A DISTANT MEMORY WHICH RUNS THROUGH YOUR FINGERS LIKE SAND

Gabrielle felt the agonizing pain as Kalika claws sliced across her arm as she ran past her she didn't think as she grabbed one of the table's heavy chairs smashing it right in to her face as she turned around causing wood to fly in all directions. She watched as the other woman slammed in to the floor hard on her back holding her snout which was now bleeding badly. She narrowed her gaze she was no warrior, and she had no interest in fighting claw to teeth with her in battle, frankly she didn't want to waste her energy on her in that manner. No she'd make her point through pure bruit force she threw the broken wood in her clawed hand to one side eyeing her in disgust. Kalika shook her head as she stood up only to feel the pain as Gabrielle's open clawed hand smashed in to her face throwing her sideways. She cried out in agony as her body smashed in to one of the side ways chairs causing its wood to shatter. Gabrielle didn't think as she moved forward grabbing by her mane forcing her to her feet, she wouldn't allow her to touch her again.

She eyed the wall not thinking as she forced her feet in to the floor then smashed her head right in to it watching as one of her protruding canine teeth shattered in half sending blood spattering across the wall. She violently threw her side ways watching as she hit another one of the chairs knocking it completely over as she hit the floor hard on her front. "Don't make promises that you can't keep." She moved towards her very slowly ignoring the cold blood as it ran down her arm. "You're no warrior, you're not trained to be a warrior you're a servant and you're not cut out for this fight and I will only give you one chance, surrender now or I'll kill you!" Kalika spat the blood out of her mouth as she got up. "Surrender to you, I'd rather die!" She turned swinging her clawed at her watching as the other woman moved side ways in a lightning fast motion. Gabrielle eyed her as she spoke in a cold tone. "Fine have it your way."

Kalika leaped forward snapping her jaws only to miss the other woman's throat as she side stepped sharply again, she felt the pain as the both of Gabrielle's clawed hands came down hard slamming in to her shoulders. Gabrielle sneered as she dug her claws in deeply in to the other woman's shoulders watching as the blood ran down her fur. She ignored her cry of agonizing pain as she forced her downwards so she was on her knees in a violent motion. She opened her jaws wide showing off all her teeth in a threatening manner watching as the other woman did the same back as she struggled trying to get free. She forced her down further then brought her jaws down clamping them around her maned neck she slowly began to force her head back. She knew once her neck reached a certain point it would break. She ignored the sounds of her claws scratched the floor as she tried desperately to get free of her jaws grip.

"Gabrielle!"

She looked up sharply watching as Xena entered the room followed by Iona and her men who were carrying the chains and neck brace. She let go of Kalika watching as she hit the floor hard on her face. She held her down as Iona forced on the neck brace she forced her claws free of her shoulders ignoring her scream of pain. She rose to her feet as the other men chained Kalika's legs and arms pulling them taught to keep her down. Xena folded her arms eyeing Gabrielle who shook her mane. "You said you'd catch her, not that you'd kill her." Gabrielle didn't think as she grabbed Kalika by the collar forcing up on to her knees. "She's a traitor to my race, what I do with her is my business!" Xena stepped closer to her friend clearly Gabrielle was filled with rage and this was clouding her judgement at this moment in time. She spoke keeping her voice calm. "She's also been my cook for many years that makes her as much my problem as it does yours." Kalika felt the pain as Iona pulled on the neck braces chain she watched as Demetrius entered the room the concern in his face as he raised his sword. "You both disgust me the werewolf king Horn Hind and the Empress of the Greek empire as friends, it's a vile concept."

Gabrielle didn't think as she leaned forward grabbing her by her mane not bothering to hide the venom in her tone as she spoke. "Insult the Empress again and I'll rip both your ears apart, is that understood?" She let go of her violently watching as Iona nodded at her showing her respect as she forced the neck chain tight again. Xena moved closer to the brown werewolf eyeing her she looked similar to Gabrielle but at the same time very different. As she had ear tufts as well a longer tail end and a very wavy mane. Clearly every single werewolf was very different in appearance just like every human being. She watched as Kalika's brown eyes met her own there was red reflective hue in them. "Who are you really?" Kalika sneered ignoring the blood as it dripped down her lower jaw. "My name is Kalika but I wasn't born in Greece I was born in the city of Rome my family were rich nobles but we were human, until one night when I was young a werewolf broke in to our villa. He killed my father but he only bit my mother me and my brother were left untouched. Clearly he had a personal dispute with my father and didn't care for me or my brother I think he bit my mother out of spite." She breathed in deeply. "We lost our father but we gained so much that night."

