Disclaimers: Only a very, very few of the characters herein belong to me - seriously. However I can honestly say that story is all mine so.... If you’re still reading my stuff at this point, you pretty well know what you’re getting into. If you don’t have an open mind, why exactly are you still reading? If you do read it and you find something you think needs disclaiming, you are still more than welcome to let me know. It won’t change anything, but it may make you feel better. Ugliness will earn you a smack to the back of your head.
Thanks: To Phil and Mac for beta reading this for me. They’ve picked up all kinds of dropped letters and missed quotation marks because Pink and Fluffy tend to leave a trail of them. Their diligence is greatly appreciated. Honestly I couldn’t ask for a better couple of women to beta read for me, and I am more grateful for them than they will ever know. All errors belong strictly to me.
Author’s Notes: This multi-fandom comes to you courtesy of my friend and beta reader Phil, who asked for a simple, little five fandom crossover. Being the overachiever that I am, I went well beyond the original five, and this is the result. All the fandoms involved will be listed at the end of the story.
The Storyteller’s Cardinal Rule is in effect.
A Twist of Faete
By D
Prologue
The candlelight flickered as another cold wind blew through the cavern he was currently crouched in, but he smiled in satisfaction as the last charm snapped in place. “Finally,” he grumbled. “Finally, I have a way to take them all down and destroy them. And when I’m done, there won’t be anyone left to worship... except me.” His grin was demonic and harrowing, but his laughter was particularly bone chilling. He lifted his hand nonchalantly and watched the bracelets rise with the motion. With a wave, he banished them from his presence and nodded in satisfaction the next instant when they disappeared. “Now all I need to do is to sit back and wait.”
Chapter I
It wasn’t the worst accommodation they had ever shared, but it certainly didn’t rank among the best either. On the plus side, they were out of the storm, dry and relatively warm – that is to say… not completely frozen - and they were getting warmer by the moment. Their clothing and the majority of their bedding would dry eventually. For now, they were curled up naked together wrapped in the one dry fur they had salvaged.
Xena leaned down and brushed a kiss over the still wet blonde head as another shiver traveled through Gabrielle’s body. “You feeling any warmer?”
Gabrielle jerked her head once sharply and burrowed further into Xena’s embrace. “Y-yeah,” she whispered. “At-t l-least it’s... n-not p-painful... anymore.”
“I wish we’d been able to build a fire.”
“N-not your f-fault... w-we w-were in the... m-middle of f-flat s-scrub... l-land with n-no s-shelter... in s-sight w-when the s-storm b-broke, Xe. I’ll b-be... all right. It j-just t-takes me a... little l-longer to w-warm up these d-days – you... know... that.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t wish....”
“I... I know. M-me too,” patting the warm chest over the strong heartbeat she could feel pulsing in her ear. “B-but it... is w-what it... is. Y-you’ve d-done all... you c-can for the m-moment.” Gabrielle shifted slightly, snuggling her cold nose into Xena’s neck and licking lightly over the barely there mark she’d made earlier that was still visible to her glowing eyes... even in the darkness. “W-when I get... a,... l-little w-warmer, we... we’ll s-see w-what we can d-do to t-take your... mmmind off... things.”
The raised eyebrow and patented smirk was apparent in her tone of voice. “Maybe we should try to take my mind off things in an effort to get you warmer. It’s never failed us before.”
Before Gabrielle could respond, the cavern lit up with an unearthly glow. “Better listen to the Warrior Babe, Gabs. I’m thinking she’s got a bitchin’ idea. Love is always a rockin’ choice, and hot and heavy sex.... I mean – who doesn’t totally dig that??”
“Hello, Aphrodite,” Xena greeted dryly. “What do you want?”
“Do I have to want something to come visit you two radically awesome chicks?” frowning when Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances before turning to her with knowing expressions. “Okay... fine,” she relented after only a few seconds. She waved a hand, providing her with a comfortable place to sit and a bright, warm fire close to where Xena and Gabrielle were currently ensconced. “Least I could do,” she replied to their unspoken question.
“So, what do you want?” Xena asked a little acerbically. It bothered her more than a little that Aphrodite could provide Gabrielle with the warmth she needed with just a flick of her wrist.
“Xe,” Gabrielle chided lightly. Then she leaned up to whisper in her ear. “It c-can’t hurt to l-listen to her.”
“It’s gotten us into trouble every other time,” Xena commented wryly, then looked at Gabrielle’s warm expression. She huffed an impatient breath. “For you, my bard,” she growled. “But if she asks to join us in a threesome....”
“... all b-bets are off.” Gabrielle turned red-rimmed golden eyes towards Aphrodite. “B-but she w-would n-never ask us s-something like that... would you, Dite? Y-you would never j-jeopardize our f-friendship over something s-so p-personal to us, w-would you?”
“NO! No, of course not!” she mumbled with a blush. “Though I wouldn’t say no if you offered either. I’m blonde, not stupid.” She waved her hands before either of them could retort. “So not the reason I’m here.”
“You gonna share that with us sometime this century? Or are we supposed to guess?”
“Ya know, a little gratitude would go a long way here.” Aphrodite glared at Xena, but the blue eyes held her gaze, and she snorted impatiently before looking away and meeting Gabrielle’s now green eyes. “How do you put up with her?” waving her hands again. “Doesn’t matter. There is some radically uncool crap happening, and I need your fabulousness to totally find out what’s going on and who is, like, behind it.”
“You got proof? Or just suspicions?”
“A little of both.” Aphrodite sighed. “More suspicion and speculation, but a little proof. Something not-so-gnarly is happening to the gods. All the gods... like worldwide.”
“And you know this how?”
Aphrodite shrugged. “We talk, ya know. It keeps us honest... to a point. We tend not to, you know, cross boundaries or whatever.”
“So, what’s the word?” Gabrielle asked, finally warm enough to have lost the shivers and stuttering.
“It’s....” Aphrodite shrugged and sighed. “It’s weird. You know... like totally bizzarro. Let me start at the beginning. Maybe you can, like, make sense of this.” She conjured up a pair of glasses and a scroll. She unrolled the parchment and peered at them over the tops of her lenses before clearing her throat. “So, um... ‘Once Upon a Time’....” glancing up to see two identical blank expressions staring back at her. “Whaaaaat??” she whined. “I thought that was the way all you gnarly bards started your stories.” When their countenances didn’t change, she growled and returned her eyes to the scroll. “Fine... whatever. Don’t judge me. Do you know your history?”
“Sure – which part?”
“No,” Aphrodite responded, glaring at them. “Not your personal history, because DUH? I mean your world history – the history of the gods.”
“We know enough to know….” Xena growled, but before she could continue her rant, Gabrielle interrupted.
“We know Gaia and Uranus created the Titans and that Zeus defeated the Titans to usher in the Olympian Pantheon.”
“I’ve heard a bit about a few of the Norse and Celtic gods and some about those from Chin,” Xena added, shaking her head silently when Gabrielle looked a question at her. Gabrielle sighed and tucked her head back into Xena’s neck, knowing there wouldn’t be any answers from that direction any time in the near future. “Why?”
“Because once, a long time ago, the world was a much different place. And the gods….” Aphrodite sighed. “Once we were one world... one community... and everything had its place. Light and darkness; yin and yang; strength and weakness; good and evil. Everything existed in perfect balance and harmony. Then evil got greedy and the world was thrown into Chaos. When that happened, my great-grandparents – Gaia and Uranus – retired from the field of godhood, turning the ruling of the gods over to my grandfather Cronus and his siblings. Unlike the Titans, though, Gaia and Uranus still exist today on Olympus, but they mainly just watch the world going on around them. They contribute very little to either the humans that once worshipped them or the family that tends to ignore their existence these days.”
“Okay, soooo...?” Gabrielle prodded when the silence started to lengthen.
Aphrodite pushed the glasses a little further up her nose and let her eyes refocus on the parchment. “In the midst of the ensuing confusion and pandemonium, the Titans didn’t realize that a new threat had been awakened and let loose to prey not just on the human population, but the gods as well. His name was Saligia, and greed was just the first indication of his presence on Earth. It was because of him that Zeus slayed his father Cronus and assumed the role as King of the gods. It was also because of him that the gods fractured – that we suddenly had Pantheons across the planet – each part of their own culture.”
“So, you’re saying it’s because of this Sal person that we have....”
“Sal introduced seven of the worst plagues possible into the world and made them part of our culture – humanity’s as well as the Pantheons. He did far more damage than Pandora ever dreamed of causing.”
“He’s why her box was empty,” Xena stated flatly with an understanding look in Gabrielle’s direction. Aphrodite just goggled at them.
“How did you...? You know what? Nevermind. I don’t wanna know. But yeah, he is.”
“Okay, so what happened then?”
“This is where things get a little tricky – because there was obvious evidence of his presence, but we could never actually find him. Not a flesh-and-blood incarnation anyway. But we lost a significant amount of power then. We always suspected he was behind it in an effort to coup the Pantheons.”
“You don’t think it was directed at anyone in particular?” Gabrielle asked. Xena remained silent, but it was apparent from her demeanor that she was taking Aphrodite’s concerns seriously.
Aphrodite glanced up, gratified to see they were listening with due consideration. “No... because we all suffered this major drop in power and influence. It was, you know, disconcerting.”
“What happened?”
“I dunno. Saligia didn’t disappear, but he seemed to mellow a bit, if you know what I mean. He was always there in the background, but kind of like a noise that you’re not consciously aware of unless it’s suddenly gone.”
“Except he’s not gone, is he?”
Blonde curls shook vehemently at Aphrodite’s negative reply. “Not even close – except....”
“Except what?”
“We can’t find him. Evidence of his presence has always been on a slight ebb and flow, but it’s heightening again, and this time gods are disappearing.”
“Like literally?”
