IN THE CITY OF WHITE VILLA’S AND SEA SHORE

Gabrielle slowly looked out across the sea watching as it crashed across the sandy shore. She smiled as she leaned on the white villa’s balcony that over looked the sea. She had not expected this not in her wildest notions. This had been her lovers surprise a number of weeks in a upper state villa which had everything she could think off and more.

A tub with which could be filled and unfilled and was always hot, food in the plenty made by servants and a huge bed with warm sheets and pillows were they could both lie together for hours. The governor who Xena had saved here some months ago had said that if she wanted to use his guest villa she was welcome at any time to do so.

His name was Agatone and when they’d arrived he’d come running out to greet them, he was even more thrilled that they’d wanted to stay. He was an old man in his fifties with a long white beard and bushy white eyebrows he also had greyish blue eyes and a big smile. He wore flamboyant white and gold robes which showed his high status in the city.

Apart from his visits since his main villa was very close to theirs and his servants who would bring them their food it was completely quite. He’d promised that they’d not be interrupted during their stay in Apollonia and that they’d both have peace and quite through out their stay and so far he’d been true to his word.

His guest villa was made of white marble and its back balcony which had tables and chairs over looked the shore. There was a path from this marble balcony which led out on to the open beach. There was even a stable for Argo. The whole place was secluded and private with only the odd fisherman coming up now and again to try and catch a big fish or find clams in the shallows which had large rock pools when the tide went out.

She adjusted her leather wrist guards again as she watched the wave’s crash against the shore. She breathed in deeply smelling the fresh sea air. The words to describe this place were very difficult at best. The best that she could say that it was stunningly beautiful and it mirrored her dream in so many ways.

She watched as her lover appeared she was running up the beach again in her full armour catching up on her morning excise. She adjusted her green shirt and brown skirt as she watched her intensely. The villa was beautiful but she was poetry in motion, the way her long black hair flowed as she ran. The way she kicked up sand with her leather boots.

The way every muscle ripped and the light blue eyes narrowed as she concentrated intensely on what she was doing. The way her bronze skin caught the sunlight it was all heart stopping. She leaned on her elbow as she tapped her brown boot on the highly decorated marble floor. She watched as her lover come towards her. She could see the dark haired woman’s smile widen as their gaze met.

Xena breathed in deeply she watched as the wind picked up her lovers blonde hair blowing it back. The light bounced of her fair skin and lit up her forest green eyes. She smiled meeting her lover gaze she was as beautiful as ever she looked truly innocent in this light. She came closer getting her breath back as she leaned on other side the balcony so they were close to each other. “What do you think?”

Gabrielle stopped as she looked up. “You’re beautiful.” Xena smirked slightly as she leaned closer. “So are you sweetheart, but I was actually talking about the villa.” Gabrielle looked around her for a moment. “I love it, thank you it’s a wonderful surprise.” Xena smiled as she gently kissed her. “Well you did say you wanted to go somewhere quite when everything in Messene was over.”

She put a hand on her chest. “I just remembered this place, Agatone wanted me to stay here but I didn’t want to at the time, it’s just not me.” She eased up her finger running it down her lover’s cheek. “I know now that it is you and it’s similar to that dream you have.” Gabrielle lowered her gaze slightly. “You didn’t have to do any of this Xena.”

She felt her lover’s lips meet hers again. Xena pulled away running her hand through the blonde hair. “I wanted to though you always make me so happy I just want to make you happy.” Gabrielle looked up slightly. “Thank you.” She eased up her hand running it through the long dark hair. “Just out of interest though what did you do for Agatone that made him willing to allow you full use of his villa any time you want?”

Xena raised an eyebrow she ran her hand through her lovers long blonde hair. “I saved his daughter from being assassinated she’s a very diplomatic woman who likes to voice her opinion, so much so that a certain group wanted to silence her permanently. Agatone wanted me to find her assassins and stop their activities which I did.”

