and almost almond in colour which was even stranger.

He eyed her clothing she was wearing a warriors clothing which was a bodice in gold and black. She was holding up what looked like some sort of short hand held weapon which was wooded but with out any sharp point. He looked up sharply seeing another tall living warrior appear behind her whose colours he recognised instantly the colours were those of an elite warrior of Tezcatlipoca. He blinked in confusion but that made no sense the jaguar god didn't have any living elite they were all skeleton warriors. Skeleton warriors who unlike them could feel everything they touched but who were cursed to feel it through their bones. He eyed the big man who smiled evilly at him as he raised his own weapon, who the hell were these two?

He breathed in deeply keeping his voice even as they both came to a stop in side the room. "Who are you, what are you doing here!?" Ehecatl eyed the other tall man who was about his height he laughed slightly. "Oh we are here to make your life miserable." Tlaloc snarled slightly eyed the big man who had the scar on his eye. "You talk big for an un-dead bastard who has skin." Akemi raised the pistol in her hand as she eyed the two under dead warriors in front her in disgust. The big man was becoming living she could see that one off his milky white eyes had dark brown colour appearing in it although it was very washed out and not very intense yet. No doubt it would be a real eye soon enough.

As for the warrior woman next to him one of her eyes was now real which showed that she was also becoming living as well. She eyed them both for a very long moment finally feeling a smile form as she saw someone behind them. She turned back lowering the pistol slightly. "This can ether be very easy and painless or it can be very painful your choice." Amoxtli eyed the strange woman in front of her. "Who are you?!" Akemi felt her smile widen. "Oh they call me the Star Coyote and I'm going to really ruin your day, if you don't give me what I want and I really want the girl you're both hiding." Tlaloc blinked in confusion he recognised her name he'd been hearing it ever since his death.

From what he'd heard the Star Coyote was a warrior who very violent much like the Blood Jaguar but had very different methods of obtaining her goals. Unlike the Blood Jaguar who would always obtain a goal through violent force and bloody battle the Star Coyote would obtain it via ruthless methods, these methods normally involved cheating or backstabbing. She was both loved and hated much like the Blood Jaguar one thing set her apart from the Blood Jaguar though. The Blood Jaguar had a warrior's code which she still followed to a certain point. This code meant that she tended to kill people in battle or if they tried to kill her and despite hunting innocence people she didn't kill them.

The Star Coyote did not have any warrior's code though and she didn't value one in any way. Her view was that if anyone got in her way they'd die she also killed for the fun it and something about that made his gut twist in a violent knot. He lowered his weapon slightly as he met her light brown gaze. "Why do you want the girl behind us?" Akemi eyed in him disgust. "Because her sister put me in this land you call hell!" Amoxtli blinked in confusion. "The Blood Jaguar put you here?" Akemi breathed in deeply. "Yes and I want to repay the favour so hand her sister over to me before I make you both dead!" She didn't think as she turned the pistol pointing it at the table. "Just so we understand each other this will happen to you if you don't!"

She pulled the trigger watching as the whole table shattered as the ball tour through it sending splinters flying through the air. She ignored there shock and horror as she raised the weapon blowing the smoke away watching as the spinsters fell. The whole table fell inwards in the centre sending food and drink all over the floor in the process. She felt an evil smile form as she put the used pistol in her belt and pulled out the loaded one raised it so it was in both there line of sight "As you can see this may not look like much to you but let me tell it'll bow a really big hole in your chest. If you want to check my claim you can look at one of the warriors outside safe to say he didn't survive the first shot."

She smirked slightly as she pulled the flintlock back hearing it click. "Nether will you." Tlaloc looked at her for a long moment this was not good in fact it was very bad. This weapon what ever the hell it was had almost godly powers or so it seemed. He turned to Lila and then back they would both die if they took on this bitch in battle. She could just press the trigger on that strange weapon before they could get close enough to kill her. He looked down slightly may be they could work around this, strike a deal. Yes that was it they could use this woman to get free from Quetzalcoatl's keep. There were certain rules she had to obey under Huitzilopochtli's laws of war and the warrior behind her knew all about them off that he was positive.

