@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 56 thru 58) CHAPTER 56 High Priest Telamon protectively covered his head with his arms as he lay upon the ground. Thick dust filled the air, making its way into the man’s chest, creating a tickle in his throat. He brought a hand to his mouth as coughs repeatedly poured from his lips. When the dust finally cleared, Telamon opened his eyes that immediately widened in shock. Before him lay large dark gray stones, the only remnants left of the main Temple of Ares. Sadness crept upon the man. The temple had been his home for more than ten summers. His sadness deepened when he turned to gaze at the form lying beside him. It was the lifeless body of the war god he served---Ares. Telamon had been working in the cellar when the temple began to violently shake. Fearing for his life, the priest had made his way to the first floor. By then, the temple had stopped shaking. Telamon had made his way to the temple’s great hall. He had hidden behind a massive column and watched unfamiliar men, dressed as warriors quickly leave the temple. After their hasty departure, he left his hiding place and followed the sound of voices. Once again, Telamon hid behind a column and watched in stunned disbelief as two men stood over Ares’ body, the taller of the two, removing the blade of a sword from the chest of the fallen god. Anger had brewed up in the priest as he gazed at his lord’s dead body then to the man who had killed him. A hand had tightly gripped the hilt of the sword that hung at his side --- ready to be unsheathed and used to destroy the one who had murdered the war god. But that anger had quickly turned to fear when Telamon heard the shorter of the two men address the other as ‘Dark One’. He was Dahak! The ‘One Great Evil’ had killed the god of war! Uneasiness had crept upon Telamon as he removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. Since Dahak had killed Lord Ares, what chance did he, a mere mortal, have against the evil god? Telamon had remained where he stood and watched as Dahak retrieved the fallen war god’s sword from the floor, then he and the other man left the temple. After they were gone, Telamon had made his way over to Ares’ body. A look of disbelief was in his eyes as he stared down at the dead god. Two arrows still protruded from his flesh. Blood from the fatal wound in his chest stained his silver studded black vest. For Telamon, it seemed so unfathomable that a being who had lived for millennia and who was suppose to exist long after his own death now lay dead before him. Telamon’s thoughts left the stunning demise of the war god and turned to the twins and Gabrielle. All three had been in one of the temple’s back rooms. Had they been murdered too!? Fearing the worst, Telamon prepared to head for the back rooms when the temple walls started to shake again, but this time, the large stone columns began to tumble. Immediately, the distraught man left the structure but not before he grabbed hold of Ares’ body, pulling it out of the doomed temple. As he left the recent past and returned to the present, Telamon took his gaze off the demolished temple. Slowly, he rose to his feet, took hold of his Ares’ limp arms and proceeded to drag his lifeless body away from the temple ruins. While he carried out this grim task, his thoughts drifted back to the children and the young woman. Telamon prayed to whichever Olympian god was left that they were still alive. ********** The crunching of dry leaves under his feet reverberated through Lycus’ head as the little boy ran back to Thebes, headed for the Temple of Ares. Due to the sudden earthquake, trees had been uprooted and now lay in his original path so he had to go around them taking a longer route. Mixed with the sound of the leaves were warning bells ringing in the child’s head. Lycus couldn’t shake the feeling that the snakeman had done something horrible to his father. When he reached the edge of the forest, he picked up his pace and headed for an alleyway that led into Thebes. But Lycus saw the archers that had been in his father’s temple disburse from the alley, headed for the forest and directly towards him. The boy quickly hid behind some thick foliage before the archers could see him. Lycus listened and watched anxiously as the men who had just attacked his father headed in his direction. He ducked deeper into the foliage, behind and beneath the ferns, feeling the serrated edges of the leaves as they brushed his bare arms. His breathing was strained, winded from his run. It sounded unnaturally loud in his ears. Would the archers hear it? His heart pounded in his chest. Would its thunderous beats betray his location? He figured the men had to be looking for him, Lysia and Gabrielle and if they found them, would take them to the snakeman! The child’s small body began to tremble at the thought. Lycus couldn’t let himself be found. He pulled his legs up to his chest, wrapped his arms tightly about them and laid completely still as he intently listened for the archers to pass his location. The child held his breath. The crunching of leaves under their footfalls was right next to the foliage where he laid hidden! But steadily the sound began to fade as they moved away. Slowly, Lycus exhaled the breath he had been holding but remained motionless a few moments more wanting to be sure they were truly gone. Quietly, he rose to his feet, took a peek and saw that the archers were indeed moving away from him and headed into the forest. But still exercising caution, the child headed towards the alley they had just vacated. On the way, he sent a telepathic message to his sister, to be careful of the snakeman’s archers. The alleyway was a narrow strip between two large stone buildings not that far down the main street of Thebes on which his father’s temple was located. When Lycus reached the street, he was immediately swallowed up in a sea of people. Like the large waves of the ocean, the masses moved---the strength of their numbers overpowered the young boy, propelling his small body forward. As he was forcibly moved with the crowd, Lycus gazed up at the people towering over him. Their faces were riddled with fear and panic, which was voiced loudly by some, reverberating throughout the shifting sea of humanity. "Did anybody see it!? What was it!?" Someone frantically cried. "Oh gods, it was an earthquake!" Another screamed in a panic. Despite the growing anxiety over the unknown, the masses continued to move forward, taking Lycus’ small form along with them, down the main street of Thebes. Abruptly, Lycus was jostled to a halt as the crowd finally reached its destination---but where? "Wow, wouldja look at that!" Someone in the crowd breathed with awe and utter disbelief. Filled with fear and anxiety, Lycus desperately shoved and squeezed his way through the masses until he made it to the front of where they all stood. As the young boy took in the sight now before him, his mouth hung agape and his crystal blue eyes widened in shock. A mountain of large gray stone was piled before them. It was the only remnant of the massive main Temple of Ares. Lycus stood in silence, staring with disbelief at the ruins as a man among the masses recounted what had happened. "I saw the whole thing," he began. "Two men came out of the temple. One was very tall and he was the one who raised his hands and hit the temple with energy bolts knocking it to the ground." "Was anyone in the temple?" Another asked which was echoed throughout the crowd. ‘His father!’ Lycus thought. He had told him, Lysia and Gabrielle to leave the temple but had he made it out? The child began a search for Ares. To take in the extent of the devastation around them, some of the people walked about the rubble and what used to be a side of the temple. Lycus followed them. They were headed towards a smaller group standing around what appeared to be forms lying on the ground. Once again, warning bells went off in Lycus’ head. Fearing the worst, the child ran past the people walking in front of him. When he got to the gathered group, he pushed his way between two adults to see what fascinated them so. "Dad!" Lycus raced over to his father’s fallen form, dropping to his knees. Telamon was already kneeling in the dirt beside the war god’s body. A relieved smile crossed his face when he gazed at the child. "Thank Elysia you got out of the temple before it collapsed. Did Lysia and Gabrielle get out too?" So focused was he on his father’s form, that Lycus hadn’t even noticed Telamon until the high priest addressed him. His voice was soft and distant when he took his gaze from Ares’ body and looked towards the priest. "Yeah, they got out too. We ran into the woods but I came back ‘cause I thought something had happened to my dad." The child’s eyes fell to his father once again as tears began to roll down his cheeks. Lycus let a small hand grasp Ares’ now cold right one. Again, the boy looked at the priest, whom he addressed with a soft hesitant tone. "He’s dead…isn’t he?" Telamon looked at the boy, his own eyes mirroring the same sadness. "I’m afraid so." Upon hearing the man’s words, Lycus bowed his head as sobs of sorrow escaped his lips and tears rapidly flowed from his eyes. Telamon gently placed a hand on the child’s head to offer consolation. He empathized with the boy---to lose a parent at such a young age and in so brutal a fashion. Telamon’s thoughts drifted to the evil god who had murdered Ares. Safety was now an issue for them as well as the two missing girls. "Lycus, we must find Lysia and Gabrielle...let them know what has happened." The boy raised his head and turned to look at the high priest, his eyes reddening and filled with tears. "We will find them." Lycus didn’t know how he was going to tell them what had happened especially his sister and was more concerned about them safely hiding from the snakeman’s archers. The snakeman---the tormentor from his dreams was real. He was the only being that the young boy had ever truly feared. And now the one male figure he had yearned to have in his life, his father, was dead at the hands of the ‘snakeman’. Lycus said nothing more as he bowed his head over his father’s lifeless face and softly cried. ********** Seated on a thick branch of a tree, Lysia raised a hand and caught a bright red leaf that slowly floated down from a higher branch. The young girl gazed up at Gabrielle, who remained standing, her arms wrapped around the thick trunk of the mammoth oak tree. The bard returned the child’s gaze as she brought a finger to her lips, motioning for Lysia to remain silent. The little girl nodded in understanding as she looked downward, focusing on the men with bows and arrows strapped to their backs searching the forest below. Having to make their way around uprooted trees, Lysia and Gabrielle had tried to follow Lycus back into Thebes. But before reaching the city limits, Lysia had received her brother’s telepathic message about the snakeman’s archers heading in their direction. In a frantic search for a hiding place, the two chose a massive oak tree that, despite it being late fall, still had quite a bit of its leaves that would shroud them from the view of the archers. They had just made their way onto one of the oak’s higher branches when the archers reached their location. The men had been there awhile now, giving the area a thorough search. An annoyed smirk crossed Gabrielle’s lips as her green eyes focused on the men far below their hiding spot. She wished they would just move on already. The bard had always hated heights and could not wait to be out of the tree. Gabrielle wondered what fascinated them so that they would remain in one area for so long. She released her hold on the tree trunk and started to move about the branch on which she stood, hoping to get a better view of the men far below. She had only taken a few steps when she lost her balance and stumbled from the branch. "Gabrielle!" Lysia screamed as she watched with wide eyes as her mother’s best friend headed towards the ground. With a thud, the bard’s body hit the ground. Other than being a little disoriented, to her surprise, Gabrielle felt no pain. If she were still in her old body, she was sure to have some broken bones to say the least. A pleased smile crossed her lips. Being immortal certainly did have its advantages. But the smile quickly faded as Gabrielle gazed up into the faces of the archers who now stood around her. One of the men held out a hand for her to take. With some hesitation, she took hold of it, and rose to her feet. Once upright again, she quickly let go of the man’s hand. The man who had helped her to her feet, stared at her a few moments more before turning his glance upward. "Whoever is still in the tree, come down NOW!" The others turned their glance upward as they heard the rustling of branches then saw Lysia’s small form come into view. The child climbed down the tree, then made her way over to Gabrielle. The little girl wrapped her arms around the young woman’s waist as her brown eyes, filled with fear, gazed at the men standing around them. The man who had helped Gabrielle to her feet, stared at her and the young girl. "Why were you two hiding in that tree?" Gabrielle gave Lysia a comforting squeeze before responding to the man’s question. "My little sister and I were playing hide-n-seek with our brother when..." "Where is your brother?" the man harshly asked, cutting her off. "I don’t know where he is." Gabrielle quickly replied. "You and your men probably scared