She slowly met her lovers green eyes again. “Safe to say he wanted to give me something in return this was his gift.” Gabrielle felt her smile widen. “I see so it was a gift. Just like that bag of gold Thaddeus and Demetrius gave us.” Xena smiled she could vividly remember finding the gold bag the first night they’d set up camp. “Yeah just like that.”

Xena pulled up slightly as she pulled her Chakram free. “Come on I want to try something.” Gabrielle eyed the Chakram. “Xena I can’t catch it, it was only because I was Horn Hind I could catch it the first time.” Xena took hold of her arm bringing her out from behind the balcony. “No I don’t think it was anything to do with Horn Hind.”

She raised the Chakram watching as it caught the sun light. “You changed time but despite doing that who you are hasn’t changed your soul is still the same.” Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she followed her lover out on to the sandy shore. She watched as Xena moved so she was behind her. “This is stupid I can’t catch it and even I did it would be the because of my leather gauntlets they were part of the Horn Hind armour.”

Xena slowly stood behind her. “Then take them off.” Gabrielle turned sharply. “What?” Xena eased up her wrist slightly. “Take these off and let me prove this to you.” Gabrielle looked down nervously she slowly eased off the leather gauntlets putting them down near her feet. She pulled herself up slowly. “This is crazy…”

Xena slowly put the Chakram in to her lover’s hand she moved her fingers so they both had hold of the gleaming weapon. She leaned close to her lover’s ear. “Please just trust me, if I’m wrong I’ll be right here to catch it.” Gabrielle breathed in deeply feeling Xena pull her hand away. She felt her breathing quicken as she threw the weapon full force.

She watched as it slammed in to the rocks near by hitting one and then another before going outwards towards the sea. It suddenly turned coming back to her. She breathed in as it came towards her face she raised her hand instantly only to feel herself freeze in shock. She’d caught it! The gleaming weapon was in her hand and she wasn’t bleeding from her palm.

She turned seeing that Xena still had her hand back it wasn’t ever touching hers. Xena smiled as she wrapped her hand around her lover’s waist. She gently eased the weapon from her other hand and put it back on its holder on her waist. “You see.” Gabrielle breathed in sharply she slowly picked up her gantlets putting them back on. “I don’t understand…”

Xena smiled as she breathed in the smell of her hair. “In our dreamscape you caught it, you weren’t Horn Hind then and it occurred to me then you may have been able to catch it the whole time and just not realized it.” She felt the younger woman lean against her. Gabrielle felt her smile widen as she met her lovers gaze.

Xena turned slightly looking out to sea she turned back meeting the younger woman’s gaze. “Do you want to get something to eat?” Gabrielle l couldn’t stop her stomach as it suddenly cried out loudly. “Yes I think I do need something to eat.” Xena laughed slightly as she moved her lover back towards the balcony. “Come on lets eat there’s still plenty of food left from breakfast.”

8

Xena turned the corner fast, she was only in her leathers her feet were bare and she didn’t have any of her armour on apart from her Chakram. She was so close. She pulled out her hand trying to grab her lover who was running just ahead of her bare foot on the villa’s marble floor. Gabrielle dodged as she turned sharply she watched her lover skid on the marble floor.

She put both hands together as she dodged again as her lover tried to grab her again. “Come on Warrior Princess you can do better than that.” Xena’s grin widened. She was really enjoying this little game of chase, truth was she could catch her lover any time she wanted but what was the fun in that? Beside she wanted to let her think that she had the advantage.

Admittedly she loved the chase as well it made the catch so much more worth while. She watched as Gabrielle dodged her again by turning on her heels she let her twist around out of her reach again. She raised an eyebrow. “You know I am going to catch you.” She took a slow step forward looking at the moonlight outside which was high in the sky.

Their bed room was lit with candles and two fresh water skins full of both their favourite beverages had been placed close by on the wooden dresser sometime ago by the servants. Who only came in once to clean and to give them their breakfast and their dinner, she moved sideways blocking her lovers escape route. “Oh no, you’re not going to run away again.” Gabrielle sidestepped watching as her lover instantly did the same. “Who said I was running?”

