Xena

XENA & THE REVENGE OF OLIVA (FF) By Femme Lezzi

This is a work of fiction based on the main character in the TV series Xena-The Warrior Princess. This story features graphic descriptions of consensual sexual activities between adult females. If you are below the age of 18 or reading materials of this nature is illegal or immoral in your part of the world please stop reading now.

THE FIRST PART OF THIS STORY IS POSTED AS "XENA & THE QUEEN OF APHROPOLIS" IN THE NIFTY ARCHIVE.

PLEASE READ THE FIRST PART TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND TO THIS STORY.

Please send your comments to femme_lezzi@yahoo.com

DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to MCA/Universal and were used without permission. No copyright infringement was intended and no money was made.

**************************** PROLOGUE ******************************

CHAPTER 1

"Scintilla, is every thing ready for the ceremony?"

"Yes mother everything is in order"

"We can begin the bathing ritual at sundown. Have you rehearsed with Oliva what each of you is supposed to do?"

"Yes mother"

"Where is Oliva mother?"

"I saw her in the garden some time back"

Scintilla went out in search of her lover and soon to be bride. Tonight they will become a wedded couple. For the first time ever someone from the "Order of the Druids" was getting married to a same sex partner. Scintilla knew that the council of druids would never accept their union. That was not because such a union was forbidden in the sacred writings, but because it has never done before. However, Scintilla doubted whether the council will ever get to know about them. They are far away from Londonium, the sacred city of the order of the druids. For now, their home is Aphropolis, where a Sapphic couple will never raise an eyebrow. Aphropolis is the city of love, lust and decadence. The city is such a haven for rich same sex couples that in certain areas they out-number the opposite-sex couples.

Scintilla was also surprised the way her mother gave her approval to marry Oliva. Scintilla's mother opposed this affair from the day she discovered them making love one night. She chased Oliva out of home and threatened to curse her if she returned again. However, Scintilla's perseverance and Oliva's tolerance won over and today her mother will unite them according to the customs and traditions of the Druids.

Scintilla found Oliva walking among the flower plants. The tall Viking princess was a natural beauty with clear blue eyes and golden waist length hair. She was fifteen years younger than Scintilla. At the age of forty, Scintilla was proud of having such a young and beautiful lover and enjoyed attention and the envy of both men and women whenever she went out with her. It is not that Scintilla wasn't good looking. She had a luscious, curvy body and didn't look more than thirty. However, Scintilla was very possessive and always made it a point to kiss Oliva in the public just to display her ownership of the striking blond, whenever she saw competition eyeballing her lass. Oliva for her part was devoted and faithful. She worshipped Scintilla as a teenager and fell in love with her on a cold December night. Oliva never doubted or suspected Scintilla, not even when she went to King Demurius's palace to seduce the old king and actually slept with him for months. She always believed that Scintilla only loved her and what ever she did was to get revenge for her brother's death.

Oliva was wearing a loose cotton garment to beat the summer heat. The loose fitting dress did a good job of hiding her beautiful and plentiful curves. Scintilla loved Oliva's bouncy breasts and her beautiful ass, not to mention the love nest that is always moist and ready to accept her. Scintilla knew that Oliva was not wearing any under garments. She tried hard to resist the urge to drag the beautiful blond to the bedroom and make love to her in the most lustful manner.

"Hello Scin!!!!"

Oliva called out when she noticed that her soul mate was staring at her but apparently lost in her own thoughts. She grabbed Scintilla's shoulders and parted her puffy lips to accept a kiss. Scintilla kissed her lover's forehead instead.

"Sorry Oli" Scintilla said putting her arm around her partner. "Today is the last day of our celibacy. I don't want to break it now after waiting patiently for so long."

"What damage would a little kiss would do? You haven't kissed me for a month" Oliva complained.

"More than you would dare to think. A little kiss now will definitely get us carried away and we will end up in the bed. It's only a few hours to the wedding sweetie. So let's relax"

"Is the ceremony a very long one?"

"Yes Oli, it's long but not boring at all. As have I told you, the first ritual is the bathing ritual where we bathe each other. Actually, the real custom is for the two partners to be bathed separately by slaves or servants. Since we have only the three of us here we have to bathe each-other"

"Mmmmmm I love that part. It's such a long time since we had a bath together"

"Why honey, we did it just before we started our celibacy period"

"Three lunar months, 56 days, that's a long time Scin"

"Yes I know" Scintilla kissed the girl's cheek, fighting the pent up passions inside her.

"What's the purpose of this three month celibacy custom Scintilla? It doesn't make sense."

"Oh yes it does in Druid Tradition. It's to make sure that the girl is not pregnant before the marriage. It would be a major scandal for a groom's parents to find out that their bride is pregnant. Celibacy ensures that a groom is not responsible if the girl appears to be pregnant before the wedding. "

"So why do we have to follow it? You can't make me pregnant you know" Oliva asked laughing.

"It's the ritual." You know how mother is when it comes to traditions. It is unbelievable that she has given her consent to us and that she is conducting the ceremony. So let's do it her way. She has suffered a lot and at least she deserves that happiness"

"Yeah that's true Scin. She deserves it. I saw what had become of your father. I cannot imagine how she lived with a man who ate human flesh and beat her wife with a club, just for the fun of it."

"It wasn't fun for him. He was insane. He did it because he believed it was right thing to do"

"You mother is such a powerful sorceress who could breath life to a dead person. Why didn't she do anything to end her suffering? Why did she bring him back every time the royal guards killed him?"

"It's the Druid tradition Oli. A woman is not supposed to interfere in a man's doings. She is supposed to be faithful and obedient no matter what he did. That is one reason why she agreed to our union in the end. It's because as women we are equal, so that I would never have to put up with such a man"

Oliva leaned on her lover as they walked towards the house thinking what it would be to be married to an unquestionable man. In a way she was like her mother-in-law. She never questioned Scintilla and loved her and cared for her every need. However, unlike Scintilla's father she provided everything for her. Love, sex, attention, comforts, in short, everything any young woman would need.

CHAPTER 2

The candle lit room was locked from inside. The fire was crackling lazily in the fireplace. However, the fire was intense on the two bodies' meshed together, one on top of the other. Their faces buried on each others treasures. The desire was intense after three months of celibacy. They were both approaching climax as they sucked and kissed every nectar laced crevice of each other. Oliva spread her legs further, increasing the access for her lover while Scintilla ground her pussy harder and harder on Oliva's hungry mouth, allowing her to bury her tongue deep.

Oliva was to first to climax. She lifted her legs in to the air and widened them further giving maximum access to Scintilla. Scintilla too started bucking her hips grinding it harder and harder on to Oliva. They simultaneously exploded into massive orgasms, convulsing their bodies as their lips sucked in the nectar that was flowing in abundance.

They relaxed a few minutes, their bodies still meshed together, recovering and catching their breath. Then they turned around and faced each other in the after glow of the beautiful climax, fondling and kissing each other, licking off love juices from the faces.

"Did you like it Oli?"

"Oh yesss Scin. It was wonderful, the best you have given me"

Scintilla smiled and kissed her soul mate's lips. She felt Oliva's long fingers exploring her pussy again. Scintilla moved her leg to give her more access. She started caressing her thick labia and her still-erect rosebud. Scintilla started kneading and sucking Oliva's large firm breasts, still red from the attention they received moments before.

"Please don't leave me again Scintilla"

Oliva said mournfully.

"I won't leave you angel. Never, and you know that"

"I mean you going away Scintilla. Please don't go to Zyla's Castle. I don't want to be a princess in that place. I am always a princess in your arms Scin"

"I know, but you deserve more than that. We have nothing for us Oli. We are living on borrowed time. You can't make much money as sorceress. We cannot reveal too much of our knowledge in black magic because it always made us targets for witch hunts. How many sorceresses have died in stake because they revealed too much of their powers? Besides, Zyla's castle is only a few leagues away. You can see the watch towers if you go to the front porch"

"Besides I have to take revenge from Xena as I swore to my mother for what she did me and my brother. Besides, we will face the wrath of Hera if we failed in our promises to her."

Oliva stopped the conversation at that point. She knew it was pointless taking it further. It's true that she herself wanted to see Xena dead. She promised that herself to Hera the moment she saw the dismembered body of Scintilla in the dark mountain temple. It was horrible what they have done to her. It's also true that they need plenty of money to have a good life. She didn't have any skill to contribute to the family coffer. She was always living off them since the day they fished her out of the sea after the shipwreck almost twenty years ago. Aphropolis is a very expensive city to live in. But Oliva loved to live in here because this is the only city that allowed them to behave like a married couple without attracting unnecessary attention or violence. They didn't have to pretend like sisters or in-laws. They could tongue kiss in the market square and only an occasional out-of-towner would stare at them. Anyway, most out-of -towners were too busy to spend time staring in Aphropolis as almost all were busy with their own concubines.

Her train of thought derailed when Scintilla took something from under the pillow and waved at her.

"Are you ready for this honey?"