him, so he headed back home...to Thebes...and now, that’s where my sister and I will be going." Holding Lysia to her, Gabrielle made a move to go around the men when the leader who grabbed hold of her right arm stopped her. "Just a minute, maybe you can help us." Gabrielle turned to face the man again. "We are looking for a young boy, around your sister’s age in fact. He’s got curly black hair and blue eyes...have you or your sister seen him?" The man’s gaze was demanding as he waited for her response. "Why yes, we did see a boy just as you described," Gabrielle replied with a faint smile. "He was running through the woods in rather a hurry...he was headed north." She tried to pull her arm from the man’s grasp but he maintained his firm grip. She glanced at him with a questioning gaze. "I think you and your sister should stay with us." The man had a sinister smile on his face. A gasp of fear escaped Lysia lip’s as she tightened her hold on Gabrielle’s waist. "But why, I told you what we know about the boy, now let us go!" She angrily glared at the man as she soothingly ran a slender hand through the curly raven locks of the child holding on to her. "You suffered a bad fall and even though you appear fine, there could be a delayed reaction. I and my men would not feel right if something were to happen to you." Gabrielle softened her gaze before addressing the man. "I appreciate your concern but it really is not necessary...I feel just fine. I have suffered far worse falls than that." "Yeah, she’s always fallin’ down." Lysia added with a soft voice. Gabrielle nodded her head in agreement with the child’s words. "You and your sister WILL stay with us." The man’s tone was firm and final. "Once we have conducted our search of the forest we will escort you both home." The man released his hold on Gabrielle’s right arm. Two soldiers moved up immediately---ready to move them along, forcibly if necessary. Now standing between the two soldiers, Lysia focused her thoughts on the many trees surrounding them. The group was about to resume their search when suddenly; the men were pelted with a multitude of twigs, dead branches, acorns and leaves. "Ouch!!!" They shouted and immediately sought safety from this unexpected assault. The two soldiers given the order to remain with the girls did not seek safety but their attention was distracted by the strange commotion. This gave Gabrielle the opportunity to grab both by their arms and with godly strength, hurl both into trees, knocking them unconscious. Having accomplished what she wanted, Lysia brought the hail of forest debris to a halt. With the two soldiers no longer by their sides, Gabrielle turned her attention to her best friend’s daughter. "Lysia, go back to Thebes and find Lycus. I’ll stay here and make sure these men don’t follow." The child shook her head in protest. "No, I wanna stay and help." "You can’t stay, it’s too dangerous. Now do as I say and go back to Thebes!" Reluctantly, Lysia prepared to do what Gabrielle had ordered but didn’t get the chance to go anywhere when the archers left the safety they had sought during the assault and were headed for them again. "Lysia, you climb back up that tree, I’ll take care of them." Gabrielle picked up a long narrow branch and held it as she would her trusty staff. She quickly glanced up at Lysia who climbed up a nearby tree before looking towards the archers heading in her direction. As three of the men charged right for her, Gabrielle swung the tree limb, connecting with the torso of one man, knocking him into his two comrades. The leader of the men had unsheathed his sword that he swung at Gabrielle’s neck. Using the tree limb, she blocked the incoming blade and for extra measure shoved the man and his sword some feet away from her. While Gabrielle fought Dahak’s archers with a tree limb, Lysia did lend her a hand from her position on a branch high up in a nearby tree. Using acorns, the child restarted her assault against their attackers, but this time hurling them with her hands. The acorns were hitting the men in their heads and backs, which they found annoying as they tried to fight the young woman brandishing a tree limb for a weapon. Despite the fact that they were outnumbered, the two females were doing a pretty good job of defending themselves against their male attackers when they received some unexpected help from a newcomer on the scene. He was a tall muscular man with creamy dark brown skin. His long dark hair whipped around his face with his fighting movements. Gabrielle could not see the man’s face but swore she knew him from somewhere. As she walloped another man with the tree limb she held, the bard decided to save figuring out whom the man was for after the fight with Dahak’s archers came to an end. ********** Aphrodite sat upon her throne in her temple in Kythera. The goddess had come to the temple in hopes of taking her mind off of the comatose state of her fellow gods and the possibility of Dahak gaining control over their realm of authority. With a look of disinterest, Aphrodite’s blue eyes gazed at her high priest that stood before the temple’s large altar. Tyrtaeus had been reciting for his Goddess the inventory of gifts that covered the altar. They had been left by her devoted worshippers in honor of the celebration of five millennia of Olympian reign. The priest knew gifts from worshippers normally put his goddess in a cherry mood but since these gifts were in honor of the fifth millennium celebration, they only reminded her of the precarious state of her fellow Olympians. Tyrtaeus was now in the process of reading a poem left by a worshipper in the hopes that it would do the trick in lifting her spirits. When the poem neared its conclusion, the priest gazed up from the scroll he held to get a quick glimpse of his goddess. Her blue eyes stared at nowhere in disinterest. A disappointed frown creased Tyrtaeus’ lips but he didn’t let discouragement set in. He picked up another scroll and began to recite another poem. A bored sigh escaped Aphrodite’s lips as the man began another love poem. For the umpteenth time, her blue eyes gazed downward to inspect her fingernails. Just like all the other times, there was not a chip or scratch. "Still perfect," the goddess sighed with disinterest. She gazed at Tyrtaeus whose head was slightly bowed as he read from the scroll held in his hands. Her lips creased into an annoyed frown. The silly mortal actually thought that reading poems, gifts given in honor of the fifth millennium celebration, would cheer her up. But all they did was remind her of how her beloved son, her husband and virtually her entire family were lying in comas from which they may never awaken and worse could lead to their deaths. Aphrodite thought about the evil being responsible for this tragedy---Dahak. It sent a chill through her body when she realized how close he was to winning. Ares was definitely more suited to dealing with the likes of Dahak. He had told her that he would handle everything but the goddess of love still wanted to help. She knew Ares thought she was useless in such situations but that was not true. She may be the goddess of love but she could be tough when she had to be, especially when the safety of those she loved was at stake. Besides, she couldn’t take listening to another poem----they were really dreadful. Aphrodite decided to pay Ares a visit. Whether he liked it or not, she would demand that he let her help in the fight against Dahak. Tyrtaeus, the high priest, was left to wonder if his poetic readings had brought his goddess some comfort as he watched her form be enveloped in pink orbs of light before fading into nothingness. ********** ‘These two are easy pickings’ Typhon thought as his black beady eyes gazed at the priest and the young boy standing over the fallen war god’s body. A confident toothless grin was on his battle-scarred face when in a loud voice, he addressed his warrior comrade who stood beside him, at the head of the gathered crowd. "C’mon Naxos, let’s cut off Ares’ head. I know the warlord Hippias would pay plenty of dinars for it. He’s had it in for Ares ever since he sided with that bitch Xena at the battle of Acarnania." With a toothless grin plastered on his own face, Naxos nodded in agreement, an evil laugh emitting from his mouth. "Ya stay away from my Dad!" Lycus firmly held his slingshot in his right hand, a stone poised in it, ready to shoot at the next man who moved forward. Telamon had unsheathed his sword and also stood ready to attack. "If you want Ares, you will have to come through us too," a man announced as he along with several other men, stepped out of the group of onlookers and joined Lycus and Telamon. For weapons, they brandished parts of wooden beams they had retrieved from the temple ruins. Having the added help brought smiles to the faces of Lycus and Telamon. "So, a boy, a priest and a bunch of townsfolk with sticks want to fight us huh? Okay, bring it on." An evil laugh escaped Typhon’s scraggily mouth. Naxos joined his comrade in laughter as both warriors unsheathed their swords and started moving forward. "Don’t say I didn’t warn ya." Lycus set loose the stone poised in his slingshot sending it in the direction of Naxos. The stone hit the warrior square in the forehead. His eyes rolled back in his head as he fell to the ground out cold. As he gazed at the man now sprawled on the dirt, Lycus couldn’t help but giggle. Telamon and the others chuckled too at what the small boy had done to the big bad warrior. Typhon stared in disbelief at his unconscious comrade. An angry growl escaped his lips as he glared at Lycus with murderous rage. "Pittacus! Miltiades! Terpander! Get over here and help me out!" With their swords already drawn for battle, the three warriors came to stand by Typhon. His confidence back in place, Typhon moved forward once again, with the others right beside him. Telamon stood ready to do battle with his sword. He glanced at the young boy standing next to him. "Lycus get out of here." "Yes boy, the priest is right. We can handle this," one of the men standing along with them said. "No way." Lycus remained where he stood. Another stone was already poised in his slingshot. The warriors were advancing on the group protecting Ares’ body when they were suddenly engulfed in a burst of pink light, which brought them to an immediate halt. When the light faded, the faces of the warriors were riddled with confusion. Typhon’s lips twisted with disgust as he gazed at the sword he held in his right hand. "What am I doing with this!?" He immediately let the sword drop from his hand. Pittacus, Miltiades, and Terpander gasped in horror when the saw the swords wielded in their own hands and instantly dropped them as though stung. Typhon was filled with warm emotions that he had never felt before. They brought tears to the big warrior’s eyes. He turned to look at Pittacus who was the closest to him. "I really luv ya, man," he sobbed as he pulled his fellow warrior into a big hug. "I luv ya too, Ty," Pittacus sniffled as he thumped his comrade’s broad back with a large hand. Militiades and Terpander were also embracing and exchanging ‘I luv yas’. Lycus, Telamon, the men standing with them and the gathered crowd, all had perplexed looks on their faces, not knowing what to make of these unusual turn of events. The four warriors continued to sob, hug and exchange declarations of love before they turned towards the gathered multitude. With tears of joy streaming down his face, Typhon extended both hands to the crowd. "I luv ya all too!" The warrior and his comrades started moving towards the crowd. Not knowing what to make of this weird change in the behavior of men known to be murdering cut throats, the crowd quickly dispersed, headed for the safety of their homes. "Wait! Don’t leave!" Typhon shouted to the retreating crowd. He was going to follow after them but came to a stop along with his three comrades. All had disappointed looks on their faces as they watched the people go. "Oh well," Pittacus sighed. "At least we still have each other." "Yeah," Terpander said. Typhon and Miltiades nodded in agreement before all four joined in a group hug. A few moments later, the four pulled apart. Each had a bright smile on his face. Pittacus and Miltiades went over to Naxos who was beginning to regain consciousness. They helped their comrade to his feet and draped his arms across their broad shoulders. "Hey, there’s a field of wild flowers just outside of Thebes. Let’s go pick some!" Typhon excitedly suggested. "Okay!" Terpander squealed with giddiness. Locked arm in arm, Terpander and Typhon happily skipped out of Thebes with Pittacus and Miltiades, helping Naxos right behind them. "What in Tartarus just happened here?" The man who stood beside Telamon asked. Mumbles from the man’s comrades echoed the same sentiments. "Hey, your guess is as good as mine," Telamon replied. Lycus frowned with confusion as he placed his slingshot in a pant pocket. Suddenly the atmosphere before them swirled with pink orbs of light then a burst of rose petals that dispersed, leaving the form of the goddess of love in their midst. She glanced in disbelief at the temple ruins before looking towards the gathered group. The men who had offered assistance to Lycus and Telamon stared quietly in awe at the goddess. "Aunt Dite!" Lycus immediately went over to the goddess, embracing her waist in a tight hug. "I’m so glad you’re here." Once again tears began to well up in the child’s eyes. "My Dad, he’s…he’s…" "I know