"You're insatiable." Renard rolled off of an exhausted Titania. He grinned at her and she wanted more than anything at that moment to kill him.
"Yes, well… You bring that out in me." Titania said hesitantly. She had to admit that whatever he did with his tongue sent vibrations through her when his head travelled below her waist. How can he be a wizard there and when he kisses he tries to jam his tongue down my throat. He leaned in to kiss her again and she put her hand on his chest. "We need to talk."
"What about," Renard asked, confused by the sudden serious look that she was giving him.
"You're an amazing lover, but the way you kiss…well, it needs to change." She replied after a moment. He gave her a look that said he didn't have any idea what she meant. Titania sighed and continued. "It should feel as if you're massaging my tongue and instead it feels like you're attempting to jam your tongue down my throat."
"I didn't realize…I guess I should have now that you mention it." Renard wrapped his arms around her. "Would you like to try again?" Titania nodded and he slowly moved towards her and placed a tentative kiss on her lips. She began to return the kiss and she felt his tongue enter her mouth. She was prepared for the worst but was pleasantly surprised as she felt it slowly massaging her tongue. She found that she felt excited as he pushed her back onto the bed. After an hour they both lied on the bed on their backs to rest. Titania had never experienced anything like it in her many years of life and she realized that she didn't want it to end.
"Will you marry me?" Renard asked suddenly. Titania sat upright and covered her chest with the sheet. She studied his face to see if he was serious.
"I only just met you last night." Titania reminded him. Renard sat up and took her hands in his own causing the sheets to fall back down.
"Rebecca, I know that we just met but when you get to be my age you learn to not waste a single moment. I want to spend what moments I have left with you. So, will you marry me?" He asked hopefully. She didn't say anything she just wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately. After that they spent the rest of the day in bed not caring about anything in the world other than each other.
…
"It would appear that they've prepared for us." Brooklyn growled irritably. "What the hell are those things?" Outside of the gate to Constantine's castle were several dozen soldiers and what caught Brooklyn's eye was the two Cyclops/Gargoyle hybrids.
"…Another experiment that Constantine will pay for." Demona snarled. Her eyes burned red as she felt the anger building within her. "I will rip his throat out myself."
"Where's this help that you said we should be getting?" Sora asked Xena irritably. "We can't face all that alone." She pointed out.
"One way or another we will win." Tiger said trying to sound optimistic but the quiver in his voice gave his true feelings away.
"We have to." Demona agreed. "Let's go," She sighed as they began to march forward.
"You're not going to wait for us?" Xena turned and ran towards the voice. Demona smiled wide as she saw her sister leap into Hercules's arms. They shared a quick kiss and he set her back down.
"I am so happy that you could make it." Iolaus cleared his throat. "…And you as well Iolaus." Xena added with a grin.
"When Ares told me what you were up to I had to come and make sure you would be okay." Hercules replied.
"Those things are big." Iolaus said after noticing the Cyclops. Hercules looked at them for a moment and shrugged.
"We've faced bigger." He chuckled.
"I am glad that you are with us." Demona said and with that the army began to march towards Constantine's waiting forces more optimistic about their chances then they were just a moment before.
…
Puck watched as things progressed with Renard. What is she doing? She was supposed to receive his seed and leave. I have work for her to do. He thought irritably. I mean she must know that she's pregnant so why hasn't she left that old man yet? He changed into the shape of one of Renard's servants and walked to the master bedroom door. He knocked loudly and Renard shouted for him to go away for a moment.
"Sir, there is an emergency at the office." Puck said mimicking the servant's voice.
"Can't it wait?" Renard asked irritably.
"The caller was very insistent sir." Puck replied. He heard some shuffling and finally the door opened. Puck kept up the stoic appearance even though he wanted to attack Titania when he saw her lying on Renard's bed wearing nothing but an engagement ring.
"Fine," Renard said after a moment. "Give me a moment and tell Roger I will be right there." Puck nodded and walked around the corner and waited for Renard to leave.
"I'm sorry my darling, but I must go to the office for a little while." Renard leaned over her and kissed her. Since she taught him what he was doing wrong she found that she craved his kiss.
