@Xenite Country
Dark Revelations
By Skkye Blue
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Shipper Fan Fiction @Xenite Country Dark Revelations |
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Webmaster Note: To make this story load a little easier in your browser, it has been split into several web pages. You will find the link for the part of the story below at the end of each page. Dark Revelations (Chapters 68 thru 70) CHAPTER 68 By dawn the rain had ceased and dark storm clouds had rolled away revealing a blue sky and a bright sun shining over Persia’s capital city. For the remainder of the night, everyone had been busy making preparations for what could possibly be their last battle with Dahak and his minions. Cyrus had made an emergency pre-dawn visit to the palace of the Persian King Mithridates. On his last visit, the monarch had been stubborn and had refused to help free Greece and the Olympian realm from Dahak’s grasp. But after hearing how the One Great Evil had entered Persia and kidnapped a little boy and a young woman, the old King had been filled with fear and now offered the assistance of the Persian army. He had even agreed to speak with Persia’s gods and get their help. Many of the horses from Cyrus’ stables were saddled, along with the winged horses from Greece and joined the captured griffins on the field just beyond the garden to assist in getting everyone to their destinations. All would be heading back to Greece except for Ares, Cyrus and Lysia who would first head to Persia’s Bazman Mountains to find the final piece to the Holy Saber then they too would head for Greece. Xena, Ares and Lysia were the last of the group to head for the field to being their journey. "Mommy, please be careful," Lysia ordered with a worried frown on her little face. She walked between her parents, her hands held in theirs as they left the garden and crossed over into the field. "I will sweetheart," Xena assured as she gave the child’s hand a comforting squeeze. "I want you to be careful too." She looked down at Lysia before looking over to Ares." "We will," Ares replied, returning her gaze. Lysia caught on to the looks on her parents’ faces and yanked on their arms, pulling them towards each other. They leaned in and captured each other’s lips with a quick kiss as they headed out onto the field. Hercules already sat in the saddle atop a griffin. His mouth was twisted in a disgusted smirk. "Did you see that smooch between Ares and Xena?" He asked his best friend who sat on a griffin beside him. "How could I miss it!?" Iolaus snorted. "If Aphrodite still had the use of her powers, I would swear she zapped a spell on Xena but unfortunately that’s not the case." "Nope. Xena says it’s the real deal---that they are in love," Iolaus said. "Who knows, maybe dying and coming back to life changed Ares." He glanced over at Ares who along with Lysia were now seated atop Serpico. The war god smiled as he ran a hand through his daughter’s curly raven locks and planted a kiss on a cheek. "Like Tartarus he has!" Hercules glared at his half-brother. "He’s up to something and I’m going to be there to make sure he doesn’t hurt Xena and those kids." "And I’ll be right there with you pal." Iolaus patted his friend’s broad shoulder. After everyone in the group was seated atop a saddled animal, a golden light appeared before them announcing the arrival of a Persian god. When the light dispersed, there stood a magnificent specimen of a man dressed in golden armor standing in a matching golden chariot with four white stallions. "So, Mithridates was able to deliver the help of at least one of his gods," Autolycus said. "I wonder which one he is?" "I think he’s the Persian war god Mithra," Nebula replied from atop the horse beside his. "Yeah, I think you’re right. Ares is eyeing him like he’s a rival," Salmoneus added. "Hello Mithra," Ares said with a smirk. "Ares," Mithra curtly replied with a nod. At one time, the two war gods had been friends but every since the breakdown in communication between the two realms and the mutual desire for ultimate power, the two gods had become adversaries. Everyone felt the tension between the two and hoped it wouldn’t derail their important mission. Mithra turned from Ares and glanced around at the others. "The whole world is counting on you defeating Dahak and his evil. I too wish you well." With the wave of a hand, the assembled group was engulfed in a bright ball of light that quickly faded into nothingness. ********** Dahak softly sat on the side of the bed. His crystal blue eyes curiously wandered over the sleeping form of the woman lying before him. He ran a hand through her curly auburn locks, reveling in their silkiness. His hand moved to the soft warm skin of her slim neck as his gaze fell to the gentle rise and fall of her full breasts covered by a thin nightgown. He wondered what it would be like to lay with her now that he had a flesh and blood body. He let a hand begin to caress the calf of her right leg. When they were together before, he wasn’t able to feel anything due to being nothing more than flames of fire. His hand moved higher up her leg, pulling up the nightgown she wore in the process. But now it could be so different. His hand was caressing a thigh when her eyelids shot open revealing sparkling green eyes. "Don’t touch me!" She instantly rolled away from him and kneeled in a corner of the bed at the headboard. Gabrielle was shocked to awaken to the feel of a hand caressing her leg. As she kneeled in the corner, clutching the medallion that dangled from her neck that protected her from demon possession, her body slightly trembled in a leftover chill from the drenching rain of the previous night. She glared at the man still seated on the side of the bed, gazing intently at her. She couldn’t deny that he was extremely attractive--the olive skin, the shoulder length black hair, the rosy full mouth, the crystal blue eyes that looked just like Xena’s. Wait a minute! Gabrielle’s green eye’s widened in surprise when she realized whom this was seated on the bed staring at her. "Gabrielle, do you know who I am?" He asked in a very deep voice. "Oh, I know who you are all right. You’re Dahak...the One Great Evil!" She spat with disgust. "And despite that and all that I’ve done to you...you still find me attractive." Gabrielle parted her lips and was about to protest when he held up a hand. "Don’t deny it. I saw it in your eyes." He smiled knowingly, revealing perfect white teeth. His crystal blue eyes raked over her scantily clad form before fixing on her face. "Your new look is just as beautiful as the old one." Gabrielle didn’t like the way he was looking at her and inched herself further into a corner of the bed. "There’s no need for you to worry about my intentions. If I wanted you, I would take you just like that." He snapped his fingers. "But right now there are more pressing matters to which I must attend." Dahak rose from the bed. "You already served your purpose and should be dead. But unfortunately our daughter developed an affection for you and gave you life again. And alive you will remain...until I decide what to do with you." Once again his blue eyes raked over her form, seeming to penetrate the thin nightgown that covered her then he disappeared in a flame of fire. After Dahak’s fiery departure, Gabrielle body was visibly shaking and not just from a chill. She had seen that look of lust in the evil god’s eyes before he had vanished. What Dahak had done to her when he was nothing more than flames of fire still gave her nightmares and what he could do to her now that he had a body of flesh and blood---the horror was unimaginable. She had to escape. Gabrielle quickly left the corner of the bed and went over to the door. With all her might she pulled on the knob but it wouldn’t budge. Her eyes darted about the room, looking for some type of weapon, but nothing was in sight. Besides the bed, the only other piece of furniture in the room was a table. Gabrielle ran her hands over her goose-pimpled arms and moved to stand before the large hearth, relieved that someone had lit a fire. "Oh, that feels good," she breathed, welcoming the warmth provided by the large, crackling flames. Gabrielle was rubbing her hands together in front of the fire, soaking up the heat when she heard a creak coming from the door as it opened. She instantly whirled around to see who was entering the room. A huge smile formed on her face. "Hope!" "Mother!" Hope was smiling too as she quickly made her way over to Gabrielle and embraced her in a tight hug. Gabrielle beamed with joy as she ran a hand through her daughter’s strawberry blonde tresses. "I came as soon as I found out you were here," Hope said when the hug was broken. "Are you okay? Father didn’t hurt you did he?" "I’m fine...just a little chilly." Gabrielle ran her hands over the flimsy nightgown. "I’ll bring you something warmer to wear." "Where exactly are we?" Gabrielle asked. "We are in an old Titan temple located in the mountains of Macedon." "Macedon?!" Gabrielle was surprised to hear she was back in Greek lands. But that surprise quickly left her and was replaced with amazement as she took her daughter’s face between her hands. "There were times when I thought I would never see you again, but here you are. I should have had Castor’s faith. He never gave up that we would find you. Why, the last time I saw him, he was getting ready to go out and resume the search for you." Talk of Castor caused Hope’s eyes to get misty as a sad frown formed on her face. "Hope, what’s wrong?" Gabrielle asked, her own eyes now filled with concern. Her daughter wiped away the tears at the rims of her eyes. "Castor is dead, Mother." "What???" Gabrielle was stunned to hear this. "But how???" "Castor found me in Akanthos. He told me all about leaving you with Xena and that he knew all about me...the terrible things that I had done but he didn’t hate me. He said how I had faced what I had done gave him courage and that he loved me." Hope quickly wiped away the tears streaming down her face before she continued. "I told Castor it was dangerous for him to be there and he had to go but he followed me out to an old farm that Father’s cult was using to grow lava plants. Castor had come to destroy the plants but he got caught and Minos ran him through with a sword. I got there right before he died. I held him in my arms and told him how much I loved him." Hope didn’t wipe away the new tears and let them flow freely down her face. After hearing her daughter’s account of Castor’s death, Gabrielle’s own face was wet with tears. She pulled Hope into an embrace, letting her daughter softly cry against a shoulder. "Castor was indeed a great man. I will truly miss him." She soothingly ran a hand through her daughter’s hair until her crying began to cease. "Um Hope, with all that has happened, how has your father treated you? I mean, Dahak could not have been happy when he found out that I was alive." "Father was very angry but he has given me the chance to reaffirm my loyalty to him by joining with Minos to create the other destroyers." Hope had a frown of discomfort on her face. "Oh Hope." Gabrielle’s eyes gazed with empathy at her daughter as she raised a hand up to her face and caressed a cheek. "I’ll be okay, Mother. Knowing that Minos is the one who killed Castor does make being with him unpleasant but it’s a small price to pay for the evil that I have done." Hope rested a hand against her mother’s. "And it’s my best chance of keeping abreast of what Father’s plans are. I not only found out that you are here but Xena’s son." "That’s right! I heard talk of him right before I was captured," Gabrielle said. "For the past few weeks, Father has been preoccupied with capturing the boy." "Do you know why?" Gabrielle asked. "No. Father doesn’t fully trust me any more so I am left out of certain plans. I only know he is being held in one of the rooms in the temple." "Can you take me to see Lycus?" "I’m sorry Mother, I can’t. The door is locked and only Father has the key." Gabrielle bit her lower lip and slightly bowed her head, shaking it in disappointment. ********** Lycus sighed with boredom, swinging his legs as he sat on a side of a bed. He had tried the door but just like he figured, it was locked. There was nothing to do in the stone room in which he had awakened a few hours ago. All he had done was drank the water and ate the food that had been left on a table. There were no toys and not even a window out of which to look. Turning his head, the boy’s crystal blue eyes gazed at the sword hanging above the bed. Since there was nothing else to do, Lycus decided to check it out. He stood on the bed and walked over to the wall. When he stood before the sword, he gripped it