Sapphic Voices Fan Fiction

THE AMAZON QUEEN

Part Twenty-Seven

DISCLAIMERS: The characters of Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrenê, Joxer, Janice Covington, Melinda Pappas, Jack Kleinman, et al (meaning anyone else I didn't list and should have.) are the property of their creators and anyone else who has a legal claim (thanks for letting the girls come out to play!) Melysë and The Amazons belong to themselves, though, (and I dare any man to say different!) This Story is mine, though, and written just for fun, not profit.

Subtext: - YES, though nothing explicit. Xena and Gabrielle, while still soul-mates and the very best of friends, are not a couple in the romantic sense of the word. They are joined to others as heart-mates.

Violence: Yes, but no more than you’ll see on the show.

Language: Pretty tame, so far.

Spoilers: (so far) The Deliverer, Gabrielle's Hope, Maternal Instincts, Sacrifice I&II, A Family Affair, Livia, Eve, The God You Know, Path of Vengeance

Other: If you haven’t read the previous installments in this series, you may have difficulty following along with who’s who.

*************

As Nick drove west towards the Bosporus and Macedonia, his mind wandered. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from thinking about Melissa Pappas. The more he thought, the more he realised there was something familiar about her, but he couldn’t quite ...

Slammed out of his reverie by a near accident, Nick stopped the car and allowed one of his men to take over the driving, retiring to the back seat to continue his thoughts uninterrupted by the need to watch for other cars. He re-lived that moment when she touched him over and over, but still couldn’t remember where he had seen this woman before. He no longer felt threatened by her; instead, he was drawn to her.

They drove for hours, but Nick, lost in his thoughts, only noticed when they arrived in the small town just outside the perimeter of the dig site, founded by Janice Covington over sixty years ago. He got out of the car, shaking off the dream-like state which had caused his attention ... his focus to wane. This was not a good sign. Nick hadn’t stayed alive this long by daydreaming when there was business to take care of. He still held out to the notion that there was long-term profit potential in this endeavour. Chuckling at his unconsciously made pun, Nick approached one of the workers at the site to inquire after the foreman. They had some things to discuss.

*************

Janice was cursing under her breath - another habit, like the cigars, she had tried to break, or at least keep under control in Melinda’s presence.

“We left the camping gear in the Rover,” she sputtered to Melysë, who was preparing the women for the night’s ceremony.

“It’s alright,” said Tai’/Kora. “We have a boat - Tina, go with Dr. Covington to get their gear.” She turned to Melysë. “I’d offer you the use of ours, but we don’t use any gear.”

“Trying to emulate the Amazons?” asked Melinda, taking mental notes about the upspringing of the Amazon-like cult for a future book.

“Exactly,” said Tai’, who now seemed to slipping away, back into Kora, more frequently. Melysë was saddened by this, but she knew her sister well enough to realise that the grief Tai’ had felt as Tai’ when Melysë “disappeared” so long ago was not an emotion she would wish to re-live, and so she sought the refuge of forgetfulness.

“Well, I hate to disillusion you, Sister, but the Amazons used gear on the trail,” said Melysë, frowning at her unconscious use of the past tense. It almost felt as she herself were slipping away from her people.

And so you are, Little Sister, she heard and gasped - Tai’ could still bespeak her, mind to mind and she realised that “Kora” was more Tai’ then she wanted to other women in the group to know. Melysë smiled, then realised what Tai’ had said.

What do you mean, Tai’?

The longer you’re here, the harder it will be for you to get back - Hekate has told me this, Tai’ replied. She will not allow you to risk draining more of what little reserve of power you have left to speak with her directly - she has said that you will need it when you go to rescue Aphrodite.

“Did they?” said “Kora”, feigning surprise.

“Of course!” said Melysë grinning uncontrollably as contact with her sister brought her back to herself a bit and she realised that Tai’ had given her some of her own energy. Melysë sent her gratitude, but put up shields - her sister was too generous with her own limited reserves.

Blessed Mother, are mortals really so ... ‘un-magical’ in this time? she thought to herself. Of course. They have polluted the earth and the water so - whatever power is left there is soured and perhaps cannot get through human disregard. And human garbage ...

With a sigh, Melysë resumed the preparations. She truly hoped that this ritual would help these women re-touch their true heritage and perhaps help this land recover a bit more as well.

Darkness came upon the island. The moon was but a sliver in the sky, but it was growing, night by night. There was little light, save for what the fire, built where the Black Stone had once stood, offered. Melysë gathered the women, including Janice, Melinda, Kate, and Natalie in a circle, having them all clasp hands. They began to dance in a circle about the fire, still clasping hands and Melysë began to chant in the ancient language of the Amazons, words which had not been heard here, in this once and now again sacred space, for millennia. The women focussed on the sound of the words and the dancing light of the fire. The women felt their bodies grow warmer with the dancing; they became aware of their breath and their heartbeat - and suddenly their souls came awake! They began to join the chant, their voices melding with the priestess.

They could feel the earth responding to them, power rising from deep, deep within, vibrating, humming, throbbing ... The women danced and chanted for how long, none of them knew or cared. They felt free, as if they were flying high above the earth and yet, they felt firmly grounded, supported by the land which they were feeding, as well as receiving from. At last, a pale shimmering figure took shape in the centre of the flames. Translucent at first, but gradually gaining solidity as the women danced for her, Hekate, the Great Mother of All appeared before her Amazons once again. The women stopped, breathless and exhilarated, awed by the sight of their goddess before them. Melysë dropped to her knees before her, bowing her head. The others followed her.

“Mother, we honour you,” she said.

“Rise up, my Daughters,” said the goddess. “You have awakened me, at long last. I am pleased.” Melysë looked at her, puzzled.

“Great Goddess, you do not slumber,” she said.

“In the souls of those who do not - or will not - believe in me, I do,” said the goddess, sadly.

“You are wakened in my soul, Lady!” cried one of the women, others echoing her words.

“Aye, and now your real work begins, my Daughters,” said the goddess. She turned to Melysë. “Thank you, my Chosen - as always, you serve me and mine with all of your heart. You have done well here and your sisters in this place will continue what you have started within them - but now you must go quickly. As you suspected he would, your brother is scheming to keep you from your sister’s rescue. Already his plans are in place.”

Melysë bowed her head in assent. “I love you, Mother,” she said, lifting her eyes in time to see the goddess fading from sight, but she heard the reply in her heart. And I love you, my Child - more than you will ever know.

The spell broken, the women looked around at each other. Melysë arose, the others following and opened the circle.

“What the hell just happened?” asked Janice, she and Melinda approaching Melysë as the others began preparing some food and helping Kate and Natalie to set up a campsite just outside the sacred circle. “Did that ... apparition ... or whatever, say that we had to go? Why in the hell did we lug all that sh- uh, stuff here in the first place?”

Melysë merely looked pleading at the archaeologist, who stomped angrily off, looking for a match to light her cigar. Melinda looked at Melysë and smiled.

“That was her, wasn’t it? The goddess of the Amazons?” she said, quietly.

“Yes, it was,” said Melysë looking worriedly after Janice.

“Don’t worry about her, Honey - she’ll go off and smoke that thing and then come back feelin’ a whole lot better,” said Melinda.

“And stinking to high heaven,” said Natalie, approaching the women. “What’s going on, Aunt Mel? Was there some kind of hallucinogen in that fire? I didn’t smell anything, but - “

“Natalie, can’t you just take anything on simple faith?” said Kate coming up to the group, her eyes shining. “What, everyone in the group had the same hallucination?”

“Whatever Melysë was chanting could have been subliminal, in conjunction with a drug to induce suggestibility, yes, it’s possible,” said Natalie, defensively.

“Oh, for crying out loud, Natalie - you are hopeless!” cried Kate, walking off with her cousin to continue their “debate” elsewhere.

I certainly hope not, thought Melysë, watching them retreat even as their voices raised in volume. Melinda shook her head and turned from watching them to watching Melysë. The priestess was tense, biting her lip at Kate’s parting words.

“Janice isn’t goin’ to be the one to rescue Aphrodite, is she?” asked Melinda, gently. Melysë turned, startled.

“No,” she said, quietly. Melinda looked worried for a brief moment, then spoke very softly.

“Ares and Aphrodite are your brother and sister - you’re Zeus’s daughter?” she asked.

“One of many,” Melysë said with a wry chuckle.

“Then I won’t worry,” said Melinda, putting one arm around Melysë’s shoulders and pulling her in for a hug.

Melysë smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “I needed that - more than you know.”

*************

Nick Martino surveyed the dig site from his tent. It was hot and sticky, but his men stood by in their designer suits, enduring the discomfort. Nick looked up from the paper he was writing on and saw them perspiring profusely, one of them, Andy was already looking burned in the sun. Nick called them into the tent and had them change into the clothes he had purchased for them in the village just outside the site. Nick himself was cool and relatively comfortable in linen. It wouldn’t do him any good to kill his men here - one of the reasons Nick inspired such loyalty was that he was known for taking care of his people. Andy and Mack’s job was to protect him; they couldn’t do that if they were suffering heat exhaustion. Nick decided they had been intimidating enough for the time being.

