Chapter 31: Veiled Affliction

As the morning sun painted the sky with hues of gold, Ares approached Xena with a gentle smile.

"How are you feeling today, my love?" he inquired, his eyes filled with genuine concern. Xena returned the smile.

"I'm okay, Ares. No strange moments so far." Satisfied with her response, he took her hand and led her towards the bathroom.

"Get dressed. I have a little surprise for you," he said. She saw the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. The anticipation bubbled within her as they stepped out into the bright morning sunlight.

~XA~

The couple walked inside Xena's favorite cafe. The atmosphere was cozy with the strong aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the warmth of familiar faces. The waitress greeted them with a wide smile. Her eyes widened as she noticed Xena's pregnancy glow and the sparkling wedding rings.

"I remember you two! Yall ain't been in here in a while. Did you two tie the knot?" she exclaimed excitedly. Xena grinned, nodding.

"Yea, we did. Unexpected, isn't it?" she teased. The waitress shared in their joy, coming from around the corner to give Xena a big hug. She pulled back and rubbed Xena's belly.

"When are you due and what are yall having?" Ares told her they had a little under 3 months left and the sex of the baby. As they enjoyed a delightful breakfast, Ares and Xena exchanged playful glances and affectionate gestures. Ares couldn't resist stealing a few bites from Xena's plate, teasing her about eating for two. Xena playfully swatted his hand away, a gleam of mischief in her eyes.

Their laughter filled the air, blending with the pleasant buzz of the cafe. Ares leaned closer to her and whispered sweet words into Xena's ear, causing her to blush. While Xena sipped on her orange juice, Ares slowly turned her chin towards him and stole a kiss as she swallowed, licking the drops of transferred juice from his lips. Occasionally, she glanced up from her cup and smiled at him. He continued to steal kisses here and there until everything was gone. The intimate bond between them strengthened as they delighted in the shared joy of their marriage and the upcoming arrival of their child.

Exiting the cafe, Ares wanted to keep the day's surprises hidden. He then guided her to a lavish spa – the place she had subtly mentioned in a past conversation. The calming atmosphere surrounded her as she surrendered to the soothing touch of a maternity massage. The skilled hands of the masseuse expertly worked away tension, leaving her in a state of pure bliss. In this moment, she felt cherished and understood, appreciating Ares' thoughtful gesture and the effort he put into making her day special.

As Ares expertly navigated the streets, Xena wondered where they were heading next. The moment they pulled up to the Mercedes dealership, Xena's curiosity heightened.

The intoxicating scent of leather and coffee filled the air as they stepped into the dealership's showroom, where rows of luxurious vehicles awaited their inspection. Xena's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight.

"Why are we here, Ares?" she asked with bright eyes. Her gaze flickered between the array of cars and trucks. A SUV, with a blue bow on the hood, stood as a centerpiece, capturing her attention. Ares didn't answer her. Instead, he gestured towards the vehicle with the blue bow. Xena's heart skipped a beat as she approached the vehicle. The gleaming vehicle was a sleek, all-black Mercedes SUV, the latest addition to their collection.

"Is this for me?" she asked softly with disbelief. Ares nodded, a proud smile gracing his features.

"It's your chariot, my queen," Ares said, his voice filled with warmth and affection. She shook her head, not believing her ears.

"A little something for the mother of my child." Ares draped his arm around Xena's shoulders, a proud and loving smile on his face. Just then, a well-dressed smiling salesman approached them.

"Good day, Mr. and Mrs. War! Congratulations on your new purchase," he greeted warmly, extending a hand to Xena. Xena accepted the handshake with a grateful smile.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice filled with appreciation. The salesman presented a set of key fobs to Xena.

"Here you go. This beauty is now yours to command. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out. Enjoy the ride!" Xena took the key fobs carefully as her fingers traced the outline.

"Thank you so much," she expressed. Ares saw the love and excitement on her face as they made eye contact. As the salesman excused himself, leaving the couple to soak in the moment, Ares gestured toward the vehicle.

"Shall we take it for a spin, my queen?" Xena nodded, a radiant smile gracing her features. With the fob in hand and Ares by her side, she embraced the thrill of a new adventure. Once Ares was confident she had no problem handling the SUV, he let her drive it home and he drove behind her.