“Well, yeah – I mean, no. I mean – it’s not like they’re dying or vanishing from being or whatever. They’re just not gods anymore.”
“He’s sucking their powers?”
“That’s the consensus among the gods, yeah.”
“Do you have any reason to think he’s responsible aside from ancient history?” Xena spoke for the first time in a while. Aphrodite shifted her attention and met Xena’s eyes seriously.
“No. But it makes the most sense and what is totally scary is that all the Pantheons are on the same radical page about this.” She watched the skepticism pass over Xena’s face and rushed to qualify her statement. “I know we can be rash and petty and hateful, and we probably meddle with humans more than we should....”
“Probably?” Xena snarked. Aphrodite huffed, but shrugged apologetically.
“Yeah, well, anyway.... The gods don’t really mess with each other outside of our own Pantheons unless we’re, like, forming alliances or, you know, stuff. We’ve got enough to do trying to maintain our own gnarly biz. I know I so don’t have time for much else. Do you know how much radical work goes into a totally bitchin’ love match??” She fanned herself. “Makes me tired just thinking about it.”
“Back on point,” Xena instructed.
Aphrodite growled. “Hey, this isn’t my fault. I’m just looking for a little help here.”
“We get that, Dite,” Gabrielle responded, laying a light hand on Aphrodite’s forearm. “But we need the whole story and you’re kinda running in circles instead of making your point. We need to hear everything you know or suspect. Aside from all the Pantheons agreeing, why do you think this Sal guy is behind the gods disappearing? And how is he doing it?”
“Saligia makes the most sense, because frankly, no one else has stepped up to claim responsibility. And trust me – no one around this joint could keep that kind of secret. We all like to brag about our fabulousness.”
Xena nodded her acceptance of the statement without making a comment. “Okay, so how’s he doing it?”
“We’re not sure. I mean, we have a few ideas, but we can’t find much of a common thread aside from the fact that it only really happens on the eve of the Day of the Dead.”
“When the veil between worlds is at its thinnest.”
“Um hmm... exactly.”
“How long has this been happening?”
“We don’t know.”
Xena sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay. What ideas do you have about how he’s doing this?”
“The best we can figure? Enchanted talismans.”
“Why? What makes you think that?”
“Again... it’s just a hunch.”
“Why not just avoid them?”
Aphrodite exhaled in frustration. “If only. We’re not even sure what they are.” She held up a hand and closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead. “Here’s the deal – each god this has happened to so far has received a symbol of their godhood shortly before their powers began waning. They’ve all been among the offerings and they’re never found until the offering is accepted by the priest or priestess on behalf of the god or goddess in question.”
“What do they look like?”
“We’re not sure.” She shrugged. “They’ve all been different so far... at least as far as we can tell. They seemed to be tailored to not only the god, but also the culture and Pantheon they belong to. If we’ve guessed right about what they are, they’re not even made of the same material. The only thing they have in common is their size and shape. That’s what made us start noticing them to start with.”
“Which are?”
“Huh? Oh… you mean the similarities. Sorry. It’s been a really crappy day around here lately. Anyway, it’s about an inch square.”
Xena’s eyebrows went into her hairline. “That’s it?”
Aphrodite nodded. “That’s it.”
“And are they hidden within the offerings or blatantly laid on the altar?”
Aphrodite scrunched up her forehead in thought. “I haven’t actually seen one before it’s been accepted. The gods who have been affected just started sharing with the rest of us, and of course it’s been after the priests and priestesses have collected the bounty for the day.”
“So, the god in question doesn’t actually have to come into physical contact with the talisman.”
“I don’t think so,” Aphrodite replied. “Do you think you can help?” She paused a beat, then continued. “I know we can be real assholes sometimes and we probably shouldn’t mess with you guys because we’re bored or playing games or whatever, right? Because maybe you deserve better than being pawns or wagers. But better the gods you know, right? I mean, at least we kinda know and respect one another a little bit. I’d totally help you guys out if positions were reversed.”
Xena and Gabrielle turned to one another, conversing silently while Aphrodite watched in fascination. Finally, Xena sighed and kissed Gabrielle’s forehead before Gabrielle gave Aphrodite her attention. “What exactly are you asking us to do, Dite?”
Aphrodite broke into grins and clapped her hands together in excitement. “So, you’ll do it?? You’ll help me... us??”
“We can try. Depends on what you want us to do.”
Aphrodite took a deep, calming breath. “Oh. Well, the best scenario for us would be that you get rid of Saligia and all those talismans we suspect he has. Barring that? Either option would be nice, but I think it might be easier to find the talismans than destroying Sal.”
“Why do you believe that? This Sal person is just one man.”
“He’s more than a man. I don’t know that he’s a god exactly, but he has the means to become one if he’s the one collecting the powers that are being lost. Besides, he unleashed the seven plagues – there’s power back of him somewhere.”
“Do you have any idea where he is or how we can find him?”
“Notta clue, really – given the fact that he’s affecting all the Pantheons at once. We’re not even sure what he looks like.” She sighed. “I know it’s not much to go on, and it’s a lot to ask, but I don’t know what else to do. Given the Chaos he caused with his introduction, I’m not sure any of us will survive – humans or gods - if he’s successful in his coup.”
Gabrielle stared at Xena a long moment before she turned back to Aphrodite. “We’ll do our best, Dite. That’s the best we can promise. But you need to make sure the Pantheons need to know not to accept any more offerings until we can figure this out. And that’s likely to take a while.”
“It’s more than I hoped for.” She kissed them both briefly on the lips before shimmering out of sight. “Thanks, you guys! You totally rock!”
They gazed at one another in silence for a full minute after the rose petals settled on the floor around them. Then they reclined in the warmth now completely surrounding them, and began making tentative plans to find Saligia.
Chapter II
Word spread quickly between the Pantheons, and soon offerings were being left to molder and ruin until they could be combed through thoroughly to weed out anything that could be considered a talisman. That, of course, created even more issues - the largest obstacle being that it could not be an acolyte or priest of the god for whom the talisman was intended who found it as that was construed as acceptance. There was a shuffling of acolytes between Pantheons and gods in an effort to prevent the talismans from activating accidentally, which caused any amount of heartache and discontent.
Xena and Gabrielle tried to collect the talismans as they were discovered in their travels, though it was extremely difficult... especially given the trials and tribulations they suffered through during their journey. And those difficulties made them overlook the influences the talismans exerted over them both. They didn’t even recognize their anger and wrath until it was almost too late.
Hope pulled them off track for a long time and they were months recovering the faith and trust they’d had between them. When Gabrielle took Hope into the pit, Xena lost sight of everything for a very long time. It wasn’t until Aphrodite admitted to saving Gabrielle and telling Xena where to start looking that Xena remembered their task; she resumed collecting the talismans as they surfaced. They were coming less and less often and Xena chanced to wonder if Saligia had discovered their activities or if there just weren’t that many left. Then she found Gabrielle in Potadeia and everything else went to the wayside for just a little while, even as things continued to bubble and ferment just under the surface.
There were a few talismans in India – not as many as she expected, but enough to assure them both that Saligia was still busy at whatever game he was playing. Their lusts and desires increased exponentially but it wasn’t really talked about... much like their Bacchae natures. It was simply something they enjoyed to the point of over-indulgence. Then came their crucifixions and months of anger and distrust and frustrations after Eli revived them. A few more lesser gods were lost, but Xena couldn’t bring herself to care and neither could Gabrielle. They had far more important – and selfish – things to focus on... until everything between them exploded and nearly destroyed them.
It was when Gabrielle lay recovering after being healed from the debilitating head wound Xena had inflicted that Xena began recounting their journey in her mind… from the moment things had started going so wrong for them. Every instance of increased anger; of greater selfishness; of intensified greed; of augmented hatred; of amplified pride or desire or jealousy – every single incident could be traced back to the discovery of another significant talisman placed in their possession. Then she thought back to Aphrodite’s words to them years before – about the plagues Saligia had released and how they had been meant for gods and man. And she realized that though each of the curses resided in mankind now as a matter of course, the talismans enhanced their effects exponentially.
But instead of calling for Aphrodite and railing at her for putting her – them – in such an untenable position, Xena traced Gabrielle’s face with the back of her fingertips, leaning forward and murmuring apologies that only she could hear. She let a single teardrop roll down her cheek and drip onto Gabrielle’s lips before she leaned forward and brushed a kiss over her forehead.
“I’m sorry, Gabrielle. So, so sorry,” she whispered. “If I could turn back time and do things differently....” Then Xena turned abruptly, jerking the pouch holding the talismans from the saddlebags and striding out the door into the stormy darkness. She never saw the tears that leaked from Gabrielle’s still closed eyes.
************
Xena stood in the center of the courtyard, letting the rain wash over her until it wasn’t cold any more. Then she tied the pouch to her armor, clutching her chakram in her left hand and raising her sword high in her right. Then she lifted her voice to the heavens... and bellowed.
“SALIGIA!!”
There was no sound beyond the rumble of thunder for several long minutes, but Xena waited patiently. She knew he would come to her on this day of all days... especially when he realized the power she held in her hands. She nudged the pouch gently, allowing the talismans to jingle together, and within seconds a figure started to form in front of her.
He wasn’t attractive – not to Xena’s way of thinking anyway – though it was obvious by his expression that he was a very vain individual. He maintained a completely dry circle around him and looked her up and down with disdain, unimpressed by her appearance. Then she jingled the pouch again and his eyes widened when he recognized exactly what had conjured his physical presence. His round, double-chinned face grew purple with apocalyptic rage.
“YOU!!!” he screeched. “YOU’RE THE REASON MY WORK HASN’T REACHED FRUITION!!!”
Xena gave him a half-smirk and shrugged. “Yeah... what about it?”
“WHAT ABOUT IT?!? DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’VE DONE???”
Her eyes narrowed and turned to ice. “Not nearly what you did... or what I’m going to. The suffering you’ve caused....”