Xena raised her hands slightly seeing her opportunity Gabrielle wasn’t quick enough to move this time. They both hit the fur rug which was next to the bed back first. She was on top of her lover and she could already feel the younger woman struggling playfully trying to get free from her grip. She felt Gabrielle start to try to scramble harder to get out from under her.

She turned the younger woman on to her back before she worm her way out of her trap. She used her legs to brace her lover so she couldn’t move. She could hear Gabrielle’s heavy breathing being replaced with laugher which was pure bliss to her ears. She found herself laughing along as she held both her lovers arms which were pushing against her shoulders.

She felt Gabrielle slowly relax as her laugher came to a stop allowing her to move forward so their faces were almost touching. “I caught you so what do I get?” Gabrielle raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?” Xena slowly freed one of her hands from her shoulder she brought it up kissing it. “I can think of something.” She moved forward feeling the world slow.

She captured the other woman’s lips feeling Gabrielle’s hands move through her hair she could feel the kiss becoming deeper and more wanting. All she wanted was to loose herself in it. She moved her hands through the blonde hair, she could feel her lover’s hands and they moved across her back, the nails digging in to the leather.

She moved to her lover’s neck slowly kissing a trail as she moved her hands down her arms not wanting to move from her position on top of her. She watched as the green eyes suddenly snapped open, she breathed in sharply realizing why, the shadows around them were flicking. She didn’t think as she met her lover’s lips again while reaching for her Chakram.

She found herself stiffening in surprise as Gabrielle freed the weapon before she could reach it. Her lover threw the Chakram full force as she turned she watched as it slammed in to the wall close by only to bounce of hitting the other wall. She heard the sound as it spun upwards. There was a male cry of panic as the sound of rope snapping hit her ears.

The Chakram flew downwards hitting both walls only to be instantly caught by her lover before she could catch it. Xena turned watching as a figure slammed in to the table close by full force. His painful moans could be heard as he rolled off the wooden table hitting the floor. Xena looked at her lover who was still holding the Chakram.

Gabrielle shrugged slightly. “I thought I’d try it out again.” Xena slowly took her Chakram from her lover’s hand putting it back in place she leaned down meeting her lips again before pulling herself up. She moved forward watching as the man slowly tried to get to his kneels his moans of pain hit the air she snarled aloud as she moved towards him.

Autolycus looked up painfully only to feel the agony as Xena’s fist made contact with his face he hit the floor hard holding his nose which was stinging. Xena grabbed the man by the collar she dragged him up slamming him against the table. Her gaze narrowed as she watched the king of thieves face appear with its black hair and moustache and brown eyes.

Autolycus pulled up his hands watching as her fist rose again. “Hey! It’s me!” Xena felt her grip on his shirt tighten. “Yeah I know it’s you!” She yanked harder on his flamboyant green shirt. “Why were you snooping around? Were you spying on us?” Autolycus watched as Gabrielle slowly got up smoothing down her skirt, her green eyes narrowed as she met his gaze.

He looked at Xena seeing that her fist which was still getting ready to strike. “It’s not what it looks like…” He paused before grinning widely. “Well it is what it looks like, but I can assure I had no idea that you were both doing…what you were doing.” He raised an eyebrow. “Not that I didn’t like what you were doing, two beautiful women…enjoying each others company is very pleasant.”

Xena snarled dragging him to his feet. “Why are you here?” Autolycus smiled trying to ignore the ice cold blue eyes and the mouth which was forming a vicious sneer. He knew all to well what that expression meant and that if he didn’t talk he would probably be hit again only much harder. He raised his hand. “Now that’s no way to treat a friend Xena.”