"When will you be back?" Titania or Rebecca as she went by now asked him as they both began to get dressed. Renard shook his head.
"That depends on what is happening down there." Renard replied. "But I'll be back as quickly as I can." He gave her another quick kiss before he left and she sat back on the bed as the events of the last week replayed in her mind over and over again. She wouldn't have thought it possible when she first arrived in this time but now she realized that she felt something for Renard that she never felt for anyone before. She was in love with him and decided that she truly did want to marry him.
"What are you still doing here?" Puck asked from the doorway. "Have you forgotten our mission here?"
"No, it's just that some things are different now." Titania informed him. "I'm in love with him Puck. I have never been in love with anyone before and I find the feeling to be too intoxicating to give up."
"Are you insane? Have you forgotten what our mission is?" Puck shouted as he changed back to his original form. Titania glared at him as she replied.
"My mission was to create my daughter and make sure I have my grandson stay with me. How could I achieve that any better by not having a billionaire on my side." Titania pointed out.
"So, you're still committed to our plan?" Puck asked hesitantly.
"Of course, I still want my grandson back after all." Titania smirked at him. "Now, I also want to be with Halcyon."
"How did you manage to fall for a human… an old human at that?" Puck grinned at the shocked look on her face.
"He's not that old. I think he said he was fifty-two or was that fifty-three." She tried to remember what he had said. "I am over a thousand years old making me much older than he is.
"Yet you still appear to be in your thirties." Puck pointed out.
"I love him and I discovered that he is an amazing lover so I will follow your plan but I will not leave him." Titania said with a note of finality that signaled to Puck she considered the matter to be closed.
"Very well, but I hope that your little lust-a-thon doesn't cost us everything that we've worked for. Remember, you sold your soul to Lucifer to get this far." Puck reminded her and Titania glared at him again.
"Do you really think that I have forgotten that? Why do you think that after all this time I am trying to enjoy my life. I wasted so much time with Oberon that I didn't see any of the joy that life had to offer me." Titania sighed. "I know that Oberon will never let us come back to Avalon and that hurt for a while but since meeting Halcyon I feel that I can say this and truly mean it…Fuck Oberon and Fuck Avalon. I'm happy now and I don't care if I never see either one of them again."
"You don't mean that. Avalon is our home." Puck said in shock as he slowly sat down. In his shock he missed the chair and tumbled to the floor. If Titania was in a better mood that probably would have made her laugh but instead she walked over to help him up.
"I do mean that. When this is done if you want to return then that is fine, but I have decided after giving this a lot of thought that I will not be returning with you." Titania informed him.
"I guess I won't be returning either." Puck replied bitterly. It was Titania's turn to look shocked after Puck spoke.
"Why not, you have no reason to stay here?" Titania asked curiously. Puck flashed her an amused grin.
"You really think I want to live in one of Oberon's cells for the rest of eternity. No thanks, he has absolutely no taste when it comes to décor." Puck pointed out and they both laughed at that. "I better get out of here before your fiancée arrives. I hope you know what you're doing my friend because we won't get another chance at this."
"I understand, thank you for helping me Puck. Sometimes I think that you've been the only one I can consider a friend." Titania smiled and Puck turned towards her.
"You're just now realizing that? You are a little slow aren't you?" He grinned at her as she ordered him to go. "I'll check in later to see how you're doing. By the way you do realize you are pregnant don't you?" Titania nodded and ordered him to go again before Halcyon returned. Puck bowed and vanished from the room just as the front door opened and Renard walked in cussing as he threw his briefcase into the hall closet.
"What's the matter sweetheart?" Titania asked as she walked down the stairs to greet him.
"Someone decided to play games with me and trick me into going into the office. When I find out who I swear that I'll…" Titania wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately.
"It'll be okay, why don't you come back to bed and let me make you feel better." She winked at him as she took his hand and led him back to the bedroom.
"I love you so much darling." Renard said when the door closed behind them. She grinned back at him as she began to remove her clothes.
"I love you too. Now, get out of those clothes so I can show my appreciation for my beautiful ring."
…
Constantine looked through his spyglass and grimaced as he watched Xena's army approach. He didn't tell me Hercules would be with her. He thought bitterly.