Scintilla was waving a wooden phallus with straps attached to wear it like a man's penis. Oliva took it to examine. It was thick, and about ten inches long, but light and had a sweet fragrance.

"It's made out of white sandalwood." Scintilla explained the fragrance

Oliva kissed its polished surface seductively tracing is expertly carved curvatures "It would really fill me"

"Yesss it would and I can't wait" Scintilla said putting the base of the phallus to her public bone. Oliva helped with the straps. Scintilla applied lubricating ointment to Oliva's swollen pussy while Oliva covered the smooth shaft with wax. They kissed standing on their knees while Scintilla brushed the hood of the penis on Oliva's labia building up her anticipation. Soon Oliva was on her all fours and Scintilla was driving all ten inches into the younger woman. Their loud moans were heard late into the night. No one took any notice of their loud moans as every room, house and villa had moans of passion coming out of them till late into the night, in this city dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love.

************************** End of Prologue******************************

CHAPTER I

Caldina looked out of the bedroom window and saw the darkness engulfed royal courtyard and the military barracks at the northern edge of the compound. The barracks are a recent construction to provide security to the palace in the event of a coup attempt or an invasion. Caldina disliked the barracks because a beautiful wooded area was cleared to erect the complex. However, its presence gives her peace of mind after the terrible incidents of the recent past.

The ringing gong calling the soldiers for their evening meal told Caldina that it's quite late. Xena hasn't come home yet. Caldina used to grumble a lot about these late arrivals of Xena, but the events that occurred recently has convinced her of the importance of Xena's job as a security adviser for the kingdom. Even the king's generals respected and depended on Xena's expertise to plan-out the kingdoms defenses and ensure peace and stability.

Suddenly, Caldina remembered that she hasn't taken their "playthings" inside. The "playthings" are the sexual aids they used in their lovemaking. Caldina kept them to dry in the sun in small balcony on the top floor. She rushed to the balcony to take the toys inside before rain or dew ruined them. She brought the well dried items and arranged them in the drawer beside their bed. She selected the "double penis" as tonight's play item. Each night Caldina selected the toy they would use, but some nights they would use more than one.

Caldina loved playing the role of an obedient, faithful wife. She never allowed her faithful maid Celia or any other servant to enter their private living area with their large bedroom, the dining room, bath and the steam room. Celia & the Salves did the cooking and laundry, but Caldina herself did the chores in their living area. It was hard work for a princess, but Caldina loved it because she loved Xena and wanted to be her partner in life in every way. Another reason was that the chores gave her something to do during the long hours of Xena's absence. Added to this was the fact that Xena was a much disorganized messy partner. Every morning Caldina picked up Xena's personal items from places she dropped them last night. Her sword and body amour would be by the front door, her boots and dress would be on the floor of the changing room. Her underwear would be on the bath or toilet. At first, Caldina was surprised that the warrior with such a reputation for thoroughness in the battlefield would be so messy at home, but later she realized that this was due to he nomadic lifestyle Xena was used to since childhood, never staying in one place a day more than required. However, Caldina loved her partner's disorganized lifestyle because it gave her chance to mother Xena. Xena too loved the tender loving care and attention she received from Caldina after years and years of rough life. Caldina washed and cleaned Xena's clothes, underwear, and nightwear using with her own hands. She cleaned and polished her boots and body amour so much that the king's generals nicknamed her "Shining Xena"

She looked around the room. It looked perfect. The sweet smelling vapor from incense burner, the steadily burning fireplace, the yellow dim light of the candles made everything perfect for a long night of love making. Caldina wanted to make tonight special because tomorrow was holiday. She loved holidays because Xena didn't rise early and best of all, she stayed home. Caldina celebrated these holidays in her own special way

Caldina felt a bit tired than usual and decided to lie down. She wore a black silk negligee without underwear She know that these lacy, see-through things made Xena very horny. She wondered why she felt unusually tired and remembered that her periods are due soon. Caldina's periods were quite painful usually lasted more than a week. She had headaches, abdominal cramps and mood swings. On the other hand, Xena's periods gave her no trouble at all. Luckily, Xena was very supportive and cared a lot for Caldina during the difficult days. Moreover, they both usually had their periods during the same week, and that was very comforting to Caldina as Xena lost her libido during her periods. She could cuddle Xena and fall asleep with out worrying about sex. Caldina worried a lot about making Xena happy. That was not because she couldn't satisfy her, but because they might loose that touch of fire that keeps them wanting each other. Caldina dread of a day that they might not want to make love or not enjoy sex with each other.

She took the double penis and lay down and traced the artificial cock with her fingers and tried to remember how it felt inside her the last time. She remembered how Xena inserted one side into her and slowly lowered herself to the other end. She closed her eyes and pictured the way she guided Xena's love spot into the thick shaft. Caldina closed her eyes and started rubbing her erect clitoris. She badly wanted the toy inside her, but withdrew in fear of going too far without her sweetheart. Instead, she pulled it up and started teasing her already erect nipples with it.

Just then Caldina felt a warm tongue on her navel and opened her eyes. Xena was smiling at her. "Do you need any help????" Xena asked tracing her tongue downwards. Caldina's hands guided Xena's head to just the right spot. "MMMMmmmmm OOoooohh Xena!!!!, you are only one who can help me......" Caldina purred as Xena's tongue danced across her clit. Xena drove harder at Caldina's soaking slit. She licked up and down the lips and around the swollen little rose bud that was beginning to blossom under the attention it was getting. Xena gently rubbed her finger around that little rosebud. Caldina cried out, "OOOH! OOOH! OOOH! ......Xena ........That feels so good. OOOH! Don't stop, MMMMmmmmm." Xena moved her other hand up to take those raspberry sized nipples into her fingers and rolled them between her fingers while gently licking the swollen lips, tasting the sweet nectar. Caldina started to buck her hips and press against Xena's finger as it worked its way into her nether lips. Xena started to move her finger in and out slowly twisting it with each stroke. Shoving her face hard against Caldina's wet pussy Xena took the swollen clit into her lips and gently pulled it. Sucking hard and then light. Caldina arched her hips to Xena's mouth. Bucking all over the bed. Xena buried her face into Caldina's pussy and sucked hard, lapping up all the sweet juices. She shoved her finger deep into Caldina's ass. Caldina slowly returned to earth as Xena withdrew her face and finger. She moved up Caldina's smooth flat stomach licking and kissing. As she reached her face she leaned forward and covered Caldina's mouth with her own, parting the lips and tonguing deep into her mouth. Caldina responded with her tongue nipping lightly.

CHAPTER II

Oliva heard a horse driven carriage pull to a stop at her house and look out of the window to investigate. It was Madam Juliana, the landlady of the house she lived and owner of the "Forbidden Castle", the most famous house of pleasure in Aphropolis. She knew almost every one that was worthwhile knowing in the city, including queen Zyla to whom she provided most beautiful girls. She had a lot of influence in the city and had more than hundred houses and mansions rented out to many a rich and famous who wanted to house their secret lovers, mistresses and concubines in this city. She had a lot of influence even in the castle of King Demurius. No small achievement for a forty year old woman who started her life as a teenage whore.

Oliva watched as the slave girls helped Juliana out of the carriage. She was tall, beautiful and looked no more than thirty years old. Juliana preferred to call herself a provider of adult entertainment. She often said, if children can have play grounds, then why not adults. Only difference is adults loved sex games the same way children liked play catch-me-if-you-can. Juliana's "Forbidden Castle" was the largest and the most famous of "adult play grounds".

Juliana wore the traditional dress of a Greek noble-woman. Oliva left the window to receive Juliana as she and her three slave girls approached the front porch. She knew why Juliana was here. She came to collect her monthly rent. For the last two years, her collectors came for the rent. But since last October, after Scintilla and her mother disappeared without a trace from the castle of Zyla, Juliana made it a point to visit personally. She was curious as to why a beautiful Nordic girl lived alone and suddenly having money problems after two years of stay. Juliana made it a point to get to know all masters and mistresses who lodged their lovers in her houses. It was one of her ways of getting to know who's who. With this practice she developed and array of influential contacts with merchants, senators, military men, princes and kings. Juliana never got a chance of getting to know Scintilla who rented the house for Oliva. Scintilla pretended to be a wife of a military general who had an illicit affaire with a girl. She told Juliana that she wanted a safe place for her lover as her jealous husband might have the girl killed. Scintilla made it a point to pay the rent on time, ordered repairs and maintenance work when ever required and stayed out of Juliana's way. It all went wrong when Scintilla and her mother disappeared. In grief and in confusion Oliva forgot to send rent on time. When the collectors showed up she didn't have money and gave a gold bracelet as payment. The collector showed the jewelry to Juliana which fired her curiosity.

Scintilla was Oliva's only source of livelihood and now that she is gone Oliva was almost bankrupt. She was so helpless and desperate; she paid her last month's rent with her wedding necklace, the one that Scintilla put around her neck when they made their wows. Juliana promised to return the necklace as soon as Oliva would come up with some money, but Oliva didn't know how or where to get some money.

