CHAPTER 17

After a few hours of lovemaking, both participants were sated and laid in each other’s arms. Xena had her head resting on one of Ares' broad shoulders. Both were in a talkative mood and still feeling quite amorous.

"I must say, you are taking the news about Dahak being your father rather well. I was never really sure how you would react, that's why I never told you."

"No one gets to choose their parents and brooding over who my father is won't solve anything," Xena said. "Right now, I don't want to think about him being my father and only want to focus on killing him."

"That's all well and good my dear, but you can't leave out what being his daughter means. Your father was not only a Watcher but also Chief Guardian. And that makes you half-god. You have always had amazing abilities but you have only scratched the surface. There is so much more and you could use those powers to make the world a better place. That is what you've always wanted."

"I can still make the world a better place without using the godly powers I have inherited from my father," she said. "It may have only been a dream, but I experienced that power and didn't like the way it made me feel. Such power would be too much for me to handle in the real world."

"You are selling yourself short. With the right teacher, I'm sure you would adapt to your new found powers."

"Well, it is a mute point now, because I have made up my mind and don't ever want to tap such dark powers again," she stated firmly.

Xena knew exactly who he thought would be the right teacher---himself. She could almost hear the wheels turning in his head, planning a scheme to get her back, as she lay next to him. Xena knew Ares all too well. With their alliance and her finding out Dahak is her father, she knew by his very nature he would use these recent events to make an attempt to win her back. In the last few hours, she had willingly given herself to him but she was still in control and would disrupt any scheme he had in the works on making their temporary alliance permanent.

Xena lazily ran a hand over Ares' hairy chest. "I didn't mention it earlier but Dahak did have some rather interesting things to say about you."

"Oh really? What did he say?"

"He talked about your attempt to end my life when I was a child and how he came up with the perfect way to make sure you never tried again." Xena now lay directly on top of Ares and stared into his deep brown eyes. "He did seem rather pleased with himself. I never got the chance to ask him exactly what he did so I'm asking you."

"It was just talk on his part," Ares said while playing with her hair. "He really couldn't do anything to me. He was bodiless and trapped in heated earth after all."

"I believe it was more than just talk. Dahak was not happy with your attempt to kill me and there was clearly a gleam in his eyes when he talked of stopping your attempts permanently. He may have been trapped but he could have gotten a devoted follower to do his bidding...Is that what happened? He had Minos do something to you?"

"That's ridiculous. Minos was mortal. What could he possibly do to a god?"

"I don't know you tell me," she replied.

"There is nothing to tell." The irritation was clear in his voice and etched on his face.

"I believe there is but I will drop it…for now." Xena looked at him curiously. "For someone who insists there is nothing to tell, you certainly did get ruffled. I guess I will have to calm you down."

Xena teased Ares' right ear with her tongue then proceeded to leave a trail of soft kisses on his neck down to his chest. With her tongue, she leisurely traced a circle around a nipple before she glided her tongue over it. She repeated these actions with the other nipple.

"Ohhh, that feels soooo good," Ares said in a husky tone.

"Well, there's more to come," she said in a sultry tone. Xena continued to lavish Ares' body with feathery kisses and leisurely licks. One of her hands had traveled down his muscular frame and gave a light caress to his lower body, letting him know what he could expect.

Xena kissed and licked her way down to Ares’ stomach then abruptly stopped all loving administrations. "I can’t do this," she firmly declared.

"What do you mean you can't?" he asked through labored breathing. A fire was smoldering in his being and he did not want it put out before it was set ablaze.

"My mind keeps going back to Dahak, Minos and what they must have done. You say there is nothing to tell but I can't shake the feeling there is more and now I can't concentrate on our activities. Since that is the case, I really should leave." Xena rolled off Ares' body and stood by the side of the bed. "Produce my clothes and send me back now," she demanded, her hands on her hips.

Ares let out a disappointed sigh as he stared at her well-toned form. The firm look etched on Xena’s beautiful face, was a clear indication to him that she was indeed serious. The fire building within him was instantly squelched. He suppressed a smile. Xena was playing the tease. She knew he wanted to continue their lovemaking but that would not happen until he told her what he was hiding. What she wanted to know was not one of his finer moments and he wished it were something he could forget but knew he never would. It would always be with him and would always be with her for that matter so she did have a right to know. Besides, what he revealed would not put Dahak in a better light in her eyes and only add to her hatred for him from which he could benefit.

"You are not going to be any fun until I confirm your belief Dahak did something to me...well he did...and now I guess I have to tell you exactly what he did." Ares grabbed her wrists and pulled her back on the bed. "But first, you must promise what I tell you will go no further than this bed."

"You have my word."

"And after I tell all, we can get back to unfinished business?" he asked with a sly grin.

Xena raised an eyebrow. "I would say it's a guarantee," she said in a sensuous tone.

Ares used the plush pillows to prop himself into a sitting position. Xena lounged on him with her head resting against his chest as he began his tale...

Ares was alone in his temple near Amphipolis contemplating the earlier events of that day. Xena at 16, had successfully led her fellow villagers to defeat Cortese's army. With the victory came a great loss, the death of her beloved younger brother Lyceus. But she had also taken the first step to awakening the darkness she inherited from her father. That day she lost her blood innocence, she had taken a life and was now on the road to taking her place in Ares' dark plans.

Minos stopped by the temple carrying two goblets and a bottle of wine. Since they were the only two who knew the true identity of Xena's father, Minos thought they should celebrate this monumental step in the life of the girl who would make Ares' dark plans reality. Ares was a little apprehensive at first but Minos assured him it was just a simple toast. Surely they could put aside their differences for such an occasion? And what could a mere mortal possibly do to a god? Ares couldn't detect any trickery, so he took the goblet of wine Minos offered him.

Ares had no memory as to what took place after he drank the one goblet of wine. He only remembered waking up to Minos' hard slaps across his face. Ares didn't take too kindly to the actions of the insolent mortal and moved to strike when he discovered he was sitting chained to his own throne. He immediately demanded an explanation from Minos.

Minos bragged about how a mere mortal had subdued the big bad God of War. He admitted to knowing the true origin of the gods. Despite all the inbreeding, Ares still had traces of human blood within him and Minos knew how to mix certain herbs, creating a compound, which rendered unconsciousness to a god. Ares was enraged and struggled against the chains holding him in place. Minos revealed the chains were strong enough to hold a god so he might as well save his strength.

With great pride, Minos revealed the powers he had acquire dabbling in the black arts. He now had the ability to communicate with his dark lord who had been trapped in the earth's fiery core for sixteen years. Minos had told Dahak all about his daughter Xena. Ares would now find out, despite his entrapment, Dahak was still a force not to be taken lightly.

Ares was literally a captive audience as he watched Minos walk to the center of his temple's floor. He retrieved a goatskin from inside his shirt and poured its contents which was blood. Minos used the blood to form the shape of a circle. He stood in the circle and poured more blood from the goatskin to form a large five pointed star in the center of the circle. After both shapes were formed on the temple floor, he began to walk around the circle chanting in a language, which Ares couldn't understand. The temple floor began to shake where Minos had made the circle and five-pointed star. Minos stopped his chanting. Slowly, the floor began to crack open under the five-pointed star. As the crack grew larger, an orange-red flame shot up through it. The flame grew rather large then stopped and shimmered in the middle of the temple floor.

As the large flame shimmered, Ares heard a voice within the flame introduce itself as Dahak. Ares let him know he didn't appreciate such disrespect in his own temple by a mortal or another god. Dahak let him know, in his present state, he was at their mercy and not in a position to complain about his treatment.

Dahak admitted to knowing all about Ares. He knew about his quests for ultimate power in the Olympian pantheon, but most importantly, he knew of Ares' desire to place Xena at the center of his plans for world conquests. Ares would have to forget about using Xena because she would now serve her father. With the successful communication with Minos, they were moving on to the next step, his freedom.

When he was free, Xena would be told her true paternity and since she was now on the road to embracing her dark heritage she would want to join her father in his quest to establish his dominance over the world. But Ares didn't have to be left out in the cold. Despite Ares' interference, Dahak still liked him. He had a respect for the darkness within him that almost mirrored his own. Instead of being enemies, Dahak suggested they be allies and work together to bring down the other gods. Dahak boasted of existing long before Zeus or the legendary Titans. He was there when the earth was a lifeless sphere and witnessed the creation of the first life forms to roam the planet. He had been a Watcher and knew of power, which went beyond the confines of the earth to encompass the entire universe. With an alliance, Dahak would willingly share the secrets to such power with Ares.

Dahak's words were impressive, but Ares could never fully trust someone with a mind much darker than his own so he turned down the offer of an alliance. Dahak thought he was making a mistake but he had anticipated such a response and had already taken precautionary steps. At that moment, a man, in a black hooded robe, came out one of the side rooms into the temple' s main hall. In his arms he carried Xena's unconscious young form. Ares demanded to know what she was doing there and what was done to her.

He was told Xena had been drugged then brought to his temple. Dahak suggested Ares look at the palm of his right hand. On his palm was cut a circle and in its center, a five pointed star much like the one Minos had created with blood on the temple floor. Dahak assured Ares the mark on his hand would disappear by daybreak but its use would remain with him forever. Xena had an identical mark on her right hand as well. While both were unconscious, Minos had used his knowledge in the black arts to cast an unbreakable spell, which bound Ares to Xena forever.

Hearing this enraged Ares. Dahak assured him he would suffer no harm if he followed one simple instruction. Make sure Xena lived to fulfill the dark destiny Dahak had planned for her. If Xena were to die now, Ares would first lose his godhood then his own life. Dahak knew of Ares' earlier attempt to end Xena's life and didn't put it past him to try again since his return was imminent and it was inevitable she would ally herself with him, her father. Ares now could not kill Xena to strike at Dahak to disrupt his plans or he would die too. He would also have to make sure no one else tried to end her life or he would suffer the same fate...

"Minos knew his actions would mark him with death in my eyes but his fanatical devotion to Dahak made him fearless of dying," Ares said. "He did go into hiding though and I didn't carry out my threat of death until he tried to make contact with you after your encounter with Caesar. I made sure he met his end slowly and painfully. Strife had been watching you since Minos and I parted ways. I never told him about the bond between your life and mine but he was instructed to keep you alive at all cost. When you ventured out of my area of jurisdiction, I called in favors owed from other pantheons and they kept an eye on you. There were close calls, Julius Caesar and Ming Tsu are two that come to mind, but you stayed alive."

Xena knew Ares' tale would be interesting despite his earlier protests there was no tale to tell but what she heard truly stunned her. Would her life ever be what it was after so many shocking discoveries? She wondered how many more were still out there waiting for her to uncover them. She now knew why she could feel his presence whenever he was around. Xena thought of the dark ceremony for which she had no memory. She glanced at the palm of her right hand. She thought of the mark that mirrored the one put on Ares' palm, which had disappeared as quickly as his had but it was obviously still effecting her life to this day.

"I know you saw the mark on your palm left over from the dark ceremony but how did you really know your life would end if I died?" she asked now facing Ares, straddling his legs.

"I didn't really know but I wasn't about to take any chances," Ares replied while caressing her thighs. "In the beginning, I kept close tabs on your life. But as the years went by, I began to doubt the bond's power but that changed when you did die."

Xena remembered the incident quite well. She had been protecting a young Celtic girl when she sustained injuries that ended her life. She would have stayed dead if Gabrielle and Autolycus hadn't helped her find ambrosia, which returned her spirit to her body.

"What happened to you when I died?"

"I lost my powers, which was not fun considering my last experience when that happened," he replied. "At first, I didn't know what was happening to me, then I remembered Mino's dark spell and the bond I shared with you. I knew you must have died but there was nothing I could do because soon after, I felt my own life force slowly dying. I secluded myself in this fortress and awaited the end. I guess because of the bond, I could feel your spirit and knew you hadn't crossed to the other side yet. At that moment, I hoped you would remember what I once told you about ambrosia being able to return the souls of the recent dead to their bodies and use that resourceful mind of yours to figure out a way back. When you did just that, you saved both our lives."

Xena gazed at Ares with a new understanding. She now knew why he was reluctant to reveal this tale to her. Ares prided himself on being the master of manipulation and in complete control. This was probably the only time in his immortal existence when someone else clearly had all the control. He had been forced to participate in a dark ritual, for which he had no memory as well, which now kept his immortality in constant peril. He also had come very close to dying, something he thought he would never have to experience.

"Discovering me seems to be the worst thing to ever happen in your immortal existence," she said. "Instead of finding the ultimate warrior to conquer the world in your name, you received a mark of death for which there appears to be no escape."

"I could never see discovering you as a bad thing." Ares brought her hands to his lips and kissed their backs. "Living forever can get somewhat monotonous and you brought a fire to my life which I hadn't felt for centuries. As for the bond, I haven't ruled out the possibility it can be broken but if it can't, I will just have to persuade you to become immortal." He pulled Xena to him and kissed her passionately. When he leisurely broke the kiss, he stared into her eyes. "Dahak formed this bond to ensure I wouldn't try to stop his plans. He also thought you would willingly join him when he returned. Instead we have joined forces and together we will kill him."

With Ares' last words, Xena claimed his mouth with hers. Their tongues parried for a while until she broke away to caress his body with feathery light kisses which left him breathless and rekindled his passion which this time would most definitely reach its climatic conclusion.