~XA~

Xena found herself trapped in the clutches of a haunting nightmare. The suffocating weight of evil shadows pressed upon her as she stood alone in an obscure, wet, forest. Eerie whispers of anguish echoed through the air, the unsettling sounds clawing at her sanity.

Before her, a distorted figure emerged from the shadows, a grotesque silhouette that seemed to embody all the fears and regrets she had ever known. Its hollow and malevolent eyes, bored into Xena's soul. It spoke with a chilling voice that echoed through the shadows, a haunting melody of despair.

"You will not love this child, Xena. It is a creature of darkness, spawned from its evil father," the silhouette hissed, its words dripping with venomous intent. Fear clawed at Xena's heart.

"No, I already love my baby, and Ares is not evil. He's changed, and our child is not a product of darkness," she confidently replied. The silhouette twisted and contorted, its presence an eerie dance of shadows.

"Your child will be like Hope, a force of destruction. You should have chosen Hercules, a safer path," it whispered, its words slithering through the air. Xena frowned at the words.

"My child was conceived out of love, not darkness. Ares is not like Dahak, and our love is real," she asserted, her eyes defiant as she faced the spectral figure. The shadowy figure continued, its words relentless, chipping away at Xena's determination.

"You don't truly love Ares. You should have chosen Hercules. He would have been a better father for your child."

"I love Ares, and our child is a showcase to that love. I know I made the right choice," she retorted, pushing back against the insidious doubts that sought to seep into her consciousness. The spectral whisper reached out to Xena's troubled mind.

"Xena, your path is entwined with the threads of despair. Give me the child, and I shall grant you release." The evil silhouette reached out its limb and a circle of dark smoke circled around her stomach. She tried to move out of reach of the smoke.

"No! My child is not a bargaining chip for your dark schemes. I won't succumb to your twisted offers." The silhouette persisted, its form shifting like smoke.

"You cling to a destiny that brings only pain. Release the child, and you shall find freedom from the fates that bind you." Yet, in the face of the haunting whispers, Xena clung to the truth she held in her heart. The figure vanished back into the shadows as tortured voices echoed, filling the air with cries of agony. The atmosphere stirred with dark laughter.

A series of vivid and disturbing scenes flashed before her. She witnessed fragments of her past, her triumphs and failures replayed in a twisted, surreal dance. Faces of those she had loved and lost contorted into grotesque masks, their accusing gazes penetrating the depths of her being. The shadows enveloped Xena, pulling her into a suffocating abyss. In the darkness, an evil visage materialized, whispering ancient curses that reverberated through her mind. The air grew thick with hatred, and a sense of dread seized her heart.

Suddenly, she jolted awake with a sharp gasp, her body drenched in a cold sweat. The nightmare's echoes lingered in her consciousness, and her eyes darted around the room, struggling to distinguish the boundaries between the dream and reality. Ares was awakened by her abrupt movement. He instantly reached out to comfort her.

"Sweet, what happened?" he inquired with genuine concern, his strong arms encircling her. Xena, still catching her breath, clung to his reassuring presence.

Her heart pounded as the haunting whispers from the dream gnawed at her thoughts. The lies that the evil figure had woven began to sink in deeper, filling her mind with creeping doubt. She stared into Ares' eyes, and for a moment, uncertainty washed over her. Had she made the right choice? The words from her nightmare replayed, insidious and biting. You should have chosen Hercules... He would have been a better father. Was their love as pure and strong as she believed, or had she been blinded by passion?

Her gaze drifted down toward her stomach, and a knot formed in her chest. She found herself wondering, What if it was true? What if the life growing inside her wasn't conceived out of love but out of something darker? What if she was carrying a monster? The very thought caused a shiver to run through her, and her hand instinctively moved to rest protectively over her stomach.

Xena squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head as if to drive the poisonous doubts from her mind. She couldn't—no, wouldn't—let them take root. Ares noticed the turmoil playing across her face and the subtle movement of her hand. He tightened his embrace, pulling her closer against his chest. She was grateful for the stability he provided in the aftermath of the haunting dreamscape.

"Ares...," she whispered in a trembling voice..., "don't let me go." Ares pulled her even tighter into his embrace as she laid down on his chest.

"Never."

~XA~

Gabrielle and Xena lounged on the comfortable patio furniture, enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun. Xena, sipping on a glass of tea, was eager to share the excitement about her new SUV.