in his small hands and gently detached it from the its resting place. "Wow!" He breathed as his eyes wandered over the shiny blade and the multi-jeweled hilt. Gripping the hilt with both hands, Lycus held the sword vertically as the light from the lit torches bounced off the shiny metal. "It’s a beauty, isn’t it?" A disembodied deep voice asked. Lycus quickly glanced around as a flame of fire appeared, then dispersed, leaving Dahak’s tall dark form. The boy lowered the sword and gazed at his visitor. It was the snakeman but his eyes weren’t a glowing yellow like last night but a crystal blue much like his own eyes. "That sword was presented to me more than two millennia ago. It was a gift from a very powerful King." Dahak moved closer to the bed. With the arrival of his captor, Lycus no longer had an interest in the sword. "My Dad has a whole lotta swords and they are waaay better than this one," the boy sneered as he let the sword slip out of his hands and fall to the bed. Dahak suppressed a chuckle at the child’s comments. Lycus gazed at him with an inquisitive gleam. "Where are we?" "We are in an old Titan temple I have taken for my own." Lycus had heard stories about the Titans---their rule was before that of his grandfather Zeus and the other Olympians. "It’s your temple now? Are you a god?" "Yes, I am." Standing here face to face with the snakeman, Lycus didn’t feel the fear that he did when he came to him in his nightmares. Now he wanted to know why this god had started tormenting him in the first place. "Why didja bring me here? What do ya want with me?" "I figured since I’m your grandfather, we should get to know each other." "You’re not my grandfather!" Lycus instantly yelled. "Zeus is my grandfather." "Yes, Zeus is your grandfather, because he’s Ares’ father," Dahak began. "But I’m your grandfather too. You see, I’m Xena’s father." "Nah uh!" Lycus exclaimed. "Oh, but I am. That great power you have comes from me. And you have my eyes, just like your mother," Dahak said. Lycus stared into the face of the god standing before him. Okay, so his eyes did look very much like his own and his Mom’s. But if he was indeed his grandfather, how could he have tormented his dreams like he did and what about what he had done to his father!? "I don’t wanna get to know ya! I wanna go back to Uncle Cyrus’!" The child yelled---his eyes filled with anger. "I’m afraid that’s not possible," Dahak calmly replied. "If ya don’t let me go, my Dad and Mom will come get me and then you’ll be sorry," Lycus threatened, narrowing his gaze. "Ah yes, you are quite right, your parents will come for you," Dahak sighed. "But they would be putting themselves in grave danger...especially your father." In that instant, Lycus saw a flashback of his father’s fight with the snakeman in the temple at Thebes. "You know I killed him once, so you know I can and will do it again," Dahak confidently replied with dark finality. Once again, Lycus had a flashback of finding his father’s lifeless body lying near the rubble of the Temple in Thebes. He was cold and pale with a gaping bloody wound in his chest. The god---the father he had always wanted in his life and had just found was taken away. The child’s features darkened with anger as he gazed at the evil god standing before him. Dahak found the child’s reaction to his words amusing. "Ah, such rage you have for me...and hatred. You want me dead, don’t you, Lycus?" A look of uncertainty crossed the boy’s face. "It’s okay, no one could fault you, not even I." Dahak’s eyes took on a reminiscent look. "I got such pleasure when Ares died by my hand...watching his lifeblood spill out onto the floor of his very temple. I know I will enjoy it even more this time. And you’ll be able to witness his death firsthand." Lycus now glared at him with murderous rage as his godly powers levitated the sword off the bed, pointing it directly at Dahak. "That’s it boy, if you want to save your father, you will have to KILL me. Because if you don’t I will most assuredly KILL him!" Dahak gleefully said. "NOOOOO!" Lycus shouted as his godly powers shot the sword with lightening quick speed at Dahak, embedding it deeply into the chest of the evil god. The child’s crystal blue eyes widened in shock upon seeing what he had done. Dahak’s evil laughter filled the room as he effortlessly pulled the sword from his body. "Your anger impresses me, child." His eyes danced in merriment as he twirled the untainted sword in a hand. The little boy silently stared at the dark god and the sword in bewilderment. "Together, we will do many great things." He released the sword from his grasp, sending it back to its place on the wall above the bed, and then his form was engulfed in a flame of fire that faded into nothingness. Now alone again, filled with confusion and shocked by his actions, Lycus slowly dropped to the bed, curled up into a tight ball and softly cried. ********** After Mithra had transported them to the Bazman Mountains of Persia, Ares and Cyrus had urged their winged mounts into the air and they had been flying above the area trying to find the mountain in Lysia’s vision. "There Daddy, that’s the one." Lysia pointed a finger at the largest peak with several lakes of fire lying in the valley below it. "Are you sure?" Ares asked from behind the little girl as both sat in the saddle atop Serpico’s ebony back. "Yeah. It looks just like the mountain in my vision," the child replied. "Okay Cyrus, Lysia says that largest peak is our mountain," Ares said. Cyrus nodded in understanding. With their mighty wings gently flapping in the breeze, Serpico and Blade slowly made their descent, coming to land in the valley at the base of the mountain. The three riders quickly dismounted their winged steeds. "Eww, it’s so hot here," Lysia wiped away the sweat that had broken out on her brow as she gazed at the flaming lakes dotting the landscape. "This area wasn’t always like this," Cyrus said. "It use to be a lot cooler but that changed after the fall of the Watchers and the revolt against the Creator." A large orange flame shot up into the air above one of the lakes before descending back into the fiery pool. Serpico and Blade whinnied loudly and began to nervously move about. Ares grabbed the reins of both horses. "Easy boys." He ran a hand down each of their faces, trying to calm the large animals. "I think you two would feel a whole lot better in the air." He released their reins. "Go on, get out of here." The three watched as Serpico and Blade ascended into the blue sky again. "But Daddy, how will we get outta here?" Lysia asked, her little face riddled with concern. "Don’t worry. They won’t go far. And I’ll whistle for them when it’s time to go." "So that can be soon, I suggest we start looking for that final sword piece." Cyrus slung the satchel containing the other four pieces over a shoulder and started walking. The three proceeded across the valley, headed for the mountain. A natural path cut into its side and was used to ascend the massive peak. ********** The mid day sun was high in the sky when the trio approached a large structure cut into the side of the mountain. "Who would build a house in a mountain?" Lysia gazed at the large structure, a frown of confusion on her face. "I think it’s a temple, sweetheart," Ares said. "The room in Lysia’s vision must be inside there." Cyrus moved towards the large structure and tightly gripped the handle on the massive door. When he gave it a pull, it didn’t budge. "Hey Ares, I’m going to need some help here." The war god came up beside him and got a good grip on the handle. Now together, they both pulled. Lysia watched from the sidelines as slowly and with a loud creak, the door began to open. When the opening was large enough for them to enter, Ares and Cyrus released the door and the three walked inside. The air was stale and the atmosphere was filled with dust. "No one’s been in here in a long time," Ares coughed. "Probably a few millennia," Cyrus added. "Wow!" Lysia breathed. Her brown eyes widened in amazement as they took in the sight of their new surroundings. The three stood in the main hall of what was indeed a temple. Against the wall, across from the entranceway and set atop a stone dais was a long decoratively carved altar. At each end stood cast iron holders with torches in them, amazingly still burning. Their flickering flames provided the only illumination in the hall. "Hey, if no one’s been in here, who lit the torches?" Lysia asked. "Very good question Lysia," Cyrus replied. "Maybe someone knew we were coming and decided to give us some light." "Then I wish they would point out where the last saber piece is so we can be on our way," Ares said. "I’m afraid that’s something we will have to do on our own," Cyrus said. Each man grabbed a torch so they would have the needed light to inspect the temple’s interior. Massive stone columns were situated here and there for support. Cyrus ran a hand over one and the words carved into it, written in his native tongue---Celestic. "This temple must have been built by Watchers," Cyrus said. Ares along with Lysia stood before a stone wall and used the light from the flickering flame to inspect a fresco. It appeared to be nothing more than a sea of black with an orange ball in the center with streaks of light sprouting out from it like in an explosion. "What is it suppose to be?" Lysia asked. "I think it represents the creation of the universe," Ares replied. "This temple must be the Creator’s. The Watchers built it for him." Cyrus moved to stand beside the pair. "No one has probably been here since the fall." The light of the torch he held fell on the orange ball in the fresco, brightening the color. "Wow! Look at that!" Lysia exclaimed with wonder. Suddenly, the three jumped back as a yellow-orange beam of light shot out of the orange ball in the fresco and traveled down a corridor off the main hall. Holding onto Lysia, Ares gazed at the glowing ball in the fresco shooting out in four directions then to the beam of light, pointing down a stone corridor. A smile formed on his face. "I do believe a path to the fifth saber piece has just been laid out for us." "I agree." Cyrus was smiling too. Avoiding the beam, the three made their way down the corridor. They followed the beam some distance until reaching a room. At the threshold, the yellow-orange beam broke off into nothingness. "The fifth piece has got to be in there," Ares said with contained excitement as the three steadily approached the room. When they reached the threshold and proceeded to cross it, the doorway was filled with a yellow-orange light that threw all three back some distance, dropping them to the stone floor with a thud. "Ow, that hurt," Ares painfully groaned as he slowly rose to his feet. "Lysia, are you okay?" "I’m okay Daddy. What hit us?" The child was already standing. "I think it was some type of force field," Cyrus grunted as he rose to his feet. "We are going to have to find a way to neutralize it so we can get to the fifth saber piece," Ares said. All three stood staring at the doorway to the room when it was once again filled with the orange-yellow light. As it grew brighter, the three had to shield their eyes. When the light dimmed, they uncovered their eyes. Now standing in the doorway was a man with blond shoulder length hair wearing a long snowy white robe. Over his shoulders could be seen the bluish gray feathers of very large wings. In his right hand and held diagonally across his chest was a menacing large shiny sword. "Adrian!" A smile of recognition formed on Cyrus’ face." "Hello old friend, it’s been a long time." Adrian said smiling back. "Why are you stopping us from getting the saber piece? Surely you know Dahak has returned and is threatening the world?" Cyrus asked. "I know all about Dahak’s release and the evil he plans to do but I can’t let all three of you cross the threshold. Only the girl." Adrian pointed his sword at Lysia. "Me?!" Lysia looked at the Watcher with confusion and surprise. "You were chosen long before your birth to be the one to find and claim the fifth piece to the saber---the key to Dahak’s destruction. No harm will come to you child, if you cross the threshold alone." Ares believed the words of the Watcher to be true. He gazed down at Lysia as she stood beside him. "Go on sweetheart. It’ll be okay." With her father’s reassurance, Lysia headed towards the doorway. When she reached the threshold, she gazed up at the face of the Watcher standing before her. Adrian nodded in assurance as he stepped aside. With some caution, Lysia stepped over the threshold. Nothing unusual happened and she released the breath she had been holding. Cyrus and Ares had moved to stand at the threshold and along with Adrian watched the young girl’s movements. All