sweetie." Aphrodite’s voice was soft and quiet as she ran slender fingers through her young nephew’s soft curly black hair. The goddess of love was not her usual bubbly self. Her mood was somber and her complexion pale as she moved towards Telamon and the gathered men, dragging a grief-stricken Lycus with her. When they stood before the men, the group parted. The young boy held her tighter as the two approached the form lying upon the ground. Aphrodite’s own blue eyes were now welling up with tears as she gazed at her brother’s lifeless body. Ares’ complexion was ivory. Two arrows protruded through his chest along with a gaping sword wound drenched in dried blood. "Oh gods!" she sobbed bringing a slender hand to her pink lips. Aphrodite held onto her nephew who was crying once again. Tears were now running from her own eyes when she removed her gaze from Ares’ body and turned towards Telamon. "How?" came out of her mouth in a hoarse whisper. "Dahak did it with Hind’s blood," Telamon replied, his own face grim. "Oh no!" The goddess wailed. This whole mess with Dahak had just gone from bad to worse. Ares was always the one to handle stuff like this and with him now dead, she was the only one left. Aphrodite had no idea what to do. Then she remembered the warrior babe’s friend. "Gabrielle," she whispered, her face brightening a little. The bard would surely know what to do in a situation like this. Aphrodite began looking around for Gabrielle. She wasn’t there! Neither was Lysia! Dread began to fill her when she looked towards the temple ruins. "Where are Lysia and Gabrielle!?" Lycus was crying against her and hadn’t even heard the question so Telamon responded. "They ran off into the woods," the high priest replied. A sigh of relief escaped Aphrodite’s lips. She gently moved her grieving nephew away from her so she could look at him. A pink handkerchief appeared in her hand. She tilted the child’s face upward and began wiping away his tears. "Now sweetie, I must go find your sister and Gabrielle. But before I leave, I will transport you, Telamon and...Ares to the fortress in Macedon." "If it’s all right with you Goddess, I would prefer to stay in Thebes. There are some things I must attend to----for my dead lord," Telamon requested. "Are you sure Telamon? It could be dangerous for you to stay here." Aphrodite had a look of concern on her beautiful face. "I will be just fine." The high priest assured with a faint smile. "And he has us to watch his back," one of the men who still stood with them replied. "Well, if you say so." Aphrodite looked at her nephew. "Lycus, go stand over by your father’s body." Lycus did as his aunt ordered. With the wave of a hand, the love goddess engulfed the forms of father and son in a pink light as they vanished into nothingness headed for Macedon. Telamon and the men stood by and watched as the goddess herself then vanished in a pink light on her way to find Lysia and Gabrielle in the nearby forest. ********** Gabrielle swung the tree limb, knocking the sword from the grasp of her attacker. The man’s lips twisted in a frustrated snarl as he reached for a dagger that hung at his waist. But before the man could free his dagger, the bard smacked him upside the head with the tree limb, spinning him around. The man was still in a daze when she smacked him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. The man’s mouth hung agape and a wide-eyed stare was on his face as he rose to his feet. The man had clearly had enough of this. "I’m getting outta here," he huffed as he took off into the woods to get as far away from Gabrielle as humanly possible. The men Lysia pelted with acorns reached the same conclusion as their fleeing comrade and took of in his direction. Lysia giggled with delight as she made her way down the tree. Gabrielle was delighted too and embraced the little girl with a big hug when she stood before her. "We showed them," the child chuckled when they broke the hug. "We sure did." Gabrielle was smiling down at Lysia as she ran a slender hand through the child’s curly raven locks. Both females turned their attention to the stranger who had come to their aid. He was still fighting the last of Dahak’s archers. "I wonder who he is," Lysia said as they watched the stranger fight the man. "His name is Cecrops." Gabrielle smiled as she put an arm around the child who stood beside her. "He’s an old friend of mine and your mother." With a loud growl, Cecrops tossed the man away from him. The man landed on the ground with a stud. Somewhat dazed, the man looked around him. Seeing that he was now alone, the man took off into the woods after his comrades. Now that the battle was truly over, with Lysia by her side and a smile still on her face, Gabrielle approached the tall, dark man. "Thanks for the help Cecrops." Gabrielle extended a hand in friendship. The man grasped her outstretched hand. "I think you could have handled those guys just fine by yourself but I am glad I came along when I did." His brown eyes stared at her curiously. "You have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am but I don’t know who you are." The bard let a soft chuckle escape her lips. "That’s because the last time you saw me, I looked completely different. I had long blond hair and I was a little shorter." Cecrops now had a confused look on his face, so the bard decided to quickly identify herself. "I am Gabrielle. I got trapped on your ship along with my friend Xena. We helped you free yourself from Poseidon’s curse." "Ah yes, that is something I will never forget." Cecrops gazed at her suspiciously. "But I don’t see how you could be Gabrielle. You don’t look anything like her. Besides, I heard she died helping Xena fight Dahak." "She did die but she was brought back to life," Lysia chimed in as she still stood beside the bard. Cecrops gazed down at the little girl before looking at Gabrielle once again, his mind mulling over what they had told him. "I know it sounds unbelievable but what Lysia just said is true, I did die and was brought back to life." Gabrielle decided to do some recounting of what had happened on the ship, hoping it would convince him of who she was. "When I was on your ship I got seasick, so Xena put her pinch on my arm. It took away my sea sickness but it also deadened my taste buds, so I ate some pretty icky stuff, like octopus." "Eww!" Lysia exclaimed, her lips twisted in disgust. Cecrops chuckled at the little girl’s reaction. He looked at the young woman standing before him. "All right, if you know stuff like that, you must be Gabrielle." The bard smiled with relief. The tall man once again gazed down at the child standing beside Gabrielle. "And who is this pretty little girl?" The bard was still smiling as she pulled the child closer to her. "This is Lysia, she’s Xena’s daughter." Cecrops brown eyes widened in surprise upon hearing who the child’s mother was. His reaction did not go unnoticed by Gabrielle. "It’s a long story." "You can explain both to me later." He extended a large hand down to the child standing beside her. "Hi Lysia, nice to meet you." "Nice to meet you too." The little girl took his hand and shook it with a firm handshake, then released it. Cecrops looked back up to Gabrielle. "Now would you mind telling me why those men were attacking you two?" The bard started to slightly chuckle. "All I can tell you right now is that it has to do with Dahak. I will be happy to go into the details but first we must find Lysia’s brother Lycus, he went back to Thebes." The trio had started walking back to Thebes when Aphrodite’s form took shape out of a burst of rose petals. "Oh thank Elysia I found you two." The goddess had pure relief in her blue eyes as she gazed at her niece and the bard. She let her gaze rake over the man with them. "And who is Mr. tall, dark and handsome?" "This is an old friend, he helped us ward off an attack by Dahak’s men. His name is Cecrops," Gabrielle replied. "And Cecrops, this is the goddess of love, Aphrodite." "You mean THE Cecrops, as in the lost mariner?" Aphrodite asked her eyes widening as they once again raked over the man’s frame. "That’s me all right." Cecrops had a smile on his face as he took one of the goddess’ dainty hands and brought it up to his lips, kissed the back then released it." Aphrodite’s eyes gazed at Cecrops appreciatively. "I don’t think much of Athena’s wisdom but it was definitely a wise move on her part making you immortal." Gabrielle knew the love goddess could never ignore an attractive man in the vicinity but she also knew this was not the reason for the goddess tracking them down in the forest. "Now Aphrodite, why were you looking for us?" The love goddess shook her head from the lustful thoughts about the man before her as she remembered the matter at hand. "Something horrible has happened, you must come with me quickly." Her previously calm demeanor became agitated. "Aunt Dite, what’s wrong?" Lysia came over to the goddess, and took one of her hands in hers in a comforting gesture. Aphrodite gazed at the child with trepidation, preparing herself for the little girl’s reaction when she learned the fate of her father. She stooped in front of the child. "Sweetie, it involves your father..." "Has he been hurt?" The child’s brown eyes were now filled with worry. The goddess took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled it before responding. "Yes honey, he has been hurt...very bad." Aphrodite embraced the girl in a hug as tears began to well up in the child’s brown eyes. When she pulled back, she produced a pink handkerchief and began wiping away the tears now rolling down the child’s face. Gabrielle had a look of empathy in her eyes as she gazed at the goddess comforting the little girl. "How was he hurt, was it Dahak?" "Yes," Aphrodite wearily replied. "I will explain it all after we get to Macedon." "But what about Lycus," Lysia sobbed. "We have to find him." "I already found him sweetie and transported him and your father to the castle in Macedon." Aphrodite embraced Lysia in a hug once again. While holding the child, she turned her gaze up toward Gabrielle and Cecrops. The two saw the tears in the eyes of the love goddess and knew that whatever had happened to Ares was indeed bad. The goddess wiped her own eyes as she rose to her feet. She took hold of Lysia’s right hand as Gabrielle took hold of her free hand and Cecrops grasped Gabrielle’s free hand. The foursome instantly vanished into nothingness headed for Macedon. The four materialized in the large receiving room of Ares’ Macedonian fortress. Lysia immediately noticed her brother standing before the large altar on which a body was lying---it was their father! "Daddy!" The child screamed as she ran over to where her brother stood before the altar. She instantly noticed the tears staining her brother’s sad face. "He’s dead Lysia...the snake man killed him." More tears began to spill from Lycus’ red eyes. "NO! He can’t be dead!" Lysia grabbed her father’s right hand and was instantly frightened by how ice cold it felt. With tear filled eyes, she let her gaze wander over her father’s lifeless form. His once perfect bronze complexion was replaced with an ivory hue due to massive blood loss. The arrows that had pierced his body had been removed but the bloody wounds they had inflicted were in plain view of her eyes along with the gaping sword wound in his chest. The child began to sob uncontrollably as her gazed fixed on the large chest wound that had ended her father’s life. By now, the three adults had made their way over to the altar. Cecrops looked on in empathy as the two women did their best to comfort the grieving twins. Gabrielle picked up Lysia and held the little girl close. The child wrapped her legs around the woman’s waist and her arms around the woman’s neck. The bard soothingly ran a hand through Lysia’s curly raven tresses as the child buried her face in the nape of her neck and cried for the father she had just recently found and was so tragically taken. Tears began to well up in Gabrielle’s own green eyes as she gazed at the goddess before her, doing the same thing she was with the child she held. The bard knew Aphrodite was hurting just as much as the twins were over the death of Ares. The two deities controlled realms as different as night and day but Aphrodite was the only Olympian who truly understood her brother, so the two had always been close. Gabrielle’s thoughts drifted to her best friend who just recently admitted to having a deep-seeded attraction for the war god despite all the trouble that he had caused in her life these last few years. She now had great concern over what Xena’s reaction would be when she found out that Dahak had murdered the father of her children. CHAPTER 57 "Mortals can be so incompetent sometimes!" Shaking his head with disgust, Dahak glared at the smoldering piles of ashes before him that only moments ago were the archers who had been sent out to find Lycus. The evil god looked up from the ashes when he saw Minos and Discord enter the room. Both had triumphant smiles on their faces. "I can’t believe those fools couldn’t find one small boy and then let two girls beat the shit out of them!" Dahak waved a hand and a lowly servant stepped forward and began to sweep away the ash heaps. "The archers weren’t dealing with two ordinary girls, Dark One," Minos reminded his lord. "And they did make mention of a large man coming to the aid of the girls." "They still should have been able to capture them Minos. I must have those children in my possession---soon, especially the boy." "You will Dark one...you will," Minos assured with a sinister smile. Discord stood in silence as the two men continued to talk. The smile had faded from her face as numbness began to shroud her. Ares was dead and Discord, as hard as she tried not to, couldn’t deny the sadness she felt. The two gods had been cohorts in havoc for many millennia. Those had been some great times. A faint smile came to Discord’s blood red lips when she thought of those days long past. The two deities had been close...