~ These Dreams ~
by Dark Passion
Disclaimer/Prologue: This story takes place after the crucifixion of Xena and Gabrielle. There will be no references to Eve, Americe or any other characters or any parts of the storylines from Xena Seasons 5 or 6 included as any part of this story. Though some of the characters in this story are from the TV series 'Xena Warrior Princess' no copy right infringement is intended. The remainder of the cast is of my own creation as well as the original premise for this story that being said all rights to them belong solely to me and no one else. Copy Right 2002.
Sex/Language: This is story contains graphic sexual scenes of a lesbian nature as well as graphic violence and language on occasion so if you are younger than 18 years of age, or this type of content offends you please do not continue.
Dedication: To the darkness that makes us strong and the light that ultimately saves us.
Contact me at darkpassion@msn.com.
Part 1
Mariah gasps half springing from the ground she was lying upon. Instinctively she grabs her sword searching her surroundings for the specter of her nightmare through a dream-fogged haze.
In a few moments she realizes where she is and replaces her sword on the ground next to her bedroll.
She rubs her eyes while taking long deep breaths to calm down. Looking over from her half-reclining position, she silently watches a still slumbering Kiera. Her heart swells within her at the beauty of her love and thanks the gods for her. Gently she touches her gold streaked hair. Her calloused hand luxuriates in the softness of the predominantly auburn tresses.
Taking care not to wake her sleeping partner, Mariah slips silently from under the blanket they share. Carefully she tucks the blanket around her love trying to simulate the cocoon of her arms still being wrapped around the sleeping woman. She reaches over to grab the blanket that had been discarded during the night and throws it over her right shoulder.
Standing she stretches the stiffness from her back. Brown eyes search the darkness around the small clearing where they had camped for the night. In order to utilize the minimal light the dying embers of the fire offered, browns alter slowly to a sallow yellow rimmed with red. Listening intently, she watches her surroundings and then the tree tops for any sign of movement making sure that her eye sight was not deceived. Finally convinced that her sleeping lover was safe, Mariah blinks her eyes several times in order to return her irises back to their familiar soft rich brown.
A breeze exhales gently rustling the leaves above her head. Shivering she pulls the blanket over her bare shoulders like a cloak hiding her naked torso. She walks noiselessly to the edge of the clearing. Forlornly the tall woman looks back at her lover before she walks through the trees to the lagoon beyond.
Walking to the pools edge, she kneels down scooping up the cool waters in her hands, she brings it up to bathe her face. She permits the cool liquid to run from her face, off her chin, and down the valley between her breasts.
Sitting at the pools edge, she notices how the nearly full moon illuminated the darkness. How the rocks, and trees were bathed in hues of silver and muted blues. The lapping dark waters sparkle with millions of twinkling diamonds. She breathes in slowly taking comfort in how much this place resembled Artemis's secluded glade. Before her changes she spent much of her time there with her mother Artemis learning the ways of the forest and the ways of the Amazon's knowing full well that she would one day be entrusted to guide and protect the warrior women. Her youth was spent in this enchanted wood where she not only honed her skills with the bow and other mortal tools of war, but perfected the use of her godly powers. All her instructions were tempered with the gravity of her position as the daughter of Artemis. Wisdom she learned from her Aunt Athena; music and medicine she learned from her uncle Apollo. A slight smiled curled at the edge of her lips as she remembered those care free days. But that was yesterday which had been blotted out by who she would molded into by her devious Uncle Ares. Her slight smile morphed into a smirk, Yes Ares you taught me well.
In the shadows of Olympus she would hide with Ares, engrossed in his stories of war, battles won, and conquest. Mariah was mesmerized by the tales of grounds running red with blood, armies of warriors chanting the name of their leader, and spoils collected including women to warm more than your bed. With each tale Mariah became more and more hungry for this power, but it wasn't until Ares placed the perfectly crafted hilt of the sword specially made for her by Hephaestus in her hand that she rejected all that she was to be all that Ares wanted her to be. She shivered, but not against the cold this time, but with the recollection of the monster she had become at the God of War's bequest. She grimaces at the thought of how easily he manipulated her and molded her into exactly what he wanted.
It was on one of her many bloody campaigns that she came across this hidden lagoon, at the time she scorned it's picturesque peaceful setting, but after the wars were over for her she sought it out. Upon finding it, Mariah tore her armor from her body and threw it into the waters. Next she hurled her weapons into the depths one at a time including the sword that Hephaestus had crafted for her. After watching each piece sink out of sight she ripped her tunic from her shoulders, and her trews from her legs, and dove into the waters praying that the god of the waters would swallow her as completely and permanently as it had her armor and weapons. Darkness was closing her eyes when she felt the sensation of her body rising from the waters and being gently placed on the grassy bank.
Coughing up water Mariah opened her eyes to see the beautiful Electra leaning over her. "Daughter of the Moon, how have I displeased you so that you would bring the wrath of the Goddess of the Moon upon me and my waters?"