"Ares god of war, I need your help again to stand against your enemies." Constantine called out. He heard laughing coming from behind him and he turned and saw Ares standing behind him.
"What was our deal Constantine?" Ares asked. He walked around the confused warlord. "Having trouble remembering? Okay, let me remind you." He grabbed the warlord by the scruff of the neck and slammed him into the wall. "Our deal was for you to take over Xena's army and start wars that would rival the one hundred years war." He let him go and walked over to look over the battlements. "Instead what did I get? You trying to recreate the woman you had an affair with into this…this thing." He pointed to Xenia.
"Hey," Xenia's eyes flared gold. Ares grinned and a ball of lightning appeared in his hand.
"Please… attack me." Ares taunted as he flashed her a wide grin. She stepped back from him as Constantine waved her off.
"Instead of the glory, war, blood, and death that I was expecting I got your pathetic neediness. Now, she might be valuable but you no longer are worth my time." Ares stated as he turned towards Xenia.
"You cannot forsake me like this. We had a deal." Constantine shouted. Ares smirked at him and threw the ball of lightning striking Constantine in the chest and causing him to fall to the ground. He quickly scrambled back to his feet.
"Had… past tense, our deal is off so you better hope this mutated thing can help you in your conquest. Today, Hercules and Xena are not my concern." Ares vanished leaving Constantine to glare at the spot where he had been standing. He felt the anger growing and he walked back over to the battlements to watch the battle begin.
"Don't worry love. We shall defeat them." With that Xenia began to flap her wings and she started to fly over the castle grounds and she landed near the cyclops. "It's time to play." Both of the cyclops looked at each other and smiled wickedly.
…
As the two armies collided the sound of fighting and death could be heard for miles around. Xena blocked a downward strike from a soldier and pushed the man backward causing him to lose his balance. She twisted around and drove her sword through his midsection. She pulled the sword out of him and used it to decapitate another man that was charging towards her. She noticed an enemy archer as the man fell in front of her. She quickly threw her chakram stopping the archer from firing an arrow at Gabrielle who was busy fighting a soldier ten yards away by cutting the arrow in half. The archer quickly reached for another arrow but Hercules grabbed his arm.
"That's not polite." He turned and hurled the archer into a group of soldiers Knocking them all to the ground.
Demona looked over and saw that Sora was struggling with two guards as she used a mace to smash in the head of the soldier that attacked her. She leaped forward to help and was surprised when Sora spun in a perfect circle and used her Katanas to cut the heads off of her attackers. Demona and Sora quickly found themselves surrounded by a dozen more.
"Back to back." Demona called and Sora nodded. Demona used her mace to block a sword before she ripped the wielders throat out with her claws. She grabbed his sword quickly before he fell and waited for the next attacker. Sora blocked several strikes from two soldiers. Before she took the head off of one and stabbed the other through the chest. Tiger ran forward to help and suddenly felt the ground shake as the Cyclops walked forward.
"Oh, hell…" Tiger cursed as one of the Cyclops's lifted its club and swung down as hard as it could. Tiger looked up in surprise as the club stopped just above him as Hercules stopped the downward swing. He pulled the club so hard that the Cyclops had to let it go or it would have fallen. The creature nearly fell over and Hercules took the club and twisted it around before he swung it up striking the creature in the jaw. It spread its wings trying to catch itself but the wind was too light to keep him upright. He fell over crushing a dozen of Constantine's soldiers. Enraged by seeing his brother fall the other Cyclops attacked a group of Xena's warriors that came forward to stop him.
"Look out!" Xena shouted. Iolaus ducked low avoiding the pike but the pike on the club speared one of the warrior women through her chest. The creature continued to swing the club with her impaled on it quickly covering the battlefield in her blood. Hercules, Xena, and the gargoyles rushed forward to help. Gabrielle screamed as two guards grabbed her. Xena stopped and ran to help her. Her battle cry took the men by surprise and she ran one through with her sword before the other two could react. Gabrielle used her staff to knock the man to her right to the ground and Xena swung her sword in a deadly arc that nearly severed the soldier from his right shoulder to his left hip.