*very close*. But that changed when Ares made the warrior princess his Chosen. It was like Xena had cast a spell over him and nothing was ever the same between them. Discord’s lips twisted in an angry smirk. ‘What does Xena have that I don’t?’ For one, a son fathered by Ares. Any sadness over the war god’s death quickly left the goddess as she remembered that she would be the one dead if Minos had not struck when he did. Ares was actually going to kill her for threatening the life of that brat he shared with Xena. And now, Discord had just learned that the brat had a sister! TWINS!!! That bitch had not only given Ares a son but a daughter too! The goddess was so angry that she wanted all three gone---Xena and her twin brats joining Ares in death. But any plans to harm them would have to be scrapped because her lover wanted all three to live. Under different circumstances, Discord would have disregarded Dahak’s orders and done away with them. But the goddess did have the sense to fear her evil lover’s wrath. She still had her secret stash of Hind’s blood she had kept to use as a weapon just in case Dahak tried to do away with her. But she now believed Ares’ words to be true----that Hind’s blood could not kill Dahak. With no true protection against the One Great Evil, Discord shuddered at the thought of what he would do to her if she ever disobeyed his orders. That’s why she decided to go along with his plans and ditch hers for offing his ‘precious’ daughter and grandchildren. The goddess’ thoughts came back to the voices around her. Dahak and Minos were still talking about Ares’ and Xena’s brats, a topic she had already tired of, so she decided it was time to change it. "Can we forget about the br...I mean kids for awhile and celebrate our victory?" Three golden goblets materialized in Discord’s left hand as a wine flask materialized in her right. She handed one to each of her cohorts leaving the last one for herself. "We have overthrown the Olympian Gods. We can now rule." She poured wine into all three goblets, then raised her own in a toast. Dahak and Minos raised theirs too. "Today Greece...tomorrow the world!" "Here...here!" Dahak downed some of the fermented liquid and his two cohorts followed suit. The evil god removed the goblet from his lips and gazed at his compatriots. "Discord is right. Ares is dead and soon the other gods will be too. There is now no one standing in the way of establishing my kingdom." "Yes, Dark One." Minos concurred as he took another sip of the wine. "The only problem that still remains is Xena." Discord nonchalantly ran a long blood red fingernail over the rim of the goblet she held. Her dark eyes gazed at her evil lover. "We have no need to worry about Xena, my dear." Dahak had a confident smile on his face as he let a hand caress the porcelain skin of the goddess’ face. "That’s what you keep telling me...something about her dark side taking over and her joining us but I don’t see how that is going to happen when Xena is as we speak, off in search of this Holy Saber that is suppose to be able to kill you." The goddess waited for his response. "Xena will indeed be joining us Discord. I made sure of that by placing the essence of an ally into the body of someone my daughter holds very dear. And in that ally’s possession is a substance that will ensure that Xena’s dark side takes over again and this time permanently." Having some knowledge about the warrior princess’ small circle of close friends, the goddess’ interest was piqued. "Ooh, which one of her friend’s bodies did you use?" "You’ll find out when they return to Greece," was all Dahak would say on the subject. "Um Dark One, we must inspect the new lava plant facility being set up in Athens," Minos reminded his lord. "Ah yes, this will be our biggest facility in Greece." The evil god was smiling over their accomplishment when he turned to look at Discord. "My dear, would you like to join us?" "Nah, that’s okay," the goddess replied. "I’m going to head back on up to Olympus and start redecorating now that I am Queen." "Enjoy yourself," were Dahak’s parting words as he and Minos were engulfed in a flame of fire, headed for Athens. Discord was about to depart for Olympus when she saw Hope walk by the doorway. A mischievous grin crossed the goddess’ lips. She was in a good mood and wanted it to continue and nothing made her feel even better than making another feel lousy. Besides, Hope was female and Discord had never gotten along with her own sex. Especially if they took the slightest bit of the attention of a male from her and it didn’t matter if the female was the male’s daughter. The petite goddess quickly made her way over to the doorway and spied Hope entering another room down the long corridor. With a wicked grin still plastered across her face, Discord made her way to the room where Hope was. When she reached the room, she poked her head through the doorway. Hope sat at a large black marble desk, spotlighted by the large flame of the candle setting atop it. Her head was slightly bowed as a quill busily moved in her right hand across the unrolled scroll lying before her. She was so engrossed with her duties that she had not sensed the goddess spying on her. Discord removed the grin from her face and replaced it with a look of innocence as she casually strolled into the room. "Y’know Hope, you really should have joined in our celebration instead of staying in this room with your face buried in an old scroll." As soon as Hope heard the voice of her father’s lover, her whole body tensed. She didn’t like Discord and she knew the goddess felt the same way about her. Hope knew her father’s consort had only entered the room to aggravate her but she was determined to ignore whatever insult or dig the goddess would throw her way. "I enjoy working with these old scrolls," Hope replied, not taking her eyes off of the unrolled scroll before her as the quill in her right hand continued to busily move across it. "Besides, I wasn’t in the mood for celebrating." Discord put a hand on her chest in mock shock. "Why that really surprises me. When I think of your devotion to your father...the sacrifices you have made to re-establish his kingdom, why you of all people have more reason to celebrate than anyone else these latest victories." The goddess sat her small frame on a corner of the black marble desk at which Hope sat. "But I can certainly understand your apprehension for celebrating...I kinda felt that way myself." The quill in Hope’s right hand stopped moving as she finally raised her green eyes from the unrolled scroll and looked at the goddess. "What do you mean?" "I’m talking about Xena. After all, she will be joining us and she doesn’t exactly like you or me for that matter, so things around here will probably be tense." The goddess nonchalantly inspected her long blood red nails as she waited for Hope’s response. "I won’t deny the bad feelings between Xena and me but if she is truly committed to our cause, she will bury those hostilities just as I have done." Hope turned her attention once again to the unrolled scroll before her, returning to scribbling upon it. "Wow! You’ve been able to do that Hope? I am really impressed." The goddess feigned a look of admiration. "The way I see it, you have every reason to hold on to your hostilities for her...far more than she does for you." Hope decided not to respond to the goddess’ statement. She dipped the quill she held into a bottle of black ink then continued to write upon the scroll. Since she got no rise out of Hope, Discord continued to speak. "Xena tried to kill you when you were a defenseless baby. Then she forced your mother to abandon you in Britannia." The goddess shook her head with disgust. "I just don’t see how Gabrielle could have chosen her best friend over her child. But she did just that and two more times when she tried to kill you...and all for the love of Xena." The quill Hope had been writing with snapped into two pieces. She was confident in her mother’s love for her but she couldn’t deny that the depth of her mother’s love for Xena still bothered her. A pleased smile crossed Discord’s lips---she had accomplished what she set out to do. Using every ounce of self-control to keep her anger in check, Hope raised her eyes from the scroll and once again looked at the bothersome goddess. "Look Discord, I appreciate your concern for me, but you really should worry about yourself when Xena gets here, after all, you did say she hates you too." "Oh, I have nothing to worry about," Discord replied with firm confidence. "I am a goddess who has existed for aeons. Xena would never be a match for me so it would be wise for her to stay out of my way." "If I were you Discord, I would not be so sure of that. When Xena gets here, she will no longer be the redeemed warlord with morals. She will be the evil Xena and she’s not going to be happy when she finds out you tried to kill her son. Why, I don’t even think father could stop her from coming after you." Hope’s green eyes stared hard into Discord’s emphasizing her last statement. Discord suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Trying to put Hope in a lousy mood had blown up in her face because she was now the one feeling lousy. She remembered what the warrior princess was like when she was evil and now she had to worry about what Xena would do to her when she found out she had tried to kill Lycus. "I think I have kept you from your duties long enough so I will be going now." In a flash of bright light, Discord’s leather and lace clad form vanished from the corner of the black marble desk. Hope had a triumphant smile on her face as she retrieved a new quill, dipped the end in a bottle of black ink and once again started to scribble upon the unrolled scroll before her. ********** From a shimmer of white light, Discord’s appeared out of the ether and into a dark stone corridor just off of a large hall. Before heading up to Olympus, she needed to make a stop. Grunts shouts and the clashing of steel could be heard coming from the hall and that’s where Discord headed. When she reached the doorway, Discord crossed the threshold and observed the scene before her. In the center of the hall stood a tall, muscular man with bronze colored skin and shoulder length dark hair. He was dressed in leather and dark gray armor. In his right hand, he twirled a very large sword, its blade glistening in the light of torches. Cautiously, the man began to move while his dark eyes followed the movements of his three opponents who began circling him. All three were covered from head to toe in armor. One of the armor-covered men came at him, mightily swinging his sword which the man instantly blocked, with his own sword before delivering a swift kick, sending his opponent flying through the air. He collided so hard with a stone wall that his body was broken into pieces, that fell with a deafening clang to the stone floor then faded into nothingness. The two remaining opponents charged the man, which he met with a vicious swing of his sword to their necks. Their armor-covered bodies and their detached heads instantly fell to the floor where they too faded into nothingness. Now standing in the middle of the hall alone, a pleased smile crossed the man’s handsome face while he held up the sword he wielded, letting his eyes wander over it in appreciation. "Tell me something Kal, why is it that you war gods get so worked up over weapons? The actual battles are where the true excitement lies." The god took his gaze off of the sword and quickly sheathed it in the scabbard hanging at his side then looked at the goddess who was heading over to him. "Battles are important Discord but being able to wield a weapon like this myself just adds to my excitement when I see them in the hands of warring mortals." "Yes, watching mortals slaughter one another in battle is very exciting but there is something else that stimulates me even more," Discord purred. She now stood before the war god, her blood red lips twisted in a feral smile while her dark eyes, visibly filled with lust, raked over his dark form. "And I know exactly what that is." Kal instantly wrapped his muscular arms around her petite frame while bending his neck to claim her lips in a hungry kiss. Discord had become acquainted with Kal many centuries ago. The war god was always butting heads with Ares in attempts to acquire power, so the two were sworn enemies. Discord never had an active role in Ares’ disputes with the rival war god because she actually liked him. But it wasn’t until recently that she acted on her attraction to Kal. Discord was well aware of Dahak’s numerous sexual encounters with his female followers and decided that it was ridiculous to limit herself to one lover and took another. It turned out that Kal had a sexual appetite that matched her own and made Discord sorry she had waited so long to be with him. The danger aspect also enhanced their involvement. Dahak and Kal were both gods with massive egos