His thoughts drifted back to the Covingtons. He had copies of Janice’s original journal, describing her discoveries in this place. They were deceptive, though. Dr. Covington had determined that her original assessment of the historical value of this site, which she originally thought to be the ancient town of Amphipolis, was erroneous. She had written that she was mistaken and that she had found no artefacts of any historical or cultural value.

“So why blow it up?” Nick mused aloud.

“Boss?” said Mack, looking up from something he was examining in his hands.

“What have you got there, Mack?” asked Nick.

“Aw, just this piece of clay - I wanted to take it home as a souvenir - the workers said it wasn’t valuable and I could have it - is that okay, Mr. Martino?” said Mack.

“Let me see it, Mack,” said Nick. Mack handed him the shard. Nick looked closely at it and privately agreed with the workers. “Sure, Mack, you can keep it.”
“I don’t see how they can think it isn’t valuable,” said Mack, taking back his shard, his face like a happy little boy who has just found a “treasure”, valuable only to him. “I mean, someone a long, long time ago took the trouble to make the thing that this was once a part of - someone from olden times, with a name and maybe even a family, held this. Don’t they want to know about that someone?” Mack scratched his head and continued to gaze at the shard.

“Of course they do, Mack,” said Nick, good-naturedly. “That’s why they’re here - maybe they just can’t find out about those things from that particular piece and that’s why it isn’t valuable to them.”

“Yeah, maybe - but to own something like this, to be able to touch it with my hands, and know that someone a long time ago touched it, too - that’s pretty special, isn’t it Sir?” asked Mack, earnestly.

“To you and me, maybe, Mack, but these people need more, I guess,” said Nick, going back to Janice’s journal.

Why did she blow it up? he thought to himself. Janice was one of those people who would have thought the piece of pottery worthless in the greater scheme of finding something bigger. Melinda, now, she would have treasured that bit of clay just as Mack apparently did and for much the same reasons. Nick himself was known to cast aside things of lesser worth in pursuit of greater things - and greater profits.

His mind wandered to Natalie. She was not a cast off. She had dumped Nick, an experience he wasn’t accustomed to and certainly didn’t want to repeat. It was all that Kleinman kid’s fault, Nick believed. Ted Kleinman was a goofy, nerdish boy. Nick had to put him in his place more than once. The last time was the trigger for Natalie to dump him. Nick had believed that Natalie only befriended the kid, who was a few years younger than they, out of family loyalty - their grand-parents were close and had been for years. It was only after Nick put Ted in the hospital that he realised Natalie genuinely cared for the boy - in a purely platonic, fraternal way, of course. She never did see the adoration in those blue eyes, hidden behind coke-bottle glasses as they followed her every move.

Even if she had, it wouldn’t have mattered to Natalie. She was focussed on her studies - until Nick came along and seduced her, that is. It hadn’t been an easy conquest, but Nick was all the more aware of the sweetness of his victory for that fact. He had courted her and finally won. What Nick hadn’t realised - or planned for - was that he fell for her - and fell hard and fast. He still loved her. In fact, she was the reason Nick had begun to acquire more legitimate enterprises for the organisation. He planned to get out and then go back and try to re-win Natalie’s affections. He had paid for Ted’s medical bills of his own volition and had apologised - in public, no less - to Ted. He had even tried to befriend him, despite his annoying habit of making a song out of everything he did.

Ted was full of stories about some heroic ancestor of his. He even hinted that he had proof of this Jerkster’s - or whatever the name had been - existence, but would reveal nothing more, saying it wasn’t yet the time to share his discoveries. Then, after he graduated from the University’s Film school, he went public with the Scrolls and what followed was that “Show”. Nick watched a few episodes and was hooked - the eye candy was irresistible to him, but more than that, something about the whole thing drew him in. He was discrete about this obsession, of course, for he was on his way up in the organisation. It wouldn’t do for his superiors to suspect that he was a “fan” of anything, especially a campy television show with scantily-clad women doing impossible acrobatics.

At any rate, Nick kept his interest in perspective. This was the first time he had followed a hunch this wild. He still wasn’t certain what the outcome would be, but he was long overdue for a little personal time and .... suddenly, his cell phone rang, startling him. Nick had no idea who would be calling him here, but he answered anyway.

“Hello?” said Nick.

“Dominick, Dominick, Dominick,” the familiar voice said, with a disappointed sigh. “I told you, did I not, to forget about this?”

“Not in so many words,” said Nick, sweating even more profusely.

“True,” said the voice, then a chuckle. “Well, since you’re here, I have a job for you. And this time, Nick, do not disappoint me.”

“No,” said Nick. “I won’t. What do you want me to do?”

“I need for you to go to where they’re digging. They’re about to break through to the tomb. There’s something I need for you to get there for me,” said the voice.

“What is it?” asked Nick.

“You’ll know when you see it,” said the voice. “Get it and then get the Tartarus out of there. And Nick, don’t show up empty-handed. And do not send in one of those idiots you use for bodyguards. You get it yourself. I will meet you later to ... ah, retrieve the object.”

“I understand,” said Nick and the connection went dead. He arose from his chair, signalling his men to remain. Nick wandered with studied casualness over to the site where workers were digging. Suddenly, there was a shout and the foreman rushed over. They had broken through the debris created by Janice Covington’s destruction and by time itself. Nick approached more quickly and started down the shaft. The foreman, stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“Mr. Martino, please - it is not yet safe. We have to shore up the shaft and - “ he began. One look from Nick and the man dropped his hand and stepped aside. Nick grabbed a flashlight and entered the shaft, ordering everyone to stay back.

He flipped the torch on and began to walk, cautiously evading piles of rubble. It seemed hours before he reached the centre of the cavern. Then his light flickered and went out. Cursing, Nick slapped the torch against his thigh, but to no avail. All of a sudden, torches flared in their sconces along the passageway where Nick stood, trying to get his light to come back on. Nick shook his head, pondering the wisdom of going on. The memory of the voice, however, was motivation enough. He walked through the passageway until it opened up into a broad chamber. There, Nick could still see evidence of a fight. Two swords lay on the dusty stone floor and Nick reached down to pick one of them up, thinking they must be what his employer wanted - until his eyes caught another sort of gleam.
“Nah, it couldn’t be,” Nick whispered to himself, then went over to the object. In disbelief, he picked up what appeared to be Xena’s chakram, only it was broken. Tucking the half he had located into his shirt, he began to make his way back in the direction from which he had come, then thought twice - if one piece of this was still here, then it followed that the other would be, too - and Nick didn’t want to disappoint that voice. He wandered around a bit longer, finally spying the other half beneath a large metallic ornament of some kind.

Nick tried to lift the ornament, but it was too heavy. No way was he going to leave this tomb without the other half of the chakram, though. He looked around then grabbed up one the discarded swords to lever the thing off of his prize. He managed to slide the sword under the thing, but when he started to lift it, the blade snapped - cut through by an edge of the ornament. Cursing, he leaned forward, trying to get a better look. Suddenly, the metal inside his shirt grew uncomfortably warm, then burning hot. Nick jumped back as the piece of chakram against his chest began to vibrate. The piece under the heavy ornament began to shudder, then slide of its own volition out from under the thing, screeching and grating as it went. All of a sudden, it flew up from the floor, straight at Nick. Moving quickly and using reflexes he hadn’t even known he had, Nick put up his hand and caught the other half of the chakram before it flew into him.

Nick looked around for something to wrap the pieces in. He saw a pair of women’s pumps from a more recent age than anything in this place should have been, but little else except dust and rubble. The he spied a tiny piece of burgundy-coloured linen. It would have to do, he decided, picking it up and wrapping the half of chakram he held in his hand.

“As long as I keep them from making contact,” he said to himself, then tucked the wrapped piece into his trousers, arranging his light jacket so that the bulges in his clothing were hidden.

Nick walked back through the passageway towards the opening of the tomb. The torches went out and his flashlight came back on. Nick shook his head, deciding he would think about that later, then emerged from the tomb, carefully arranging his face into mien of disappointment. The foreman greeted him eagerly.

“Mr. Martino, did you see anything?” he asked.

“Nope - sorry, fellas, but Dr. Covington was right - anything that might’ve been there is gone. Just a lot of dust,” he said. The foreman’s face fell.

“Very well,” he said. “We will stop for today.” He signalled his workers and they all began to walk away, dejected.

“I’ll be off, then, too,” said Nick, trying not to sound too eager. “No point in my hanging around with nothing to see.”

Nick went to his tent and got his men to take everything down. Even though he was eager to be out of the place, Nick didn’t want to raise suspicion by just leaving the expensive gear behind. Soon, the men had everything packed up. Nick waved at the foreman as they drove off.
“Where to, Sir?” asked Andy, who was driving.

“Anywhere fast,” said Nick, settling back in the back seat. The chakram dug painfully into his skin, but he wasn’t about to take it out just yet; they were still too close to official eyes. He could wait, he decided.

*************

Melinda had taken the wheel of the Land Rover. Janice sat beside her, head back, eyes closed while Natalie sat behind her gently massaging her grandmother’s temples. Melysë sat beside Natalie, looking on with concern. Janice Covington had lived hard and fast and for a lot of years. Her body was tired, but the fiery spirit and pure-d stubbornness with which she had lived those years wasn’t finished yet.