"Electra, Mother of Iris who colors the skies with her bow, I have not come to cause any harm to befall you. "
"Then why have you come, Vanquisher of the Innocent, General of the Dead?"
"I have come to wash away the blood from my soul," Mariah answered the deity that still leaned over her prone body.
Electra tilted her fair head. "And what would make you think you could find absolution in these waters? Should you not petition Zeus before placating Hades?"
"Zeus has taken my powers and the Moon that bore me now curses me," Mariah sputtered.
"Yet there is one who seeks after you even now. One who knows you and still wants you by her side." Electra smiled.
"She knows me best and yet does not know me. She knows of the darkness that surrounds me. but she knows not of how black the darkness can be," Mariah stated from behind closed eyes. "I don't want my blackness to dim her luminous glow."
"Sit up, Daughter of the Night," Electra commanded.
Mariah opened her dark eyes and sat up facing the Goddess.
"I have never seen light overcome by darkness no matter how opaque the blackness becomes. Seek out this light and allow it to bring you rest." Electra disappeared from sight but on the winds she whispered, "She is the key to unlocking your prison."
But does she have a key to this dungeon? Mariah thought.
From behind closed eyes Mariah listens to the clear waters flowing from the overhanging rocks before they softly splash into the pool below. The soft sounds seep into her soul cooling the fires that burned within her spirit. Breathing deeply she tries to take in the serenity of this magical place. The tranquility she always found in this place she knew she couldn't find anywhere else, which is why she made a point to travel the two sunrises out of their way to get here.
Her dark eyes flit open, and the tired warrior watches the moon light dance across the waters. Mariah was trying to replace the turmoil of her thoughts with a stillness this night had to offer. She was trying to capture an allusive quietness that had fled her soul.
That dream, that damn dream how many nights has it stolen? Morpheus, what is your quarrel with me?
What is my offense that you are tormenting me? Why have you and your brothers accosted me nightly leaving me bleeding and bruised by morning light? Mother Artemis, in total humility I come before you. Please hear my supplications and rescue your child from these nightly tortures.
A gentle breeze again blows and she opens the blanket to allow the cool winds to caress her naked breasts. Breathing deeply she opens herself to the peace this place offers her agitated spirit.
Lost in these thoughts she is startled by a voice behind her.
"Is this my Mariah or Cephalus himself come again to flirt with this odious Breeze? Go your way you seducing wind for it is I who will cool my lover's burning breast."
Smiling Mariah looks over her shoulder to the figure that was kneeling behind her. Kissing her neck, Kiera's hands set to finding her breasts, bypassing the blanket that was still draped around her shoulders, and then gently cup them. Mariah gasps at the soft touch and leans her head back to accept a deep kiss from Kiera.
"My love, why are you here? Is Morpheus still tormenting you?"
"Yes," she says, turning her torso she uses strong arms to pull a willing Kiera under the blanket with her. Feeling warm arms about her, she snuggles into Mariah's naked shoulder. For a time they sit in silence enjoying the physical contact, Mariah still gazing absently at the sparkling light dancing upon the black waters.
Kiera presses her body even closer to her half naked lover. She closes her eyes willing comfort and ease into her troubled lover's soul. She whispers, "You can't go on like this."
"What choice do I have? Hypnos has left his reprehensible sons unattended. They have chosen to torture me nightly for some nebulous infraction of which I have no knowledge," Mariah states through gritted teeth.
"Darling, could these dreams be coming from within your own spirit and not the work of the sons of Hypnos?"
Silence.
Mariah reflects on Kiera's question. Her deep feelings of guilt about the crucifixion and subsequent deaths of their two dear friends had its effect on her. Internally she curses Eli. Not that she wasn't happy that her dark friend and the little queen were alive, well and happily ensconced in the Amazon village, because she was. But the fact that this mere mortal was a constant reminder that her promise was not kept.
She closes her eyes tightly trying to push away the reemergence of her dreams to her waking mind. She attempts to will away the sounds of a pounding hammer that was suddenly ringing in her ear. But all her efforts were in vain. No matter what mental gymnastics she chose to use she could clearly hear the sickeningly muted thud as the spike is driven through flesh and bone. Though she didn't witness the crucifixion, some dastardly demon played the memory of that tragic event over and over in her mind as if it was her own. There was no escape.
Yet this new dream is so much worse than the others ever were. Yes, maybe Kiera is right about the other dreams being caused more by her own guilt rather than by some spiteful Gods, but this new dream was something so much more. This dream, like Xena's vision, foretold of future events. Disastrous shadows that Mariah felt helpless to stop. These nightly ramblings revealed a perverted destiny that she was powerless to alter.
With a heavy sigh Mariah decides to tell Kiera her dream and pray that the woman she loved would still be with her when the sun rose.
