Her head spun as she realized what happened, where he had taken her

Disclaimer: I do not own Xena or any of the characters.

A/N If you haven't noticed, I'm terrible at updating even when its just short chapters. I might make this longer depending on how I feel, I know where I could take it, though if I do, chapters will be horribly short like this one. Better effect and all. Enjoy

Her head spun as she realized what happened, where he had taken her. The breathe left her body as she collapsed on the floor from sheer shock. He looked down in a mixture of disgust and possession.

"Stand." He simply command, his voice rumbling through the chambers he brought her to. She looked around, the dim lighting giving no hint of where she was to be held. The candelight flickered and she saw the bed with its black satin sheets against the back wall, centered and decorated with skulls and bones. Gabrielle brought her hand to her head and grabbed her hair in frustration. It was only temporary relief from the stress that was to be inflicted upon her. Not moments after, Ares yanked her roughly to her feet and was directly in her face again.

"When I tell you to do something, you listen." He said harshly, searching her eyes for obedience but seeing only anger. He smiled deviously and caressed her face. "This is how I want you Gabrielle. I'm going to craft you into the next great warrior, not a replacement for none could replace her but you will be achingly close to what she was. So save it." His hand made its way down to her throat and he gripped her tightly. "Save your anger and hatred, save your pain and once you have been perfectly molded, unleash it on the unsuspecting world." He thrust her away from him and laughed disappearing in the light, leaving her alone in her prison.

"Ares!" Gabrielle screamed with absolute fury, slamming her fists against the table she stood next to. She quickly strode to the only door and began pushing and pulling the handle trying to force it open. She knew, knew it was useless to even try but nothing could stop her from battling against the unjust position she was stuck in. Her thoughts soon over-came her and she placed her back against the door and slid to the floor in exhaustion, her eyes filling with tears.

"Oh Xena, who will help me now." She muttered dejectedly, not knowing if there was a savior out there to save her from the destruction that was to be reeked upon her life.


Ares watched through a pool of water in another room in the temple he had brought her to. He smirked to himself as she slowly began to crumple and give in to his power. He knew though, Gabrielle would fight with every ounce of what she had. The Amazon Queen would never give into him, and that's what would make his victory over her the sweetest one he could obtain. Waving his hand, he looked to his left as a pink light flicked in the room and his dear sister Aphrodite appeared.

"Don't even." He growled, his powers straining as tension took over his body.

"Ares, you can't do this. I won't let you keep her." Aphrodite said with a whine in her voice but anger fueling her words. Though the Goddess of Love was rarely serious, when it came to her friends she was deadly loyal and would not allow Ares to subject Gabrielle to his will.

"And what's going to stop me? Love?" He laughed as he took a step closer to his sister, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "War and anger are more powerful then love could ever be. I know battles sister, don't fight one your sorely outnumbered in. You wont win this." The two stood in a stand still and Aphrodite scoffed but snapped her fingers and disappeared in a cloud of pink glitter. He smirked and walked back to his throne of skin and bones, resting his legs over the side and drawing his sword, resting it upon his lap, waiting for the next challenge in the war he was waging.