Tai’ had essentially warned her to conserve her limited reserve of power. Though the ritual on the island had raised some power, it was small compared to what Melysë had at her disposal in her own time and place. Still, she could not resist the instinctive impulse to rest her hand on the archaeologist’s shoulder for a brief time, lending what aid she could to the battle against time. Janice smiled, then slipped into a light but restful doze.

Suddenly Melinda grew pale and began to tremble. She pulled of to the side of the road, parked and put her head in her hands for a moment.

“Mel, are you alright?” said Janice, instantly awake and alert.

“Yes,” said Melinda, raising her head again. “I just felt ... somethin’ strange for a minute there. I’m alright now.”

Melysë felt it, too; a familiar displacement in the air. Wordlessly, she got out of the Rover and made her way to a clump of trees by the side of the road. There, out of sight of those in the car, she looked around.

“Ares?” she called. The god appeared, a wry grin on his face.

“Hey, Sis’,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “Long time no see - what’s it been? Couple of millennia?”

“Try a few days, Ares,” said Melysë.

“Oh, yeah - for you maybe,” said Ares, laughing bitterly. “For me it’s been an eternity - first, trapped in that damn tomb, and now exiled from Olympus.”

“Ares, I’m sorry - “ Melysë began.

“Too little too late!” Ares yelled, pointing at her. A bolt of fire flew from his finger tips and the priestess was forced to expend precious power to deflect it.

“Ares, listen to me,” said Melysë, holding out her hands in a warding gesture.

“And let you cast your spells on me again? Oh, no - I don’t think so,” said Ares, his eyes literally flaming.

“What spells?” said Melysë.

“Your emasculating, ‘be a good little god, now’ spells,” Ares spat, advancing on her. “I’m back and I’m baaaaad ... and I like it! Aphrodite stays where she can’t interfere with me ever again.”

Melysë sighed sadly. “Very well, Ares,” she said and turned to walk away. “Then I guess there is nothing more I can say to you.”

“Wait, wait,” said Ares, taking a step towards her. “That’s it? Just like that, you give up?”

“Oh, no,” said Melysë turning to face him again, a slow cold smile creeping over her lips, but falling far short of her eyes. “I’m not giving up. You’ve made your decision for whatever reason; and I have made mine. Obviously, we are on opposing sides.”

“We don’t have to be,” said Ares smiling, slyly.

“I think we do, Ares,” said Melysë, sadly.

“Your choice, ‘Lysë,” said Ares with a shrug.

“And yours, Ares,” said Melysë, pointedly. “Just ... what made you go back?”

“Oh, I dunno - couple thousand years trapped in a tomb?” said Ares, oozing sarcasm. “Gives a guy time to think.”

“About what?” asked Melysë.

“About family, responsibility - you know, all that crap you preached to me, made me believe in - before you walked away from all that, turned your back on it all and left the rest of us hanging for Chaos,” said Ares, darkly.

“I did not!” cried Melysë

“You refused godhood - you refused the responsibility of leading the rest of the gods of Olympus and because of that Chaos took over and Aphrodite got locked up,” said Ares. “You with your sanctimonious words and your superior attitude - your family isn’t good enough to identify or associate with. What, is it because of Zeus? Because you’re an Amazon and Amazons don’t count the father or his kin as family? You denied your own family.”

“At least I never betrayed them.” The pinprick of truth in Ares’s words jabbed painfully into the priestess’s conscience and the words, delivered in a low, neutral tone from behind the icy wall Melysë erected around her heart at that pain, were instantly regretted. It was not her way to be deliberately cruel, or to bring up her brother’s past misdeeds. In her youth, she had lashed out when angry or hurt - always calmly, always her demeanour was cold and stony when she delivered the cutting words; but she had outgrown that - hadn’t she?

“Oh, going to be like that, huh? Well, which betrayal are we talking about here? Was it when I let Xena kill the other gods by letting her daughter and best friend live - giving up my own immortality in the process? Or was it when I let Xena live after she killed them?” said Ares.

“Actually, it was when you sold out the family you talk so highly of to Dahak,” said Melysë. What was the matter with her? It’s too much, she thought, trying to temper her words and failing.

Seeing the foundation of everything she and her foremothers had built, all the hopes and dreams for the future of the Amazon Nation crumbled away to forgotten dust under the sliding sands of time and having Ares all but tell her outright that she was responsible for that happening was more than she could take. She closed her eyes and willed herself to inward calm. Her head was throbbing under the strain, but she could afford to show no weakness to Ares.

“Ah,” he said, quietly. “That one.” Melysë looked into his eyes and saw the pain she had caused him, but still she held her ground.

“Yes, that one - if you want to lay blame, Ares, you need look no further than the mirror,” she said, firmly. “You sired Anaxilea with Hope - she released Dahak again, and it was Dahak who sent me here - after he couldn’t kill me, that is.”

Ares looked at his sister. He saw the throbbing vein in her temple and remembered her headaches. He knew that sign meant that the headache was well under way and she was in a lot of pain now, but she wasn’t showing it. His respect for her returned slightly. He mused over her words for a few moments, then laughed.

“Good point,” he said. “Okay, cut me some slack, alright? It’s been a few days for you, yeah, but I’ve had a hell of a lot longer to stew about things. The truth is, while I believe that if you had been in charge, that tomb thing would have never happened, there’s no guarantee you could have stopped them.”

“Oh, I will stop them, alright,” said Melysë, her jaw tightening more against the pain. “I am going home, Ares, and I intend make it so that when this time does come, things are the way they are supposed to be.”
“Aw, c’mere, Sis’,” said Ares, holding out his arms to embrace her. Melysë went to him, hugging him tightly. Suddenly, she froze as all of her reserved power was drained from her by Ares. He released her, chuckling.

“Sorry, ‘Lysë - I meant what I said - I like things the way they are and I can’t let you change them,” he said. “You are so predictably easy! Love ya, though!” He disappeared in a flash, still chuckling. Melysë smiled and twirled a brown leather pouch which she had lifted from Ares’s belt when she hugged him, then hooked it to her own belt.

“Love you, too, Brother,” she said, meaning it, as she made her way back to the car. She was still smiling as she got back into the Land Rover. The others looked at her in silence until she buckled the harness and looked expectantly at Melinda who was still in the driver’s seat.

“What was that?” asked Janice.

“Ares decided to make an appearance,” said Melysë.

“There’s more,” said Melinda, quietly. “The chakram has been found.”

“How do you know that?” asked Kate.

“I just felt it,” said Melinda. Melysë nodded in acknowledgement, but Natalie shook her head.

“Oh come on - this ... fantasy has gone too far. It’s getting out of hand,” she said. “This is ridiculous - Grandma, Aunt Mel, you are both too old to be running around the world like this and Kate - Kate doesn’t need this kind of stimulation to her already overactive imagination.”

“Natalie, shut up!” yelled Kate. “Why can’t you just open your mind a little - just a tiny crack? Would it hurt that much?”

“This is ludicrous!” cried Natalie. “Why don’t you just step into the real world for a split second and just ... look at this situation?”

“Alright, that’s enough!” yelled Janice. “What’s the matter with you two? You both need to grow up and stop bickering with each other.”

“Don’t talk to me like I’m a child!” Kate yelled, glaring at her.

“Then stop acting like one,” said Natalie, rolling her eyes.

“Katerina Maria Kiraly Pappas-Covington, you do not speak to your grandmother like that,” said Melinda, sternly.
“You’re my grandmother - she’s just your lover,” said Kate.

That stopped the quarrel cold as Kate’s mouth dropped open, shocked at her own words. Great tears welled up and began to roll down her cheeks. “I - I - “ she began before dissolving into heaving sobs.

“What ... what was that?” asked a contritely quiet Natalie.

“Ares, making his presence known,” said Melysë with a sigh. “You may believe what you will, Natalie, but the fact of the matter is that Ares’s influence grows stronger, while Aphrodite’s is muted by her prison. I just spoke with him - he is determined to keep her locked up so that he can continued to run amok. We have to get to Aphrodite and get her free as soon as possible.”

“Well,” said Natalie. “We may as well go somewhere rather than just sitting her by the side of this rode. I guess Olympus is as good a place as any.”

“How are we going to stop him?” asked Melinda, adjusting her glasses. “Is that why the chakram was found? Will Xena need to ... ah, ‘borrow’ my body again?”

“I don’t know,” said Melysë, frowning in thought.

“I hope not,” Melinda chuckled. “Last time I had aches in muscles I didn’t even know I had - and I was young then. She also ruined a perfectly good linen suit and lost my brand new shoes.”

“Um, well, Xena’s really fit,” said Melysë, then she blushed. “Not that you weren’t - or aren’t, I mean.”

“I know whatcha mean,” said Melinda, chuckling. “At any rate, if she needs me, well, here I am.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” said Janice, looking meaningfully at Natalie. The physician glanced quickly at Melinda, smiled briefly, then looked away. Melysë looked on, but said nothing.

“Let’s go, then. I -“ Janice words were interrupted by Kate, wrapping her arms around her and crying, “I’m so sorry, Grams! I didn’t mean that - I have never felt that way about you! I love you.”

