DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: There is no Xena stuff in the piece, except for the exceptional reminiscence of the two heroines to Xena and Gabrielle, which is intentional. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. This story was inspired by Verrath's unique and awesome story The Heart of a Leopard, which is absolutely a must to read.

Chains of the Mind
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Callisto was depressed. She could stand being alone, but she couldn't stand being alone in a small dark place, it was driving her crazy. It wasn't like she had claustrophobia or anything, small or dark places didn't scare her, what scared her was her mind and the memories that would resurface if she stayed there for too long. Suddenly, a new smell invaded her senses and she noticed movement.

"Eew, how dark and… smelly."

Callisto stared at the newcomer with a blank stare, which the newcomer couldn't see.

"Aphrodite," she then said.

"Ah, there you are," Aphrodite said and turned to her.

"What do you want?" Callisto asked, not really interested

Aphrodite hesitated for a moment, not so sure anymore if this was the right decision.

"Em, I need your help."

Callisto just stared at her for a few moments, surprised, and then burst into laughter.

"And with what mischief should I help you?" she asked when she stopped laughing.

"I don't do mischief," Aphrodite protested, pouting.

"Whatever," Callisto said, not really caring.

"I think someone is trying to kill me," Aphrodite explained.

Callisto stared at her with a blank stare for a few moments. She considered laughing again, but she changed her mind.

"Aha," she said instead.

"I'm serious!" Aphrodite said and Callisto saw that she was afraid.

"Then why don't you go to Daddy, hmm?" she asked.

"That's just it," Aphrodite said, "I'm afraid he might be the one."

Callisto gave her another blank stare treatment.

"And just why should the King of the Gods, your Daddy, want to do that, hmm? And just why should he even bother to keep it a secret?"

"I don't know!" Aphrodite said, upset. "That's what I want you to find out."

"You want me to risk my life for you?"

"Yes," Aphrodite said, a bit nervous.

"How nice of you," Callisto said unenthusiastically.

"Will you help me?" Aphrodite asked. "Please?"

Callisto raised an eyebrow, a goddess was begging her to help? That was new.

"And what's in it for me?"

"Godhood?" Aphrodite said, hoping it would be enough.

Callisto considered the idea. She didn't like the idea of risking her life for a god, but at least she would be able to get out of the cave, which was driving her crazy. That is if she lived.

"And if I die?"

"Then we'll both be dead," Aphrodite said, upset, and Callisto grinned.

"Okay," she agreed after some consideration.

"You'll do it?" Aphrodite asked, hopeful.

"Yes."

"Oh, thank you, thank…"

"And just how should I proceed?" Callisto cut her off.

"Well, I thought we would change bodies and you would pose as me."

Callisto thought about it.

"And what would be stopping me from simply walking away?" she asked.

"The change would only last till sundown. And besides, I don't think you like my job or my body."

Callisto grinned.

"And what do I do when I find out who's trying to kill you?"

Aphrodite shrugged.

"I don't know, you'll think of something."

Callisto grinned again.

"How nice of you to trust me. Tell me, why didn't you go to Xena?"

"Because whoever is trying to kill me would probably expect that."

"My, my, little Aphrodite has a brain," Callisto said in mock astonishment, causing Aphrodite to glare at her, pouting. "Okay, let's get it over with."

Aphrodite concentrated and a few moments later their bodies shimmered.

"This is a nice body," Aphrodite commented, looking down at her new body.

"You mess with it, I'll mess with you," Callisto warned her as she examined her own new body. "You wear clothes yet walk around naked," she commented.

"Very funny," Aphrodite said. "Could you go now? I don't want to be in here any longer than absolutely necessary."

"And it's such a lovely vacation spot," Callisto said, grinning, and disappeared.

Aphrodite groaned.

Callisto looked around Aphrodite's temple, it was too kitschy for her taste. And way too pink. She frowned when she realized she would have to act like Aphrodite and endure everything that Aphrodite enjoyed. Well, it was Aphrodite's body. Fortunately, with Aphrodite's body also came Aphrodite's knowledge and she knew exactly what to do and when and she knew all the servants.

Most of the day passed uneventfully and Callisto was starting to get bored. She had noticed several servants who could be potential assassins, but no one was more suspicious than everyone else.

Finally, when it was time for Aphrodite's afternoon massage, she noticed that the stud who was to give the massage looked a bit nervous and that he was also one of the suspects. She had a feeling that he would try to kill her, though she had no idea how.

She took off her gown and lay on her stomach. She kept her eyes open just enough for her to see through the eyelashes and she observed the man in the mirror.

"I think I have a knot between my shoulder blades," she said in a complaining voice.

"Don't worry, Aphrodite, I'll get rid of it," the man said.

Callisto saw him lift a towel and pick up a dagger. There was blood on it and Callisto suspected it was Hind's blood.

"You know," she said, "it's so hard to get reliable help these days. Everyone wants to be a back-stabber." She smiled when she saw the man freeze. "Tell me, who hired you, hmm?"

The man hesitated for a moment and then tried to stab her, but Callisto was faster and she caught his hand.

