A TRULY HORRIBLE SURPRISE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL

Phantasos moved the candle light across the woman's green eyes again watching as they dilated instantly. "So you can see perfectly fine now?" Gabrielle shifted slightly on the healers table. "Yes." He moved the candle again to her other eye. "Fascinating, do you remember yesterday at all just out of interest?" Gabrielle looked down the other day was very vague in her memory, she remembered being in the hall with the maid Evadine then nothing, her mind was completely blank. The only thing she remembered was waking up in bed because of her ears, were ringing to point that she wanted to throw up and she had done so because the sound was too much to handle.

Her body had hurt as well, every muscle felt like it was on fire and the bones deep in side her body ached. That was when she'd realized she could see again as the room had come in to view, but not for long as the healer in the room had given her something to put her back to sleep. She looked up meeting the older man's gaze. "No not really." Phantasos moved his fingers up looking at her forehead where she'd been smashed with the heavy vase which was now completely healed, there wasn't even a scar. He'd never seen this before no normal person had this level of healing there was clearly something different about her. On top of this her ribs which had been slightly showing had now vanished it was like she'd gained more weight over night.

Clearly what ever was going on with her, it was unlike anything he'd ever come across in all his years of a healer. She wasn't a god she could bleed but maybe she had something which was godly, perhaps it was her pendent or something with in her body itself. He had heard of people consuming small godly items in the past to give them selves healing powers. Though from the stories he'd heard it had never ended well it normally resulted in the person's death. She was clearly very out of the ordinary, he leaned closer. "Open your mouth please." He watched as she did so, showing off a set of clean white teeth and a shining gold back tooth along with healthy pink gums. "You are quite the healer, I though I was going to have pull out a second back chewing tooth but it appears that, that tooth is fine now."

He watched as she closed her mouth. "You seem fit and healthy now, wouldn't have thought it about a month ago when you came to me you were just rags and bones, I thought that I was going to loose you in the first night." Gabrielle tensed slightly before speaking. "Do you have a pipe?" Phantasos looked up slightly. "No why do you ask?" Gabrielle twitched again. "I really need to smoke." Phantasos stared at her for a long moment. "You are joking are you not?" Gabrielle stared at her hands for a long moment. "No I'm not." Phantasos put a hand on her shoulder. "A good looking young woman like you should not be smoking its bad for your health."

Gabrielle felt a cold sneer form as she spoke hearing her cold tone hit the air. "It's my choice to smoke, not yours." Phantasos blinked catching the sudden change in her character which he hadn't seen before. It was more than just her tone that had changed it was her presence towards him it was no longer nice it was almost cold. He turned to his herbs. "I'm afraid I can't help you, you'll have to ask someone to buy you a pipe hopefully one day you'll learn that smoking is bad for you." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze catching the sarcasm in his tone. "Tell me then healer if the gods didn't want human's to have earthly pleasures then why did they create the wonder that is opium and coltsfoot leaf and make it so easy to obtain?" Phantasos breathed in deeply her tone was slightly vindictive despite that she was speaking with a smile. "The Greek gods put these things here to test our resolve."

Gabrielle ran her finger slowly down the scar on her eyebrow. "Yes your gods did but I don't worship your gods so I don't care for your so called resolve." She stood up from the table watching as he opened the curtains to the healing room allowing the light to flood in. "So I choose to smoke because that's my resolve." Phantasos snarled raising his hand only to stop as a banging sounded on the door he turned sharply. "Come in!" He watched as the door opened as Demetrius walked in side the room a look of concern was on his face. He nodded respectfully. "Demetrius it's a pleasure to see you, I do hope the problem you were having this morning has gone."

Demetrius folded her arms. "In a manner of speaking yes it has." She felt a wide smile form. "I was hoping that I could take Gabrielle off your hands for a while, the Empress wishes to speak with her." Phantasos snorted slightly. "She was just leaving." He ignored the cold look from the blonde woman as she stepped away from him. He turned back to his herbs. "Maybe you can be the one to give her a pipe so she can smoke herself to death." Gabrielle eased up her hands. "Apparently he dislikes smokers." She paused before empathising her next words. "It's so disappointing." Demetrius blinked he wasn't really sure what was going on but it clear that there was the beginnings of an argument here. He stepped forward. "Gabrielle one of the maids has put a nice set of robes in your room how's about you go and dress in them then come down to the dinner room, it's the big room next to the kitchens?" Gabrielle looked at her for a long moment, feeling her anger fade away somehow she wasn't really sure why she had so much anger over a single pipe it seemed so trivial. "I'd like that very much."

8

Gabrielle entered the huge dinning room she adjusted the pure white peplos robes with a cream waist belt feeling slightly subconscious of her self somehow these robes felt to revealing. May be it was because they made her chest far to open to the human eye, she moved her fingers trying to cover up her exposed breasts as she walked in side the room. She felt nervous for some reason, it felt like such a long time since she'd felt this way. She looked up feeling herself freeze as she caught sight of the woman who was seated at the table which was huge and big enough for a least six people or more. Yet at this moment all the chairs had been pulled back so only two remained.