Janice smiled and affectionately patted Kate’s back. “I know, Monkey,” she said. “It’s okay - I didn’t think that sounded like you. Come on, Mel - I’m driving. We need to get to Aphrodite.”

With Janice behind the wheel, they made good time and got to their destination within a couple of hours. She pulled up to a hotel and left the Rover in the capable hands of a valet. “Let’s go,” she said.

They walked to front desk, where Janice produced a credit card. “We need rooms,” she said.

The clerk picked up the plastic, eyeing the group warily. “Have you reservations?” she asked.

“No,” said Janice. Melinda pulled a card from her bag and presented it to the clerk.

“Here,” she said, smiling. “Does this help?”

The woman looked carefully at the card, then smiled widely.

“Oh, yes, Dr. Pappas! Why didn’t you say so? Of course, we will have rooms for you - you are doing some work for the University now?”

“We are always working to expand knowledge,” said Melinda, smiling as the clerk handed the card back to her.

“This is your crew? They will each need a room?” asked the clerk, turning from them to a computer and typing.

“Nah,” said Janice. “They can bunk together - Mel - uh, Dr. Pappas and I will share as well.”

“Very well,” said the clerk, handing the credit card back to Janice, along with a printout and some hotel key cards. “I will have someone take your luggage for you. It is still in your vehicle, no?” She picked up the phone and spoke rapid Greek as Janice handed her the valet ticket. Melysë could barely make out a few of the words. She shook her head, smiling.

“So much change,” she said softly.

“I know,” said Melinda. “That’s why Janice does most of the talkin’ - I find myself slippin’ more easily into the older dialects and that gets a lot of funny looks, believe me.”

Porters arrived shortly to show them to their respective, adjoining rooms. Janice went to the concierge desk to arrange for equipment and a guide up Mt. Olympus. She paid for the rentals and the guide fee, then went up to the suite of rooms. Whistling, she looked around the luxurious suite.

“I told you affiliatin’ with the University in Thrace might come in handy,” said Melinda, smiling.

“Yeah - I should’ve had you hire the stuff for the climb,” said Janice, shaking her head. “We can’t get a guide until tomorrow morning - unless you already know the way to where we’re going?” She looked to Melysë.

The priestess sighed. “I don’t even know where we’re going yet,” she said.

“Okay - what do your ‘divine’ senses tell you?” asked Janice, arms folded across her chest.

Melysë took a deep breath - she hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with these women about the extent of her powers - which was all but nil in this time and place - so she wasn’t sure she should divulge that Ares had drained her of what divine power she did possess here.

“Well, let’s just see,” said the priestess, weakly. She went to the desk and produced a black glass ashtray, the pulled a bottle of spring water out of Natalie’s open pack and poured a small amount into the ashtray. She took another deep breath, and whispered a fervent prayer in Amazonian,

“Please, Great Mother of All, I plead with Thee - show me what I need to know?” She had rarely been successful scrying through water, though she had been taught the technique by Hypsyple, the Aemetzainê shamenki, at a very young age. Still, without her powers, it was all she had to try. She looked to Kate.

“Kate, I need you to record what I say - most of the time, I don’t remember after this is over,” she told her, knowing that author would have paper and a writing implement handy. Sure enough, Kate pulled out a pencil and small notebook, nodding to the priestess that she was ready to go.

Melysë allowed herself to slip into a light trance. Thank the Goddess for priestess training, she thought. At least I can still do this part - whoa!

Suddenly the water began to swirl before her eyes and the trance deepened without her willing it to do so. Xena’s face floated to the surface. The warrior opened her eyes and smiled.

“Xena!” said Melysë.

“Yes - there’s not much time, ‘Lysë. Ares has grown steadily more unstable without Aphrodite’s powers to check him,” said Xena. “This has happened before, only to Aphrodite. Thank the gods Caligula’s no longer around.”

“I don’t understand, Xena,” said the priestess.

“Never mind - listen, you have to get to Aphrodite - now,” said the warrior.

“Xena, I have no powers here,” said Melysë, sadly.

“How did that happen?” asked the warrior.

“Ares ... well, I didn’t have much to begin with and what little I did have Ares sort of ‘sucked’ out of me,” said Melysë.

“Damn! That complicates things,” said Xena. “You’ll have to climb the mountain, then.”

“Yes - Janice hired a guide for tomorrow morning,” said Melysë.

“You can’t wait that long, ‘Lysë,” said Xena, shaking her head. “You’ll have to lead them up that mountain.”

“Xena, I have never climbed a mountain in my life!” said Melysë. “Any mountain. I’ve never had to.”

“I know - and I can’t even help you because ... I don’t dare ‘borrow’ Melinda for something so strenuous,” said Xena.

“I know,” said Melysë. “What about Kate? She’s your descendant, too.”

“I suppose I could try,” said Xena, musing. “She has a ‘thing’ for you, though.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” asked Melysë, frowning through the trance.

“Nothing - I just wanted to bring it to your attention - you might want to let her know her great-great - ad infinitum grandmother was our daughter,” chuckled Xena. “That ought to cool her off.”

“Natalie will have to release Aphrodite,” said Melysë, ignoring Xena’s last comment.

“I know,” said Xena. “Do you think you can convince her before it’s too late?”

“I have to,” said Melysë, with a shrug.

“It’s going to be a toughie without your powers - she has to see, feel, taste, hear, and smell something before she’ll acknowledge it’s ‘real’,” said Xena.

“Oh, like someone else I know,” said Melysë, smiling affectionately at the warrior.

“Who, ‘Ryn? I know - I’ve been working on her to - “ began the warrior.

“Oh, hush!” said Melysë, laughing. Then she grew serious, her eyes welling with tears, blurring the vision. “Xena, I miss you.”

“I miss you, too, Love,” said Xena. “Remember - you have no time to lose - you’ll have to work on Natalie on your way up the mountain.”

“I will,” said Melysë, as one tear fell from her, landing in the scrying water, and Xena was gone. With a sigh, Melysë arose from the trance and looked at the others. They sat around, looking at her expectantly.

“Well?” said Janice.

“We have to climb today - right now,” said Melysë. “There’s no time left to wait.”

Janice muttered a curse and started back down to the concierge’s desk.

“Just like that?” said Natalie, her arms folded across her chest, glaring at Melysë. “What were you in your own time, some kind of dictator?”

“Natalie!” cried Kate.

“Well?” asked Natalie, fixing her gaze on Melysë. “What is it about you that makes them jump to your every whim and demand?”

“Natalie, enough,” said Melinda, softly.

“No, Aunt Mel - I really want to know - what is it about her that makes you do whatever she says - no matter what the cost?” asked Natalie, tears starting to form in her sea-green eyes. “This hike could kill you, you know.”

“Natalie, Aunt Mel is probably in better shape than you or I,” said Kate, impatiently.

“No, Katie, she isn’t,” said Natalie.

“Natalie, that is enough,” said Melinda, warningly.

“No, she needs to know - Aunt Mel has a bad heart,” said Natalie. “That’s the only reason I agreed to come on this stupid trip - because she and Grandma were going regardless and all because of her. So, what is it? What makes them believe in you so totally that they would agree to what is essentially a suicide mission?”

“Aunt Mel?” said Kate, her voice quiet. “Is it true?”

“I just have a stray flutter now and then, Katie,” said Melinda. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“It’s a lot more serious than that,” said Natalie.

“Natalie, you’ve said quite enough - it’s my choice,” said Melinda, sternly.

“So, what, priestess? If Aunt Mel collapses on the slopes - as is quite probable when we get to some altitude - are you going to resurrect her?” asked Natalie. “Why do they believe you?” The last was an anguished cry.

“Why don’t you?” asked Melysë, her voice soft, but clear and strong.

“I want to,” said Natalie, looking away, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why is it so easy for them? All my life, the scrolls, Xena and Gabrielle, the Amazons - they had all of those things, but I ... didn’t. They had belief in those and joy and conviction in their belief. All I had was dust and clay and ... pieces of pottery that didn’t fit together. And I had them, Grams, Aunt Mel, and Kate.”

“And to lose any of them would hurt, wouldn’t it, Natalie?” said Melysë, gently.

“What do you think?” asked Natalie, frowning and brushing away her tears with an angry fist.

“Natalie, we’re going to climb the mountain,” said Melysë. “I hope and pray that you will join us because I think you will finally find what you’re looking for up there.”

“I’m going - of course,” said Natalie, resigned. “But don’t get your hopes too high. I don’t think I’m gullible enough to fall for your ... whatever it is. Been there done that. I learned the first time.”

In a flash of insight, Melysë realised she was speaking of Nick Martino. “That’s another reason, Natalie - I think he’s already started up the mountain. With Xena’s chakram,” said Melysë.

“That’s not - how did you ... you read my mind?” said the physician.

“Not exactly,” said Melysë.

Natalie looked at her doubtfully for a moment. “If that’s the case, then you should know I really don’t want to see him - ever,” she said.

“Then let’s hope I’m wrong,” said Melysë. Janice returned at that moment.

“Okay, we got the equipment and transportation as far as it goes to Olympus,” said the archaeologist. “This is going to be a very expensive lark if things don’t pan out.”