Xena did manage to get some sleep. Before Ares sent her home, she got a sword to replace the one she lost in her fight with Dahak in the caves on Kos. Xena got a welcomed surprise when she returned to her room above her mother's tavern. There was a shiny object sticking out of the blankets on the bed. When she pulled back the blankets, she saw her chakram, which she had to leave behind when she made her escape in the mountains on Kos. Then she remembered in her "dream" Dahak returned it to her. Ares had been right when he said what she experienced was more than a dream.

In these early morning hours, Xena decided to relax with a hot bath. As she lounged in the tub, she thought about what was happening between her and Ares. With Gabrielle gone, he was the only one who truly knew her. The alliance they had formed to destroy Dahak had brought them closer together than they had been in years. She had enjoyed the rekindled intimacy but knew she was walking on dangerous ground reliving a tumultuous time from her past. Gabrielle's death and discovering Dahak was her father clearly had effects on the recent choices she had made in her life.

The rekindled passion with Ares had invigorated and strengthened her during a time when she needed it most. But if she continued to act on that passion, the consequences for her could be just as heartbreaking as before. For both their sakes, she would not go to his bed again. They would both have to pool their energies and focus on destroying Dahak. After they defeated Dahak, she was sure their relationship would go back to what it was, her foiling his schemes to rule the world and get her back.

**********

Cyrene and Joxer were both in the kitchen at sunrise. Neither had got much sleep and decided to rise early. Both had heavy thoughts on their minds. Joxer's mind was consumed with what happened to Xena during her first confrontation with Dahak. He wondered what action she would now take to stop the one great evil that had unfortunately entered the world. Cyrene was more concerned with her daughter's emotional state. Xena was just coming to terms with Gabrielle's death when Cyrene confessed her real father was Dahak, the evil god responsible for the loss of her best friend. Cyrene knew Xena was strong but also knew she had her limits and feared they had finally been reached.

"I sure hope that injury to Xena's sword arm doesn't leave any permanent damage." Joxer sat atop a table, swinging his legs as he tore apart a round loaf of bread. "It would really lessen her fighting ability and be just awful now that Dahak is here." He shoved a piece of the torn loaf into his mouth.

"The town physician said you did a good job stitching the arm and it was healing nicely, so she should regain full use once it completely heals." Cyrene was cutting up several chickens that would be fed to tavern patrons later that day. "But I think she should leave this Dahak matter to someone else."

"And who do you think should handle Dahak in my place, Mother?" Xena stood in the kitchen doorway and now walked over to the table on which Joxer sat. She was dressed in her leathers and armor. Over a shoulder was draped a saddlebag, which she deposited on the table.

Cyrene and Joxer were both surprised to see Xena up and in perfect condition.

"Wow! You look great!" Joxer declared. "Hey, what happened to the large cut I stitched on your arm?"

"I will tell you in a minute but first I want to hear who Mother thinks should handle Dahak in my place." Xena folded her arms across her chest as she stared at her mother waiting for a response.

Cyrene had stopped cutting the chicken when Xena made her presence known and had stood in silence staring at her daughter. "I think you should send a message to Hercules and let him handle Dahak. You were almost killed." She wanted to say more but left it at that since Joxer was in the room.

"I will admit, Dahak caught me off-guard by using painful memories which were still fresh to distract me but he won't be so lucky the next time." Xena had a hard edge to her voice that matched the look in her eyes. "But you do make a good point about Hercules being brought into this Mother. I do plan on asking for his help which means I will probably have to be the buffer between him and his brother."

"His brother? Ares...you joined him to fight Dahak? Xena, do you really think that was wise?" Cyrene’s last encounter with the God of War was still fresh in her mind. He had convinced The Furies to punish Xena with madness until she avenged her ‘father's death' by killing his murderer, her own mother. Cyrene knew when Xena was a warlord, her army fought for the glory of Ares. Now that Xena fought for good, the war god was willing to do whatever it took to get her back and this frightened Cyrene.

"Yes Mother, I have allied myself with Ares to stop a common foe. And to answer your earlier question Joxer, Ares is the one who healed my arm so I would be at my best when we take on Dahak."

Joxer had silently sat on the table, eating the rest of the loaf in his hands while mother and daughter exchanged words. He understood Cyrene's worry over Xena teaming up with Ares. The God of War scared him most of the time. But Joxer knew Ares was the one who had informed Xena of Dahak's arrival. He had seen her disrupt Ares' schemes on many occasions and was confident she knew what she was doing regarding their alliance.

"Your dislike of Ares is understandable Mother. He wanted me to kill you after all. But I have known him long enough to know how to handle him. Besides, he has in his possession the key to destroying Dahak and there is no way I'm going to be left out now." Xena grabbed a cloth sack and began to fill it with food to take on the journey ahead of her. "I am leaving for Persia this very morning to bring back an old friend who can help us stop Dahak permanently."

"Persia!" Joxer said with childlike excitement. "I have never been there before. I'm coming too. I'll get the horses ready." He hopped off the table and left the kitchen headed for the stables.

"I really think you should reconsider what you are doing." Cyrene wiped her hands off on a damp cloth then came over to the table where Xena stood. "You are too close to this situation and should let someone with no ties handle it."

Xena stopped filling the sack and stared at her mother. "You think finding out Dahak is my father has clouded my judgment, don't you?"

Cyrene stood silent.

"Well, you are wrong Mother. Finding out Dahak is my father has completely cleared the haze that clouded my mind for three months. Thanks to Dahak, my focus is stronger than ever and with it, I will kill him." There was a hard look in Xena's eyes which somewhat frightened Cyrene.

"Fighting your father may unleash the monster within you so want to suppress. And now you have allied yourself with another evil god who craves for you to be that monster again."

"I made a promise that monster wouldn't return and I intend to keep it. And Ares is not evil. It may be hard for you to believe, but he does have limits on how far he will go to get what he wants unlike my father." Xena put a hand over her mother’s that rested on the table. "I wish you would stop worrying. I have allied myself with Ares but I don't fully trust him. Like I said before, I can handle him and any underlying schemes he undoubtedly has planned."

"Can you really handle Ares?" Cyrene stared hard into her daughter’s eyes. "You broke ties with him three years ago yet he continuously tries to get you back, using whatever means necessary and you shrug off his appalling actions. It's like he has some sort of power over you."

"Really Mother, that's not..."

"I saw him in your room last night. I was coming to check on you, when I heard voices. I cracked the door and saw you talking with Ares then you both vanished. I know you were with him until the early morning hours because I checked your room before sunrise and you weren't back yet."

Xena had never told Gabrielle the full extent of her relationship with Ares and she was not about to reveal all to her mother. "Ares and I had a lot of planning to do which lasted until early this morning."

Cyrene took hold of Xena's chin and turned her face from side to side, then stared into her crystal blue eyes. "It's been some years, but I can still recognize the glow of passion when I see it Xena."

"Mother!" Xena quickly removed her chin from her mother's grasp. A blush was forming in her cheeks. She felt like a child again and her mother had just caught her doing something she shouldn't.

"The glowing face, the sparkling eyes, you had that very same look the morning you came back after storming out of the tavern. I thought finding the will to live again was the cause but there was obviously more to it. I never did ask where you spent that night. Were you with Ares?"

Xena knew denying it was pointless. "Yes," she begrudgingly admitted.

Cyrene let out a disapproving sigh. "You are a grown woman Xena and can live your life the way you see fit, but getting involved with Ares again is the worst thing you can do."

"My involvement with Ares is not what you think, Mother."

"Well, I think you slept with him. Are you denying it?" Cyrene stared directly into her daughter's eyes.

"You said it yourself, I am a grown woman and can live my life the way I see fit."

"I am not trying to pry into your personal life Xena," Cyrene assured. "It's just that you have been riding an emotional tidal wave...Gabrielle's death...discovering Dahak is your father. You won't admit it, but these events have effected your judgment...they would anyone's. Under normal circumstances, you probably would be able to handle Ares, but you are clearly vulnerable and he has used the situation to seduce you, and with this alliance, you will be in constant contact with him and..."

"I know you are only voicing motherly concerns and I love you for that but there really is no need to worry," Xena interrupted. "Ever since I left Ares, his objective has been to get me back but that will never happen." Xena let out a weary sigh. "I know I was dancing with danger when I sought comfort in the arms of the god who should be my enemy but at the time it felt right. I regained the confidence, focus and strength I need to go on with my life and much to Ares' disappointment, continue the good I started with Gabrielle. Because of that, Ares has my debt of thanks." Xena's voice took on a somber tone when she spoke her next words. "When I was getting dressed this morning, I realized continuing to turn to Ares for comfort would lead to no good for either of us and only result in more heartache and I won't go through that again."

As she listened to her daughter's last words, Cyrene noticed the misty look in Xena's eyes. There was so much about her daughter's life she didn't know. Maybe someday, Xena would open up to her about those lost years.

The somber look left Xena's face and was replace with a slight smile. "Besides Mother, you know I am determined to continue the good I started with Gabrielle so that means Ares and I will remain on opposite sides, fighting each other, eliminating any chance of us ever getting together again, so you have nothing to fear."

Cyrene had clearly expressed her objections to this alliance with Ares and knew there was nothing more she could say. But another option had been voiced earlier and she decided to give it a try.

"Uh Xena, you mentioned something about asking for help from Hercules?"

"Yes mother, I do plan on asking for help from Hercules when I return from Persia."

"I know Hercules will be more than willing to join this fight against Dahak, so couldn't you just bow out? I mean he and Ares should be able to handle this. They are half-god and god after all."

Xena had to laugh at her mother's suggestion. "That would never work Mother. Ares and Hercules would kill each other instead of Dahak. I have a way with both and would be the best buffer between the two."

Xena saw the disappointed look on her mother's face. She took her mother's hands in hers. "There is probably nothing I can say that will erase your fears."

"As a mother, it's part of the job description," Cyrene said with a faint smile.

"Even if I wanted no part in the fight against Dahak, he has already put me in it. He is determined to have me by his side when he establishes his kingdom."

Upon hearing Xena’s words, a look of fear filled Cyrene’s eyes.

"But that will never happen," Xena assured her mother. "Dahak has done far too many things for me to ever join him, not just to you and Gabrielle but to someone else I loved."

"Dahak hurt someone else? Who was it Xena?"

"I can't go into that right now but when this is all over, we will sit down and have a long talk about that person, I promise." Xena squeezed her mother's hands in hers, then brought one to her lips and kissed the back. "I have to go now," she said softly. She released her mother's hands, picked up the saddlebag, the food sack then headed for the kitchen door.

"Be careful," Cyrene said softly with tears in her eyes to Xena's retreating form.

When Xena reached the stables, Joxer had both Argo and Otis ready for the journey ahead of them. Ares showed up when they were on the road leading out of Amphipolis. He had agreed to transport them to the border between the Olympian pantheon and the Persian pantheon taking several days off their journey. They would now reach Persepolis, Persia's capital and the home of her old friend Cyrus, in less than a week.

CHAPTER 18

She was falling. The heat of the stifling air roasted her lungs when she inhaled. The smell of sulfur filled her nostrils. She gazed downward, her destination, the fiery orange liquid that violently bubbled below. Continuous eruptions sounded around her. The fiery liquid got closer and closer. Now it touched her, started to consume her flesh, whose burnt smell began to fill her nostrils. The agonizing pain was too much and a blood-curdling scream poured from her lips...

Phaedra was sitting in her bed screaming. Suddenly, the vision of the lava lifted from her eyes and she saw Castor sitting on the side of her bed grasping her arms trying to get her to snap out of it. She finally looked into his eyes and started to cry. Castor embraced her as she shook from a bone chilling sweat that covered her body. As he held Phaedra, her crying started to cease.

"Are you all right?" he asked with deep concern in his voice.

"I will be fine in a minute," Phaedra gasped through sniffles. She cleared her throat and broke from his embrace. "Don't worry about me Castor, you can go ahead with your chores."

Castor knew it was pointless to ask her about the nightmare. Sometimes she could be just as guarded as her mother with private thoughts. "Well...okay, if you're sure you are fine," he said with some of the earlier worry he felt leaving him. "I left you something for breakfast, so you can help yourself when you're ready." Castor got up from the side of the bed and left the cottage to do his chores.

After Castor's departure, Phaedra ate what he left her for breakfast. The nightmare had been intense but it hadn't effected her appetite. She got dressed and went about her own chores. Throughout the day, her mind kept going back to her nightmare. Even in her waking hours, it stayed with her. Since Hope's departure, Phaedra had gone through another age metamorphosis, which put her at sixteen. With the metamorphous had come the disturbing nightmare. Castor had tried to get her to talk about it but she wouldn't.

Phaedra thought she was being silly letting a dream scare her but it seemed so real. She could actually feel pain in her body when the scorching lava began to burn it. But how could this be? She was born in Castor's cottage and had never been near a volcano so how could the dream be real? There was also the reoccurring image of a woman dressed like a warrior wearing brown leather with armor. She had long black hair and crystal blue eyes. Phaedra had no clue to the woman's identity and doubted she truly existed.

With this latest occurrence of the lava nightmare came the image of the dark-haired woman again. But this time in her nightmare, Phaedra yelled out the woman's name, which was Xena. She no longer believed the woman to be just a figure in her nightmare but a real person. Phaedra couldn't explain it but somehow, she felt a connection to this warrior woman named Xena.

Later that day, when Castor returned to the cottage, Phaedra decided to share with him the nightmare, which was disturbing her sleep.

"I can understand why this nightmare has you so upset Phaedra," Castor said after she retold the details of the dream to him. He sat across from her at the table as they ate their dinner. "What you described would certainly be a horrible way to die. But it's probably just your imagination working overtime in your dreams."