"Thanks," Gabrielle said as she tried to catch her breath.
"Don't thank me yet. We got more work to do." Xena replied. They started to run forward when suddenly fire rained down from the sky and formed a circle around the two of them. They looked up just as Xenia finished breathing fire to create the ring. She dropped down and drew two large swords each would require a human to use two hands but she was able to dual wield them expertly.
"Sister, is that you?" Gabrielle asked in shock. "Alaina, it's me Gabrielle."
"I knew it was you." Xenia smirked at her. "Surprised to see me alive."
"Yes, I thought you were dead…How did this…" Gabrielle stammered not understanding how this could be happening.
"Well, after you and our parents tried to kill me I was found by my new master." Xenia began. "You left me to die and Constantine saved me."
"He turned you into a monster Alaina. You used to want to be just like me when you grew up remember." Xena added. "Let me help you. We can fix what that maniac has done to you."
"You also left me in that burning house." Xenia hissed. "If it wasn't for you my sister would have been with me and I wouldn't have been left to die." She breathed fire again and Xena and Gabrielle quickly dodged out of the way of the flames. Demona saw the circle of fire and shouted for Hercules to deal with the Cyclops. She ran back and stopped just outside of the ring.
What kind of creature is that? Demona asked. She tried to find a way through the fire but quickly backed away from it as she realized that it was much too hot for her to get near.
"I didn't know. We rushed out when the fire started and I thought that you had gotten out." Gabrielle informed her. "Father tried to go back in for you but the house collapsed before he could."
"You're lying, Constantine told me what happened." Xenia roared. Her eyes flared bright gold. "My name is Xenia do not call me Alaina again. EVER" Xenia leapt to attack and Xena quickly pushed Gabrielle out of the way. The momentum from Xenia knocked Xena to the ground and she quickly kicked the creature off of her. Xenia landed on her back and grinned as she got back to her feet. She twisted around and used her tail to lash out and it cut deep into Xena's left cheek. She felt the blood on her face but she got to her feet and leapt at Xenia while swinging her sword in an arc that would take the creature's head off, but Xenia was too fast and moved forward striking with her talons catching the warrior princess in her mid-section leaving three large gashes. Xenia picked her up by her throat.
"I…will…kill…you." Xena barely managed to say as it became harder to breathe. Gabrielle rushed forward to help but Xenia breathed fire again creating a barrier between them. She noticed Demona trying to find her way in and grinned at Xena.
"This is turning out to be quite the family reunion isn't it?" Xenia laughed, and dropped Xena to the ground. Xena coughed and tried to catch her breath as she slowly got back to her feet. Xenia walked over and was face to face with Demona separated by only the fire barrier. "What my lord ever saw in the two of you I will never understand. Although, I suppose I should be thanking you. After all if it hadn't been for the blood samples he got from you I wouldn't exist now would I?" She laughed and turned to look back at Xena. "To thank you I will make your deaths quick."
"What do you mean he used our blood?" Xena and Demona asked at nearly the same time.
"You really don't know do you." Xenia laughed maniacally before she continued. "He took the blood from the only two beings he knew had successfully been made a hybrid." She walked over as Xena picked up her sword. Before she could say anything else Xena swung her sword. The creature dodged the blow but the blade cut a large gash in her left wing. "You fucking bitch." Xenia roared. She lifted Xena up by the throat again and slammed her back to the ground. She leaned down and lifted her up by the scruff only to punch her in the face over and over. Xena struggled to remain conscious but she could feel her jaw and cheek bones breaking under Xenia's fist.
I have to get in there. Demona thought desperately. Brooklyn ran a blade through one of the last soldiers and noticed Demona back away from the barrier and he realized she was going to try to run through it.
"Demona, don't do it." Brooklyn shouted. He killed another man as he rushed forward to stop her, but he was too slow. Demona burst through the fire area and roared in pain and anger as she could feel the fire searing her skin and burning her hair and eyes. She could no longer see but she could still smell the horrible stench that came off of her target. Xenia was paying too much attention to Xena that by the time she heard the gargoyle Queen rushing towards her it was too late. Demona threw her full weight into the creature knocking her to the ground and using her senses she quickly got on top of her enemy and began to rip into her with her claws. Xenia breathed fire directly into Demona's face nearly melting it off.