"Why don't you be a bad boy and refuse to tell me who sent you, hmm? So I can have an excuse to kill you. Slowly."

The man's eyes went wide with terror as he suddenly had the feeling that this was not Aphrodite he was talking to, not with that insane look in her eyes.

"Strife!" Callisto called in a sweet, sing-song voice when she got to Ares' temple. "Oh, Strifey!"

"Dite!" Strife said when he appeared. "Nice seeing you around here. What can I do for you?" he asked as his eyes roamed all over Aphrodite's body.

"Tell me why you're trying to kill me," Callisto said in a sweet voice.

Strife frowned, surprised. He wasn't quite sure whether she was joking or not.

"Kill you?" he said nervously. "Why would I try to kill you?"

"You tell me," Callisto said as she approached him.

Strife noticed the predatorial grin and he started to back off. This was certainly not the Aphrodite he knew.

"What makes you think I have anything to do with it?"

"Ah, so you know about it."

"Know about what?" Strife asked as he nervously continued to back off.

"The plan to kill me."

"I don't know of any such plan."

"Then maybe this will refresh your memory," Callisto said and showed him the dagger. "Recognize this? I think the red stuff is Hind's blood." She gave him a predatorial grin. "Why don't we find out?"

"Aphrodite, that's enough!" a strong voice said from behind.

Callisto turned.

"Well, well, Daddy. I didn't expect to find you in this dump."

"Give me the dagger," Zeus demanded.

"I don't think so," Callisto said and avoided Zeus' fireball, which hit Strife. "Looks like the gods will need a new king soon," she said and threw a couple of fireballs at him.

Zeus ducked, but two still hit him. Callisto ran to him to stab him, but Zeus vanished. She looked at Strife, but he quickly vanished as well. Callisto grinned.

"I'll find you," she said and vanished.

"I didn't know Aphrodite was such a killer," Strife said when he reappeared back in Ares' temple.

"That's because she isn't," Discord said, morphing back into her own form.

"But you saw her!"

"That wasn't Aphrodite, you halfwit."

"It wasn't?"

"No." She grinned. "Apparently the blond bimbo had enough brain to get help."

"Who?"

"How should I know?!" Discord said, annoyed.

"So what do we do now?"

"Stay low."

"Hello, Daddy," Callisto said with a smile when she found Zeus on Olympus.

"Aphro…" Zeus started, but was cut off by a fireball in the chest. "Aphrodite! What are you doing?" he demanded, confused, as he avoided another fireball.

"Dying time," Callisto said, grinning.

She threw another fireball and then attacked him with the dagger. Zeus avoided it and pushed her away.

"Is that's Hind's blood?" he asked, noticing the blood on Callisto's dagger. "Where did you get it?" he demanded.

Callisto cocked her head.

"You're asking me? Why don't you ask your pal Strife?"

Callisto launched another attack, but Zeus defended himself well.

"Strife?" Zeus said when they stopped trading blows. "What would I want with that nincompoop?"

"You tell me," Callisto said and attacked again.

"Okay, Aphrodite, that's enough!" Zeus said, angry, and launched a counter-attack.

Callisto quickly realized that it would be a good idea if she got rid of the shoes. She did and she managed to avoid Zeus' fireballs and hits more easily, but while Zeus didn't appear to get exhausted at all, she was starting to feel a bit tired. Then she suddenly found herself on the floor with Zeus on her back and the dagger on her throat.

"What has gotten into…" Zeus started angrily. "Wait a second, you're not Aphrodite," he suddenly noticed, surprised. "Who are you?" he demanded.

"Callisto," Callisto said, trying to escape his grip.

"Callisto?" Zeus said, astonished. "But how… Why are you trying to kill me?"

"Because you are trying to kill Aphrodite."

Zeus frowned, confused.

"Why would I want to kill her?"

"You tell me."

Zeus thought for a moment.

"Where is Aphrodite?"

"Safe."

"Where?"

"Safe," Callisto repeated, not trusting him.

Zeus realized that Callisto wasn't going to tell him.

"Where did you get the Hind's blood?" he asked instead.

"From the assassin. He said Strife gave it to him."

"Strife? That idiot is too stupid to get it." He thought for a moment. "What made you think I was trying to kill Aphrodite?"

"You came to Ares' temple to help Strife."

"I did… Discord," he suddenly realized.

"What?" Callisto asked, confused.

"It was Discord," Zeus said and got up, releasing Callisto. "She was the one."

Callisto quickly got up herself, ready to fight.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"Because she's just stupid enough to help him and smart enough to make a decent plan." He thought. "Where's Aphrodite?"

Callisto considered whether she should trust him. She decided she could, since he obviously wasn't interested in killing her.

"In the Labyrinth of the Gods, where the Tree of Life used to be."

"Wait here," Zeus said and disappeared.

"Aphrodite?"

"Daddy?" Aphrodite said, nervous. "How did you find me?" she asked, afraid that Callisto had betrayed her or that she might have failed and that she was next.

"Callisto told me. She found out who was trying to kill you."

"She did?" Aphrodite asked anxiously.

"Yes, Strife and Discord."