"In the beginning, I thought that way too but every night, I keep having the same nightmare and the burning pain seems so real," Phaedra said. "Then there's the vision of the warrior woman and I am sure she's not a figment of my imagination." Castor had a look of genuine interest on his face as Phaedra gave him a description of the warrior woman with raven hair and crystal blue eyes.

"Does this warrior woman you see in your nightmare happen to have a name?" Castor anxiously asked while staring into Phaedra's green eyes.

"Yes, her name is Xena," she replied slowly, somewhat disturbed by the expression on his face.

"Xena," he repeated more for himself than for her benefit. He bowed his head then stared at her again. "Did Hope reveal to you what we talked about because I knew such a woman, as you described, long ago?"

"No, she never told me what you talked about. You mean this warrior woman in my dreams is actually real and you know her?"

"I did know her but I haven't seen her in years. We were both different people then. I was a warrior in her army. From what I have heard, she has also given up the warrior life as well. Xena now fights the people she use to be like. Protecting those who use to be her victims. I always did like her and I'm glad she finally left that life."

Phaedra was surprised to discover Castor had once been a warrior. He had the size for it but she just couldn't picture him with a sword in his hand. The man sitting before her seemed so gentle. She couldn't imagine him killing anyone. But Phaedra was relieved to know her feelings about the woman from her nightmare being a real person were correct.

"I can't explain it but I feel a connection to this warrior woman," Phaedra said. "I never accepted my mother's reason for leaving us and I know you didn't either. I think this Xena could help with the problem my mother wouldn't share with us. That's why I must seek her out."

Castor stared at her, absorbing her words. "The godly blood running through your veins has probably given you insight into a woman you have never met before." Castor remembered Hope admitting her reason for leaving was due to her father who was a very powerful god. Castor knew Xena not only fought warlords but also had even gone head to head with gods. "From what I have heard about Xena's acts of heroism, she just may be the person to help us find your mother and deal with her problem. And I think I know where we might be able to get some information on Xena's whereabouts." There was a big smile on Castor's face, which mirrored the one on Phaedra's as she sat across from him at the table.

Before going to bed that night, both packed a few things they would need for the journey ahead of them. At daybreak, Castor and Phaedra left the small cottage in the forest and headed for Amphipolis.

**********

Ares was at his temple in Thebes inspecting the scrolls from the twelfth and final gold chest his digging team had uncovered outside of Abdera, when Discord popped in to pay him a visit.

"Hey, what's up?" There was a rare cheeriness in her voice.

Ares hadn't seen her since their argument in his residence on Olympus. Her mood seemed to have improved since that time. "I'm working on solving the Dahak problem.’

Discord came over to the table where Ares was standing, thoroughly engrossed in an unrolled scroll. "The other gods aren't going to like this," she reminded him.

"The other gods have nothing to complain about." His brown eyes moved over the scroll’s contents. "What I'm doing will not break the six months no-war condition I made with them."

"Did Xena ever agree to that alliance you suggested?"

"Yes she did. Do you have a problem with that?" He stared at Discord and prepared himself for another jealous tirade.

"No, not really."

Ares eyed her curiously. "What's this, no tantrum about my so-called obsession with Xena and to move past her?"

"My earlier behavior was childish," she begrudgingly admitted. "I finally realized I have no claim on you as you have none on me. You can see whoever you want and vice versa."

"Well, this change in attitude is quite sudden and too good to be true." His eyes had a look of suspicion as they studied her face. "You better not be formulating some devious plan to kill Xena or so help me...."

"Relax Ares, I have no such plan in the works," Discord assured. "Your personal affairs are strictly your business and I will stay out of them. But I do have one concern about this alliance. Everyone on Olympus knows of Xena's wondrous feats but she is still only mortal."

"For your information, Xena is only half mortal."

"Really!" Discord’s interest was now piqued. "I know she foiled your madness scheme with the Furies by claiming you were her father but you denied it. Since it's not you, then who is it? Now don't tell me, let me guess." The petite goddess started to pace the floor in deep thought.

Ares really did not have time for this and decided to just blurt it out. "It's Dahak."

"Dahak! The one great evil! Wow!" she said with genuine surprise. "Well, I always thought she had an evil streak too intense to be only mortal. So Xena has joined up with you to kill her own father?"

"That's it in a nutshell," Ares said with a sly smile. "Father or not, he made a huge mistake directly attacking her son and best friend. Now she hates him and wants him dead."

"I guess that is a good reason to want him dead." Discord came back over to the table where Ares was standing, having returned to examining the unrolled scroll. "So tell me about your plan to defeat Dahak."

Ares let out a weary sigh. "If I tell you, will you leave so I can get back to work?"

"Yesssss," she replied.

"This scroll is just one of many that will lead to Dahak's destruction."

Discord gazed at the scroll lying on the table before them. It was a map of some faraway land she had never heard of before. "And just how will this scroll do that?"

Ares shared with Discord his belief about Dahak really being a Watcher and the Chief Guardian named Metatron who lead the rebellion against the Creator. The scroll before them and others like it revealed the resting places of the pieces to Metatron's former sword, the Holy Saber, and once rejoined, had the power to destroy him.

"Dahak always seemed scary to me but him being this Chief Guardian Metatron sounds intriguing." Discord had a dreamy look in her eyes after Ares had finished summarizing his plan for her. "Since the Watchers are a taboo subject on Olympus I don't know much about them but I always did want to meet one."

"Xena has met her father. He has mesmerizing looks and charm, something you wouldn't expect for someone called the One Great Evil. But I have seen the pure evil side of him. Trust me, he is someone you do not want to meet."

"Well, I guess you would know since you are the only one on Olympus who has had dealings with him. And you really believe this sword, the Holy Saber, is the only thing that can destroy Dahak?"

"Yes I do," he stated with firm confidence. "The scrolls say the Holy Saber is a symbol of goodness made from pure light. Dahak is the epitome of evil known as the Dark One, so it stands to reason that pure light would have the power to destroy him."

"I know killing Dahak is very important to you but what will you truly gain from his death?"

Ares feigned a look of ignorance in response to Discord's question.

"Now Ares, I know you all too well. You wouldn't have this elaborate plan to take out Dahak permanently and not have included a major gain for yourself."

"If I did, why would I tell you?"

"Because, I am the only person you can tell who won't try to stop you. Besides, you know you are just dying to share the brilliance of that diabolical mind of yours."

Discord was right, he did have a plan that would give him power, but more than the power one had as King of the Olympian gods. Since Strife was history, Discord was the only one around with whom he could discuss such a plan, so he decided to share it with her.

Discord watched as Ares removed a small metal box from its resting-place beneath his throne. He sat the metal box on a table and proceeded to unlock its lid with a key he wore around his neck. Discord now stood next to him waiting in anticipation. When the lid finally opened, Ares picked up the contents, a scroll, which appeared to be very old.

"Oh great, another scroll." The disappointment was clear in Dicord’s voice.

"This is not just another scroll," Ares said while holding it up. "This scroll tells me how I can acquire power that goes beyond the boundaries of a single pantheon region to encompass the entire world."

Discord's interests was returning as Ares went on to explain the scroll's contents. According to the writings of the scroll, when the Creator crushed Metatron's rebellion, he transferred all of the power that came with being Chief Guardian of the earth into the Holy Saber. If the broken sword pieces are rejoined and the holder recites the words etched in the hilt, all of Metatron's power as Chief Guardian would belong to the holder. Ares would find the sword, claim Dahak's former powers locked inside it making himself the most powerful god on earth then he would use the Holy Saber to kill its former owner.

"I knew you had a plan to grab power in the works and I must say, this sounds like one of the better ones," she said with a sly smile. "I really like how you grab everything in one fell swoop. You claim the powers stored in the Holy Saber then you kill Dahak with his old sword."

"I like it too."

"When you get all of this power, please try to remember those who helped you in past schemes."

"Oh, I'll remember," he said. With his last words, Discord vanished in a blaze of silver light.

After Discord's departure, Ares retrieved a sheet of parchment from inside the small box, which he hadn't bothered to do in her presence. He stared at its contents, which were the same words etched on the hilt of the Holy Saber, which were written in Celestic, but this was a Greek translation. Ares had seen the words a dozen times and could recite them by heart. During his self-imposed exile, he finished reading the Titan scrolls and discovered among them, one written entirely in Celestic with a drawing of the Holy Saber. Ares desperately wanted to get the scroll translated. A Titan would certainly know the ancient language spoken by its forefathers. Not all were trapped in the abyss of Tartarus. Some of the lesser ones were imprisoned beneath volcanoes around the Olympian territory. Ares visited a Titan named Rhoetus imprisoned under Mount Vesuvius on the Italian peninsula. Ares offered to free Rhoetus from his volcanic prison if he translated the scroll. Rhoetus knew Ares had no real intention of freeing him but he agreed to translate the Holy Saber scroll anyway. He would get pleasure knowing the Olympians who imprisoned him were ousted from power. Rhoetus only asked for one thing, which Ares was more than happy to do. When he claimed the power in the Holy Saber and ousted the other gods, Rhoetus wanted them imprisoned with him under Mt. Vesuvius.

Ares now had a translation of words on the hilt of the Holy Saber in a language he spoke. When his warriors in Abdera began uncovering the chests containing the scrolls written in Celestic, revealing the whereabouts of the sword, he wanted the Titan to translate these scrolls as well but he refused. Rhoetus had done all he could and was firm about not doing more. A few other Titans imprisoned under Volcanoes around the Olympian territory greeted him with the same response. Ares knew of only one other person who spoke the extinct language and he was Xena's friend Cyrus. That's why it was so important for Xena to ally herself with him so she could go to Persia to ask the former Watcher for assistance. Ares didn't have it in him to ask ‘Mr. Goody-two-shoes' for help. He also knew Cyrus didn't like him but the former Watcher would gladly put aside his personal gripes to save all the pathetic mortals on the earth.

And because of Cyrus' devotion to helping people, he would translate the scrolls, they would find the saber and Ares would claim the power trapped within it. When he had that power no one would be able to stop him, not Zeus, the other gods, his meddling mongrel half-brother Hercules or Xena. Ares let his mind linger on Xena. Dahak's arrival couldn't have come at a better time for him. She had already suffered a severe blow due to the loss of the little irritant and Dahak revealing he was her father just added salt to the wound. Not only had he been able to forge an alliance with Xena to fight her evil father but he had also been able to get her back in his bed on two separate occasions.

When Ares sensed Dahak's arrival, he knew the evil bastard would make a move to claim Xena but he wasn't worried. He knew Dahak had done too much when he killed Solan and drove Gabrielle to her death for Xena to ever join him. Xena may be his daughter, but Ares knew her far better than he did.

Ares biggest threat to reclaiming Xena had always been Gabrielle, and thanks to Dahak he found a way to solve that problem. Ares always knew he could not kill Gabrielle outright because Xena would never forgive him and he would lose the chance to reclaim her forever. He tried to get others to do it but was unsuccessful. When Gabrielle's evil daughter killed Solan, Ares talked Xena into killing her best friend but even that attempt to eliminate the little bard was thwarted. But he was not short on ideas.

Ares observed some of the events in the Centaur village the day of Solan's death using the large mirror in his Macedonian fortress. He was not a witness to Solan's murder at Hope's hands but he did witness Gabrielle poisoning her own daughter. After she killed the girl, Gabrielle put the goatskin containing the poison to her lips, ready to die with her evil offspring but at the last minute changed her mind. Ares now knew the extent of the bard's guilt regarding her evil daughter. He made a mental note of this, it might be useful at a later date and it was.

When Dahak's followers prepared for Hope's rebirth, which would lead, to his arrival, Ares played the part of turncoat and joined Dahak. He then put to use the knowledge he uncovered that fateful day in the centaur village. Ares called in the favor Gabrielle owed him. It was a good thing she thought so low of him and actually believed he would let the Fates cut Xena's life-thread if she killed Hope. Ares took a big risk, considering the life bond he shared with Xena but he knew the bard loved Xena too much to ever let her die. With his confidence secure that Gabrielle would be the one to kill Hope, he set about playing on her guilt so this time, she would join her daughter in death. Ares couldn't have planned it better himself when Gabrielle eavesdropped on his conversation with Xena the night before that fateful day. He got to throw in a dig about her being responsible for the beginning of the end. To increase her guilt, he got some help from Morpheus who had his own ax to grind with the little bard. The God of Dreams plagued her sleep with dark thoughts, the part she played in Dahak's evil and the responsibility she had to accept being Hope's mother.

When the moment came on that fateful day, when Xena had the Hind's blood dagger poised to take Hope's life, Ares reminded Gabrielle of Xena's fate, which instantly sprang the bard into action. He watched with bated breath as Gabrielle used her staff to catapult herself to where Hope and Xena stood. She called out to Hope, taking her attention away from Xena and the dagger, at which time Gabrielle embraced her evil daughter and plunged them both to their deaths in the lava below. All eyes---Xena's, Callisto's and Joxer's, were focused on the pit so no one saw the triumphant smile on Ares' face. He had prevented Dahak's arrival and removed the obstacle, which was preventing him from reclaiming Xena.

Ares thought about what he told Xena that night on the cliff when she accused him of being responsible for Gabrielle's death. He really could not be blamed. Dahak created Gabrielle's guilt when he chose to use her in his dark plans. All Ares did was capitalized on the guilt Dahak's evil created. In the end, Gabrielle dying was her choice and he could not have been happier.

