A/N: Don't own these character's so don't sue me.

Many thanks to the talented and incredible LadyIsis for the awesome beta! I would also like to point out that I have been M.I.A for close to two years. I'm truly sorry that I haven't updated any of my other fic's; I haven't forgotten about them and will be trying to update them soon.

Enjoy all.

Bloodlines

Chapter One

Hippolyta stood at the top of a hill, looking down at the valley in sadness. The smoke from the ruined city was slowing clearing. She turned her attention to the large mass of people marching away on the other side of the valley. She sighed to herself in sorrow as a single tear dropped down her cheek.

The group was being lead by her very own sister. Her sister, Antiope, had just renounced their gods after the Amazons' imprisonment by that vile Heracles and his army. They had tricked, drugged and entrapped her and her people before they started to rape them. For weeks they raped and abused the women, and it only got worse after Heracles left to finish his trials. Hippolyta prayed to her goddesses for help - and Athena had answered her prayer. But only if the Amazons allowed the remainder of Heracles men to leave in peace.

Hippolyta had agreed without talking to her co-ruler and sister Antiope. Once the fog of the drugs had been lifted Antiope led the slaughter of his men. Hippolyta had tried to stop her sister but she had been brushed aside by the wave of vengeful Amazons.

When the last of Heracles' men had been killed, the goddess Athena appeared, and everyone dropped to their knees in respect. "Hippolyta, you have broken your word," she spoke in anger.

"Forgive me, my lady. I was too weak to stop them," she pleaded on her hands and knees. Antiope turned her head and looked at her groveling sister.

"What are you both talking about, Hippolyta?" Antiope questioned.

Athena spoke before Hippolyta could respond. "I freed you all only if Heracles men were not to be harmed."

Antiope stared up at the goddess in shock. However that slowly turned to rage. She stood up and glared at the goddess. "You wanted us to allow those vile men free passage after what they had done to us?!"

Athena nodded her head. "Yes."

Antiope sneered at the goddess. "Then you are no goddess of mine."

Athena's eyes narrowed. "So be it. Then you are no Amazon deserving on my patronage. You are banished."

Antiope smiled back at the goddess then turned to the cringing Amazons. "Those who wish to continue praying to goddesses that don't care for you can stay groveling. Anyone who wishes to join me in freedom may do so," Antiope proclaimed.

Hippolyta, still bowing, turned her head and looked over to her sister, when Antiope finally looked down at her sister Hippolyta gave her a pleading look. The look Hippolyta received in return nearly made her sick. In that very instant, she knew she had lost her sister forever.

Hippolyta was brought out of her reverie when a female dressed in ancient Greek Armor walked up to her. "My Queen, it is time to leave."

Hippolyta watched as the group on the other side of the valley was about to crest the peak of the hill. For the briefest moment her eyes thought she saw her sister stare back before she turned and disappeared over the hill, never to be seen again.

Hippolyta rubbed her belly for a moment then dropped her arm, she turned her back on the valley for the very last time. The remaining ones who had stayed with Hippolyta had also been banished from their lands. They were to travel to the coast as Athena commanded; there they would discover what the goddess had in store for them.

Their journey was long and hard, the three thousand strong group had to battle local warlords when they entered their lands, and live off whatever they could hunt or gather since being banished. Months passed and Hippolyta's belly grew with each passing day, until she could no longer hide the fact she was pregnant from her people.

Her closest adviser finally spoke up as they walked along the dirt road. "My Queen, we know you are with child..." Philippus paused before she continued. "Is it Heracles'?"

Hippolyta simply nodded her head.

Philippus sighed, "You know the others will not allow it to survive child birth," she told her.

Hippolyta continued to walk without comment. She knew this to be true. She herself was conflicted about the baby that grew within her. She still had several months before its birth to make her choice - but she knew this choice would be the hardest she would ever make.

Their journey was in its seventh month when Hippolyta finally started to have labour pains; the child was coming too early. She commanded the Amazons to make camp outside a small village as she took her nursemaid with her to the village. The village chieftain allowed Hippolyta and her nursemaid to use his storage shed as shelter.

This was Hippolyta's first child and the effects of giving birth were harder then the trained warrior could nearly handle. When she finally pushed the baby out and heard it crying, Hippolyta joined it as she cried in happiness.

But the joy only lasted for moments as she watched in horror at the nurse's next actions. Thinking that it was what her Queen would want, she took out a dagger and, with skilled hands, slit the baby's throat. Hippolyta was frozen in shock as she watched the baby's legs kick and its mouth move without a sound. The nurse smiled down at her work for a few moments until her eyes widened. She dropped the baby and stared at it in horror. Hippolyta tried her best to sit up but was too weak to do so.

Suddenly she heard the child cry once again, Hippolyta stared up at the nurse as her face paled. The nurse then turned and looked at the Queen before she spoke. "It... it's a demon child..." Then she ran from the shed, never to be seen again. Hippolyta neither knew nor cared where.

Hippolyta finally snapped out of her weakened stupor and crawled over to the baby and picked him - for it was a boy - up. Hippolyta stared down at the baby. He was so beautiful even if the knife wound had left a red line across his neck. She pulled herself back up to the makeshift bed and covered him up with her robe.

The love Hippolyta felt for the child was nothing she could describe in words. She was the happiest she had ever been - until she remembered her fellow sisters. With dread and despair Hippolyta knew she could not keep this wonder of a child. She cried as she held the baby, the tears halted once the baby cried again. Motherly instinct told her the child was hungry.

Hippolyta's unfastened and removed her breast, the child held onto the breast as it drank his mother's milk for the first and last time. She sighed, knowing that for one night she could be a mother.

The next morning the village chieftain came to Hippolyta, she asked him to take and raise her child. The chieftain, being childless, agreed instantly with a large smile. With a heavy heart Hippolyta handed the child over to the man and watched as his wife came into the shed and upon hearing of the news the woman cried for joy. Hippolyta's strength had returned to her during the night and as she walked away she cried with every step she took. The tears had ran out by the time she reached her fellow sisters.

Philippus was the last to greet her back as she embarrassed her Philippus spoke softly. "I grieve for your loss, my Queen." Those words gave the Queen the strength to move on and increased Hippolyta's respect of Philippus tenfold.

The Amazons continued their journey towards the ocean shore, when they finally arrived the sight before them was amazing. There standing on the shore were Athena and Poseidon. The Amazons bowed to the two gods, though none could hide their astonishment. Athena and Poseidon hated one another, it was well known in every story of the gods. Hundreds had died because of their deadly rivalry - and here they were, working together?

Athena spoke. "As punishment for disobeying my wishes, you all will be forever removed from this world. And you will be guardians of the mortal realm's gate to Tartarus."

Hippolyta said, "We accept your punishment. It is just."

"Whether you feel it is or not is irrelevant. You will carry it out."

Poseidon then spoke, "Then rise, Amazons, your journey is not complete until you trek to Paradise Island. There the Gate lies, between this world and the next, as guardians you will be granted immortally to protect it."

The Amazons stood up and watched as Poseidon turned to the ocean and raised his arms, as he did so the water parted completely, revealing the seabed. "Go now, you have three days to reach your destination before the water will return."

With that, both gods disappeared in a flash of light. The Amazons made it to their journey's end just as the water was nipping at their feet. They stood there in awe of the beautiful island. Their new home.