She stared at the woman for a long moment she was in her late thirties and very tall she could tell that even from a distance. If she were to stand she'd tower above her, her long hair which hung well over her shoulders and was as black as night. Her skin was tanned bronze and her eyes were piercing blue in colour and really stood out. She was wearing a truly elaborate armour, the armours chest plate had angel wings which covered each breast and a thick armour plate which was triangular and went just bellow her waist, the whole thing was plated in gleaming silver. Both of her shoulders were covered by three silver plates. Below them hung a beautiful designed black half sleeves which had open gaps, at the very end of each sleeve was another silver rim of armour plating.

The leather bodice was coated in silver and looked very sturdy and powerful. A thick heavy black belt was wrapped around the older woman's waist and on it were engraved silver angelic wing designs. From it hung down four thick heavy tassels all engraved in silver and with the same beautiful designs. On her wrists were silver plated gauntlets once more with angel winged designs. The skirt she wore was purple in colour and knee high it was grooved and had silver patterns at its very edge. She had thick heavy front lacing knee high black boots which had silver plated top and weaving silver decoration on the sides. The whole armour looked in part Roman and almost gladiatorial, though the designs were Greek it was a strange hybrid which embraced two separate worlds.

She tapped her brown sandals on the floor watching as the woman looked up her light blue eyes meeting her own. She was a stunningly beautiful woman, she'd seen many women in this palace today yet none had her sense of presence. There was a strange lingering moment of silence clinging to the air in which she couldn't find her voice and she had no idea as to why. Xena looked in to the younger woman's forest green eyes for a long moment not really being able to break away it was an odd moment which felt strange even to her. She put her hands together realizing that this moment was happening because the other woman had never seen her before. This was the first time she was seeing the person who had rescued her from a painful death in the darkness of the pit. She coughed clearing her throat as she raised her hand. "Please take a seat."

Gabrielle swallowed as she came forward slowly sitting herself on the chair opposite the taller woman who was seated at the head of the table. The voice was so recognisable, more so than any other voice which she could now put a face to with the return of her sight. She pulled the chair up to the table eyeing the food which was laid out. She felt unsure as to what she should say or do, she was looking at the face of the Empress of Greece and she had no idea what this woman expected of her.

Xena raised an eyebrow the younger woman was nervous she could see it in her body and her eyes. She breathed in deeply may be it was better that she be the one to put her at ease. "It's wonderful to see that your sight has returned for a while there we thought you may never be able to see again." Gabrielle looked at the food in front of her and a cutlery opposite her plate she had no idea which thing she was supposed to eat first. Xena put her hands together. "Normally we'd have bread soaked in wine first along with cheese and fish but feel free to eat how ever you wish and have what ever you like."

Gabrielle picked up a fork digging in to king sized prawns in a bowl feeling more at ease she looked down slightly before speaking her next words. "It's nice to be able to see again as well as be able to try different foods." Xena looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "I called you here because I wanted to give you this." She leaned over picking up the chest putting it on the table seeing the confusion appear in the other woman's eyes. She smiled as she looked at the closed chest. "All of these things in here are yours." She pushed the chest carefully forward so it was opposite the other woman. "Maybe you might recognise something."

Gabrielle picked up some salted meat biting down on it before easing up both hands opening the chest seeing the many different objects inside. None of which she recognised say one and only because she'd seen another like it today. She slowly eased her hand in pulling out the small ivory pipe. Xena raised an eyebrow as she looked at the pipe of all the things to pick up why that one? Gabrielle eased the pipe up to the candle flames opposite lighting the end watching as the dark smoke started to drift through the air. She put it to her lips breathing in ignoring the other woman's surprise. She stopped turning to her. "Is this wrong?" Xena looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "No I just didn't think the pipe was yours, you don't look like some one who smokes."

Gabrielle looked up slightly catching sight of the darkening sky from the window opposite. "I don't ever remember smoking I just found out today that I do." She flinched as distant voice whispered to her in the back of her mind. "You answer to no one, you can have what ever your heart desires, food, wine, sex it should be all be yours because you're a god!" She shook her head ignoring it as she breathed out the rich smoke looking in to the chest at everything else. "I don't recognise anything else here." She paused easing out the medallion with its two wolf heads in the flames. "I wish I could remember something anything other than my name." She brought the medallion closer. "And that I smoke." Xena lowered her gaze. "You know remembering that isn't the worst thing to remember if you ask me, I could think of much worse, the gods have blessed you in that manner."

She breathed in deeply she had brought this young woman here to question her, but now she just felt unsettled and slightly guilty. She could see in the young woman's eyes that she still remembered nothing of her forma life. Gabrielle moved the medallion closer to her face studying it deeply. "I don't worship your gods." She paused only to feel the sting of pain as the voices in her head spoke again only harder, only this time it was her own voice shouting back at her. "So this is it is it, we have to be less than human even though we are already inhuman? I have to be so inhuman and kill these people and for what? To appease those bastards on the council just so I can speak to them!"