With Gabrielle out of the picture, Ares now concentrated on eliminating Dahak, which he would do when he made the power, stored in the Holy Saber his. By that time, Xena wouldn't want to stop him from gaining ultimate power, something else for which he could also thank Dahak. His arrival had stirred the darkness within she desperately wanted to suppress. As they fought Dahak, Ares would nurture and caress that darkness until it consumed her again, making her his and this time forever. Ares smiled at the thought.

**********

Discord brushed her wild raven tresses out of her face as her breathing steadily returned to normal. She felt her partner roll off of her petite frame and lie on the mattress beside her. She immediately laid her body on top of his.

"You were named wrong." Discord’s face was aglow from passion. "You should be called the one great lover instead of the one great evil."

"I'm glad to know all my years of imprisonment did not hamper my ability to satisfy the fairer sex," Dahak said in a deep voice.

Discord had met with Dahak several times since their initial meeting in Hera's gardens in Argos when she only knew him as the handsome stranger. After that first meeting, discovering the identity of the stranger from the gardens consumed her thoughts. The stranger was clearly a god, who she had never seen before and he vanished in a puff of flame. Discord was one of the very few on Olympus who trusted Ares' feelings concerning Dahak's arrival. When the stranger appeared to her a second time in Hera's gardens in Argos, she was quite sure he was the One Great Evil, Dahak.

The discovery had her somewhat frightened at first, but intrigue set in soon after. The One Great Evil turned out to be not at all what she expected. His physical appearance was mesmerizing, his voice hypnotic and he had a sexual prowess like none she had ever experienced before. But Dahak wanted more than sex from her. He wanted Discord to be his ally in his inevitable fight against the gods of Olympus.

The thought of allying herself with Dahak against gods with whom she shared blood had been a bit unnerving to Discord. But her argument with Ares had still been fresh in her mind and had made her more receptive to a possible alliance. Dahak had reminded her how she had always been there for Ares, ready to lend a hand in his countless schemes and look how shabbily he treated her. Xena had turned her back on Ares and now fought against him, yet she still consumed all of his thoughts. Ares was never going to give up on trying to get Xena back. She was an obsession. And if Ares ever made his plans for the world reality, he would want the warrior woman with him not her. Discord couldn't deny the truth in Dahak's words.

It was time for Discord to get the attention, respect and power she truly deserved and with Dahak, she would get just that. He was much older than Ares, the other Olympians or the Titans for that matter, which gave him a vaster knowledge of this world and the universe in general. He was wiser, more cunning, and more ruthless. A being far greater than Ares had once tried to destroy him but failed. Dahak wanted someone like Discord by his side when his dark kingdom encompassed the whole world. He would make her his queen. When Discord had heard that, she eagerly became his ally.

She now kept him informed of all the happenings on Olympus. Dahak knew all about Ares being the only god certain of his arrival and the other gods of Olympus doubting his threat to their power. It had been Discord who warned him about the suspicions of the gods concerning the activities on Kos, which allowed him to take his operations, underground and dissuade their curiosity. At this meeting, Discord informed Dahak on what she uncovered during her visit to Ares' temple in Thebes. Dahak now knew about Ares' suspicions regarding him being Metatron, the power within the Holy Saber, and the sword being his only means of destruction. He was very pleased with the information Discord brought him from Ares' temple.

"So, Ares actually believes the Holy Saber can kill me?" Dahak ran his hands through Discord's black hair as she lay atop him resting her head on his bare chest.

"Yup…he is convinced you are this Metatron, the Chief Guardian who led some rebellion eons ago." She glided a long red fingernail down his chest. "So is he right? Are you this Metatron?" There was momentary silence, which seemed an eternity as Discord waited for his answer. "Well?"

"It's been many centuries since I've heard that name but I was once known as Metatron," he finally confessed.

"This is so exciting!" Discord moved into a straddling position atop him and held his strong hands with her fingers between his. "I was just telling Ares earlier how fun it would be to meet a Watcher and here I am with the head honcho." The enthused look on her porcelain face was immediately replaced with a look of worry. She released his hands from her grasp. "Since you are Metatron, is Ares right about this saber? Can it kill you?"

"There is no need to worry," Dahak assured as he caressed her right cheek with the fingers of a hand. "Despite all his numerous faults, the Creator did make me to live forever. Nothing can kill me, so Ares is in for a big surprise."

After hearing his words, Discord had a relieved smile on her face.

"But it is true about my powers as Chief Guardian being stored in the Holy Saber."

"So, are you going to find it before Ares does?" Discord asked.

"No, I am going to let Ares find the sword."

His response left a puzzled look on Discord's face.

"The words etched in the sword's hilt which release the power within it are in Celestic, a language I know Ares can't speak. By the time he finds all the sword pieces, the part of the world under the jurisdiction of Olympus will be under my control. His powers will be greatly diminished by then and I will just take the sword from him and get back the power which rightfully belongs to me."

"Ooh, you are so bad," she cooed with a wicked grin.

"That's why you like me so much," he replied with a devilish smile as he grasped Discord's arms, pulled her to him, and hungrily claimed her mouth.

When Discord initially informed Dahak of what she uncovered during her visit to Ares' temple, she left out the part about discovering Xena was his daughter or the alliance between Ares and Xena to fight against him. When they broke their kiss, she decided to bridge that subject.

"Ares does have one ally in his fight against you," she stated.

"And who might that be?"

"Xena." Discord stared at him, studying his face as he absorbed this news.

"That doesn't surprise me," Dahak stated casually. "They share a long history and a hatred of me so it is perfectly logical they would team up against me."

Dahak's response to this news had Discord puzzled. "This doesn't bother you in the least little bit?" She gazed intently at the carefree expression on his face in response to her question. She could no longer hold back what she knew about his connection to Xena and just blurted out. "I know Xena is your daughter. I want to know why you didn't tell me when I decided to join you?"

Dahak let out a sigh. "I knew how you felt about Xena and planned on telling you when you no longer viewed her as a threat." He took hold of her hands. "As my daughter, Xena has a secure position in my kingdom but you must also remember your position is secure too, sharing my bed and ruling beside me as queen." Dahak brought one of Discord's hands to his lips and gently kissed the back. His answer satisfied her and she now had a smile on her face.

"Right now, Xena is battling the darkness within and her insistence on fighting against me will only bring about her inevitable surrender to it." Dahak smiled with confidence. "And she has allied herself with someone who will steer her towards that darkness. Ares just may do me a service before he joins the other gods in death. That reminds me, I have a special project tailor made for you."

"I will do whatever you want as long as you keep me satisfied," she said in a soft sensual tone and a lust-filled look in her eyes.

"That can be arranged." Dahak pulled Discord to him and hungrily claimed her mouth. As they continued to kiss, he rolled them over until she was beneath him as he prepared to take her again.

CHAPTER 19

They were finally on the main road, which would take them to Persepolis, the capital of Persia. Xena and Joxer were on foot. Both held the reins of their horses that followed behind them. Persepolis, being Persia's capital, was always busy with activity so Xena and Joxer were joined on the road by several travelers headed towards the bustling city as well.

"In just a few more hours, we will actually be in Persepolis," Joxer said with wide-eyed excitement as they walked along the dirt road. "I've only heard about the city...magic lamps, genies, flying carpets, evil wizards."

"You've got your cities mixed up," Xena said with a chuckle as she walked beside him. "You are thinking of Baghdad but Persepolis does have some interesting spots although not like the stuff you've just mentioned."

"Oh." Joxer wanted to clear up that snafu and quickly moved to another subject. "So, tell me about this friend of yours...Cyrus, how did you two meet?"

"In a lot of ways, Cyrus is much like Gabrielle." Xena had a reminiscent look in her eyes. "We became friends when I needed one the most. And our paths would have never crossed if not for a young girl named Vashti."

Xena was pregnant with Solan at the time. Borias bought Vashti from a slave trader in a village they were camped nearby. The girl was about ten, caramel complexion, big brown almond shaped eyes and shiny black hair which hung to her waist. She would grow up to be a true beauty from the Far East. Borias did not like the way prospective buyers were ogling the young girl and bought the child to save her from a fate of violation. Xena was very angry at first and wondered what they would do with a young girl in a camp full of warriors. Borias figured she could help Medea, the woman who cooked for the army. When Borias and Xena had a major disagreement and he moved his army to a separate camp, Vashti stayed behind with Xena. She had slowly warmed up to the girl and they ended up spending a lot of time together since she turned over several of her duties commanding the army to her lieutenant, Dagnine, with the birth of her baby approaching.

Vashti had lived with her mother in a village called Ninevah. When slave traders raided Ninevah her mother was killed, she was captured and sold as a slave. The only relative her mother ever mentioned was an uncle named Cyrus who lived in Persia's capital, Persepolis.

With the end to the brutal war with the Centaurs, Borias' untimely death, and the decision to give up her newborn son, Xena had no direction for her life. She still had Vashti with her and the child desperately wanted to meet the uncle her mother told her lived in Persepolis so Xena decided to take her there. When Xena and Vashti reached Persepolis, she was surprised to discover the girl's uncle was a very wealthy and influential member of the community. He was a man of many talents, ranging from the arts, science and medicine to archery and swords. He was known as a great humanitarian, providing for the sick and poor. He had no true family so he took in orphans and became their uncle. Vashti's mother had been one of the orphans Cyrus had welcomed into his home. His kindness and wisdom were known throughout the land. It was rumored that even Ahura Mazda, King of the Persian gods, sought his counsel and the gods so favored him that long ago, he was given the gift of immortality.

Xena was taken with him the moment they met. He was like a father to her. Cyrus tried to give her proper direction in her life but at that time, she was still young and too headstrong to listen to him. But Cyrus knew Xena was destined for great things and despite her protests would one day change her life for the better. To express gratitude for safely bringing his niece to him, Cyrus gave Xena the chakram. He had this particular chakram designed especially for her. It even had an eastern design etched into the metal, which she admired and had described to him during one of their many talks. Cyrus had seen the weapon used during his stay in India. The weapon was rumored to have mystical powers, which intrigued Xena. She cherished his gift and made the chakram her signature weapon.

By the time Xena finished her tale of how she met Cyrus, they were at the gates of Persepolis. Since the city was the capital of Persia, massive halls of government dotted the city's skyline. The buildings were made of white stone, which glistened in the sun. The city was also a gateway to the Far East and important for traders. Most of the exotic items of the East made their way to western lands through Persepolis. Cyrus had acquired a lot of his wealth through trade and lived in a palatial estate just outside of the city. It was midday when they reached the gates of the estate. There wasn't a soul in sight so they made their way to the stables where they found a man grooming a horse.

"My name is Xena, and this is Joxer," she said to the man who had stopped grooming the horse when they entered the stables. "Cyrus is an old friend of mine. We have come a long way to see him, is he home?"

The man eyed them curiously. The woman before him was dressed like a warrior and looked intimidating. Her male traveling companion carried only a staff and looked ordinary. The woman had said she was an old friend of Cyrus' and he knew his lord was famous for helping all types, so he figured she was okay.

"My name is Braxton," he said with a smile. "Lord Cyrus had business in the city and won't be back until later. But you are more than welcome to wait for him up at the palace. I can take you there."

Xena remembered Cyrus always seemed to hire the friendliest people. Argo and Otis were left in the stables, Braxton would tend to the horses for them.

Cyrus' palace sat on a hill in the middle of the estate. It was white stone just like the buildings in Persepolis and glistened in the sunlight. When they were finally inside the palace, its interior was just as impressive. The floors were covered with oriental rugs. Some of the walls were decorated with colorful murals. The tables and chairs were of the finest wood. All types of plants were dispersed throughout the many rooms. On some of the tables sat priceless artifacts from around the world, which Cyrus had acquired during his immortal existence.

"This is really some place." Joxer’s eyes roamed the rooms taking in the entire splendor before him.

"Yes, it is very nice," Braxton said while leading them through the palace. "But Lord Cyrus resides mostly in India now and has converted part of this estate into an orphanage."

"Wow, this is the fanciest orphanage I have ever seen," Joxer declared.

Xena and Joxer followed Braxton up large marble steps, which took them to the second floor of the palace. Each was taken to a bedchamber where they could freshen up from their long journey while they awaited Cyrus' return. After Xena was shown to her room, another servant entered carrying a tray with various fruits, some cheese and a jug of wine, which she helped herself to while waiting. Xena stood gazing out of the room's large window munching on an apple. Being back in Persepolis, at Cyrus' palace, brought back so many memories, most were happy ones but a few were sad. Xena's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She gave the knocker permission to enter.

"I see your room is just as fancy as mine." Joxer entered the room and let his eyes wander over its contents. A large Oriental rug covered the stone floor. There were beautifully carved wooden tables and chairs. The smell of fresh cut flowers in vases scented the air. The bed was covered in gold silk sheets with plush pillows to match.

"Braxton has some errands to run in Persepolis so I'm going with him," Joxer said. "I just came by to see if you want to come with us."

"Thanks but I’ll have to pass on that. I want to be here when Cyrus returns. But you can go with Braxton and check out some of the life in Persepolis which I know you are dying to do."

"Well then, I guess I'll see you later." Joxer helped himself to a few grapes in a bowl on the table, then left to join Braxton.

After Joxer left, Xena decided a bath was in order after the long dusty trip over dirt roads and went to the estate's large bathhouse. It was still just like she remembered, a beautifully designed white marble structure, the inner walls decorated with mosaics. All kinds of treatments to pamper the body were available, water baths, mud baths, massages, hot oil treatments, aromatherapy and steam room. Xena just wanted a plain ol' bath and headed for the house's sunken stone tubs. When she reached the stone tubs, a woman with red hair piled high on her head, wearing a flowered dress, which accented her tan skin, approached Xena with a warm smile on her face.