“They will,” said Melysë, her eyes gazing off into the distance. “One way or another, I’m going home.”

They took the hotel shuttle - a charter trip which had cost, according to Janice - five times as much as it would have had they waited until morning - to the ferry which would take them to Litochoro, a village at the foot of Mt. Olympus where Janice was hoping to find a guide to take them ... wherever it was they were going. She eyed Melinda with concern, wishing she had the guts to order her to stay behind with Natalie and wait for them Litochoro. With a sigh, Janice realised that she would rather face Zeus and the rest of the Olympians than Melinda after ordering the translator to do anything.

They arrived at mid-day and Janice was frustrated to learn that no guide was willing to take them up this late in the day. Melysë merely grabbed a pack and some equipment and started up the trail, leaving the others to follow. Kate came running up after her first, then Melinda, Janice and finally Natalie. The trails were well-marked, but the priestess had a feeling that their still-unknown destination would not be at the end of any of these well-worn trails. Melysë stopped, waiting for the others to catch up.

“Come on,” she told them, gazing up ahead. “If we follow this trail, we should be able to make the Muses’ Plateau by nightfall.”

“Okay,” said Janice, relieved. “There’s a climbers’ refuge there. We can spend the night, catch a meal and maybe meet some other climbers who can sort of guide us the rest of the way.”

Melysë looked at her, one eyebrow raised, then smiled. “Where we’re going, Janice?” she said. “We’ll be lucky if we’re allowed to arrive there.”

“What do you mean?” asked Natalie.

“Ares is out to stop us,” said the priestess. “I know my brother - he will stop at nothing to keep us from releasing Aphrodite.”

“Your bro- ...,” began Janice, eyes wide. “Aw shi-, um crap, it figures! You’re Zeus’s kid!”

“Just one of many,” said Melysë, wincing at her slip. “And I do mean, many.”

“Yeah? So one of those many was Hercules,” said Janice, grinning at her.

“Yes, and I sure wouldn’t mind him showing up about now, either,” said Melysë, gazing at the trail ahead.

“So, why don’t you call him - or better yet, just ... zap up there, or something?” asked Janice.

“Because in this time and place, I have no god powers,” said Melysë, patiently. “What I did have, Ares took from me back by the side of the road. All I have is what we all have and the training to know how to use it. Now come on - the sooner we get moving, the sooner we’ll get where we’re going.”

They began hiking again. This was by far the easiest trail on the mountain, little more than a walk uphill. Melysë remained focussed upon the trail ahead, but she was very aware of Melinda just behind her. She dropped back a bit to walk beside the older woman.

“Melinda, I need your help,” she said softly so that only the two of them could hear. Melinda nodded, expectantly. “I need you to keep Janice at the shelter tonight. I have to take the girls up there - alone.”

“I understand,” said Melinda, disappointed. “I was really hopin’ to meet Aphrodite ... but you know what you’re doin’, don’t you?”

“I hope so,” said Melysë.

They made to the shelter just after sunset. Janice was grateful to see that they made it just in time to take the remaining beds available. They settled in and sat down to a hot meal before retiring.

Just then, the door burst open and there stood Nick Martino and his guards.

“I’m sorry, Sir, the shelter is full,” said one of the attendants.

“Make room,” said Nick, smiling. His guards pulled out guns. “Now.”

“Aw for crying out loud, Nick,” said Janice, rising. “Take our camping equipment. Come on, don’t make trouble.”

“I am trouble,” said Nick. “What are you doing here, Dr. Covington - and Natalie? What’s going on?”

“We’re on holiday?” said Kate.

“Yeah, right,” said Nick, his eyes narrowing. He grabbed Melinda and held a gun to her head. “What’s going on here? You don’t expect me to believe that you’re climbing Olympus for fun - at your age?”

“How rude!” said Melinda, stomping on Nick’s foot and elbowing him in the groin. He dropped the gun and released her. Melinda quickly scooped up the pistol and held it on Nick, then she chuckled. “Nick, you had no intention of shootin’ me - the safety’s still on.” The guards looked at him, surprised. Their boss was going soft. Nick glared at Melinda.

“I can’t get information from a dead woman, now can I?” he said, thinking fast. The guards looked relieved.

“There’s no information to get,” said Melysë, softly.

“Oh, I doubt that very much,” said Nick, gazing at her. “Especially where you’re concerned. I’ll bet you’ve got a lot of information I would find ... useful.”
“God damn it, Nick - leave us alone, can’t you?” cried Natalie, angrily. She was surprised at the pang she felt when he used that voice to Melysë. Swiftly, she put it out of her mind - Nick was no damn good for her, he never had been and he never would be.

“Okay, now just wait a minute,” said Melinda, emptying the clip of the pistol and handing it back to Nick without the bullets. “You boys put those things away now.” She nodded to the guards and Nick sighed, signalling them to do as she asked. “I have an idea - why don’t we play for the beds?” She produced a deck of cards from her purse and winked.

Janice grinned eagerly. “Hey, I’m in - winner sleeps inside, loser camps - come on, Nick. You got the ba-
um, guts?”

Nick raised one eyebrow, then grinned back. “Deal,” he said, sitting at the table with Janice and Melinda. He looked at Melysë. “You in?”

“No,” said Melysë, smiling. “That would hardly be fair.”

“Yeah, I got a feeling you aren’t kidding,” said Nick, turning his attention to the game. “I want more than just a bed though - I want information.”

“Fair enough - I want something you have, too, Nick,” said Janice. “I have reason to believe you may have a certain ... artefact.”

Nick looked shocked for a split second, then grinned, shaking his head. He looked back at Melysë and winked. “Wonder how you figured that one out, Janice.” He signalled to his men who brought his pack to him. Nick reached in and pulled out half of the chakram, still wrapped in the burgundy linen.

“Hey, I remember that suit!” said Melinda. She started to reach out to touch the fabric, but Janice stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm.

“Remember last time, Mel,” she said, softly.

“Oh, that’s right,” said Melinda, smiling and pulling her hand back.

“Where’s the rest of it?” asked Melysë, frowning.

Nick sighed and pulled out the other half, setting it some distance from the first, but still well within his reach.

“Alright - here are the stakes,” said Janice, lighting up a fresh cigar and squinting through the smoke. Nick reached for the pack, and raised one eyebrow. Janice grinned and nodded her assent. Nick withdrew a cigar and Janice lit it for him. “Winner takes the chakram and beds down here for the night.”
“Okay, but if I win, I also want to know what you’re doing here - and what she -“ Nick nodded once towards Melysë. “Has to do with all this.”

Janice sighed. “You’re not gonna make it easy, are ya Nick?”

“Hell, no!” He laughed. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you, Dr. Covington, it’s that everything you do has profit potential. Must get that from your old man.”

Natalie scowled and started to speak, but Janice laughed. “That’s not the only thing I got from him,” she said, shuffling and cutting the deck in a rapid and impressive pattern of moves. She slapped the deck down in front of Nick. He looked up at her expectantly. “You still haven’t agreed to my terms.”

“Yeah, okay,” said Janice, reluctantly. “On one condition - if we find any scrolls, they’re mine - uh, ours, Mel’s and mine, I mean.”

“This is about the scrolls?” said Nick, incredulous. “Again? I thought they’d all been found and translated already.”

“Nah,” said Janice, waving away some smoke. “You think Kleinman found all the scrolls? He had some copies - I’m talking about the mother lode of scrolls - the originals, all written in Gabrielle’s own hand.”

Nick looked dumbfounded for a moment, then threw back his head and laughed. “Do you have any idea how many people follow that TV show? It’s almost a ... religion, for crying out loud. And it’s based on fake scrolls?”

Janice looked annoyed for a moment. “They weren’t exactly fakes - they were just copies,” said Janice. “I have no reason to believe that some - maybe even most - of the stories in them weren’t true.”

“You’ll never convince people of that,” said Nick, wiping his eyes.

“If I have the chakram, I will,” said Janice, gravely. “So what do you say, Nick? Let’s get it on.” She tapped the deck and Nick cut.

“Five card draw, two’s and three’s wild,” said Janice, dealing. Melinda looked at Melysë and nodded once, winking. Melysë nodded back and drew Natalie and Kate a little away from the spectators who were watching the players with rapt attention.

“Let’s go,” she told them, handing each of them their packs before taking her own. Natalie glanced once at her grandmother and former lover engrossed in the game, then back at Melysë, a slow smile appearing. The three left the shelter unnoticed and began to make their way up the mountain.

“We have to be very careful,” said Melysë. “Ares is around somewhere. I can feel him.”
“Is he really your brother?” asked Kate.

“Yes,” said Melysë. “And I love him, but I have to stop him.”

“Good luck,” said the god of war, materialising before the women, grinning. He held up one hand and produced a cell phone. Flipping it open he spoke, sternly. “Take two and hold, damn it.” He snapped it closed again and it disappeared. “Handy little gadgets. Now, ‘Lysë, you didn’t really believe that I wouldn’t notice my stuff missing, did you?” he said holding out his hand.

“No way, Ares,” said Melysë. “That’s my ticket home. After I free Aphrodite.”