that was in the room was a white marble pedestal situated at its center, upon which sat a brown wooden square box. Lysia walked over to the pedestal and gazed at the object set upon it. Carved into the top of the box was a handprint with an etching of the four-pointed star in the middle. Extending the arm on which the four pointed star birthmark was located; Lysia placed her right hand in the handprint. Slowly, the young girl closed her eyes as she felt an energy force begin to travel up her arm---a warmth filled her entire being and the star birthmark on her right arm began to pulsate like a beating heart. It was a power like nothing she had ever felt before. She could see beyond the room in which she stood, beyond the temple itself, far above the earth and out into space, traveling at a great speed as the many colors of the universe whizzed past her until she saw nothing but a blinding white light. The others watched in awe as they also felt the power emanating from the child’s small form. A blinding white light engulfed her. Its rays were somewhat painful to those watching but they just didn’t have the desire to shield their eyes from this awesome spectacle. The click sound of a lock being undone reverberated throughout the room. It was after this that the blinding white light faded and the birthmark on Lysia’s arm stopped pulsating. Slowly, the little girl opened her eyes and removed her hand from the top of the box. Gently, she opened the lid. Inside, lying on a small golden velvet pillow lay the tip of the blade to the Holy Saber, the four-pointed star etched into the metal. A pleased smile formed on the young girl’s face, as she grasped it in a small hand. "I got it!" Lysia declared, still smiling as she turned around and held it up for the others to see. "Excellent!" Ares said, a huge smile on his own handsome face. Cyrus was smiling too. "Hey, Adrian is gone!" Lysia informed them. Ares and Cyrus quickly looked around. Adrian was indeed no where in sight. "Boy, his departure was nothing like his arrival, I didn’t even know he had left," Ares said. "Me neither," Cyrus confessed. Lysia made her way over to the two adults standing in the doorway of the room. She handed the fifth and final piece to Cyrus before the three made their way back down the corridor. When they reached the main hall, they went over to the large altar where Cyrus removed the satchel he had been carrying and dumped out the other pieces of the Holy Saber and laid the fifth piece with them. Ares and Lysia watched as he lined up the five pieces, from the hilt to the last piece that they had just found. Now complete, the pieces melded together into their former glory---the Holy Saber. Ares gripped the hilt in a hand and raised the sword off of the altar. His brown eyes sparkled with awe as they wandered over the magnificent craftsmanship of the blade. Even the smith-god Hephaestus would have been envious. "At last...the weapon that will destroy Dahak," Ares declared not taking his eyes off the glistening blade. "Now we must get to Macedon." ********** In the light of torches, eerie shadows danced about the dark stone walls of the receiving room in Ares’ fortress located high in the snowy mountains of Macedon. In the midst of the empty room, the atmosphere began to swirl as the ether opened up then closed and opened up again as four shapes slowly took form out of pink orbs before becoming solid. When the pink orbs dissipated, in their wake stood Aphrodite, Autolycus, Salmoneus and Chin Jie. All four were bundled up in big black bear skin coats, heavily dusted with snow. The entire mountain region of Macedon was being pummeled by a severe snow storm – its effects so intense that it had hampered Aphrodite’s ability to transport the group using the ether, so they had to trudge up the mountain leading to Ares’ fortress on foot. But Aphrodite not being one to give up and thoroughly hating walking continued to try the ether until it did finally open and she was able to transport them directly inside the fortress. "By the gods, I didn’t think we would get here in one piece." Salmoneus ran his hands over the black bear coat covering his robust form, making sure he was all there. "Hey, don’t blame me. Mr. Tall, Dark and Evil is the one who created that monster storm." Aphrodite brushed the snow from the fur coat she wore. Not use to being covered up by so many clothes she longed to chuck the coat but not all of her powers had fully returned so she could still feel the cold and decided she would continue to wear it. "Yeah, Dahak is certainly trying his best to keep us out of these mountains. I just hope Xena and the others are able to find that old Titan temple in time," Autolycus said. Sounds of clashing steel and shouts could be heard coming from other parts of the fortress. Aphrodite crinkled her nose as a puzzled expression darkened her face. "What is going on?!" "It sounds like a battle," Chin Jie replied. "Here!? No way!" Aphrodite quickly left the receiving room and headed in the direction of the loud sounds. Her three companions followed after her. The sounds were coming from the large dinning hall and as they got closer it was quite obvious that a heated battle was in progress. When they reached the large room, Aphrodite’s pink lips hung open in shock. Troilus, Ismene and some of Ares’ warriors were fighting men dressed in black leather. Thanks to the medallions all four wore, they saw the red glow in the eyes of the black leather-clad men indicating they were part of Dahak’s demon army. Autolycus, Salmoneus and Chin Jie quickly made their way past the love goddess, swords already drawn, as they joined Ares’ worshippers in fighting Dahak’s men. Aphrodite saw the chambermaid Penelope crouching under the long dining table, her eyes filled with fear. Avoiding the combatants, Aphrodite cautiously made her way over to the table. When she reached it, she got down on all fours and joined the woman under the table. Surprise at seeing Aphrodite showed in Penelope’s eyes. "Goddess, you’re back! How is lord Ares?" "He’s fine, Penelope," Aphrodite replied. "How did Dahak’s men get in here? What happened to Ares’ gate?" She glanced out from under the table to look at the intense battle. Troilus had just plunged his sword deeply into the chest of his opponent. As the man fell to the ground, an orange cluster the size of a fist seeped from his body. Frantically, the cluster moved about the room, hovering about its occupants, desperately trying to find another host. When none could be found due to a medallion of protection or a body already being possessed with a demon, the orange cluster collided with a stone wall and in a spectacular burst of light, faded into nothingness. "Since lord Ares wasn’t here to maintain it and Dahak now rules Olympus, the gate started to collapse," Penelope replied while watching the unusual phenomenon. "Dahak’s men found out about the sick gods being here and began attacking the fortress early this morning." "Ooh, then we got here just in time. I have the antidote that will cure them." Aphrodite opened the fur coat she wore to reveal a large leather purse hanging from her waist. "Now, I’ve got to get it to them. You come with me." Aphrodite crawled out from under the table with Penelope following behind her. With heed but a dire urgency, the two made their way out of the dinning hall. Leaving the sounds of clashing steel and shouts behind them, the two ran down a stone corridor. When they came to a stairway, they quickly descended its lengths. As they got closer to the bottom, the sound of clashing steel and shouts were once again heard. When they reached the lower level, there in a cavern, the entranceway to the caves where the comatose gods were being kept, were more of Ares’ devoted worshippers led by Zethus, battling minions from Dahak’s army. For now, Ares’ men were keeping Dahak’s men from entering the caves but who knew how much longer they would be successful. Aphrodite and Penelope carefully made their way around the battling combatants and were headed for the caves when one of Dahak’s men landed on the ground in front of them. Both women came to a stop and stared at the fallen man. Quickly, he rose to his feet to face the two women. With red flames flickering in his eyes and his lips twisted in an evil snarl, the man approached them, wielding his menacing sword. Clutching each other, Aphrodite and Penelope began to back away from the approaching man. "What you need dude is a little love." Aphrodite threw out a hand, releasing rose petals to shower him but he swooshed them away with his sword. "Oh shoot!" The goddess cursed as she and Penelope continued backing away from him. Then all of a sudden the man halted his approach as a groan of discomfort escaped his lips. Some blood soon followed and his eyes widened in surprise as he fell to his stomach, dead, with a large axe deeply embedded in his back. Aphrodite and Penelope gazed in surprise at the dead man then to the wielder of the axe---Zethus. "Go on ladies, get out of here!" He shouted from the other side of the cavern. "Thanks Zeth!" Aphrodite smiled gratefully. With annoyance, the love goddess swatted away the orange cluster that had just left the dead man’s body and was flying around them as she and Penelope resumed their journey to the caves. The two quickly ran through the rest of the cavern. When they reached the caves, servants wielding swords and poised for attack greeted them. But when they saw whom it was they immediately sheathed their swords. One woman approached Aphrodite with a smile of relief on her face. "Goddess, you’re back!" "Yes, and I have the antidote that will cure the others." Aphrodite removed the large purse from around her waist and pulled out two goatskins. "Pour some of this into cups and start giving it to them." She handed one of the goatskins to the woman who then proceeded to carry out her orders. Penelope went with the woman to help. With the remaining goatskin, Aphrodite headed over to the beds that contained the comatose bodies of her son and husband. A faint smile graced her lovely face when she stood before the pair. She immediately sat herself in a chair between the two beds. She uncapped the goatskin, picked up a cup setting on a nearby table and poured a portion of the antidote into it. Then she turned towards her husband. "Now, I can bring you back Hephie." She placed a hand under his neck and lifted his head up as she put the cup to his lips, pouring some into his open mouth, as far back as she could get it to make sure a good portion went down his throat. Once she was assured he had downed a sufficient amount of the antidote, she refilled the cup and did the same with her son Cupid. After he took the antidote, she gave the goatskin to one of the servants who would distribute it to the other gods. Now, there was nothing to do but wait, so Aphrodite seated herself in the chair between the two beds, holding a hand from each god in one of hers. ********** Some time later, the fight with Dahak’s men finally reached an end. Autolycus, Salmoneus, Chen Jie and Ares’ worshippers defeated their demon possessed foes but not without sustaining casualties. After helping to attend to the wounded, Autolycus, Salmoneus and Chin Jie made their way to the caves that housed the comatose gods. There they found the love goddess seated in between the two beds containing Cupid and Hephaestus. Her pink lips were curved into a jubilant smile while the gods lying in the beds on either side of her had regained consciousness. "Wow does that antidote work fast!" Salmoneus glanced around the cave, looking at the beds and the recently awakened deities lying in them. "It sure does and I am so glad to have my family back!" Aphrodite squealed with delight as she brought the hands of the two gods she still held up to her lips, kissing the backs. "Thanks for helping Mom get the antidote to us," Cupid said with a voice hoarse from lack of use. "Yeah, thanks," Hephaestus added, his own voice hoarse too. "You’re welcome," Autolycus replied. "Living under Dahak has been Tartarus so you guys were greatly missed." "Hey Auto, there’s Hermes over there," Salmoneus informed him. "I’m going to go see how he’s doing." He headed for the bed containing the messenger god. "Us too," Auto put an arm around the shoulders of Chin Jie as he led the pair to the other side of the cave. "Herm is an ol’ pal of mine." "You have a god as a friend?" Chin Jie glanced at him incredulously. "Oh sure, we go waaay back. He even let me borrow his winged sandals one time. What a ride that was. I’ll tell you about it some time." CHAPTER 69 The sky was painted a red-orange hue above Athens as the sun slowly descended, making way for night. Merchants closed up their shops and people headed for