"Hello, I'm Salome," the woman said. "You must be Xena. I was told lord Cyrus had recent houseguests and to provide you with whatever you need. Most enjoy some pampering after their long journeys."

"I had almost forgotten the efficiency of Cyrus' staff," Xena said. "I'm not into the pampering routine though and only came for a relaxing bath."

"Well then, I'll let you get to it," Salome said with a smile. "If you need anything, I'm always in the bath house." She left Xena to her bath.

She removed her clothes and sunk into the warm water of one of the stone tubs. A small woman with dark hair pulled back in a long pony tail wearing a blue wrap came over carrying a tray loaded with soaps, oils and loofa sponges which she set down next to the stone tub then left. Xena helped herself to the tray's contents. She lathered her body and hair with the soap.

"I can scrub your back for you," the small woman said when she returned to the tub.

Xena came over to the side of the stone tub where the woman kneeled and turned her back to the woman. The woman took an extra loofa sponge from the tray she brought earlier, wet it in the warm water, covered it with soap then applied it to Xena's back.

"I feel a lot of tension," the woman stated as she moved the soapy sponge over Xena's back. "You really should visit the masseuse once your bath is over."

"I only came for a bath. Besides, in my line of work, you learn to live with the tension."

"The masseuse is new to the palace and really has gifted hands. I know she could relieve this tension in your back," the woman insisted. "Once you've had your massage, your clothes should be back from laundry by then."

Xena quickly looked around the tub and realized her clothes were gone. She shook her head and chuckled. Cyrus always did have the best staff around.

"The servants from laundry took your undergarments to wash and your leather to polish," the woman said.

"Since I have to wait for my clothes, I guess I will try out this masseuse."

When her bath was done, the woman handed her a robe and led her to the masseuse. The masseuse was a tall woman with fair skin and platinum blonde hair. Her name was Inga. Her parents had been good friends of Cyrus' whom he had met during his travels through Scandinavia. She was still a child when they died so Cyrus welcomed her into his home. The diversity of the people Cyrus had working for him had always fascinated Xena. Because of his immortality and wide travels, he probably had every race of people on the earth in his employment at one time or another. And they all got along like one happy family. Maybe, someday the world could copy what Cyrus had done on his estate in Persia.

The woman from the baths had certainly been right about the masseuse. The woman's strong yet gentle hands had removed all the kinks and knots from her long journey to Persia. The woman had also rubbed scented oils over her body to protect it from Persia's hot dry climate. Xena was dressed in her leathers again and headed back to the palace when she heard a woman's excited voice call out to her.

"Xena! Is it really you?"

Xena stopped and turned to see who was calling her. A middle-aged woman of average height with snowy white hair, smooth light brown skin and a huge smile on her face was steadily approaching her.

"For a minute there, I thought I had spent too much time in this hot sun and was seeing things," the woman said as she embraced Xena in a big hug.

"You are the first familiar face I have seen since I got here." Xena hugged the woman back. "It feels so good to see you again Bithia." The last time Xena had seen Bithia was six years ago. The woman was in charge of the entire staff at Cyrus' palace.

"So, what brings you back to Persia?" Bithia asked as they started to walk towards the palace.

"I need some help only Cyrus can provide."

"Well, helping people is what Cyrus loves to do most so you came to the right place," Bithia said.

They had reached a doorway leading into the palace when a nervous little man with a huge moustache approached them in a hurry. "Thank the gods I found you Bithia," he said trying to catch his breath. "There is a disagreement in the kitchen between the cook and the baker which I tried to settle with no success. You must speak to both at once."

"I can see you are still greatly needed around this place," Xena said with a sly smile.

You got that right," Bithia sighed. "Go tell the cook and the baker to hold their horses, I'll be there in a minute," she said to the nervous man before her. The little man quickly hurried back to the kitchen. "Will you be staying long?" she asked Xena when they were alone again.

"I will only be staying a couple days at the most."

"If I don't get the chance to see you again before you leave, this really was a welcomed surprise." Bithia embraced Xena in a tight hug again.

When the older woman broke the hug she stared into Xena's eyes. "I know Cyrus and Vashti will be so happy to see you again. He spends most of his time at his residence in India now. You are fortunate your visit coincided with his return to Persia." Bithia placed a hand on one of Xena's cheeks. "I would say the Fates had a hand in this reunion taking place and its long overdue." Bithia stared into Xena's eyes a moment more before heading inside the palace to handle the disturbance in the kitchen.

Xena wondered about Bithia's last statement before she went inside the palace herself. She decided to see what changes Cyrus had made to the estate since her last visit. She had checked out several of the main rooms on the ground floor and was in a large hall admiring an impressive collection of swords when Cyrus entered the room. He was of average height, slender build and had a ruddy complexion. Being immortal, he didn't age and always looked to be in his early forties. He had long curly blonde hair, which hung down his back. He had sparkling hazel eyes, a short nose with a neatly trimmed blonde moustache beneath, and a rosy bow shaped mouth. He wore a white tunic, black pants and a long purple paisley robe. When he saw Xena standing in the room his eyes sparkled all the more and a big smile was on his face.

"By the gods, Xena, it's so good to see you after all these years!" he said while embracing her in a big hug.

"It's good to see you again too Cyrus," Xena said with a huge smile as she returned his hug.

"I hope you haven't been waiting for me long," Cyrus said after they broke the hug. "Your journey to Persia was perfectly timed. Since your last visit, I have permanently moved into my residence in India and only returned to Persia to settle some business regarding the orphanage."

"I arrived around midday with a friend who ventured into Persepolis with a servant so I'll have to introduce you two later," Xena said. "Your ever efficient staff took care of me at the bath house. Then I ran into Bithia who also mentioned the perfect timing of my visit. It really was good to see her again. She hasn't changed a bit."

"Bithia is a gem. I don't know how this place would survive without her." Cyrus took hold of Xena's hands and stared into her eyes. "I have been following your life since the last time we saw each other. I know you are no longer a warlord and now champion just causes. I am so proud of you Xena!" A pleased smile was plastered across his face.

"That's good to hear," she said. "You always did believe I would eventually change my life when I didn't think it was ever possible. You have helped me in the past and now that we are fighting on the same side, I could use your help again."

Cyrus could see by the look on her face that the reason for her journey was serious so he suggested they talk in his study. The study was a large room with comfortable chairs, marble tables covered with ancient artifacts and shelves littered with scrolls. A large window overlooking a garden provided the rays of the sun which brighten the room. As they sat in chairs facing each other Xena told Cyrus the reason for her return to Persia.

"Dahak has returned," she said.

Cyrus' face became pale as the ruddy color drained from it. "This is not good," he said softly. Cyrus was living in Persia during the time of the great war between Dahak and Ahura Mazda, so he was quite familiar with Dahak's evil and destruction.

"He is gathering followers under a false identity with false promises of a better life. These people have no idea of the destruction he will bring to them. I know first hand what he's capable of doing." Xena informed Cyrus of her history with Dahak and his cult, how he used Gabrielle to bring Hope into the world, how the evil child went on to kill Solan and how Gabrielle gave her life to stop Dahak.

"I am so sorry," Cyrus said softly after he heard the tragic results of her confrontations with Dahak. "A lesser person would have surely crumbled under such losses."

"I almost did. And sometimes, I'm not sure I still won't crumble," she confessed. "Dahak didn't just want the people I love out of the way to weaken my resolve to stop him. He wanted the good influences in my life gone so I would be forced to embrace my dark life again. He wants me to join him because he's...my father."

"Your father!" Cyrus was truly stunned. "I always suspected there might be some godly blood in your family's history," he admitted. "I just never assumed one of your parents was a god and I would have never guessed Dahak." Cyrus could see Xena was not yet comfortable with her father's true identity and decided to switch the topic back to Dahak's threat to the world.

"Since Dahak's cult is beginning to flourish, why aren't the Olympian gods trying to stop him?"

"The Olympians doubt Dahak could ever be powerful enough to free himself so they don't believe he has returned," she replied. "They know of the activities of this new cult and even investigated it. But Dahak is keeping a low profile behind this false identity so the Olympians think it's just another phony cult and don't see it as a threat."

"Those fools!" Cyrus shook his head. "Their complacency will be their doom."

"The only Olympian god who is taking Dahak's threat seriously is Ares. He's the one who told me about Dahak's return and now I'm working with him to stop Dahak."

Cyrus had a look of apprehension on his face after hearing whom Xena had allied herself with in the fight against Dahak. He was quite familiar with her tumultuous past with the God of War.

"I know what you are thinking Cyrus and there is no need to worry. I have no intention of going down the road I once traveled with Ares again. This alliance will dissolve once Dahak is dead. The only reason I even agreed to the alliance is because Ares has in his possession scrolls, which can tell us how to stop Dahak once and for all. That's why I came to see you."

Since Cyrus was a former Watcher, he had lived through the events recorded in the Titan Scrolls and knew its contents quite well. But he had never had the opportunity to meet Metatron so he had no knowledge of what had become of him. Xena revealed to Cyrus the belief she now shared with Ares regarding Dahak being Metatron and how he had already freed some of the fallen Watchers by using the converts of his false cult as hosts and his plans to free the rest.

"We must stop Dahak before he has a chance to free any more fallen Watchers," Cyrus firmly stated. "You can't begin to imagine the chaos that will befall the earth if those demons are free again."

"That's why my journey to Persia was so important. You play a crucial part in is us stopping Dahak permanently."

Xena informed Cyrus of Ares uncovering the Watchers' Chronicles, which told the resting-places of the Holy Saber pieces and its power to destroy Dahak.

"The locations for the sword pieces are written in Celestic and we need you to translate the writings so we can find the resting places."

"For all the centuries I have lived on the earth, I have tried to restore some modicum of peace and tranquillity, which was destroyed by the evil of my kind." Cyrus had a faraway look in his hazel eyes. "And now that this great evil threatens the world again, nothing could keep me out of the fight."

"I knew I could count on you," Xena said with a big smile. "Dahak would have been history by now if I hadn't been so hasty in having the Hind's blood dagger destroyed." The earlier smile was replaced by a look of regret.

"You are mistaken if you think Hind's blood can kill Dahak. Hind's blood can't kill any Watcher. It can only kill gods, the descendants of the fallen Watchers."

By the look on her face, Cyrus could tell Xena was surprised and quite intrigued by this news so he revealed to her the origin of the Golden Hind.

According to Cyrus, when the Creator turned his attention to the earth again and learned of the Watchers producing with human females, he was greatly disturbed. He knew the super-beings such unions would create and the corruption they would bring to all the earth's inhabitants. The Creator wanted the offspring of these unsanctioned unions to reproduce with their full human brothers. But the descendants of the Fallen wanted to maintain the power the Watcher blood carried so inbreeding began. This enraged the Creator who wanted all traces of Watcher blood removed from his creation. He released his anger in the creation of the Golden Hind. The blood of these creatures would be deadly poison to all on the earth with godly blood, generations of inbreeding running through their veins. The Hind's blood would also become poison to any mortal who became a god.

"Let me guess, it was Ares who told you Hind's blood could kill Dahak?" Cyrus asked after finishing the tale of the Golden Hind's origin.

"Yes," Xena softly replied. "But Dahak led me to believe it could kill him also and me too for that matter."

"Hind's blood won't kill Dahak since he was a Watcher and doesn't have generations of inbred blood running through his veins," Cyrus said. "Since you are his daughter, it would have no effect on you either. The only sure way to kill Dahak is using the Holy Saber."

"Dahak's motive for the lie about the Hind's blood was to deceive me so I would join him. Ares may have truly believed Hind's blood would kill Dahak or he may have only wanted the dagger to use against the other gods."

"Since we are going to be working with Ares, we must be prepared for any tricks he might pull," Cyrus said.

"I already have my guard up and pretty much expect to have to squelch his latest scheme for world domination while fighting Dahak," she said.

"At least now you won't have to handle both tasks by yourself. I will be there to help."

"Ares will love that, I'm sure," Xena said with a chuckle. "He was actually the one to bring up your name as a translator for the scrolls. Asking for help from you could not have been easy for him considering how much he dislikes you."

"And now we will be fighting on the same side which must be a very scary thought for him," Cyrus jested. "You know, I just may have in my possession some scrolls which could help our side. My scroll collection has piled up over the centuries so I will get some of the servants to remove them from the cellar." Cyrus got up from his chair and headed for the study's door.

"Uh Cyrus, how are Lycus and Lysia?" Xena asked with hesitation before he exited the study.

"I was wondering when you would ask about them." Cyrus stood in the doorway and proceeded to walk over to the study's large window. "Come see for yourself." There was a large smile painted on his face.

Xena had a puzzled look on her face when she joined Cyrus standing by the window. Beyond the garden was a grassy field surrounding a large pond. Several of the children who lived in the estate's orphanage were playing on the field while some were swimming in the pond. A few adults stood watch over them. The chatter of their play was somewhat muffled by the distance.

Cyrus retrieved an old telescope from a nearby table, then used it to scan the many children until he found the ones for which he was looking. "Here, use this, it will give you a better view." Cyrus handed the old telescope to Xena. "Focus on the children standing near the edge of the pond, the two by the large dog."

Xena did as Cyrus suggested and used the telescope to get a clear view of the children by the pond's edge. They were young in age, probably five or six. Both had dark hair and olive complexions. Xena adjusted the telescope to get a better view. The children were obviously enjoying themselves because they were laughing while the large dog with them friskily jumped about. One child was a boy with short curly black hair. The features of his face were familiar, particularly the dimples in his cheeks when he laughed. His eyes were crystal blue in color. The other child was a girl with long curly black hair. Her face reminded Xena a lot of her own at that age. Her eyes were a familiar deep brown.