…
"You can't help her Gil. C'mon stick with the plan. We need to get out of here." Jason called out to his friend. During the battle they had separated themselves from the army as they planned but when Gil saw the fire ring he told Jason they needed to help.
"I'm sorry Jason I have to go back." Gil drew his sword and ran forward to help do what he could. In the ring Xenia got the upper hand and slammed Demona's head into the ground over and over again. Xena watched helplessly barely able to move when she noticed Syren standing just inside the fire ring.
"Remember what I told you before my daughter. You need to accept your true form." Syren disappeared and Xena concentrated on the image she had seen in Syren's mirror during her dream. She screamed as she suddenly felt a worse pain then she ever felt before in her life. She looked down and saw her fingers were turning into talons. She could feel the rest of her body changing. Brooklyn, Xenia, and Demona watched in shock as a bright white light started to emanate from Xena's body. When Xena stood she looked identical to Demona in every way except that her eyes were the same shape and blue color that they had always been. Her skin turned white and continued to glow. Xenia dropped Demona to the ground and leaped to kill the new threat. Xena however was much faster and grabbed Xenia's throat before slamming her into the ground. She lifted her back up and looked her in the eye. Demona couldn't see what was going on but she could smell the difference in Xena. Xenia raised her claws to attack and Xena grabbed her arm while using her momentum to flip her over onto her back. Demona painfully made her way forward as the other two fought. With Xena's new strength her claws easily cut through Xenia's scales. She kept attacking and soon Xenia was bleeding profusely from several places on her chest, arms, wings, and her head. Using the last of her strength Xenia shoved Xena away and slowly started to crawl away. Demona rose to her feet and slowly made her way forward. Xena watched as Demona lifted the creature up. Demona said something to her that Xena couldn't quite understand and then Demona grabbed Xenia's throat and the creature struggled but Demona kept squeezing until she finally heard the bone in the monster's throat snap. Demona dropped the lifeless creature to the ground and grinned triumphantly at her sister just before collapsing to the ground herself. Just as she hit the ground it started to rain. Xena ran forward and picked Demona up off of the ground.
"I'll get you out of here." Xena said. She noticed that Brooklyn was watching with a wide eyed stare. The rain caused the fire ring to finally dwindle down enough so that Brooklyn could leap over the fire and pick up Gabrielle before leaping back out. Xena laid her sister down on the ground gently.
"I'll kill you once and for all like I should have long ago." Constantine drew his sword and walked forward. He was limping from an injury he sustained during the battle. Before anyone could react a sword suddenly flew through the air and buried itself inside of the warlord's chest. He fell to his knees grasping the hilt of the sword that was now sticking out of his chest. Everyone turned to look and they were stunned to see Gil running forward followed closely by Jason. Constantine looked at the Hunter in surprise before he fell forward and lied motionless on the ground.
"Victory," Xena shouted and the few remaining women and gargoyles joined in. She was beginning to change back into a human when she noticed that Demona was lying on the ground with Brooklyn holding her head in his lap.
"She…she's dead." Brooklyn said with tears streaming down his face. Xena slumped down next to him and stroked some of the hair from her sister's face.
"That's not…are you sure." Xena looked up into his eyes and felt her own starting to water. Gabrielle came forward and she leaned down to comfort her friend. "Gabrielle, can you help her." Xena looked at her friend hopefully. She felt her heart sink and Brooklyn began to sob as Gabrielle shook her head.
"I…I will try but she's not human and this magic may not work on her." Gabrielle pointed out. They both looked up at her with newfound hope in their eyes as Gabrielle placed both of her hands in front of her and a foot above Demona's chest. Both the human women and the gargoyles gathered around Demona's body. Hercules wrapped his arm around Xena to comfort her and watched intently as a bright blue glow began to emanate from the palms of Gabrielle's hands.
"Please wake up. I just started to get to know you. I need you with me." Xena reached down and gripped one of Demona's hands in her own and Brooklyn held on tight to the other. "You can't do this to me now."
