The Bloodgate Guardian by Joely Sue Burkhart

bed by one of the staff and threw it open. He began rifling through her things. “So if I say that Blood Gatherer escaped, you know exactly whom I mean. You understand that he’ll lead the other two demons in as much death and destruction as possible, gaining power with each death until they can reopen the Gates and empty the bowels of Xibalba on your civilization.”
    “Stop it,” she retorted, crossing the room and then slamming the suitcase shut. “Quit trying to scare me.”
    Laughing grimly, he scanned the room, looking for something. His eyes slid right over her laptop case bulging with notes. What the hell was he looking for? “I speak only truth.”
    Tears burned her eyes and she clenched her hands into fists. She ached to pummel him until her knuckles were cracked and bleeding. Maybe then he’d stop spouting such horrible accusations. He acted as though her father had messed the ritual up deliberately. “My father would never open a Gate to Xibalba.”
    “I’m sure he’s regretting his mistake very much.”
    A cold sweat broke out all over her body. “He passed through? He’s…he’s…”
    The man faced her, eyes gleaming in the murk of the shadowed room. “Your father’s in my people’s hell.”
     
    The woman swayed, her face draining of all color until it resembled a skull, but she didn’t break. “How do I get him out?”
    Ruin sighed. “You don’t.”
    “But—”
    “Did you forget the Death Lords already loose? Shall I open the Gate and make it easier for them to destroy your world?”
    She cocked her head slightly and nibbled her lip, dark thoughts swimming in her cacao eyes. So vividly and easily, she betrayed her thoughts to him. She possessed his codex. She had already translated enough of it to reek of his magic. So she would simply discover how to open the Gate herself.
    His chest constricted as though the volcanoes had erupted once more and buried him beneath rubble. He didn’t want to kill this woman of knowledge and magic. So far, the magic hadn’t risen in his blood, demanding her death, but it would. Soon. Unless he could convince her to abandon his city and forget everything she’d learned from his codex.
    Grimly, he forced himself to stride toward her, using his bulk and strength in an attempt to intimidate her. “You’re alive now only because my brother wants something you have.”
    “If you mean the man with the circle tattoo on his forehead, then your brother killed my friend.”
    “He’s killed many people. You’ll be next.”
    “Why? What are you? What is your name?”
    “My name.” His voice was thick and tight to his own ears. Fisting his hands at his side, he fought the urge to grip her shoulders and shake some sense into her. Flee, leave my city, and I won’t have to kill you. “Once we were called the hero twins, but my brother and I brought destruction and death to our people a thousand years ago. We’ve warred for centuries, each of us sworn to kill the other and at last end our torment. After so many years, the people know us only as Wrack and Ruin. My brother, Wrack, for the devastation he inflicts upon the earth to punish me; I as Ruin because I broke my most solemn vow to the gods. I misused the Gate and destroyed us all.”
    “Hunahpu and Xbalanque,” she whispered, her eyes wide. “Which are you?”
    Of course, he had forgotten that she knew more of his world than most people of this age. Gravely, he nodded. “Xbalanque.”
    “I’ve seen the glyph for your name translated so many ways,” she whispered. “X-balan-que, for hidden sun, X-balam-que, jaguar sun, or Yax-balam, precious jaguar, which I personally leaned toward as the most correct.”
    He made a low sound of grief. In all his lifetimes, he’d never again been known as precious. Not after misusing the Gates.
    Her gaze sharpened on him. “If my father’s in danger, I must help him.”
    “There’s nothing you can do for your father.” He made his voice cold, his eyes