and would not appreciate Discord’s involvement with both at the same time. So, she made sure that neither ever knew about the other. But she did use Kal as a sounding board to discuss her alliance with Dahak. When their lips finally parted, Kal gazed down at Discord’s face, his hands running through her raven tresses. "So, what brings you here? I wasn’t expecting you until later." "I had a run-in with Hope and need to be cheered up," Discord smirked. She removed herself from Kal’s embrace and began pacing the stone floor. "You two are still not getting along?" Kal wearily asked. "All I did was try to be helpful to Hope by telling her she better watch her back when Xena returns to Greece…after all, there is such bad blood between them. You think Hope would show some gratitude for my concern but NO! She brings up the incident of me trying to kill Xena’s son and that I am the one who should be careful. Can you imagine me…a goddess being fearful of a mortal!" "Then why are you letting what Hope said bother you?" "It’s just the way she said it. She was practically gloating at the thought of Xena hurting me. You should have seen the look of glee in her eyes." "Now Discord, I know you pretty well and you must have done something for Hope to dislike you so." "I haven’t done anything," the goddess insisted. She stopped pacing and looked at Kal. "Maybe she’s jealous of you," he suggested. "Jealous of what?" Discord folded her arms across her chest. "Your relationship with her father." Kal moved to stand before Discord. "Hope has no reason to be jealous. My dealings with her father are strictly business." "And you swear that’s all there is between you?" Kal looked at her suspiciously. "YES," Discord assured with a look of innocence. "Because I know your dealings with Ares went far beyond business…" "Ares was different…he was family," Discord quickly said, cutting him off. "But Ares took me for granted. That’s why I sided with Dahak." Her lips twisted into a smile. "You’ll be pleased to know that Ares is dead." "Really?!" Kal gazed down at her with a stunned expression on his handsome face. "Yup. Dahak took him out with Hind’s blood." Discord smiled with delight. "I always hoped that I would be the one to take out that arrogant Olympian but I can live with the One Great Evil having the honors." Kal gazed at the goddess thoughtfully while taking her face between his large hands. "It looks like talking about Ares’ death has managed to cheer you up." "Somewhat but there is still a long way to go," she said in a sultry tone. "Maybe I can do something about that." Kal leaned down and once again hungrily claimed Discord’s lips. As the heat between them rose, their hands began to frantically roam one another’s bodies. A few moments later, the pair disappeared in a shimmer of light. ********** A choir of tweeting and whistling birds brought Cyrus to consciousness once again. Slowly he opened his eyelids. His hazel eyes came to focus on a cloudless clear blue sky high above him. A groan of discomfort escaped his thin lips. Cyrus lay upon the ground with his arms securely tied behind his back. When he tried to move his legs, he discovered they were restricted by tight binds around his ankles. Cyrus let the memories of the previous night run through his mind. He had gone to find Xena after an argument they had regarding her actions and behavior earlier that day. Cyrus had found her with Joxer down by a river. There was something different about her---something strange. The last thing he remembered was asking her if she was all right. Cyrus was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a familiar voice. "You woke up just in time for breakfast." Cyrus stared up into Joxer’s smiling face. "Eating breakfast in that position will be difficult." Joxer grabbed hold of Cyrus’ shoulders and moved him into a sitting position. Cyrus felt the ropes binding his hands fall away. He quickly brought his hands in front of him and began massaging his wrists to bring back the circulation. Joxer moved to stand before Cyrus. A devilish smile graced his thin lips as he placed the dagger he had used to cut the man’s hands free back in its resting-place on his belt. "You need the use of your hands to eat but I’ll keep your ankles bound so you don’t try to run away." Cyrus gazed up at the man before him, his hazel eyes filled with confusion. "Joxer, what is going on? Why am I tied up?" "Stop calling me Joxer. My name is Talon." Cyrus’ eyes widened in understanding. "You are one of the fallen Watchers Dahak freed?" "That’s right." Talon ran his hands down his shirt. "It’s not my old body but it will do." He handed Cyrus a tin plate with some fruit and bread lying upon it. As soon as the plate was in his grasp, Cyrus tossed it and its contents aside and angrily glared at Talon. "That’s all you’re gonna get right now, so you should have eaten it." Talon picked up his own tin plate and put the berries lying upon it in his mouth. "Where is Xena?" Cyrus growled. "I’m right here." Xena strolled into the campsite. She was wearing only her light brown shift that was darker in color because it was soaked with water as was her hair, indicating she had been in the river. In her arms she held four large fish that she deposited near the campfire. "We should be able to have some of these for lunch today too." She looked towards Talon. "I caught them, now it’s your job to clean and cook them." "Yes ma’am." Talon gave her a salute as he went over to the fish and began to clean them for frying. Cyrus gazed at the woman before him with a perplexed look on his face. "Xena, what has happened to you? Why are you helping this fallen Watcher who has stolen your friend’s body?" "Well Cyrus, I guess you could say I finally saw the light." Xena retrieved a towel from her belongings and began to dry herself. "I think dark would be more appropriate," Talon chimed in as he sliced open the fish, and tossed aside the guts. "Good point," Xena confessed with a wicked grin as she ran the towel through her raven tresses. She turned to gaze at the former Watcher she called a friend. "I finally accepted who I really am and have joined my father." Cyrus stared at her in disbelief. "The Xena I know would have never joined Dahak." He angrily glared at Talon. "What did you do to her?" "I spiked Xena’s water skin with Dahak’s blood." Talon wickedly smiled as he placed the sliced fish in a frying pan over the fire. "Her dark side is back in control again as it always should have been." "You MONSTER!!!" Cyrus growled. Concern was in his eyes as he turned to gaze at his friend. "You have to fight what he has done to you Xena. I know it will be hard, but if anyone can do it, you can!" "I’m not doing any such thing." Xena’s tone was firm. She turned her attention from him and concentrated on drying herself. Talon had a sinister smirk on his face as he used a fork to move the sizzling fish around in the frying pan. Cyrus bowed his head and sat in silence. Xena had come so far from the troubled young woman ruled by darkness he had met so many years ago. She had a friend like Gabrielle and the children she had to give up back in her life. It greatly saddened Cyrus that Xena would once again let darkness rule her life. "The fish is ready," Talon declared sometime later as he put the piping hot cooked pieces onto a plate. The warrior woman came over to him and collected the plate with the fish after Talon got what he wanted. She retrieved the plate that Cyrus had earlier tossed aside then proceeded over to where he sat with still bound legs. "I will admit I was pretty ticked with Talon when I found out what he had done." She stooped next to him and put some of the fish on his plate. "But now I realize being good wasn’t really me---it was always such a struggle. I am more comfortable with who I am now. In fact, I feel great and want to feel this way forever." "And so you shall," Talon added as an evil laughter poured from his thin lips. This evil laughter reverberated throughout Cyrus’ head as he gazed into the eyes of the woman stooping beside him. A gasp of surprise escaped his lips as he watched her eyes change from their crystal blue color to a black as dark as the abyss of Tartarus. Cyrus now feared that the Xena he knew, the one who had successfully reformed from her evil ways and had become a hero in the eyes of the people was gone forever. CHAPTER 58 ‘Im really enjoying teaching this slave a lesson’’ the man thought as a satisfied smile danced across his lips. His eyes beamed with pride as they gazed at the punishment he had inflicted upon the land-dweller slave. The prisoner had his back to him and wore only a loincloth. His skin glistened with sweat that mingled with the blood from the lacerations covering his back. Thick metal chains bound his wrists and ankles as he stood spread eagle before his tormentor. With an eager grin, the man raised his arm wielding the charged baton. "Let this be a lesson to you...land-dweller...NEVER put your hands on a Meridian!" Once again, the man struck the prisoner with the weapon. "UGGGGH!!!" Hercules roared in excruciating agony as he felt a powerful charge flow through every nerve ending in his body. Up until now, the son of Zeus had always been impervious to the pain that immobilized full mortals. But not being in the Olympian realm where he derived his demigod powers, Hercules was now susceptible to all the agonies felt by full mortals. When the weapon was removed from his body, Hercules drooped against the thick chains holding him upright. His throat felt dry and sore from the screams never before heard coming from his own mouth. Hercules couldn’t see his tormentor but felt his eyes raking over his battered body and heard the guttural chuckles of satisfaction that escaped the man’s lips. The sound mingled with his own ragged breaths, which he tried to soften so he could hear when the weapon was once again heading towards him. Rising above the sound of his own breathing, Hercules heard the familiar hissing of the weapon before it once again, made contact with his flesh. Immediately his face contorted in pain. His mighty muscular arms pulled against the chains holding him in place. Hercules bit down on his lower lip trying to will himself not to cry out but the agony his body felt was just too much. "AAAHHH!!!" Hercules screamed. His painful outcry echoed throughout the dank holding cell reverberating in his own head. The prisoner’s agonizing screams incited his tormentor. With lips twisted in delight and eyes beaming with glee, the man extended the length of contact the baton had with Hercules’ scarred and sweaty broad back. His screams rose to higher decibels. The man’s excitement also rose so he ran the weapon over the prisoner’s muscular arms and legs. Hercules howled in excruciating agony as his body began to convulse. His tormentor smiled sadistically while his eyes followed the path of the weapon he held in a hand as it traveled over the prisoner’s sweaty, muscular form---now trembling in pain or pleasure? With his body uncontrollably jerking, Hercules had reached his threshold of pain. His blue eyes rolled back in his head and his body slumped against the chains as he slipped into unconsciousness. "Damn!" The man swore under his breath as he pulled the baton back. His eyes raked over the torture he had inflicted upon the prisoner. Long red welts dotted Hercules’ legs and arms. But his back had received the worst of the punishment. It was covered with deep lacerations from which blood flowed, mingling with the sweat drenching his body. The man smiled sadistically with satisfaction. It was truly his best torture session---a work of art. How dare the prisoner pass out when it was just starting to get really good! The smile of satisfaction twisted into an angry snarl as the man swiftly brought the baton in contact once again with the bloodied and bruised back of the now unconscious prisoner. "All right Martin, that’s enough!" Helena ordered as she burst through the door. Instantly, the young woman covered her nose with a hand to block out the smell of blood, sweat and fear that permeated the atmosphere of the dank cell. Instinctively, she recoiled as her violet eyes took in the sight of Hercules’ battered and bloodied form and the man who continued to torture him although he was clearly unconscious. Martin only glared at the woman who wanted him to cease his fun as he continued to run the baton over Hercules’ scarred back. His defiance angered Helena. "STOP IT! I say!" She yelled. "You know the law. I’ll bring charges against you for damaging my property!" Martin glanced in her direction and saw the firm look on her face and knew her threat was real. He already had charges pending against him and didn’t need more. Reluctantly, Martin removed the weapon from Hercules’ body, and stepped away from the unconscious man. Helena angrily glared at him. "How dare you punish a slave that you don’t own!" "I had to teach him a lesson." Martin’s eyes focused on the baton as he twirled it in a hand. "I was beating my own slave and he was stupid enough to interfere." He finally hooked the weapon on the belt around his waist. "If my slave did something wrong, I will be the one to punish him." Her tone was firm. "Yeah, but you wouldn’t have punished him like I just did." The torture he had inflicted upon Hercules had him somewhat heated so with the back of a hand, Martin wiped away the sweat dotting his brow. "For a land-dweller, he was too uppity but I just broke him of that. You should thank me." Helena narrowed her