"Ooh, just wait till I get my hands on them," Aphrodite said angrily, clenching her fists.

"Don't worry, dear, I'll deal with them. Come, let's return to Olympus."

"Now what?" Callisto asked when Zeus came back with Aphrodite.

"First this," Zeus said and concentrated.

Callisto's and Aphrodite's bodies shimmered.

"Au," Aphrodite moaned. "My whole body hurts."

"Some exercise won't kill you," Callisto said. "Now, about my payment."

"What payment?" Zeus asked.

"I promised her godhood," Aphrodite said, worried about her father's reaction.

"What?! Godhood? To her? Are you out of your mind?"

"She was the only one I could think of and I didn't know what else to offer her."

"You could have come to me."

"I thought you were trying to kill me," Aphrodite said, frustrated.

"Oh." Zeus thought. "Very well," he decided. "She can have godhood, but she has to earn it. And no immortality, you nearly killed Hercules' family and friends."

"I saved Aphrodite," Callisto reminded him.

"And destroyed half my palace trying to kill me."

"So? I thought you were trying to kill her."

"I wasn't. Now, you can earn your godhood by doing a selfless deed."

"So never," Callisto said sarcastically.

"That is up to you," Zeus said. "And once you have earned it, you must not harm a single innocent or you lose it and go to Tartarus. That includes Xena as well."

"So now Xena is an innocent?" Callisto asked, upset.

"No, but she fights for good."

Callisto groaned.

"Gods," she muttered, disgusted.

"You can either accept it or return to that cave."

Callisto thought for a moment and then decided to accept it, she didn't want to return to the cave.

"Fine," she said.

Zeus waved his hand and she disappeared.

"Strife! Discord!" Zeus called with a thunderous voice and the two gods immediately appeared, both looking very humble and scared.

Callisto looked around. She had no idea where she was, but at least she was free. She bit her teeth, her body was free, but her soul wasn't. Gods and their promises. She was in a bad mood. She considered going to the nearest village and put a few people out of their misery. She started walking, but when she was about to enter a village, she changed her mind. She knew not harming innocents was a condition for retaining her godhood, but she wasn't sure whether it was for earning it.

She frowned as she remembered that Xena was among innocents as well. She could do without killing innocents, there were enough bad guys around, but Xena was another matter. She had spent nearly half her life thinking of how to kill Xena. Godhood was only a means of getting to Xena, nothing else. She grinned as she thought of a solution. No more killing innocents from now on, but she needed to think of something to hurt or kill Xena, godhood or no godhood.

As she passed through the village, she noticed that it had been under attack recently.

"What happened?" she asked a woman.

"Slavers," the woman said, eyeing her suspiciously.

Callisto grinned, finally an opportunity to kill.

"When?"

"An hour ago."

"Which way did they go?"

"That way."

It didn't take her long to catch up with the slavers. She saw that there were only nineteen, seven of them wounded. She decided for a direct assault. She ran up to them, her sword ready, and started to kill them. She managed to dispose of three before they noticed that something was wrong. She killed two more before they grabbed their weapons.

As she moved between the slavers, the slaves realized that this was their chance to escape and they attacked their captors. That is all except one slave, a young girl, whom the leader of the slavers kept on a chain.

As Callisto moved in for the kill, the girl stepped between her and the slaver leader and attacked her. Callisto didn't waste time on her, she simply hit her in the face, sending her sprawling on the ground. Callisto noticed that the slaver leader took a small pouch and she guessed it contained a poison of sorts. She grinned.

When she came close enough, the slaver leader blew the dust poison at her, but she blew it back at him. Unfortunately, she didn't anticipate the strength with which the slaver leader blew the poison and she inhaled some of it. The slaver leader, who was caught completely by surprise, was already on the ground, dying. Callisto wiped the dust off her face and strongly exhaled a few times as she tried to get as much of the poison out.

When the slaves killed their captors, they left. Callisto felt that the poison was getting to her and she left as well. The slave girl who tried to protect her master finally got up and fear swept across her face when she saw her master lying on the ground. She ran to him and checked whether he was still alive. He wasn't. She kneeled beside the corpse for a few moments and then looked around for Callisto. She got up and followed her.

Callisto quickly noticed that she was being followed. She turned and saw it was the girl. She stopped and waited for the girl to come closer. She wondered what the girl would do and was surprised when the girl just stopped and quietly waited. Callisto was confused, but she couldn't think about it for long as the poison made its was through her body.

She staggered and the girl moved to help her, but Callisto pushed her away, not knowing that the girl wanted to help her. She started walking again. The girl hesitated for a moment and then ran back to her dead master. She rummaged through his clothes until she found a small pouch. Then she ran after Callisto.

Callisto heard her and she glanced at her. But she turned too fast and she staggered. She tried to steady herself, but she collapsed on the ground. The girl moved to help her again, but Callisto took her sword and the girl stopped. Unfortunately, Callisto's vision started to get blurred and her muscles started to fail her.

The girl waited until Callisto collapsed and then carefully approached her. When Callisto didn't move, the girl took a flask out of the pouch and slowly poured its contents into Callisto's mouth. Then she put Callisto's head in her lap and waited.

