CONDEMNED TO ETERNAL DARKNESS
Tezcatlipoca eyed Huitzilopochtli for a long moment he still had one card to play here and it would be a card that the sun god wouldn't like. The fact of the matter was that if Chantico got her way he'd die and if Huitzilopochtli got his way he might never be able to have sex again as long as he lived. He looked up slightly meeting the sun gods gaze. "Oh but I do, you see know the effects because your father is my father. Way before you were born he mentioned what happens when device is turned on to me. In fact this is the second time I've seen it working the first was when I was no more than a child."
Huitzilopochtli snarled ignoring the surprised looks on the others faces. "You are lying we are not related!" Tezcatlipoca turned sharply. "Oh but we are little brother. I was your father's first son, the son he loathed, because I was born evil. He never spoke of me to any of the other gods I became his dirty shameful secret!" He raised a clawed finger. "Then he had Quetzalcoatl who he adored and then you, he loved you the most though you were his precious son whose destiny was to become king of gods. That was until Quetzalcoatl found out that he really enjoyed being evil rather than kind." He ground his teeth together. "Quetzalcoatl and I were his failures you were his trophy son, he showered you with everything and anything you desired."
Huitzilopochtli looked at the jaguar god for a long moment. "Why would tell me this now, we've faced off before you had your chance then why keep this quite until now?" Tezcatlipoca narrowed his gaze. "If I had told you then you would have killed me outright because you would have seen me a threat to your father's throne which you've always wanted!" He lay back thrashing his tail violently. "Just as you would have killed Quetzalcoatl, you were always so desperate to please our father, even after he ascended in to the heavens. As much as you want to deny it there is no point you and I are brothers the only difference is that we have a different mother."
Huitzilopochtli looked at him for a long moment. "You slept with Itzpapalotl my grandmother didn't you?" Tezcatlipoca turned looking down in disgust. "Technically she's your grandmother not mine I have my own grandmother on my mothers side. To answer your question though yes I did and not to insult you but she's a bitch and I'd really love to kill her." Huitzilopochtli looked at him for a long moment. "Then for once we share the same opinion." He eyed the lesser god who looked utterly disgusted by that confession. None of the other gods in this room were showing any real interest in Tezcatlipoca's open truth but then they had all grown up hearing about his vile sexual conquests.
Xochiquetzal's had, had to be part of them unwillingly and Chantico had, been forced to take the pain of hearing about her lovers suffering while being unable to help her. He breathed in deeply as little as he wanted to do this there was a very real plan forming in his mind. He slowly eased his axe away putting his foot on his brother's chest. "You want to know what's going on here then I'll tell you." He breathed in deeply. "We are plotting to overthrow Quetzalcoatl you are looking at a formed alliance of gods willing to do what ever it takes to get him of the throne." He eased up his axe putting it against his brother nose. "Now I believe it's your turn to tell us what the device of time effects are."
Tezcatlipoca eyed the sun god something was going on here he was sure of it more because he had expected to be died right now. "Okay, little brother if you need to know so badly. The device of time affects everything un-dead, skeleton warriors become living again their souls will be freed from their bones and those with fake flesh will become real again and will draw breath once more." He felt his smile widen. "That isn't the worst part though oh now that's just the mere start. Every hell and every heaven will open up in this land and the lands of the lesser gods. The demons and angels will be tossed out in to the lands of the living where they'll fight out their battles. Worst of all there are serious reputations for all living mortals.
He laughed slightly. "If they die they'll be stuck in limbo because no one will be there to take them to right place after their death because those beings that are meant to take them there will be fighting on the mortal plane. The gods in every land will be powerless to stop it only when the device is turned off will this end until then its not going to be pleasant." Huitzilopochtli eyed him. "So Akemi is causing this every time she tampers with time?" Tezcatlipoca looked up. "Yes and no, the device draws it power from all the heavens and hells created by gods. Her leaping through time just makes it worse, but even if she didn't jump it would still cause the same effects but it would be much slower. Problem is that she already jumped to another time and jumped back so it's not looking good right now and I have feeling that she'll jump again very soon."