Oliva knew that Juliana was interested in employing her in the "Forbidden Castle", thinking that her lover had abandoned her. These type of things happened often and many of those women ended up working for Juliana. She gave an offer to Oliva last month when she handed the necklace as that month's rent. Juliana was a Sappho sister but Oliva was sure that she didn't have any personal attraction to her. All she wanted was the beautiful and helpless girl to please her special clients.

"Hello Juliana"

"Hello Oliva, any news from her?" Juliana asked hugging Oliva

"No" said Oliva with a sigh "It's time to make up your mind Oliva. You can't live like this much longer. You will go deeper and deeper into debt. You know that young, beautiful lass like you cannot survive out of this city all alone"

Oliva didn't answer. But she knew that Juliana was telling the truth. She will not survive, without money, friends or relatives and she had none of those. Besides, she didn't know any worthwhile skill to make a living.

"Did you think about my offer?" Juliana asked breaking the silence. "Don't worry hon, I am not asking you to be a prostitute. You don't have to sleep with men. I promise you that. I have many wealthy and beautiful women who could use the company of a charming woman like you. Many of these women have lovers outside the city who doesn't visit them often. They are kept in this city by their masters and mistresses to prevent their jealous spouses from finding out. It's a nice arrangement, but it leaves a lot of beautiful women lonely and yearning for companionship and sex."

"Rather than betraying their men by inviting other men to their bedrooms, they prefer the companionship of another woman. That's where my girls come to help. They offer love, companionship and sex these lonely souls. Since many women prefer not to visit us, we send our girls to them in covered carriages when there is a request. Unlike men who hire my girls by the hour, these women hire them for days weeks and months. Paid for their men folk who think they are paying an increased house rent"

"You send girls and bill them to the house rent???????" Oliva asked surprised

"Of course dear. It's a trick of the trade. How else would a concubine explain an additional charge for a girl from the "Forbidden Castle" to her master? So, when a lady wants use our services regularly, I write a letter to her master explaining the need for us to increase the rent to keep up with the rising costs. Their wealthy men usually pay up. They prefer paying than upsetting their cozy arrangement.

"What happens if a master wants to move his woman to a cheaper house of another landlord?"

"Well, there is nothing we can do if that happens, but how many women would agree to that without a fight? Men hate these things. They prefer to pay up than go through that"

Oliva couldn't help laughing. "Poor bustards. Things they have to do to keep a concubine. "

Juliana noticed the lighter mood of Oliva and commented. "That's the first time I saw you laughing for the last three months." "Come on honey you can't change what happened. Let's get on with life"

"I am sending a carriage with some slaves to help you move. Please don't think I am trying using your bad situation to an advantage. I definitely love to have you working for me. I pay for my girls well and treat them well. That's why most beautiful women from the surrounding lands end up with me"

"So, will I see you in the evening?" Juliana asked holding up Oliva's chin. Oliva tried to smile through tears and managed a nod. Juliana kissed her forehead and left.

Oliva watched her depart and sat down to contemplate the past events. It all started when her stubborn father embarked on an ill fated campaign to capture the Viking warlord Erikk the Bloodhound, whose sea-faring force plundered the costal towns of Europe. The Viking king, facing invasion from neighboring kingdoms, whose cities suffered under Erikk, approached Oliva's father to help capture Erikk. All her father's friends and relatives advised against helping the king to fight Erikk not only because Erikk was a bloodthirsty murderer but also because the king had a bad reputation of switching alliances and abandoning his own men.

Oliva's father heard none of it and jumped at the chance of getting even with his old rival. For a short time everything seemed to be going right. Oliva's father destroyed meny of Erikk's ships in a number of sea battles and destroyed all villages that served as supply and support bases for Erikk. He was hot on Erikk's trail and the capture was imminent. It seemed that Erikk's days were numbered. Then, the unthinkable happened. Erikk signed peace treaty with the king and offered his services to build up the king's fledgling armada. The plunderer became the king's admiral with a license to kill Oliva's father.

Erikk murdered Oliva's father at his own house when he was begging for his life. Oliva and her brother saw it all. Their mother hid them under a bed before running to beg for her husband's life. They killed her father and gang raped her unconscious mother. The only reason why Erikk didn't kill her mother was because she was a distant relative of the king. Erikk didn't want to take a chance with his unpredictable king. So he raped her and let her live.

Oliva's mother left for Rome where her sister was married to a Senator. On the way, the ship was destroyed when it rammed into an uncharted rock in a severe storm. Oliva survived for days floating on a wooden beam. She never saw her mother or brother. Oliva was rescued by a small boat. She was unconscious at the time of rescue. When she regained her consciousness she saw a woman tending her wounds and a beautiful young girl, sponging her body with warm water. It was Scintilla and her mother. They cared for Oliva and invited her to live with them after hearing her story. Oliva was seven and Scintilla was twenty when they met. Oliva was twenty-seven and Scintilla was forty when they married. That was two years ago.

Oliva grew up in Rome where Scintilla's mother was a prosperous healer and a soothsayer. Oliva worshipped Scintilla as her protective and possessive big sister until they became lovers. They made love for the first time when Oliva was sixteen. After that they were more like a married couple, Scintilla being the dominant partner. Scintilla's mother detested and despised her daughter's unconventional union. However, their love and perseverance overcame the mother's opposition. Life was happy and beautiful until Oliva was twenty five, when trouble started again.

Oliva's mother heard that Princess Xena, together with an alliance of five regional armies was amassing near Constantinople to fight the evil king Zoras, also known as "the maggot". Scintilla's brother Hadrian was the commander of the Zoras's army. Zoras and Hadrian were famous for their ruthless conquests and horrible treatment for prisoners and the people they conquered. Hadrian ran away from home to escape his father's abuses when he was thirteen. Soon after that Scintilla and her mother too abandoned the insane man and left for Rome. It was during this journey that they picked up Oliva from the shipwreck. Hadrian traveled to Constantinople and joined the army of King Titus. He soon became a good friend of with Zoras, the third son of Titus. Zoras, a ruthless and power hungry schemer, killed his father and the two brothers and took the throne with the aid of Hadrian. He rewarded Hadrian with the post of commander of the army for his support. Together they started what was known as the endless wars where they conquered lands and ripped off their wealth and women which they brought back to their kingdom. The wealth bankrolled the growing army and financed more wars and women served as slaves. The men were either slaughtered or forcibly recruited to the army.

When Scintilla's mother heard that princess Xena and her armies have surrounded Zoras's fort, she predicted the end of Zoras's reign and wanted to save her son's life from death at the hands of Xena's victorious army. Xena had been fighting Zoras's tyranny for some time and was eager to finish him off. Scintilla's mother journeyed to Constantinople to beg for her son's life from Xena. Apparently, Xena agreed not to kill Hadrian but had told that he would have to be arrested and charged for murder, rape and pillage. However, Xena went back on her promise and killed Hadrian. Scintilla's mother saw the killing from her own eyes and swore that it was Xena who thrust the sword that killed Hadrian. She swore at the ancient temple of Hera, the evil goddess that she would kill Xena. When she came home, she mourned the death of Hadrian for months and made Scintilla swear in the name of Hera that she would avenge her brother's death by taking the life of Xena.

The first attempt to avenge Hadrian's death was when Scintilla moved into King Demurius's palace as a healer and seduced him. She planned to charm the old king into marrying her. Her plan was to become the queen and try Xena for killing Hadrian in the royal court. King Demurius was chosen because Xena had fallen in love with Caldina, the step daughter of Demurius's and was living in a mansion close by the palace. The plot was discovered and they had Scintilla killed and her body cut into pieces. Scintilla's mother, being a powerful sorceress, managed to recover the parts and resurrected her.

Oliva never forgot the sight of Scintilla's mother bringing the dead body of Scintilla in a gunny sack to the temple in the dark mountains they were living at that time. Oliva fainted on seeing the dismembered body of the woman she loved. That was the second time she saw someone she loved cut in to pieces. First was her father and now it was the only person she loved. Oliva helped Scintilla's mother to put together Scintilla's body parts sewing them into a complete body before the life breathing ritual. She prayed and wept the seven days that took the sorceress to breathe life into her dead daughter. Oliva actually didn't believe it could be done and swore revenge and prayed Hera to help her avenge her death. She hadn't seen the old sorceress performing this miracle to her husband, the "Beastman". Scintilla didn't tell Oliva the fact that the beastman was her father until after her resurrection.

Scintilla's mother moved back to Rome after the royal guards killed Scintilla's father for the Seventh time and burnt his body so he couldn't rise again. At that time no one knew that it was his wife that was resurrecting the killed man. Everyone thought that the man was rising from the dead.

However, her stay in Rome was short because Xena was leading the charge against Zoras's fortress. She went to Constantinople to save her son from imminent death. When she returned she was burning in anger at Xena's desecration of the promise she had given her. She got Scintilla to swear in the name of Hera to avenge her brother's death and the rest was history.....

