OK here's your next update. I'm not 100% happy with this chapter but I needed to give you something. HEHE. Let me know your thoughts. Sorry for the cliffhanger but… ehn its necessary for the progression. Review and let me know your thoughts, No reviews no updates.
Please let me know if this makes sense, it should, but its also in my head so please, please ask questions, if you don't understand or know.
" Ready?"
Arizona nodded and reached out and gently put her hand over Callie's heart, feeling the claws insert into her back as Alya's did the same to Callie's and they were launched into Callie's psyche.
Arizona opened her eyes in the dark and groaned, both of the snow leopards flanked her as she stood. A laugh filled the darkness as Arizona moved to the side to avoid a throwing knife that came towards her head. It imbedded itself in the wall and Arizona walked over and picked it out of the wall. Growling softly to herself she looked at Alya and Deliah.
"Well so much for a 'honey I'm home'. "
Alya cocked her head and spoke softly.
"You must understand that this is not Callie Arizona. It's the force within her."
"What does that even mean?"
Alya groaned softly and tried to begin to explain.
" When the battle lust took over Callie last time, the God of war came after her. He offered her the world, all of it, all she had to do was kill without mercy, become his warlord. Callie fought hard to get rid of this, Wind died protecting her, it created a dualistic nature within her. The fear of the darkness within her has been eating her for so long, she hates what she potentially became who she can potentially become. Only your love and our protection can change her. Come."
Arizona nodded grabbing a torch off the wall and following Alya. They seemed to be walking through a maze of Callie's inner self. She almost bumped into Alya when she stopped in front of a door to the left of them.
"Start here, but be wary if you open anything, there are guardians, do not hurt the guardians, they are apart of Callie. "
Arizona raised an eyebrow and walked into the room. It was full of filing cabinets, each holding different memories, each holding a different part of who Calliope was. The file cabinets were labeled with childhood memories, those forgotten and those remembered. Arizona walked over to the most treasured memory and gently drawing a throwing knife out of her boot she pulled the wooden door open and a small man about 10 inches tall appeared. He smiled cordially at her and then in a perfect English accent spoke.
"Who are you?"
"I am Arizona Robbins, Callie's wife."
He cocked his head to the side and then nodded.
"I should ask you a question and only if you can answer it should I let you look at these memories, but I'm going to let you pass, provided that you can get past me."
He jumped up on the file cabinet and drew double swords and waited. Arizona raised an eyebrow and then taking her throwing knife she aimed and threw it pinning him to the wooden filing cabinet and glancing at him reached for the file with her name on it. As she read through the file, tears filled her eyes. Gently setting it aside she began to read through all of the file folders, learning of her lovers childhood, the tragic loss, both the Babylonian schools and the amazon schools. The little English man squirmed.
"Are you quite done?"
Arizona nodded and gently un-imbedded her throwing knife and closing the last file folder put it back in the cabinet, the little English man looked at her a word of caution on his lips.
"Be careful Arizona Robbins, be careful."
He jumped back into the cabinet the door closing. Arizona made her way over to the next file cabinet, moment by moment she learned her lover inside and out, pushing past each questions the guardians offered. Finally she got to one of the last cabinets marked 'Pain' very clearly. Taking a deep breath Arizona stepped forward and opened the door. A large dragon appeared and threw a fireball at her, Arizona rolled to avoid it and drew her sword knowing she could not hurt it. It thundered at her.
"Who are you?"
Arizona went to answer when the clear voice of her wife interrupted her response.
"Enough Borius, she is allowed to walk these halls and access all that she seeks, she is my wife. Be still old friend."
The dragon nodded and went back into his drawer leaving it open for Arizona's access. Callie stepped forward and was met by her lover. Callie traced the lines of her jaw softly.
"What are you doing here?"
Arizona found herself momentarily distracted.
"trying to find my wife."
callie's eyes flickered.
"You walk dangerous territory my love."
"Why?"
"YOU do not know all of me Arizona, I have a very dark side, here love I cannot hide from you, here I'm not sure I can protect you. These memories will help you. Be wary, I am not always myself. Please be careful."
Arizona nodded and Callie bent her head and kissed her soflty an then was gone. Arizona finished quickly reading through the rest of the files her fingers caressing the pieces of paper wishing and knowing she and Callie would have a lot to talk about. Some of the memories made her jealous, some made her angry, some made her laugh, and some made her hurt with Callie, hurt for Callie and the person she was. As Arizona walked through the memories of her darkness, the memories of her passion, the memories of how she loved others and was loved by others, the struggles, the battles, the depths, the past, the present Arizona felt herself fall in love with Callie all over again. Sighing she closed the last file folder, having no idea how much time had passed and rubbed her eyes. She knew in that moment that no matter what happened she loved Callie, she knew her lover well, all of her, and nothing would separate them. This was love, this was forever. she longed to give her lover this chance within herself. Standing up she walked out to meet Delilah and Alya.
"Ready?"
Arizona nodded.
"She has changed Arizona, the god of war is getting to her. her dual nature is taking over."