their homes. Any nightlife in Athens had evaporated ever since Dahak’s minions took control of one of Greece’s most powerful city-states. Martial law was strictly enforced and no Athenian was to be walking the streets after sundown. Obeying the strict curfew like the rest of Athens citizens, Jason, King Iphicles and Nemesis entered a merchant shop, locking the door behind them. They quickly removed their outer clothing revealing the warrior garb they wore underneath. The three made their way through the shop to the back door that led out into an alleyway. There, Ephiny, Solari and Aurora met them. "The guards stationed on the roof of the assembly hall have been handled. The only ones left are the ones inside," Iphicles informed in a whisper. "Good, now let’s go," Ephiny replied. ********** A large torch was situated on each of the four marble walls of the main hall inside the structure. Lined up in rows on the floor and rooted in large clay pots were the lava plants. Their flowers, not yet bloomed, glowed a bright orange in the flickering flames of the burning torches. Two entranceways led into the main hall with a pair of guards stationed at each. In silence they stood watch over the lava plants, a red flame flickering in their eyes, indicating demon possession. In an instant, both pairs of guards were wrestled to the ground, making as little noise as possible. Before they could cry out to their comrades, each guard was permanently silenced with a quick slash to the throat. Ephiny, Solari and Aurora stood over a pair of bodies while Jason, Iphicles and Nemesis did the same with the remaining pair. All watched the orange clusters leave the four bodies in a frantic search to find new hosts before they faded into oblivion. "Okay, let’s burn these babies," Ephiny grabbed a torch off the wall. "We’ll let your four ladies do the honors," Iphicles said as he and Jason took up watch at the two entranceways to look out for more of Dahak’s men. The two Amazons and Nemesis quickly grabbed the remaining torches and along with Ephiny stood before the many rows of potted lava plants. The four approached the plants, poised to torch them, when each was zapped with a bolt of energy, instantly knocking them to the floor, unconscious. "What in Tar..." was all Jason managed to get out as he too, along with Iphicles was hit with a bolt of energy and knocked into unconsciousness. ********** "Oh, my head," Ephiny painfully moaned, placing her hands against her temples. "I haven’t felt this bad since I gave up drinking," Jason groaned. The others groaned in agony too as everyone slowly regained consciousness. "What happened?" Iphicles asked as he rose from the floor into a sitting position. His eyes immediately widened. "Oh boy, we’ve got problems." The others rose to sitting positions to gaze at the many guards standing around them as they sat on the floor of the main hall. A disembodied feminine voice was heard laughing evilly throughout the room. "Oh no," Nemesis groaned as she rolled her eyes in recognition and disgust. In a dazzling display of light, Discord’s petite form came into view with her still laughing. "You mortals are SO predictable. I knew you would attack this facility so I had a trap set for you." Jason gazed up and down at her leather and lace clad form. "Y’know, you had better legs as a chicken." Nemesis put a hand over her mouth to stifle laughter, as did the others. "Watch it mortal, or the next time you may be zapped to ashes!" Discord gave the former king a deadly stare, letting an orange flame flicker in her dark eyes. "So, what are you going to do with us?" Ephiny asked. "Since you have all been so obsessed with the lava plants..." Discord walked over to each of the captured mortals and one by one yanked the medallions to ward off demon possession from their necks. "I’m going to let you get up close and personal with them." Her blood red lips twisted into a wicked smile. ********** The wind deafeningly howled as its strong gusts violently swirled snow around taking visibility down to almost nil. Out of the bright stormy night sky, the winged stallion Pegasus along with four griffins descended to land in a field next to a barn Xena deftly dismounted from Pegasus’ white broad back while Hercules, Iolaus, Cecrops and Joxer did the same with the griffins. The wind whipped around her and she had to hold on tightly to the fur hood covering her head. With the poor visibility, she glanced at their surroundings. They had landed in a field next to a barn and a couple other smaller structures. One of the smaller structures appeared to be a cottage. Squinting, Xena could vaguely see what appeared to be light seeping through the cracks of closed shutters. "I’m going to see who’s in the cottage," Xena said. "You can take the animals to the barn." She handed Pegasus reins to Hercules then proceeded towards the cottage. Holding onto the fur hood covering her head, Xena had to trudge through snow up to her knees to get to the cottage. When she stood before its wooden door, she banged on it loudly. A few moments later, the door opened and there stood a middle-aged woman. "Oh my, do come in!" The woman said as she stepped aside. Xena did as she suggested and quickly came inside after which the woman closed the door. She was removing the hood from her head and turning to face the woman when the sound of another enter the room. "Olivia, who was at the door?" A man asked. Xena quickly whirled around to face him. There she saw a bulky man a little taller than her standing with a lanky teenage boy. "I was just about to find out, Dimitar." Olivia looked to their unexpected guest. "I am Xena." "Oh wow! You’re that warrior princess aren’t you!?" The boy asked with excitement. "Michal, what are you taking about?" Dimitar asked. "Dad, this is the woman in those stories we heard at the tavern…the one that fights warlords and protects the innocent." Olivia’s eyes raked over Xena. "Nah, she can’t be her, Michal. She’s not big enough. This Xena would have to be huge to do all that stuff they say she does in those stories." "But Mom, she has black hair and blue eyes, just like it’s described in the stories," Michal insisted. He look to Xena once again, awe filling his eyes. "So, are you her?" Xena would never get use to the hero-worship she now received but in this dire situation, it could come in handy. "Yes Michal, I am that Xena." "Oh WOW…I knew it!" The teenager exclaimed. "Wait ‘til Pavel and Yordan here this! The warrior princess is at our house!" The young man raced into the other room and quickly came out again – a fur coat in his hands. "And where do you think you’re going?" Olivia asked her son. "I’m going to Pavel’s and Yordan’s cottage." Michal put on his coat. "I’ve gotta bring them here. They will never take my word alone that Xena was in our house." "You are not leaving this house young man." Olivia declared with her hands placed on her hips. "But Mom…" Michal whined, he looked towards his father. "Your mother is right. It is too dangerous for anyone to be wandering around in that snow storm," Dimitar said. "Your friends Pavel and Yordan will just have to take your word that Xena was here." With a disappointed frown on his face, Michal took off his coat and put it back in the other room. Not use to having visitors to their remote home and certainly not one that was famous, the two adults turned their attention once again to their unexpected guest. "I am so sorry Xena, where are my manners. You must be hungry, let me get you something to eat." Olivia headed over to the hearth where I large pot simmered above a roaring fire. "And let me take your coat," Dimitar offered. "Thank you but that’s really not necessary," Xena said. "What I really need is to use your barn. I am traveling with some friends and we all have animals that are weary from the storm and need to rest." "Oh of course…we’ll let you use our barn," Dimitar said. "Where are your friends?" Olivia asked, her face riddled with concern. "Right now, they are probably standing outside your barn," Xena replied. "Oh, it’s freezing out there." The woman looked to her husband and son. "Dimitar and Michal, you go with Xena and help her friends get their animals settled in the barn then you all come back here." Dimitar and Michal quickly put on their fur coats and left the cottage with Xena, headed for the barn. When they got there, they found four men, a winged horse and four other winged creatures standing at the door of the barn. Michal stared at the white winged horse in awe. "Is that Pegasus?" "Yes it is," Hercules replied, patting the large animal on the side. "And what about those…what are they?" Dimitar asked, extending a glove-covered hand in the direction of the other winged animals that each had the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. "They are griffins," Cecrops replied. "Wow, and I thought they were only monsters in fables!" Michal breathed in awe. Dimitar unlocked the barn door and pulled it open. The others, leading the animals immediately went inside to escape the swirling snow. Two horses and a cow stood in three of the six stalls. Chickens were confined to a pen as were some pigs and several sheep. "We will have to double up some of the animals to get them all in stalls," Michal said. Xena and the others immediately went about the task of getting Pegasus and the four griffins settled in stalls. Dimitar and Michal helped them. Joxer danced about on his feet, an uncomfortable frown on his face. "Y’know something, I could really use an outhouse about now." Dimitar couldn’t help but chuckle as he gazed at the man’s frantic movements while removing the saddle from the back of one of the griffins. "There’s one in back of the barn." "Thanks." Joxer quickly made his way out of the barn. "Hey, I’m right behind you, Joxer." Cecrops quickly followed after him. "Dimitar, how far are we from the old Titan temple?" Xena asked. "Oh, you mean the Shrine of Colossus," Michal chimed in from a stall where he stood running a hand through Pegasus’ snowy white mane. "In the spring, I let the sheep nibble on the grass there. That thing is huge…takes up one whole side of the mountain." "Xena didn’t ask all that Michal. Just where the temple is." Dimitar said glaring at his son before softening his gaze when he turned to look at Xena. "You can find the old Titan temple on the very next mountain peak south of our farm." "Thanks." Xena covered her head with the fur hood. "You are not going to try to get to that temple now are you?" Michal asked. "Yes I am." Xena headed for the barn door. "But that storm is so bad, you can hardly see anything out there," Dimitar said. "My Dad is right. You will never find the temple in this weather and will most likely freeze to death." "You should wait until the storm ends…it shouldn’t go on much longer," Dimitar said. "Why do you have to go to the temple anyway?" "My son and best friend are being held prisoner up there. If we wait for the storm to end, it will be too late for them," Xena replied. She looked towards Hercules and Iolaus. "Are you two coming with me or what?" Both knew Xena was right. Dahak had created this storm to keep them from reaching the Titan temple and it would only end when his evil plan was completed which would most likely cost Lycus and Gabrielle their lives. Covering their heads with fur hoods, the two men joined their friend at the barn door. Xena was just about to pull it open when Joxer beat her to it---he and Cecrops stepping back into the barn. "Man, do I feel so much better. Now I could use something warm in my stomach." Joxer ran a glove-covered hand in a circular motion over the part of the coat covering his belly. "There’s no time for food, we are leaving." Xena brushed past them and stepped outside. "Leaving!? But, what about..." Joxer stopped mid-sentence, his face riddled with confusion. He looked at Cecrops who had a look of confusion on his face too. Both men looked towards Hercules and Iolaus. "We’ll explain on the way," Hercules said as he and Iolaus followed after Xena. Shrugging their shoulders, Joxer and Cecrops followed their three companions. "Don’t worry about Pegasus and the griffins, we’ll take good care of them," Michal quickly shouted as the barn door was closed. ********** The sun rose in the clear blue sky over the Greek city of Miletos, marking the start of what would be a beautiful day. "All right Celeus, time to get up." Janthia shook her husband’s shoulder as he lay in the bed beside her. "Aw c’mon Jan, let me sleep a little while longer," he pleaded while snuggling more into the pillow beneath his head. "Sorry Celeus, not today. That priest of Dahak will be at the shop early this morning and you know you have to be there to meet him." Janthia rose from the bed, pulling the sheets and