He looked up slightly. “I came all the way here from Corinth to find you, do you have any idea how long it took me to find your private hang out?” Xena let go of her shirt watching as he stepped back his brown boots tapping the marble floor. She slowly lowered her fist. “Did it occur to you that maybe we didn’t want to be found by any one including you?”

Autolycus smoothed his black leather trousers down. “Now that’s not very nice I come to you out of the goodness of my heart and all you can do is be the moody Warrior Princess. First you throw the Chakram at me and then you hit me.” Xena eyed him for a moment. “Firstly I didn’t throw the Chakram at you that was Gabrielle! Second you were watching us and that’s a good enough reason for me to hit you!”

Autolycus stepped back he blinked eyeing Gabrielle who was starting to look annoyed. “Wait Gabrielle threw your Chakram?” Xena turned picking up her wineskin full of ale she grunted aloud as she pulled the top free. “Yes she threw it not me.” Autolycus turned slightly. “You taught her how to throw and catch the Chakram!”

Xena took a long drink before turning to him. “Yes.” Autolycus breathed in deeply. “She could’ve killed me!” Xena narrowed her gaze. “She throws it as well I do Autolycus!” Gabrielle sighed aloud. “I just wanted to break your hooking rope not kill you.” Xena breathed in deeply taking another long drink. “What is it you want Autolycus?”

Autolycus stood up slightly he breathed in deeply as he recomposed himself. “I have the proportion of a life time for you.” Xena sneered slightly. “We are on vacation!” Autolycus slowly leaned against the table. “Xena we are talking about mountains of gold more than you can imagine.” He turned to Gabrielle who had filled a tankard from one of the water skins “Come on Gabrielle you like gems stones I’ve seen your eyes glint when you look at them.”

He eyed her necklace with its strange jade and silver symbol. “I mean that necklace just shows how much you like sparkling things.” Gabrielle put her hand around the Horn Hind symbol. “I didn’t buy this it was given to me by a group of people for helping them. I wear it to honour them. Not because I like the way it gleams.”

Xena folded her arms. “What part of we are on vacation didn’t you get?” Autolycus straightened up watching as Gabrielle began to drink from her tankard. “Xena I’m talking about king Lycaon’s treasure!” He turned in surprise watching as Gabrielle spat out part of her drink. The blonde woman, turned going in to coughing fit as she failed to swallow the rest.

Xena eyed him as she moved over to her lover rubbing her back waiting for the coughing to subside. She leaned over slightly meeting her lovers green eyes. “Are you okay?” Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she felt the coughing sub side. “I’m fine…” Xena watched as her lover stood up slightly. “We aren’t interested…”

Autolycus turned in annoyance. “How could you not be interested? This is king Lycaon the werewolf king! Okay we all know werewolves are savage beasts with no moral sense of self and they probably guard his keep like animals, but this guy is rich.” Gabrielle snarled aloud as she took a slow step forward. “Werewolves are not animals their people! They also have a very strong sense of self!”

Autolycus blinked as he looked up a wide smile slowly formed on his lips. “So the rumour is true.” Xena took a step forward. “What rumour, would that be?” Autolycus eased up his hand. “That you both took on Lycaon’s werewolf army in Messene and Gabrielle got turned in to a werewolf herself.” Xena narrowed her gaze she slowly met her lovers gaze seeing the utter shock in her green eyes at the king of thieves words.

She breathed in deeply she was going to lie for her lovers sake. Gabrielle wasn’t ready to even write down in her scrolls what had happened yet. Also despite that Autolycus was a good man at heart who she did truth an awful lot, she wasn’t ready to reveal everything that had happened ether. “I never took on the werewolf king neither did Gabrielle.”

She raised a hand. “We ran in to a werewolf yes and we killed it and we met another one who helped us out of Messene’s forest but that was it. Autolycus raised both hands. “Some one from the old Arcadia region told me about it though he said he even saw the werewolf kings army marching! It’s a huge rumour over there right now.”