“Oh blah blah blah and boo hoo. I’m no worse than the cancers known as gods that you pathetic creatures worship. And at least I offer some fun.”
“Fun?!” Xena mocked. “Really?? You call what you did to the world fun??”
“Well, yes. It was all rather boring before.”
“I see,” Xena replied as she dropped her sword to rest on her shoulder and started walking around him. He spun to keep her within his sight and frowned when he realized she was dripping into his dry sphere of existence. She pretended not to notice and continued her circle. “What are the talismans for?”
“You mean you don’t know?” asked slyly. “I expected you to know, given that you’ve been collecting them for years by the sound of it.” He reached a hand forward and she swatted at him lazily, grinning when he jerked his hand back and cradled it protectively. “You cut me!!” he wailed when black blood flowed sluggishly from the wound.
“Yep. And I’ll do it again if you try putting those hands where they don’t belong.”
“But those things... those talismans – they belong to me.”
Xena snorted. “Not anymore they don’t. Finders keepers and all that.”
“But they’re MINE!!!”
“You got rid of them – gave them away. I found them. Therefore, they’re mine now.”
Saligia smiled craftily. “And how’s that working out for you, my dear? I created them – I know the power they possess and the purpose they were intended for. They can’t give you anything that’s not already there, but they can enhance your desires to the point of insanity – to make everything else in your life lose its importance. Tell me... have they driven you mad yet?”
Xena let every single negative emotion she could feel come to the forefront of her mind, then she turned wild eyes in Saligia’s direction. “I dunno, Sal – what do you think??” raising her sword and taking a swipe at him. He screeched when a lock of his curly hair fell to the ground and realized with a touch that she had shaven him almost to bare skin on one side of his face.
“HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND??? WHAT DO YOU THINK...??” screaming again when she did the same to the other side of his face.
Xena chuckled lowly. “You asked. I just thought I’d demonstrate.”
Saligia held up his hands in surrender and stepped back a pace, dismayed when Xena followed as a matter of course. “I can help. Just give me the pouch and you’ll be back to normal.”
“Yeah... no. ‘Cause see... if I give these back to you, it won’t remove the plagues you left. It’ll just mean you go back to killing gods.”
He shrugged. “Why do you care? You don’t worship them - it’s not like you even believe in them. So what difference if I rid the world of them and take their followers for my own. We’ll have fun....”
“Until you destroy the world.”
“Oh, pish posh. Again... why do you care? You won’t be around when it happens. Humans aren’t cursed with the boredom of immortality.”
Something flashed through Xena’s eyes then, but it was gone so quickly, Saligia didn’t even notice it. She sneered at him. “Doesn’t matter. Mankind deserves the right to choose for itself – not rely on the whims of some bored immortal being.”
“Aren’t you already subject to the whims of bored immortals? You can’t tell me they don’t interfere in your life – we wouldn’t be here otherwise. Because those talismans?” gesturing to her waist. “They were meant for them... not you.”
“Perhaps. But their powers will wane and wax according to mankind’s beliefs and choices – not because some punk wannabe wants to be more than he is.”
“Punk wannabe?? Do you know who you’re talking to??
“Yeah – I’m talking to the punk wannabe that tried stealing the powers of the gods with subterfuge and trickery. You think you can win in a straight up fight with a real warrior?” mocking him and swinging her sword again. She grinned maliciously when she left a reverse Mohawk across the top of his skull. He screamed again and drew a sword from within his robes.
“Prepare to die, Mortal. I have nothing to fear from you!” Then he swung and found his sword caught and held in her hand and his eyes widened.
“Maybe not yet, you don’t,” she challenged and shoved him away from her. She licked the blood from her hand and felt her incisors elongate and her eyes flash. “But you will.”
Saligia recognized in that moment that Xena was both more and less than he expected. And he knew he was in trouble when keeping up was a problem.
Saligia lost his protected circle almost immediately and had to adjust to the storm that surrounded them. Back and forth they went, neither gaining nor losing ground, though he got the distinct feeling he was being toyed with. He spared a thought to wish for some kind of power to defeat this inhuman woman who stood in front of him when she hesitated.
Saligia grinned at what he perceived to be a weakness he could exploit, and swung with every ounce of strength he had left. He had no way of knowing what his actions were going to cause.
************
Xena was focused on her fight with Saligia – despite the despair she felt, she didn’t intend to lose. She had things to do that didn’t involve some half-wit upstart. Aside from not wanting to owe Ares anything, she needed time with Gabrielle to fix all that was wrong between them. So she was focused on defeating him while she exorcised some of the rage she could feel coursing through her veins – which at the moment involved allowing him to wear himself out until she was ready to destroy him.
Then she heard Gabrielle call her name softly, and she hesitated. Without warning, Saligia aimed for her neck, knowing even a Bacchae couldn’t survive decapitation. Almost immediately, she felt Gabrielle’s touch on her hips and she moved her sword with lightning speed to block his blow. His blade slid off hers and hit the pouch, knocking it from her waist and causing the talismans to scatter.
It was all the distraction Xena needed.
With a mighty roar, she swung, hitting Saligia in the jugular and following through across his neck and spine with a clean, smooth slice. But instead of his head falling to the ground and his body toppling over unsteadily, a bright light blinded them and they were forced to look away. When they opened their eyes again, the talismans were gone and only his sword and the sound of his laughter remained of Saligia.
Xena stepped forward and the sword shimmered as Saligia spoke. “Oh Xena... don’t you know you can never defeat me? I am ingrained in the fabric of the world. It may take a while, but we will meet again, my dear. And when we do, I shall emerge victorious.” The sound of laughter rolled as the shimmer faded, then a bright flash followed, removing the sword from their purview. Xena and Gabrielle remained still for a moment longer, then Gabrielle clenched her hands on Xena’s waist.
“We need to talk.”
“We do... I know we do, Gabrielle. But I think we need to take care of this first. Wait... hear me out,” Xena asked, turning to face Gabrielle, but allowing her to choose their distance. Gabrielle didn’t move closer, but she didn’t move further away either and Xena breathed a sigh of relief. “You need to feed and you need some more time to heal. But we also need to send some scrolls.”
Blonde eyes went into an equally blonde hairline. “Huh?”
Xena smiled briefly, then it fell. “What happened... what’s been happening.... Gabrielle, I know I’ve made some bad mistakes.”
“We both have.”
“No... not like....” She stopped when Gabrielle held up a hand. “Okay, yeah, we’ve both made mistakes. But things seemed to snowball and get worse every time we picked up a new talisman. Even our good adventures had undertones of uncontrolled emotion.”
Gabrielle nodded slowly. “Okay – so what do you want to do?”
“I think we need to set up some kind of avant-garde – people that will keep an eye out for the talismans... who will collect them and keep them safe.”
“You think it’s necessary?”
“Yeah. You heard him – we’re gonna meet again. I just don’t think we should be the ones looking for those things anymore. It’s been killing us, Gabrielle... tearing us apart. You can’t tell me you don’t feel the difference in having them gone.”
“I do.”
Xena clasped her hands and brought them to her lips, brushing them with kisses and bathing them with her tears. “I can’t.... Gabrielle, if we ever made a conscious decision to not be together anymore – it would be your choice. I made my choice years ago when I offered you a bedroll outside of Amphipolis. That hasn’t changed despite everything – madness, anger, disappointment or misunderstandings. But those talismans... they were meant to destroy gods, Gabrielle. They were destroying us.”
Gabrielle leaned forward and kissed Xena’s forehead, causing both of them to close their eyes in benediction.
“All right, Xe. We’ll feed, then you can write out the scrolls. I think you’ll need one for each Pantheon, so seven? Eight?” She shrugged. “We’ll figure it out and then ask Aphrodite to deliver them. We’ve still got some things to talk about and you’re right – I still need some time to heal. But we’ll get through this.”
“I love you, Gabrielle.”
Gabrielle leaned forward again, this time meeting Xena’s lips with her own and allowing her incisors to scrape across the fleshy part of her lips. Xena moaned and felt her incisors lengthen when the coppery scent of blood filled her senses.
“Take me to bed, Xena. Tomorrow will be soon enough to worry about Saligia and talismans and avant-gardes. Tonight is for us.”
“Tonight and every night... for as long as we live, my bard.”
It would be a very, very long time before they ever discussed Saligia again.
Chapter III
“Dinah, are you certain you should do this?” Barbara held up a hand to stave off her immediate answer. “I know you’re strong, but this seems a lot like tempting fate.”
“I’ll be fine,” offering Barbara a smile as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “You saw Helena strengthen my barriers before we came here, and I haven’t had any problems. Besides, we see real monsters every day. I don’t think any of this is truly authentic; I think it’s a bit of fun the locals put on for tourists to make a little money.”
“You sure you don’t want to go, Red?” Helena asked with a hint of longing.
Barbara pinched the bridge of her nose. She knew Helena meant well, but she was fast developing a headache. She released a breath slowly, then looked up at Helena with a smile. “I’m sure, Kitten. I don’t have any desire to go rolling up and down the road in the dark, and I’m pretty sure the cemetery isn’t made for people like me. And no... you’re not going to carry me, so don’t even ask. Besides, I’m going to be downstairs with the caterers setting up food and drinks for the party when you guys get back.”
Dinah’s eyes brightened. “Oh yeah... did you see the menu they’re bringing in? It’ll be better than Pop-tarts.”
“Watch it,” Helena growled. “Nothing’s better that Pop-tarts.”
Barbara grinned slyly, though she couldn’t stop the blush than ran up her face at the thought running through her mind. “Really, Hel? Nothing?”
Helena leered at her. “Nothing I’m willing to share with the Kid.”
“GUYS!” Dinah cried as she clapped her hands over her ears and slammed her eyes closed. Helena took the opportunity to kiss Barbara fast but thoroughly. She pulled back, licking her lips, then pulled Dinah’s hands from her ears.