blankets off her husband in the process. "Oh, that’s right. Damn Dahak and his priests," Celeus grumbled as he slowly rose to a sitting position. "I’m going to check on Nicander, then I’ll make breakfast." Janthia left the bedroom. Yawning and stretching a bit, Celeus finally rose to his feet. Walking slowly, he made his way over to a table where a basin and a pitcher of water was set. Rubbing an eye with a closed fist, he poured some water from the pitcher into the basin. "I’ve got to wake up," Celeus mumbled while placing both hands in the basin, cupping some water and bringing it up to splash on his face. He was about to repeat this action when he felt a slight tremble. Celeus didn’t cup more water and just stood there staring at the table, the pitcher and basin as all three trembled. "Uh oh." He quickly glanced around and saw that the whole house was now shaking. "Oh by the gods, it’s an earthquake!" Janthia wailed as she ran back into their bedroom, clutching their one-year-old son Nicander in her arms. Filled with fear, the woman latched on to her husband’s right arm. "No, I don’t think it’s an earthquake." Celeus proceeded into the main room of the small house, with his wife still clutching his arm. He walked over to the large window and pulled open the shutters. Celeus and Janthia both stared wide-eyed and with their mouths agape as they saw the source of the violent trembling. Moving at top speed, dozens of horses galloped down the city street. Atop their backs were men dressed in dark gray armor, a Persian insignia engraved on the chest and back. "It’s the Persian army!" Celeus said. "Oh no, they’re attacking us!" Janthia held her son closer and stared out the window in disbelief. "And I thought Dahak was the worst...now this!" As the family gazed out the window, they saw one of the Persian soldiers put a horn up to his lips and in a loud voice said, "PEOPLE OF MELITOS, WE ARE NOT HERE TO HARM YOU. STAY IN YOUR HOMES AND DO NOT VENTURE INTO THE STREETS." "Hmm, that’s odd. If they’re not here to attack us then why are they here?" Celeus asked. "Hey, what’s this gray stuff around the window?" Janthia placed a hand along the rim of the window collecting some of the gray stuff on her fingers. "It looks like some kind of paint." She inspected the substance on her fingers, as did her husband. Janthia glanced at the structures across the street. "And look at the windows on the homes over there, they have this gray stuff around them too." "The Persian army must have did this," Celeus said. "But why?" Janthia asked, a confused look on her face. "I don’t know," Celeus replied, shrugging his shoulders. "I gotta find out what’s going on." He moved away from the window. "But you heard the soldier. We are to stay in the house," Janthia reminded him. "I won’t leave. I just need to use another window so I can see what’s going on." Celeus moved to a window on the side of the house and opened the shutters. Janthia now stood by him. "Wow, would you look at that!" Some distance down the street from their house, the family could see that the Persian army was converging on a structure that was used by Dahak’s army to store and cultivate lava plants. Men atop horses tossed canisters into the structure that exploded upon impact leaving the structure filled with flames. A contingent from Dahak’s demon army appeared on the scene with their swords drawn and began to fight the Persians. The sound of clashing steel now mingled with the crackling of flames. "The Persians are here to fight Dahak!" Celeus stared with disbelief at the battle waging before them. "Oh thank the gods our prayers have been answered," Janthia said smiling with relief as she kissed Nicander’s rosy cheek and held him close. Smiling too, Celeus draped an arm around his wife’s shoulders and pulled her closer to him as the little family continued to watched the battle to liberate their city from evil. ********** Iphicles pulled with all his might against the chains restraining his arms but they wouldn’t yield. "Damn!" He breathed as he collapsed against the wall, slightly out of breath. "Save your strength Iphicles. These chains are not breaking," Ephiny said as she stood beside him. "Yeah, they were forged by Hephaestus so not even a god can break them," Nemesis said. "Discord certainly wanted to make sure we couldn’t go anywhere." Jason glanced at the glum expressions on the faces of his comrades. All six of them---Iphicles, Ephiny, Jason, Solari, Aurora and Nemesis were spread eagle and chained by their arms and legs to a stone wall in a large Athenian structure. "I wonder how much longer we have?" Solari stared at the six lava plants set in clay pots, lined up before them. Their large orange flowers were ready to bloom at any moment, releasing their demon inhabitants who would need bodies. "I don’t care if it’s hopeless, I’m going to fight whatever demon tries to take my body." Aurora’s tone was firm as she held her chin high. The others voiced the same sentiments. A moment later, a loud explosion was heard, shaking the structure in which they were being held followed by loud shouts. "By the gods, what was that!?" Ephiny asked. Once again, a very loud explosion was heard followed by a succession of smaller ones. "It sounds like Athens is under attack," Iphicles deduced. "It’s got to be our people," Solari said with excitement in her voice. "If it is, I hope they get here soon..." Jason said. "’cause look!" All fixed their gazes on the lava plants as the large orange petals of one of the plants began to slowly open. Everyone braced himself or herself---not knowing which one the demon would attack for a body. The flower was almost completely open and about to release the demon it held when out of nowhere, an axe cut the blooming flower sending it to the floor below. The six prisoners quickly turned to see who had thrown the axe. "Draco!" All six said in unison with large smiles of relief gracing their faces. "Here, we gotta get these on you!" Draco and Meleager raced over to the chained group and quickly put around the neck of each, a medallion to ward off demon possession. The demon that had been in the flower now frantically moved about the room looking for a host. When it could find none, it faded into oblivion. "By the gods did you two time that just right," Ephiny said as she watched Draco remove the restraints from her arms. "We would have been here sooner but there were some members of Dahak’s army we had to deal with first," Draco said. "How did you know we were here?" Jason asked. "Some soldiers in the Corinthian army discovered where you were being held and we volunteered to free you," Meleager replied. "So, were the pieces to the Holy Saber found?" Iphicles asked. "Yes and no," Draco replied with a grim frown. "What Draco means is that all of the pieces were found except for one that was never mentioned in the scrolls," Meleager said. "You mean we still have no way to destroy Dahak once and for all?" Ephiny asked. "No we don’t but we do have a sure lead on where the final piece is," Draco replied. "Ares and Cyrus were sent to get it and they will bring it back here." "Do you have any news that would be considered good?" Iphicles asked. "An antidote was found to counter the Hind’s blood poison infecting the Olympians," Meleager replied. "That is good news," Nemesis said. Even though she wasn’t a goddess anymore, Nemesis still considered the Olympians her family and she didn’t want to see them dead. "I hope that antidote works fast because some godly help in kicking demon butt would be nice," Aurora said. The others nodded in agreement. "Speaking of demon butt, we better go tackle some." Draco headed for the doors and the others followed him. When the group reached the street, an intense battle was underway as soldiers from the Corinthian and Persian armies fought Dahak’s demon soldiers. Explosions mixed with screams of terror filled the air as Athenians ran for their lives, seeking shelter away from the fighting. Darnelle and Glaphyra fought back to back as they crossed swords with the soldiers comprising Dahak’s dark army. Nebula and the crew from the Oasis took part in the battle too. Situated on rooftops, high above the city, stood the city’s patron goddess Athena along with her twin siblings Apollo and Artemis. The Olympians had not fully recovered from the Hind’s blood poisoning but they wanted to take part any way they could in the fight against Dahak. Athena extended an arm, releasing a fireball from her hand that hit one of Dahak’s soldiers instantly igniting him into a ball of fire. The man screamed in agony as he frantically made his way down the street, colliding with a comrade and setting him ablaze too before both fell to the street dead. In the middle of the ensuing battle, Discord’s petite form came into view out of shards of bright light. Her porcelain face immediately darkened upon seeing the fighting taking place around her---Dahak’s men clearly losing. "What in Tartarus is going on here?!" The goddess shouted. "Ah Discord, so nice of you to drop in." Discord quickly glanced upward. Her dark eyes widened in shock when she saw Artemis standing atop a structure smiling down at her. "NO!!! You are suppose to be dead!!!" She screamed. "We would be dead but a cure was found for the Hind’s blood poison you gave us," Athena said. Discord quickly whirled around and now looked up at the goddess of wisdom. Fear began to race through her body when she heard male laughter. Once again she whirled around and saw Apollo standing atop one of the buildings. "It looks like your days as Queen of Olympus are over," the god said with a mocking smile. An energy ball began to form in his right hand. Energy balls formed in the hands of Athena and Artemis too. Simultaneously and with lightening quick speed all three deities threw the balls at Discord. "This is where I make my exit!" Discord shimmered out of sight just as the combined energy balls hit where she had been standing. The impact sent out a shock wave that hit several of Dahak’s soldiers knocking them hard into buildings, killing them instantly. The battle waged on for the rest of the day and well into the night. It was almost dawn when the contingent of Dahak’s army in Athens was completely annihilated. Shouts of joy were heard throughout the city as Athenians along with their liberators celebrated the tremendous victory over Dahak’s forces. With the liberation of Athens, their headquarters for disbursing lava plants throughout Greece, it wouldn’t take long to free the other cities from Dahak’s evil grasp. CHAPTER 70 With an arrogant smirk plastered across his face, Caesar strolled into the library of his palatial home. He removed a royal blue cloak, cavalierly tossing it onto a divan as he headed over to a table where a bottle of wine and some goblets were set. He was pouring some wine into a goblet when he heard another and quickly looked up. "Ah Brutus, it’s good to see you old friend, care for some wine?" "Yes, thanks." Brutus headed over to the table. "You are certainly in a good mood," He took the filled goblet that Caesar extended to him. "Why shouldn’t I be?" Caesar quickly sipped some of the wine as he began walking about the room. "I triumphed over Crassus and Pompey, I just returned from a victorious campaign in Spain and now the people of Rome have declared me dictator for life." He stood before a large window and gazed out at the city’s impressive skyline glistening in the rays of the mid-day sun---colossal white stone structures that looked majestic enough to be residences for the gods themselves. "You do know that the Senate will fight you on this?" Brutus asked before taking a sip from his goblet. "Let them try...they can’t fight the people…it’s what they want. It’s my destiny." Caesar smiled with confidence. The door to the library softly opened and in stepped a servant. "Lord Caesar, this package arrived while you were in Spain." Held in his arms was a long box, which he placed on the table, and then he quietly left the library. Brutus curiously eyed the box. "Is that what I think it is?" "There’s only one way to find out." Caesar moved to stand before the table once again, his eyes fixed on the box. There was a note attached to the top that he picked up, opened and read aloud. "Here is the sword that was promised you...a small token of my gratitude for the service you did me---D." "So, he did keep his promise," Brutus mused. "It would appear so." Caesar lifted the lid of the box and pulled back the blood red velvet shrouding the contents. His lips curved into a pleased smile as he grasped then lifted the priceless object. With the hilt held firmly in a hand, his eyes gazed in awe at the magnificent weapon. Caesar had seen the sword on many occasions and had always been impressed by its