“Fine - keep it - there’s not much in there, anyway,” said Ares with a shrug. “Besides, you’re not going to get to Aphrodite.”

“You won’t stop me, Ares,” said Melysë.

“What are you going to do, fight me?” Ares laughed. “Snow Leopards are all but extinct - besides you don’t have the stuff to bring it out anymore.”

“I will fight you if I have to,” said Melysë. “You know I don’t want to, but - “

“No, you never want to fight - that’s your problem,” said Ares, shaking his head. “I don’t understand you, ‘Lysë. You know that I can stop you - there’s no way you can get past me. Xena’s not here to fight your battles and you have no magic here - how do you expect to defeat me?”

Natalie looked at the god in disbelief. “You!” she said. “You’re the one who makes Nick do all that rotten stuff!”

“Yeah, Baby - and you’re the one he’s trying to mess it all up for,” said Ares, glaring at her. “Aphrodite may be locked away, but some of her gooey love crap still manages to get out and it got all over my boy.”

“What do you mean?” asked Natalie.

“Well, you don’t think all the legitimate business crap came from me, do you?” said Ares. “Just like Draco - the idiot’s nearly no better than that lovesick twit was when Bliss hit him with the arrow - and leave it to Xena to make Cupid leave it on him.” Ares shook his head. “I lost a perfectly good warlord to that mess, let me tell you. Nothing I did could counteract Cupid’s arrow. To the day he died, Draco was trying to impress Gabrielle with his good deeds. Poor sap didn’t even know she wasn’t around to hear about them anymore.”

“Where was she?” asked Kate, awed by the god’s presence.
“Frozen in a cave,” said Melysë, eyeing her brother.

“Yep,” said Ares. “Anyway, Missy, once you’re gone, I’ll have Nick back in my fold.”

“She’s not going anywhere.” Ares looked toward the voice and saw Janice and Melinda coming up the trail behind Melysë, Natalie, and Kate.

“Game over already?” said Ares with a chuckle. “What a surprise.”

“Yeah,” said Janice, grinning as she pulled both halves of the chakram out of her pack. “All of a sudden, your boy just folded - he had a royal flush, too - all hearts.”

“What?!” Ares roared, his eyes flaming. “I told him to hold!”

“Guess it was a bad connection,” said Natalie, smiling smugly. “That can happen in the mountains, you know.”

“Quick, Grams! Put the chakram together and call Xena!” said Kate. “Like before - you know, in Macedonia.”

“That won’t work,” said Melysë, taking both halves and fitting them together. “This isn’t Xena’s chakram. It’s ‘Ryn’s. And Ares, I really don’t want to know how it got in that tomb - and broken.”

“What? Not Xena’s - Oh, my!” said Melinda. Suddenly the translator grew pale and clutched at her chest. She fell to the ground and Natalie rushed to her, frantically searching for a heartbeat. With an agonised cry, she began CPR on the older woman while the others watched, tensely. Kate grabbed Natalie’s cell phone and tried to call for help.

“It’s no good - the phone won’t work here!” she cried.

“Ares, did you ...?” asked Melysë.

“Uh, uh - no way - not this time, ‘Lysë,” said the god, raising both hands in the air.

Janice knelt beside her and caressed Melinda’s face, tenderly, then stopped Natalie’s life-saving attempt.

“Let her go, Nat,” said Janice, quietly, tears welling up in her sea-green eyes and spilling over her cheeks.

“No, I can’t,” said Natalie, shaking her head, but stopping. She looked up at Melysë and Ares.
“Nothing ever changes here, does it?” she said. “You gods have been all but forgotten for centuries and still you manage to play with mortals’ lives - are you happy now? Are you god damn happy, you ... you ...” Overwhelmed, Natalie sat down beside Melinda’s body and wept bitterly. All of a sudden, Nick ran up to her, wrapping his arms around her heaving shoulders.

“Come on, Nat,” he said, gently.

“No!” cried Natalie, but she did not move from his embrace. Kate, too, knelt beside her grandmother, weeping silently, then she looked up at Melysë.

“Can you ... either of you ... do anything for her? Please?” she pleaded.

Ares shook his head. “No way - last time I did that ... no, I can’t,” he said, backing off from the scene.

Melysë looked on, her face betraying nothing of her feelings. Then she pulled the pouch she had taken from Ares’s belt out of her pack and approached Melinda. Ares grabbed her arm.

“Are you crazy?” he said. “You said yourself, that’s your ticket home. Listen, ‘Lysë, I have an idea - you eat that, you get your powers back. You go back to your own time and prevent the other gods from locking us up and none of this will have to happen.”

“Nice try, Ares,” said the priestess. “But that’s not the way this works. The only way I can get home is to release Aphrodite in this time and you said yourself you will never let that happen.”

“Maybe I lied,” said Ares.

“No,” said Melysë. “You can deceive and you can manipulate, but even you can’t break an oath you’ve made. You will never let me get to Aphrodite. Even if you have to kill me to prevent it. You win, Ares. I can’t beat you. But I can make choices that I can live with, even if I have to live with them in this time and place.”

“‘Lysë, I never figured you for stupid,” said Ares, angrily. “Come on - she’s old - how much time do you think you’re buying for her, anyway? A few days, months, maybe? Whatever happened to ‘I can’t interfere even if I wanted to’? What a waste of perfectly good ambrosia.”

“Ares, if Aphrodite were free and your mind clear again, you would remember that life is never a waste,” said Melysë pulling free of him and kneeling beside Melinda. She pulled the crumb of ambrosia from the pouch and looked at it doubtfully. Ares wasn’t kidding when he said it wasn’t much, she thought, then slipped it into Melinda’s slightly open lips. She sat back and waited.

“Nitroglycerin won’t work now,” said Natalie.

“It’s not nitro - whatever you said,” said Melysë, quietly, even as she silently prayed.

“What is it?” asked Kate, looking hopeful through her tears. Janice looked in wonder at the priestess.

“Food of the gods?” she whispered.

Melysë nodded once, still gazing at Melinda. Suddenly, the older woman, gasped and her eyes fluttered open. Natalie looked, wide-eyed, then laid her head on Melinda’s chest. She looked up at Melysë, her face unreadable.

“That’s not possible,” she said, her voice wavering a bit. “She was dead. I’m a physician and I know it wasn’t a mistake. She was dead, irretrieveably dead.”

Melysë smiled a little sadly. “Where I come from, ‘dead’ doesn’t have to be permanent.”

“You ... you really are ...” said Natalie, shaking her head and rubbing her eyes to look more closely at Melysë. She rose, leaving Nick’s arms and approached Melysë as Kate and Janice helped Melinda to her feet.

Ares looked at Nick and growled. “You! You nitwit - I told you to draw two and hold - not fold,” he said. Nick’s eyes widened, then he straightened his shoulders. “I know,” he said, shrugging. “What can I say? I have a thing for her.” He smiled at Natalie, who turned and smiled back, hesitantly at first, then wider.

Ares looked stunned for a moment, then shook his head. “Damn! Déja vu, all over again - can’t help but appreciate the irony. Hope you have better luck with that line than I did,” he said. “Well, I guess my work here is done - without the ambrosia, there is no way you’re going to find Aphrodite now - and I didn’t even have to kill you. Good luck in the twenty-first century, Sis’.” The god disappeared in a flash.

“Melysë, I’m sorry,” said Natalie, offering her hand to the priestess, who took it warmly. Natalie felt a warmth filling her from the touch of the priestess’s hand. “I shouldn’t have said ...”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Melysë, smiling kindly.

“What you did ... what you sacrificed ... I have never seen anyone - “ said Natalie.

“I am an Amazon, Natalie,” said Melysë, quietly. “That’s what we do.”

“Still, I’d like to make it right somehow,” said Natalie. “I wish I could help you get home.”

Melysë’s smile widened. “Well, actually, you can,” she said. “Melinda, I need your eyes.”

Melinda chuckled. “Well, my eyes have never been what you’d call exactly efficient, but I’ll do what I can,” she said, adjusting her glasses.

“Your eyes are exactly efficient for what we need now. We need immortal eyes to see Aphrodite’s prison,” said Melysë. “I was going to take the ambrosia and then I would have been able to see ... but you escaped mortality - death. You will be able what the rest of us cannot, with our mortal eyes.”

“You need a descendant of Gabrielle to open it,” said Janice.

“Yes,” said Melysë, cautiously. “But ... “

“But what?” said Janice, suspiciously.

“Nothing,” said Melysë, turning towards the trail. Though she had foreseen that it was to be Natalie to open the door, she hadn’t seen the circumstances. She took a deep breath and prayed silently, hoping for the best. She was fresh out of ambrosia.

“So, where do I look?” asked Melinda as they started up the trail. Nick lagged behind, talking quietly with Natalie while Kate forged ahead, holding the flashlight.

“I wish I knew,” said Melysë. “But I know she’s nearby - I can feel her. And just look at those two.” She nodded back towards Nick and Natalie, smiling.

The group topped a hill and Melinda cried out, pointing. “There!” Melysë saw a slight depression in the side of the mountain wall. Unfortunately, the path was straight up and it was dark. Suddenly, they heard a muttered curse. Turning quickly, Melysë saw Janice, sitting on the ground, clutching her ankle. She had tripped over a rock in the dark.