gaze. "You better hope he was not permanently damaged or you will be hearing from me," she threatened. "Now unchain him and have him brought to my residence," She ordered. "Right away." Martin acknowledged her authority with a mocking bow that got a glower out of Helena. He looked towards the cell door and nonchalantly said, "Guards, get in here and bring a stretcher." A moment later, two guards entered the cell. One carried a stretcher that he placed on the floor then joined his comrade who was already unchaining the unconscious prisoner. "Place him on his stomach when you put him on the stretcher," Helena instructed. Her eyes were filled with empathy as they gazed at the torn, bloodied flesh on Hercules’ back. The two guards unchained Hercules, carefully placed him on the stretcher lying on his stomach then proceeded to carry him to Helena’s residence. She walked alongside the stretcher. When they reached her residence, Hercules was taken to the slave quarters where he was laid upon a bed, still lying on his stomach. Helena’s two younger sisters and mother were no where in the house. They had taken an entourage of servants and had gone to the palace where they would get dressed for the opening party to celebrate the coronation of their cousin Felix as Meridia’s new King. Helena was supposed to have gone with them but there was a last minute change in plans when she discovered what had happened to Hercules. The opening party was not at the forefront of Helena’s thoughts as she rummaged through a box on a shelf in the corner of the room where Hercules lay unconscious. She would need some help tending to him. "Naomi," she called. "Yes my lady." A faint voice replied from a room down the hall. "Please come in here and bring some towels and a basin of water." "Right away my lady." A pleased smile crossed Helena’s face when she found what she was looking for, a bottle of ointment. She went over to the bed on which Hercules lay and carefully sat on the side. At that moment, Naomi entered the room. The slave woman gasped in shock when she saw the torn flesh and blood covering the man’s back. Naomi quickly made her way over to the bed. She set the basin filled with water and the towels on the side of the bed before seating herself on the bed opposite her mistress. Helena watched silently while Naomi cleansed the wounds, gently applying the wet cloths. "My lady, why was he beaten?" She asked softly as she continued wiping away the blood. "He was trying to help a female slave he saw being beaten by her master." "Oh," Naomi smirked as she sadly shook her head. Personally, the slave woman thought this Hercules had acted like a fool. A slave’s life was already hard and short. So, why bother coming to the aid of another slave if it would definitely end your life a lot quicker? When the blood had been wiped from Hercules’ back, Naomi reached for the bottle of ointment her mistress had brought. "You don’t have to do that Naomi. I will apply the ointment," Helena said. "As you wish, my lady." Naomi collected the basin filled with bloody water and towels and rose from the bedside. Helena’s violet eyes watched the slave woman leave. Once alone, she poured some of the ointment onto a clean towel and gently applied it to the man’s broad muscular back. A soft moan escaped Hercules’ lips upon feeling the ointment touch his tender skin. She ran slender fingers through his brown hair, a faint smile crossing her lips. Over the years, Helena’s family had owned many slaves, so she had seen them come and go. But there was something truly unique about this man named Hercules. She had sensed it that day when she first saw him in the prison cave. A moon had not even passed since that first meeting and Helena had already formed a deep affection for him. That’s why she was greatly pained to see this man in such a beaten condition. "Ohhhh," Hercules groaned a lot louder than before. "So, you’re finally coming back to the land of the living." A relieved smile spread across Helena’s face. His head had been turned to the side, facing Helena as she sat on the side of the bed. Slowly, his eyelids opened. "Uggghhh," he painfully groaned again when he tried to move. "Just lie still," Helena suggested, resting a hand upon a broad shoulder. Hercules flinched away from her touch, an angry scowl upon his face. The woman couldn’t deny being somewhat hurt by his reaction but figured he was blaming her for the torture that had been inflicted upon him. "You know, I thought you were a lot smarter, Hercules." Helena applied more ointment to his back. "Surly you had to know you would not succeed and that it could very well mean your own death?" "I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing." Hercules declared in the firmest voice he could muster considering his condition. "Slave or not...no man has the right to treat a woman that way. It was better I be beaten than her." Helena could not help but smile at his sense of chivalry. "Well soon, such matters won’t be your concern anymore." "What do you mean?" "I am setting you free, Hercules. I’m also going to buy your friends working in the Tarconian mines and set them free too." Hercules was stunned and happy to hear this news. The ointment was starting to work on his back - he changed positions, shifting to lie on his side so he could face her. "But I thought it was unlawful to set slaves free." "Yes, it is unlawful, but my cousin Felix being crowned King will change that," Helena said with a confident smile. "Oh, there will probably be problems with the Meridian Council and it could take months. That’s why I am freeing you and your friends now. You just don’t have the time to wait around...not with this Dahak stuff you told me about." Helena shivered when she thought of the horrors Hercules had told her about the evil god. "That reminds me, I got those maps you wanted...the ones from your friend’s ship." Helena went over to a table where she had laid a gray bag earlier that day. She came back over to the bed and sat down facing Hercules, setting the bag before him. Hercules pulled out its contents and began to inspect them. A pleased grin crossed his face when he saw the maps Cyrus had made. Seeing that he was pleased brought a smile to Helena’s face. "I would love to go over those maps with you now, but I have to get ready for the coronation festival." She rose from the bed. "That’s fine." Hercules replied. "You go get ready and have a great time at the party." "Now that I know you will be okay, I should be able to do that." Helena was still smiling when she departed the room. ********** Iolaus wiped the sweat from his brow, wiped his damp hand on his pants, grabbed the large pick, raised it high above his head and brought it crashing down onto the hard black rock before him. "Gods, this is the hardest rock I have ever seen," Iolaus huffed as his eyes watched a few chunks of the black rock chip away and trickle down to the dirt floor to join a large pile he had already formed. He raised the pick once again and with all of his strength brought it down hard, digging deeply into the rock before him. This time, he knocked away much larger chunks. "About time," Iolaus breathed as he raised the pick once again. But before the pick hit the rock, a female voice called out to him. "Here’s some water, you look like you can use it." "I sure can." The blonde hunter immediately dropped the pick and took the water skin that Nebula held out to him. He uncapped the water skin, brought it to his lips and greedily downed its refreshing contents. When his thirst was quenched, Iolaus recapped the water skin. "Now, that hit the spot." With the back of a hand, he wiped away a water droplet dribbling from his chin. "It’s hotter than Tartarus down here." "Well, what do you expect, we are under a chain of active volcanoes!" Nebula snapped. Iolaus was caught off guard by her unexpected outburst. Still holding the water skin, he raised his hands in a submissive gesture. "Whoa, take it easy, I was just stating a fact." Nebula’s tone softened as she slightly bowed her head in an apologetic gesture. "I’m sorry Iolaus, I shouldn’t have snapped at you." "Hey, it’s okay. With this heat and toiling in these mines all day, anyone is likely to lose it once in a while." "That is still no excuse. I was angry at the guards and I had no right to take it out on you." "The guards? What did those jerks do now?" Iolaus asked. Nebula let a weary sigh escape her lips before she spoke. "I heard one of the guards telling a buddy about how this slave was brutally beaten for assaulting a Meridian." "Was it someone we know? One of your crew?" The hunter’s eyes were filled with concern. "No, it wasn’t one of my crew." Nebula’s full lips twisted with discomfort. "It was Hercules." "Hercules!?" His eyes widened with shock then stared at her incredulously. "Are you sure you heard right?" Nebula let out an exasperated sigh and in a loud voice said, "Gods Iolaus, of course..." She stopped mid-sentence when she saw other slaves in the mine tunnel look in their direction, wondering what besides their environment had gotten the woman so hot. When she resumed speaking her tone was much lower. "Of course I am sure he was talking about Hercules. He said his name for Zeus’ sake!" "Okay, I believe you," Iolaus relented. "Did the guard say anything about Hercules’ condition?" "He said something about him being beaten into unconsciousness and the only reason he stopped was because Herc’s lady owner ordered it stopped. She must be the woman we saw take Hercules away when we first got here." "You’re probably right." Iolaus’ tone was distant as his thoughts drifted to the physical state of his best friend. Nebula knew what was bothering him. She placed a hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Hercules will be just fine." "Yeah, you’re probably right," Iolaus confessed. "But with Herc badly beaten, what chance do any of us have of ever getting out of here?" Before Nebula could reply, the voice of another slave invaded their conversation. "Hey, can I have some water too or am I suppose to die of thirst?" Nebula and Iolaus both rolled their eyes in disgust. "We’ll have to finish this talk later." Nebula gathered up her water skins. "Right." Iolaus watched her head on over to the prisoner who had requested water. Despite the unbearable heat, Nebula’s demeanor was like ice when she stood before her fellow slave. "Here you go, Claudius." She tossed the man a water skin, which he deftly caught in a hand. Claudius was a Roman Centurion who had been out on a long range-scouting mission when the ship on which he was aboard got caught up in the Meridian’s whirlpool trap. This incident had happened years ago and since that time, Claudius had made some friends among his Meridian captors so he was able to acquire special privileges that enabled him to avoid the grueling work done by the others. This made the Roman unpopular with his fellow slaves. Having given the man his water, Nebula was set to resume her duty of supplying water to the other slave miners when Claudius firmly gripped her right arm. "Don’t be in such a hurry, stay awhile." "I have water skins to deliver." Nebula tried to yank her arm free but he maintained a firm grip. Iolaus saw his friend’s problem and was prepared to help but he also saw the look her eyes were sending him that said she could handle this, so he remained where he was. "They can wait," Claudius said with a firm tone. "Besides, you didn’t seem that concerned with delivering them when you were talking to shorty." "He’s a friend." Her brown eyes glared at him. "I’d like to be a friend too." His tone was filled with desire that matched the lust in his eyes as they raked over her beautiful form, accented by sweat-laden clothes clinging to every womanly curve. "No thanks, I’ve got all the friends that I need." Nebula’s tone was as cold as the stare she fixed on Claudius. Seeing that she wasn’t going to be receptive to his advances, the big Roman loosened his grip on the woman’s arm. She immediately wrenched it from his grasp. "After you’ve been here a while, you’ll change your mind," Claudius assured. "Having a guy like me is the only way you’ll survive here." "I think I will manage just fine here ALONE." Nebula was about to resume her duties of delivering water skins to the thirsty miners when a loud horn sounded throughout the tunnel indicating it was quitting time. Slaves put down their mining tools as guards prepared to escort them from the Tarconian mining tunnels to the bathing caves. From there, they would go to the dinning area then back to their cells to rest before beginning another long grueling day in the mines. The men slaves were taken to one bathing cave while the women slaves went to another. Nebula didn’t do much socializing with the other women slaves so she quickly washed away the dirt of the mines and headed for a secluded area of the bathing cave where another body of water was located. This one was used for swimming and every now and then the guards would let the women take a dip before ushering them to the dinning area. On this particular day, none of the other women visited the pool so Nebula had it all to herself. A pleased smile was on her face as she dove into its depths. The water was cool, refreshing and needed after a hot sweaty day in the mines. Nebula did several laps across the pool before diving under the water. When she came back up for air, she did so near the edge of the pool. As her head broke the surface of the cool water, she used slender fingers to quickly