DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. 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 is set during the Xena - Warrior Princess episode Sacrifice 2.

I, Callisto
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Callisto sat at the fire, alone, and stared at the flames. Not because she needed fire to warm her up, but because there was something about fire that gave her peace, even if only for a short time.

Soon, very soon, all will be gone. That bitch, Hope, I hope she gets what she deserves.

She giggled.

Fire, fire, burning… Like my home. Mama. Do you even listen to my thoughts? I miss you. But soon, very soon, all will be gone. No more Xena, no more memories, no more pain, only oblivion. No more nightmares of you dying in the fire, screaming of pain. It hurt so much, Mama, and I wanted Xena to pay, I wanted to make her suffer like I suffered myself, and I became like her. Worse even. She has changed and made friends and I was left alone with my pain… Funny, I used to admire Xena for her ruthlessness, but if she hadn't changed, I wouldn't have been able to hurt her the way I did. I killed so many to make her life miserable, but she managed to clear herself. I killed Gabrielle's husband, so Gabrielle would become like me. That would hurt Xena very badly. But she's so pure, so innocent, and she couldn't kill me even when she had the chance. She can't take the life of anyone, not even a monster like me, who has killed her husband… I wonder if I could have been like her if it weren't for Xena? Would I have let Xena die in the quicksand if I were in her place? Maybe.

She frowned.

Gabrielle forgave me? Why? How could she? Does she feel better? I wonder if I would feel better if could forgive Xena? I guess I'll never know. I wonder how Gabrielle would have felt if she had killed Xena when she was in my body.

She laughed.

What a joke it was. And only the horse noticed it. Too bad Theodorus became so soft. Was he always like that? Oh, well, he served as an example. Unfortunately, Xena managed to get out of Tartarus. I wonder how she did that. And then she used the same trick on me…

Mama. Did you mean what you said? Do you really disapprove? I guess you do, you were never into violence. Neither was I, until Xena came and took you away from me. It hurt, Mama, it still does. But soon it will be all over. You will not hear my thoughts anymore and you will forget that I ever existed and I will cease to exist. No life, no death, no memories, only oblivion.

She grinned.

Oh, Hera, Hera, such a fool. And you're supposed to be the Queen of gods. Pathetic. You should never have taken me out of Tartarus. But I thank you, you saved me from eternity of pain. And Hercules, what an idiot. He fell for every trick. I guess the divine side of him must have corrupted his brain or something. Well, he was lucky, I guess. That furry little name-sake of his probably had more brain than he did.

She grinned.

Not that it saved him from death…

And then Xena came. Oh, Xena, Xena, you should have known better. But I guess you didn't really have a choice, did you? I wonder if you would become to Velasca what I am to you if she had killed Gabrielle instead of fooling around. It was pretty sloppy of her. And it was pretty sloppy of me to let you fool me like that. I knew you would, damn. Oh, well, I guess you win some and you lose some.

She grinned.

And then Hope came along and fooled her mammy. Oh, Gabrielle, Gabrielle, it must have hurt when you realized that Xena was right and that your daughter was a monster.

She frowned.

Mama.

She shook her head.

And Xena. How it must have hurt you when your best friend betrayed you and her daughter killed your son. Hmm? You lost your son because of Gabrielle and she had to kill her own daughter. My, how fate can be cruel. And then you entrapped me again and Hope saved me.

She grinned.

Again. And Ares. Oh, Ares, you're such a fool. And Strife, what a moron. I guess I did the world a favor by getting rid of him. Hmm. For a God of War you sure are emotional, Ares. I wonder how come you could be the God of Love in that parallel universe. And me, a priestess! Give me a break! And Xena, only a lowly lover to that sleazy Hercules who calls himself Sovereign. And Gabrielle, an executioner. Now that's a contradiction in terms if I ever heard one.

She frowned, remembering what she had overheard Iolaus tell Hercules while she was trapped in the Netherworld.

I killed my own parents and left my younger self to die? How could I have done that? How? And Iolaus saved me? Her? Why would he do that? He should have let her die, it would be better for her. I'm sorry, Mama, I could never hurt you and I don't understand how I could have. I'm sorry…

But, all will be over soon and nothing else will matter then. Hope betrayed me, even though I protected her from Xena. And she wanted to look just like her mother. How pathetic. And then Xena refused to kill me too. Oh, Xena, I thought you would jump at the chance. Well, now, I guess I'll just have to think of something to make you mad enough.

She grinned.

Death. Oblivion.

Soon.

Suddenly Callisto felt that a god appeared. She didn't have to look to know that it was Ares.

She waved her hand and the fire disappeared. She got up, stood still for a moment and then vanished.

Soon.

The End