Oliva got up from the chair with determination. Scintilla's death has to be avenged. The woman who took away her soul mate for the second time and killed her loving mother had to die, what ever the cost is. The only way to accomplish this is to accept Juliana's offer. All this time Oliva waited thinking that she would get some message from Scintilla. Last time she saw her beloved "Scin" was few hours before the ceremony to sacrifice Xena. She managed to slip out of Zyla's palace to meet her and tell that they had captured Xena and it will be all over by morning. She wanted her to be ready to come to Zyla's place when she sent a carriage for her. When Oliva didn't receive a message and the promised carriage didn't show up at her house she became alarmed. A message from Demurius's palace revealed that Xena was safe and sound in the palace. Oliva thought Scintilla and mother may have escaped after the plot was bared and waited for a message. Days became weeks and months and it was three months to date. Oliva knew that Scintilla couldn't stay more than a few days without seeing her. She slipped out of the palace every other day to see her and she never missed seeing Oliva for longer than three days for the whole of last two years. Oliva knew that Scintilla lived in a palace full of beautiful, lusty Sapphic women. She has told her how lustful Zyla is. But it never bothered Oliva because she knew that Scintilla loved her and that was enough for her.

"It might take me years and years, but I will avenge the deaths of Scintilla and mother" Oliva thought. "It is time to end the weeping and mourning."

Oliva began to ready herself to board the carriage Juliana promised to send in the evening....

CHAPTER III

Princess Tara ran the palace with the help of her matrons for the three months during which queen Zyla was indisposed. During this time she didn't have much time to spend with the queen and Tara entrusted Imara of the task of caring for the queen at her absence. The young girl did a very good job of this and often took the role of Zyla's primary sex partner during Tara's frequent absences. Young Imara's rapid ascension as the queen's new princess was bitterly resented by other beauties that were waiting in the wings to take their queen's side. Amonã was the worst affected by Imara's ascension. She was Zyla's other princess before Scintilla appeared in the scene and unceremoniously ejected her.

Amonã is a luscious beauty from the court of Pharaoh Aknaton. She was one the pharaoh's favorite consorts, but was exiled from the kingdom for attempting to seduce the king's young daughter. Amonã became Zyla's object of desire after seeing her at Madam Juliana's "Forbidden Castle" where Amonã ended up working after her exile. Zyla quickly appointed the Egyptian beauty as her princess. Amonã had a loving relationship with princess Tara who was a well groomed princess from Athens. How ever Amonã was unable to gain the queen's attention after Scintilla's sudden appearance. Despite fervent appeals, she was shunned by the queen. Even attempts by Tara to have justice done failed as she too fell into Scintilla aphrodisiac spell. Scorned and bitter, Amonã was plotting with other jealous beauties, a scheme to get rid of Scintilla. However, before her plan could be put into action Amonã fell into a bizarre illness which left her paralyzed from her waist downwards. Her paralysis failed her coup. Many of her fellow plotters fell in line with Scintilla and started treating Scintilla as their Princess in return for her favors. Amonã's illness faded away as the palace population started discovering that princess Scintilla has left, leaving behind many unanswered questions. Unfortunately, just as Amonã tried to get back to the arms of Zyla, Imara, newly arrived slave girl from her own homeland took away her opportunity for the second time.

CHAPTER IV

Queen Zyla's favorite chamber in the palace was the venue for uninhibited lust for Zyla's inner circle. It is the place where they showed off their lovers and slaves. A place where they exhibited their love making skills or the skills of their lovers and slaves. It was spacious but cozy and had just the right atmosphere for a lustful night for Zyla's inner most circle of associates. The room had a huge bed which covered an entire corner of the chamber. There were numerous loveseats for the lovers to relax and enjoy lovemaking. Zyla was relaxing on the sofa after dinner, flanked by Tara and Imara. Imara, though young and immature, has taken the place of Scintilla after her demise. She has the blessings of Tara, who loves the young girl and she earned the favor of Zyla while nursing her during her recovery after the massacre at Hera's temple. Fortunately for Tara, Zyla has only a very vague memory of Scintilla as well as the events that led to the bloodbath at the temple. This fact deepened Tara's devotion for Zyla as she realized the extent to which Scintilla had bewitched Zyla to achieve her own cruel ends.

A young girl lay on the floor with her legs wide spread. Her breasts were small and firm with her small pink nipples swollen with anticipation. A closer look showed that her smooth and glistening love nest was ready for a hungry tongue. She lay on a thick red carpet in front of the queen's sofa. A beautiful brunette was caressing the young virgin girl and her expert hands weren't missing a single curve in the young maiden's body. Already, the young virgin had forgotten her shyness of having to lay naked in front of her queen. Her desire replaced her fears and her hand was caressing the older beauty's moist love nest. She was trying to encourage the older woman to get on top of her and take her to heaven. However, the black haired beauty had other things on her mind. She was merely putting on a show to get the attention of the queen. Unable contain herself at the sight of Imara robbing her of her rightful place as Zyla's princess, she left the young girl and walked over to Zyla.

She started kissing and licking Zyla's feet knowing that she loved it. Her past experience as Zyla's princess has taught her the likings of Zyla. However, the queen was too busy with Imara, kissing, suckling and fondling the young girl's immature body. To make matters worse, Tara has taken possessing of Zyla's breasts and was slowly moving towards the queen's treasure. Together, they weren't giving any time for Zyla to concentrate on Amonã's administrations. She tried in vain to make the queen invite her once again to her fold. Failing in her desperate attempts to gain Zyla's attention, she stormed out of the chamber leaving her embarrassed maiden abandoned on the chamber floor. Luckily for the young girl, Lydia, a matron who has been longing for the pleasures of a young girl came to the rescue. She took the girl's hand and led her out of the chamber. Relieved to be out of that embarrassment, the girl faithfully followed the shapely figure that was leading her. Lydia's hungry tongue was exploring the virgin's labia as Tara led her queen and Imara to the bed that was waiting for them, signaling the other guests to leave for their bedrooms.

Amonã, who didn't go far after storming out of the queen's chamber, was on her way back with a decanter of wine to take away the girl she left behind. She desperately wanted to vent her bottled up passion and she intended to use the new girl for that. However, when Amonã tried to open the closed doors of the chamber, two gladiator women who were guarding the entrance, blocked her way. Enraged at this show of disrespect at a princess, Amonã charged ahead and forced the doors open, but froze on her tracks after glimpsing the scene that was unfolding on her queen's bed.

Tara was assisting Zyla to wear a wooden and leather penis. The foot long phallus glistened in the candle light with a thick coat of wax Imara had applied. Tara was adjusting the straps of the instrument while Imara eagerly prepared herself applying plenty of scented oil to both her openings, not knowing which one the queen will enter first. The young woman stood on her all fours as Tara messaged her cunt lips to prepare them for her queen. She then gently guided Zyla's hips, plunging the phallus into the girl's canal. Imara bit her lips and grunted in pleasure as the artificial organ invaded her. Tara directed her queen's hips in a slow rocking motion while massaging Imara's erect clitoris.

Amonã, seeing her last chance to be Zyla's princess evaporate in front of her eyes, lost her self control and tried to storm into the chamber. She was stopped by the queen's bodyguards who were ordered not to allow anybody to disturb the queen and her consorts. The two large women dragged the kicking and screaming Amonã away. Luckily, the three lovers lost in their own passionate world were not disturbed by the commotion. Tara heard a woman's outburst but was unalarmed as she thought it to be a catfight among jealous lovers. Those were very common in this palace of more than three hundred beautiful women full of jealousy and lust.

CHAPTER V

Oliva looked out of the window as the spacious carriage stopped to enter through a pair of huge gates. The gates opened and the carriage entered a compound separated by another wall and another pair of smaller gates. Oliva noticed that the gate keepers of the smaller gate were women. "This must be Juliana's women's hostel." Oliva thought as the horse driven carriage stopped under a large patio.

Two girls ran to the carriage to help Oliva out.

"Welcome madam Oliva" The girls said bowing simultaneously.

Oliva was pleasantly surprised at the warm welcome. She never expected such a thing especially because she was coming to work. Oliva took a moment to look around; trying to familiarize the place she will be calling home for a long time to come. If she was surprised at the in initial welcome she received, she was more surprised seeing the beautiful, well manicured garden with benches and summer-houses. She saw large number of girls walking around in groups and couples laughing and enjoying the cool evening. There were couples of young women kissing and fondling each other. She even saw a few working on their lover's breasts. "Juliana was right, she really treated these girls well" Oliva thought as she followed the two slave girls into a spacious reception chamber.

"Hello Oliva! Welcome to Forbidden Castle. I am Sitã, head mistress for the girl's hostel"

Sitã hugged Oliva and said "I hope the journey wasn't too uncomfortable."

"Oh no, the journey was a short one and the carriage was very comfortable"

"Please follow me. I will take you our living quarters."