"Now I know what Bithia meant when she said fate arranged a reunion. This is truly a surprise. I never in my wildest dreams expected to see them on this visit." Xena had a smile etched on her face as she watched the children at play through the telescope. But that smile was quickly replaced with a serious look. She lowered the telescope and stared at Cyrus. "It was a mistake to bring the children back to Persia."

"It's all right Xena. I am well respected in Persia by the gods and mortals. Not even Ahura Mazda would question my word. Everyone knows I take in orphans so no one suspects a thing." Cyrus took hold of her arms and stared into her eyes. "I promised the children they could come on my next business trip. My next trip was Persia, so they came with me. And since you are here, Bithia is right, a reunion of sorts is in order."

Cyrus gave Xena a quick hug, then left to find his scrolls in the cellar. Xena remained at the window and used the telescope to watch the children at play, as her mind drifted back to the actions she took to protect them.

CHAPTER 20

It was six years ago, and Xena was at the height of her days as a warlord. She left a trail of death and destruction in her wake, which caused people to tremble at the sound of her name. Ares, the God of War, had been her mentor for four years now. He was not only guiding her down the path of her dark destiny but in the last six months had become her lover as well. Ares told Xena she was his Chosen, the warrior who would conquer the world and shape it in his image. She believed him, until she discovered he was giving counsel to the one person she hated most, Julius Caesar.

In her youth, Xena had trusted Caesar who betrayed her and sentenced her to death by crucifixion. Xena demanded to know why Ares was communicating with Caesar. According to Ares, Caesar was an exceptional general who could further his plans. To the Romans, Ares was known as Mars and one of their popular gods. As Caesar conquered lands, he spread the Roman religion, increasing the worship of Mars, which increased Ares' power on Olympus. Ares assured Xena that his giving counsel to Caesar would not change her part in his plans. But Xena gave him an ultimatum, if he didn't drop Caesar, she would walk. Ares thought she was being unreasonable. This was too important and he would continue to counsel Caesar. Xena made good on her ultimatum and left. She wanted to remove herself from Ares' influence so she went to Persia, which had their own pantheon of gods and where Ares had no power.

While in Persia, Xena stayed with her old friend Cyrus and contemplated the direction her life should take. Xena decided she no longer needed Ares' guidance. She did just fine before him and would do even better without him. She made plans to return to Greece and raise a new army. But before those plans were completed, Xena had to finally accept what the symptoms, which had begun plaguing her body soon after her arrival in Persia, indicated. She was pregnant.

Discovering she was carrying Ares' child did not deter Xena's plans to return to her warlord life and show Ares she didn't need him. Cyrus thought she should forget about being a warlord and focus on the child growing inside her. Xena thought differently and only agreed to Cyrus' request to postpone her return to Greece until after the child's birth.

As the pregnancy progressed, Xena noticed she was getting somewhat bigger than she did with Solan and the movements felt like two babies! Knowing she carried twins within her did not please Xena. Cyrus thought with two babies on the way she should really start to think about their welfare. He knew about Solan and how she gave him to the Centaur Kaleipus to raise so her enemies could never learn of his existence and he could choose a different path in life. Cyrus reminded Xena who the father of her unborn children was, Ares, the God of War. If he found out about the children, he would plan lives of bloodshed, destruction and death for both. Xena could not allow the father to ruin the lives of two innocent children. He would help her go far away, where Ares could never find her and where she and her children could have a new life. But Xena wasn't changing her plans and would return to her life as a warlord after the birth. She did agree that Ares could not find out about the children. That's why she had made the decision to leave them with Cyrus. Xena trusted him more than anyone and since he was a former Watcher he would know how to care for half-god children. Cyrus was touched that Xena thought so highly of him. He also thought she was being too hasty and should do some serious thinking before making a final decision.

In the first few months of her pregnancy, Xena was able to do her daily sword drills to keep herself in shape for when she commanded an army again. But as the pregnancy progressed, and the babies within her grew larger, she found this difficult to do and eventually abandoned her sword drills altogether for less strenuous exercises. When Xena was pregnant with Solan, she still had an army to command and battles to plan. This time she had no such duties and decided to do what Cyrus had earlier suggested, focus on the new lives growing within her. She wondered in their movements. Cyrus told her unborn babies could hear sounds in the outside world. Xena would sing lullabies, which would put them to sleep, and came in handy when their active movements prevented her from resting. As Xena bonded with the lives within her, she no longer viewed them as stumbling blocks hindering her return to commanding an army. She grew to love her unborn children and now questioned whether leaving them with Cyrus was her only option. Maybe he was right, and it wasn't too late for her to start a new life somewhere far away with her children.

As the day of the birth quickly approached, Xena leaned more and more in the direction of keeping her babies. But that quickly changed, when Ares showed up at Cyrus' palace demanding to see her. Cyrus refused his request and reminded Ares that he was in Persia, which worshipped a different pantheon of gods. He had no power or authority there and was ordered to leave.

Xena was truly surprised after all these months that Ares would come for her now. She was sure he had forgotten about her and moved on with his plans for Caesar. Xena knew Cyrus sending Ares away wasn't the end of it and she was right. Ares went to Ahura Mazda, King of the Persian gods, and complained about Cyrus keeping him from his Chosen. Ahura Mazda investigated Ares' claim and found out about Xena and her delicate condition. Since Xena was staying in Persia, she was subject to their laws. Ahura Mazda reminded Cyrus of their laws, which stated children were the property of the father. Ahura Mazda agreed to Cyrus' request to remain silent about Xena's condition and let her stay at his palace since the birth was so close. But after the birth, Ahura Mazda would be bound by their laws to inform Ares of his children if they were not given to him.

Ares' sudden arrival had made it clear to Xena that she could not change her life but she was determined to make sure the lives of her unborn children were different. After everything Xena had told him about Ares and finally meeting him, Cyrus knew they had to protect the babies from their war god father. Cyrus still believed Xena could flee with the babies right after their birth to parts unknown before Ahura Mazda told Ares about them. But Ares' sudden arrival in Persia after all these months made her realize he would never let her go so easily. Fleeing was not the answer because once Ares found out about the babies, he would relentlessly pursue them, no matter where they went or the pantheon of gods in authority, which would mean a life on the run, something she didn't want for her children. Xena could only come up with one way to keep the babies safe and reluctantly, Cyrus agreed.

When the day of the birth finally arrived, Cyrus oversaw the delivery and Bithia, his closest confidant, assisted him. Vashti, now a teenager, was by Xena's side offering soothing words of encouragement. With each contraction, Xena pushed to bring the lives within her into the outside world. Soon, the first baby was born, took its first breaths and began to cry. With excitement in his voice, Cyrus announced the sex of the baby---it was a boy. Xena had little time to rejoice over the birth of her son because she was hit with another contraction, indicating the eagerness of the second baby to join its brother in the outside word. With each new contraction, Xena pushed until the second baby was born. Again, Cyrus announced with excitement the sex of the child---it was a girl. The pain of the delivery was quickly forgotten when Xena got to see her babies. They were still covered in the remnants of birth but were beautiful to her anyway. Bithia took both babies to clean them up while Xena still had the task of delivering the afterbirth, then to rest.

It was some hours later, after all three had recovered, that a proper introduction was made. Xena's face beamed with anticipation as she eagerly accepted the tiny bundles placed in her arms. Their skin was olive. Both had perfect tiny ears, nose and mouth. Their heads were covered with fine ink black hair. Both babies had long black lashes and two tiny lines for eyebrows. As Xena inspected their hands and feet, she was in awe of the perfection of the tiny fingers and toes. When the babies finally opened their eyes, they both stared directly into Xena's and she felt love, without conditions, without questions, without demands, without reasons. Xena named her daughter Lysia and her son Lycus. As she gazed at the perfect tiny faces of her beautiful children, Xena saw how small, how helpless they were and knew she had to protect them no matter what the cost or pain was to herself.

In the last few weeks before their birth, Xena had decided to keep her babies and start a new life but now that would not be with Ares' sudden arrival. If he were to discover the twins' existence, he would plan lives of darkness and bloodlust for both. Xena had willingly chosen that path and would never escape it. But she was determined to make sure these two new lives did not follow in hers or their father's footsteps. With tears in her eyes, she kissed them both goodbye and told them how much she loved them before Vashti whisked both babies away to Cyrus' residence he still kept in India, which was in the territory overseen by the Hindu pantheon of gods.

Cyrus reported to Ahura Mazda that the babies had died shortly after birth. Even children with some godly blood were not immune to being taken from this life as they slept. Ahura Mazda knew Cyrus to be a person of truth and honor but he still wanted to see Xena. She used her anguish over having to give up her babies in place of grief over their deaths. Ahura Mazda believed her grief was genuine and expressed his deepest sympathy. Cyrus convinced Ahura Mazda that telling Ares about the babies now might lead to an unnecessary incident with the Olympian pantheon and that was something he would not want since the two pantheons were already on shaky terms. Ahura Mazda agreed. Now that Xena would go back to Ares, it would be best for all concerned if they remained silent about the deaths of the children.

**********

Xena stood by the study's large window using the oldtelescope to view the two children who continued to play in the distance with the others, as her mind relived the last time she saw them six years ago. When she held both babies in her arms and kissed them goodbye, she truly believed she would never see them again. But that was no longer true. Her son and daughter were six years old now and she was going to meet them. Part of her was overjoyed while the other part was somewhat nervous. What would she say to them?

In the last six years, the children had always stayed in Xena's thoughts. She wondered how big they were getting. Who did they look like more, her or Ares? What were their talents? What were their likes and dislikes? Were they happy? On their birthdays she thought about them most of all, the plans she had made for them, sharing in their lives and how that would never be.

Xena thought about the talk she had with her mother before leaving for Persia. She so desperately wanted to tell her mother about the twins. But she knew the risk involved if too many people knew about their existence so she did not tell her mother about the grandchildren that she had given her. Xena had more in common with her mother than she ever thought. Both had been involved with dark gods and bore their children. And both had taken the necessary steps to protect their children from their fathers.

Xena put the old telescope back on the table from where Cyrus had retrieved it. She gazed at some of the artifacts in the study, which he had acquired during all the centuries of his immortal existence. Cyrus had traveled the world, knew many people and was respected by gods. Xena thought Gabrielle would have really liked him. The bard would have loved his vast array of stories spanning several centuries and lands. Xena's thoughts about Gabrielle were interrupted when Cyrus returned to the study followed by five large men, each carrying a large wooden chest which each deposited on the study's floor then left.

"I didn't realize the number of scrolls I had in my possession. What you see here is a small fraction of what's in the cellar but I believe we should only have to look through these five chests for scrolls which should be of use to us." Xena helped Cyrus set one of the wooden chests on a nearby table then they emptied it of its scroll contents.

"This is going to take awhile, so I'm getting more comfortable." Xena removed her armor and set it across one of the extra chairs at the table, then took a seat opposite Cyrus to help in ciphering through the scrolls. "While we search through the scrolls you can tell me all about Lycus and Lysia."

"Well, there's so much, but I guess I can summarize for you," Cyrus said with a huge smile on his face. "As I told you earlier, the twins are only here for a visit and still live at the residence I keep in India. They have plenty of friends among the children of the servants there. I'm usually there too if business doesn't take me away. Vashti is now their primary caregiver. She is also overseeing their education. Both are exceptionally bright."

"They are my children, of course they're exceptional," Xena boasted in jest.

Cyrus threw a piece of parchment in jest at her before he continued. "They share the typical bond between twins. Each can sense the feelings of the other."

"It's good to know they are so close. I was very close to my younger brother Lyceus. He meant everything to me when we were growing up."

"The difference in their personalities is starting to come to the forefront now. Lycus is all boy. He is very mischievous which gets him into trouble a lot. He clearly has his father's temper, which he openly displays when he can't have his own way. Some retired soldiers stayed for awhile at the residence in India so right now, Lycus is fascinated with warriors and warfare in general."

"This news would certainly make his father happy," Xena said in a not too pleased tone.

"Xena, he is a young child whose interests change from day to day. I am sure this is just a phase he will eventually outgrow."

"Well, I pray you are right," she said. "Now tell me about Lysia."

"Lysia is the complete opposite of Lycus in temperament. She has never shown the levels of anger as her brother. She has a deep curiosity for the world and loves helping me with my science experiments. She also likes to accompany me when I visit the local hospice in India and is becoming quite the little healer."

"Now that should be encouraged," Xena said. "It would be nice to have a physician in the family."

"Lysia does have to learn to stand up to Lycus and not let him involve her in his mischievous exploits."

"Maybe I can give her a few tips. Toris use to love bossing Lyceus and me around and I know just how to handle that type of sibling." Now that Xena knew she was half-god, she wondered about its effect on the twins. "What kind of godly abilities have the children shown?"

"They were only a few months old when they started displaying extraordinary abilities. So far, they have shown the ability to move objects and form fireballs. They have also displayed amazing strength and agility. The full extent of their abilities is uncertain. Their powers could be very close to the level of full gods considering they not only have godly blood from Ares but you as well," Cyrus said. "As a scientist, that really has been one of the most fascinating aspects of having them live with me. One of my duties as a Watcher was to record the evolution of the life-forms on the earth. Human and Watcher unions added a new twist to my studies. As you know, the gods derive most of their power from their pantheons. When they leave the territory over which they have authority, their powers are greatly reduced which is what happened to Ares when he came here looking for you. It's probably some quirk the Creator threw in along with the Golden Hind." There was a sly smile on Cyrus' face with his last statement. "Dahak is a former Watcher so his powers aren't tied to a pantheon. Because his blood is running through their veins, this would explain why the twins don't appear to have their powers tied to a particular pantheon region either."