divine craftsmanship. Stored within it was the power of a god---a power that went beyond even Caesar’s comprehension. But such power was now his and fitting for the dictator of Rome. "I didn’t want to believe Dahak when he said he had killed Mars but it must be true because that is indeed his sword." Brutus was just as transfixed by the sword as Caesar. "It certainly is." Caesar didn’t take his glance from the divine weapon but his face became riddled with puzzlement. "I thought holding it was suppose to transfer Mars’ powers to me but I don’t feel any different." "Maybe you are suppose to recite something," Brutus suggested. "Are there any other notes in the box?" Caesar rifled a hand through the box. "No, nothing." His brow wrinkled with confusion. "How am I suppose to obtain Mars’ power?" Once again, the servant entered the library. "Lord Caesar, the chariot is ready to take you to the Senate building." Once again he quietly left. "And I wanted so much to go before the Senate as a god." He frowned with disappointment, then sighed while he placed the sword back in the box. "Oh well, it will happen soon enough." He retrieved the royal blue cloak from the divan and placed it about his shoulders. "Come Brutus." Caesar left the library with his trusted friend following in silence and in deep thought behind him. A few moments after the pair’s departure, the door of the library softly opened and in stepped a figure wearing a long dark robe, his face obscured by a large hood. Moving quietly, he made his way over to the table where the box was set. When he stood before it, he picked up the sword of Mars, twirled it in a hand, admiring the blade before safely tucking the weapon inside the robe. Then as quietly as he had come, the robed figure left the library. ********** Nervously, Gabrielle paced the floor of the room that had been her prison for a couple days now. Hope had wanted to help her mother escape, risking her father’s wrath but Gabrielle had refused to flee if Lycus was to remain a prisoner. So there she stayed. It had been a whole day since the last time Gabrielle had seen her daughter and she was really starting to worry. What if Hope had tried to get to Lycus in an attempt to free them both but Dahak found out and had severely punished her, possibly killing her? Such thoughts ate away at Gabrielle’s conscience as she paced back and forth---back and forth. She was brought out of such thoughts when she heard a soft creak. Gabrielle quickly turned towards the door. Instantly, a smile of relief came to her face as she went over to her daughter, who now stood in the room. "Oh Hope, I am so glad to see you. I was so afraid that your father had done something horrible to you." "No Mother, father didn’t hurt me. I was just busy trying to find out what is going on," Hope said. With puzzled look on her face, Gabrielle looked to the swords held in Hope’s hands. "What are those for?" "I figured we could use them. I found out that today, something important is happening in the main hall of the temple and it involves Lycus. If we want any chance of rescuing him, now would be the best time." Hope held up a sword for her mother to take. Gabrielle backed away, an uncomfortable look now on her face. Hope wearily sighed. "Look Mother, I know you abhor killing but who we are fighting are demons who KILLED the owners of the bodies in which they now reside. If those innocent people are to have any peace in the afterlife, we MUST kill their bodies." Gabrielle knew her daughter was right so she finally took the sword offered her. "Now follow me." Hope led her mother out of the room and down a corridor, which ended at a stone staircase. The pair quickly descended its lengths. "This way." Hope pointed in the direction of another corridor. The two were headed in that direction when several men and women dressed in black robes stepped out of a room just off the corridor. Gabrielle and Hope immediately came to a stop and stared at the gathered group, now blocking their path. Only one man among them was wearing a black robe with gold trimming that indicated his authority---it was Cratos. "Oh Hope, why do you keep defying Dahak’s will and betraying him?" The priest shook his head with sadness. "Because my father’s will is EVIL and must be STOPPED!" "Such talk is blasphemous!" Cratos hissed. "Dahak’s kingdom is at hand and NOTHING can stop it." "You wanna bet." In a quick motion, Gabrielle jabbed the hilt of the sword she held into the stomach of the man closest to her. Instantly, he doubled over in pain allowing her to bring the hilt down hard on the back of his head, knocking him into unconsciousness. Instantly, the others removed swords from their robes, wielding them in a threatening manner as they approached Gabrielle and Hope. ********** The dark eerie atmosphere of the temple’s main hall lessened under the bright flickering flames of torches situated about the room. Two rows of massive columns ran down the center of the hall, coming to a stop just before several steps that ascended to a stone platform where two altars were set. A circular opening in the ceiling high above the platform allowed the rays of the sun to pour in and bathe the area in a golden light. The old Titan temple was at the eye of the severe snowstorm that Dahak had created to keep Xena and her friends from reaching it so it was the only location in the mountains of Macedon that had pleasant weather. On the far side of the main hall, just beyond the rows of massive columns was a wide crack in the floor, descending into a black bottomless pit. Centuries ago, a major earthquake shook the region and this was the permanent mark left behind. With soft footsteps, dozens of Dahak’s followers, dressed in black robes, made their way into the main hall, splitting off into two groups, each forming a line parallel to the rows of columns. They bowed their heads in silent prayer a few moments before turning their focus towards the hall’s entranceway. Minos entered the hall, followed by Lycus then Dahak. All three walked down the pathway between the large columns with robed followers standing on each side. Minos was dressed in a blood red robe. Lycus was dressed in a black robe. The child just looked ahead of him, his crystal blue eyes fixed in a glassy stare, his lips slightly trembling as a vision of everyone he loved being brutally murdered continuously appeared before him. For the last two days, this is how Dahak had tormented the boy’s waking and sleeping hours, tearing to shreds the child’s resistance to his will until he had mentally shut down. Dahak was also dressed in a black robe. The smooth olive skin of his handsome face was partially marred by greenish-brown scales---signs visible to all that he was losing the power to keep the curse laid upon him centuries ago in check. When Lycus stood before the many steps, Minos ushered the child up them and over to one of the altars where his small body was laid atop the cold stone. Dahak also ascended the steps and laid upon the remaining altar. His faithful followers disassembled the two lines and came to stand just at the edge of the two rows of columns, their gaze turned upward so they could witness what would take place atop the platform. Minos stood between the two altars. From his blood red robe, he pulled out a dagger, and held it up for all to see---the hilt was onyx---the blade silvery and curved. He took hold of Dahak’s right hand. "Let the blood flow." In a swift motion, he ran the blade of the dagger across the palm, cutting the godly flesh. The faithful who stood below witnessing the ritual began to slightly sway and murmur dark prayers. Minos gazed down at the altar where Lycus lay. The boy’s crystal blue eyes still had a glassy stare as they gazed up at nothing in particular. The child was completely oblivious to the events unfolding around him. The priest took hold of the child’s left hand and ran the blade of the dagger across the small palm. The faithful continued to sway but ceased their prayers as they watched Minos take hold of each participant’s hand and pressed the cut palms together. The platform grew dark as the moon moved to hide the sun from view with an eclipse. The priest looked towards the now dark heavens and with a loud voice shouted. "LET THE FLOWING BLOOD MERGE THESE TWO BEINGS INTO ONE!!!" A cold wind rushed in from the opening in the ceiling, whipping through the hall---swirling around the massive stone columns of the old titan temple and those in attendance. Slowly, Dahak closed his eyes as did Lycus whose body also started trembling. ********** Having gained the sword of a fallen follower, Hope used it to block the blow of her opponent as she plunged the sword she held in the other hand into his chest. A gasp of pain escaped his lips as he fell over dead. Hope quickly glanced in her mother’s direction. Using her powers, she levitated the sword of the man she had just killed from the floor. Gabrielle blocked the incoming blade of Cratos’ sword while delivering a swift kick to the priest’s midsection, knocking him away from her. With a pair of red flames dancing in his eyes and his lips curled into an angry snarl, he lunged towards her but came to an immediate halt as a gasp escaped his lips. With a look of surprise on his face, Cratos gazed downward, letting his fingers touch the blade tip protruding through his chest. He turned his head to look at a smiling Hope then his eyes rolled back in his head as he fell to his stomach dead. Gabrielle looked at the slain priest then her daughter. "Where did you learn to use a sword?" "You wouldn’t remember but Castor and I use to practice with sticks at his cottage. After I left, I bought a sword and practiced in secret." Hope quickly glanced at the Temple’s main entranceway. Outside it was dark which was odd considering it was the middle of the afternoon. A look of concern now covered her face. "We’ve got to get to the main hall." Seeing her daughter’s expression filled Gabrielle with worry as the two quickly made their way down the corridor headed towards the main hall. ********** "MERGED INTO ONE…THESE TWO SHALL FOREVER BE JOINED!!!" Minos shouted. "NOOO!!!" Gabrielle yelled while running down the column-lined pathway with Hope at her side. The green eyes of both women widened in horror when they looked up and saw what was taking place atop the platform. Minos turned his gaze toward the two women, his eyes burning with anger. "They are infidels…KILL THEM BOTH!!!" He quickly extended an arm, pointing directly at Gabrielle and Hope. The faithful turned to look at the intruders, their eyes flickering with red flames as they drew swords from their robes and raced towards the women. Filled with resolve to do what was necessary, Gabrielle blocked the incoming blade of an attacker then plunged a sword into his gut. Hope was doing the same with the faithful that attacked her. Out of nowhere, the chakram whizzed through the air, cutting down one of Dahak’s followers. "Xena!" Gabrielle and Hope both said with surprise. "Yiyiyiyiyiyi," the warrior princess cried as she did a somersault in the air, landing in the middle of the battle. With her sword already drawn she plunged it into an attacker while she raised a hand and caught the chakram as it whizzed towards her. Hercules, Iolaus, Cecrops and Joxer had quickly made their way into the main hall and with swords drawn began to fight Dahak’s followers. Focused on getting to the stone platform, Xena deftly wielded her sword, cutting down any of Dahak’s followers who got in her path. When Minos saw her coming up the steps, he released the two hands from his grasp and pulled a sword from inside his robe. "It’s been a long time Xena." He viciously swung the sword at her as she made her way onto the platform. "Not long enough," Xena blocked the blow with such force that it knocked the sword from the grasp of the shocked priest. "BYE, Minos." Smiling wickedly she plunged her sword into his chest but to her surprise, he didn’t die. "HA-HA-HA," Minos evilly laughed. "You can’t kill me, Xena. Dahak gave me immortality." Grabbing the exalted high priest by the collar of his robe, she hurled him off the stone platform. Xena quickly went over to the altars. Dahak appeared to be unconscious. Without the Holy Saber, there was really nothing she could do to him so she focused on Lycus. His eyes were still closed as his small body slightly trembled. She raised him into a sitting position, wrapping an arm around him. "Lycus, it’s Mom, can you hear me?" His eyes remained closed and his small body continued to tremble but his lips parted and issued a groan. Xena ran a hand through his curly black hair as she kissed his forehead. "I won’t lose you." She proceeded to lift her son, to drape him over a shoulder. "I can’t let you take the