She narrowed her gaze. "My mother saw that we could become even richer if she turned the both of us in to werewolves and made us in to the cruentus creatura." Xena blinked in confusion. "What is the cruentus creatura?" Gabrielle tensed as she spoke. "It means Bloody Servant, it's a werewolf who is sells out there turning services to Roman nobles and turns slaves in to werewolves so they can fight the gladiators in the arena and die for the entertainment of the crowd." Xena looked up sharply feeling the shock hit home. "That can not be so my husband told me that every werewolf brought in to the arena was feral and had killed people, not that the werewolves were slaves!" Kalika smirked slightly. "You're late husband lied to you Empress, not that I blame him its Rome's best kept secret, people are killed for even finding out about it. Safe to say myself and my bother were given our special brands and our mother turned us. For many years we got to live in a bigger villa have orgy parties and live a very grand life we could have everything we wanted nothing was beyond our means." Gabrielle stood up fully on her hind legs. "I'm fascinated to know how you screwed it all up."

Kalika eyed her not bothering to hide her disgust. "I didn't screw it up a rival family sold us out! They said we were friends with Spartacus and his stupid werewolf friends Remus and Romulus who are still part of that stupid campaign to free all werewolves from slavery and percussion in the Roman Empire." She tensed painfully. "It was of course a lie but those higher up didn't give us a chance they stormed our villa and killed my elderly mother, myself and my brother escaped." She narrowed her gaze eyeing Gabrielle. "We fled to Greece and made our way to the Grand City but of course the Imperial Council and your predecessor the Crescent Hind had us both beaten and flogged for daring to come to the city. My brother died from his wounds but I lived and I ran far away from that city. I got a job here then two and half years ago I met a woman in the royal gardens who was called herself Adrienne she gave me an offer I couldn't refuse."

Gabrielle felt the rage at it started to burn deep in the pit of her stomach at hearing the name of her former lover. "Oh I bet she did." Xena eased up her hand. "Who is Adrienne?" Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together as she spoke. "She's no body just some bitch who's loyal to the Imperial Council." Kalika turned feeling a wide smile form. "Oh come now Gabrielle, that's no way to talk about your lover." Gabrielle didn't think as she roared in her direction unable to control her anger any longer. "She is not my lover she was a distraction and an annoyance who I hated!" Kalika looked up slightly. "Well your so called distinction told me about the Northern Alliance attack that was coming and about your little plan to kill the Empress but she said should you fail I was to lock you away for a long time." Gabrielle moved to stand in front of her. "You put me in the pit, didn't you!?" Kalika laughed enjoying the mocking sound of her own laughter. "Yes I did and I kept you there, every day I fed you drugged up food and watched you suffer. The agreement was that if I kept you locked up I'd get a pardon from the Imperial Council and noble status."

Gabrielle looked up realizing it was now her turn to laugh. "Oh please Adrienne would never give you that clearly you have never realized why it is that I hate her so much, it's because she always lied to me." She felt her knuckles crack as tensed her clawed hand. "Why did the Imperial Council want me out of the way?" Kalika shrugged as best she could. "She never said all she said was that they had a master plan and it would take two years to achieve or maybe more but they knew you'd never approve of it and that you'd already become to much of a problem. As you were starting to become very poplar among your people because of your belief that human born children should live, among other things so they needed you to disappear. But of course the Empress had to ruin everything by finding you so I had to take extra measures." Xena took in a deep breath. "So you let in Mavican and all her friends so they could kill Gabrielle?" Kalika turned spitting out the blood in her mouth watching as it landed close to her boot. "Yes I did you see the Imperial Council weren't happy about Gabrielle getting free of the pit so I guess they went for the final solution which was to kill her."

