The Book of Life: Revised

The Beginning

It was a very special day in Mexico, on a dark and cool evening. It was the Day of the Dead. This was especially important for the two deities who wandered the graveyard where respects were being paid to the dead. This day would change them, forever.

"Really, my dear, you have no idea how cold and vile the Land of the Forgotten has become." The sugar candy man rolled his eyes, his sombrero swaying a he continued down the lane of graves.

"Just like your heart, Xibalba, just like your heart." The fellow deity placed a hand over her heart, a offended look in her eyes.

"Why must I rule a bleak wasteland
while you enjoy the endless fiesta
in the Land of the Remembered?
It's simply unfair." Even as the tall goddess spoke, her eyes followed a old man standing at a grave, her fingers almost brushing over his head- When Le Muerte suddenly turned, sun like eyes flashing.

"Xibalba!" The goddess immediately stopped, hands flashing upwards in a placating gesture.

"What? It's his time." The goddess then proceeded to mutter under her breath. "More or less." Le Muerte shook his head in amusement, his arms crossing over his broad chest even as he spoke,  capturing Xibalba's attention.

"Not today, my love." Xibalba huffed, clamping her mouth shut to avoid pouting like a child she most certainly was not. Suddenly, a devious thought suddenly hit the dark goddess, and she smirked. Le Muerte, feeling the change in his wife's mood, turned and looked a bit nervous as he recognized the face. It was the one that Xibalba wore when she had an idea that Le Muerte most certainly would not like. The older deity edged closer to the red clad male, a now noticeable sway to her hips.

"Come on, my dear. Trade lands with me. I beg you!" There was a heavy purr to his wife's words now, and Le Muerte had to turn so that Xibalba would not notice him shiver in slight desire.

"You're so cute when you beg." Le Muerte continued forward, Xibalba now reluctantly following him, boot clad feet dragging. A whine entered the powerful being's words as she spoke once again, draping herself dramatically against the nearest grave.

"I'm serious. I hate it down there." That seemed to hit a nerve in her companion, who turned. Flames blared brightly in his eyes and his handsome features twisted into a snarl. Xibalba forced herself not to wince, and faced her husband head on instead.

"Hey. You're there because you cheated! You made your bed with that wager. You're not the women I fell in love with all those centuries ago." A sad note entered the man's otherwise blank voice, making Xibalba shut green tinted corneas. She collected herself mere seconds later, plastering a large smirk on her face to hide the sting his words caused.

"Let's not dwell in the past, mi amor." Le Muerte shook his head, eyes still scanning the cemetery, though his ears were focusing on his wife as she continued. "Anyway, I was thinking...
How about another little wager?" Le Muerte snorted and clenched his jaw with a hiss.

"You think you can calm the flames of my anger with another bet?" His voice rose dangerously near the end of the sentence, making mortals nearby glance around nervously, as if they could sense something otherworldly around them. Xibalba nodded slightly, a nervous tick to her skeletal fingers. Le Muerte stopped for a moment, flicking his eyes at her before speaking again. "What exactly did you have in mind?" Xibalba smirked, fingers seamlessly caressing her snakelike staff as she studied all those around her for inspiration.

"Let's check out the menu for the evening, my darling." Something seamed to catch the women's attention, for she turned and crept forward to where young voices shouted. Le Muerte raised a brow, but followed his wife anyway. Xibalba stopped and tilted her head, much like a curious cat. She lifted a hand, flicking digits in the direction of where two boys playfully fought, one strumming a guitar, while the other wore a mustache and clumsily held a sword too big for him. The object of their fighting was obviously the girl who sat on a grave nearby, hands supporting her head as she watched them. A satisfied note entered the Goddess's smooth voice, making it as soft as silk. "Look there, my love. Classic mortal dilemma." Xibalba grinned almost savagely as she watched the boy with the sword, Joaquin, almost land a hit on the other. "Two boys. Best friends, no less."Le Muerte picked up his wife's thought after a moment.

"In love with the same girl." Le Muerte and Xibalba shared a glance before going back to watching the mock fight for the girl's hand. It seemed that the two deities had found themselves a wager.