“Let’s go, Kid. Time to find some ghosts to scare.”
************
“This should be fun,” Kara whispered to Diana as they stepped onto the elevator together. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
Diana grinned. “That’s because you fight real scaries on a regular basis. But yeah,” she agreed as the door slid open, and they crossed into the lobby of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. “It should be entertaining at least. I’m glad we’re going in small groups, though. At least we should be able to anticipate any funny business they’ve got planned.”
Kara frowned. “You think there’ll be funny business?” pulling her glasses down just slightly and scanning the room over the rims.
“I think it is all good fun, and if they can do things to scare folks, well... that would just make it a better experience, right? Either way, we’re going to have a good time.” She looked up and nodded, then ushered Kara toward Xena and Gabrielle. “C’mon. We should be starting soon.”
************
Emma was standing next to Gabrielle, hands tucked in her jeans as she scuffed her foot along the floor. She was a little embarrassed that her parents thought she needed a minder - she was fifteen years old, after all - but she really wanted to go on this tour. So, she kept her mouth shut and waited for her mother to finish talking. While she was waiting, she felt Carter come up behind her, barely touching her arm to let her know of his presence without scaring her. She smiled bashfully and knew he was doing the same in return. She wasn’t surprised to hear Cat Grant speak into the silence that followed her approach.
“Are you sure you don’t mind keeping an eye on Carter, Xena? He really wants to do this tour, but I’ve got so much....” She stopped talking when Xena held up her hand - a fact that still surprised her whenever it happened. Cat was used to being one of, if not the most important person in the room. But she knew well enough to recognize when she wasn't and naturally deferred to the one who was. She waited for Xena to speak.
“I promise you, he’s in good hands, Ms Grant. We’ll look after him like he was ours,” Xena said, giving Carter a wink. He smiled. They had only been here a couple days, but he already liked Xena and Gabrielle, and, of course, Emma and her family. He looked at his mother, and grinned when she nodded her head and gave him a fond smile.
“All right. You all have a good time. Thank you, ladies.” She turned to Carter, who reluctantly gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you later, Carter. Have a good time, okay?”
“I will, Mom. Thanks.” She strode off without a backwards look. Olivia and Natalia stepped up beside Emma.
“Same goes for you, Bean. Don’t get into any trouble, all right? And have a good time.”
“I will, Mom. You and Ma enjoy your dinner.”
Olivia brushed a kiss across her forehead, then stepped aside for Natalia to do the same. “We’ll see you when you get back, Jellybean. Love you.”
“Love you too, Ma.” Then she shooed them away. “Go... have fun. We’ve got this,” motioning to the circle of people around her. They laughed and Olivia and Natalia walked away with smiles on their faces.
************
Catherine nudged Sara with her elbow. “What do you think? Is it all going to be fake like the haunted house we go to in Vegas?”
Sara smirked. “I think it’ll be a little better. New Orleans has had time to get this down to a science, after all. But yeah... I’m pretty skeptical of the validity of the whole spirit thing.”
“Careful, Sugar,” Wendy deliberately drawled like her half-sister. “To hear Nikki tell it, this stuff is real.”
“So, you believe in this stuff?”
“Let’s just say I’ve seen enough not to dismiss it out of hand.”
Sara shook her head. “I think it’ll make for some good stories to share with the guys when we get home, but other than that....”
“Other than that, there’s fantastic food waiting for us at the first two stops, and I for one intend to eat my fill.” Gail Peck said with a smile as she looked around at the Vegas contingent. “Good evening, ladies,” greeting the group to which she’d already been introduced. “Have any of you seen my better half? She promised to meet me down here, but I’ve been round the room twice and have yet to spot her.”
“Your girlfriend - ‘bout my height, brown hair and eyes, oblong glasses, and talks like a nerd?” A gravelly voice spoke from behind her. Gail whirled to find one of the triplets - as she’d come to calling the three women that looked so similar they should have been - and tilted her head to meet a woman twinkling brown eyes and her hand extended. “Jane Rizzoli.”
“Gail Peck. And yeah... how’d you know?”
“Because mine caught yours and a Claire Washburn and a Temperance Brennan in a discussion about coronary arial psoriasis and autopsies or something. I figured I’d let them... do their thing until the tours start. It’s not like I was getting one word in ten anyway, and we may not all end up in the same group together.”
Gail nodded. “So, what do you do, Jane Rizzoli?”
“I’m a trainer with the FBI in the Boston office,” tucking her hands under her arms. “You?”
“I’m a Constable Second Class in Toronto.”
“You like it?”
Gail shrugged. “I like being a training officer. Not quite as crazy about walking a beat. But you do what needs to be done, right?”
Jane smiled. “Yeah. I felt the same. I was so happy the day I got my gold shield... mostly because it got me out of that uncomfortable uniform.”
Gail made a face. “Yeah... not a big fan of those either. It’s like they deliberately made them as ugly and uncomfortable as they can just to make us miserable. But I’m also not sure becoming a white shirt is the right career path for me.”
Jane nodded. “It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.” She looked up as her name was called. “Looks like they’re splitting us into groups.” She held out her hand. “It was nice to meet you, Constable.”
“Just Gail,” she said, accepting Jane’s hand. “It was my pleasure. Maybe we can talk again later?”
Jane smiled and nodded her head. “I’ll look forward to it. See you,” she said as she moved to catch up to Maura. Gail watched her go, then smiled when she saw Holly coming her way.
“Making friends?” Holly asked as she approached. Gail took her hand and twined their fingers together.
“Maybe,” she said with a sly smile. “Are you done geeking out for a while? I’m hungry.”
Holly rolled her eyes, then tugged her towards the entrance where their group was standing. “C’mon, you heathen. We’re in the next group to leave. I’m sure there’ll be plenty for you to eat along the way.”
Gail leaned in and tucked her nose into Holly’s neck. “Omnomnom,” she muttered, causing Holly to blush and laugh out loud. The rest of their group smiled, and they made their way out the door.
************
Xena and Gabrielle watched as the groups slowly made their way out of the lobby and into the night. They hadn’t expected quite the overwhelming response they’d gotten for the tour, and as a result, had ended up breaking the larger group into several smaller ones to accommodate their needs. Nikki and Nora had called on some of their friends to lead the other tours, though suspiciously, none of them was Darius. Xena and Gabrielle both had recognized him as fae and figured he was going to provide some of the more special effects they anticipated seeing. Xena particularly wished she knew what he was doing - she wanted to have a little fun on her own... especially since all the superheroes were part of their group. Still, she knew she’d be able to figure out something - she’d learned to think on her feet a long time ago.
They watched as Nora took the next to the last group, and turned back to Nikki who was smiling at them. “All righty, y’all. I think most of you know me, but just to be sure, my name is Nikki Beaumont, and I’m going to be your tour guide tonight. For the record, I was born and raised here in the Big Easy, and I have done this before - I am a certified tour guide here in New Orleans. We actually put together this tour specifically for the conventions, and we will be the only ones out there tonight, because we mixed up two or three other tours to choose the spots we wanted to take you.” She looked around at the group, noting excitement, skepticism and humor among the women standing in front of her. She grinned. “C’mon, y’all. Let me show you a part of New Orleans most people never get to see.”
************
“Our first stop is the Omni Hotel,” she said as the stepped inside the building, leading them into a conference room that was set up with several choices of bite-sized desserts and some craft beers and wines. There were a number of comfortable chairs and couches scattered around the room, and she encouraged them to help themselves to food and beverages before taking a seat. Kara spied the chocolate pecan pie, and made a beeline in that direction even as Helena started towards the raspberry white chocolate cheesecake. Alex and Maggie figured out the snickerdoodle creme brûlée was a safe bet in the meantime, and soon everyone else was following in their wake. They descended like a horde of locusts, and Xena and Gabrielle watched with amusement as the staff scrambled to keep up - none of the other groups had been quite so ravenous, and they had expected much the same from this group as well.
Nikki let them go for a few minutes, enjoying the beer she’d chosen, and observing with delight the enjoyment she could see around the room. She was thrilled to know these women she called friends were happy to be in her hometown. She spied Darius just beyond the doorway, and he nodded shortly to let her know he was ready whenever she was. Because despite the reality of ghosts in these buildings and her hometown in general, ghosts could be rather stubborn creatures, and she wanted to guarantee that these women - all of them - were able to experience some of its more fantastic aspects for themselves. She didn’t ask, and he didn’t tell, but Darius had enlisted a few of his friends to ‘go along’ with each group to ensure there were at least a few paranormal sightings. Though she didn’t understand why, Nikki just knew with him being there, their chances had increased dramatically.
With a shrill whistle, she brought silence to the room, then looked around with a smile. “I’m so glad you ladies decided to join me tonight for our little tour. I know a number of you are skeptics, and I really can’t blame you. You’re all women that require facts and proof in your jobs - it’s what makes you good at what you do. But I promise you that what you’re going to see tonight is real. Every place we’re going to visit has documented ghosts and paranormal activity. Some of the ghosts are fun and playful; a few are mischievous. But some?” She shook her head. “Some are downright terrifying.” She looked up with a teasing grin. “I know you don’t believe me now, but I guarantee you’ll be singing a different tune when this is all over.”
She looked around the room again, noting she had their rapt attention, even amongst the skeptics. She dropped her voice until it was little more than a whisper. “I have it on good authority that several of the ghosts that should be present at our host hotel - the Bourbon Orleans - have temporarily vacated the premises due to the presence of some of the more… formidable members of our gathering,” drawing laughter from around the room with many covert looks in Xena and Gabrielle’s direction. “That’s kind of a shame, because I was really hoping to introduce you all to the smoking man… or the lonely dancer.”
“Wait… what smoking man?”