An hour or so passed when the girl noticed that a group of bandits was approaching. She considered hiding Callisto, but then she saw that the bandits had already seen them. She was scared and she didn't know what to do. She waited.

When the bandits got closer enough, one of them recognized Callisto.

"Hey, that's Callisto!"

"Are you sure?" the leader asked.

"Of course I'm sure, I fought under her."

The leader thought for a moment.

"I'll kill her," he said, his eyes glittering.

The girl watched as the man dismounted and took his sword. She considered for a moment and then took Callisto's sword, ready to defend her. The bandits started to laugh when they saw that she wanted to protect Callisto. Their leader pushed the girl's sword out of the way a couple of times, playing with her.

"Now why would a girl like you want to protect Callisto?" he asked her, but the girl didn't respond. "Okay, boys, who wants her first?"

The bandits started to cheer.

"Hello!" someone from behind them called. "I hope you don't mind if we interrupt your little party."

The bandits turned, surprised.

"Who are you?" their leader asked.

"This is Hercules and I'm Iolaus," the blond man introduced them.

"Get them!" the leader ordered, recognizing the danger.

The bandits attacked, but Hercules and Iolaus easily beat them up and so the bandits soon retreated, not wanting to get any more beating than necessary.

"Hey, that's Callisto," Iolaus recognized the blond warlord. He wanted to approach her, but was stopped by the girl with a sword. "Don't worry, we won't hurt you. We just want Callisto." The girl swung the sword and nicked him. "Hey!" Iolaus said, surprised, and took a step back.

The girl yelped when she saw that she had wounded him and dropped her sword, shocked.

"You okay?" Hercules asked Iolaus.

"Yeah, just a scratch," Iolaus said and looked at the girl. "Why did you do that?"

"I'm sorry," the girl said with tears in her eyes. "Please go."

"Do you know who she is?" Iolaus asked and took a step forward.

The girl quickly picked up the sword again.

"Stay back," she begged, her hands shaking. "Please."

"Why are you protecting her?"

"Please go," the girl begged, trembling.

"Hercules! Hercules!"

Hercules and Iolaus turned. It was an older man.

"Yes?"

"You are Hercules?" the man asked.

"Yes."

"We need your help. There is something strange going on in our village and we think it's the gods."

"We'll come with you," Hercules said. "Come on, Iolaus, let's go."

"But what about Callisto?" Iolaus asked, surprised. "We can't just leave her."

"She's not going anywhere. Come."

Iolaus hesitated for a moment and then followed his friend. When they were gone, the girl put down the sword. Then she put Callisto's head back in her lap and waited.

When Callisto woke up, it was already dark. She was a bit dizzy and her head was throbbing, but otherwise she felt okay. Suddenly, she noticed that she was covered with something and that her head was resting on something soft. She opened her eyes and noticed a face staring at her. It took her a moment to identify it as that of the girl who had followed her. Then she realized that the girl wasn't staring at her but was actually sleeping.

She tried to move, but her head started throbbing even more. The girl immediately woke.

"I gave you the antidote, Mistress," she said.

Callisto stared at her, confused. Mistress? What was wrong with the girl? Why was she helping her?

"Why are you helping me?" she asked.

The girl seemed confused for a moment.

"Because you are my Mistress."

Callisto gave her a blank stare.

"Mistress? And just what makes you think I need a slave? Or even want one?"

The girl stared at her, not knowing what to answer.

"You are my Mistress," she repeated after a few moments.

Callisto stared at her for a few moments.

"What's your name?"

"Alcestis, Mistress."

Callisto started to laugh, but she stopped abruptly as her head protested.

"Your parents must love jokes," she said. Then she grinned predatorily. "Do you know who I am?"

"Callisto, Mistress."

"You know my name, but do you know who I am?"

"No, Mistress."

"Stop calling me Mistress," Callisto said, annoyed.

"Yes, Mist…" Alcestis thought for a moment. "How do I call you?"

"Callisto."

"Yes, Callisto."

Callisto rolled her eyes. She wasn't in the mood for company, but she didn't feel too well and she welcomed Alcestis' help, although she would not admit it.

"How long have I been out?" she asked.

"Several hours, Callisto."

"Don't use my name when you're answering questions," Callisto said, annoyed.

"Yes, Call…" Alcestis trailed off.

"Good." She thought for a moment. "Anything happened while I was out?"

"A group of bandits came and wanted to kill you. Hercules and Iolaus stopped them."

"Really? How nice of them," Callisto said unenthusiastically. "And they just left me here?"

"They wanted to take you with them."

"And why didn't they?"

"I stopped them and then they left to help a village."

Callisto stared at Alcestis for a moment.

"You stopped them?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I threatened them with a sword," Alcestis said and Callisto started to laugh, but stopped when her head protested again.

"And they left me alone?" she asked and Alcestis looked away. She thought for a few moments. "So you're my slave?" she finally asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

Alcestis stared at her for a few moments, confused.

"You killed my Master and now I belong to you."

Callisto stared at her for a few moments.

"And you would do anything for me?"

The girl hesitated for brief moment.

