Playing with Death. (Xibalba and La Muerte drabble)

Beads of sweat ran down Manolo's face staring at the five cards he had in his hands. Joaquin bit his nails feverishly, wondering if the cards in his hand would be enough to win him the prize while Xibalba leaned against the wooden chair in confidence, fanning the cards against him as he waited for them to place their bets.

It came to a surprise to Manolo and Joaquin when Xibalba, the lord of the Land of the forgotten decided to play a part in their poker game. Yet, the reluctantly agreed in fear of imposing the wrath of his two headed staff that can easily come to life, bite them and send them to their dead loved ones. Yet, instead of a friendly poker game it was now win or lose, of their most prized possessions. Manolo betted his prized guitar, Joaquin half of his medals and Xibalba, a black box, inside anything the winner desires. Manolo licks his lips and pulled a card from the deck, set on the middle of the table. He wanted to win for Maria, when they married he did not have a ring and this is the chance to finally get one for her, a simple gold ring with her name inscribed into it. Joaquin's wish was simple, to have a wife. He decided it was time to finally settled down and have a little Joaquin Jr. for him have and train, if he wished for his future wife it would be much easier to know that she was the one for him then trying to find her.

Xibalba let out a grin looking at his cards again. He was confident he was going to win, there was no doubt. This might be the first game that he would ever win, against mortals that is. He usually plays with La Muerte, who had a record of always beating him, humiliating him each time. This time, it would be different and he was actually having fun for the first time.

Joaquin shakily put out his hand towards the deck and pulled out his last card, placing it in his hand. He gulped and looked back at Xibalba, who tapped his left index finger on the table, waiting for him to admit defeat.

Joaquin let out a sigh.

"I fold." He said with a groan, throwing his cards down. Manolo eyes widen slightly, Joaquin was the best in playing poker, it made winning the game much more difficult.

Xibalba shrugged.

"Too bad." He stated, "losing, I mean, such a disappointment." He mocked. Manolo glared at the dark Lord, who chuckled toothly.

"Go on-" he said waving his hand to him, "let's see if you actually won."

Manolo looked at him cards with uncertainty, it could be a winning hand or it could be one less than Xibalba.

He placed the cards down, spreading the row across the table.

"Four of kind-" he smiled. Joaquin almost let out a cheer, but noticed that the dark lord did not even flinch. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"Too bad, it was a good hand too." Xibalba admitted, the two friends shoulders dropped realizing that they had lost once he place his winning hand down. "But I'm afraid that I wo-!

"XIBALBA!"

The room shook by the loud voice of La Muerte. Xibalba lurched forward on his chair, his eyes filled with fear, the calm mood he had before was now replace with the thoughts of escaping her wrath. The door suddenly busted open revealing La Muerte with her mouth clench in a scowl.

She forced herself into the room walking straight for her husband.

"So this is where you were?!" She shouted motioning to the poker table. Manolo and Joaquin cowered beneath the table, their eyes peering at the married couple, curious on what would happen. "What is this?!" She grabbed the black box and gasped.

"Why you!-this is mine!"

"M-mi amor please!" Xibalba stampered, holding his staff protectively. "I was borrowing it for a little bit, I wasn't really going to let them have it forever."

"You promised not to play games with living! and that includes card games!" she roared, stomping her foot. Xibalba flinched as she point accusingly at the prizes on the table. "That is Manolo's guitar and Joaquin's medals! you made them bet their own prized possessions?! you worthless cheater!" she grabbed his wrist pulling it up making cards spill out from inside his glove. Manolo and Joaquin eyes narrowed at the lord, who chuckled nervously and shrugged.

"I have no idea how they got in there? he he." he smiled. La Muerte gave him a deadly glare, her nostril flaring.

"You are in big trouble!" she growled grabbing his whiskers, forcefully pulling him out from his chair.

"Ow! b-but I was winning!" he whined pitifully, only to receive a harsh tug from his wife.

"You can't call it winning when you were cheating! Just wait till we get home!" she said, Xibalba let out a whimper before being taken away by a tornado of marigold.

Joaquin and Manolo both stood up, letting out a sigh of relief and a sigh of disappointment, both from receiving their stuff back and by losing the chance to have their wishes granted.