Nikki whirled, not expecting the interruption… especially from the woman who reminded her more of a human puppy more than anything else. She took a couple steps, moving her closer to where several groups of women were clustered closer together. “What’s your name, Sugar?”
A nervous hand pushed a pair of glasses up her nose and continued on to sweep back an errant lack of hair. “Oh… um, me?” waiting for Nikki to nod. “I’m Kara… Kara Danvers.”
Nikki took her hand, surprised it wasn’t ice cold by the way the other woman was reacting. She clasped the hand she held and tugged Kara toward her gently. “Tell me, Kara Danvers - what did you see?”
Kara shoved up her glasses again. “Oh… just….” She sucked in a deep breath and tried again. “I was down in the lobby this morning early, and there was a man there.” She frowned as she thought back on the encounter. “I didn’t think anything of it; I-I mean… p-people read papers and smoke cigars before breakfast, right?” She giggled nervously and adjusted her glasses again.
Nikki looked at her seriously. “Could you describe him? Describe what he was wearing?”
“Uh… yeah, yeah. He was wearing a three-piece suit.” She scrunched up her brow as she called up the memory. “He had a weird looking tie… you know, the kind that kind of folds over instead of knots?” biting her lip while her eyes darted back and forth. “He was reading a Times-Picayune, but he had a couple more tossed on the seat beside him. I noticed it because it was… weird. They were….” She glanced down at her feet before looking back into Nikki’s brown eyes and shaking her head.. “I haven’t really seen them around here.”
Nikki nodded sagely and prompted softly. “Did you speak? Or rather… did he speak to you?”
“Um… sorta?” Kara hedged. She would have been twisting them together if Nikki hadn’t been holding them. “I said ‘Good morning’; he kinda grumbled back at me… something about the state of the world today.” She shrugged. “I didn’t really… I mean, a lot of people do the same thing, like… all. the. time. When he didn’t look up from his newspaper, I just went upstairs to get ready for the day.”
Nikki squeezed her hand briefly and grinned. “Congratulations, Sugar! You met the smoking man. He’s one of the most consistent apparitions in our hotel.”
Kara beamed as Nikki released her grip. “Really?” she asked, excitement clear in her gaze. “That is so cool!”
Her enthusiasm was contagious, and the women clapped and cheered as she returned to stand next to Diana. “So…” Nikki said as the noise died down and she looked around the room. “We’ve already had one ghostly encounter. What about the rest of you, hmm? Has anyone seen the dancing lady? Or the Confederate soldier? Or the kissing bandit?” She waited, but no one stepped up to confess. She smiled. “That’s okay… we’ve got all weekend, and odds are, we’ll run into some of our haunters tonight. After all, we do love a good show here, and everybody loves to show off,” garnering more laughter from her group.
“Now,” she continued without missing a beat, “here at the Omni Royale, the most famous….” Before she could continue, the lights flickered three times before settling into complete darkness. The staff, who had stepped in to begin their cleanup, simply reached to their sides and removed flashlights from the holsters that were attached to their belts. They snapped them on and continued their work in the eerie glow.
“As I was saying,” Nikki spoke into the strange light, gathering the attention of her group slowly, “The most famous ghost here in the Omni Royale is the 18th century maid who lives on the second floor. She tucks guests into bed, runs baths… even flushes the toilet. However,” she motioned around her, “as you can see she’s not the only one. Many of the ghosts that live here like to play with the lights and follow guests around the property.”
She saw Helena Kyle, Kara Danvers, and Diana Prince clap their hands over their ears at the same instant Dinah Lance tilted her head and shook it, as though to rid herself of a buzzing annoyance. It only lasted a moment, but it was long enough to catch Nikki’s attention. The very next second, the lights came back on and the staff grabbed their flashlights and shoved them back into their holsters without even a pause in their work. Nikki looked around and saw Darius giving her a thumbs-up and she turned back to the women now watching her with more interest and slightly less skepticism.
“What do y’all say to moving on to our next location?” The women gathered quickly, not wanting to miss anything. They looked around carefully as they exited the conference room and stepped back into the lobby. The lights flickered again, though they didn’t go out again, and a gasp went up from the group as they saw an ethereal woman pass through them as though they weren’t even there.
Nikki didn’t stop but led them outside and toward their next stop - the Hotel Monteleone.
Thanks: To Phil and Mac for beta reading this for me. They’ve picked up all kinds of dropped letters and missed quotation marks because Pink and Fluffy tend to leave a trail of them. Their diligence is greatly appreciated. Honestly I couldn’t ask for a better couple of women to beta read for me, and I am more grateful for them than they will ever know. All errors belong strictly to me.
Author’s Notes: This multi-fandom comes to you courtesy of my friend and beta reader Phil, who asked for a simple, little five fandom crossover. Being the overachiever that I am, I went well beyond the original five, and this is the result. All the fandoms involved will be listed at the end of the story.
The Storyteller’s Cardinal Rule is in effect.
A Twist of Faete
By D
Prologue
The candlelight flickered as another cold wind blew through the cavern he was currently crouched in, but he smiled in satisfaction as the last charm snapped in place. “Finally,” he grumbled. “Finally, I have a way to take them all down and destroy them. And when I’m done, there won’t be anyone left to worship... except me.” His grin was demonic and harrowing, but his laughter was particularly bone chilling. He lifted his hand nonchalantly and watched the bracelets rise with the motion. With a wave, he banished them from his presence and nodded in satisfaction the next instant when they disappeared. “Now all I need to do is to sit back and wait.”
Chapter I
It wasn’t the worst accommodation they had ever shared, but it certainly didn’t rank among the best either. On the plus side, they were out of the storm, dry and relatively warm – that is to say… not completely frozen - and they were getting warmer by the moment. Their clothing and the majority of their bedding would dry eventually. For now, they were curled up naked together wrapped in the one dry fur they had salvaged.
Xena leaned down and brushed a kiss over the still wet blonde head as another shiver traveled through Gabrielle’s body. “You feeling any warmer?”
Gabrielle jerked her head once sharply and burrowed further into Xena’s embrace. “Y-yeah,” she whispered. “At-t l-least it’s... n-not p-painful... anymore.”
“I wish we’d been able to build a fire.”
“N-not your f-fault... w-we w-were in the... m-middle of f-flat s-scrub... l-land with n-no s-shelter... in s-sight w-when the s-storm b-broke, Xe. I’ll b-be... all right. It j-just t-takes me a... little l-longer to w-warm up these d-days – you... know... that.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t wish....”
“I... I know. M-me too,” patting the warm chest over the strong heartbeat she could feel pulsing in her ear. “B-but it... is w-what it... is. Y-you’ve d-done all... you c-can for the m-moment.” Gabrielle shifted slightly, snuggling her cold nose into Xena’s neck and licking lightly over the barely there mark she’d made earlier that was still visible to her glowing eyes... even in the darkness. “W-when I get... a,... l-little w-warmer, we... we’ll s-see w-what we can d-do to t-take your... mmmind off... things.”
The raised eyebrow and patented smirk was apparent in her tone of voice. “Maybe we should try to take my mind off things in an effort to get you warmer. It’s never failed us before.”
Before Gabrielle could respond, the cavern lit up with an unearthly glow. “Better listen to the Warrior Babe, Gabs. I’m thinking she’s got a bitchin’ idea. Love is always a rockin’ choice, and hot and heavy sex.... I mean – who doesn’t totally dig that??”
“Hello, Aphrodite,” Xena greeted dryly. “What do you want?”
“Do I have to want something to come visit you two radically awesome chicks?” frowning when Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances before turning to her with knowing expressions. “Okay... fine,” she relented after only a few seconds. She waved a hand, providing her with a comfortable place to sit and a bright, warm fire close to where Xena and Gabrielle were currently ensconced. “Least I could do,” she replied to their unspoken question.
“So, what do you want?” Xena asked a little acerbically. It bothered her more than a little that Aphrodite could provide Gabrielle with the warmth she needed with just a flick of her wrist.
“Xe,” Gabrielle chided lightly. Then she leaned up to whisper in her ear. “It c-can’t hurt to l-listen to her.”
“It’s gotten us into trouble every other time,” Xena commented wryly, then looked at Gabrielle’s warm expression. She huffed an impatient breath. “For you, my bard,” she growled. “But if she asks to join us in a threesome....”
“... all b-bets are off.” Gabrielle turned red-rimmed golden eyes towards Aphrodite. “B-but she w-would n-never ask us s-something like that... would you, Dite? Y-you would never j-jeopardize our f-friendship over something s-so p-personal to us, w-would you?”
“NO! No, of course not!” she mumbled with a blush. “Though I wouldn’t say no if you offered either. I’m blonde, not stupid.” She waved her hands before either of them could retort. “So not the reason I’m here.”
“You gonna share that with us sometime this century? Or are we supposed to guess?”
“Ya know, a little gratitude would go a long way here.” Aphrodite glared at Xena, but the blue eyes held her gaze, and she snorted impatiently before looking away and meeting Gabrielle’s now green eyes. “How do you put up with her?” waving her hands again. “Doesn’t matter. There is some radically uncool crap happening, and I need your fabulousness to totally find out what’s going on and who is, like, behind it.”
“You got proof? Or just suspicions?”
“A little of both.” Aphrodite sighed. “More suspicion and speculation, but a little proof. Something not-so-gnarly is happening to the gods. All the gods... like worldwide.”
“And you know this how?”
Aphrodite shrugged. “We talk, ya know. It keeps us honest... to a point. We tend not to, you know, cross boundaries or whatever.”
“So, what’s the word?” Gabrielle asked, finally warm enough to have lost the shivers and stuttering.