"The dream is always the same. Unlike the others that were just disjointed impression. Images and sounds that were more frightening than real. Those other dreams were taunting me with my own failures. But this vision is an omen of what is to come. That's why it frightens me so much more than the others ever could. It's a riddle that I just can't solve."
Kiera settles more snugly against Mariah's chest as she waits for her to continue. "I am in some dark forbidding forest, my bow in my hand. My feet never seem to ever touch the earth as I move silently through the trees. The forest is black, a darkness that is palpable. There is no light, no moon, no stars yet I can see. The silence that surrounds me is deafening. The stillness claws at my sprit shredding my soul.
Suddenly I stop crouched high on a tree limb looking into the darkness. I feel myself drawn to the blackness. With tenacious tentacles it tries to pull me into the abyss.
Crouched in the limbs I watch as the darkness moves toward me. I can not see what is coming, but my entire body senses it. I do not dare to start for my arrow. because I realize I am the hunted. The great hunter, the mighty warrior sits in the tree tops trembling like a child. The hunter is now the terrified hunted.
An oppressive fear flows over me and I am paralyzed. I fear that the entity will hear my heart pounding in my chest afraid the sound will betray my hiding place. I want to flee this menacing specter, but my limbs will not obey. I do not dare even to breathe. I can feel the blackness watching me. I can feel its hunger. It thirsts for my blood
Finally, appearing from the darkness is a panther, black, sleek, forbidding, again I do not even dare to breathe lest he see me in the tree above him. The panther stops in his tracks and looks up at me with blue eyes. With ice cold blue eyes I can feel the great cat look directly into my soul. I can not move.
The cat then turns and bounds away.
When the big cat flees I am not relieved, but am consumed by so much anger that it bursts suddenly into an uncontrollable rage. I jump from my perch and make chase. With each step I take the fury within me burns brighter. My ferocity flames white hot and I am no longer in control of who I am. Suddenly I am the darkness and it feels good. I can feel the blackness feasting on my soul and I not only permit it, I entreat it. The blackness rejoices that I have become one with it. I quicken my pace the thrill of the chase is upon me.
Then the scene changes again. I am no longer running through the forest, but standing in a circle clearing that is lit by torches. My bow is gone replaced by a sword in my hand. I walk the perimeter of the clearing. The cat slowly stalks at the perimeter opposite me his eyes boring a hole in me. Suddenly the panther lunges at me. I hear a fierce roar and am knocked to the ground by a mighty paw. My arm sliced almost to the bone. So sharp are the claws that I don't feel pain just the warmth of my own blooding spilling down my arm.
I regain my feet standing facing the great beast. It bares its white fangs at me still drilling through me with those unflinching blue orbs. We circle around each other, I brandishing my sword, the beast baring his fangs. A low gutter growl emanates from the bowels of the great beast. Taunting me.
I plunge my sword into the beast's breast. The panther's cry echoes through the night. I force the sword deeper into the animal with a strength that surpasses that of Hercules. I can feel the blade cut through muscle, bone, and tendon. I feel its life pulse through my sword as its soul drains from the wound down the hilt of my sword to my hand. The warmth of its blood covering my hand as it flows unabated from my hand to the ground. Finally I pull my sword out of the panther, it limps a few feet away then falls to the dust dead."
Mariah pauses again. Kiera gives her dark warrior a kiss on the lips as a way to encourage her love to continue.
Mariah sighs again before continuing her tale. "I feel the blood lust consume me completely. I swing the sword over my head screaming a victory cry so loud I swear it could be heard in Olympus. I bring my sword down, cleaning the blade with my tongue savoring the taste of blood and steel.
Suddenly Zeus sends his thunderbolts to open the sky. It begins to rain on me. The rain is warm and thick and feels wonderful against my skin. But it wasn't water that was raining down upon me to cleanse me. Not refreshing purifying waters at all, no, out of the skies a pouring of blood was soaking me. I cry out another primal scream. I throw my head back, open my mouth wide to drink the blood that was pelting my body. Only I am not just drinking the blood I am feeding on it. The more I feed the stronger I get until I feel like I am invincible. Baby, I felt the way I did when I was the 'Conqueror'.
Drunk on the blood I finally run to claim my prize. I stand over the defeated, but it is not a panther at all but a woman. The only thing covering her body is the blood that has been raining down on the two of us. Long black hair cascades down her back. My blood lust disappears as I turn the woman over. The blood covered woman is Xena."
Kiera was silent, her mind racing she was unable to respond for a moment. "You would never hurt Xena, my love. You couldn't."
"Maybe, but I couldn't save her either." Mariah's jaw tightening at the thought of letting her friends down. Mariah pauses brooding for a moment. Then looking into Kiera's eyes she says, "That is my dream the same all the time, with one exception one thing that was different tonight."
Moving the blanket she exposes her right bicep, bleeding profusely from three parallel slices.
Continued in part 2