She sat back trying to ignore the pain in her mind as she picked up a small wooden carved bird bringing it towards her studying it very deeply. Xena swallowed her mouth full the woman's words were not meant to be rude just honest. "Tell me why is it you choose to worship Ouroboros and not the Greek gods?" She looked up realizing that the young woman wasn't listening to her she was transfixed on the little painted Black Cap which she was moving it between her fingers, she stopped eating watching her feeling a sense of curiosity take over. Gabrielle moved the bird feeling her fingers shift to the chest which had beautiful painted feathers, she pushed down slightly. The wings on ether side suddenly shot outwards opening fully revealing wooden feathers and metal hinges, she ignored the other woman's shock as she caught sight of the text written on the inner wings which was in the same language as the huge scroll. It was a small transcription, she leaned closer reading it aloud.

"You are the fallen one, the righteous one and the one forever broken one who basks under the moonlit sky. You step through rivers of blood in the dying light. The stars do shine for you and they never will for that is your greatest curse and your greatest will. All love is lost to you and the heart within your chest will forever beat brighter for this pain which is forced up on you."

She blinked staring at the words only to feel the sudden intense pain as it tour though her mind she felt the pipe drop from her mouth it hit the table hard as she half coughed on the smoke. She wanted to throw up and she had to breathe in hard to try and stop herself from doing so, the sensation felt like a dagger trying to drive its way in to her temples. The bird dropped from her hands hitting the table then falling to the floor, she felt the other woman's hand on her shoulder as she tried to stand. The next moment turned to blinding pain as her feet slid sideways and she lost her footing hitting the floor shoulder first. She turned over on to her front trying desperately to crawl forward only to stop as an intense heat swept through her body.

Every muscle in her body felt like it was burning but it was nothing compared to the pain that followed it which was excruciating. It went through ever bone in her body causing her to spasm. It felt like she was dying, her insides were twisting inside her body and she could no longer focus or even think straight. Xena moved towards the younger woman who was now on the floor, she had no idea what had happened only that she was now in terrible pain. She turned seeing the panic in the face of the guard who had been standing opposite through out their talk. "Don't just stand there get the healer, now!"

She watched as he left the room in an instant, she turned back only to find herself wincing as heard the younger woman scream. It was chilling scream which felt like it was vibrating the room. She leaned over only to freeze as she watched as the woman's fingers started to lengthen, along with the rest of her hand. She fell back wards hitting the floor hard she found herself scrambling backwards as she heard the popping sounds of bones under the dress which started to stench and tear as the shoulder bones pushed upwards followed by the spine which rose up tearing through the fabric. Long black claws bust through the finger nails digging in to the decorative floor.

The sandals were torn apart as huge long feet burst though they lengthened as their huge black claws dug in to the floor. The dress was torn apart as a mass of muscle came through, dark golden fur started to grow all over her body, a long thick tail appeared it grew downwards very slowly until it was between the legs. The woman's face slowly lengthened despite her screaming turning in to a huge set of jaws with a wolf like snout. Her ear grew upwards becoming longer like a normal wolves rising high above her head. Growling replaced the screams as the two huge jaws slammed together all their razor sharp white teeth gleaming in the low light.

She could even see the gold replacement which had now been merged in to an incisor giving it a gold gleam. She could hear the heavy inhuman breathing as the huge mane grew downwards and fur covered everything from head to foot. The eyes suddenly snapped open their forest green colour catching the light as the pupils grew slightly larger. It had been a long time since she'd felt real fear but at this moment she could feel it running through her system and she was powerless to stop it. She grabbed her sword pulling it free of the scabbard in a violent motion. She was staring at huge seven foot tall werewolf whose fur was dark golden in colour and who was now on all fours on her palace floor.

The huge monster suddenly roared as it got on to its knees grabbing both sides of its head, it was chilling roar it almost sounded like a real woman's scream mixed with low pitched howling sound. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as five men burst in to the dinning room, some of them raising swords while other raised their heavy crossbows. She breathed as the huge monsters roar stopped and it leaned forward closing its eyes, before slowly opening them. Its eyes darted as it looked around it before reaching out ignoring her as it took hold of the small fallen bird in its huge hand picking it up carefully before using the tip of its clawed thumb to press the chest and close the wings.

She breathed in trying to calm down any second now the crossbows would fire and yet she had so many questions as nothing about this made any sense what's so ever. Werewolves were human? They were meant to be monsters twenty four seven weren't they? Yet here she was in the presence of one, who not more than fire minutes ago had been young woman. She watched as the clawed hand closed around the bird as the huge being got back on its knees slowly pulling its huge arms outwards to show its chest. It eased up it huge head fully she could see the deep scar running through its right eye almost like a signature of who this person had once been. Around the large neck was the godly symbol, she could now see why the chain had been so long in human form. Around the thicker neck it fitted perfectly and wasn't tight and its symbol could be seen in among the dark golden fur. She looked up as green eyes narrowed for a moment studying the situation, the jaws suddenly opened as a voice hit the air.

"Do it you bastards! Go on kill me! I'm as good as dead anyway!"

End of part 9

Silvermoonlight