Chapter 26

"I was always a trickster. I enjoyed poking fun at the seriousness of the other gods. I was full of life and energy and I felt the other gods were old and lifeless. I came from a family of smoky mirrors and Tezcatlipoca was head of la familia. Our mirrors were all fragments of the original mirror provided to Tezcatlipoca. It held great power. We were only familiar with a fraction of that power.

Once mankind came about, I found ways to play with them. I would provide mischief for the spectating gods, and myself as well. I began to love people as pets.

I used the mirror's powers to enhance my abilities and change forms. I would alter my look to that of any person, any god, or any gender. I would pit myself against many an unsuspecting victim. I would watch from afar to see how things would play out. But my tricks were never for malice or to hurt or cause physical pain.

Despite my real age, I always looked young. I can credit the blood of a god running through my veins, but the smoky mirror fragment was also responsible. Nonetheless, I was Huehuecoyotl rather than Coyotl.

As time progressed, I began to make friends with the people. Not as pets but as cherished playthings. The gods despised me for not demanding worship. But the people enjoyed my company even with my playful attitude. They enjoyed my quirks and included me in every part of their lives. Over time they asked for my company even after their death.

Throughout the years, I became friends with Xolotl. It was rather difficult at first. He was sickly looking and deformed. But he was friendly and had a good heart. He would allow me passage to Mictlan, the land beyond death. As I accompanied many a good friend to that land, people began to identify me with death. Well, more like a guide towards death. And with that, people began to fear death less and less. They knew or hoped I would be with them. In turn, I enjoyed my time with the people, on Earth or in Mictlan. Often I would steal away to Mictlan to cause mischief there for my friends.

A young couple of opposing clans met and fell in love. They asked me for help. Feeling adventurous, I complied. Of course, I helped them the only way that I could. I pranked two warring nations into peace. Well, that was the original intention.

Whenever the lovers would meet, I'd double for them in their absence. I became overconfident. And with the power of the mirror fragment, I could multiply myself to be in two or more places at once. The people of the two nations held many a festivity. And I loved music and dance. So, in my disguise, I'd join the nations during their celebrations. I became too zealous and partook in too many beverages that left me in a daze. My concentration broke and my disguise either faded. The people knew of my mischief. And those in power knew of the lovers' agenda. They were both from royal families.

I attempted to remedy the situation for all parties but the damage was done. I was banished from the nations. The ruling gods made it so that I could not interfere. To their enjoyment, I am certain. I discovered soon after that the lovers had surrendered to the opposing nations. They each sacrificed their prisoners to the ruling gods. They hoped to quell the anger and resentment. You see, the nations themselves did not allow people to leave nor to contact people from outside. They used them to instill fear and control over the populace. Instead of celebrating the couple's love and granting them a blessing of course. And the gods allowed this. For they were worshiped. And loved. And feared.

For my actions, I was banished from all human contact. I was exiled from the pantheon of gods. Worst of all, Xolotl, my friend, was forced by Mictecacihuatl herself to punish me. My connection to Mictlan was lost. The people whom I learned to love were taken away. In the end, I was left to wander alone. Without the will of the gods or the company of the people, I became a ghost of myself. I lost my corporeal form. I attached myself to an old statue of a coyote in the wild.

As time progressed forward, the vegetation grew around my statue, hiding it from view. No one saw it, nor me.

Until the day, Milagros came to me.

That day, the sound of thunder awoke me from my exile. The thunder was peculiar. Rather than come from the sky above us, the sound exploded from the earth.

I heard it again and again. It was not a volcanic eruption. It was accompanied by the screams of people. Innocent people. People in pain. I was familiar with the sound as I heard many tribes warring over the centuries, over land, wealth, and power. No destruction was as devastating as that brought upon the Nahuatls by the white men from beyond.

The voices grew louder and more intense. Screams filled the air.

Rapid footsteps grew near. I heard someone gasp for air.

A little girl fell at my feet. She was injured and afraid. Tears were flowing from her eyes.

The curse by the gods made me invisible to humans but she looked to me. Not my statue…but to me. As if she knew of me.

She reached out and I felt inclined to reach out in turn. But she was dragged away by a man in a uniform.

He slammed her into the ground and took out his blade.

She pleaded.

She cried.

She called out for you.

She started to pray through her tears and spoke about you and all the stories you told her. About her mother. Her family. And me.

She reached out one more time and I held onto her hand. I begged the gods to grant me passage. To allow me to help. I did not want another life to be destroyed before me and not be able to help it, in one way or another.

The gods listened. After centuries of seclusion, they granted my request under one condition. My eyesight. They enjoyed the irony. I lacked foresight. I never considered consequences when performing pranks and tricks. I never looked before I leaped. Just the same, I gave up my eyesight without thinking.

Milagros took hold of my hand and pulled me out of the abyss.

I entered the world and pummeled her attacker.

She hugged me. She actually hugged me and cried into my chest. She asked for help and to fight for her. Even without my eyesight, I navigated my way back to you. Her words before I left her on her way home: For my sake, protect him."

…