“It’s....” Aphrodite shrugged and sighed. “It’s weird. You know... like totally bizzarro. Let me start at the beginning. Maybe you can, like, make sense of this.” She conjured up a pair of glasses and a scroll. She unrolled the parchment and peered at them over the tops of her lenses before clearing her throat. “So, um... ‘Once Upon a Time’....” glancing up to see two identical blank expressions staring back at her. “Whaaaaat??” she whined. “I thought that was the way all you gnarly bards started your stories.” When their countenances didn’t change, she growled and returned her eyes to the scroll. “Fine... whatever. Don’t judge me. Do you know your history?”
“Sure – which part?”
“No,” Aphrodite responded, glaring at them. “Not your personal history, because DUH? I mean your world history – the history of the gods.”
“We know enough to know….” Xena growled, but before she could continue her rant, Gabrielle interrupted.
“We know Gaia and Uranus created the Titans and that Zeus defeated the Titans to usher in the Olympian Pantheon.”
“I’ve heard a bit about a few of the Norse and Celtic gods and some about those from Chin,” Xena added, shaking her head silently when Gabrielle looked a question at her. Gabrielle sighed and tucked her head back into Xena’s neck, knowing there wouldn’t be any answers from that direction any time in the near future. “Why?”
“Because once, a long time ago, the world was a much different place. And the gods….” Aphrodite sighed. “Once we were one world... one community... and everything had its place. Light and darkness; yin and yang; strength and weakness; good and evil. Everything existed in perfect balance and harmony. Then evil got greedy and the world was thrown into Chaos. When that happened, my great-grandparents – Gaia and Uranus – retired from the field of godhood, turning the ruling of the gods over to my grandfather Cronus and his siblings. Unlike the Titans, though, Gaia and Uranus still exist today on Olympus, but they mainly just watch the world going on around them. They contribute very little to either the humans that once worshipped them or the family that tends to ignore their existence these days.”
“Okay, soooo...?” Gabrielle prodded when the silence started to lengthen.
Aphrodite pushed the glasses a little further up her nose and let her eyes refocus on the parchment. “In the midst of the ensuing confusion and pandemonium, the Titans didn’t realize that a new threat had been awakened and let loose to prey not just on the human population, but the gods as well. His name was Saligia, and greed was just the first indication of his presence on Earth. It was because of him that Zeus slayed his father Cronus and assumed the role as King of the gods. It was also because of him that the gods fractured – that we suddenly had Pantheons across the planet – each part of their own culture.”
“So, you’re saying it’s because of this Sal person that we have....”
“Sal introduced seven of the worst plagues possible into the world and made them part of our culture – humanity’s as well as the Pantheons. He did far more damage than Pandora ever dreamed of causing.”
“He’s why her box was empty,” Xena stated flatly with an understanding look in Gabrielle’s direction. Aphrodite just goggled at them.
“How did you...? You know what? Nevermind. I don’t wanna know. But yeah, he is.”
“Okay, so what happened then?”
“This is where things get a little tricky – because there was obvious evidence of his presence, but we could never actually find him. Not a flesh-and-blood incarnation anyway. But we lost a significant amount of power then. We always suspected he was behind it in an effort to coup the Pantheons.”
“You don’t think it was directed at anyone in particular?” Gabrielle asked. Xena remained silent, but it was apparent from her demeanor that she was taking Aphrodite’s concerns seriously.
Aphrodite glanced up, gratified to see they were listening with due consideration. “No... because we all suffered this major drop in power and influence. It was, you know, disconcerting.”
“What happened?”
“I dunno. Saligia didn’t disappear, but he seemed to mellow a bit, if you know what I mean. He was always there in the background, but kind of like a noise that you’re not consciously aware of unless it’s suddenly gone.”
“Except he’s not gone, is he?”
Blonde curls shook vehemently at Aphrodite’s negative reply. “Not even close – except....”
“Except what?”
“We can’t find him. Evidence of his presence has always been on a slight ebb and flow, but it’s heightening again, and this time gods are disappearing.”
“Like literally?”
“Well, yeah – I mean, no. I mean – it’s not like they’re dying or vanishing from being or whatever. They’re just not gods anymore.”
“He’s sucking their powers?”
“That’s the consensus among the gods, yeah.”
“Do you have any reason to think he’s responsible aside from ancient history?” Xena spoke for the first time in a while. Aphrodite shifted her attention and met Xena’s eyes seriously.
“No. But it makes the most sense and what is totally scary is that all the Pantheons are on the same radical page about this.” She watched the skepticism pass over Xena’s face and rushed to qualify her statement. “I know we can be rash and petty and hateful, and we probably meddle with humans more than we should....”
“Probably?” Xena snarked. Aphrodite huffed, but shrugged apologetically.
“Yeah, well, anyway.... The gods don’t really mess with each other outside of our own Pantheons unless we’re, like, forming alliances or, you know, stuff. We’ve got enough to do trying to maintain our own gnarly biz. I know I so don’t have time for much else. Do you know how much radical work goes into a totally bitchin’ love match??” She fanned herself. “Makes me tired just thinking about it.”
“Back on point,” Xena instructed.
Aphrodite growled. “Hey, this isn’t my fault. I’m just looking for a little help here.”
“We get that, Dite,” Gabrielle responded, laying a light hand on Aphrodite’s forearm. “But we need the whole story and you’re kinda running in circles instead of making your point. We need to hear everything you know or suspect. Aside from all the Pantheons agreeing, why do you think this Sal guy is behind the gods disappearing? And how is he doing it?”
“Saligia makes the most sense, because frankly, no one else has stepped up to claim responsibility. And trust me – no one around this joint could keep that kind of secret. We all like to brag about our fabulousness.”
Xena nodded her acceptance of the statement without making a comment. “Okay, so how’s he doing it?”
“We’re not sure. I mean, we have a few ideas, but we can’t find much of a common thread aside from the fact that it only really happens on the eve of the Day of the Dead.”
“When the veil between worlds is at its thinnest.”
“Um hmm... exactly.”
“How long has this been happening?”
“We don’t know.”
Xena sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay. What ideas do you have about how he’s doing this?”
“The best we can figure? Enchanted talismans.”
“Why? What makes you think that?”
“Again... it’s just a hunch.”
“Why not just avoid them?”
Aphrodite exhaled in frustration. “If only. We’re not even sure what they are.” She held up a hand and closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead. “Here’s the deal – each god this has happened to so far has received a symbol of their godhood shortly before their powers began waning. They’ve all been among the offerings and they’re never found until the offering is accepted by the priest or priestess on behalf of the god or goddess in question.”
“What do they look like?”
“We’re not sure.” She shrugged. “They’ve all been different so far... at least as far as we can tell. They seemed to be tailored to not only the god, but also the culture and Pantheon they belong to. If we’ve guessed right about what they are, they’re not even made of the same material. The only thing they have in common is their size and shape. That’s what made us start noticing them to start with.”
“Which are?”
“Huh? Oh… you mean the similarities. Sorry. It’s been a really crappy day around here lately. Anyway, it’s about an inch square.”
Xena’s eyebrows went into her hairline. “That’s it?”
Aphrodite nodded. “That’s it.”
“And are they hidden within the offerings or blatantly laid on the altar?”
Aphrodite scrunched up her forehead in thought. “I haven’t actually seen one before it’s been accepted. The gods who have been affected just started sharing with the rest of us, and of course it’s been after the priests and priestesses have collected the bounty for the day.”
“So, the god in question doesn’t actually have to come into physical contact with the talisman.”
“I don’t think so,” Aphrodite replied. “Do you think you can help?” She paused a beat, then continued. “I know we can be real assholes sometimes and we probably shouldn’t mess with you guys because we’re bored or playing games or whatever, right? Because maybe you deserve better than being pawns or wagers. But better the gods you know, right? I mean, at least we kinda know and respect one another a little bit. I’d totally help you guys out if positions were reversed.”
Xena and Gabrielle turned to one another, conversing silently while Aphrodite watched in fascination. Finally, Xena sighed and kissed Gabrielle’s forehead before Gabrielle gave Aphrodite her attention. “What exactly are you asking us to do, Dite?”
Aphrodite broke into grins and clapped her hands together in excitement. “So, you’ll do it?? You’ll help me... us??”
“We can try. Depends on what you want us to do.”
Aphrodite took a deep, calming breath. “Oh. Well, the best scenario for us would be that you get rid of Saligia and all those talismans we suspect he has. Barring that? Either option would be nice, but I think it might be easier to find the talismans than destroying Sal.”
“Why do you believe that? This Sal person is just one man.”
“He’s more than a man. I don’t know that he’s a god exactly, but he has the means to become one if he’s the one collecting the powers that are being lost. Besides, he unleashed the seven plagues – there’s power back of him somewhere.”
“Do you have any idea where he is or how we can find him?”
“Notta clue, really – given the fact that he’s affecting all the Pantheons at once. We’re not even sure what he looks like.” She sighed. “I know it’s not much to go on, and it’s a lot to ask, but I don’t know what else to do. Given the Chaos he caused with his introduction, I’m not sure any of us will survive – humans or gods - if he’s successful in his coup.”
Gabrielle stared at Xena a long moment before she turned back to Aphrodite. “We’ll do our best, Dite. That’s the best we can promise. But you need to make sure the Pantheons need to know not to accept any more offerings until we can figure this out. And that’s likely to take a while.”
“It’s more than I hoped for.” She kissed them both briefly on the lips before shimmering out of sight. “Thanks, you guys! You totally rock!”
They gazed at one another in silence for a full minute after the rose petals settled on the floor around them. Then they reclined in the warmth now completely surrounding them, and began making tentative plans to find Saligia.
Chapter II
Word spread quickly between the Pantheons, and soon offerings were being left to molder and ruin until they could be combed through thoroughly to weed out anything that could be considered a talisman. That, of course, created even more issues - the largest obstacle being that it could not be an acolyte or priest of the god for whom the talisman was intended who found it as that was construed as acceptance. There was a shuffling of acolytes between Pantheons and gods in an effort to prevent the talismans from activating accidentally, which caused any amount of heartache and discontent.