He raised a clawed hand pointing it at the Blood Jaguar. "Which means your future prospects may not be so good." Huitzilopochtli looked up eyeing Chantico. "I have heard that you have a godly collar a very special one you built by your own hand, may I borrow it?" Chantico breathed in deeply. "What makes you think I still have that torture collar?" Xochiquetzal turned moving over to one of the stands with pottery on it she put her hand in side one of the vases. "Oh so that's what it is..." She slowly eased out the beautiful golden collar which had weaving patterns of silver and red jade woven in to the thick gold. "I thought it was decorative."
She turned ignoring the utter shock in the other woman's eyes. "Because it looks so beautiful like all the other things you make." She moved forward watching as the taller woman took it from her hand. "I thought it was a piece for clothing." Chantico eyed her for a long moment feeling the utter confusion hit home. "How the hell did you get this? My city was destroyed my keep was in pieces." Xochiquetzal put a hand on her arm. "I'll tell you later now is not the right time." Chantico eased out the dagger of treasures pushing it in to the centre of the collar and turning it slowly which caused the collar to snap open. She smirked turning the rest of the cold and jade square patterns one after the other.
She felt a cruel smile form as a line of long double edged knives with in the collar shot out. She eyed Huitzilopochtli. "It's quite painful, in fact the more you squirm the longer these daggers get." The daggers clicked back in to place she turned throwing it watching as Huitzilopochtli caught it. "Its really painful just clicks it in place best of all is that only my godly item can open it, who ever puts the collar on also controls the punishment." Huitzilopochtli didn't think as he grabbed Tezcatlipoca forcing the collar in place ignoring his howl of pain as it clamed shut. He eyed his brother smiling slightly. "I think you know what I am going to say, so allow me to cut to chase. You want Itzpapalotl to suffer so do I and I am also sure that you're here because you also want Quetzalcoatl to be knocked off his throne just as we do."
He pulled his foot away watching as the jaguar god sat up painfully. "Problem is I do not trust you and as you have caused Xochiquetzal and Chantico so much pain. I really need insurance that you will not cause any more pain so you are going to wear this and if you cause any more trouble this collar will start working." He breathed in deeply. "If you betray us then you will pay the price and that will be pain, the pain of feeling this collar kill you slowly. So you can choose to obey or disobey. I believe if you are as smart as you seem you will not obey." He tapped the collar. "To disobey after all just may cut of the flow of blood to your brain."
Xena gave Gabrielle a slight smile as she turned watching as Huitzilopochtli stood up fully, she felt her smile fade. Frankly the thought of Tezcatlipoca having daggers cutting in to his throat was very fitting since the bastard liked to make others suffer. Now he'd no doubt find out that any stupid move might cost him his life. The collar was meant for killing that was its design and purpose and she was not really surprised that the goddess of fire had it around. Sometimes there was always a need to have some special thing even if you didn't use it. You could at least be safe with knowing that you had it around for a situation like this one.
Huitzilopochtli turned grabbed the collar forcing Tezcatlipoca on to his knees. "I am going to assume that the Star Coyote told Quetzalcoatl that she had taken Gabrielle's sister?" Tezcatlipoca breathed in deeply trying to ignore the pain in his neck. He had been able to read the Star Coyote's thoughts after she'd freed him and he had done so just in case he needed the information for a later time. He looked up slightly. "Yes she has I read her thoughts that she intended to tell him, by writing a message on his wall in human blood just to mock him. Before I came here I saw her friend one of my ex warriors by the name of Ehecatl taking blood from a dead body so she could do so. I doubt that it'll be long before Quetzalcoatl and his little friend, finds her message."
Huitzilopochtli pulled him up savagely on to his feet. "What little friend are you referring to?" Tezcatlipoca felt a smile form. "You remember Manaia don't you the lesser guardian from Te Ika a Maui? The gender switching fish eagle that once had sex with him before he returned to his own little land." Huitzilopochtli looked at him for a long moment. "I see well if my memory serves me well Manaia was held prisoner back then. He is probably being held prisoner once more by our brother this means that we can free him when the right moment comes." He let go watching as his older brother stumbled back. "What is important is that Quetzalcoatl will be forced to take our bait."