"Yes."

Callisto thought for a moments and then grinned.

"Hang yourself," she then ordered.

The girl gulped, but she did as she was told. She gently laid Callisto's head on the ground and climbed on the tree under which they were resting. Callisto observed her, curious, as she attached the chain to one of the branches and then threw herself off the branch. The collar-piece around her neck was not tight enough and she didn't break her neck.

Callisto observed her, her face serious, as Alcestis hanged from the branch, forcing herself not to grab at the collar-piece. Callisto stared at her for a few moments and then threw her chakram at the collar-piece, freeing Alcestis, who fell to the ground. Callisto grinned. She couldn't kill innocents, but perhaps she could make a killer out of Alcestis.

"Do you still want me to hang myself?" Alcestis asked when she recovered.

"No. Sleep now."

Alcestis hesitated for a moment and then lay beside Callisto.

When Callisto woke up in the morning, she felt much better. She was bit stiff, but her head didn't hurt her any more. She sat and looked around. She noticed Alcestis and stared at her, thinking. She wasn't quite sure what to make of her.

"Wake up," she then said and nudged her.

Alcestis immediately woke up.

"How may I serve you?" she asked.

Callisto stared at her with a blank for a few moments.

"Which way did Hercules go?"

"That way," Alcestis said and pointed the way.

"Then I guess I'm going the other way."

She got up and examined the corpses for money. Then she went back to the village from which she had come. Alcestis quietly followed her.

In the village, she bought herself a breakfast and after a few minutes of thinking bought one for Alcestis as well. She also noticed that the people obviously knew her, but she didn't detect any hostile glances. She hoped they didn't consider her some sort of hero.

After breakfast, they moved on. When Callisto spotted a wagon with a family in the distance, she got an idea. When the wagon came closer, she attacked it and knocked out the parents. She grabbed the boy and brought him to Alcestis.

"Here," she said as she gave her her dagger, "kill him. Or I kill his parents."

Alcestis stared at her, shocked, for a few moments and then looked at the boy, who was terrified. Alcestis stared at him, torn between her loyalty to her Mistress and her inability to hurt anyone. She glanced at Callisto, who was curiously waiting. She finally couldn't stand the pressure anymore and she passed out. Callisto raised her eyebrows.

"Interesting," she said. She looked at the boy. "Beat it," she said and the boy ran to his parents, who were starting to wake up.

She looked back at Alcestis. She was useless to her. She was about to leave when she spotted two familiar forms in the distance. She grinned and waited.

"Xena, look," Gabrielle said, alarmed, and pointed ahead.

"Callisto," Xena said.

"But how? I thought she was trapped in the Labyrinth of the Gods."

"Apparently she escaped."

Xena spurred Argo and Gabrielle ran after her.

"Xena," Callisto crooned. "How nice to see you again," she said, her eyes glittering.

She considered for a moment whether she should kill her right now and get it over with, but she decided against it, she didn't feel like going to Tartarus just yet.

"How did you escape?"

Callisto grinned.

"I had some divine help."

"Ares," Xena said, annoyed.

"Nope, Aphrodite," Callisto corrected her.

"Aphrodite?" Xena asked, surprised. "Why would Aphrodite help you?"

Callisto shrugged.

"Gods."

"Xena?" Gabrielle asked when she stopped.

"Well, well, I see you still have your pet, Xena," Callisto said and Gabrielle glared at her.

Xena looked at the family and the girl on the ground.

"What did you do?"

"To her?" Callisto asked and looked at Alcestis. "Nothing. She passed out."

Xena watched as the family got on their wagon and left.

"Wait! What about the girl?" Gabrielle called after them.

"She's not ours!" the mother called back.

"Who is she?" Xena asked Callisto.

Callisto shrugged.

"Alcestis."

"Alcestis?" Gabrielle asked.

Callisto gave her an annoyed look.

"That's what she said."

"Is she with you?" Xena asked as Gabrielle kneeled beside Alcestis to examine her.

"She seems to think so."

"What do you mean?"

"She thinks she's my slave. I thought I could make a killer out of her, but she's too soft. She's useless to me."

"Hey, it's okay," Gabrielle said soothingly when Alcestis woke up and backed off, scared, when she saw her. "You're safe."

"Callisto?" Alcestis asked.

"Go with them. From now you are their slave."

"Yes, Callisto," Alcestis said and got up.

"Are you okay?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yes, Mistress," Alcestis said.

Gabrielle looked at her, confused. Then she smiled.

"My name is Gabrielle. I'm not your Mistress, you're free."

"Yes, Mistress."

"See you," Callisto said with a grin and left.

"Call me Gabrielle," Gabrielle said. "And that is Xena," she introduced her friend.

Alcestis nodded and quietly waited for further orders.

"She doesn't seem very talkative," Xena said.

"She just spent who knows how much time with Callisto. Who knows what she put her through."

"Let's go back to the village."

In the village, they first took Alcestis to a tavern and got her something to eat.

"Looks like someone recognized her," Xena observed after a while.

Gabrielle looked around.

"Who?"

"He's gone."