He slowly lowered his weapon. "Under Huitzilopochtli's laws of war we surrender ourselves to you willingly as loyal prisoners. So if you take the girl you'll have to take us with you. When you return to your master you can choose to ether free us or use us to secure your position of power and control." Akemi sneered in disgust. "Yes well I don't need ether of you." She raised the pistol. "So goodbye." Ehecatl turned sharply. "No you can't shoot them the laws of war demand it!" Akemi turned sharply. "Since when do you care about the laws of war!?" Ehecatl turned pointing at the big man. "If a warrior of Huitzilopochtli surrender's it means that he pledges allegiance to you!"

He eyed both warriors. "There pledging there allegiances to us, they are both elite warriors, they could be very useful." Amoxtli turned to Tlaloc keeping her voice to a whisper. "What are you doing!?" Tlaloc turned to meet her gaze he smiled slightly keeping his voice low. "Trust me Amoxtli this is for the best." He turned back eyeing the other tall man. "I'm like you I hate the Blood Jaguar as much as you both do, I was the first to be killed by her hand and my brother wears her scars on his face." Ehecatl turned sharply raising his hand feeling his smile widen. "Wait I've heard of you! You're Tlaloc and your younger brother is Itzli, he was forced to serve the Blood Jaguar's as a slave by the feathered serpent."

He turned eyeing the woman next to him. "Who's your friend?" Tlaloc looked up slightly. "She's called Amoxtli and she's been here for a very long time. You also can't have her as I lay claim to her she's mine and if you touch her I'll kill you." Ehecatl shook his head. "You needn't worry I don't care for other men's possessions, I have one of my own." Akemi eyed them both for a long moment well wasn't this an interesting turn of events. Perhaps they could be useful after all as they were not friends of Gabrielle this meant that they would give up the girl willingly. On top of that she could use them both as guards inside the time devices inner keep to stop anyone from coming in.

She slowly walked towards them an evil smile forming. "Then from here on in you're my prisoners you do as I say or I will kill you." She eyed them both. "As your first act of allegiance you can move aside and let me see the girl." She looked up slightly seeing the concern in both their faces. "You needn't worry I'm not going kill her, that's not why I'm here." She narrowed her gaze. "She's very precious to me more precious than you could ever imagine." Amoxtli turned eyeing the smaller woman. "Oh we can imagine since the Blood Jaguar is the most wanted person in the whole Mexica. That in it's self makes this girl extremely valuable." Akemi eyed her. "You think very small don't you?"

The taller woman gave her a look of disgust as she moved aside with the other man who also looked at her his anger showing. Her smile widened as the young girl came in to view. She was about Gabrielle's height with long dark hair which was loose she had a very slender face which matched her sisters but she was a much more slender build. Her eyes were sea blue and looked back at her in an unsure manner she could see the gold and red sacrificial dress which was missing its head dress. Obviously she was going to be sacrificed but the serpent god had never got around to it. She stepped forward seeing the girl stay still. She didn't look like Gabrielle at all and if she had walked past her in the street she probably wouldn't have realized that they were related.

She felt her smile form there was something to be said for her though she was beautiful in her own way. Just like her sister who was also very nice on the eyes. She watched as the blue eyes darted as she leaned closer, how cute it was like a rabbit in arrow site. "Well aren't you a pretty little thing, funny though I was expecting a blonde not a brunet." Lila looked at the other woman she swallowed finally finding her voice. "Who are you?" Akemi looked at her for a long moment. "To most people in this land my name is Star Coyote but you can call me Akemi." Lila looked up sharply gods she recognised that name from the memory she'd been forced to relive.

It had been when Gabrielle had been drunk she'd grabbed her hand causing her pain. What were her words she'd said? Oh yes she could remember them clearly now. It was that Xena didn't care about her and that she'd left her because of a woman from Japan called Akemi. She looked at the woman again she had only seen one eastern traveller and this woman looked similar to them. She looked up slightly. "You know my sister?" Akemi smirked oh wasn't she just so cute and innocent, she obviously wasn't well travelled. She leaned closer licking her teeth enjoying the girl's nervous reaction. "Oh so Gabrielle never told you about me, that's a shame since her and I have such an interesting history."