He turned to Gabrielle who was looking down in deep through. "As I understand it he wanted the godly items for your sister and with out your sister he had no bargaining chip, so he will do everything to get her back." Gabrielle nodded. "Yes that's right the godly items were what I had to give him and then he'd give her back to me." Huitzilopochtli put his hand on his chin looking at the others. "We can use this to our advantage we can be waiting for him in the elder god's city." He felt a cruel smile form. "We can use the entire force of our combined powers to bring him to his knees." Xena looked up sharply. "How do we, fit in to all this?"
Huitzilopochtli turned putting a hand on her shoulder. "Our plan is that you will go in to the city before we do, if we all appear together it will attract far too much attention from Quetzalcoatl's spies. If he knows that you have both arrived in the city first it will give him even more reason to go as he will want Gabrielle." Ares turned eyeing the sun god. "So you're basically going to use Gabrielle as bait, how original." He ignored the look of disgust on Xena's face as he folded his arms. Huitzilopochtli sneered slightly. "In essence yes, but no harm will come to her, we gods can not enter the elder god's temple, great harm will come to us if we do."
Ares put his hand on his sword hilt. "Well hope for your sake that, that's true." He turned looking at Gabrielle. "I'd really hate for you to screw up twice in one day." Gabrielle turned eyeing Ares, she had seen him when she'd come in to the room but up until now she had ignored him so she could concentrate on what was going on. She was surprised that for once he had called her by name he normally called her Blondie followed by some snide remark. May be was being quite because he was in the sun gods presence and feared being punished by him again. She breathed in deeply as she looked up meeting Huitzilopochtli's unsure gaze. "I'll do it, I'll be the bait."
Huitzilopochtli eased out his hand. "You don't have to do this Gabrielle I don't want to put you in danger, you have suffered enough." Gabrielle looked down letting her eyes trace the floor she felt Xena put a hand on her arm. "No I'm fine with your plan, if Quetzalcoatl wants me so then let him think that I'm there for the taking." Xena moved slightly so she was standing in front of her. "He's right you don't have to do this Gabrielle let me be the bait I'm just as valuable as your sister in his eyes." She turned eyeing Tezcatlipoca in disgust. "I mean he was stupid enough to tell me that I'm apparently very highly prized just because I'm your lover."
Gabrielle looked up meeting her light blue eyes as she the taller woman's face her as she eased up her hand running it through the long dark hair. "No Xena you know this is how it has to be. I killed his twelve elite warriors and now I have to use that to lore him to the city, even if I'm not the one who confronts him." She watched as the conflict started to burn in her lovers eyes. "We both know that I'm right, I have to be the bait." Xena took in a deep breath as she looked up there was no denying it her lover was right. She would go with her choice regardless of what she wanted she took hold of the younger woman's hand kissing it gently. "Your right Gabrielle so let's do this your way."
8
Manaia moved down the steps feeling the vibration as Quetzalcoatl's tail smashed in to the wall once more. He moved around the corner making sure that he was silent as he turned to the huge serpent god. He could see the message on the wall written in human blood and the words which allowed him to put everything together. Some one had stolen the young girl who had not been from Mexican they had also taken his elite guard and freed his brother in one swoop. No doubt this was humiliating to Quetzalcoatl. He was a god who was very self absorbed and this must have put a terrible dent in his ego. Who ever had done this was truly in a league all there own. People didn't just walk in to the feathered serpent keep and leave it alive.
It was obvious to him now that the girl had great importance and that was why she had been here to start with. He moved in to the room watching as the larger god stopped. His huge tail was now curling around as he tensed trying to control his rage which was still burning very violently. He moved a closer being very careful as he thought through his next words. "Who is the Star Coyote and why did she take the young woman and your elite guards from you?" Quetzalcoatl turned sharply eyeing the other god. "She's a mortal, a weak little mortal! I don't know how she did this only one other mortal has ever gotten in and out of my temple alive!"
He flicked out his tongue. "And I had her sister!" Manaia moved a clawed finger over the decorative surface of the floor. "The Blood Jaguar, I've heard you speak off her, but I feel I have to question you taking her sister. Why would you do such a thing to start with?" Quetzalcoatl shook his feathered mane slightly. "I took the little bitch's sister because she has my godly items." He swung his clawed hand around sending the pillows flying across the room. "I needed her sister so I could get my godly items back! I need them because I'm loosing my power in Mexica!" Manaia breathed in deeply. "I see." He moved his clawed finger slightly. "Who is the Star Coyote and why would she take the Blood Jaguar's sister from you?"