Oliva followed the beautiful woman, studying her. She had a strange name and though her complexion was dark like many women from Egypt and other hotter lands, her features were quite different. She was shorter than Oliva and had long jet black hair arranged in to a neat bun. Her skin was smooth, breasts large and bouncy and she had prominent buttocks too. She also noticed that her eyes were as black as her hair. Her voice was soft and had a tinge of sadness in it though she spoke quite cheerfully.

"Here we are! This is my quarters and this is where you will be staying too. I hope you like it."

Oliva noticed that the two beds were placed adjoining each other. Sitã saw that Oliva noticed it and quickly explained..... "Don't worry about the bed, I will have them separated at once. You see, Me and the last girl who was here was much more than friends, she's gone now but I didn't bother moving the bed..........."

"Why did she leave?" Asked Oliva.

"Well" Sitã began with a sad smile, " she found a rich lover, a mistress of a senator. The senator brought her to this city when his wife found out about his affair and forced him give her up. The poor man didn't come to see her often since Rome so far away. So, she hired our girls and Kira was serving her for a long time. Last year the old man died leaving a large estate and a mansion for his mistress. The woman asked Kira to join her in that estate and she did..."

"I will have your bed moved before bedtime" Sitã said, sitting down on her side of the bed with a gloomy face, remembering her lover.

"NOoo!! Leave it the way it is. You wouldn't bite me would you???" Oliva joked trying to cheer up the woman.

"Oh no I won't" Sitã smiled cheering up.

"Why don't you change in to something comfortable and we can go to the steam room. Steam does wonderful things to your body you know. That's the changing room" Sitã pointed to a wooden door. "Since we are going to the steamer, change into a cotton gown. You will find a fitting one in the wardrobe."

When Oliva emerged from the room, she saw Sitã changed into a similar cotton dress.

"Lets go" Sitã took Oliva's hand and led her. They passed dozens of rooms in three floors. She could see singles, couples and threesomes moving in and out of these rooms.

"Are all these rooms living quarters or do you entertain clients in some rooms?"

"These are only for living. This is the hostel. Clients are forbidden here."

"But there are so many rooms."

"We have close to two hundred girls living on this side of the hostel. This side is reserved for girls who entertain lesbian clients."

"So many girls especially for Sapphic women?"

Oh yes Oli, there are more Sapphic sisters out there than you and I can imagine. These girls here are forbidden to entertain men. The other side of the hostel is reserved for girls who entertain male clients. Madam Juliana doesn't want to see the girls of the two sides mixing. So even the gardens are separated by a high wall."

"Why is that?"

"Madam is with the opinion that Sapphic girls are purer than the girls who sleep with men. You might be surprised to know that Juliana is a descendant of a consort of Queen Sappho."

"Here we are" Sitã said opening a heavy wooden door. The girl at the reception counter stood up and smiled.

"Hello mistress Sitã, I am seeing you after a long time"

"Yes Ria, I couldn't come this way for a long time. Can we have two sets of towels and some oil please?"

"Here you are"

Sitã picked up the towels and the bottle of oil."Follow me Oliva. This way for the changing rooms"

They removed their cotton gowns, under garments and wrapped the large towels around their bodies. Sitã took Oliva by hand and opened the door to the steam room. It was a dimly lit large hall and was covered in thick haze of steam. They waited for a moment for their eyes to adjust to the dim light. Sitã led Oliva to the other end of the room which was almost empty. They passed rows of wooden benches where couples, threesomes and foursomes were in unhindered love making. Oliva felt a tingling at her loins.

"We'll sit here Oli" Sitã said pointing to a bench. There were only two couples in the vicinity. One couple was kissing passionately. What the other two were doing sent a shudder through Oliva's body. One girl kneeled on the bench with her ass high and wide in the air. Her lover was licking and tonguing lovingly, all the way from her treasure to her tight ass and back. Oliva was hypnotized by this sight till she felt Sitã's warm tongue in her ear. Oliva didn't resist encouraging Sitã to work on the knot that held Oliva's towel. Oliva helped her by getting up and letting the towel fall. Sitã guided Oliva to sit on her lap. They kissed each others lips and breasts alternatively. Sitã loved Oliva's pink color rosebuds and Oliva found Sitã's large black knots very erotic.

Soon they were ready to move on further. Sitã laid Oliva on the bench and started working her way down. Oliva widened her legs allowing full access to Sitã. As Sitã's warm tongue entered Oliva it sent a chill through her spine. For the first time in her life, a woman other than Scintilla was entering her. There was no stopping now. She closed her eyes and started stroking Sitã's silky hair encouraging her. To Oliva's delight, Sitã didn't stop at her labia and went further, just like the girl on the next bench. Soon Oliva was accepting Sitã's beautiful dark treasure. She grabbed with both her hands and welcomed it with her hungry tongue. Soon their moans of climax mixed with other moans echoing around.

Oliva didn't remember how long had passed. She was on Sitã's with Sitã lovingly messaging Oliva's breasts. "Time to go for the bath baby" she whispered.

"Mmmmmm do we have to?" Oliva asked feeling lazy to move.

"Yes we have to, but we can do the same thing over there too" Sitã said kissing Oliva's forehead.

CHAPTER VI

Amonã lay on the bed, her head propped up by a couple of pillows. The half empty wine decanter was on the bedside table. She was spread-eagle, her voluptuous body glistening in sweat. There was a young woman kneeling beside her on the bed. She wore a blue color precious stone around her neck which identified her as a mistress in the castle. All women in Zyla's castle had to wear a stone which identified their status. The woman messaged Amonã's large breasts with expert hands, pulling and pinching her erect nipples. Amonã purred in pleasure with her eyes half closed.

"MMmmmm it feels sooooo good" Amonã moaned

"Like to taste your princess's crack Ria?" Amonã asked with a mischievous smile.

"Oh Yes it's been a long time since you asked me to do that..." girl said, helping her princess to turn over. Amonã grabbed a pillow to rest her head and kneeled on the bed with her legs wide spread, giving the young woman full access to the nether part of her body. The girl started her duty, lovingly tracing her tongue along the dark crevice of her Egyptian princess. Amonã whimpered, biting the soft pillow as the girl paid due attention to her tight nether lips. She humped, wiggled and moaned as the girl bought her to a massive climax.

Amonã slumped down, spent, after the crashing orgasm. She sat on the bed with her back against the headboard and poured a glass of wine as the girl licked off the love nectar of her princess. Amonã lovingly stroked the hard-working girl's hair. Ria was Amonã's first slave girl, the one who served her every whim and fancy since her days at Pharaoh Aknaton's court. Ria left with Amonã after her expulsion from the royal palace. She was very loyal and was the only one who cared for Amonã during her long illness.

"You are the only one I have Ria; now that Queen has disavowed me again." Amonã said in a husky voice, looking into her lover's eyes.

"You were wronged for the second time princess. Can't we do something?" "I can kill that new slut who has taken your rightful place...If you give me permission.........." Ria hissed, her face reddish with anger.

"Shhhh are you trying to get us both beheaded????"

"No princess but I saw how they treated you today.....Dragging you away like a thief"

Amonã sighed "Yes but we have to be cautious"

"But princess how......" Amonã grabbed the girl's face and kissed her before she could finish her protest.

Ria was a fearless fighter trained by the Pharos's army to protect the queen and the princesses of the royal court. However, her military career ended when she fell in love with the luscious beauty, Amonã.

Amonã feared that Ria would do something rash and they could be exiled from the palace by Zyla. After today's treatment by the gladiator women, Amonã knew that she had no influence what so ever and was merely guest in the palace now. Any rash action would ruin everything for them.

"Your mouth is dry. Are you thirsty love?" Amonã asked holding the girl's chin.

"Some wine would help..." Ria said looking at the decanter.

"I have some thing better than wine..."

Ria looked at Amonã's face and understood what she was referring to "MMMMmmmmm lets go princess"

Ria took her princesses hand and dragged her to their private bath. She kneeled down under her princess. Amonã put one leg on the shoulder of her kneeling lover. She opened up and a stream of the warm liquid splashed across Ria's face. Ria opened her mouth catching most of the precious liquid, streaming from the innards of her beautiful princess.

CHAPTER VII

"Rise and shine sweetheart"

Oliva opened her eyes, her head groggy. She squinted her eyes as she looked at the sunlit window.

"What time is it?"

"Late than you think" Sitã said beaming at her. She was dressed as if she was going out.

"AAaaahh why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Oliva asked yawning.

"You were sleeping like an angel. I just couldn't bring myself to disturb you. Besides to day is your rest day" Sitã said, sitting down on the bed with a steaming cup of coriander leaf brew.

"Thanks" Oliva said kissing her new lover. "Are you going somewhere?" Oliva asked looking at Sitã's dress.

"Yes, I have to go to the Palace of King Demurius's to deliver some slave girls we have trained here"

"Demurius's palace???" Oliva asked, her heart beating fast. That's where her enemy Xena lives. Oliva was thinking of a plan to go there herself, and sensing her chance, she acted fast.

"CCan I join you??, I mean if its its ok??" Oliva stuttered.