She grabbed the girl by her robe pulling her forward so their faces were almost touching. "You see before your sister found Xena and started sleeping with her, I was her lover. Xena came back to Japan and I got her back I kept her in the place between life and death. Well Gabrielle really wasn't happy about that so she decided to change time and took her back from me!" She sneered slightly. "C'thulon the elder god who changed time exiled me here but not before I spent more seasons than you can count in the Mexica's seventh hell." She tightened her grip on the red robe watching as the girls blue eyes darted. "But you're going to change that! Oh yes your going to turn everything around for me!"

Lila looked at her again not liking the way the woman was looking at her. "I'm sorry for what my sister has done to you I've seen a few memories from that life time I know that she wasn't herself." Akemi let go of her violently. "I don't want your apology! Your pitiful apology can't bring Xena back to me can it?!" Lila blinked in shock, everything suddenly made sense this was the woman who had driven her sister of the edge with her actions. Her taking Xena had sent Gabrielle mad, why was she apologizing to her? She didn't deserve an apology she deserved her distain she was in this mess because of what had happen in that other life time.

She breathed in deeply feeling all her fear leave her in an instant it was such an over whelming feeling and it was so new to her. She raised her hand feeling her teeth grind together. "I take back my apology because it's your fault I'm here and you know it! Your actions drove my sister mad and now I'm stuck in Mexica because of what you did!" She sneered slightly stepping forward enjoying the feeling she'd never felt this confident before. "I know my sister has done some bad things some have been vile and others drawing on evil, I know that she did them because she wanted Xena back so badly. She even hurt me in the other life time and all because she was becoming desperate and no longer felt in control."

She narrowed her gaze moving closer to Akemi ignoring her surprise and the surprise on the faces of her protectors. "Lets face it Gabrielle loves Xena more than anyone. As much as it pains me to say this she loves her more than she loves her family she'd kill for her and she'd die for her. It also seems that she'll go to Tartarus and back just to change time so she can have her back." She eyed the Japanese woman for a long moment. "You should never have taken Xena from her to begin with, you caused this mess! My sister is her lover not you! So why don't you stop acting like the pathetic shunned ex girlfriend and find someone else?!" She felt her teeth grind together as she spoke. "I'm really sick of people ruining my sister's life because I'm the one who's paying the price for her actions."

Akemi didn't think as she brought up the pistol trying to control her boiling rage which was churning violently in side her stomach. "It's a crying shame that your more valuable than gold because I'd kill you so slowly and painfully right now!" She raised the musket to the girls face seeing that she was unfazed by it. "I'd make you scream so hard." Lila looked at the strange weapon which was pointed directly in her face, she'd seen its godly power but she wasn't afraid of it. The truth of the matter was that this woman wouldn't kill her. She needed her far to badly and as everyone had said she was the most valuable thing in Mexica right now she was a bargaining chip to any god or warrior with an a gender.

Knowing that gave her a strange sense of power and confidence, the gods may kill her for her outbursts but no one who was mortal would it would go against their best interests. She eyed the weapon as she looked up seeing that the woman's blinding rage which in a way mirrored her sister's insanity in the memories she'd seen. "That's the problem though isn't it?" She felt a cold smile form. "I'm more valuable than gold and it wouldn't be clever to kill your only bargaining chip." Akemi snarled the girl's words were thick with sarcasm how disgusting. It did confirm one annoying fact she was Gabrielle's sister after all, since she was all too happy to speak her mind and see the truth of the situation.

She pulled the musket away in a violent motion she loathed it when some one else was right and not her. She turned away trying to control her rage she'd deal with this little bitch later. She turned eyeing Ehecatl. "Go outside and bring me some blood!" Ehecatl looked up slightly. "Why do you need blood?" Akemi snarled as she looked up. "Because I want to leave the feathered bastard a message to tell him that I've taken his prize!" She turned looking at the other two warriors. "As for the both of you, you're coming with me! You're going to take care of my prize while I deal with the really important things I hope that's clear to you!" She watched as both of them nodded she turned sharply watching as Ehecatl bolted in to action. She wanted to get this over and done with they didn't have much time and she wanted to be long gone by the time Quetzalcoatl reappeared. She moved away keeping the pistol held up high she hated waiting she'd always hated waiting and now was no different.