Xena laughed slightly seeing Gabrielle eyes widen in surprise. “Please Autolycus don’t you think if I killed the werewolf king that I’d have a trophy to prove that I actually did it?” She turned slightly. “As far as Gabrielle turning to a werewolf that is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” She raised her hand. “I mean please if she were one wouldn’t she be one right now?”

Autolycus tapped his boot. “Okay so you would have a trophy and I agree that Gabrielle isn’t a werewolf but this man said that you and Gabrielle led a huge werewolf army.” Xena took another long drink. “You shouldn’t listen to rumour, we never led that army Horn Hind led that army to victory.” Autolycus put a hand on his belt. “Who’s Horn Hind?”

Xena raised an eyebrow. “A legendary hero among werewolves or so I’ve heard who has deer horns. He or she is meant to be incredibly powerful and a strong leader.” She gave Gabrielle a slight smile which the king of thieves didn’t see. Autolycus stroked his moustache. “So you don’t know where king Lycaon’s treasure is?”

Xena eyed him. “No, I don’t know where his treasure is.” Autolycus raised his hand. “Oh, I was so hoping you did.” He put his hands together. “I mean a treasure like that would do wonders for my reputation.” Xena put a hand through her hair in frustration. “The door is behind you.” Autolycus pulled up sharply. “You’re asking me to leave?”

Xena turned sharply. “Yes I am, don’t make me repeat myself.” Autolycus put a hand on his chest. “Xena I came all the way here just to talk to you.” Xena snarled aloud as she raised a hand. “We are on vacation! We want to be left alone for once, is that to much to ask?” Autolycus raised an eyebrow. “Oh wait you were both in the middle of something…when I dropped in weren’t you?”

Xena put a hand on his shoulder. “Look we’ll meet you in Berioa in three weeks times then we’ll talk okay?” Autolycus turned sharply. “Berioa…you know I hate Berioa.” Xena squeezed his shoulder slightly. “Good that mean’s you won’t steal anything there.” Autolycus turned on his heels freeing himself from her grip. He moved towards Gabrielle his smile widening. “You know last time we met you said something about Aztec gold.”

Xena watched as her lovers eyes froze over their colour slowly darkening. Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. “I said they have more gold, jade and gemstones than you could possibly imagine and none you’d ever want.” Autolycus pulled back. “What? That’s not what you said, I heard you, you were drinking and you said…”

Gabrielle looked up sharply. “I was drinking when I drink, I say foolish things and I was drunk that night.” She raised her hand to her lover. “Xena had to help me to bed, if you remember right.” Autolycus slowly pulled back not liking the cold hard stare which the blonde woman was giving him. “Well next time we meet we’ll talk about this, okay.”

He turned slightly not hearing a reply. “Well then I’ll see you both in Berioa.” Xena turned watching as her lovers eyes returned to normal. “Yeah we’ll see you there, don’t tell any one we are here okay?” Autolycus smiled widely as he picked up his broken rope hook of the table. “Xena I wouldn’t do that.” He jumped over the balcony that led on to the beach. “I mean I am the king of thieves.”

Xena breathed in watching as he gave her a wave before disappearing in to the night. She turned looked at her lover who had had been standing in the villa’s entrance which led on to the balcony. She wanted to ask her about her words on the Aztec gold. She had never seen her become so cold so quickly, it was like looking in to the eyes a person she didn’t know.

At the time that Gabrielle had searched the Aztec lands she’d been unable to reach her thanks to Akemi who had trapped her after she had freed the souls. She should have never trusted her from start it was something she deeply regretted now. She had no idea what had gone on in the lands of Mexica and Gabrielle never seemed to want to talk about it.

She breathed in deeply she was going to let this one go it could wait for another time. They were on vacation now and she really wanted to enjoy it. She moved forward gently putting her arms around the younger woman’s waist. “Now where were we?” Gabrielle smiled as she put her arms up around the taller woman’s neck. “You where kissing me.”