“Damn, damn, triple damn!” yelled the archaeologist, as Natalie declared her ankle was broken. Natalie splinted it and put a chemical cold pack from the first aid kit on it.

“Guess I’ll have to wait here,” said the archaeologist, glumly. “Did you know this was gonna happen?”

Melysë shook her head, sympathetically, but secretly was relieved. “Melinda, Kate - you stay with Janice. Natalie and I will go up and check it out.”

“I’m going, too,” said Nick, eyeing the climb warily.

“Actually, Nick, would you mind terribly waiting here with them?” asked Natalie, smiling at him. “Just in case Ares comes back.”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” said Nick, doubtfully, though secretly, he was relieved; that climb looked dangerous enough without doing it in the dark and while Nick believed that Natalie was somehow immune to the danger, he wasn’t at all sure about his own chances - especially since he now suspected that his “patron god” had deserted him.

The two began their ascent carefully while the others all trained powerful torches on the wall of the mountain they were climbing. It helped only a little, but it was better than nothing.

“Hang in there, ‘Dite,” said Melysë softly. “We’re on our way.”

“You really think she can hear you?” asked Natalie.

“Don’t you?” asked Melysë with a chuckle.

“Actually, yeah, I do,” said Natalie surprised at her own certainty. They made it to the narrow ledge and stopped.

“Now what?” asked Natalie, unhooking the climbing gear and looking all around the depression in the rock wall.

“I’m not sure,” said Melysë, training her own flashlight all around the area. “There should be a lock or something ....”

“How about this?” asked Natalie, brushing her fingers over a group of raised bumps. As she brushed, bright jewels appeared from under the layer of soil. They were too perfect to be raw.

“Yeah, that looks about right,” said Melysë, training the flashlight on the pattern of gemstones.

“So ... what do I do now?” asked Natalie. “I mean, do I press them like buttons, or ....”

Melysë took Natalie’s hand and placed each finger on a gemstone. Nothing happened. Melysë frowned.

Suddenly, Natalie grinned. “Oh, I get it - look!” she scraped away more of the soil and revealed a hand print and more of the gemstones underneath. Placing her hand in the depression, she turned her wrist, moving the entire panel until the gemstones were all lined up, matching.

There was a loud grating noise, matched by shouts and cries of triumph from the observers below and the rock slid back to reveal a very dark cave.

“Aphrodite?” Melysë called.

“Is she here?” asked Natalie.
Melysë remained silent, moving the flashlight around in the dark cavern. “Aphrodite?”

Suddenly, she stopped the flashlight, training it on an ornate gold sarcophagus. The priestess grinned. “Roccoco - figures,” she said, shaking her head. She and Natalie made their way to the casket.

“She’s not ... “ said Natalie, swallowing hard.

“Oh, no,” said Melysë with a chuckle. “She’s not. Come on, Natalie, give me a hand.”

Together, the two women pushed the heavy lid off of the casket and Melysë shone the bright torch inside.

“Oh, my!” said Natalie, her eyes growing wide. “Oh, gosh - we have to get Grams and Aunt Mel - “ Melysë stopped her as Natalie began to run to the cave opening. The casket contained nothing but scrolls - at least a hundred of them.

“No, wait,” said Melysë, training the flashlight further into the cave. There was another lock panel, just like the one at the entrance of this cavern. “Come on.”

Melysë emptied her pack and then Natalie’s. The women leaned into the casket and began to lift the scrolls out, filling the packs until they had all of the scrolls in the casket. Then she and Natalie went to the other lock and Natalie fit her hand perfectly into the print, turning it as she had before. The door slid open, this one much quieter than the first had been and the women saw another sarcophagus, this one of plain white marble. Melysë tried to push the lid off, but even she and Natalie together couldn’t budge it. Melysë stood back and looked at it perplexed.

“Now what?” asked Natalie, leaning against the casket. Suddenly the lid moved slightly. Melysë smiled.

“Looks like you have to do this one by yourself,” said the priestess. Natalie rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Then she hesitated.

“Um, what’s the catch?” she asked.

“Catch?” asked Melysë.

“Yeah, don’t these things have booby traps? I remember once when Grams opened a tomb in Iran ... never mind,” she said, shuddering at the memory.

“Have faith,” said Melysë.

Natalie rolled her eyes. “I’m afraid I don’t have much experience in that department,” said the physician.
“Better start practising,” said Melysë with a chuckle. Natalie sighed, then squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself and pushed with all her strength. The lid fell to the stone floor and broke into several pieces. Natalie backed away swiftly as a brilliant pink light shone out from the casket and Aphrodite sat up, stretching.

“Oooh!” she squealed, then smiled. “Melysë! Little Sister! I knew you’d get me out of here!” Suddenly, the goddess was standing and hugging the priestess tightly.

“I can’t take all the credit,” said Melysë hugging her back, fighting tears. “This is Natalie, Gabrielle’s descendant. She actually released you.”

“Oooh, you precious thing!” said Aphrodite, transferring her affection to Natalie. “I am like, so glad to be out of that thing - you know mean the family was? They put those dumb old scrolls in the pretty box and stuck me in that old thing.”

“I’m sorry, Aphrodite,” said Melysë.

“It’s not your fault, ‘Lysë,” said Aphrodite. “You know how the family is - they couldn’t wait until you were out of the way to get back at Ares and me.”

“For what?” asked Melysë.

“We wouldn’t call off the search for you - we looked for like, a thousand years and I guess they finally just ... well, it doesn’t matter. We’re here now.”

“Aphrodite, this is the twenty-first century,” said Melysë, quietly.

“I know, I know,” said the goddess. “Believe me, I know just how long I was in that thing - hey, my dress isn’t like, wrinkled or anything, is it?” She turned around and tried to look at her own backside.

Melysë chuckled and hugged her again. “No, and your butt isn’t any bigger, either, despite all the inactivity,” she said.

“Whew,” said Aphrodite, with a giggle. “Anyway, let’s get out of this dreary old place.”

“‘Dite, wait,” said Melysë. “We have people waiting for us on the path.”

“Oh, alright - I’ll zap you down there, and then we’re going to the Great Hall and kick Apollo’s butt, right?” said Aphrodite. She looked down and pouted, then noticed Natalie’s shoes. “Nike has shoes named after her? Oooh - like she has any style!” The goddess stamped her foot. “Wait’ll I get my hands on Apollo - “

“‘Dite, calm down,” said Melysë. “Love, remember? Believe me, we need all you can give right now - Ares has been loose for a while.”

“Without me?” said Aphrodite, eyes widening. “And there’s a world left?”

“Only just,” said Natalie.

“Okay,” said Aphrodite. “I can already tell I have my work cut out for me, cleaning up after Ares.”

“Ares can clean up after himself - once your influence is felt a bit more in the world,” said Melysë.

“Oooh, you go, Little Sister,” said the goddess. “Just wait’ll Olympus hears - the Queen is back and kickin’ butt!”

“I didn’t know you were into butt-kicking, Aphrodite,” said Melysë smiling. “You are Queen on Olympus - at least for now. I made Hekate a promise, but ... it is not my time. Not just yet.”

“Oh, you mean I get to be like, your regent? Like you Amazons have when the queen has to to do something somewhere?” said Aphrodite, excited.

“Yes, exactly - you and Ares, together,” said Melysë. Aphrodite pouted a little at that. Then she sighed.

“I guess, if I’ve learned anything, we can’t be one without the other - everything gets all messed up when that happens, huh?” she said.

“I’m afraid so, ‘Dite - there has to be the balance,” said Melysë. “But - you do have my blessing to kick Apollo’s butt when you see him.”

“Aw, by then, you’ll be back in your time and there won’t be any good reason to do that,” said Aphrodite, with a sigh.

“Are you kidding?” Melysë chuckled. “That cocky little - trust me, ‘Dite, he’ll give you reason sometime, even if it’s not for locking you up.”

“That’s true,” said Aphrodite, brightening. “Okay, let’s go!”

The goddess used her magic to transport all of them, including the scrolls to where Janice, Melinda, Kate, and Nick waited for them.

“Aphrodite!” said Melinda, smiling and rising to greet the goddess. Nick also stood, but Janice grimaced at her attempt.
“Awww,” said Aphrodite, leaning forward and gently touching the archaeologist’s swollen ankle. There was a pinkish glow and Janice stood up, her ankle healed.

“Um, thanks,” said Janice, blushing.

“Oh, my, Janice - I’ve never seen you do that before - leastaways, not in public,” said Melinda, grinning at her.

“Aw, gee, Mel,” said Janice, turning a deeper shade of pink. She looked at the overflowing packs of scrolls. “Are those ...?”

“Yes - all of them,” said Aphrodite, smiling. Melinda had already opened one and was scanning it, a delighted smile on her face.

Janice sighed, a little sadly.

“Why Janice, what’s wrong?” asked Melinda, looking over at her partner with concern.

“Well, it’s just ... what will we do now?” said the archaeologist.

“We’ll retire and live happily after, just like Xena and Gabrielle did,” said Melinda, showing Janice the scroll. Janice read, her lips moving slightly as she translated. A slow smile spread over her face.