Quetzalcoatl didn't think as he swung out his tail wrapping it around the others god's midsection pulling him violently towards him. He tightened his coils as he leaned the smaller god his voice hitting the air in a cold whisper. "The Star Coyote did this to mock me! She did this to prove that she has power over me and can take what I value most." He flicked out his tongue running it over the other god's beak in a slow motion. "She knows I have no power in the elder god's city and now she's taunting me." Manaia ignored the sticky saliva as it dripped off his beak. He shivered inwardly how disgusting. "Then would I be right to assume that you will follow her there to get the young woman back despite the danger?"
Quetzalcoatl pulled his head up slightly. "No we will both be following her there! You're going to help me find her!" He pulled his coils even tighter watching as the others gods golden eyes met his. "You see I would not allow any harm to come to you. So you cannot stay here alone you will a target for my enemies they know that I've always had a soft spot for you." Manaia breathed in trying to ignore the strong but firm coils pressing against his scales. He wasn't sure whether to be surprised or disgusted by that comment. It was obvious that the feathered serpent was having a moment of weakness, vile weakness but weakness all the same and he was being a little to open with his comments.
He shook his feathers wings. "I am flattered that you have such a need for me in your moment of uncertainty." Quetzalcoatl eyed him in disgust. "You forget your place Manaia I don't need you I just like having you around." Manaia shifted slightly. "No I think you are telling your self a lie in that matter, I think you do need someone." Quetzalcoatl pulled up his lower coils up wrapping them around the other god's throat squeezing slightly. "Why would I need you? You are no more than a lesser god where as I am king of an empire!" Manaia felt a smile form he ignored the pain in his throat as he looked up. "For the very reason that you are king of the Aztec gods is why you need me and desire me."
He took in a deep breath. "You are a lonely king sitting atop a decaying throne which is now falling all around you. You are afraid of the time when it will all finally fall because then you will be all alone in the dark. A darkness you fear more than your immortal life, you fear it so much that you would rather die than see the day that you live to see your mighty empire fall and another king suite your throne." He shook his head sadly. "You fear that they will suite your throne and you will become a distant memory long forgotten to ages and laughed at by mortal children, men and women. Who will wear your feathers in masks but not to show there loyalty but instead to mock on the stage of myths until the end of time. That is why you have clung to this throne for so long."
He looked up meeting the red eyes which seemed to be studying him intensely. "I feel the truth is that you no longer want the throne of kings because for all your conquests and all your power, you are still alone. That is why you are so full of rage and that is why you push me away when deep down you know that you need me." Quetzalcoatl narrowed his gaze he wanted to kill the smaller gods for his words. He wanted to destroy him but he couldn't and he knew he couldn't. To destroy him would mean that he would be left alone again and he hated being alone. He would allow this little outburst because he needed someone else around, even if he wouldn't admit it aloud.
He eased him self free un-wrapping his coil from Manaia's throat as he turned to look at the walls bloody writing again. "You shall accompany me to the city of the elder god." Manaia looked up catching the slight hint of pain in the red eyes it was the first time he'd seen the feathered serpent show open weakness. He eased his body up but didn't free it fully from the snake god's coils he shouldn't feel pity for the feathered serpent but he did. He was the loneliest god he'd ever know despite that he was by far the most violent and disgusting. May be he felt more sympathy because he had now seen the other gods open pain and that made him no longer seem so powerful and cruel.
He moved his clawed fingers if the king of the Aztec gods one of the most powerful gods in existence could feel pain then may be he could be more than he believed him self to be. The feathered serpent had not always been this way he had heard a rumour that centuries ago he had been good and honest. Obviously something had made him unhappy and caused him to change direction starting his horrific path of blood. He wasn't going to lie to himself a part of him wanted to see the face of that noble and powerful serpent god that had once been. He shook his feathered head as looked up meeting the dark red gaze which was looking down in deep thought. "I will go with you to the elder god's city."
End of part 103
Silvermoonlight