Arizona nodded and followed Alya and Delilah through countless hallways to the core of Callie's being. There her lover was chained to the wall and she immediately went to go help her when a voice deeper and darker but unmistakably Callie's spoke.
"Oh yes Arizona go save her."
She felt a slice to her arm and hissed as the 'dark Callie' for lack of a better term, stepped out. She was dressed in full black leather pants and all and had a sword in her hand.
"DO you really think you can save her? Why save her when you can have me?" She had moved up very close to Arizona and was whispering softly to her. A leather covered hand moved up her arm and Arizona shivered as the dark callie caressed her. "So beautiful." Turning to her counterpart whose eyes had snapped and anger filled them. "We have good taste, look at that perfect form."
Calliope spat at her counter part.
"Leave her alone. You are incapable of loving her."
The darker Callie laughed.
"NO but I can fuck her, and that would be fun." Leaning in towards Calliope she growled softly in her ear. "I bet I can even get her to scream our name. What do you think Calliope?" She felt the surge of anger within her and chuckled. "Better reign in that temper Calliope or you will lose this battle an I will be the one to emerge."
Callie growled and fought desperately to keep her temper in check. Arizona watched as Alya moved to calliope's side and looked at her softly.
"Do no forget T'cha. Fight, remember how much you love her."
A poof of blue light appeared and a man about six foot tall appeared in full black leather, a beautiful sword adorned his side and her smiled at the darker Callie. He walked over to her and pinned her to the wall sliding his hands down her back, before claiming her lips and thrusting into her hard. Callie groaned and Arizona stood shell shocked, remembering what it felt like and looked over at Calliope who hung her head. After a moment he broke away.
"Gods I've missed you." He walked over to Calliope. " And its nice to see you in your place." Turning to Arizona his blue eyes flashed. "Ah Arizona Robbins, Persian warlord, I once had you and I will have you again."
Arizona's jaw tightened.
"Avery."
he laughed.
"That's God of war to you sweetheart."
He walked over to her and grabbed her jaw gently. Delilah growled a warning and Arizona told her to calm down. He ran a finger over her jawline.
"Still as beautiful as I remember." Releasing her jaw and looking down at Delilah he patted her head." good Leopard." She growled deeper and bit his hand. He yelped and pulled his hand back as it knitted itself together. Delilah's tail twitched as she dared him to touch her again. He growled and went for his sword only to find darker Callie pull her own and block him.
"They are not apart of this."
Avery sighed and sheathed his sword.
"The one weakness I can never get out of you. Hows the making her angry going?"
Callie smiled.
"Its pretty easy with Robbins here."
Calliope snorted blood spurting out of her nose.
"She is my wife Callie you will never have her."
"And she has a dark side just as I am the dark manifestation of you. Ah well time will do it. Come Avery we have business to attend to."
As soon as they left Arizona walked over to her lover and unchained her quickly and felt Calliope pull her close. She kissed her gently, softly, passionately and then broke away.
"You've got to get out of here. She will kill you love I'll be fine, please go."
Arizona shook her head and looked at her lover gently.
"Calliope I love you, I'm here. You must accept her as apart of yourself."
Callie snorted.
"She'd kill me."
"Calliope she can't, in each of us we have a duality of nature, the light cannot exist without the darkness, instead of trying to kill her embrace her and thought she may consume you for a moment, she cannot kill you, if you accept he as apart of who you are."
calliope met her eyes and when she went to speak Callie and Avery came back.
"Allright Calliope , kiss her one more time, before she becomes mine."
Calliope stood her body bedraggled, sore and tired from the beating she'd received and picked up her sword, she walked over to Arizona and kissed her gently.
"I love you Zona, wife, you are the blood that fills my veins, the heartbeat that moves it throughout my body. I love you."
Arizona cried as Calliope kissed her again and then bent down to her snow leopard.
"This is my battle Alya. Thank you."
The leopard nodded and one last time Calliope spoke the words of salutation that were echoed by the purr of Alya. Stepping into the circle she closed her eyes and let the sound of her heartbeat fill her ears, the sound of each breath, the feeling of her breath entering and exiting her chest. She became aware of all of these things of her opponent , then felt the extension and weight of her sword in her hand. She waited in the circle for her opponent. Callie lunged at her and Calliope blocked the blow allowing the sound of the swords to clash together. Callie stepped back and waited for the second attack. Back and forth back and forth each side of Callie battling back and forth, back and forth. The darker side enraged by the calm of Calliope growled and attacked, tripping her opponent and held the sword at her throat. Calliope struggled against it, the fear of what she could become with the darker side of herself allowing Callie to push the blade closer and deeper into her throat. remembering her lover's words she met the concerned blue eyes and let go. The sword pierced her skin and Arizona felt herself pushed out of Calliope's psyche. She became aware of the water surrounding her naked body, the feeling of her lover's beneath her and felt the claws retract from her back as both leopards moved out of the water and waited, their tails swishing in anticipation. Arizona felt the body beneath her stir and brown eyes open as they met hers.
"calliope?"