“Well that’s a hell of lot happier ending than that TV show came up with,” she said, grinning.

“Yeah, well.” said Ares, appearing. He glared at Melysë and Aphrodite. “I had a good thing going. I knew you’d screw it up, Sis’.”

“I know you knew, Ares,” said Melysë hugging him and whispering, “Thank you.”

“Hey, I have no more ambrosia to lift,” said Ares, gently disentangling himself from her embrace, but he smiled. “Okay, enough of this ‘mortal coil’ - come on, ‘Lysë, let’s get you back where you belong - you have history to re-write.”

The siblings disappeared with a brilliant flash. Melysë looked around and saw that they were in the Great Hall of Olympus, the gathered gods looking on in disbelief. Apollo arose from his seat on the throne and approached, a plastic smile planted on his handsome face.

“Ah, Melysë ... what a surprise,” he said. “Ares, Aphrodite.” He graced his other siblings with a brief nod.

“Indeed,” said Melysë, curtly. “Thank you for keeping my seat warm for me, ‘Bro’.” She walked up to Zeus’s throne and sat down.

“Ah, heh, heh,” Apollo laughed a bit nervously and walked over to her. “Um, I ...”

“Never mind, Apollo,” said Melysë, glaring at him. She allowed her gaze to travel over the assembled gods and demi-gods. “Where is Hercules?”

“He’s down on earth,” said Apollo, rolling his eyes. “Helping mortals, of all things.”

“And this wrong because ....?” said Melysë looking again at Apollo, her gaze unwavering.

“Ah, never mind,” said Apollo, looking away from the intensity of those dark green eyes. “Um - “

“What excuse do you have for locking up our brother and sister?” Melysë asked bluntly, never taking her eyes from him. “Do you know what havoc you have caused in the world? Do you even care?”

“The world? They’re mortals - who cares?” said Apollo, with a shrug. “You know what I mean, Sis’ - right?” He looked up at her through his long, curling lashes, his golden cap of hair shining in the torchlight of the Great Hall.

“No, I don’t - why don’t you explain it, Apollo?” said Melysë. “Being mortal myself, perhaps it may be that I’m a bit ... dense on this subject.”

“You ... you’re not mortal,” said Apollo, laughing heartily. “Good joke, my Queen.”

“Uh, Apollo - she’s not joking,” said Ares, grinning at his brother’s discomfort.

“What?” said Apollo, suddenly seething. “Get her!” he shouted at the assembly of gods. The others remained in their places, looking at one another and murmuring.

“Did you hear me? I said, get her!” said Apollo. “And these two as well - we’ll put them back where no one can get them out!”

“Apollo, I’m not too hip on locking up my own mother,” said Cupid with a shrug.

“You wimped out the last time, too,” said Apollo, sneering in contempt.

“Oooh, Cupie!” said Aphrodite, hugging her son. “I knew you wouldn’t have anything to do with all that.”

“Actually, Mom, none of the important gods would have anything to do with Apollo’s stupid power play,” said Cupid, grinning and pulling away from her hug. “That’s why Hercules isn’t here, either - yeah, he likes ‘slumming’ down on earth - no offence, Aunt ‘Lysë.” Melysë merely smiled and shook her head. “But it’s more to it than that - he just can’t stand Apollo.”

“Oh, shut up, Cupid,” Apollo said with a snarl.

“You want to make me?” said Cupid, his wings flapping in annoyance.

“Enough!” said Melysë, sharply. Apollo approached and propped one sandalled foot on the throne beside her. He leaned forward and smiled his brightest and most charming smile. Melyse looked pointedly at his foot, then back up into his eyes, one brow raised. “Move it.”

Apollo dropped the smile and his foot simultaneously. “Look, I’m sure we can straighten all of this mess out,” he said, earnestly.

“I know I can,” said Melysë, rising. “As soon as I get back to my own time and place, I will ensure that none of this nonsense occurs.”

“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t let you do that,” said Apollo, this time his smile was anything but charming. “You see, I quite enjoy things the way they are.”

Melysë looked at Ares and sighed. “What is that? A ‘god-thing’?” she asked, her annoyance rising. Ares grinned and shrugged, sheepishly.

“Hey, what I can say?” said the god of war. “I wasn’t thinking clearly. I forgot how much smoother things go when you’re in charge.”

“Smooth, huh? That would be a nice change,” said Hermes, approaching the throne. “Sorry, Apollo, but I’ve had enough.”

The other gods murmured in agreement.

“What is this, mutiny?” whined Apollo.

“No, revolution,” said Persephone, coming forward. “Melysë, I heard you were back - I am so glad.” She smiled and embraced the priestess. “Mother and I have not been to Olympus since ... well, in a very long time.”

“I’m not - quite - back yet,” said Melysë, smiling. “But thank you. I just have to convince Apollo here that it is really in his best interest to stay out of my way so that I can get back.”
“Oh,” said Persephone, immediately grasping the situation. “Well, I say if he wants to stop you, then let him face the consequences - I know that most of Olympus is pretty tired of the pretty boy here.”
“Hey!” said an indignant Apollo.

“Well, it’s true,” said Persephone. “You’ve been nothing but a petty tyrant up here - haven’t you noticed how few of the older gods ever even come here anymore? And haven’t since your treachery against Ares and Aphrodite.”

“It was not ...” began Apollo heatedly, then he took a breath and re-set his face into gentler lines. “I did what I thought was for the best of Olympus at the time. If I was wrong, then I most sincerely apologise.”

“That’s not good enough, Apollo,” said Melysë, firmly. “I need to go back and put to rights what you and your power lust screwed up.”

“I - “ Apollo began, then looked up as Demeter, Hestia, and Hera appeared.

“He - Hera?” said Apollo, flustered. “We ... I ... thought you were ...”

“Dead? You wish, Step-son,” said Hera, her eyes flashing flames. Persephone smiled at the goddesses and joined them, facing Apollo. “We have come to depose you and to send Melysë home - that’s what you want, isn’t Dear?”

“Yes,” said Melysë, relieved. “That’s all I want.”

“Very well,” said Hera. Melysë arose and took the older goddess’s hand. Hera led her away from the Great Hall. Apollo watched until they were out of sight, then jumped into the throne, glaring at all who would oppose him. Ares chuckled.

“Sit where you want, ‘Pol - won’t matter now - ‘once ‘Lysë is back ....” he began, then looked around as he found himself seated in that throne with Aphrodite in an identical one next to him. The two looked at one another and smiled.

*************

Melysë sat at her desk, comfortable in her cosy cottage. She glanced over the parchment once more, smiling, then slipped it onto the wooden rollers, rolling and sealing the scroll with wax. Suddenly, she felt strong arms wrapping tightly around her. The priestess leaned back and smiled up at her warrior.

“What’s that for?” she said.

“For coming back,” said Xena. “Don’t you ever do that again.”

Melysë laughed softly. “I’ll make a deal with you - you keep Dahak’s crazy relatives away and I’ll do my best,” she said.
“I’ll go you one better - how ‘bout I keep your crazy relatives away, too?” said Xena, pulling her closer.

“I heard that,” said Aphrodite, appearing. Xena sighed and let go of Melysë.

“What do you want, Aphrodite?” she asked.

“Hey, don’t quit on my account,” said the goddess, grinning. “And Melysë called me - you have it ready?”

“Right here,” said Melysë, handing over the scroll.

“What’s that?” asked Xena.

“Oh, just a letter to some friends,” said Melysë, smiling up at her.

“Do I know these friends?” asked the warrior.

“Oh, yes, I’d say so,” said Melysë as Aphrodite winked out of sight. “Now, where were we?”

The warrior smiled and drew her back into her arms, holding her close.

*************

“Hey, Mel,” said Janice, walking into the office they shared. “What are you doing? I thought you finished translating those scrolls. Come on, Love we have to prepare the presentation - and it has to be good, too. I’m worried that Nick may be right - after the popularity of that TV show, no one is going to want to believe that these are the real thing, even if most of the stories are the same.”

“Oh, Janice!” cried Melinda, holding onto the archaeologist. She took off her glasses and wiped her eyes. “This is just so ... touchin’!”

Janice took the scroll and frowned, scanning the words, her lips moving ever so slightly.



My friends - my family,

Thank you - for everything. My hopes and faith in the future of my family and my people are realised in you and the two wonderful young women you raised.

I am so sorry we didn’t get a proper farewell, but I have a feeling that by the time your time on earth comes to be, I will be with you anyway - one way or another. My love and blessings be upon you and your descendants, always.

Melysë

Janice smiled and hugged Melinda closer. “Yeah - and I have a feeling we won’t have to worry about people not accepting these as authentic after all. She’ll see to that.” She raised her eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”

The End
(for now - actually, the series will continue after a brief hiatus. Until then - blessings upon you and please - keep reading! )

If you have enjoyed L. M. Townsend's "THE AMAZON QUEEN - Part Twenty-Seven", then please be certain to e-mail her at  QueenLaese1[at]aol.com  and thank her for posting this Story.

Click here for a list of all of L. M. Townsend's  Stories and Poetry at  Sapphic Voices Authoresses.