Xena leaned closer watching as the moonlight reflected off her lovers green eyes causing them to shine. “I was wasn’t I.” She slowly smiled before capturing her lips again. She breathed in enjoying every sensation as the kiss deepened she moved her hands up running them through the blonde hair as she felt her lovers hands move through her own hair.

She could feel her lover guiding her back towards the bed and she didn’t care. Her lover’s hands were moving over her leathers with that same want and need. She felt the bed as she tumbled back on to it and her lover’s body as it moved on top of hers. She felt her heart start to beat faster as her lover pulled both her arms up bracing them so she couldn’t move them before meeting her lips again.

She had a chance to relive her life again and she wasn’t going to make the same mistakes. She wasn’t going to fall in to the same traps or let people use her guilt to trap her. She breathed in sharply as her lover’s hand began to loosen the leather thread on her bodice. She slowly met her lovers gaze seeing the fire burning in them, she never wanted to let go of this woman again as long as she lived.

8

Denes snorted as kicked another bone out of the way. “This is stupid! Find the godly spring of the horned werewolf, how pathetic. Why is it when the god of war sends us to do something it always something lame?” Cenon looked the heavily armoured warlord general. “I agree this is lame but I wouldn’t say that to Ares’s face.”

Denes looked around at the forest which hadn’t been here during his last visit two years ago. This had been long before the Lycaon’s war which had happened some months ago. He pushed another set of leaves out of the way. “No I wouldn’t say it to his face ether.” He kicked another werewolf skull out of the way.

There were lots of human and werewolf skeletons littering the forest floor all of them all from the Lycaon’s war most were wrapped in grass and vines. This was way too much growth for such a short time, full grown trees just didn’t pop up like this. It had been hard to even find this valley because of this forest which had just sprung up covering half of it including the part that had been the war ground.

There were two roads which joined the two cities in the region these roads had another that had led off but it wasn’t finished yet. This had made finding this place difficult. He stopped as he caught sight of something he moved past a broken catapult which was covered in vines. He watched as a huge stone shrine came in to view. “Oh please now that’s just stupid.” Cenon eyed the shrine. “Ah great a shrine to Aphrodite…”

Denes walked out in to the large clearing eyeing the statue of the goddess who had offering surrounding the marble lower half of her statue. It was typically annoying shrine to the love goddess. “I hate Aphrodite.” He moved forward bringing up his sword smacking it against the white statues shoulder. Cenon sighed as he looked up at the moonlight. “So do I, let’s break her statues arm off.”

He turned seeing another white marble shrine close by which had a large pool of water in it and two statues. One was a werewolf and the other was a hoplite from the hoplites helmet clear water was gushing out the same kind of water was gushing out of the werewolf’s mouth on the opposite side. He moved closer looking at the clear water which was like crystal. Under it he could see some odd circle pattern which was made of green and blue gem stone and whose marble stone was black.

He raised his sword. “Hey check this out.” Denes turned eyeing the spring. “This is it! You’ve found it.” Cenon folded his arms. “It doesn’t look like much, just another spring which is nice to look at, just those so called works of art in Athens.” Denes grabbed his armoured chest plate. “This is no ordinary spring Cenon, it’s a healing spring.”

He eyed the water. “This is why Ares sent us here he wants some of its water so he can make a version of his own. He wants to use it for his armies.” Cenon eyed the water. “Yeah but why doesn’t he come up here himself to get it? I mean why send us I mean we don’t have the power to fight a godly spirit of the forest.” Denes pulled out an empty water skin. “Werewolf god…spirit of the forest, please its all just stories.”

He eased the water skin down only to watch in shock as the water began to churn. He pulled back in panic as a pair of huge black horns rose from the lake their blue and green veins shimmered in the moonlight. The huge white werewolf head appeared with its long goat’s beard. Huge white shoulders and upper body followed. Huge Satyr legs with black hooves appearing and a long bull’s tails which swung slightly.

