Axhel – Prologue
Prologue
***Note: First Draft of Prologue... Still work in progress. Let me know what you think on the comments, and I am open to suggestions. Thanks and enjoy.***
Crossing Hades was never Victor’s favorite part of his trips to the human world. But, as a General in the Royal Army, he needed to make this journey at least once a year. His long brunette hair was sweaty under the weight of the big golden helmet and the unusual suffocating hot air that Hades, was covered in around this time of the year. Victor tried imagining he was in his homeland where the cold breeze of the sea entered his house that faced the rising sun above the Blue Sea. He sighed, and then was interrupted by one of his soldiers. “Sir, there is something ahead that is blocking our way.”
Victor pushed the sides of his beautiful Black Stallion, named Marino because of his almost dark bluish color of his fur when it was wet, and at once Marino galloped forward at the command of his master. Victor signaled his man to follow him close, and he held to his long golden sword with his right hand and with his left hand held tight to his horse. Any delay, on the trip would be bad, since they only had a brief window to go across Hades, just when the New Moon appeared, and only then most of the spirits were away. Victor arrived to where a few of his soldiers were trying to figure out what was blocking the way, illuminating it with their torches. Victor got off his horse, and walked towards it to inspect. “Any idea of what it might be?” Victor turned and asked a soldier that was touching it.
“No Sir, it just feels like a big ball of fur.” The soldier said and once again pushed his hand against it.
Victor pushed his hand against the thing, and it was indeed furry as the soldier had said. But, Victor kept pushing then felt it move as if it was breathing. “Step back!” Victor screamed and the big furry ball began to move. The Soldiers drew their swords and stepped backwards, Victor held to his horse and Marino was frightened as the furry creature began to make roar noise, like those of a bear.
The ceiling, walls and roof began to shake as if an earthquake was happening. Victor closed his eyes and began to recite the protection spells he knew; whatever that creature was he was sure he was going to need them. “Formation!” he called his Soldiers, and the soldiers at once formed a wall of shields and spears around him. Victor ran his left hand over his sword cutting a bit into his hand and the blood quickly covered the sword with an intense white light that was almost blinding. The Creature stood up and under the light of the torches looked like a giant Puma. The Soldiers were frightened when the creature roared again and again. Its bright yellow eyes glanced at Victor and the Soldiers with anger.
Victor stepped forward from the wall of shields, and continued his prayers. He took off his helmet and it revealed the sharp features of his face and big gray eyes. He took one more step and then he lowered his head and bowed before the creature and put both of his knees down. “We are sorry that we have disturbed your Highness.” Victor said with his head down, and then he put his sword down. And the rest of his soldiers followed. A few of them whispered questioning what their General had just done.
The creature roared once again, but this time less intense and then stepped forward and with its big nose approached to sniff Victor. Victor tried to hold his breath as the loud sniffs continued above his head, his heart pounded harder and harder. But, he remained with his head down and his straight composure. The creature stepped back and then, the big creature in a flash disappeared leaving on its place a beautiful tall woman with long black nails and long black hair covering part of her naked body. Then she said, “I Ixchel, order you to lift your head mortal.”
Victor lifted his head and was met by the beautiful yellow eyes of Ixchel, he was speechless and waited for her to say a word. The rest of the soldiers were dying of curiosity to see what was happening. “I Victor Ioso, General in the Royal Army of Tlaloc, we are protectors of Tlalocan. We are at your service your majesty.” Victor said and bowed his head once again.
Ixhel gasped and covered her mouth with her long fingers, then at the snap of her finger she made a staff appear on her right hand, and it had a bright blue flame dancing on top of it. The Soldiers and horses felt a sea of spirits approaching like a giant wave, it sent shivers to their spines and then thousands of whispers began to be heard all around them, each time closer and closer, then Ixhel waved her staff and the soldiers found themselves surrounded by thousands of women holding lanterns with the same bluish dancing as Ixhel staff. Fear ran through the Soldier’s bones, but they did not lift their heads. “Why is Tlaloc sending you to the human world?” Ixhel asked with a voice that echoed throughout ancient walls.
Victor lifted his head and looked around him at the sea of women around him all with bright yellow eyes, and their head covered in with dark hoods. He felt their eyes on him, he took a deep breath and said, “We have never consulted with Tlaloc since, he is one of our land’s Gods and to your question majesty, we have been doing this journey for thousands of years. It is vital for us to gather information about how the Humans are progressing and we learn from them. Since, we are cut off from the tools that other beings have at their disposal to gather information without having to travel there.” Victor said like if he was reciting a book he read many times during his military training.
Ixhel in anger shook the ground with her staff, and the place began to shake violently, a few parts of the ceiling came crashing down, and it sent a few soldiers to the ground. “Don’t lie to me Mortal, tell me the truth” Axhel said and quickly grabbed Victor by the neck with her sharp nails.
Victor tried to gasp for air but he felt as the nails were penetrating his neck, and blood began to drip down. “I am telling you… what I know your majesty.” Victor said strangling to speak. Axhel left go of his neck and he fell to the ground, and he landed on his bare hands.
“Alright, I did not smell or felt deception from you.” Axhel said and walked backwards then waited a few seconds in silence thinking. Victor felt that it was an eternity has he felt fear like never before, and he wanted to throw up. But, he had to be strong in front of his soldiers. Images of him saying goodbye to his wife back home played on his mind, the last kiss he felt from her lips. It was dry and dusty, but it was still a kiss from his beloved. With a child on the way he had looked forward returning for the first time Home, he imagined of him teaching his kid how to hunt with the bow he hunted as a child and he was sure it was going to be a boy, he felt it on his gut. Victor opened his eyes once, again and saw that a few of the hooded women were whispering to Axhel ear, and they seemed to float on air. Axhel pointed the end of her staff to lift Victor’s head and said, “You got the unforgettable aroma of Traloc, I would never forget that aroma that he left when he betrayed all of us. But, worse of all he betrayed the humans he was trusted to protect.” Axhel said and exhaled then turned her back.
Victor felt as if his blood was burning throughout his body as Axhel said those words. His mind was racing to find the answers to the many questions he was having, like if it was open library and he was running from hall to hall looking for the book to give him the answers he needed. He did not remember any mention of such thing in any of the books he had read, or any of information on the official records. Victor after a few seconds of silence said, “The history of our Gods is still being studied day by day and I guess we still have a few things to learn.” Victor said sounding nervous.
“Mortal, I guess I was wrong in accusing you for something that you have no knowledge of, but now you know. You must inform the others.” Axhel said, and with a snap of her finger two tall hooded women appeared at each side of Axhel. “These are my disciples, they will accompany you back to your homeland, and they will be my eyes and ears there, since I can’t step into that world. To the right you have Sacnite, and to the left you have Teicuih.” Axhel said and both of the women stepped forward one with a staff shaped like a rigid snake, and the other with long bow and arrows on her back. Axhel, waved her staff and the sea of women disappeared, then she said, “Now Mortal, go and tell your Priest and man of power that Axhel sent you, and that trips to the Human world have been suspended for now.” Axhel said and she waved her staff once again, a lighting came from the ceiling and struck Victor and the soldiers sending them to the ground. Victor felt as if his insides were turning upside down, then everything went black.