Page 39 of Queen Takes Blood
We might be twins, but it was clear that Itztli and I had different fathers, both in appearance and temperament. His eyes and complexion were darker, his body thicker and more muscular. A fine warrior, his skills with the macuahuitl and atlatl were unmatched. He could sniff out his quarry, whether thrall or deer, from kilometers away. There was no doubt in my mind that he’d be a formidable alpha once he swore to a queen.
In comparison, I was no great warrior. With my lithe, slender body, I was light and fast on my feet, but I couldn’t match his physical strength. He was fire and war. I was water and harmony. Unless I could release the poisoned hurricane brewing inside me.
“Justice for Mama,” Itztli ground out, his voice so rough that his words were garbled. “But don’t let me slaughter innocents.”
“I promise.” I didn’t ask how I would stop him.I will find a way.
* * *
ITZTLI
As a young Aimawarrior stepping into my prime, I yearned to know where I came from. Walking up the Avenue of the Dead, I had my answer.
The same vicious thirst for pain and blood that burned in me also echoed through this vast ruin. I’d given up feeding even from my family unless I had no other choice for fear the darkness would rise up in me and destroy everyone I loved. I’d rather weaken to a withered husk and blow away like dust on the winds of time than ever hurt my twin or Grandmama. She had enough worries in her life, caring for our mother.
I will find who hurt you, Mama, and they will rue the day they created this monster.
Our footsteps echoed through the empty walls and buildings. Nothing stirred, not even a stray dog or a bird in the sky. We’d come at dusk, hoping to avoid curious human eyes. I tipped my head back slightly and cracked my lips, letting the air flow through my nose and mouth so I could smell our quarry. Somewhere in this ancient city, the remnants of an equally ancient Aima House knew what had happened to Citla Zaniyah.Goddess, let me learn the truth before I kill them all.
The smell of death and sacrifice were so thick that I couldn’t pick up any other scent trace. Blood upon blood upon blood for centuries. So much death. I couldn’t wait to splash the rocks with a fresh offering.
:Where are they?:Tlacel whispered in our bond.:Do you feel any hint of a blood circle?:
:Not yet. I’d hazard to guess they set up court in the largest structure, the Pyramid of the Sun.:Though as we passed the man-made mountain on our right, I didn’t sense any hint of people, whether Aima or human.
:There’s a cave beneath the pyramid,:Tlacel said.:I sense water but no people.:
As we neared the end of the Avenue of the Dead, it widened into a paved plaza surrounded by low, pyramidal walls. The Pyramid of the Moon was symbolically positioned directly in front of Cerro Gordo. I could only imagine how many people had once gathered here to watch a ballgame. Or, more likely, to witness the river of blood from many sacrifices to flow down the steps of the pyramid, just like they believed rivers of life flowed down from the looming mountain in the background.
Our house descended from Coatlicue, the Mother of the Gods, and Her holy mountain was called Coatepec—or Snake Mountain—but we otherwise shared many of the same beliefs. The people of Teotihuacan had venerated a goddess whose name had been lost on the winds of time, though the whispers of Her legacy remained. Little was known about the Great Goddess of Teotihuacan. Even Grandmama hadn’t been able to tell us more, other than to beware the spiders. Mama still feared even the most innocuous garden weaver to this day.
Pausing at the base of the pyramid’s steps, we bowed our heads to honor Her.
“Great Goddess, please hear our plea,” Tlacel said in a soft, sing-song voice that echoed off the stone walls as he unsheathed his knife. “Your sons have returned home. Please accept this small sacrifice.”
I didn’t open my eyes but smelled his blood on the air. Razors sliced through my stomach. I was used to the hunger. I only risked feeding if I needed serious healing, and luckily, our House had enjoyed peace ever since Grandmama had moved the nest to Valle de Zaniyah. Hopefully the scent of fresh blood would draw out any Aima in the city. Especially a hungry queen.
Though perhaps she had plenty of Blood to serve her. We wouldn’t know until she revealed herself.
The faintest scrape of material against stone warned me of someone’s approach. Not human, I was sure of it, though I couldn’t feel their power to assess their strength.:I sense one, likely Blood, not the queen.:
Tlacel moved beside me, his arm cutting through the air as he slung his blood across the stairs.:Let’s pretend we don’t know they’re watching.:
As one, we turned back the way we’d come. We’d barely walked three steps before the watcher called after us. “Why didn’t you both offer sacrifice?”
The deep and velvety male voice rumbled with power, though he made no move to strike. Since he spoke about me, I paused, turning my head back over my shoulder. “When I bleed, it creates a vicious hunger that can’t be quenched. It’s best not to wake that beast unless I have enemies to slaughter.”
Truth, and a veiled threat.
Dressed in the simple trousers and tunic of a worker, the man laughed. “That sounds familiar. You must be one ofhis.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant but I took it to be an insult. I bristled enough that Tlacel stepped in front of me, drawing the man’s attention to him instead. “We’re from House Zaniyah. We come in search of Queen Theresa of House Tocatl.”
“Twins,” the man said slowly, shaking his head. Though I wasn’t sure how he knew. “Which one do you belong to, I wonder? What’s your power, lad?”
Straightening his shoulders, head high, Tlacel replied, “We haven’t sworn to a queen, so we have no idea what form our powers will take.”
The man guffawed, shaking his head. “Well, this should be interesting. Come along, lads. Let’s see which one will claim you. House Zaniyah, you say? We haven’t had any young queens in decades.”