Xena felt the anger start to burn as she eyed Iona. "Lock her up in one of the high security cells and make sure a guard never leaves her cell and that she's always at arrow point." Iona yanked on the chain. "Yes Empress." Gabrielle stepped forward. "No! She deserves to die she betrayed me and left me to rot in that pit for two years!" Xena turned to face her. "Don't argue with me Gabrielle!" Gabrielle didn't think as she roared in the other woman's face causing her hair to be blown back. "My law dictates that she should die those who betray Horn Hind pay with there lives!" Xena narrowed her gaze she could see the blinding rage in Gabrielle's eyes. Her actions didn't scare her, the younger woman had a right to be angry Kalika had caused her so much pain but she needed her to calm down and be more level headed about this. She breathed in trying to stay in control of her own anger as she spoke evenly. "We can talk about this later Gabrielle now is not the time." Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together. "When is the time, when she screws over someone else in this palace!?"

Xena turned sharply unable to control her anger as it hit home. "You maybe king of your race but this is my palace and I don't want you killing her just because you can't keep that temper of yours under control!" Gabrielle narrowed her gaze stepping away from her unable to keep the venom out of her tone. "Oh well I'll take myself and my temper elsewhere then if that's how you feel, it's not like you know what it's like to starve to death in the darkness of a pit!" Demetrius watched as Gabrielle went down on all fours running out of the room causing his guards to move quickly aside. He heard the slam as the end of corridors doors were shut with violent force. Gods this was going to be a long night again, he could feel it he turned to the Empress whose face was filled with anger. "Well that could have gone better." Xena turned to him trying speaking coldly. "Help Iona lock this traitor of woman up! I have other things to deal with." Demetrius watched as she walked past him going in the opposite direction to Gabrielle clearly she was in no mood for anyone. He turned to his armed men. "You heard the Empress surround this werewolf so Iona and her men can drag her to a high security cell!"

8

I want to be angry and with her I really do but I can't bring myself to feel that way, maybe because I love her and that feeling drives me more than my anger. She's just hurting she's been betrayed by one of her own people and to find out that this person put her in the pit only adds to the pain. I feel just as betrayed as she does I thought Kalika was my loyal cook. I trusted her for all those years and now I find out that not only was she a werewolf but her whole life story was horrible fabricated lie and I fell for it along with everyone else. She clearly hates Gabrielle because of her predecessor, which explains everything her hated, her actions and why she put her in the pit. Having this happen has made me realize just how much turmoil has taken place in these past few days. I want to believe that it's over but I know it isn't over, the Imperial Council tried to kill Gabrielle once and I know they'll try again. They clearly have some plan in mind and that is why they wanted her dead in the first place. Gods I thought my life was hard but I haven't been attacked in over six months, but clearly Gabrielle has it a lot harder than I do.

Her enemies go to great lengths to attack her, even Kalika tried to attack her even though she knew she couldn't defeat her in battle in werewolf form. I knew they'd been fighting I could tell my how much damage they did to the room as well as the wounds and blood. What really bothers me is that its not that Gabrielle's enemies dislike her it's that they have such reckless hatred towards her, which is unwavering. Its not that they just want to kill her they want her to suffer. It's not enough that they've already taken away the one she loved they just had to take it one step further by making her starve to death in a dark pit, it's so sadistic on every level. Now I understand fully why she won't return to the Grand City to be faced with that is no way to live. It also explains why she was so repressed when I got to know her. She's probably spent every waking second of her life as Horn Hind after the loss of Damokles looking over her shoulder fearing for her life and never really trusting anyone, even those who are loyal to her.

It also explains the sudden switch in her personality from being calm and level headed to showing no mercy and almost killing my cook. The Imperial Council are twisted in a truly vile way but clearly they'll go to any length to hurt her and to take away any happiness she has. She's obviously a threat to them because unlike them she's noble and there are those who are loyal to her. Xena got up from the chair in her room, she had been up for the past hour trying to work through what had just happened in her head, she had heard the slamming of the door not long ago from Gabrielle's room. She walked over to her bathing area filling a large wooden bowl with cool water then put a white cloth in to soaking it. She took hold of a small pot with Chinese herbs pouring them water watching as it bubbled and fizzed turning green. The other woman had scratch wounds on both her face and her arm from where Kalika claws had slashed her as well as burns. She picked up the bowl moving towards the central door knocking on it hard. "Gabrielle?" She knocked again still getting no reply. She took in a deep breath opening the door seeing that the bed was empty the room was well lit though, her gaze drifted around only to catch sight of the other woman she was sitting close to the balcony still in her werewolf form.