"Oh." Gabrielle thought for a moment. "You think he left to get her parents?"

"Perhaps," Xena said skeptically.

"Are we going to spend the night here?"

"Perhaps."

Gabrielle stared at her friend for a moment and thought.

"You think she's been kidnapped?"

"Perhaps."

"Xena!" Gabrielle said, exasperated.

Xena looked at her and grinned.

"Yes, I think she's been kidnapped."

"Any idea who her parents are?"

"I think we'll find out soon enough."

"Xena."

Xena smiled.

"Patience, Gabrielle, patience."

The man who had recognized Alcestis soon returned with an important looking man, probably from court. Xena observed Alcestis for any signs of recognition and when Alcestis saw the important-looking man, she froze.

"Alcestis, relax," she told her quietly.

"Yes, Mistress," Alcestis said, her voice shaking a bit, and resumed eating.

"I am Servilius," the important-looking man introduced himself.

Xena calmly regarded him for a moment before responding.

"I am Xena," she said.

Servilius looked at Alcestis.

"Where did you find her?"

Xena thought for a moment and then decided to leave Callisto out of the story.

"We rescued her from slavers," she said and Gabrielle glanced at her, surprised.

"Does she have a necklace?"

"Yes."

"I must see it."

Xena looked at Alcestis.

"Give me your necklace for a moment."

Alcestis stared at her for a moment.

"Yes, Mistress," she then said and took off her necklace.

When Servilius took a closer look at it, Xena noticed that he was a bit nervous. Servilius then pretended to be extremely happy.

"This is truly a great day for our kingdom," he said. "The girl is Princess Alcestis, the daughter of King Escanes and Queen Antiopa. She has been kidnapped many years ago, but now she has returned. I must take her to her parents immediately."

"When she eats," Xena said calmly and extended her hand.

Servilius stared at her, confused, and then gave her the necklace, which she returned to Alcestis.

"But…"

"When she eats," Xena repeated calmly and continued eating herself.

Servilius stared at her, flustered, but he had heard of Xena and he knew that it wasn't wise to cross her.

"Come," he told his escorts and they left the tavern to wait outside.

"Xena?" Gabrielle asked when they were gone. "You think he had her kidnapped."

"Probably," Xena said.

"So what do we do?"

"We take her home."

"Are you sure? I mean, if he tried to kidnap her and if he suspects that she recognized him, he's going to try and kill her."

"I know."

Gabrielle smiled knowingly.

"You're counting on it."

Xena smiled back.

"Yes."

When they got to the castle, they were awaited by Servilius, who considered sending Xena and Gabrielle away, but a single look from Xena changed his mind.

"This way," he said instead and led the way.

Xena, Gabrielle and Alcestis followed him to the throne room, where King Escanes, Queen Antiopa and another girl were anxiously awaiting their arrival. When they entered, the royal family approached them, all of them looking at Alcestis, who was staring back at them nervously. She knew they were her parents, she just wasn't sure what that meant for her, after all, she had a Mistress to obey.

"Alcestis," her mother finally said and hugged her.

Alcestis didn't react at first, not sure what she was supposed to do, but then she hugged her back, remembering. It felt strange but good.

"I've missed you, honey," Queen Antiopa said when she broke the hug, and caressed her. She stepped aside. "This is your father and this is your sister, Merope.

Alcestis stared at her father for a moment, she had vague memories of him and her mother, and then she looked at her sister, whom she didn't remember.

Just then a messenger came in. He stopped, nervous, when he saw that he had interrupted something. Servilius went to him and the man gave him the message. Servilius was apparently surprised. He quickly dismissed the man and approached the king.

"Good news, Your Majesty. Callisto has been captured."

"Callisto?" Xena said, surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Servilius said, glancing at her. "She killed eleven men before they captured her."

"I want to see her," Xena said.

"She hasn't been brought in yet."

"Servilius, you take care of it," King Escanes said.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Servilius said and bowed.

King Escanes looked at Xena.

"You are welcome to stay, Xena."

"We will," Xena said.

"Good. Servilius will see to your needs, I'd like to be with my daughter now."

"Of course," Xena said.

The King nodded and then he and his family left. When they were gone, Xena looked at Servilius.

"This way," Servilius said and led the way.

"Now what?" Gabrielle asked when they were left alone in their room

"Now we wait for Callisto."

"Callisto? I wonder how they managed to… Wait. You don't think she has anything to do with Alcestis' disappearance, do you?"

"No."

"Then what?"

"Servilius might help her escape."

"Why would… Oh. To get rid of Alcestis?"

"The entire family."

"What?"

"Go find out more about him and I'll see about Callisto."

"Okay," Gabrielle said, still a bit shocked.

"Oh Xena, how nice of you to drop by," Callisto said in her sing-song voice when Xena came to the dungeon after Callisto had been brought in. "Guess what? These… people will solve your little problem. Me, that is."

"What are you talking about?"

"Why, you don't know? Punishment for killing a soldier is death. I killed eleven of them." She paused. "Even though they started it."

Xena thought for a moment and then left.

"Oh come on, Xena! You're not going to try and rescue me, are you?" Callisto called after her and laughed.

