CAN YOU GUESS WHERE ARES TOOK HER ?:)

"Temporarily, I guess. I did tell Dite we would get together later…..''

''I can work with that …'' he whispered into her ear as they dematerialized into thin air and Xena closed her eyes as they spiraled through the vortex only to open them to a different crowd- a way louder and more agitated sea of people who were chanting and cheering and cursing and apparently having the time of their lives.

For a moment, she was taken aback by the savage roar coming from somewhere in front of her and when she finally took the time to look around her, it hit her that she was definitely not in Greece any more and what was even more shocking, there was not one shred of decency in the people present at the event – some of them were drunk, some were shouting like complete maniacs while others were half naked or completely stripped of their clothes fucking like animals on the stone steps of what she could only suspect to be some kind of amphitheater. She had heard stories of these impressive constructions but she had never gotten the chance to actually see one before.

''It's the Colosseum.'' his voice slashed through the numerous question marks her mind had actively started to generate. '' I thought you said you have never seen gladiators fight in the arena and what better place to do it than here ?''

''This place is huge!'' she immediately replied, using their connection, convinced that there was just too much noise for him to hear her anyway. Little did she know that he would have heard her from the very pits of Tartarus if that were the case. " How did they manage to shape it like this?!"

His lips curled in genuine amusement at her childish reaction. The fact that neither the wild, brazen coupling of the quenchless men and women attending the event nor the prospect of witnessing firsthand a deadly confrontation between the gladiators had captivated her attention but the amazing engineering of the brilliant Roman minds, was something that he would have normally labeled as peculiar. But there was nothing ordinary about her to begin with and he loved that about her. Always so curious and thirsty with knowledge- it was refreshing.

'' Vespasian does care a lot about his image. The Colosseum was the perfect opportunity for him to attract the sympathy of the masses …It makes sense..As for its grand design – a perfect combination of maths and physics would be the answer you are looking for.

She didn't reply this time but she did memorize his words just in case she ever needed the information.
''So…do you want to see the gladiators? The second part of the show is about to begin. I have a hunch you'll love it .''

''Sure. '' she monosyllabically answered, slowly making her way through the crowd, following the War God who guided her a few yards down, towards the front of the amphitheater, raising a judgmental eyebrow as they passed by a trio – two men and a woman who appeared to be having the time of their lives without giving a rat's ass about their whereabouts. The constant shouting of the arena appeared to act like a drug in their case. Unwarily, her own pulse quickened as a barely familiar tingle started moving up her spine and a second later, she felt the urge to wet her lips. Her own saliva was not the remedy she was looking for though.

When they finally reached a spot the War God considered fitting, he just circled his arms around her waist, pulling her gently into his body. They were still standing. Everyone else was too, obviously excited beyond measure by the cruel game of life and death unfolding before their eyes to even consider sitting.

'' What's wrong with these people ? '' she finally asked, staring in awe at the woman at her right, who was screaming something she couldn't understand in Latin, in a voice that under any other circumstances would have alarmed any decent soul out there. She pretty much sounded as if she were stabbed. And she was …at least metaphorically speaking.

'' Well…'' the God began, nibbling her shoulder while his hand glided under one of the lateral slits of her dress- the actual moment when Xena finally realized that she was wearing a completely different outfit than the one she had had on at the party earlier.''There is something about the sweat, and the blood and the sand that people seem to find irresistible….'' and judging by the dampness between her legs, she could definitely relate to that .''Plus, you know what they say …..What happens in Rome….''

''….stays in Rome '' she murmured, closing her eyes for a split second only to open them wide when she felt his fingers pressed against her damp slit and as his index started to glide slowly between her lips, followed by a second finger and then a third, all those delicious tingles she had previously felt up and down her spine had suddenly shifted their location right there under his electrifying ministrations.

''What are you doing ?'' she asked in a slightly alarmed voice as he began to set a pace to massaging that juicy, tender flesh

''Just helping you unwind a bit .You seemed tense at the ball ….Why don't we fix that? ''he temptingly offered, using his other hand to tilt her head enough so as he could have full access to those already parting her dry lips and the passion he put into that kiss combined with the delicious friction between her legs made her moan loud enough to attract attention .