She had her arm raised, she stepped closer realizing for the first time what she doing she was licking her wounds with her tongue. She watched as her ears pricked up as her head turned sharply. She eased up the bowl. "I want to look at your wounds." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze as she spoke unable to keep the pain out of her voice. "My wounds are fine." Xena took a deep breath she should have known this wasn't going to be easy eyed the other woman who carried on licking her arm. She slowly sat down next to her. "You know you shouldn't do that." Gabrielle closed her jaws eyeing her. "Do what, lick my wounds?" Xena took hold of her arm firmly. "Yes that, you are not an animal so don't act like one, your better than that and you know it." Gabrielle took in a deep breath only to let it out, she didn't want to fight she was tired and her wounds were stinging. She lowered her gaze feeling what was left of her anger fade away. She knew that she had lost her temper with the other woman and she should apologise for her actions which had been very foolish, she had just lost control of her temper and she wasn't happy about that ether. Xena eased up the wet cloth squeezing it out. "This might sting a little."

Gabrielle looked up only to feel the painful sting as the cold wet cloth was pushed against her arm she winced painfully grinding her teeth together. She ignored the pain as she eyed the other woman who carried on looking down as she pushed the cloth down harder. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to undermine your authority in front of others." Xena shook her head. "You didn't undermine my authority you have a right to your opinion I just didn't want you killing that woman in cold blood, she needs to be put on trial in the proper fashion, she also might be of use to you later I didn't want you to loose that opportunity." She let go of her arm moving the cloth over the shoulder burns feeling the muscles tense underneath. "I don't blame you though for wanting to kill her, it's so much harder when its one of your own people." Gabrielle turned meeting her gaze. "She was one of your people to." Xena rinsed out the cloth she slowly eased up her hand putting it under Gabrielle's jaw easing her head down very gently so she could see the deep claw marks which were above her nose, even though it was glancing blow it was still deep. "That's true I am unhappy that she betrayed me but her betrayal is where it ends."

She put the cloth on her snout feeling her wince. "She did nothing but make you suffer I don't blame you for being that angry and wanting her death, did you know she put you in the pit?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "No I didn't I only knew that her life story was a lie, now I wish she hadn't told me because I just want to hurt her all the more even though I know it wouldn't make much difference overall." Xena moved the cloth to another long scratch wound on her snout. "If you ask me its better that you know this now, if you'd have been told any later it would just make the pain you're feeling now much worse." Gabrielle felt a sad smile form. "The problem is I don't feel pain anymore, I just feel disappointment this isn't the first time I've been betrayed by my own race, it's just another in a long line of betrayals and losses that I've suffered." Xena eased the cloth away putting her fingers close to the scratch wounds which weren't bleeding anymore and she knew they'd heal up overnight. "I understand now why you've never left this palace, it seems as though the Imperial Council are doing everything in their power to destroy you on every level." Gabrielle watched as she put the cloth and bowl to one side she moved her hand down not really being able to stop herself as she eased up the other woman's hand in her clawed one holding it very gently. "That's true and they've tried so hard." She breathed out painfully. "That's why I can not return to my people right now."

Xena eased up her hand putting it gently on her face running it down in a gentle motion. "My mother used to say that wasn't doesn't kill you makes you stronger and you are very strong Gabrielle. You survived this and your still here to tell your story that says a lot about who you are, the Imperial Council can never take that away from you." Gabrielle eased up her other clawed hand putting it gently on hers. "Thank you." She paused trying to control the sudden tears which were threatening to fall. "Your mother sounds like is very insightful woman." Xena smiled sadly. "She was." Gabrielle blinked looking up slightly. "She's no longer with you?" Xena shook her head. "She died some years ago she was very sick, I still miss her." Gabrielle felt her grip on her hands tighten slightly. "I'm so sorry." Xena took in a deep breath. "It's all right Gabrielle, I'm sure she's still around watching me from the Elysian Fields. I like to think that since I had her body buried here in a special coffin which is in the gardens." Gabrielle blinked in surprise. "I've never seen a coffin in the gardens." Xena breathed in deeply. "Its not in the gardens it's under them in a special catacomb I had built, you can only get to it through the palace, my father was never happy that she was buried here, he wanted her to be buried in the Amphipolis catacombs. I guess that's what made the arguments between us so bitter, it's been five years now and we haven't spoken to each other though I've sent him letters but he never replies to them."