boy, Xena." Dahak had moved to a sitting position and swung the sword he now held at her. Xena instantly blocked the blow as she laid Lycus back on the altar and turned her attention to Dahak. The evil god was now on his feet. She gazed at the greenish-brown scales partially covering Dahak’s face. "That cursed body is where you will remain because I won’t let you take my son’s!" "You’re too late Xena. The transformation process is already underway so his body is already MINE." Xena stole a quick glance at Lycus. Despite the interruption of the ceremony he was still in the same condition as when she first saw him---his eyes closed, his body trembling. Issuing a loud yell, Xena viciously swung her sword at Dahak but he instantly blocked the blow. But she repeated with one powerful swing after another, pushing him away until he stood on the very edge of the platform. Xena pressed the blade of her sword hard against Dahak’s---the metals screeching in protest. "Give it up, Xena." Dahak pressed his sword against hers. "You can’t win." "NEVER!!!" With one hard shove, Xena sent Dahak and his sword tumbling backwards down the many stone steps. Leaping from the platform, Xena landed at the base of the steps. Her gaze fell on the woman with Gabrielle’s old appearance who ferociously plunged her sword into one of Dahak’s robed followers then quickly headed towards the steps leading up to the platform. "Where do you think you’re going?" The warrior princess immediately blocked her path, wielding her sword in a threatening manner. "Xena, it’s okay. I’m on your side," Hope insisted. The warrior woman gazed at the sword held in Hope’s hand---covered in the blood of Dahak’s faithful. When she arrived in the main hall she had seen Hope fighting alongside Gabrielle against Dahak’s minions but could she really be trusted? "You have to kill Father. It’s the only way you can save Lycus." Hope said. At the mention of her son, Xena stole a glance up at the platform---her face now riddled with concern. "Don’t worry about Lycus. I’ll watch over and protect him with my very life." Hope’s tone was deep with sincerity. Xena had no choice but to trust her so she stepped aside and let Hope proceed up the steps while she went to take care of Dahak. The interruption of the transfer ceremony had weakened the evil god so his tumble down the many stone steps had severely dazed him. Slowly he rose to stand just as Xena came at him, mightily swinging her sword. With only a split second to spare he raised his own sword to block the blow. ********** When Hope finally reached the stone platform, she quickly made her way over to the two altars. On one, she found the young boy, curled up in a ball with his back to her. She rolled him over so that he faced her. Hope immediately saw how much he looked like Ares. His eyes were closed and his small body trembled as if from a chill. He appeared so helpless, so vulnerable. "Oh, you poor child. What has Father done to you?" Hope lifted Lycus into her arms and proceeded to carry him down the steps. Avoiding the intense fighting, Hope made her way over to the far side of the hall, beyond the massive columns, near the deep crevice that split the floor. There she sat, holding Lycus in her arms, trying to offer the child some comfort. Once again, a groan escaped his lips. When Hope gazed down at his young face, she gasped in horror. Lycus had opened his eyes, revealing orbs as black as night! ********** While his strength slowly returned, Dahak remained on the defensive, having to block the fierce swings of Xena’s sword as she pushed him back. The pair had fought their way over to the deep crevice in the floor. Others now battled in the area too. Cecrops had his opponent dangling at the very edge of the bottomless pit when he plunged his sword into the man then swiftly removed it. The man fell into the pit, his ear-piercing scream echoing out of earshot. Due to her relentless attack, Xena had created an opening in Dahak’s defenses and delivered a couple fierce punches to his face, leaving the god rocking and reeling. For that one moment, his defenses were entirely down so she plunged her sword into his chest. "AAHHHH!!!" Lycus screamed as his body jerked from an unknown pain. His sudden outburst scared Hope who didn’t know what was wrong. The fighting was getting close to where they were so she rose to her feet with Lycus in her arms prepared to move to a safe spot. She looked to where Xena was fighting Dahak. The warrior woman’s sword was shoved almost to the hilt into the evil god’s body as she tried to push him into the bottomless pit. Hope gazed down at the child, his face was contorted in pain as soft whimpers escaped his lips. Instantly her green eyes widen in understanding as she looked towards the fighting pair. "NO XENA, STOP!" Hope yelled. "YOU’RE HURTING LYCUS. YOU MUST STOP!!!" Hearing Hope’s cries, Xena ceased her attempt to push Dahak into the crevice. With murderous contempt, she gazed at him. "Hope is right Xena. Your sword has no affect on me but it is killing your son," Dahak said. The warrior princess stole a quick glance in the direction of Lycus. His young face was contorted in pain. Reluctantly, she pulled her sword from Dahak’s body as the evil god laughed over her dilemma. "I told you that you couldn’t win Xena." With his strength having fully returned Dahak backhanded the warrior princess hard, knocking her to the floor some feet away from him. The god was immediately upon her fallen form. His face was darkened from rage as he reached down, grabbed a handful of black tresses and pulled her to her feet. Using her sword, Xena tried to ward him off, but he knocked the weapon from her grasp, kneeing her hard in the stomach for good measure. The blow knocked the wind out of Xena and had her doubled over as she tried to catch her breath. Yanking hard on the hair he still grasped, Dahak wrenched her face up so she was looking at him. Xena’s crystal blue eyes were filled with defiance as she gazed at the evil god, his eyes mirroring her own. From her mouth, she shot a wad of spit that landed on the side of his face covered with greenish-brown scales. So angry was Dahak, that he delivered a godly punch to Xena’s mouth, drawing blood. "You insolent child!" Dahak tightened the grip he had on Xena’s hair but she was too stubborn to cry out. "I reveal your true heritage, offer you a place by my side and you turn your back on it!" Using godly force, he shoved her some distance away from him. With a thud, Xena landed on her back. She wiped away the blood trickling from a corner of her mouth as she painfully rose to a sitting position. But Dahak was instantly upon her and with a boot, roughly pushed her onto her back again. Xena gazed up into his cold eyes as he stood over her. "I gave you life and I can take it away!" He raised his right arm as an orange glow began to form in his hand. "Look! The eclipse is clearing!" Hope extended an arm, pointing towards the stone platform. Dahak immediately looked towards the platform that was once again bathed in the rays of the afternoon sun. "NOOO! The transfer wasn’t complete!" With Dahak’s attention elsewhere, Xena swiftly hooked his legs, knocking him hard to the floor then rose to her feet. She looked towards Hope. "And Lycus?" "Your son is free Xena. He’s going to be okay." Hope had a big smile on her face as she gazed at Xena then to the boy she cradled in her arms, looking up at her now with crystal blue eyes. A smile of relief appeared Xena’s face as she retrieved her fallen sword. She looked towards Dahak who had risen to his feet and appeared to be in a state of panic. The evil god had lost his connection with the boy whose body was to be his new curse-free home. He frantically ran his hands over his face that was now completely covered with greenish-brown scales. "It looks like you better stock up on a strong moisturizer," Xena mused. Dahak glared at her with glowing yellow eyes as he shot a deadly fireball in her direction. Xena immediately jumped out of the way avoiding the fireball that ended up hitting one of Dahak’s followers, setting him ablaze and tumbling him into the bottomless pit. The warrior princess focused on the evil god who prepared to launch another fireball in her direction. "XENA!!!" She along with Dahak and Hope turned to look in the direction her name had been called just as Ares fought his way with a sword through Dahak’s minions to reach that part of the hall. He was almost there but his path was still blocked so he pulled from inside the fur coat he wore, the complete Holy Saber. "Catch!" Ares swiftly tossed the coveted sword toward Xena. The warrior princess immediately leaped into the air to catch the sword as did Dahak but she managed to beat him, grasping the hilt firmly in her right hand as she did a somersault and landed on the stone floor. Having landed too, Dahak hastily shot off a round of energy balls that Xena aptly deflected with the divine blade. The energy balls ended up hitting some of the massive columns, knocking loose large chunks of stone. Some of Dahak’s faithful who were so busy fighting and didn’t see the danger falling towards them, ended up crushed under the chunks. Lysia had made her way over to where Hope sat cradling her brother while Ares and Cyrus had joined the intense battle. Having focused all of his attention on learning how to fight with a staff, Joxer quickly saw the error he had made in taking on Dahak’s exalted high priest in a sword fight. Once again, he held the sword before him to block a powerful swing that most assuredly would have severed his head from his body. Minos attacked him with such force that Joxer felt a tremor travel through him each time their swords connected. Back, the priest kept pushing him with each mighty swing until Joxer could not back up any further because he rested against a stone column. With his opponent now trapped, Minos took up the intensity of his assault, knocking the sword from his opponent’s grasp. Now weaponless, Joxer gazed at Minos with fear. The lips of the high priest twisted into a wicked smile as he brought his sword forward to end the life of his opponent. But before the blade could make contact with Joxer’s body it was blocked by another sword that unexpectedly appeared on the scene. Joxer let out a huge sigh of relief that he wasn’t dead while Minos gazed with shock at the wielder of the sword that had blocked his. "Ares!" The priest growled with contempt. "Didn’t think you would ever see me again, did you, Minos?" Their blades, still connected, Ares roughly shoved the priest away from him knocking him into another stone column. "Thanks Ares," Joxer said as he retrieved his sword from the floor. "Eh, it was nothing." Joxer quickly glanced at Minos before looking at Ares again. "I think I’ll leave him to you." "Wise decision." With a determined look on his face, Ares focused on the high priest and headed for him. Minos had recovered from his collision with the massive column, prepared to fight the war god he so loathed. "I don’t know how you survived your first taste of Hind’s blood poison but you won’t be so lucky this time." The high priest viciously swung his sword at the war god’s mid-section. Ares astutely blocked the blow and followed up with some of his own and a kick to the priest’s mid-section once again pushing him roughly back. Minos was left slightly dazed but he quickly recovered, letting a sinister smile crease his lips as he and the war god began to circle one another. "You can’t beat me Ares. Thanks to the Dark One, I now have immortality...nothing can kill me. You on the other hand can be killed with Hind’s blood." Minos twirled his sword before him, making sure the war god saw the red tint in the blade. "You forget Minos that I was a master of swords when your ancestors lived no better than animals." Ares twirled his own weapon. "It’ll be a cold day in Tartarus when you can best me with a sword." Putting all of his strength behind the attack, Ares came at Minos mightily swinging his sword. The priest soon found it difficult to ward off the relentless blows as he was pushed back. A look of surprise was on his face that Ares could even muster such an attack considering the weakened state of his powers. But Minos was not worried since he could not die. He had started to evilly chuckle when Ares knocked his sword from his grasp then plunged the sword he wielded deeply into his chest. The chuckling instantly ceased as surprise filled his eyes. It was impossible but Minos felt his life force begin to fade. When Ares pulled the sword from his chest, Minos fell to his knees. He gazed down at the wound in his chest, the dark red blood rapidly pouring from it then up at the war god standing over him. "H-how?" "I got this sword from Cyrus. It dates back