"Of course you can. I didn't think of asking you 'cos it's a bit of a long journey along rain washed roads."

"Id love to join you. I need to get some fresh air"

"That's great. I hate these journeys 'cos they are sooo boring. I have to sit in the carriage and do nothing for hours. Now I can have you for company"

"What are these slave girls for?? Are they sex slaves?"

"Oh no, if they are sex slaves, they'd be going to Zyla's palace, not Demurius's palace. These are tribal girls who were sold to slavery by their parents. We taught them manners, trained them for cooking, washing and other chores and our language. Those will be their duties at the palace."

"Do you visit Zyla's palace often?"

"No, not often. But I do have an invitation next week for a banquet for Princess Tara's birthday. Zyla is throwing a banquet and has invited Juliana. Juliana doesn't like to attend Zyla's sex parties, so wanted me to attend and represent her." "Would you like to join me?"

"I'd love to" Oliva said thanking Hera for these opportunities.

Oliva couldn't believe her luck. Not only she is getting a chance to visit her enemy's home turf, but also visit the place where her soul mate took her last breath. Oliva felt tears filling up her eyes and struggled to fight them back. She wiped her face with the pillow and got up. She was scared that she would have a difficulty in controlling herself at Zyla's palace. It would be very difficult not to ask what happened from Zyla & Tara, with whom Scintilla spend her last moments. Did they help Xena to kill her lover? If they killed her where is she buried? Within the castle compound or did they dump the body some where? Oliva knew she had to find the answers to these difficult questions before chasing Xena.

Journey to Demurius's palace was uneventful. The carriage in which Oliva and Sitã traveled led while the coach with the girls followed them. They chatted, kissed and fondled. Oliva learned a lot about Sitã and started truly liking this beautiful and caring woman. Oliva saw Xena practicing with her troops in the military courtyard. She was training her new recruits with hand to hand combat techniques. Oliva watched the tall, powerfully built warrior princess grabbing tough young men and throwing them on to the ground with ease.

"How am I going to fight this woman?" "I have to find a way to defeat this woman without directly confronting her" "I will never be able to try her for her crimes like Scintilla wanted to do" "The only way is to find a weakness, a way to rend her helpless." "I will tell her why she has to die, and give her a chance to explain her actions before killing her.........." Scintilla was so lost in her thoughts staring at Xena; she was startled when Sitã called her.

"You look like you have seen a ghost" "You haven't seen Xena before??"

"No, I haven't"

"She lives up to her fame doesn't she?" "Do you find her attractive?" Sitã asked.

"Oh no, too aggressive for my tastes"

"I thought you were staring at her because you find her very attractive........."

"Nooooo, not at all. I don't find masculine women attractive. But I am amazed at her skills"

"That would be a relief for Caldina. She has a lot of competition. If you are attracted to Xena that'd be bad news for me too..." Sitã said, laughing.

Oliva smiled, holding Sitã's hand for support thinking as she got into the carriage. "Caldina would become a nervous wreck if she got to know my plans for her Xena..."

CHAPTER VIII

Oliva looked around her client's bedroom for a blanket to cover the naked woman. She'd be sleeping like a baby till morning, thanks to the sleeping powder Sitã had given. Sitã gave it to Oliva to calm unruly, dominant clients. "A pinch into wine is enough to put an elephant to sleep" Sitã told giving it to her as Oliva got ready for her first night-out with a client. This was her third night with this woman; there were two more days to go.

Oliva took out a black workers uniform from her bag and dressed up. She rolled her long hair into a tight bun and covered her head with a large black scarf. A pair of black worker-boots smuggled into the house completed her disguise as a sanitary works supervisor. Sanitary workers worked through the night, cleaning the city and never aroused suspicion when seen anywhere at anytime in the night. Finding a horse for the journey was Oliva's biggest problem. She solved it by persuading the woman to hire a horse saying she loved to ride. The poor woman obliged.

Oliva rode fast passing the residential areas. She had to cross the city center to reach Zyla's palace. Oliva knew the risk she is taking. If she was caught trying to enter Zyla's palace or inside the palace, it would mean certain death.

Oliva tied up the horse in a wooded area close to the palace wall and scaled the wall with difficulty. She ran to the tree she observed on her visit last week to the banquet. It was a garden party and that helped Oliva to map out a plan to enter the castle. Scintilla had described the palace well to Oliva. Those details with coupled with her own observations helped her to have a good idea about where she should be going and where to expect trouble.

Oliva climbed the tree with great difficulty; she hadn't climbed a tree since childhood and was gasping for breath when she reached the first branch. She moved further up to a branch that was level with an open window. A dim candle light was streaming from the window, telling Oliva that its occupants were still awake. She looked in to the room and saw a woman in her forties lying on the bed. She was naked and there was a young girl between her legs, serving the woman. The girl kneeled between the woman's wide open legs, snaking her tongue up and down the woman's love canal, taking time to play with the rosebud. Oliva was so close to the window, she could clearly see the young girl's well shaved labia and the puckered nether lips. There was another woman, about the same age as the woman being serviced, seated on the bed kissing her. Oliva paused momentarily to enjoy the view, but moved on as time was precious.

She heaved, and pushed her way up to a branch with was level with the roof and struggled onto the copper sheeted top. Oliva started walking quietly, on all limbs, towards the eastern end of the castle. She knew the direction from what Scintilla had told her. If her reckoning was right, she would be on the roof of Hera's temple in a few moments. Scintilla had told her that the temple was built as a single story, though the rest of the palace was built into two stories. Oliva knew that this meant a very high roof and climbing down to the temple ground would be dangerous and difficult. Any slip in climbing down and she would fall to her death. On the other hand if her bearings were wrong, she could be prying open the roof of a room full of horny women.

Oliva sat down upon reaching her destination and started loosening a copper sheet. Underneath the copper sheet was a wooden ceiling. The wood was rotten and Oliva could see large cracks. She peered through the cracks for any signs of life. She couldn't see the ground in the darkness below.

"Oliva...... this is it girl......." She muttered to herself as she pulled out another copper sheet to make enough room for her to squeeze through. With little more effort Oliva loosened the rotten wooden planks of the ceiling and securely tied one end of the long rope she carried with her to a wooden support beam. Oliva put on a pair of thick gloves made of buffalo hide. She held the rope tightly and lowered herself gingerly from the roof. She descended slowly, her heart pounding with the fear of landing in someone's bedroom instead of the temple. Oliva bit her lip and shut her eyes tightly when she felt the tip of her boot touching the ground. She stood motionless trying to gain her bearings. Oliva took a step backwards, moving away from the rope as her eyes adjusted to the pitch black surroundings.

Oliva sat down and fished out a small packet containing a piece of cotton wool, a piece of flint and a piece of metal from her pocket. She placed the cotton wool on the floor and struck the flint with the metal to produce a spark. The cotton ignited on her third attempt and Oliva lighted a well oiled torch she carried from the burning cotton. Her eyes took a little time to adjust to the bright light. She looked around and saw the devastated temple, confirming her worst fears.

Oliva saw a number of candles in their holders and lighted them all illuminating the dark temple with candle light. First thing she noticed was the sealed doorway which had been walled from outside. There were twelve ropes hanging down from the roof, just like the one she descended from. There was evidence of carnage all around. Blood splattered walls told Oliva that her loved ones died a violent death. "They were ambushed from the roof. But who were the ambushers?" Oliva asked herself. However, she didn't have to search long for answers. Oliva picked up a dagger with the seal of King Demurius's. Oliva knew that high ranking men of the king's army carried similar daggers.

"They were Xena's men" Oliva concluded. "But how did they know?" Oliva knew Scintilla's plan to the letter. They worked out the details together. They planned to make sure that no one followed when Xena was captured brought here. That's why Caldina was to be killed with Xena to prevent her from raising the alarm. Oliva didn't like killing an innocent woman, but Scintilla insisted it to erase the possibility of her raising the alarm. The archer and the snake were used to throw Xena out of balance and lead her into thinking that there is an assassination attempt. They both knew the risks of alerting Xena but they weighted the risks and planned it minutely.

All of the sudden it dawned to Oliva that she had committed a terrible mistake by letting Scintilla carryout this plan. She could have stopped it. Scintilla would have listened to her. Their love was so deep that she always listened and respected Oliva's views. "All I had to do was to tell her no. She would have listened to me even at the expense of angering the mother." "Instead I helped her to plan her own death trap, foolishly thinking that Scintilla was invincible with her mother's sorcery" Oliva started sobbing uncontrollably. She slumped on to the ground and wept, her streaming tears mixing with blood stains of her fallen soul mate.

Oliva wasn't sure how long she wept, but she felt invigorated after being on the floor which was covered with blood of her sweet woman. This was the closest she would ever get to Scintilla again. Oliva picked up the dagger she found earlier and cut her wrist. She let her dripping blood fall onto the blood stains of her beloved "Scin", mixing them and uniting them for eternity.