"Come here, I want to show you something Ares got me," Xena said as she reached her hand for Gabrielle's. Gabrielle grinned at Xena's enthusiasm, setting down her glass.

"Sure, where are we headed?" she asked, as she placed her hand into Xena's.

"You'll see." They strolled towards the garage, and Gabrielle eyes lit up. She was impressed as she laid eyes on the sleek, all-black Mercedes SUV.

"Wow, Xena, that's a beauty! Ares sure knows how to pick a gift."

Xena laughed, "He does have good taste."

The two friends spent a moment reviewing the details of the car and Xena was proud of Ares' thoughtful gift. As they returned to the patio, Xena settled back into her chair.

"So, how's things with you, Gabrielle?" Gabrielle leaned back, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

"Oh, you know, same old, same old. Working, writing, and trying to figure out where my next adventure will take me."

Xena smirked, "Sounds like the usual. Any exciting stories from your travels?"

Gabrielle smiled, launching into a tale of her recent encounters and the quirky characters she'd met on the road. The conversation flowed easily between the friends. As they chatted, a light breeze ruffled the leaves, providing a momentary relief from the warmth. Gabrielle remarked,

"The weather is so perfect today, don't you think? I love the warmth." Xena felt an unexpected rise of irritation. The sun, which Gabrielle found pleasant, suddenly intensified in Xena's perception, and she snapped,

"Perfect? It's sweltering out here. How can you stand it?" Gabrielle was taken back by Xena's outburst. She lamely tried to diffuse the tension.

"I just thought it was nice..." But Xena's frustration escalated.

"Nice? It's too hot, Gabrielle. Can't you feel it?" Without waiting for an answer, Xena got up and headed back into the house, slamming the door behind her. Gabrielle smirked and made herself more comfortable in her chair, as she assumed Xena's random mood swings wouldn't last too much longer.

~XA~

Xena entered the dining room, her steps a bit unsteady. Ares and Gabrielle were already seated at the table, chatting casually. However, when Xena looked at Ares, she saw Emma, sitting on Ares' lap, running her fingers through his hair, tongue down his throat. Rage and jealousy possessed her.

Xena stormed into the weapons room. She paced back and forth, her mind a tornado of emotions. The gleam of her chakram caught her eye, and an idea formed in her mind. Clutching the chakram tightly, she muttered to herself,

"He thinks I'm a fool, too stupid to see deceit when it's right in front of my face. Emma, of all people! How dare he do this to me." She continued to pace, staring at the chakram.

"After quitting my job for him, choosing him as the man in my life, and carrying his heir within me, he makes a mockery of our love?" she laughed menacingly. The echo of her own voice reverberated in the room. Xena's grip on the chakram tightened, her knuckles turning white. Gripping the deadly weapon, she returned to the dining room, where her distorted reality persisted.

Without a second thought, Xena hurled the chakram at the perceived threat, aiming directly at Gabrielle. The lethal weapon sailed through the air with deadly intent. However, Ares, reacting swiftly, used his powers to stop the chakram before it hit Gabrielle in the head. The room fell into an eerie silence as the deadly chakram just hovered in mid-air. Gabrielle looked at Xena stunned and bewildered. Ares' expression softened as he questioned Xena's actions.

"Xena, what in Tartarus prompted you to do that?" Ares approached Xena with a calm demeanor. He tried to defuse the situation before it escalated further. Caught in the delusion, Xena responded with anger and hurt in her voice.

"Don't play dumb, Ares! I saw you with Emma. Don't think I'm so foolish not to see your infidelity right in front of my face, you soulless bastard." Suddenly, she turned and slapped him. Ares, puzzled, circled around Xena, trying to reason with her.

"Xena, there's no one here but me, you, and Gabrielle. Emma is not here. Please calm down and listen." Xena, however, remained unconvinced, her mind gripped images of her hallucinations. Gabrielle placed a hand on Xena's shoulder and softly spoke,

"Xena, you need to sit down. Whatever you're seeing, it's not real. Only Ares and me are here with you, unharmed." She guided Xena to the chair, careful not to startle her further. Xena muttered with frustration,

"No, I saw... I saw Ares and Emma together." Her voice cracking at the thought. Ares said in a calm and soothing voice,

"Xe, you know I would never betray you. Emma is not here, and neither is anyone else. It's just us." Xena struggled to make sense of her emotions.

"I don't understand,"she sat down confusedly... "I don't understand."