to his time as a Watcher and is made with the metal of light. It has a power far greater than even Dahak’s" Grinning wickedly, Ares twirled the sword in his hands. A look of shock was frozen on his face as exalted high priest Minos fell over dead. ********** The hilt of the Holy Saber was firmly held in Xena’s hands as she executed an intense onslaught against Dahak. The dark god didn’t really believe that his former sword could kill him but he wasn’t about to take any chances and blocked every blow that came his way. Determined more than ever to kill the evil being before her, Xena poured all her strength into each swing of the divine weapon putting her opponent on the defensive as she pushed him back. Once again, Dahak was at the edge of the crevice. Xena lunged at him with the Holy Saber in an attempt to pierce his body but the evil god let himself fall into the bottomless pit. She immediately went over to the crevice, looking for any sign of Dahak but there was none. Xena knew he had not fallen into the dark depths and now wondered where he could be. She turned her attention to what was going on around her. Most of Dahak’s faithful lay about the hall dead with her friends finishing up the few that were left. Xena made her way over to where Hope sat holding Lycus in her arms, Lysia now kneeling by her side. A jubilant smile was on Xena’s face when she stood over the three. "Mom," Lycus said in a weak voice as he gazed up at her. "Come here, you." Xena placed the saber in the empty scabbard on her back as she slightly bent, lifting Lycus from Hope’s arms and gathering him up into her own. "Oh, it feels so good to have my boy back." She planted a kiss on a cheek as she held him close. Having taken care of his final opponent, Ares immediately made his way over to the four. Still joyfully smiling, Xena passed Lycus to him. "Are you okay?" Ares asked. "I am now. I knew ya would come for me," Lycus replied with a faint smile. Ares smiled back at him as he kissed the child’s forehead and held him close. "Great! Now we’re all together again." Lysia had a big smile on her little face as she stood next to Xena, holding tightly onto her mother. Xena lovingly ran a hand through her daughter’s raven locks as she turned to look at Hope. "I want to thank you for taking care of Lycus and Lysia." "There’s no need to thank me, Xena. I owed it to you," Hope replied. The others had finished off the last of Dahak’s followers and made their way over to the others. "It is so good to see that you are okay, young man. I was so worried about you." Gabrielle affectionately ran some fingers through Lycus’ curly black hair before letting them caress a cheek. "He’s still weak but he should be his old self in no time." Ares shifted the child he still held in his arms. Hope saw Hercules, Iolaus and Cecrops staring at her with looks of amazement. All three quickly averted their eyes when they realized they had been caught. "Ah sorry we were staring," Hercules said. "It’s just that, wow it’s so weird to see someone else walking around with Gabrielle’s face," Iolaus said. "Yeah," Cecrops added. "You guys don’t have to apologize. I understand," Hope said with a smile. "It looks like our battle with Dahak is finally over." Cyrus gazed around at the lifeless bodies of the One Great Evil’s faithful scattered about the main hall. "Yeah, the fanatics are dead and so is their evil god. Where is Dahak’s body anyway?" Iolaus let his gaze wander over the hall. Xena sighed as a frown of frustration appeared on her face. "Dahak isn’t dead." "WHAT???" "But I gave you the Holy Saber. How come you didn’t kill him?" Ares asked. "I was all ready to kill him when he just disappeared," Xena replied. "That means he could be anywhere." Joxer said with a worried frown that was soon visible on the faces of the others. Suddenly, a rumble was felt throughout the main hall. "Hey, look up there!" Cecrops extended an arm upward. One of the massive columns that had been hit by one of Dahak’s energy bolts was loosened from its foundation and had started to slightly sway back and forth. "We all better run for cover!" Hercules warned. Everyone quickly scattered to seek safety just as the large column came completely down, covering the area where the group had been standing. The collapse only took a few moments as the rumbling stopped and all was quiet in the main hall, its atmosphere thick with dust. "Is everyone...okay?" Cyrus coughed as he stepped from behind one of the remaining columns. "We’re fine." Ares stepped from behind a pile of stone along with Xena and the twins. "So are we." Hercules and Iolaus made their presence known as they brushed dust from their clothes. "Us too," Joxer and Cecrops climbed over a pile of rubble. "Where’s Gabrielle!?" Xena began looking for her best friend, as did the others. "She’s right here Xena," a baritone voice informed. The warrior princess quickly whirled in the direction of the voice and saw Dahak step from behind one of the remaining columns holding Gabrielle in front of him, with a large scaly hand wrapped around her throat. The others now gazed in horror at the evil god---his glowing yellow eyes, the greenish-brown scales covering his face and now his hands wondering what he would do. Xena reached for the Holy Saber in the scabbard on her back. "Ah, no you don’t Xena!" With the tilt of his head, Dahak forcibly yanked the saber from her grasp, hurling it into a pile of rubble near him. Xena stood in silence --- her lips twisted in anger and her eyes wide with shock. "You think you’ve won, don’t you, Xena? But you haven’t," Dahak hissed. "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve." In one quick motion, Dahak rammed the sword he had hidden from view into Gabrielle’s back, with the tip now protruding through her chest. "NOOOOO!" Xena screamed. Gurgles mixed with blood poured from Gabrielle’s mouth. Her green eyes were filling with tears as she gazed at the horror-filled faces of those standing before her. Dahak wrenched the sword from her body, letting her fall to the floor. Tears filled Xena’s eyes as she looked toward Gabrielle, now lying in a pool of her own blood, gasping in ragged breaths then to the evil god standing over her. "She is only the beginning Xena. I will kill every single person you care about. You will have nothing left but your dark side and I will have won...HA-HA-HA." The god’s evil laughter reverberated throughout the hall but was abruptly cut short by a loud gasp of pain. Dahak’s body involuntarily jerked until a sword was protruding through his own chest. With yellow eyes now wide from shock and his mouth agape, he gazed down at the bloody blade of the Holy Saber sticking out of his chest. Slowly, he turned around to see who had attacked him. "Hope! But why...why would you betray me this way?!" "I’m sorry father, but I’m not just your daughter...I’m mother’s daughter too." She stole a quick glance at Gabrielle’s fatally injured form. Hope’s eyes grew misty. "It took awhile to show but I inherited her humanity and this was the only thing I could do." Hope let the tears flow freely down her cheeks. "No...I won’t... go out...like this," Dahak hissed with ragged breaths, his eyes were hard as he slowly moved to stand before Hope. He raised a hand covered with blood and caressed her face leaving a crimson stain. "I am so sorry, Father," Hope sobbed as she buried her face in her hands. Slowly, Dahak moved away from her and turned to face the others. "This doesn’t mean...you’ve won. I’ll be back...you all...just wait...and see." Flashes of light began to break out in different areas over his body. "NOOO!!!" He screamed with agony as he grasped his head between his hands. "AAAHHH!!!" was his deafening yell as a fire from within his own body began to consume his form. Xena and Ares turned the twins’ heads away so their young eyes couldn’t witness such a horrifying spectacle. Within moments, the fire consumed Dahak’s form and was now nothing more than smoldering ashes, with the Holy Saber resting atop them. Everyone quickly moved to Gabrielle’s fallen form. Tears were streaming down Xena’s face as she kneeled by her best friend’s side, taking a hand in hers. "The sword...was made with...Hind’s blood, Xena. Nothing...can be done...for me," Gabrielle said through ragged breaths. "No, I won’t lose you again Gabrielle." Xena turned to gaze at Cyrus. "The antidote for the Hind’s blood poisoning, did you bring any with you?" "I’m afraid not Xena. I didn’t think it would be needed." With a grim frown, Cyrus bowed his head, ashamed at himself for being so thoughtless. Xena put a hand up to her mouth to hold back the scream of utter helplessness that threatened to pour from her lips. Those gathered around were filled with sadness too as they bowed their heads and softly sobbed. "Xena...I don’t want you to be sad when I’m gone." Gabrielle glanced around at the others. "I don’t want any of you to be sad either." "Oh Gabrielle, how will I live without you?" Xena sobbed letting the tears fall from her face and onto her friend’s hand that she held. Weakly, Gabrielle raised a hand, letting the fingers caress her friend’s tear-stained cheek. "You will find a way Xena...and you will do it with Ares and the children." Hope had been standing on the sidelines, softly crying as she watched the life of her remaining parent steadily slip away. "No Mother, it doesn’t have to be this way. I can save you." With tear filled eyes, Xena curiously gazed up at Hope. "You can save her?!" "Yes," Hope firmly replied while quickly wiping away her own tears. Xena rose to her feet and moved aside as Hope took up her previous position. Kneeling, she took both her mother’s hands in hers. "Hope...what are you...going to do?" Gabrielle’s life force was rapidly fading as her green eyes began to glaze over. "The only thing I can do to save you, Mother." Hope slowly closed her eyes, as did Gabrielle. Instantly, a bright light shined in the faces of both. The others silently stood in awe watching the spectacle. The light shrouded the faces of both for a few moments until fading away. Slowly, Hope opened her eyes. She released Gabrielle’s hands as she stared with wonder at her own then brought them up to caress her face. "Hope, are you okay?" Xena asked. "It’s not Hope, Xena. It’s me...Gabrielle." The others all looked at each other stunned as Xena immediately knelt by her best friend who once again had her own face. Grasping Gabrielle’s arms she quickly turned the bard towards her. "But how?!" "Hope transferred my essence into her body and hers into mine." With tears forming in her eyes, Gabrielle gazed at the body that a few moments ago had been hers. Slowly, Hope opened her eyes and gazed at Gabrielle. "I did it," a faint smile came to her lips. Gabrielle took one of her daughter’s hands in hers as she gazed into her face. "Oh Hope, why did you sacrifice yourself for me?" "I had to do it Mother, the world needs people like you," Hope replied with a whisper. "I love you, Mother." "And I love you, Hope." Hope was still smiling as she closed her eyes for the last time. Tears rolled down Gabrielle’s cheeks while she gently laid Hope’s hand on her stilled chest. High above, near the ceiling of the temple, Adrian’s ethereal form watched the scene. "My work here is done." A faint smile spread across his face as his form faded into nothingness. Suddenly, another rumble was felt throughout the main hall. "Oh no, not again," Joxer groaned. The other columns that had been struck by Dahak’s deflected energy bolts had stayed up for as long as they could and were now ready to collapse, bringing down the entire temple. "We all better get out of here now!" Cyrus suggested. The group quickly made their way out of the hall, just as the remaining columns collapsed. They kept running until all were safely outside of the temple. After Dahak’s destruction the snowstorm pummeling the mountains of Macedon had dispersed. The whole area was calm again as snow lightly fell and the sun made its descent in the sky. Gabrielle gazed at the massive pile of rubble that only moments ago had been a huge temple. Her green eyes were misty with tears. Xena came up to her friend and put an arm around her shoulders. "You should be very proud of your daughter. Hope proved you were right all along. There was good in her." Such words coming from Xena warmed Gabrielle’s heart and brought a faint smile to her face. "All my powers have returned so I can transport us back to my fortress," Ares informed the others with a huge grin on his face. Xena and Gabrielle moved to stand with the others then Ares snapped his fingers and everyone was engulfed in blue shards of light---their forms fading from sight---headed for the war god’s Macedonian fortress.
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