"If the children could be as powerful as full gods, I know I made the right choice keeping their existence from Ares. There's no telling what he would have used them for if he knew the extent of their powers. All things considered, it sounds like the children are happy, secure and living the normal lives I wanted for them."

"Their lives are as normal as they can be but the children do realize they are quite different from their playmates," Cyrus said. "I have tried to stress to both children to use their powers responsibly and not view them as a toy. They are only allowed to use their powers in my presence or Vashti's."

"Have they asked any questions about their parents?"

"They are just starting to ask questions regarding that subject. I did as you instructed and told them their parents were killed shortly after their birth then they came to live with me."

"It's for the best," Xena said softly.

**********

Cyrus and Xena had been rummaging through the collection of old scrolls for sometime now. The sun had gone down and the study was now aglow with the many candles placed about the large room. A male servant entered the study carrying a large tray containing an assortment of meats, breads, cheeses, assorted roast vegetables on sticks and a jug of the best wine from Cyrus' cellar and set it on a table in the study.

"I didn't realize how late it was." Cyrus now stood by the tray and helped himself to a stick of roasted vegetables. "I don't need this stuff for nourishment but I do enjoy the taste. I know you must be starving Xena, get over here and get some of this." Xena came over to the large tray and helped herself to the assortment of food.

"Is there something else Jasper?" Cyrus asked the male servant who still stood in the study.

"Well...Selene, who is filling in for Vashti, wanted me to speak to you about Lycus," Jasper said.

"What's wrong now?" Cyrus wearily asked.

"It is time for him to go to bed but he doesn't want Selene to blow out the candles in his room. She agreed to leave one lit but he wants them all. He insists Vashti would let him have this."

Cyrus had a concerned look on his face. "Tell Selene to let him have the lit candles like he wants." Jasper bowed, then left the study. "Thank goodness Vashti will be returning tomorrow," Cyrus said when they were alone again.

"What was that all about?" Xena asked.

"Recently, Lycus prefers to sleep in a brightly lit room," Cyrus replied in a concerned tone.

"Why do I get the feeling this is more than a child fearing the dark?" Xena asked.

"When the room is dark, Lycus is tormented by a horrible nightmare," Cyrus said. "It started a few weeks ago, he would wake up screaming that a monster was coming for him. I tried to get him to see it was only a dream and not real but he insists it is and believes the monster will stay away when the room is bright. I did manage to get a description of the monster from him. He says it looks like a man but really isn't. It's tall, no hair, with scaly brownish green skin, and..."

"Yellow glowing eyes," Xena finished.

"That's right," Cyrus said with surprise. "How did you know?"

"I had somewhat of a dream and saw the same creature. The dream was induced by Dahak and he appeared in that form right before I awoke."

"Dahak!" The tone of concern deepened in Cyrus’ voice. "You think he is behind Lycus' nightmares? But we have been so careful. How could he have found out about Lycus? What could he possibly want with the child?"

"Dahak knew about Solan so I am not surprised he has discovered the twins," Xena replied. "He may want to use Lycus to get to me or he might have some other devious plan."

"If Dahak is trying to reach Lycus, we will have to keep a watchful eye on him from now on," Cyrus said. "The brightly lit candles have kept the nightmare from disturbing his sleep as of late but we will have to come up with a permanent solution to the threat."

"I say we get back to your scroll collection and see what it can provide for reaching that permanent solution," Xena suggested.

**********

The candles in the study were melted down to half their size. Half of the assortment of food on the tray Jasper had earlier brought was eaten and the jug of wine was almost empty. Xena and Cyrus were seated at the large table again, ciphering through the scrolls of the last chest. They had an impressive pile of scrolls on the table from the other four chests, which would be useful in the search for the Holy Saber. Xena had unrolled a scroll from the fifth chest and was gazing at its contents. On the scroll, was a drawing of the Holy Saber similar to the one in Ares' possession only larger and with more detail. She stared at the four-pointed star in the sword's blade as she tried to recall where she had seen it.

"Hey Cyrus, look at this," she said when she finally remembered where she had seen the four pointed star. Xena handed the scroll to Cyrus who sat across from her at the table. "Look at the four pointed star etched in the sword's blade. It first caught my eye when Ares showed me the drawing of the sword he had in his possession. I knew I had seen it before but couldn't remember where until I saw your larger drawing of the saber."

Cyrus stared intently at the four pointed star etched in the sword's blade for a few minutes. "I see what you mean. It looks just like the birthmark on Lysia's right arm."

"That's my thought exactly."

The memory was so clear to her now. It was some hours after the twins were born, when Xena got to spend some time with the babies. Cyrus had a wet nurse but Xena wanted to nurse them herself just this one time. She would worry about binding her breasts to dry up the milk later. While Lysia suckled at a breast, she noticed a mark in the shape of a four-pointed star on the baby's upper right arm. She had seen it before and thought it was a temporary skin discoloration but after careful inspection of its perfect shape had concluded it was a birthmark. She now wondered if the mark had some deeper meaning. Xena and Cyrus were both in deep thought as they gazed at the drawing of the Holy Saber on the table between them.

"Lysia will have to come with us to Greece," Cyrus determined.

"That's out of the question," Xena firmly said.

"Lysia is Dahak's granddaughter and the star on her arm matches the one on his former sword," Cyrus said. "You know as well as I do we are dealing with more than just a coincidence. Somehow she is connected to this sword and may help us locate the pieces."

"The scrolls in Ares' possession and the ones we found in your collection contain all we need to find the sword so we don't need Lysia," Xena firmly said.

"You don't know that for sure Xena. And are you willing to take the risk considering what awaits the world if we miss the opportunity to find that sword?"

Xena let out a weary sigh. She closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly as she massaged her temples while her arms rested on the table.

"I know you are not going to want to hear this, but after what you told me about your dream concerning Dahak and his resemblance to the creature in Lycus' dreams, I think for his protection, he should accompany us to Greece as well."

"You're right, I don't want to hear this." Xena continued to massage her temples. She opened her eyes, removed her fingers from her temples and stared into Cyrus' face. "But I have to admit, the thought did cross my mind too. Dahak already took the life of my eldest son and I will be damned if I'll let him take Lycus."

Cyrus could see the thought of the children accompanying them to Greece had Xena greatly disturbed. Considering the sacrifice she made to keep them safe, he understood her apprehension. Cyrus got up from his chair and stood behind Xena who remained seated.

"I know what is bothering you." He gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "You are afraid if the children come with us to Greece, Ares will discover them." Cyrus sat in the chair next to Xena, and stared into her eyes as she now faced him. "I can't say your fears are groundless. But the risk is minimum at best." He took hold of her right hand that lay on the table and gently squeezed it in his. "Ahura Mazda was told the children died at birth, and I persuaded him not to reveal anything about them. Ares never knew you were pregnant, so he should have no reason to suspect the children are his."

"I know what you are saying is true Cyrus, but I can't shake this feeling of uneasiness. When I watched the children playing this afternoon, I couldn't help but notice how much Lycus looks like Ares. If he gets a glimpse of him, he will know right away Lycus is his son."

"Xena, you are forgetting, you know Ares is Lycus' father so you are looking for a resemblance. Ares doesn't know Lycus is his son, so if he were to see him the likeness won't be so blatant."

"You do make a good point," Xena admitted. "And Ares will be too consumed with finding the Holy Saber to take notice of two children from a faraway land. But I don't want to tempt fate. Lycus and Lysia will accompany us to Greece but we will leave them in Amphipolis while we contact Ares at his closest temple."

Cyrus nodded in agreement. They would begin their journey to Greece in two days.

CHAPTER 21

It was a clear night. A soft wind blew, slightly swaying the palm trees in the hills above Persepolis. Ares stood by his winged stallion Serpico, waiting for his contact to arrive. Serpico snorted and stamped a front hoof. Ares rubbed the stallion's ebony face. Serpico was one of the two offspring of Pegasus, the famous winged stallion that Ares had in his private stables in Macedon. Pegasus belonged to Zeus, but had taken a liking to a mare, which belonged to Ares, so he owned the products of their union.

Ares was starting to get annoyed because his contact in Persepolis was late. He had no authority in Persia, so his godly powers were severely reduced. That is why he had to use the winged stallion to quickly journey to Persia. Also, the Olympian gods and the gods of Persia had an ongoing territory dispute and it would not be good for him to be caught in their pantheon's region.

"Damn Darius!" Ares whispered under his breath as he stood on the hilltop hidden by the dense palm trees. Darius was the name of Ares' secret contact in Persia. One of his parents was a member of the Persian Pantheon so he was half-god like Hercules. Some time back, Ares did Darius a huge favor so he became his eyes and ears in the Persian region as payback.

Ares did not like the fact he had to ask for help from Cyrus but it was his only chance of finding the Holy Saber. Ares disliked Cyrus the moment he met him six years ago, when he came to Persia looking for Xena. After their disagreement regarding Caesar, Ares had let Xena go off to sulk for a while. He got so consumed with his counsel to Caesar that several months had passed before he decided to bring his prized warrior princess back into the fold. It was the first time he had ever lost track of her, but he did trace her whereabouts to Persia and Cyrus' palace located just outside of Persepolis.

Cyrus had the nerve to refuse Ares' request to see Xena and reminded him with glee, he had no power in Persia. When Xena did finally return to Greece, Ares feared her long stay in Persia had lessened her drive for conquest. But that thought quickly vanished when Xena returned to the battlefield. Her bloodlust was stronger than ever. But her attitude towards him had changed. Cyrus had told Xena about the true origin of the gods, and that didn't please Ares but she had always disrespected godly authority so he could deal with that. But there was more he couldn't comprehend.

When they resumed their relationship, Ares was her mentor only and that is how the relationship stayed until their final split three years ago. Ares knew her long stay with Cyrus was responsible for the change. The former Watcher had considerable influence over Xena, which could make him a threat to Ares' plans for her. He had already removed his biggest obstacle, Gabrielle. When they found the Holy Saber, Dahak would go the way of the bothersome bard. And now that Cyrus would be working with them, he did not need the former Watcher’s goodness getting in the way of his plans to bring the darkness within Xena permanently to the forefront. Maybe with them seeing each other again, he would discover exactly what Cyrus' influence over her was.

Ares' patience was truly running thin when Darius trotted up the hill on the back of a horse.

"You are late," he said with annoyance.

Darius dismounted from his horse and stood facing Ares. "Sorry, but there were other matters I had to take care of first."

"These other matters better not mean you neglected your duties to me," Ares said in a threatening tone.

"You can relax Ares," Darius assured. "I did just like you asked. I used the pool of insight so they didn't even know I was observing them." A proud smile was etched in his features due to his accomplishment.

"What did you hear?"

"They talked about some real heavy stuff," Darius said in a serious tone. "I was in shock when Xena said Dahak is back. His war with my family was a little before my time, but I heard my father speak of it. He killed some of my aunts, uncles and would have killed everyone if Ahura Mazda hadn't defeated him. They said he was the epitome of evil."

"That's what he is all right and now he has set his sights on toppling the Olympian pantheon. But that's only the beginning. If he has his way, other pantheons will fall as well, including Persia."

Upon hearing Ares’ words, Darius’ eyes filled with fear.

"But he won't get that far because I know how to stop him for good this time." Ares assured which somewhat softened the look of fear in Darius’ eyes. "Now, what else did you hear?"

"Xena said Dahak is her father!"

"Yeah, I've known that for some time now, just move on to what else you heard," Ares said in a rushed tone.

"Boy, that must be a bummer, knowing such evil is your father."

"Will you move on to something else!" Ares demanded harshly.

Darius jumped a little at the tone in Ares' voice. "Well, they talked about Cyrus being needed to examine some scrolls to locate a sword which can kill Dahak. Cyrus agreed to come back to Greece with Xena to translate the scrolls."

"Excellent!" Ares now had a smile on his face.

"They did talk about one more thing which I found quite interesting and I'm sure you will too," Darius said with a sly smile.

"So, tell me already."

"First, I want to make clear, it took an extra effort on my part to fill in the gaps to what I heard so I could report clear and insightful information to you."

"Darius, just spill what you heard now!" Ares growled with impatience.

"It appears Xena and Cyrus have been keeping two little secrets from you for some time now."

"And just what are these two little secrets?" Ares wearily asked.

"Do you remember Xena's stay in Persia six years ago?"

Ares had a clear look of annoyance back on his handsome face that did not go unnoticed by Darius.

"Of course you do," the half-god quickly assumed. "Xena stayed in Persia so long because she was pregnant---with your children."

The expression on the war god’s face changed from annoyance to shock.

"That's right Ares, Xena gave birth to twins. You have a son and a daughter."

Ares was truly stunned by what Darius had uncovered at Cyrus' palace. "Are you sure you heard correctly? Because if this is false information, you won't live long enough to regret it."

"I wouldn't be so stupid as to bring you information I hadn't verified. I saw the children myself and I must say, you two made some very cute kids. The boy is the spitting image of you, except for his eyes, which favor Xena's. His name is Lycus. The girl looks a lot like Xena but she clearly has your eyes. Her name is Lysia."

"What else did you hear?"

