"I don't understand what in tartarus happened down there! How in Zeus' name did she get the power to kill gods?" Artemis yelled.
"I don't know but I think it has something to do with Ares" Athena answered, with a faraway look in her eyes, which turned into anger once she realized what Discord meant.
"He knew about this the whole time, he was sending us into a trap. That lying, scheming, manipulative bastard!" Artemis said once the realization also dawned on her.
"When Discord and Deimos tried to kill Xena and the child, he was the one who saved them" Athena said, with disgust in her voice.
"What are we going to do now?"
"I'm guessing that if we find Ares we'll also find the child" A wicked smile played on Athena's lips as a dagger appeared in her hand. "And when we're done with the child, we shall deal with my dear brother" She held the dagger with a tight grip before slamming it into the table beside her.
Not waiting to waste another moment both goddesses then vanished.
Just missing Athena and Artemis' departure by mere minutes, Xena and Aphrodite arrived. The warrior princess stood there confused as she could see no sign of either goddess.
"Where are they?" Xena's voice was low and cold.
"They were definitely here" Aphrodite replied.
"Then where are they now?" The warrior questioned with impatience as she gripped the handle of her sword tighter.
"Wait I'll see if I can find them" With the wave of her hand the love goddess opened a small portal. An image soon arose bringing shock and panic to the face of the warrior princess.
"They know where she is" Xena said breathless. "Get me down there now!" She yelled, her eyes filled with fear.
And with that they were gone.
When Athena and Artemis appeared in Ares' chamber they found Eve alone sitting near the edge of the enormous black silk covered bed. 'What luck' they thought as they began to make their way to the child. But just then Ares entered the room. His eyes looked tired and there was something different about him. Perhaps it was the way his features changed into terror when he saw them. Or how his heart beat quickened and his body slightly quivered. But before the goddesses could put further thought into it Ares drew his sword.
"Get away from her" He roared.
"Ares what do you think you will accomplish? You are a fool to put that women before your own family. And your weakness sickens me" Artemis spat at him. She and Athena now stood in the middle of the room blocking Ares' path to Eve.
"This coming from the two goddesses that fled from a mortal woman" He laughed.
"You tricked us, you knew she had the power to kill gods and instead of warning us, you sent us running into a trap. I promise you I will find a fate worst that death for you" The Huntress vowed.
Athena had not said a word, instead she stood there and stared at the war god before her. She was trying to understand what the strange aura she felt coming from him was. But her thoughts were interrupted when Aphrodite suddenly appeared with Xena beside her. Both stood adjacent to Ares.
Athena and Artemis now felt anger towards the love goddess.
"Aphrodite what is the meaning of this? Have you forgotten that it was Xena who murdered your husband?" Athena questioned, fury could be seen in her eyes.
"No I have not, but what you are doing is wrong. Killing a child to save yourselves is disgraceful and I will not aid you in doing so. Come on what harm could she possibly do?" The love goddess replied.
"You are just like him, pitiful and sad" Athena said. "You both will pay for your treachery"
Spheres of fire emerged from the wisdom goddess' hand and dashed towards Xena, Ares and Aphrodite. Xena leaped out of the way but the love goddess was not as lucky. Two burning spheres smacked her right in the stomach and sent her flying into the wall. Whimpers could be heard from the goddess as she tried to get up from the hit.
"Aphrodite leave" Xena yelled.
"But--" The goddess began.
"Just go"
When Aphrodite disappeared Xena turned her attention to Ares and saw as he struggled to dodge the burning spheres. She swiftly grabbed her chakram and threw it into the air hoping it would halt Athena's attack, which it did.
Athena and Artemis were once again ducking and weaving trying to avoid the spinning disk. Frustration was apparent on Athena's face. She was getting tired of these little games, she wanted this to end once and for all.
Xena made her way to Ares who had tumbled to the ground trying to evade one of the fire balls.
"Are you alright?" She asked as she helped him up.
"Yeah, of course" He tried to play it off but did it badly.
"Go and take Eve away from here and I'll take care of these two" Xena said not waiting for his reply. Instead she quickly rushed towards the two goddesses and attacked them from behind.
Athena heard Artemis scream, she turned to see Xena striking Artemis with her sword leaving another cut on the goddess' body. Athena angrily swung her sword connecting with Xena's chakram and at last stopping the revolving weapon. She was about the go after the warrior princess when she saw Ares going towards Eve.
She quickly ran and leaped towards the child, beating Ares by mere seconds.
"No" Ares said as he lunged at Athena trying miserably to get Eve from her grasp.
Athena vanished only to reappear on the other side of the room with Eve in her arms.
"Xena" The goddess yelled trying to get her attention.
Xena knocked Artemis down and turned to see Athena holding Eve in her arms. The goddess wore triumphant grin on her face, for it seemed she had won.
"Let her go" Xena warned.
"Else you'll want?" The goddess replied.
Xena looked down, grabbed Artemis by the hair and placed her sword below the deity's throat. "Or else she dies"
Artemis released a deep laughter one that filled the entire room. "Do you honestly believe that I would trade the child's life for hers" She laughed again. "I am trying to save the gods and the only way I can do so is by killing this child. And nothing will stop me from doing so" She gazed down at the Amazon goddess. "Artemis I am sorry but sacrifices must be made for the good of the future" She turned her gaze back to the warrior princess. "Say good bye to your child Xena"
While the chaos was occurring a motionless body lie in the other room. Suddenly with a gasp she awakened from her long slumber. Her greenish blue eyes were wide with shock and confusion. She slowly sat up as she looked at her surroundings.
In the back round she could hear the sounds of a battle. Screaming and yelling blended into the echoing of clashing swords and shattering objects.
She tried miserably to recall the most recent events before her passing. She abruptly looked down and ran her fingers along the spot where a large gash should have been. However nothing was there, she had no cuts on her body and there was not a drop of blood on her. But how could that be?
She felt a piercing pain in her head and it was then that she realized the voices she was hearing sounded familiar. It took her only a moment to recognize whom those voices belonged to. She quickly sprung to her feet but found herself grabbing the wall to keep from falling.
She shook her head trying to get rid of the dizziness and ignore the slight head ache she now felt. Her legs felt heavy and numb. She stood still for a little while before taking her first steps. She then paused as she could feel her strength returning to her, she now found it easier to walk. She made her way to the door and stopped a moment before opening it. She placed her ear to the door and could clearly hear what was being said.
The other room had gone quiet and she felt as if her heart had stopped. She quickly took a deep breath and turned the knob, preparing herself for what lie before her.