8

Xochipilli watched as Gabrielle who was close to Xena carefully placed the dog down as she walked over picked up her boots and pulled them on while easing the clawed weapons in to their holders. He looked at her for a long moment something was telling him that Xena and Huitzilopochtli needed to talk. He took a slow step forward hearing the uncertain silence all around him he looked up watching as Gabrielle stood up smoothing down her skirt. "We have a very beautiful garden Gabrielle would you like to see it?" He put his hands together. "You know the fresh air might do you good you've been inside for a long time."

Gabrielle adjusted her gauntlets slightly. "I'm fine really I don't need fresh air." Xena stepped forward she slowly eased up her hand running it through her lover's long blonde hair. "It's okay Gabrielle you just go and relax I'll be with in a moment I promise." She turned the younger woman's head giving her a gentle kiss. "Okay?" Gabrielle nodded she did need the air she was just being far too proud to admit it to herself. She needed time alone to reform her thoughts she looked up meeting Xochipilli concerned gaze. "Please take me to these gardens." Xochipilli moved towards her his smile widening. "You need not go through the other room there is another passage through this room."

He put a hand on her arm gently guiding her towards the side of the room which looked like a solid wall. It had a hanging calendar crafted in silver jade and green gem stone at its centre. "This piece is very special you see Chantico made it and as you know she's very creative. This was her first gift to Xochiquetzal." He eased up his finger slowly turning certain symbols on the outer and inner calendar circles one by one. "It's an extraordinary piece." He heard the click as the right combination was put in place. The huge calendar slowly spilt in to three parts each of these parts slowly began to move back forcing the wall apart.

The two larger parts moved upwards creating the round door with two calendar parts making up the curve on each side. The lower calendar turned as it slowly moved downward clicking in to place forming the lower door. He smiled looking at the passageway which was covered with hundreds of patterns all lined in jade and jewels. "As you can see it's very beautiful and Tezcatlipoca never knew about it." He slowly walked forward he could already see the green of the private garden only the most loyal warriors of his sister knew about this place. He moved her forward stepping in to the beautiful small tunnel. Every part of him hoped that this place would be settling for Gabrielle. He smiled as they carried on moving he was sure that it would help it had always helped her sister.

Gabrielle walked forward she could smell the flowers of the garden as they came out of the small tunnel and in to the large open garden which was outside on a huge built up stone area which was hidden inside the temples large outer groves. From it you could see down in to the huge city far bellow. The garden was green and lush with beautiful flowers of all, types and colours. A lesser aqueduct was running down from the main aqueduct high above. This small aqueduct came to a stop over a stone area were it swept down creating a small but glorious waterfall which ran in to a round bathing lake opposite.

All of the stone was white and engraved in gold silver and jade patterns. She breathed in deeply coming to a stop feeling the cool wind as it blew though her hair. The smells hit her senses causing her to close her eyes for an instant just to breathe it all in. She opened her eyes slowly turning to him. "This is so beautiful." Xochipilli smiled as he sat himself down on one of the stone seats. "Yes it is isn't it?" Gabrielle slowly sat herself down next to him she raised her hand running it through the beautiful flowers. "This was Chantico's gift?" Xochipilli nodded. "Yes all of it, as forward and harsh as she can be she loves Xochiquetzal and would give her anything she desires."

He smiled as he looked at her. "Just in the same way that Xena would give you anything you desire." He watched as she gave him a warm smile before turning back to admire the garden and all its wonders. "Thank you Xochipilli." Xochipilli nodded as sat back enjoying the garden. "You're very welcome Gabrielle." Gabrielle leaned back feeling her self relax slightly she turned slightly only to sit up as she caught sight of something in the distance. It was a massive white spire which was parting the clouds and driving itself in to the heavens it's self. She stood up looking at it for a long moment before turning to him. "What is that?"

End of part 99

Silvermoonlight

Thank you everyone for your reviews and kind words.