comb back wet dark tresses hanging in her face. That’s when Nebula saw a pair of boots at the water’s edge in front of her. Her brown eyes quickly gazed upward. "You!" She gasped. "What are you doing in here!?" Claudius stood at the pool’s edge in fresh clean clothes. His dark eyes were filled with lust as he gazed down at her, a dirty smile playing across his lips. "I figured this was the perfect time for us to get to know each other better." Since she was naked, Nebula felt vulnerable. She sunk lower in the water and started backing away. "Guard!" She yelled at the top of her voice, her eyes fixed on the entranceway to that part of the bathing cave. "It will be kinda hard for the guard to hear you since he took the other women to get their dinner. Y’see, we are kinda tight so he was okay with me escorting you to the dinning area." The big Roman let out a wicked laugh as he jumped into the pool of water. "Stay away from me!" Nebula quickly turned and started swimming at top speed towards the far side of the pool. When she reached the far side, she quickly climbed out. But just as she was rising to her feet, Claudius’ huge frame leaped out of the water, one of his big hands firmly grasping an ankle. Nebula hit the ground hard and was momentarily dazed. The Roman’s dirty laughter filled the cave as he flipped her over onto her back then laid his large body on top of hers. "Get off me!" Nebula yelled as she began to squirm beneath him. "Keep fighting me...I love it even more...when women fight." Claudius said in between his dirty laughter. But his laughter was brought to an end when Nebula’s right first connected hard with his jaw. This dazed him and proved that he didn’t like women fighting him as much as he thought for now he was angry. "Why you BITCH!" Claudius growled as his own large fist made contact with the face of the woman still squirming beneath him. The blow almost knocked Nebula into unconsciousness and slowed her defenses against her attacker. When she tried to ward him off by attacking his eyes with her fingers, he easily pinned her arms above her head. In this position, squirming became difficult for her. Claudius was back to laughing but this time with a guttural tone. His free hand quickly unfastened his trousers, then grabbed a hold of his stiff member. Using a knee, he pried her legs apart and guided it between them. He was just about to penetrate her when a surprise yell escaped his own lips as he felt himself being hauled off the woman. "Leave her alone you Roman BASTARD!!!" Iolaus yelled as his right fist made hard contact with Claudius’ jaw, knocking the man into the pool where he sunk below the surface of the water. Iolaus immediately went to the aid of his friend, who had risen to a kneeling position. "Are you okay?" "Yeah. I’m more angry than anything else," Nebula replied while slowing her rapid breathing. She glared at the pool where Claudius had been thrown. "I hope the PIG drowns!" "Don’t even think about him. Let me get something to cover you." Iolaus quickly made his way to the other side of the pool, retrieved the towel lying there and headed back to Nebula. "Thanks." She smiled with gratefulness as she took the towel offered and covered her nude form. Iolaus wrapped an arm around Nebula for support as the two proceeded to leave the cave. "We must find the guards and let them know what Claudius tried to do to you." "They are not going to care. They are his pals," Nebula reminded him. "Not all of them," Iolaus replied. The two walked along the far side of the pool and were about to exit the cave when Claudius’ muscular frame unexpectedly lunged out of the water. A large hand firmly grasped Iolaus’ left ankle, yanked hard, knocking him to the stone floor at which time Claudius quickly pulled him into the pool. Nebula’s mouth hung open in shock over the unforeseen attack. She stood at the edge of the pool, her brown eyes filled with desperation. There was no sign of Iolaus---Claudius had dragged them both under the water’s surface. Hitting the stone floor had left Iolaus severely dazed and gave Claudius the opportunity to wrap meaty hands around his neck as the two struggled beneath the water. Iolaus felt his air supply steadily running out and desperately tried to pry the thick fingers loose. Claudius gritted his teeth as he increased the pressure he applied to the neck of the struggling man. It didn’t take much longer for Iolaus’ movements to cease and his eyes to close. The Roman had a satisfied smile on his face when he released his hold on his opponent and headed for the water’s surface. Nebula waited in anticipation when she saw bubbles begin to dot the surface of the water. "NO!!!" She screamed when she saw Claudius emerge from the murky depths. Her brown eyes quickly scanned the surface, looking for any sign of Iolaus. In the mean time, Claudius quickly swam to the pool’s edge and hauled out his big frame a few yards from where she stood. He gazed at Nebula, clad only in a towel, her brown eyes now glaring angrily at him. "Ooh, you’re real hot for me now, aren’t you babe?" A mocking grin creased his face. Nebula was seething with rage. This Roman PIG had tried to rape her and now it appeared he had killed a good man she considered a friend. Did he really think he would get away with it!? "I’LL KILL YOU!!!" Nebula yelled when she charged right towards Claudius. She collided hard with his body, knocking both into a stone wall. Screaming with rage, Nebula tried to claw out his eyes with her fingernails but he immediately grabbed both her wrists in a large hand. She delivered a knee to his groin that got a grunt of pain out of him but he immediately delivered a punch to her face, dazing her. Claudius slammed her against the stone wall, pinning her in place with his own muscular frame. His gaze oozed with lust when he stared into her face. "I knew there was a fire under all that ice." Claudius claimed her full lips in a brutal kiss. Nebula tried to pull away but couldn’t with her arms pinned above her head and the big man’s body pressing her own against the wall. She felt his arousal straining against his pants and was reviled. His free hand yanked the towel from her body, quickly tossed it aside then began to roam her naked flesh. Even though it was useless, Nebula started to squirm. Claudius’ hand was making its way towards her crotch when over the Roman’s broad shoulder, she saw Iolaus wearily haul himself out of the murky waters. Exhausted, Iolaus mustered the strength he had left and made his way over to where the couple stood against the wall. So busy was Claudius in his assault of Nebula that he didn’t even know Iolaus was behind him until the smaller man grabbed handfuls of his hair and yanked hard. "Hey!" Claudius yelped as he released his hold on Nebula and was pulled away from her. Firmly holding onto the Roman’s hair, Iolaus delivered a hard knee to the small of the man’s back as he released his hold and sent him towards another wall. Claudius quickly extended his arms to avoid the collision and immediately whirled around to face his attacker. "So, shorty’s back!" He snarled while his eyes glared at Iolaus with murderous rage. "You won’t be so lucky this time!" Claudius charged the smaller man and the two fought toe to toe, moving about the cave. Nebula quickly retrieved the discarded towel and once again wrapped it around her before she intently watched the battle. She grimaced when she saw Claudius’ right fist connect hard with Iolaus’ jaw, knocking his head from side to side. Iolaus was clearly on the losing end of the fight. Toiling in the Tarconian mines and his earlier battle with Claudius has zapped away most of his strength so he didn’t have much of a defense against the big Roman who repeatedly delivered blows to his face and body. Iolaus would need some help if he wanted any chance of defeating Claudius. So, Nebula joined the battle, leaping onto Claudius’ broad back and immediately began pummeling the man about the head. Her sudden actions caught the man off guard and allowed Iolaus to deliver several punches to his face and body. This attack on two fronts, brought Claudius’ anger to its zenith. Absorbing the blows that Nebula inflicted from atop his back, he let out a loud roar as he blocked Iolaus’ incoming fist and delivered one of his own that hit the smaller man square in the face. Iolaus was left wobbling on his legs and blinking stars from his vision. With his opponent dazed, Claudius wrapped a hand around the man’s throat, lifted his smaller frame off the ground and viciously tossed him into a stone wall. Iolaus hit hard and slumped to the ground in a semi-conscious state. With one opponent immobilized, Claudius turned his attention to Nebula. He grabbed a hold of the woman on his back, quickly bent over, flipping her off, and deposited her with a thud on the ground before him. His lips were twisted in an angry snarl as he reached down, wrapped a large hand around her slender throat and lifted her off the ground, bringing her face up to his. "You were suppose to be an easy screw but you have been waaay too much trouble!" Claudius pulled back a fist and prepared to smash it into her beautiful face. Nebula was bracing herself for the hard impact when hurried footsteps were heard entering the bathing cave. "Claudius, what is going on here!?" The Roman halted the punch and stared at the two guards standing at the cave’s entrance. He released Nebula’s throat, dropping her unceremoniously on the ground at which time, she began crawling away from him. The guards looked at the practically naked woman and the man slumped against a wall, his mouth bloodied and an eye swollen as he gasped for air. They had agreed to let Claudius have has way with the woman but there wasn’t to be any beatings. Twice the guards had been publicly berated by their superior regarding incidents involving Claudius and they couldn’t afford a third ---it would mean demotion. One guard headed towards Iolaus while the other went after the Roman. "You’ve gone too far this time Claudius---you are going to solitary." The guard removed a charged baton from his waist as he approached the big slave. Claudius knew that going to solitary was as good as being dead. He had worked too hard to build his connections and he wasn’t about to let an incident with two newcomer slaves destroy it. He would kill all in the room. When the guard stood before him and brought the charged baton forward to stun him with it, he knocked the weapon from the man’s hands, grabbed him in a headlock, and swiftly snapped his neck. Claudius released his hold on the guard, letting his lifeless form fall to the floor. The other guard saw what happened to his comrade and immediately left Iolaus’ side, charging for Claudius with his baton already in a hand. Claudius charged toward the guard, meeting him in the middle. The guard came at him swinging his weapon that Claudius blocked by hitting the man’s arm. He yanked the weapon from the guard’s grasp and stunned him with it. The man was left in a trembling state at which time, Claudius grabbed hold of his head and abruptly turned it, snapping his neck too. Tossing aside the second dead guard, Claudius charged towards Iolaus, who was still slumped against the wall. "YOU! This is all your fault!" Claudius growled. "Now I’m going to see to it that you get all the blame!" Iolaus had managed to rise to his feet, just as Claudius’ large frame slammed into him. But the wall behind them had been weakened due to excessive mining and couldn’t absorb the impact so they both fell right through it. Nebula immediately went over to the large opening now in the cave wall. "Iolaus!" She yelled while peering down into the dark opening, fear for her friend began racing through her body. After falling through the wall, the two combatants were now tumbling down a steep incline. Iolaus heard Nebula yell his name as his body and Claudius’ rolled into a pool of water at the bottom of the incline. The water was very deep and very murky. The two men were separated when they plunged into the water. Iolaus had gone under the murky depths and had no idea where Claudius was since he couldn’t see anything. He swam to the surface, then slowly swam towards the incline. Once there, he wearily crawled up it, gasping for air. It was at that moment that Iolaus heard a noise coming from the water. He turned to see Claudius gasping for air as he bobbed up and down in the water. The big Roman then proceeded to swim towards the incline. Already feeling exhausted from their battle, Iolaus was not in any condition to resume it so, on his hands and knees, he started crawling back up the incline, towards the dim light he saw pouring through the hole in the wall. He was slowly making his way up the incline when he heard Claudius scream. He quickly whirled around to see what was happening. Claudius was still in the water, nearing the edge of the incline but his attempt had been halted. The Roman’s body was now twitching uncontrollably as a strange glow passed over the surface of the water. Screams of agony poured from the man’s mouth as his body continued to twitch until his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell forward, floating on his face in the water. Iolaus watched the strange spectacle with a look of wonder but that soon turned to horror. A large eel came to the surface behind Claudius’ floating form. Slowly, it opened its massive mouth and began consuming the dead man’s body. "Ew gross!" Iolaus turned his gaze away from the grizzly scene and once again