Now armed with her sword Xena continued her fight against Celine and Kai. The urgency to end the confrontation quickly weighed heavily on Xena's mind as Gabrielle still remained on the ground unresponsive. Xena wished more than anything that she could just simply take Gabrielle and Aurora and run. Not because she didn't think that she could win the fight. But because Xena knew that this battle was eating away at any opportunity that she might have to save Gabrielle. Though she had done what she could to slow the bleeding, Xena knew it wasn't going to be enough. And if she didn't get Gabrielle actual medical attention fast she'd lose her forever. But Xena was also fully aware that just taking Gabrielle and Aurora and running simply wasn't an option. Neither Kai or Celine were going to allow that. And fighting her way out while protecting both Gabrielle and Aurora was something that would put the two in too much danger. Not to mention how Xena would even have the opportunity to get them both and carry them out. So with running out of the question Xena was left with no choice but to fight. Not that she didn't want to make the two pay for everything they've done anyway. She just did not like the time fairly short time limit that she was on. But she couldn't dwell on that, instead Xena put as much of her focus as she could on ending the fight with her Celine and Kai as quickly as possible. Xena knocked Kai down as Celine swung at her. She blocked the strike with her sword and shoved the Amazon back before driving her boot into her midsection. She then swung her sword in an upwards arch at Celine. Her attack was blocked by Kai who suddenly brought her weapon down before she could connect. This gave Celine an opening as she drove her blade right for Xena's chest. Quickly Xena forced both her and Kai's blades up, causing all three weapons to clash. As the metal scraped together Kai and Celine worked together to overpower Xena. Both pushing down on her as Xena worked to hold them back. The vindictive Amazon's continued to press their weapons towards Xena. Slowly the force drove Xena to one knee as Celine and Kai kept up the pressure.
KAI
I don't get why you're still fighting so hard Xena. Gabrielle's dead by now. And you're not getting out of here alive with that kid of yours either. So just give in and accept the fate you deserve.
CELINE
(Sinister tone) And don't worry about your baby girl. Instead of killing her maybe I'll find somewhere I can send her. I hear that some people are willing to pay good money for children. And especially if their girls. I wonder how much I can get if I add that she's from an Amazon too.
The horror of what Celine was implying she would expose Aurora to was something that no parent ever wanted to imagine their child going through. The very thought made Xena sick as she knew that some Fates like that were infact worse than death. Whether Celine was telling the truth about her plans for Aurora or if she simply wanted to torment Xena further by planting such sick and disturbing images of her child in her mind. it didn't make any real difference. Either way Xena was never going to allow either Celine or Kai to ever lay a hand on Aurora, Gabrielle or anyone else she loved ever again. And there wasn't an army in the world that was big enough to stop her. Fueled even further by Celine's comments about Aurora, Xena dug deep inside herself and brought forth everything she had. With a furious yell Xena pushed hard as she rose quickly and shoved both Kai and Celine back. Wasting no time Xena let out her battle cry as she rushed for Celine. The Amazon barely had time to block Xena's attack. Xena immediately shoved her back and was about to run her sword through her when she heard Kai behind her. Quickly Xena ducked out of the way of her swing and kicked her foot back into Kai's knee, causing her leg to go out from under her. As Kai dropped Xena lept up, flipping backwards and landing on her feet behind her. Kai quickly turned around to face Xena as she stood and was met with a sharp pain as Xena thrust her sword into Kai's flesh. The Amazon let out an agonizing gasp feeling Xena wrench the blade inside her as she saw a look of burning rage and hated in Xena's eyes. Slowly Kai's knees buckled and she sunk down. As she did Xena angled her weapon, allowing the woman to slide off her blade leaving a coating of her blood on it behind as she hit the ground. Celine stood there stunned as she watched Kai fall and just lay on the cave floor as her consciousness rapidly began to fade into nothing. Until a few minutes later Kai would take one final breath as death claimed her. Though nether Celine or Xena witnessed those final few minutes as Xena had quickly placed her focus on her remaining enemy and went right back on the offensive. But now with no back up to throw Xena off, Celine was suddenly finding it far more difficult to hold her own against the highly skilled and experienced warrior that Xena was. With Xena no longer needing to worry about the possibility of being to preoccupied by one opponent that the other would have the opportunity to go for Aurora or even Gabrielle to ensure that she was dead. She could put all of her efforts into putting an end to this nightmare as fast as she could. Now Xena only had Celine to contend with, the Amazon quickly learned just how out classed she was compared to Xena. Celine's attempts at offense were practically hopeless as Xena blocked, dodged or deflected every one of her attacks. Landing multiple hits on the Amazon as Celine did whatever she could to defend against Xena's onslaught. After several hard hits Celine was driven to the ground. Xena turned her blade down as she stood over her and drove the sword drown towards Celine. At the last moment Celine rolled out of the way as Xena's weapon dug into the earth where she had just been, narrowly missing Celine. The Amazon hastily grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in Xena's face as she scrambled to get up and away from her. As Xena was distracted with trying to rub her eyes clear Celine moved fast as she went for the only thing that she thought would save her. After a moment Xena's vision cleared and she quickly looked for where Celine had gone. Though her search only took a few seconds when she spotted Celine standing beside Gabrielle's body as she held Aurora in her arms as she clenched her dagger in her hand. Celine let out a releaved laugh as she saw Xena turn towards her.
CELINE
Now what Xena? I have the only thing in this world that you could possibly care about even more than Gabrielle. And with her gone if I take this one, you'll have nothing. So if I were you I'd drop your weapon right now. I won't say it again.
Xena stood there with no emotion showing as her face or any in her voice. She didn't want to give Celine any more thanwhat she already had to work with when it came to using her concern forher child's safety against her.
XENA
If I drop my weapon, what's to stop you from still killing her or doing the other things you said?
CELINE
Because right now she's my ticket out of here and away from you. Plus if you don't I'll just kill her right here and now. Then at least my last moments will be filled with the knowledge that you will have had everything you cared about taken from you. So it's your choice Xena. Watch your child die right in front of you or let both me and her leave here alive. And who knows once i'm gone maybe I'll even consider giving her to an actual decent home.
Xena didn't say anything as she tried to find a way out of her situation.
CELINE
So what's it gonna be?
Xena knew that Celine was completely serious about killing Aurora and knew that she was left with no choice but to give in to her demands. So with a scowl Xena threw her sword down.
CELINE
Good now kick it away. Don't need you getting any ideas when i get closer to you.
Again Xena did as instructed and slid her sword out of reach. Then with Aurora in her arms, Celine began walking towards the corridor of the cave which lead to exit with Xena never taking her eyes off of her.
CELINE
Very good. Now I suggest you take one more good look at your daughter Xena because this is the last time you will ever see her.
TO BE CONTINUED…