"I will finish what you started my love. I will avenge your death, I will, I will, I will....."

Oliva tore off a piece of rag and bandaged her wound. She scoured the floor looking for bits and pieces that belong to the woman she loved. She found pieces of Scintilla's black pearl necklace, her gold bracelet, and mother's hair pins and prayer scrolls. Oliva gathered all she could find and put them into a small pouch she carried around her waist. She looked around for one last time, the place where her family took their last breath. She wished she could stay longer, but the time was running out.

Oliva turned to leave, her eyes blurred by the streaming tears. As she turned, a small copper vessel hit her boot and rolled away noisily. Her eyes focused on to the vessel and noticed a roll of papyrus jutting out of its mouth. Oliva picked it up thinking that it is part of the prayer scrolls. She opened the unbound scroll hoping to see ancient druidian script in which the prayers were written. Instead, she had in her hand a hurriedly scribbled note which read;

"Dear Tara

We killed both of them and severed their heads. We will burn them today and scatter their ashes to the wind in the evening. We worked to your plan and got out of your palace without detection. The musketeers are loyal and sworn for secrecy. The rest is up to you. You would be advised to have a convincing cover story ready to explain Zyla what happened. Good Luck and Thank you for risking your life to help me and Caldina. You will always find us your sincere friends from hereafter and we will always be there when ever you need us. - Xena"

Oliva's head started spinning. "It was Tara!! She's the one who had them killed by tipping off Xena!!!!!" "Bitch" Oliva spat, she body wrenching in anger. Her first thought was to get into the palace and kill Tara, but her brain ruled over her heart. "No, that will get me killed and Xena will live happily ever after. The betrayer and the murderer both must die together" Oliva grabbed the rope and slowly pulled herself up.

CHAPTER IX

Tara sipped a glass of wine watching young Imara rolling up the bedspread over Queen Zyla. The exhausted queen fell asleep after a long session of horseplay with a bevy of beauties. Tara hasn't had a single orgasm yet. Usually, she played the role of matron, helping and guiding others to pleasure the queen. Once the queen is satisfied and fallen asleep, Tara usually snuggled up into some young girl's arms for her own satisfaction.

Imara finished her chore and returned. Tara took the slender nymph's hand and pulled her to her lap. But before they could start anything a slave girl entered the chamber.

"Why are you here at this hour?"

"There is an urgent message for you princess. The messenger insisted that you be given this message at once" The slave girl replied as she kneeled with her head bowed. Imara took the tightly bound scroll from the slave girl and dismissed her. She gave Tara the scroll and stayed back to give her princess the privacy to read the message.

"I have to visit someone and must leave immediately"

"Leave immediately princess?" It's very late.

"I know child but I must meet her. She did a great favor for me and our queen not long ago. Now she needs my help. I must see her at once."

"May I ready you carriage princess?"

"No Imara, not the carriage. Tell them to prepare a small buggy with a single horse and a driver. The road will be too soggy for a heavy carriage"

There was a steady drizzle and a strong wind so the driver had covered the small buggy with leather sheeting. Tara told the driver her destination. She couldn't see where they were going but trusted the faithful driver to take her there as quickly as possible. The elderly man was one of the few male workers that lived within the palace compound.

Tara pulled another robe around her as the leather coverings of the buggy offered little protection from the biting cold wind. Tara wondered why Xena wanted to meet her in such a hurry, especially at this ungodly hour, in this terrible weather. The message didn't have much detail. The only thing it said was "Come to the castle to see me. I need your help and your presence tonight is extremely important." Xena wasn't a person who asked for help easily. So this must be a matter of great importance Tara thought

The buggy came to a halt suddenly and Tara felt the driver getting down.

"Princess, there is something on the road. I will have a look."

A few moments later Tara felt the driver climbing in again and the buggy started moving.

"Daaru what was the problem?" Tara asked. She waited for the reply but none came. "May be the old man didn't hear me". Anyway, we are moving again that's the most important thing at this time, in this weather.

CHAPTER X

Tara felt the buggy turning and stopping. She peeped through the leather canvas to see weather they have arrived at the palace gate. She couldn't see the massive gates or the sound of the guards. Tara pulled the canvas away to get a better look. Some thing was wrong. They weren't at the castle; they were at some derelict house.

"Daaru, where are we? Why did we stop here?"

The small buggy swayed as the driver got down. But instead of her familiar hunchbacked Daaru, a tall figure with a black robe covering head to toe appeared. Tara couldn't see the face due to the hood. A chill ran through Tara spine as she saw the massive sword.

"Get out" The stranger commanded in a sharp female voice, pointing the large saber at her.

"Who are you and what do you want form me?" Tara asked, picking up courage.

"Get out and don't try anything" "I have someone I like you to meet. She isn't here yet, so I'll have to keep you waiting for some time"

The stranger led Tara from behind into a house which was illuminated by a few dim candles. She pushed Tara into a room and bound her to a wooden pillar that held the roof of the old house.

After tying her, the strange woman forced a large ball of cotton in to her mouth and disappeared. She heard a horse galloping away.

CHAPTER XI

"That was wonderful" Caldina said stroking the sweat covered body of Xena. She was breathing fast, her hardened breasts moving up and down with each breath.

"It was great for me too.." Xena said with smile, relaxing in the afterglow of a beautiful climax. Caldina caressed Xena's breasts, rolling her still erect nipples between her thumb and forefinger. She snuggled into Xena and moved her hand further down. She caught the leather and wood penis standing on Xena's public bone, wet with her own love juice that had flowed for Xena.

"Remove it honey" Xena said. Caldina got on her knees and started working the straps. She freed Xena from the contraption and stroked her smooth love nest.

" OOoooohh Xena, you're a swamp down here"

"You are responsible for that swamp!!!!" Xena said, playfully hitting Caldina with a pillow. "You better cleanup the mess little princess" Xena commanded, spreading her legs wide for Caldina.

"I thought you'd never ask"

Xena closed her eyes as Caldina started suckling the nectar out of her flower. Caldina's tongue traversed each and every fold, teasing her erect womanhood and diving deep into her ravine. Xena lifted her knees and spread her legs further, hoping Caldina would pay attention to her other entrance too. She loved what Caldina's fingers did there. Her hopes were realized when Caldina's slender fingers started probing her nether lips. Just as Caldina intensified her effort, they heard a sharp knock on their front door.

"What the ........" Xena cursed trying to get up.

"Relax angel, it's only one knock. Probably a servant leaving a message for you"

Xena settled down on hearing that. Soon she started bucking and heaving against Caldina's luscious lips and Caldina was rewarded for her efforts by the warrior princess.

After resting a while, Caldina got up and wrapped her robe around to get the message that was left for them.

"It's for you Xena" Caldina came handed over a small papyrus scroll.

Xena opened it. "Well, well, well you will guess who has remembered us."

"Who?" Caldina asked pouring wine to two glasses.

"Princess Tara "

"What is she saying?" Caldina asked handing a glass to Xena

"She wants to meet me tonight"

"Tonight? Why what has happened now?" "Has Zyla fallen for someone who wants to kill us?"

"I don't know, but sounds pretty urgent; she wants to meet me at the palace"

"The palace is too far from here, you can't go there now, and it's too late; go tomorrow"

"She wants to meet me tonight because Zyla is not in the palace; she wants to talk to meet in her absence"

"I don't like the way this sounds Xena, please go tomorrow"

"I can't do that Cal, I don't want to be seen entering Zyla's palace in daylight hours, besides what if Zyla comes back before or after I get there?" Xena said stroking the worried girl's hair. She saved our lives remember? I can't ignore her request, can I?"

"I guess not" Caldina said gloomily. At least take some guards with you.

"Guards? For what? I will have to protect them if something happens" Xena said laughing. Caldina smiled. She knew that it's true. Xena is an extraordinary woman, capable of fighting and beating a dozen battle hardened men"

Caldina watched Xena and her stallion blending into the darkness as she rode out of the massive castle gates. She blew a kiss and murmured a prayer.

CHAPTER X

Xena had her horse in a steady canter. She didn't want to ride too fast due to the rain and the mist. The lonely road to Aphropolis was wide and well maintained by the gold from Zyla's coffer. She passed a large field of corn and entered the black forest, so called because of its evergreen cedar trees that appeared blackish from a distance. Xena slowed to a trot as she entered the forest. The forest covered a mountainous region and due to this the straight, flat road became narrow and winding.

Halfway through the forest, Xena observed a small fire on the side of the road and signaled her stallion to slow down. She steadied herself and felt for her trusty sword, just in case. As she closed in she saw a man fallen on the road with his face down and there was a torch burning close by. Xena pulled out her sword without getting down and scanned the area for any movements. She was well aware of tricks employed by robbers to lure victims. Though, Xena could easily handle a couple of robbers, she thought it wasn't worth the trouble, not in this weather. Xena circled the fallen man once more and got down, her sword ready. She checked the man's pulse but detected none. She looked at the torch and reckoned that it had been burning for more than an hour. Xena examined the man closely. He was old, around sixty. But the most striking feature was that the man was a hunchback.