"Somehow, Ahura Mazda found out about the twins and since our laws say children belong to the father, he had a duty to turn them over to you. Cyrus told Ahura Mazda the children died shortly after birth and somehow got him to agree to keep their ‘alleged short existence' from you. Since their birth, the children have been living in India and came to Persia for a visit. It appears both children are connected to this Dahak mess."

Ares was greatly intrigued by Darius’ last statement.

"For a few weeks now, the boy has been disturbed by a nightmare of a monster coming for him," Darius continued. "According to Xena, the description of the monster fits Dahak's appearance in a dream she had. She and Cyrus both fear Dahak maybe trying to reach the boy through his dreams."

Ares had a look of concern on his face after this last statement.

"The girl's connection isn't so scary," Darius assured. "She has a birthmark which is identical to the star on that sword you guys need Cyrus to find. Cyrus believes the girl may help in finding the sword and wants her to come with them to Greece along with the boy to protect him from Dahak. Xena was against this at first but Cyrus convinced her the children had to come. But she wants to make sure you don't find out about them, so the children will be left in Amphipolis."

Darius studied Ares' face as his mind absorbed the information he brought him. "I would sure hate to be in either Xena's or Cyrus' boots when you make it known to them you know about the children," Darius said with mock sympathy for the pair. "What will you do to them Ares?" he asked with excitement.

"What I do to them is my business," Ares curtly replied. "You did your job well and can go now."

Ares watched as Darius mounted his horse that then started a slow trot down the hill. He was still absorbing the news Darius brought him after the half-god had made his departure. He thought Darius would report that Xena and Cyrus had become lovers during her long stay. But to discover Xena had been pregnant with his children and gave birth to them in Persia had his mind spinning. He mounted Serpico, who flew into the air, headed back towards Macedon and his fortress in the mountains. Once in his hideaway, Ares would contemplate how he would handle this startling discovery.

**********

As Ares sat on his throne in his mountain fortress in Macedon, so many emotions surged through his body as his mind weighed this shocking discovery. He truly believed there wasn't any aspect regarding Xena's life he didn't know. He knew about Solan, her lovers, her victims, her enemies, her friends and her family. He even possessed knowledge about Xena's life that she didn't discover until recently, like Dahak being her father and the life bond she shared with him. It was a blow to his ego that she had managed to keep a secret of this magnitude from him for this long.

In all the years he had known Xena, she had never done anything to make him as angry as he was now. And even if he didn't share a life bond with Xena, Ares could never take her life but she would have to be punished for keeping the children from him.

Despite all the anger he felt towards Xena at the moment, it couldn't compare to the boiling rage he had for Cyrus. Ares knew Xena keeping the existence of the children from him had to be Cyrus' doing. The former Watcher had crossed the line interfering in his personal affairs. Ares would thoroughly enjoy teaching Cyrus a lesson. There would be no end to the torture he planned to inflict upon him. But any plans to harm Cyrus would have to be put on hold until Dahak was no longer a threat. Cyrus was crucial to him finding the Holy Saber and claiming the power it held within. But once Ares had that power, Cyrus would pay the price for his meddling.

Ares thought about his children whose existence he had just discovered. He had fathered thousands of children over his immortal existence but he had never taken much interest in the lives of his offspring. Their mothers had been nothing more than lustful distractions and any feelings for them faded when the moment passed. But Xena stood out from all his other lovers. She ignited within him something he had never felt before and sometimes that scared him. And now he knew Xena had given him a son and a daughter. Ares couldn't deny he had thought about having a child with Xena and was hoping one would come from their recent time together. But that wasn't as much a concern now that he knew they already shared two children.

And what powerful children they must be he thought. They not only inherited godly blood from him but the blood of a Watcher, Dahak's blood, which they inherited from Xena. Their powers could reach that of full gods and with two of them, they would truly be a force to reckon with, but most importantly they were his.

Ares remembered what Darius said about how much the children resembled their parents. He wondered what other characteristics of his and Xena's they had inherited as well. Ares had missed the first six years of the children's lives and felt some bonding was long overdue. Xena and Cyrus didn't know it, but there would be a change in their plans to leave the children in Amphipolis.

CHAPTER 22

The sound of Gwenyth’s brown warrior boots echoed softly throughout the temple’s main hall as she approached Dahak’s throne setting upon a black marble dais. Her dark lord was seated upon a black marble throne with his eyes closed in deep meditation. When she stood before him, Gwenyth went down on bent knees, bowed her head and waited for her presence to be acknowledged.

"Arise Gwenyth." Dahak opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on the faithful servant now standing before him. "Have you any news to report from Talon yet?"

"No, Dark One," Gwenyth replied.

"We should have found a willing host," Minos said as he walked through a black curtain behind the throne and now stood on Dahak’s right side. "If he had control of the body, we should have heard something from him by now."

"We needed someone close to her and this mortal was the best choice." Dahak gave Minos a sideward glance before focusing on Gwenyth again. "Talon will be in control of the body very soon, so I want you to keep monitoring the whereabouts of the mortal."

"As you wish Dark One." Gwenyth bowed once more then left the main hall.

"The mortal we chose for Talon is obviously a lot stronger than we anticipated. I think we should have stayed with the plan to convert him," Minos said once they were alone.

"The mortal was on Kos four days and resisted conversion to the Disciples, Minos. Then Xena showed up soon after that so forced possession was our only option."

"But we have had little success with forced possessions."

"True, but Talon was always one who enjoyed a challenge," Dahak said with a sinister smile. "He will wear down the mortal’s resolve to fight him. And when Talon gains control of the mortal’s body, I will soon have Xena exactly where I want her, right by my side."

**********

Ethereal white clouds dotted the pale blue sky as the sun rose above the forest. Waking from their nocturnal slumber, birds filled the air with musical chatter. Other creatures in the forest awakened to another day in the forest as well. One was a four-legged creature, which moved silently through the forest alone. The creature had the body of a deer but the torso of a woman. Protruding through its silky golden mane were two golden horns. Its face and body were also golden in color. It was a Golden Hind.

The Hind approached a massive chestnut tree and extended a golden arm. A small red bird descended from a tree branch and landed on her arm. Her golden lips formed into a smile as a slender finger stroked the red feathered back of the small bird. The Hind fed the bird some seeds, then extended her arm into the air again and watched the small bird make its ascent into the blue sky.

Free from any danger in the tranquillity of the forest, the Golden Hind was taken completely off-guard when she suddenly felt a weight atop her back. The Hind began to buck; trying to shake whatever sat atop her loose. She turned her head and saw what appeared to be a human female dressed in black leather and lace with a porcelain face sitting atop her back. The Hind was use to human males scouting the forest to hunt her kind for their golden horns and hooves but this was the first time she ever encountered one of their females out for gold treasure. The Hind was usually able to hear her attackers well in advance and was surprised this one was able to sneak up on her.

The Hind now stood on her rear legs as she tried to shake her unwelcome rider off her back to no avail. Suddenly, the Hind felt a sharp pain between her shoulder blades and let out a loud wail, which echoed throughout the forest. The Hind glanced back and saw the black mane of her attacker tossed wildly about along with her small form but she maintained her grip on the golden fur back. When the Hind was finally able to see the woman’s face again, it was contorted in rage and her blood red lips were drawn up in an angry snarl as she again drove a dagger with a long jagged blade into the flesh of the Golden Hind. Another ear-piercing cry escaped the golden lips of the Hind as she called out to her sisters for help. The desperate moves of the panicked creature only increased the bloodlust of her attacker who with superhuman strength grabbed hold of the Hind’s slender golden neck and ran the dagger deeply across the delicate flesh.

The Hind felt her attacker jump from her back as she fell over on her side to the soft green grass below. Gurgles and gasps for air escaped the Hind’s golden lips as blood gushed out of the wound on her neck and began to redden the lush green grass. The creature’s vision started to darken as death approached but she did get a final glimpse of her attacker who kneeled by her head and held a goatskin to her throat to collect her blood which poured from the wound. The Hind also heard her attacker speak before her life ended.

"Your death will have great meaning, my golden friend," the woman cooed as she ran a long blood-red fingernail down a golden cheek. "Your blood will give me the power I rightfully deserve."

When the goatskin was filled to capacity, the woman stood, capped it and smiled as she gazed down at the now lifeless body of the Golden Hind. If Zeus ever found out she went back in time to retrieve Hind’s blood, Discord knew she would be severely punished. Her eyes turned black as she continued to stare at the Hind’s remains. Suddenly, the creature’s body was consumed in flames, which quickly vanished leaving the grass where the creature had lay scorch-free. Tomorrow, Zeus would bombard the forest with thunderbolts, which would send the Hind into extinction, except for a sole survivor, Serena.

Ares saved Serena by giving her the ability to take mortal form. He wanted to use her blood against the other gods but grew fond of her. In the end, Ares made Serena entirely mortal to keep Hercules from killing him with the Hind’s blood. Discord thought Ares had been a fool. He should have killed Serena from the start and used her blood to overthrow the other gods. Ares let his fondness for the creature stand in the way of achieving ultimate power. Discord firmly held the goatskin filled with Hind’s blood in her right hand. Dahak would certainly not let such an opportunity to obtain ultimate power slip by him. She had definitely made the right choice when she allied herself with the One Great Evil. Discord’s blood red lips transformed into a wicked grin as she vanished in a dazzling display of light, headed for the present.

**********

Minos stood by a hearth where a roaring fire boiled the contents of a large cast-iron pot. He stirred the contents of the pot with a large wooden spoon before picking some dried herbs which hung from the ceiling and throwing them into the pot. The high priest’s gaze turned towards a table where his dark lord stood, absentmindedly inspecting many oddly shaped glasses filled with various liquids in many colors.

"I know I will be meeting your contact on Olympus today but couldn’t you give me her name before she arrives?"

"Ah Minos, you must learn to work on your patience. But you have served me well and you are my closest confidant so I will share with you my contact’s name."

Minos stood with a look of anticipation on his face as he waited for his lord to reveal who was his Olympian contact.

"Her name is Discord."

When Minos watched over Xena for Ares he did have the opportunity to meet the goddess on a few occasions. The two had flirted with each other, which sometimes, had gotten pretty hot and heavy but nothing beyond that had ever developed. The priest let a chuckle escape his lips. Oh, the irony of it he thought. Minos knew with Strife being dead, Discord was Ares’ closest confidant on Olympus and now she was betraying him. "You made a wise choice picking her to be your contact," Minos said with his mouth drawn up in a devilish grin.

"I figured you’d think so." Dahak turned his gaze from his high priest to the other side of the room where shards of light suddenly appeared then dispersed leaving in their place Discord. "Well, did you get it?" he anxiously asked while approaching where she stood.

"I sure did," she said with a giddy grin while bringing her right arm which had been behind her back in front of her and holding up the goatskin containing the Hind’s blood.

"Fantastic!" Dahak declared with a pleased smile as he grasped the goatskin with a hand while pulling Discord to him and planting a kiss atop the head of the petite goddess.

Discord glanced at the attractive brown haired man who was approaching where they stood. "Well, who do we have here…a face from the past? I thought Ares killed you years ago?"

"Ah Discord, so nice to know that you remembered me after all these years," Minos said with a wicked grin when he stood before the couple. The high priest took one of the goddess’ hands and kissed the back. "And you are right, Ares did kill me but my unique skills were needed by the Dark One so I was resurrected to once again serve him."

"You know Minos, you were one of the few mortals I actually liked and I’m glad you are among the living again," Discord confessed. "We have a lot in common. Ares has treated us both pretty rotten."

"And now Ares will pay the price for such mistreatment," Dahak declared. "Here Minos, you know what to do with this." He handed the high priest the goatskin containing the Hind’s blood.

"And what exactly is Minos going to do with the blood?" Discord watched the high priest take the blood over to a long table and pour some into a glass container.

"Minos is going to put the blood into a more suitable form so you can poison the other gods at the celebration of their fifth millennium reign."

"Ahh, in just four weeks, the reign of the Olympian gods will be history and our reign as King and Queen will begin. I can hardly wait." Discord had a dreamy look in her eyes.

Dahak pulled Discord to him as his crystal blue eyes bore into hers with a lust-filled gaze. "Minos is more than capable of handling this task without our presence so I say we take care of a more urgent matter." His voice was low and deep.

"We could take care of that urgent matter right here and let Minos witness how the gods do it," Discord said in a playful tone as she stared up into his crystal blue eyes. She then looked pass Dahak to the high priest standing at a table on the other side of the room, already engrossed in his task concerning the altering of the Hind’s blood. "Why just look at him, I bet all he has done since being resurrected is work and hasn’t allowed himself to enjoy the simple pleasures of life that I know he had to miss all those years rotting in the earth."

Dahak took hold of Discord’s chin so she was now gazing up at him again. "For your information my dear, Minos has taken time off from his busy duties to make himself quite familiar with my female followers." He pressed Discord closer to his body and allowed her to feel the desire growing within him.

"But I know what Minos desires most is to join us. Besides, I have always been curious about him as a lover and I know he is curious about me as well. So, you wouldn’t mind a threesome would you?" There was a devilish gleam in her eyes as she gazed up into the handsome face of the evil god before her.

"Three’s a crowd for what I have planned." Dahak grabbed Discord by both wrists, brought her hands up to his lips and kissed their backs. The goddess momentarily closed her eyes at the tingly sensation she felt when his lips touched her skin. "You are all mine and I refuse to share you with anyone." Discord found his possessiveness rather arousing. "Shall we go?"

"Yes," she gasped while staring into his eyes with a lust-filled gaze.

A moment later, both gods vanished in a flame of fire.

Chapters 23 - 27

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