Xena and Gabrielle tried to collect the talismans as they were discovered in their travels, though it was extremely difficult... especially given the trials and tribulations they suffered through during their journey. And those difficulties made them overlook the influences the talismans exerted over them both. They didn’t even recognize their anger and wrath until it was almost too late.
Hope pulled them off track for a long time and they were months recovering the faith and trust they’d had between them. When Gabrielle took Hope into the pit, Xena lost sight of everything for a very long time. It wasn’t until Aphrodite admitted to saving Gabrielle and telling Xena where to start looking that Xena remembered their task; she resumed collecting the talismans as they surfaced. They were coming less and less often and Xena chanced to wonder if Saligia had discovered their activities or if there just weren’t that many left. Then she found Gabrielle in Potadeia and everything else went to the wayside for just a little while, even as things continued to bubble and ferment just under the surface.
There were a few talismans in India – not as many as she expected, but enough to assure them both that Saligia was still busy at whatever game he was playing. Their lusts and desires increased exponentially but it wasn’t really talked about... much like their Bacchae natures. It was simply something they enjoyed to the point of over-indulgence. Then came their crucifixions and months of anger and distrust and frustrations after Eli revived them. A few more lesser gods were lost, but Xena couldn’t bring herself to care and neither could Gabrielle. They had far more important – and selfish – things to focus on... until everything between them exploded and nearly destroyed them.
It was when Gabrielle lay recovering after being healed from the debilitating head wound Xena had inflicted that Xena began recounting their journey in her mind… from the moment things had started going so wrong for them. Every instance of increased anger; of greater selfishness; of intensified greed; of augmented hatred; of amplified pride or desire or jealousy – every single incident could be traced back to the discovery of another significant talisman placed in their possession. Then she thought back to Aphrodite’s words to them years before – about the plagues Saligia had released and how they had been meant for gods and man. And she realized that though each of the curses resided in mankind now as a matter of course, the talismans enhanced their effects exponentially.
But instead of calling for Aphrodite and railing at her for putting her – them – in such an untenable position, Xena traced Gabrielle’s face with the back of her fingertips, leaning forward and murmuring apologies that only she could hear. She let a single teardrop roll down her cheek and drip onto Gabrielle’s lips before she leaned forward and brushed a kiss over her forehead.
“I’m sorry, Gabrielle. So, so sorry,” she whispered. “If I could turn back time and do things differently....” Then Xena turned abruptly, jerking the pouch holding the talismans from the saddlebags and striding out the door into the stormy darkness. She never saw the tears that leaked from Gabrielle’s still closed eyes.
************
Xena stood in the center of the courtyard, letting the rain wash over her until it wasn’t cold any more. Then she tied the pouch to her armor, clutching her chakram in her left hand and raising her sword high in her right. Then she lifted her voice to the heavens... and bellowed.
“SALIGIA!!”
There was no sound beyond the rumble of thunder for several long minutes, but Xena waited patiently. She knew he would come to her on this day of all days... especially when he realized the power she held in her hands. She nudged the pouch gently, allowing the talismans to jingle together, and within seconds a figure started to form in front of her.
He wasn’t attractive – not to Xena’s way of thinking anyway – though it was obvious by his expression that he was a very vain individual. He maintained a completely dry circle around him and looked her up and down with disdain, unimpressed by her appearance. Then she jingled the pouch again and his eyes widened when he recognized exactly what had conjured his physical presence. His round, double-chinned face grew purple with apocalyptic rage.
“YOU!!!” he screeched. “YOU’RE THE REASON MY WORK HASN’T REACHED FRUITION!!!”
Xena gave him a half-smirk and shrugged. “Yeah... what about it?”
“WHAT ABOUT IT?!? DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’VE DONE???”
Her eyes narrowed and turned to ice. “Not nearly what you did... or what I’m going to. The suffering you’ve caused....”
“Oh blah blah blah and boo hoo. I’m no worse than the cancers known as gods that you pathetic creatures worship. And at least I offer some fun.”
“Fun?!” Xena mocked. “Really?? You call what you did to the world fun??”
“Well, yes. It was all rather boring before.”
“I see,” Xena replied as she dropped her sword to rest on her shoulder and started walking around him. He spun to keep her within his sight and frowned when he realized she was dripping into his dry sphere of existence. She pretended not to notice and continued her circle. “What are the talismans for?”
“You mean you don’t know?” asked slyly. “I expected you to know, given that you’ve been collecting them for years by the sound of it.” He reached a hand forward and she swatted at him lazily, grinning when he jerked his hand back and cradled it protectively. “You cut me!!” he wailed when black blood flowed sluggishly from the wound.
“Yep. And I’ll do it again if you try putting those hands where they don’t belong.”
“But those things... those talismans – they belong to me.”
Xena snorted. “Not anymore they don’t. Finders keepers and all that.”
“But they’re MINE!!!”
“You got rid of them – gave them away. I found them. Therefore, they’re mine now.”
Saligia smiled craftily. “And how’s that working out for you, my dear? I created them – I know the power they possess and the purpose they were intended for. They can’t give you anything that’s not already there, but they can enhance your desires to the point of insanity – to make everything else in your life lose its importance. Tell me... have they driven you mad yet?”
Xena let every single negative emotion she could feel come to the forefront of her mind, then she turned wild eyes in Saligia’s direction. “I dunno, Sal – what do you think??” raising her sword and taking a swipe at him. He screeched when a lock of his curly hair fell to the ground and realized with a touch that she had shaven him almost to bare skin on one side of his face.
“HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND??? WHAT DO YOU THINK...??” screaming again when she did the same to the other side of his face.
Xena chuckled lowly. “You asked. I just thought I’d demonstrate.”
Saligia held up his hands in surrender and stepped back a pace, dismayed when Xena followed as a matter of course. “I can help. Just give me the pouch and you’ll be back to normal.”
“Yeah... no. ‘Cause see... if I give these back to you, it won’t remove the plagues you left. It’ll just mean you go back to killing gods.”
He shrugged. “Why do you care? You don’t worship them - it’s not like you even believe in them. So what difference if I rid the world of them and take their followers for my own. We’ll have fun....”
“Until you destroy the world.”
“Oh, pish posh. Again... why do you care? You won’t be around when it happens. Humans aren’t cursed with the boredom of immortality.”
Something flashed through Xena’s eyes then, but it was gone so quickly, Saligia didn’t even notice it. She sneered at him. “Doesn’t matter. Mankind deserves the right to choose for itself – not rely on the whims of some bored immortal being.”
“Aren’t you already subject to the whims of bored immortals? You can’t tell me they don’t interfere in your life – we wouldn’t be here otherwise. Because those talismans?” gesturing to her waist. “They were meant for them... not you.”
“Perhaps. But their powers will wane and wax according to mankind’s beliefs and choices – not because some punk wannabe wants to be more than he is.”
“Punk wannabe?? Do you know who you’re talking to??
“Yeah – I’m talking to the punk wannabe that tried stealing the powers of the gods with subterfuge and trickery. You think you can win in a straight up fight with a real warrior?” mocking him and swinging her sword again. She grinned maliciously when she left a reverse Mohawk across the top of his skull. He screamed again and drew a sword from within his robes.
“Prepare to die, Mortal. I have nothing to fear from you!” Then he swung and found his sword caught and held in her hand and his eyes widened.
“Maybe not yet, you don’t,” she challenged and shoved him away from her. She licked the blood from her hand and felt her incisors elongate and her eyes flash. “But you will.”
Saligia recognized in that moment that Xena was both more and less than he expected. And he knew he was in trouble when keeping up was a problem.
Saligia lost his protected circle almost immediately and had to adjust to the storm that surrounded them. Back and forth they went, neither gaining nor losing ground, though he got the distinct feeling he was being toyed with. He spared a thought to wish for some kind of power to defeat this inhuman woman who stood in front of him when she hesitated.
Saligia grinned at what he perceived to be a weakness he could exploit, and swung with every ounce of strength he had left. He had no way of knowing what his actions were going to cause.
************
Xena was focused on her fight with Saligia – despite the despair she felt, she didn’t intend to lose. She had things to do that didn’t involve some half-wit upstart. Aside from not wanting to owe Ares anything, she needed time with Gabrielle to fix all that was wrong between them. So she was focused on defeating him while she exorcised some of the rage she could feel coursing through her veins – which at the moment involved allowing him to wear himself out until she was ready to destroy him.
Then she heard Gabrielle call her name softly, and she hesitated. Without warning, Saligia aimed for her neck, knowing even a Bacchae couldn’t survive decapitation. Almost immediately, she felt Gabrielle’s touch on her hips and she moved her sword with lightning speed to block his blow. His blade slid off hers and hit the pouch, knocking it from her waist and causing the talismans to scatter.
It was all the distraction Xena needed.
With a mighty roar, she swung, hitting Saligia in the jugular and following through across his neck and spine with a clean, smooth slice. But instead of his head falling to the ground and his body toppling over unsteadily, a bright light blinded them and they were forced to look away. When they opened their eyes again, the talismans were gone and only his sword and the sound of his laughter remained of Saligia.
Xena stepped forward and the sword shimmered as Saligia spoke. “Oh Xena... don’t you know you can never defeat me? I am ingrained in the fabric of the world. It may take a while, but we will meet again, my dear. And when we do, I shall emerge victorious.” The sound of laughter rolled as the shimmer faded, then a bright flash followed, removing the sword from their purview. Xena and Gabrielle remained still for a moment longer, then Gabrielle clenched her hands on Xena’s waist.
“We need to talk.”
“We do... I know we do, Gabrielle. But I think we need to take care of this first. Wait... hear me out,” Xena asked, turning to face Gabrielle, but allowing her to choose their distance. Gabrielle didn’t move closer, but she didn’t move further away either and Xena breathed a sigh of relief. “You need to feed and you need some more time to heal. But we also need to send some scrolls.”
