Chapter 7: Betrayal

Ares POV

"I brought her here for you. I thought she would be way safer here under your watch than in that kid's arms…He is a Roman Xena, what were you thinking? Romans are not to be trusted! I was under the impression that you learned your lesson by now…."

"Octavius is my friend!"

"So was Caesar…."

"It's not like that.."

"Of course it isn't. " I stated with a sigh, taking the baby from Myra and placing it in my anxious Princess's loving arms.

As soon as she felt her mother's magic touch, the little girl stopped crying.

"Shhh…that's right Evie...you're ok. Mommy's here now. Hush my little one."

I slowly approached the family portrait in front of me and I gently caressed a lock of Xena's hair. She turned and looked me in the eyes.

"Do I have your permission to leave now, my Lord? " The servant asked in a timid voice.

"You certainly do Myra. Stay close though just in case that I need you later on."

I muttered, completely bewitched by my Princess's clear blue eyes.

I only realized that Myra had left the room when Xena turned her gaze from me.

"Where did you say that you left Gabrielle?"

There it was, that irritating little Blond again...Not even now that she was dead she couldn't help herself form meddling into our relationship. Gods I hated her!

"In the other room…."

She immediately tried to get up and go so I stopped her by grabbing her arm and turning her to face me.

"I thought we had an understanding. Now…Eve is hungry..feed her, get some rest and than you can go see the Bard.." I almost demanded her.

"You don't understand. I need to see her."

"So enlighten me than. What's so urgent that it just can't wait? I mean dead is dead….You know? Still….I can't help wondering how comes that Eve is still alive….That's a question that maybe you'd like to answer me later…? " I burst out letting my anger show.

She was up to something I could just smell it, but somehow I just couldn't place my finger on it and the curiosity was eating me alive since the first moment I saw the baby through that damned portal….What was she hiding from me? I had to know….

"Yeah well, maybe I don't. It doesn't concern you, Ares. So just mind your own business ok?"

I almost choked while hearing her answer.

"Let's see if I get this right….I save your life, return your daughter to you alive and well, heck I even bring the Bard's body back and you're telling me to mind my own business?!"

At this point I was fuming….The nerve this woman had in her….absolutely incredible!

For a few seconds I stood there staring at her, wishing so hard to smack her silly that very managing to send that order from the brain to my hand,I just bit my lip hard instead, my heart on spikes for her to gather her courage and open up to me.

"I suppose you will found out eventually one way or the other…Gabrielle is alive." She said it as if that were the most common thing on the face of the earth.

"What are you talking about? I brought her here. She was livid Xena….Ice cold…."

"Everything was a plan..we needed to fake our deaths so that I could win us some time….That's why we kidnapped Celesta in the first place…"

And then it all came to me….Celesta's tears…Death's tears…Oh yeah! Smart girl! For the love of Zeus I couldn't tell why it hadn't crossed my mind before, it was so obvious! She was two steps ahead of everyone, just like I had taught her to be….She had no intention of killing herself! It was all a marvelously executed plan!

What really bothered me now though, was the fact that she didn't ask for my help, not even when her daughter's life was on the line. I mean, yeah, ok, I know I'm not the most trustworthy guy, but that was too much even for her…

" Still….that sword would have ripped you apart Xena, tears or no tears, that kind of injury would have killed you for good! What then, huh?"

My frustration was beginning to reach impossible heights.

"Let's just say that you're predictable enough and that I was ready to bet my life that you'd come…"

She averted her gaze. She could see how betrayed I felt about her actions.

"So… let me see if I understand this correctly…You used me…again?! " I murmured, using my last ounch of calmness when all I wanted was to turn her to ashes.

"Come on! Don't tell me I've hurt your feelings! You were trying to force me to breed with you for Gaia's sake! What did you expect? "

"I was trying to show you how much I care for you!" I exploded without thinking, and before I knew it, the words had already escaped my lips.

To Tartarus with her, to Tartarus with everything she made me feel! I was so sick and tired to see her act like that! As if what happened in Amphipolis was nothing..once again we were back to square one, playing with each other's feelings, twisting the words…..making the same mistakes…

For once I couldn't restrain my wrath….I just couldn't. With the back of my hand, I slapped her so hard that if it hadn't been for those fluffy pillows scattered all over the bed, Evie would have most likely had more than one tiny concussion.

For a split second I became absolutely oblivious to the fact that she had been holding the child in her arms…..I cursed my name the minute I realized what could have happened…

Unable to bear seeing her anymore and awfully concerned about her near future

-I knew myself to well to know that she was far safer without me during those tense moments, I just vanished from the room. Destination unknown.