"What did you find out?" Xena asked Gabrielle when they met in their room.

"Nobody likes him, most fear him."

Xena nodded.

"Did you see Callisto?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yes." She thought for a moment. "Come, let's go talk to King Escanes."

"You're going to tell them about Servilius?"

"No. I'll tell them that the man who had Alcestis kidnapped will probably free Callisto and have her kill them."

"Will they believe it?"

"I'll take King Escanes with me. You'll stay with the family."

"Okay."

Callisto was surprised when she saw she had a visitor.

"Well, well, what have we here, hmm? A traitor?" she said, seeing through Servilius at once.

Servilius was surprised.

"How…"

Callisto laughed.

"It's so obvious. So, how many people do you want me to kill, hmm?"

Servilius was surprised by her straightforwardness.

"The entire royal family," he then said.

"Ooh, somebody wants to be a king," Callisto mocked him. Then she cocked her head. "Okay, but I also want Xena and her pet."

"After you kill the family."

"Of course after," Callisto said, giving him an innocent look. "Free me."

"Not yet. The King might come down. I'll come back when he and his family go to sleep."

"Okay," Callisto pouted, deciding to kill Servilius when he freed her.

Servilius nodded and went to the door. Then the door opened and he froze.

"Xena."

Callisto snorted.

"I should've known," she said.

"Betraying your king, Servilius?" Xena asked in a menacing voice.

"I… I… No, I was just…"

"I heard everything."

"He will never believe you," Servilius said.

"He won't need to," Xena said and stepped aside.

"Your Majesty!" Servilius said, surprised.

"You will suffer the same fate as Callisto," King Escanes declared. "Take him."

Two guards entered when he stepped aside, and took Servilius.

"Your Majesty!" Servilius screamed as the guards dragged him away.

"Thank you, Xena," King Escanes then said. "I'm in your debt. Twice."

Xena nodded.

"My, my," Callisto said and then made a face. "How sick."

Xena glanced at her and then she and the King left.

Hours later, Callisto was bored in the dungeon. She knew she was to be executed and she knew that she would go to Tartarus. That didn't bother her too much, she had been there, but she wasn't exactly looking forward to it. Then again, there would still be a chance for her to escape when they took her to the execution, even if Xena would be there.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Alcestis walked in. Callisto stared at her, surprised to see her. But Alcestis quietly waited, staring at the guard, who suddenly started to feel sick and then collapsed a few moments later. Callisto raised an eyebrow, surprised. She raised the other one as well when Alcestis went to the guard, took his keys and unchained her.

"How did you get here?" she asked her as she stretched her body.

"Xena brought me."

Callisto frowned.

"Why?"

"Because my family lives here."

Callisto laughed.

"And why are you helping me then?" she then asked.

"You are my Mistress," Alcestis said, confused.

"I thought I told you to go with Xena."

"Yes."

"Then how am I your Mistress?"

"You didn't sell me," Alcestis said, confused by the questioning.

Callisto stared at her with a blank look for a few moments and then shrugged.

"Do you know where my weapons are?" she asked.

"Yes," Alcestis said and led the way.

Callisto noticed that all guards along the way were unconscious. She wondered how Alcestis had pulled that off.

When they got to what Callisto saw was the armory, Alcestis unlocked it and Callisto retrieved her weapons. Then she went upstairs, Alcestis quietly following her. As they passed the throne room, Callisto could see Xena and Gabrielle talk to King Escanes and his wife. Then someone near by blew a horn weakly. Callisto turned and saw it was a guard she had just passed, thinking he was still unconscious. She considered killing him, but she knew it was too late and she decided not to. She heard footsteps approaching and she knew it was Xena. She took her sword, grinning, and then attacked. Xena was surprised, but not surprised enough and she easily repelled Callisto's attack.

Callisto noticed that the guards were already scrambling and she didn't want to deal with them, not with Xena around anyway. She looked around, looking for a way out, and spotted the royal couple. She grinned, somersaulted over a trio of guards and headed for the King and the Queen. Gabrielle and a guard tried to stop her, but she quickly kicked them out of the way and then took Alcestis' parents hostage. Everyone stopped.

"No! Please."

Callisto looked at Alcestis, who was the source of the cry.

"Why not?" she asked.

Alcestis hesitated, scared.

"They are… family," she said and gulped.

Callisto stared at her thoughtfully for a few moments.

"Either I kill them or they kill me," she then pointed out. "Which of us do you want to die?"

Alcestis looked from Callisto to her parents and back, trembling and crying silently, unable to decide, her years-long life as a slave telling her one thing, her feelings telling her another. Callisto wasn't surprised when Alcestis, unable to resolve the conflict, collapsed on the floor, unconscious. Gabrielle immediately went to the girl and cradled her in her arms. Callisto stared at Alcestis for a while, glancing at Xena occasionally to keep her at bay. She was surprised how strong the chains in Alcestis' mind were if not even the love for her family could break them. She didn't particularly care about whom she killed, but she usually made sure that the families died together. Better to kill the potential avengers now than have them bother her later. She knew there was only one way out, if she wanted to help Alcestis, which, for some strange reason she wanted to.