The eight foot being lower body was covered by a hanging skirt which was covered in silver and golden patterns. The black clawed hand slowly formed a fist as the long white ears went back and the glowing orange eyes with there black pupils narrowed. The huge jaws slowly opened showing all the razor sharp teeth they slammed together as the eyes focused on him. Christos snarled aloud he hated thieves especially those who came to steal his waters. “They call me the spirit of the forest for good reason it’s because I’m real!”

He wasn’t one to do godly talk much but now was a good time for it he stepped out of his healing waters He came back to these waters every night it was his place of sleep. Not that he needed to but he just liked doing it was where he had been born and it was comforting. He could make new springs just like this one anywhere he wished but the one here felt like his real home.

The shocked warrior fell backwards dropping his water skin as he stepped closer to him. He sniffed the air only to snarl in disgust as he grabbed the man by his armoured collar. “A warrior of Ares!” He pulled him up high in to the air ignoring his screams of terror. “Did your god send you here?” He raised his other clawed hand causing vines to shoot up they grabbed the other warrior before he could escape.

The screaming man was slammed in to the floor as the vines wrapped tightly around him securing him. Denes shivered in panic. “Yes Ares sent us! Please we beg mercy we thought you weren’t real!” Christos snarled eyeing him. “Well I am real! Why did your god send you here? Was it to steal my healing waters or just to try and desecrate my birthplace?”

Denes pulled up his hand. “He wanted your healing waters! Please don’t kill me!” Christos roared in the warriors face showing off all his razor sharp teeth. “Why does he want my waters?” Denes shivered he knew he’d just had a horrible moment of bladder weakness. “He wanted us to steal some of your water and bring it back to him.”

He swallowed. “He wants to make a copy of it for himself so he could use it to heal his warriors in battle.” Christos narrowed his gaze. “Does he now…” He tightened his grip on the man’s collar. “Well you can send him a message from me tell him that I’ll kill the next warrior he sends up here to steal from me! I’ll kill every one that follows until he comes himself!”

He sneered. “Also tell him that if I do face him in battle I’ll wound him in the same way Horn Hind did and I’ll send him limping back to Olympus! The warriors Xena and Gabrielle created me and like them I dislike him greatly.” He squeezed tighter. “Those who steal and those who bring war aren’t welcome here. In this region only have three gods of worshiped myself and Aphrodite and Hephaestus!”

He leaned closer. “And if you dare to break any of her statues I’ll break you in half!” Denes swallowed as he looked at the god. “We won’t we swear! We’ll deliver your message!” Christos eyed the general. “Get out…and don’t ever return to this place!” He threw the man watching as he landed hard against the catapult. “I’ll kill you both if you ever return here!”

He releasing the vines from the other man he watched as they both ran away their boots scrambling as they tried desperately to run faster. He turned watching as a flash of white light hit the air along with white and red rose petals, he smiled as he turned to the goddess of love. Aphrodite giggled slightly. “I love how you get them to run away like that.”

Christos put a hand on his chest. “Hey you know I’d never kill them unless they give me no choice. Normally a good scare always seems to ensure that they never return.” Aphrodite raised a hand slightly. “I know it’s late, and you would prefer to be asleep but Hephaestus wants to show you his latest creations. It’s totally cool its one of those cat statues that springs to life.”

Christos shook his mane as he turned slightly. “I’d love to, I love looking at his new creations.” Aphrodite patted his arm. “Come on then stud muffin you know how my husband hates to be kept waiting.” Christos walked slowly forward. “Well I never like to keep him waiting or you for that matter.” He put a clawed hand on her shoulder. “You can fill me in on the latest happenings.”

Aphrodite looked up slowly at the moonlight she patted his clawed hand. She was looking forward to filling him in on all that was goings on. It was funny she had never really seen the moonlight as beautiful until after the events with Lycaon. She smiled as she patted his hand again. “Come on spirit of the forest I’ll fill you in on everything.”

End Of Book One

End of part 63

By Silvermoonlight.

Copyright 2007-10-07

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and given your input you’ve all been wonderful.