crawled towards the opening in the wall. Nebula was peering into the dark opening, watching for any sign of Iolaus. A few moments ago she had heard agonizing screams and now her face was etched with worry. She heard footsteps heading for the bathing cave and whirled around just as two more guards appeared at the entranceway. They immediately went over to their fallen comrades. "My friend and I didn’t kill them. It was Claudius," Nebula quickly said. "He attacked me and my friend. The guards were going to send him to solitary and he went berserk. He broke their necks then came after my friend. They both fell down there." Nebula threw her glance in the direction of the opening in the wall. The two guards immediately joined her at the opening. "Iolaus, can you hear me?" Nebula yelled into dark hole. "Yes," he replied in a weary tone. A smile of relief came to her face. One of the guards removed a torch from the wall and shined it into the hole. They could now see Iolaus, slowly crawling up the incline. "I better help him." The other guard climbed into the hole and cautiously made his way to Iolaus. He helped the exhausted man the rest of the way up the incline. When they reached the opening, Nebula and the other guard helped pull them through it. "Are you okay?" She held his face between her hands and inspected his cut lip and swollen eye. "Yeah, I’m fine," he assured. "Where is Claudius?" The first guard asked. "He’s dead. We fell into some water that happen to be occupied by the biggest eel I’ve ever seen. It killed him and then proceeded to eat him!" "Good ridance!" Nebula declared. "The Roman bastard got what he deserved!" She tightened the towel around her body. Iolaus looked at the two dead guards lying on the floor of the bathing cave. "I hope you two know we had nothing to do with their deaths." "Yes, we know. Your friend explained to us what happened," the first guard replied. "And you believe me?" Nebula gazed at them curiously. "Yes, we do," the second guard replied. "We heard those two talking about the time they had given Claudius with a woman slave and going to check up on him. They had already been warned about giving him special privileges so what happened to them doesn’t surprise us." "We have to get you back to your cell," the first guard said. "Can we get something to eat first?" Nebula asked. "Thanks to Claudius we missed dinner and I am starving." "We’ll stop at the dining hall along the way," the second guard said. "Good," Nebula replied. "I think I’ll pass on dinner. After seeing that eel eat, I lost my appetite," Iolaus frowned with nausea while walking along side Nebula with the two guards on either side of them as they exited the bathing cave. ********** Helena gazed at the movements of the people around her as her partner twirled her on the dance floor, the long golden skirt of her gown swaying with her movements. Her partner pulled her to him and held her close as their bodies moved to rhythms of the music. Helena glanced at a couple dancing a few yards from them. It was her middle sister Lizette and a young man named Trey. Lizette had confessed to her that she had a crush on him. The two were busy happily chatting as they danced. Lizette laughed at something the young man said. "Your dress is stunning. You are the most beautiful woman here," Helena’s partner said bringing her gaze back to him. "Thank you, Roger." Helena gave him a faint smile. Her tone was distant and distracted. "What’s wrong?" Concern was in his eyes. Before she could answer, the music came to an end. "Let’s sit this next one out," Helena suggested as the music for the next song began. "Of course." Roger stepped aside and let Helena proceed him off the dance floor. The woman led the pair over to a table covered with an enormous array of exotic edibles that had been prepared for tonight’s opening festivities in celebration of Meridia crowning a new King, Helena’s cousin, Prince Felix. Since they were children, the two had shared a closeness more like siblings than first cousins. That’s why it had so pained Helena that they were on opposite sides over the heated controversy shrouding the kingdom of Meridia---the abolishment of slavery. Felix favored giving land-dwellers their freedom and turning to mechanical inventions to preserve their underwater homeland. Helena favored what had worked for centuries---slave labor. Many of Meridia’s citizenry shared Helena’s view and were willing to use violence to let their future King know his abolitionist stance would not be accepted. In the last few months, such actions had started to move Helena over to her cousin’s way of thinking and it was solidified even more after the harsh treatment Hercules received. That was one of the reasons why she wanted to talk to her cousin some time that evening and let him know that he had her support for freeing the land-dweller slaves. Helena also wanted to tell Felix what Hercules had told her about Dahak and the Holy Saber. The prince was something of a historian/scientist and would certainly find such information interesting and being in such a lofty position offer some much needed help. Helena’s thoughts were consumed with these matters as she absentmindedly placed some of the delicacies on a small plate she held in a hand. Her preoccupied demeanor did not go unnoticed by her dance partner. "Now, do you want to tell me what is bothering you?" Roger asked, his eyes filled with concern. On other occasions, when Helena had mentioned Hercules, it had been obvious that Roger did not like her new slave, so she was not keen on telling him that the attractive land-dweller was on her mind. "Oh, it’s really nothing Roger," she stated waving a hand nonchalantly. "Somehow, I doubt that." Roger looked at her with a penetrating stare. "Does this have anything to do with Hercules attacking Martin for beating a slave?" "So, you know all about that, huh?" "Yes, I do and if you ask me, Hercules should have been put to death for putting his hands on a Meridian." "Well, no one is asking you, Roger!" Helena angrily glared at him. "Hercules is MY slave and I am the one who will decide his punishment, NOT you or Martin, got it?" "Got it," he replied trying to maintain a grip on his own anger that was beginning to brew. Helena had never lashed out at him like that before. A few months ago, she would have shared his sentiments. He knew this change in her attitude was due to her abolitionist cousin, and her new slave, both whom he didn’t like. The two didn’t say another word to each other and made their way to their unoccupied seats at the table where Helena’s mother Vivian and her two sisters, Lizette and Gillian were already seated. The couple had just sat down to the table when horns were sounded, signaling the arrival of the guests of honor. When the horns ceased, all in attendance turned their gaze toward a man standing on a raised platform at the front of the hall. "Ladies and gentlemen..." he began. "It gives me great honor to announce the arrival of our very special guests...our soon to be King and Queen...Prince Felix and Princess Catherine." The horns sounded again as the future King and Queen came through the entranceway of the hall. Both were dressed from head to toe in royal finery. Smiles were on their faces as they walked down a red carpet, linked arm and arm as the citizens of Meridia looked on with admiration and pride. The horns ceased once again when the future King and Queen replaced the man who introduced them atop the raised platform. It was Prince Felix who stepped forward to address those in attendance. "My fellow Meridians, tonight is not just special for me and my wife but for you..." "DEATH TO THE ABOLITIONIST!!!" A man shouted as he stepped out of the crowd and hurled an object that landed in front of the raised platform where the future King stood. Security guards wrestled the man to the floor as partygoers began to scream in terror and flee to safety when the object the man threw began to emit a green gas throughout the hall. "It’s POISON!!!" Someone shouted as people frantically ran from the hall, knocking over tables, chairs and other partygoers in the process. "Felix!" Helena screamed as she watched him fall to the platform, engulfed in the gas. Palace guards were quickly at his side and ushered him and his wife from the platform and out of the hall to safety. Helena’s sisters and mother had already been led to safety. "C’mon Helena, we must get out of here too!" Roger held the woman by an arm as he quickly ushered the pair out of the hall rapidly filling with poison gas. The corridor outside the hall was filled with panicked partygoers very excited about what had just occurred. Roger ushered them over to where he saw her mother, and sisters standing. Because of the excessive chatter, Roger had to practically shout when he addressed the group. "Is everyone okay?" Everyone nodded a yes. "I should take you ladies home." Roger still held onto Helena’s arm and was prepared to lead her and the others out of the building. "No, I want to go to the palace and check on Felix and Catherine," Helena said. "Us too," Gillian chimed in. Vivian and Lizette nodded in agreement. "I’ll come with you," Roger offered. "That’s okay Roger. The palace will probably be in a frenzy so we should go alone," Helena said. "If you say so." Roger had a disappointed smirk on his face while he watched the four women disappear into the crowd. ********** The woman had a contented smile on her face as she gazed at the rugged mountains located on the sea bottom. Her legs gently squeezed the flanks of the black seahorse she rode, urging the animal to swim faster. The seahorse quickly swam across a valley filled with lush green sea grass. The massive structures of Meridia could be seen in the distance. When the seahorse reached the city streets, they were practically deserted. Most of Meridia’s residents were attending the opening celebration that marked the weeklong coronation festival. The woman had an invitation to attend the festival but she really did not care for the future King or those that would be in attendance so she decided not to go. The seahorse was approaching her residence. She pulled back on the reins, slowing the animal down as it went through the entranceway to her home. The seahorse swam upward into a circular pool until its massive black body broke the surface of the water then it made its way over to a platform near the edge. The woman dismounted the seahorse and made her way over to a changing area. She discarded her wetsuit, put on a terrycloth robe, and grabbed a towel, then made her way into the living quarters. Once there, she plopped down on a couch in front of a roaring fire. She was drying her wet hair with a towel when she heard another enter the living quarters. "Hi Sis." A man wearily strolled into the room and plopped down on an end of the couch. The woman stared at him curiously. "Roger, shouldn’t you still be at the party? What are you doing home so early?" Roger stretched out an arm along the back of the couch as he got more comfortable. "Well, Alexis, there was a bit of violence at the party." "Oh really?" She moved closer to her brother. Her eye’s sparkled with piqued interest. "Tell me more." Roger couldn’t help but chuckle at his sister’s demeanor. "The pro-slavers struck again and this time with poison gas. I had to get myself and Helena out of there before we inhaled the deadly air." "And what about the intended target? Did he fair just as well?" "I’m afraid so." Roger wearily sighed. "Oh well, if the militant pro-slavers can’t get rid of him, I guess we’ll just have to do it ourselves." "I kind of like that idea better anyway," he confessed. "Then I get to enjoy watching Felix die and that no good slave Hercules." "What have you got against Helena’s new slave?" Alexis asked. "He’s just like Felix." Roger complained. "He’s been filling Helena’s head with how wrong slavery is so she’s now sounding like an abolitionist. If Felix is crowned King, she will support his idea of abolishing slavery and probably even go so far as to marry this Hercules." Alexis laughed at her brother’s words. "Don’t you think you are blowing this way out of proportion? After all, Helena has royal blood and this Hercules is nothing but a land-dweller." "You haven’t seen her face or heard her voice when she talks about him. Believe me Alexis, she is falling for this guy." She put a hand on her brother’s shoulder in a comforting gesture. "You worry too much. Listen to your big sister, by the end of the week, Helena will be yours as will the kingdom of Meridia. Come with me." Alexis rose from the couch and walked over to the wall where some coral art was hanging. Roger followed his sister. She slightly turned a piece of coral and part of the wall slid away, revealing downward steps. Alexis descended the steps with Roger following closely behind her. The hidden stairway led to an underground cave. A land-dweller man in a dark robe was already in the cave, standing by a pool filled with a bubbling orange liquid---it was lava. Alexis and Roger came to stand on either side of the man. "How are we progressing Stuart?" Alexis asked the robed man. "We have completed 100 possessions thus far and another 100 will be completed by the end of the week." Stuart smiled proudly as his eyes glowed with a red hue. "Excellent." Alexis was smiling herself when she gazed at her brother. "You see Roger, our victory is assured. For no one can stop us...not with Dahak on our side.
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