Gabrielle lowered her hand watching as the other woman moved her hand away from her face. "It's sad that he won't speak to you." Xena shook her head. "He blames me for not being able to heal her, I had every means possible and believe me I tried every cure, I brought in the best healers in the Empire but I couldn't save her." Gabrielle slowly met her gaze. "No one can control death only the gods and as I here it the Greek gods do not come to the aid of anyone who worships them. They do not heal mortals or save them and they play no part in the affairs apart from whispers and visions to people now again or so I've heard." Xena eased up her hand taking hold of Gabrielle's pendent looking at for a long moment. "Or in your case they reveal themselves and whispers now and again." She let go of the pendent moving her fingers to the deep scratch wounds on her arm. "But even in your case they don't heal you ether."

Gabrielle eased her head closer to the other woman's. "I feel they do this not to make us suffer but so we can appreciate life more and live every second granted to us even if our lives are short. If they helped us I think we might not value life the way we do now, we may even see our gods as an easy way to come back from the dead." Xena slowly moved closer to her face she wanted to kiss her right now so much as her words held such value she found herself stopping in mid action as she ran hand through the thick soft mane. Now wasn't the right time as a question was playing on her mind. "Can I ask you something?" Gabrielle gently let go of her other hand. "Yes." Xena breathed in deeply. "Kalika mentioned a woman named Adrienne and her being your lover." Gabrielle got up sharply she felt the anger burn as she started to pace on all fours. "She had no right to even bring that up!" Xena raised her hand. "You told her that she was a distraction and that you hated her is that true?"

Gabrielle stopped pacing as she sat down putting a hand through her mane feeling the frustration take over. "Yes it is true, I don't love Adrienne though. She became my adviser after Damokles vanished I've never liked her I just put up with her." Xena slowly moved towards gently putting a hand on her shoulder. "Did you sleep with her though?" Gabrielle breathed in painfully. "Yes I slept with her, but as I said I don't love her, our relationship if you could even call it that was never about love it was about sex and its over. It was over the moment I left the Grand City to end your life." Xena breathed out feeling the relief take over hearing this made her feel better deep down inside. She hated to say it but the thought that Gabrielle even loved anyone else made her jealous. Though a part of her disliked herself for being so petty if this woman didn't love her and loved someone else she had the right to get involved.

On top of that she had no idea if Gabrielle had the same kind of feelings for her as she seemed obvious to them, she knew that she was clever and she was sure that she had seen them but for some reason she wasn't reacting to them. She eased her arm away from Gabrielle's shoulder. "Its late we should both get some rest." Gabrielle nodded looking up slightly. "Yes we should." She shook her mane watching as the other woman moved towards the central door. She watched as the dark haired woman gave her a smile before opening the central door then closing it behind her, she breathed out in annoyance. She didn't want Adrienne to come back in to her life in any way. The truth was though that she couldn't hide from her as much as she tried and she knew that the bitch would find a way back in to her life. Adrienne thought she owned her like she was some kind of possession, she closed her eyes painfully she didn't love her, she had set her up to be put in that pit betraying her as usual and lying to her. She knew this bitch she'd be coming here soon to collect her and force her to go back to the Grand City. She felt her claws dig in to the marble of the floor she would not go this time though. She would not be her puppet or her sexual toy any longer and she wouldn't do as she was told. This recent betrayal was all the more reason to stay in Xena's palace at least here she has power with out the influence of the Imperial Council and knowing that she had that and Xena's friendship meant more to her now than anything else and she truly treasured it more than anything.

End of part 60

Silvermoonlight

Hi everyone this is going up early as it the long Jubilee weekend in the UK.

I just want to answer a question asked, Xena will not become a werewolf in this book or in the book that will follow it. Saying this though I do have a mature shot based on that concept of both characters being werewolves set on the classic universe, if you want to read it just pm me and I'll send it to you :)