''Hey, feel free to join….'' the couple fucking by their side generously invited, and though the Warrior Princess had no clue what they were saying, Ares had no problem with the meaning conveyed..

''Maybe later ….''he casually replied in a flawless Latin that left Xena agape. '' Right now I want her all to myself ….''

''Can't blame you brother. She's gorgeous …..''the distant words could still be heard as the God's undivided attention returned to the fabulous woman he was holding. Truth be told, he had no intention of sharing her with anyone . He would have rather set that entire place on fire….

"I had no idea you spoke Latin "

" I'm a God…I know a few things ….'' he playfully clarified, briefly considering a naughtier scenario in which her dress were to magically disappear , leaving her naked in his arms, right there, in the middle of that overly stimulating crowd…-the perfect opportunity to offer her that extra spice she claimed she had been looking for in their relationship .

''I'm sure you do ….'' she whispered, still under the spell of his burning kiss but before he could act on those thoughts, a series of savage roars instantly got everyone's attention. Suddenly, all the licking, the sucking, the biting and the fucking stopped and was replaced by a ceaseless murmur - all eyes were now on the famished beasts that had been released on the main stage and which were walking restlessly on the already bloody sand, sniffing anxiously the areas in which two beheadings had just occurred.

'' This will be quite a spectacle !'' the God stressed caressing her cheek while she curiously turned around to see what was all the commotion about and as his arms circled her waist again her heart dropped when she noticed that in the middle of the arena , out of a wooden cage, a few young boys and their parents were being released in a different type of Tartarus – one in which monsters were real and not only did they have claws, fangs and a deadly appetite they also had a particular joy to draw blood gleaming in their animalistic eyes, as equally savage as the ones of the fury beasts that were hungrily scanning their surroundings.

Her breath caught in her throat, the Warrior Princess searched desperately for a clue to convince her that those parents and their children were only actors who had a certain contribution to the real show …..the one with gladiators….

As time passed she dramatically realised that not only she had been far away from the truth, but that those poor souls were about to be ripped to pieces right under her very eyes.

''Ares ?''

''Yes , Sweetheart ?''

''Where are the gladiators ?''

'' Patience is a valuable virtue , Princess….'' He replied with a warm smile, placing a soft kiss on her silky hair . ''They have to feed the beasts first .''

A look of despair crossed for a brief moment.

''Those are children, Ares! Five of them! ''

''And two adults . '' he casually continued . '' A pretty decent meal for the lions I'd say.''

''Are you telling me that they are feeding them all to the lions ?'' she incredulously asked, hoping that she might have misinterpreted his words.

''Well, that's the most usual outcome , yes …..Why do you ask ?''

''They don't even have weapons! They don't stand a chance!''

''That's precisely the point. It should be a bloodbath…''

''Has everyone lost their freaking mind?!''

Hardly had he asked that question that the strangled cries of the mother and the terrified shouts of the father pierced her ears like never before.

'' Please save my children! Don't let them kill my boys! Please ! Have mercy! ''

''Please help us!'' the desperate father joined almost instantly but the noise only appeared to enrage the famished lions even more, that, judging by the menacing way in which they were now circling their preys were moments away from the brutal attack everybody was cheering for.

At the same time, the mother and the father were trying to form a shield between the beasts and their children while still begging the crowd for mercy.

Seconds away from the attack, an unusual battle cry could be heard, and pretty soon the spectators were the lucky witnesses of heroism in its purest form, embodied in the shape of marvelous woman flipping into the air and landing right at the center of the arena, swiftly interposing between the parents and the now raging animals.

''What are you doing , Xena?'' she could hear the War God's voice in her head but it didn't matter, really . All she cared about was to save those poor boys and their tormented parents.

''What does it look like I'm doing ?'' she obstinately replied, irritated with the whole situation.

''I don't know….If petting the lions was on your summer bucket list, you should have said so- I would have taken you to Memphis . They have thousands of them there." he retorted, sounding a bit more casual about the whole situation than she would have expected.

As their eyes connected though, the Warrior Princess could only see impatience and excitement playing on their liquid amber surface. He was definitely enjoying this outcome far more than the original script ….