Xena's sword pressed against her back, the blonde looked over her shoulder at the warrior, a look of shock and betrayal filling her eyes.
GABRIELLE
Xena, what are you doing?!
She tried to turn toward the warrior but stopped when she felt the tip of the blade press a bit harder against her flesh.
XENA
(Cold tone) I said, don't move.
The blonde held up her hands in surrender.
GABRIELLE
Okay, just calm down. And whatever's wrong, I'm sure we can talk this out.
XENA
(Cold tone) What's the name of your sister?
The young woman looked over her shoulder.
GABRIELLE
What?
XENA
(Cold tone) You heard me.
The blonde scoffed.
GABRIELLE
Xena, I think all of this business with Hope is starting to get to you.
XENA
Maybe it is. Now answer the question.
She pressed her sword a bit harder against the other woman's back.
XENA
What's your sister's name?
Suddenly, a sinister smile appeared on the blonde's face as she realized that she had been found out, and she gave her reply.
HOPE
What sister?
Then, without making a move, using her power, the demonic imposter threw Xena away from her, sending the warrior crashing into the side of a nearby building and bringing several miscellaneous farming utensils that were leaning against the wall down on top of her.
GABRIELLE
Xena!
Turning the corner just in time to see the dark-haired woman go flying, the actual Gabrielle hurried to the warrior's side.
Scowling, Xena shoved the farming tools off of her and stood to see Hope as Joxer joined her and the bard. Her fist clenched tightly around her blade, she stepped toward Hope, who just smiled menacingly. Keeping her eyes locked on the half-demon, the warrior slowly reached for her chakram. Her fingers just grazed the steel when, with a flash of light, Ares appeared beside the blonde doppelganger
ARES
Let's go. You can't have a bloodletting without the guest of honor.
XENA
You're not going anywhere.
In an instant, Xena had grabbed and thrown her chakram straight at Hope, but just as it was about to reach its intended target, the god teleported both Hope and himself away, and the circular blade collided and stuck into the side of a building.
XENA
(Quiet angry tone) Ares.
The warrior stormed over to retrieve her weapon.
XENA
Hope wants that dagger. She needs it to kill the Olympian gods.
Pulling the blade from the wood, Xena turned around to see Callisto walking over to them.
XENA
(Angry tone) And what the fuck did you think you were doing? Carelessly throwing your power around and setting fire to the whole village. In case you've forgotten, we're supposed to be on the same side here.
Callisto shrugged in indifference.
CALLISTO
Hey, a girl's gotta have a little fun. Now let's hurry up and get that dagger.
XENA
You know the deal. First, we take care of Hope.
CALLISTO
Yeah, yeah.
The blonde waved her hand dismissively.
CALLISTO
Just make sure when the time comes, you have it ready.
Then, without another word, the woman walked away as Xena scowled at the position she found herself in and headed in the same direction as the diabolical blonde, with Gabrielle and Joxer in tow.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
HOPE
When the blood flows, my father will enter the world. By morning, we will have enough sacrifices to begin.
Now in a long red hooded robe, Hope turned to face her lead disciples that joined her in the large room she had made their base of operations for the upcoming ritual.
HOPE
Now go, ensure that they arrive without delay.
CULTIST
As you wish.
With a bow of his head, the man turned and left as Hope approached a large, roaring fire that erupted from a bottomless pit on the far side of the room.
HOPE
I have satisfied my curiosity, Father. Mother and Xena are no more than weak fools. And if they're fool enough to dare come here, they will be sorry.
ARES
Oh, they'll come.
The god walked up to stand beside the half-demon.
ARES
Even knowing what they're up against. Trust me. They'll come.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Borrowing a couple of horses from the stables outside the village, they had saved, the unlikely group of Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, and Callisto rode along as they continued their journey to face Hope. After riding for some time, they pushed through a small bunch of trees that Xena pointed out as a shortcut. Ducking under a low-hanging branch in their path, the three women easily made it through the brush. But Joxer, not paying attention, was smacked in the face by a branch and was knocked off the horse he was on, forcing the others to come to a stop when they heard the sound of the man hitting the ground behind them.
XENA
(Irritated tone) All right, that's enough.
Gabrielle and Callisto looked on as Xena swiftly got down from her mare's saddle and stormed over to Joxer as he stood back up.
JOXER
Ow. I don't know why I keep falling off those things. Hey!
The man was taken off guard as a severely irritable Xena grabbed the front of his makeshift armor.
XENA
(Irritated tone) I am sick to death of you. The fate of the entire world rests on this mission. And I'll be damned if I let a bumbling fool like you get in the way and make things worse.
JOXER
What?
XENA
(Irritated tone) Well, I guess we can add listening to the long list of things you suck at. So I'll speak up so you can hear me loud and clear. I said I am
sick of you.
Joxer stumbled back a bit as the woman shoved him back.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Now, get lost.
Taken aback by the sudden shift in the woman's attitude toward him, Joxer could only think to laugh as he assumed that it must have been some kind of joke, or a test to see if he was brave enough to face what was ahead.
JOXER
Okay, I get it. You don't have to worry, I'm fully prepared to step in and protect you and Gabby from anything that monster can throw at us. Oww!
Without warning, the man suddenly found himself laid out on the ground after receiving a particularly hard shove from the warrior.
XENA
(irritated tone) Now you listen to me, you bumbling idiot! Get lost, and don't follow us!
She pointed angrily in the opposite direction of their destination.
XENA
(Irritated tone) Now, scram, you moron! Get out of here!
Ignoring the hurt in the man's eyes, Xena turned around and got back on Argo as she looked over to Gabrielle and Callisto.
XENA
Let's go.
Sparing a look back at Joxer as they rode away, Gabrielle knew that though it seemed harsh, everything Xena had just said to their friend was for his own good. Because despite his bravery and his heart being in the right place, Joxer was by no means a skilled fighter. So much so that even before she had any real methods of self-defense, the bard herself was single-handedly able to knock him out several times when they first met, and he was misguidedly working with the wrong people. One of which, ironically, was Callisto. So turning away from the disheartened look on the man's face, Gabrielle brought her attention forward as she, Xena, and Callisto rode off into the danger ahead, leaving Joxer behind.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
Upset that Xena had thought so little of him, Joxer muttered to himself as he walked by himself for a while.
JOXER
(Muttering to himself) Bumbling idiot. Huh. I'll show her. They could send a hundred men, and I'd be ready to face a thousand.
Busy with his rant fueled by a bruised ego, the man didn't notice the people walking in front of him until he bumped into one of them from behind.
JOXER
Oh, sorry 'bout that.
Scowls on their faces as they turned around, it was only then that Joxer finally noticed the robes they were wearing, showing that they belonged to the cult of Dahak.
JOXER
(Nervous tone) Hey, fellas. Nice robes.
The leader of the group smiled as Joxer backed away slowly while trying unsuccessfully to draw his sword, as a number of others in the group moved to surround him.
PRIEST
What luck. It looks like we found ourselves another sacrifice.
TO BE CONTINUED…