"Gabrielle," she said, "toss me her necklace."

Gabrielle looked at her, surprised, and then glanced at Xena, who nodded. She took off the necklace and tossed it to Callisto, who didn't take her eyes off Xena.

"Tell someone to bring a pouch of money," she then told the King.

"How much?" the King asked, hopeful.

"I don't care," Callisto said, annoyed. "Make it full."

King Escanes nodded at one of his officials, who had started to gather. The man left.

"What do you want?" Xena asked.

Callisto gave her a blank look and didn't respond. Xena didn't like the situation, especially since she had no idea what Callisto's plan might be.

The Minister of Treasury soon returned and carefully approached the throne.

"Empty the pouch into his lap," Callisto ordered, "and turn it inside out."

The Minister looked at the King, who nodded. The Minister emptied the pouch and turned it inside out. Callisto was satisfied that the money was real and that there wasn't anything else in the pouch.

"Refill it," she ordered and the Minister did so. "Give it to me."

The Minister gave her the pouch and stepped away.

"Callisto…" Xena started.

"Shut up, Xena, "Callisto interrupted her. She looked at the King. "When she wakes up, tell her that she is free, that her necklace was the price. She is her own master now. If that doesn't work, tell her I sold her to you for whatever money is in this pouch. And just to make sure, have someone write up two contracts and sign my name under it. You think you can do that?"

"Yes," King Escanes said, nodding eagerly.

"Good."

"Why?" Queen Antiopa asked, moved by Callisto action.

Callisto gave her a blank look.

"Does it matter?"

The Queen looked at her husband, hesitatingly.

"Yes," she said.

Callisto raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Why?" she asked.

"You didn't have to free her."

"Does that bother you?"

"No," the Queen said quickly, shaking her head. "We're grateful. You… helped us and I was wondering if we could do something to help you."

Callisto stared at her, surprised. No one had ever asked if she needed help and most people would be happy just to be still alive after encountering her, much less asking if they could help her. Sure, it was out of gratitude, but still, it was an offer to help.

"I don't know why," she then said. "As to how you can help me, you can tell Xena and your soldiers to get out of my way and you can escort me to the gate, just in case someone gets a stupid idea. Oh, a horse would do nicely as well."

Queen Antiopa looked at her husband for support and he nodded. He looked at a guard.

"Go get ready a horse for Callisto," he ordered. "The rest of you, back off and let her pass. You too, Xena."

Xena nodded. She didn't understand what Callisto was doing, but she knew things could be a lot worse than they were. Not to mention that Callisto's freeing Alcestis completely surprised her, especially since Callisto seemed to have thought about every detail. She decided to let Callisto go for now.

When Alcestis woke up several minutes later, she was relieved to see that her parents were still alive, but she started to worry when she didn't see Callisto anywhere. Her father was the first to realize what she was thinking.

"Alcestis," he said softly and Alcestis looked at him. "Callisto left. You are free now, she took your necklace as payment."

"You are your own master," her mother added.

Alcestis touched her neck and saw that the necklace was gone. Then she looked at her parents. Suddenly, she was very frightened by the fact that she was free. She remembered that she was free a long time ago, when she was little, but then she was too young to know what being free meant. And she didn't know how to be free, only how to be a slave. Her mother caressed her and she looked at her. She remembered another thing, her parents loved her and they would help her. Suddenly she wasn't so afraid anymore. She smiled and her parents smiled back.

When Callisto was roasting a rabbit in the evening, Zeus appeared. She gave him a blank look and then looked back at the fire.

"Congratulations," Zeus said grudgingly and stepped closed.

Callisto gave him another blank look.

"What for?" she asked, not really caring, just wanting to get rid of Zeus.

"You performed a selfless deed," Zeus explained, not liking the way he was being treated by a mere mortal.

Callisto raised an eyebrow.

"I did?"

"Yes. You helped Alcestis."

"So I get to be a goddess now?" she asked, not looking forward to it anymore.

"Yes."

"Then make me one and get lost."

Zeus made a grimace.

"Charming as ever," he said and Callisto gasped as she felt divine powers surge through her.

She took a deep breath and looked at Zeus.

"Anything else?" she asked.

Zeus rolled his eyes.

"Mortals," Zeus rolled his eyes and disappeared.

Callisto looked back at the fire and considered her options. They remained unchanged. She did get another idea though, but first, she decided to return the horse since she would no longer be needing it.

Cyrene was just about to go to her room to sleep when she smelled a roasted rabbit. She was confused, she didn't have a roasted rabbit in the house, much less one that was freshly roasted, as her nose told her. She traced the smell to the main room of her tavern. There she saw a beautiful blond young woman in a warrior outfit much like her daughter's.

"How did you get in?" she asked her and the woman looked at her, amused. "We're closed."

"Yes," the woman acknowledged.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

The woman smiled.

"I'm Callisto," she introduced herself and Cyrene frowned, recognizing the name. "As for what I want, I want to talk to you."

Cyrene raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"About what?"

"About Xena and how you feel about her being a warlord and a ruthless killer."

The End