Chapter 8: Ares's fortress in Macedonia

Xena POV

I could clearly see the rage in his eyes, growing and growing beyond limits but I didn't think that he would use his powers on me, not when I was holding my child in my arms….But he did….he did, and that slap was surely not just that regular one that people would throw out of spite or anything…He made sure to put all of his godly strength and wrath into it.

My cheek was on fire but that was the last thing I cared about during those long seconds….The moment I regained my senses I heard the desperate cries of my daughter and I instantly rushed by her side to pick her up from the pillows where she had landed.

"Hush Evie..you are ok baby…everything is ok...mommy is with you now.. "I said to her calming her down and checking her carefully to see if she had even the smallest scratch on her tiny body.

Luckily for that Bastard she was alright cause I would have killed him with my bare hands, God or not…Before I got the chance to speak up my mind about his idiotic behavior he was gone, running away like a coward, unable to face his mistake.

…I had never intended to deceive him but I had no other choice. I mean…what else could I have done? Nothing...because I knew how his mind usually operated, especially after Amphipolis…All in all, asking him for help was never a choice, I had to do it because if I had told him my plan, I would have practically offered his family my daughter's head on a plate.

"Ok Evie….feeling better?" I mildly inquired, wiping the rest of her tears away and gently kissing her forehead while slowly getting up from the bed with her safely encased in my arms.

"We need to find Gabrielle and get out of here ok baby?"

I looked into that room one last time before I got out and headed straight to the next room where I hoped to find my friend..

And there she was, laying on a small bed, looking as if she were sleeping, and because I couldn't do anything than wait for her to wake up I took a chair and sat there next to her.

For a while, I kept myself busy feeding my daughter…She soon fell asleep.

I was so relieved to have her in my arms again…Ares was right, the idea of having left her in Roman hands was kinda crazy, but then again my options were limited… plus, Octavius was indeed a reliable friend….

With Eve sound asleep I finally remained alone…alone with my thoughts and my troubled conscience….I hated the idea of having manipulated Ares to such extent, to lower myself so much as to feed him straight, worthless lies, but was it really my fault that he was acting so damn confusing? Acting all tenderly and loving one moment and violent and self conceited the other wasn't really increasing the trust factor…. Still….he had had so many chances to harm Eve, to take her life if he chose to, and yet, there she was, sleeping peacefully in my arms ….and the only reason I was holding her was because he had made it possible..

To top it all, as if those dilemmas weren't enough, I could literally feel that there was something physically wrong with me….I could feel something very similar to a fire burning everything inside me, starting from my chest and ending with my belly….I had no idea what it was, but one thing I was sure of, I had never dealt with so much pain in my life….It was a new type of suffering…a very unpleasant one too….I couldn't afford to loose focus though, not now when I needed it so much….But I did know that seeing a doctor soon was a must….

Gabrielle's low moan brought me back to reality….I quickly glanced towards her, all my fears dissipating in less than a blink.

A wave of relief washed over me when her eyes fluttered open, looking straight to me.

"Gabrielle?"

"Xe...Xena?"

"You're alright. It's so good to see you."

"You too. Ohh and Eve, is she alright?"

"Yes, don't worry. She's sleeping."

"...Where are we?" She questioned curiosuly, drinking in the surroundings.

"Long story but to make it short...it's Ares's fortress in Macedonia."

"Ares?" she exclaimed, staring in awe at the walls for a couple of seconds.

"Yes."

"How did we get here? Did he know about the plan ? Have you told him that.. ?"

"No..of course not. It just happened..I'll tell you all about it, don't worry, but first we need to get out of here. Can you walk?"

"I think so..but Xena...I heard a story about this place….I don't know if it's actually true, but if it is, we can't really leave, not without his permission….." Gabrielle worriedly informed me . "By the way, where is he ?"

"Let's say that he was not so fond of my plan… Now come on, we need to find a way out of here before he comes back."

"But how exactly..."

I didn't let her finish her sentence, knowing perfectly what she wanted to say.

"This is not my first time here, so I know a few tricks."

"Tricks, huh?"

"Yes." I smiled back at her.

I tried to get up but the pain was growing more and more intense, radiating towards my spine now…I had to wonder if holding Eve was a good idea after all…

Gabrielle rapidly noticed my expression.

"Xena...Xena what is it?"

"I..I don't know...But the pain is killing me." I replied in all honesty, before I collapsed once again.