"What happened to this man? What is this torch doing here?" she asked herself. "May be someone found him and left for help leaving the torch as a marker" Xena thought. "But how did he get here?" Xena looked around and saw rain soaked wheel impressions of a two wheeled horse driven cart. She put her sword on the ground and turned the man over. What she saw made her recoil. There was a gaping wound in the man's throat and his face was a pool of blood.

"This is a trap" was Xena's first thought. She turned to get her sword and felt something falling on to her. Xena's instincts made her dive to the sword but it was too late. She felt a heavy net trapping her. Xena struggled to find the opening of the net, but her struggle entrapped her further. She tried to maneuver the sword to cut it, but her effort was aborted by a massive pain that erupted from the back of her head. Xena screamed clutching her head, but still turned around to see the attacker. She saw a black form watching as her vision blurred.

CHAPTER XI

Tara's stayed bound for an hour till the woman appeared again. She dragged some one into the room.

"Say hello to your friend" the strange woman growled, holding up the body to face Tara. What she saw in the room made her gasp.

It was Xena, bleeding from the head and she appeared to be unconscious.

"You know her don't you?" The woman asked sarcastically.

Enraged, Tara struggled to free herself.

"Behave or you would get a nasty wound like that of your friend." The woman threatened slapping Tara hard. She dragged Xena to the wooden pillar which was parallel to the one that held Tara and bound her.

The woman removed the cotton ball from Tara's mouth and warned. "If you shout I will chop your head off"

Tara looked at Xena. She moved her head slowly, the blood flow has dried out but her clothes were still drenched with blood. Her eyes slowly opened when Tara called her name.

"Looks like your friend is coming around. Its about time, I don't have all night to frolic with the two of you"

"Xena! Xena! Are you ok?" Tara called out to her friend.

Xena turned her head slowly and looked at Tara and her eyes widened with amazement.

"What are you doing here? I thought you wanted me to see you in the palace?" Xena demanded to know.

"I thought you wanted me in your castle Xena.."

"What!!! I wanted you in the castle?????????"

"Yes, that's what your message said"

The strange woman laughed heartily enjoying this spectacle.

"Ladies ladies, please, you don't have to fight over that. Don't you understand that it was me...."

"Who are you???????" Both Xena and Tara asked in unison.

The woman took a roll of papyrus and started reading out loud.

"Dear Tara,

We killed both of them and severed their heads. We will burn them today and scatter their ashes to the wind in the evening. We worked to your plan and got out of your palace without detection. The musketeers are loyal and sworn for secrecy. The rest is up to you. You would be advised to have a convincing cover story ready to explain Zyla what happened. Good Luck and Thank you for risking your life to help me and Caldina. You will always find us your sincere friends from hereafter and we will always be there when ever you need us. - Xena"

Xena and Tara looked at each other in horror. "How did she get hold of that Tara??" Xena snapped

"I don't know Xena" Tara wailed

"Ok let me put an end to this controversy." "Who am I? How did I get hold of the secret message Xena left for Tara the night you murdered Scintilla? And why am I holding the two of you like this?"

The woman unbuttoned her thick robe quietly. She removed the hood and the robe and let them fall to the ground and wiped off the black paint that masked her face.

There stood a tall, beautiful Nordic woman, with crystal blue eyes and long golden hair.

"What in the name of Apollo is this?" Xena exclaimed, unable to comprehend the fact that her attacker was a young beautiful woman fit to be a princess.

"Aren't you Oliva??? You are the one who came to the banquet with Sitã!!!"

Oliva smiled. "Yes"

"You know her???????" Xena shouted, her eyes stabbing Tara. "Every time a woman wants to kill me you happen to know her. Is this another one of Zyla's misbehaving pets?"

"I don't know her Xena; I only met her once at a banquet. That's how I remembered her name"

"Calm down Xena let me tell the story. I am Oliva, I have been living with Scintilla and her family since the day they rescued me from a shipwreck. I was only eight then. I was in love with Scintilla and we got married just before Scintilla moved into king Demurias's palace. I knew her plan to seduce king Demurius. I was in love with her even then. She wanted to marry the king so that she will be powerful enough to bring you to justice Xena.

"Bring me to justice??? For what?" Xena asked

"For the crime of killing Hadrian, Commander of Zoras's army. You promised his mother that you would spare his life. But you killed him. Hadrian was Scintilla's brother. His mother saw you killing him with her own eyes. Scintilla wanted revenge. But she didn't want to murder you, which would have been much easier than being a whore to an old man. Instead she wanted to try you in court and punish you for the crime."

"I acted in self defense. He pulled out a dagger" Xena shouted

"Self defense???? Hadrian was a defeated young man, surrounded by the enemy. Do you sincerely believe that a captured man with a dagger can threaten the warrior princess??" "Can you consider that as a threat enough to kill him?"

"I know you cannot answer that Xena, because you are guilty. You are a warrior who can defeat a dozen armed men single-handedly. Hadrian was never a threat that warranted his killing"

"It was a reaction prompted by self defense instinct" Xena barked back.

"Those theories would have helped you if Scintilla could try you in court. They are useless now. " "When I saw the dismembered body of woman I loved, I swore that I would kill you Xena. I didn't have to do that only because her mother managed to breathe life into her again" "Three months ago you took her away from me again and this time I will keep my promise"

The woman turned to Tara and started.

"Tara, Xena's letter proves that you informed Xena and betrayed my Scintilla to her. That's why you are here. I was in that temple a few nights ago and I saw how you had them slaughtered. You have to pay for your crimes too Tara"

"You both have a right to know why this is happening to you and now I have told you that"

Xena and Tara listened with bowed heads. Tara started sobbing in fear of her life. They both knew that this was it. They were beaten. Only question was how Oliva planned to kill.

"How do you planed to take your revenge" Xena asked breaking the silence, looking directly into Oliva's eyes.

"Same way my family ended. In ashes. In case you haven't noticed this whole house is draped in fabric soaked in oil. It will ignite like a tinderbox.

Tara started wailing, begging for life

"Let this woman go Oliva, I am the one you want."

"I want both of you" Oliva snapped. I am sick of loosing people I love and not being able to do anything about those who are responsible"

Oliva lighted the oil soaked rags all around the house and disappeared. Soon the whole house was in flames, belching smoke that choked their lungs. The smoke was so thick that Xena couldn't see Tara who was only a few feet away. She heard her faint coughing. Tara cried and screamed for help so much that she inhaled more noxious fumes and Xena knew that she was about to pass out. Xena saw fiery debris falling from the roof and looked up. The fire had spread to the roof and Xena knew that roof would cave in soon. She struggled with all her might to free herself. Xena cursed herself for not listening to Caldina who begged her not to go.

Suddenly the pillar to which Xena was tied jerked and the roof caved in. Xena was thrown down with the pillar. She looked at the wooden beam and saw that it had been up rooted. Though Xena's hands were bound her feet were free to move. Xena quickly pulled herself, sliding her bound hands along the beam and out of the uprooted end and freed herself. She knew she had to get out fast, the heat was becoming unbearable and the smoke was choking her. Xena looked at where Tara was and saw her mangled under a heap of burning debris. Her body was motionless. Xena knew it was too late for Tara. Xena struggled to find her way out. She felt her body weakening and her head spinning. In her desperation to hack a path out, she lifted a burning table, and crashed it with all her might to the tightly nailed back door. The door gave way and Xena staggered through. She fell down and dragged herself as far as possible from the burning house.

Xena heard the sound of people shouting, searching for survivors. She wanted to call them but didn't have the strength.

"COME HERE!!!! I FOUND ONE AND SHE IS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!" Xena saw a young man's face peering at her...... She smiled weakly knowing that she would see Caldina again after all......

Epilogue

The ripening corn fluttered in the wind. A tall golden haired woman was watching the giant red ball setting in the western horizon, her golden hair dancing in the wind.

It was a picturesque setting. A small cottage, a beautiful garden full of wild flowers and a ripening corn field. The front door opened and a dark haired beautiful woman came out of the house looking for her lover.

"Supper is ready honey" The dark haired beauty called out.

The golden haired girl turned around and smiled. "I am sooo hungry, I can eat a cow."

"That's great because I cooked your favorite dish" said the brunette walking towards the blond. They embraced, their lips brushing lovingly.

"I can't wait" The blonde said taking her lovers hand.

The couple started walking towards the house hand in hand in the cool evening breeze.

"I have some more good news for you Oliva." The brunette said breaking the silence

"What would that be sweet Sitã?" The blonde asked leaning on her mate.

"I thought over what you have told me."" " I think we should marry Oli. I mean, exchange wows and rings in front of a priestess, just the way you want it to happen, and I would love if you call me Scintilla from hereafter. I know how much it means to you"

"Awww that's sooooo sweet of you. I love you angel..." The luscious lips of the gorgeous blonde covered the lips of the beautiful brunette. They were still kissing when the darkness fell around them.

END 05-05-02