Blonde eyes went into an equally blonde hairline. “Huh?”
Xena smiled briefly, then it fell. “What happened... what’s been happening.... Gabrielle, I know I’ve made some bad mistakes.”
“We both have.”
“No... not like....” She stopped when Gabrielle held up a hand. “Okay, yeah, we’ve both made mistakes. But things seemed to snowball and get worse every time we picked up a new talisman. Even our good adventures had undertones of uncontrolled emotion.”
Gabrielle nodded slowly. “Okay – so what do you want to do?”
“I think we need to set up some kind of avant-garde – people that will keep an eye out for the talismans... who will collect them and keep them safe.”
“You think it’s necessary?”
“Yeah. You heard him – we’re gonna meet again. I just don’t think we should be the ones looking for those things anymore. It’s been killing us, Gabrielle... tearing us apart. You can’t tell me you don’t feel the difference in having them gone.”
“I do.”
Xena clasped her hands and brought them to her lips, brushing them with kisses and bathing them with her tears. “I can’t.... Gabrielle, if we ever made a conscious decision to not be together anymore – it would be your choice. I made my choice years ago when I offered you a bedroll outside of Amphipolis. That hasn’t changed despite everything – madness, anger, disappointment or misunderstandings. But those talismans... they were meant to destroy gods, Gabrielle. They were destroying us.”
Gabrielle leaned forward and kissed Xena’s forehead, causing both of them to close their eyes in benediction.
“All right, Xe. We’ll feed, then you can write out the scrolls. I think you’ll need one for each Pantheon, so seven? Eight?” She shrugged. “We’ll figure it out and then ask Aphrodite to deliver them. We’ve still got some things to talk about and you’re right – I still need some time to heal. But we’ll get through this.”
“I love you, Gabrielle.”
Gabrielle leaned forward again, this time meeting Xena’s lips with her own and allowing her incisors to scrape across the fleshy part of her lips. Xena moaned and felt her incisors lengthen when the coppery scent of blood filled her senses.
“Take me to bed, Xena. Tomorrow will be soon enough to worry about Saligia and talismans and avant-gardes. Tonight is for us.”
“Tonight and every night... for as long as we live, my bard.”
It would be a very, very long time before they ever discussed Saligia again.
Chapter III
“Dinah, are you certain you should do this?” Barbara held up a hand to stave off her immediate answer. “I know you’re strong, but this seems a lot like tempting fate.”
“I’ll be fine,” offering Barbara a smile as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “You saw Helena strengthen my barriers before we came here, and I haven’t had any problems. Besides, we see real monsters every day. I don’t think any of this is truly authentic; I think it’s a bit of fun the locals put on for tourists to make a little money.”
“You sure you don’t want to go, Red?” Helena asked with a hint of longing.
Barbara pinched the bridge of her nose. She knew Helena meant well, but she was fast developing a headache. She released a breath slowly, then looked up at Helena with a smile. “I’m sure, Kitten. I don’t have any desire to go rolling up and down the road in the dark, and I’m pretty sure the cemetery isn’t made for people like me. And no... you’re not going to carry me, so don’t even ask. Besides, I’m going to be downstairs with the caterers setting up food and drinks for the party when you guys get back.”
Dinah’s eyes brightened. “Oh yeah... did you see the menu they’re bringing in? It’ll be better than Pop-tarts.”
“Watch it,” Helena growled. “Nothing’s better that Pop-tarts.”
Barbara grinned slyly, though she couldn’t stop the blush than ran up her face at the thought running through her mind. “Really, Hel? Nothing?”
Helena leered at her. “Nothing I’m willing to share with the Kid.”
“GUYS!” Dinah cried as she clapped her hands over her ears and slammed her eyes closed. Helena took the opportunity to kiss Barbara fast but thoroughly. She pulled back, licking her lips, then pulled Dinah’s hands from her ears.
“Let’s go, Kid. Time to find some ghosts to scare.”
************
“This should be fun,” Kara whispered to Diana as they stepped onto the elevator together. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
Diana grinned. “That’s because you fight real scaries on a regular basis. But yeah,” she agreed as the door slid open, and they crossed into the lobby of the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. “It should be entertaining at least. I’m glad we’re going in small groups, though. At least we should be able to anticipate any funny business they’ve got planned.”
Kara frowned. “You think there’ll be funny business?” pulling her glasses down just slightly and scanning the room over the rims.
“I think it is all good fun, and if they can do things to scare folks, well... that would just make it a better experience, right? Either way, we’re going to have a good time.” She looked up and nodded, then ushered Kara toward Xena and Gabrielle. “C’mon. We should be starting soon.”
************
Emma was standing next to Gabrielle, hands tucked in her jeans as she scuffed her foot along the floor. She was a little embarrassed that her parents thought she needed a minder - she was fifteen years old, after all - but she really wanted to go on this tour. So, she kept her mouth shut and waited for her mother to finish talking. While she was waiting, she felt Carter come up behind her, barely touching her arm to let her know of his presence without scaring her. She smiled bashfully and knew he was doing the same in return. She wasn’t surprised to hear Cat Grant speak into the silence that followed her approach.
“Are you sure you don’t mind keeping an eye on Carter, Xena? He really wants to do this tour, but I’ve got so much....” She stopped talking when Xena held up her hand - a fact that still surprised her whenever it happened. Cat was used to being one of, if not the most important person in the room. But she knew well enough to recognize when she wasn't and naturally deferred to the one who was. She waited for Xena to speak.
“I promise you, he’s in good hands, Ms Grant. We’ll look after him like he was ours,” Xena said, giving Carter a wink. He smiled. They had only been here a couple days, but he already liked Xena and Gabrielle, and, of course, Emma and her family. He looked at his mother, and grinned when she nodded her head and gave him a fond smile.
“All right. You all have a good time. Thank you, ladies.” She turned to Carter, who reluctantly gave her a quick hug. “I’ll see you later, Carter. Have a good time, okay?”
“I will, Mom. Thanks.” She strode off without a backwards look. Olivia and Natalia stepped up beside Emma.
“Same goes for you, Bean. Don’t get into any trouble, all right? And have a good time.”
“I will, Mom. You and Ma enjoy your dinner.”
Olivia brushed a kiss across her forehead, then stepped aside for Natalia to do the same. “We’ll see you when you get back, Jellybean. Love you.”
“Love you too, Ma.” Then she shooed them away. “Go... have fun. We’ve got this,” motioning to the circle of people around her. They laughed and Olivia and Natalia walked away with smiles on their faces.
************
Catherine nudged Sara with her elbow. “What do you think? Is it all going to be fake like the haunted house we go to in Vegas?”
Sara smirked. “I think it’ll be a little better. New Orleans has had time to get this down to a science, after all. But yeah... I’m pretty skeptical of the validity of the whole spirit thing.”
“Careful, Sugar,” Wendy deliberately drawled like her half-sister. “To hear Nikki tell it, this stuff is real.”
“So, you believe in this stuff?”
“Let’s just say I’ve seen enough not to dismiss it out of hand.”
Sara shook her head. “I think it’ll make for some good stories to share with the guys when we get home, but other than that....”
“Other than that, there’s fantastic food waiting for us at the first two stops, and I for one intend to eat my fill.” Gail Peck said with a smile as she looked around at the Vegas contingent. “Good evening, ladies,” greeting the group to which she’d already been introduced. “Have any of you seen my better half? She promised to meet me down here, but I’ve been round the room twice and have yet to spot her.”
“Your girlfriend - ‘bout my height, brown hair and eyes, oblong glasses, and talks like a nerd?” A gravelly voice spoke from behind her. Gail whirled to find one of the triplets - as she’d come to calling the three women that looked so similar they should have been - and tilted her head to meet a woman twinkling brown eyes and her hand extended. “Jane Rizzoli.”
“Gail Peck. And yeah... how’d you know?”
“Because mine caught yours and a Claire Washburn and a Temperance Brennan in a discussion about coronary arial psoriasis and autopsies or something. I figured I’d let them... do their thing until the tours start. It’s not like I was getting one word in ten anyway, and we may not all end up in the same group together.”
Gail nodded. “So, what do you do, Jane Rizzoli?”
“I’m a trainer with the FBI in the Boston office,” tucking her hands under her arms. “You?”
“I’m a Constable Second Class in Toronto.”
“You like it?”
Gail shrugged. “I like being a training officer. Not quite as crazy about walking a beat. But you do what needs to be done, right?”
Jane smiled. “Yeah. I felt the same. I was so happy the day I got my gold shield... mostly because it got me out of that uncomfortable uniform.”
Gail made a face. “Yeah... not a big fan of those either. It’s like they deliberately made them as ugly and uncomfortable as they can just to make us miserable. But I’m also not sure becoming a white shirt is the right career path for me.”
Jane nodded. “It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.” She looked up as her name was called. “Looks like they’re splitting us into groups.” She held out her hand. “It was nice to meet you, Constable.”
“Just Gail,” she said, accepting Jane’s hand. “It was my pleasure. Maybe we can talk again later?”
Jane smiled and nodded her head. “I’ll look forward to it. See you,” she said as she moved to catch up to Maura. Gail watched her go, then smiled when she saw Holly coming her way.
“Making friends?” Holly asked as she approached. Gail took her hand and twined their fingers together.
“Maybe,” she said with a sly smile. “Are you done geeking out for a while? I’m hungry.”
Holly rolled her eyes, then tugged her towards the entrance where their group was standing. “C’mon, you heathen. We’re in the next group to leave. I’m sure there’ll be plenty for you to eat along the way.”
Gail leaned in and tucked her nose into Holly’s neck. “Omnomnom,” she muttered, causing Holly to blush and laugh out loud. The rest of their group smiled, and they made their way out the door.
************
Xena and Gabrielle watched as the groups slowly made their way out of the lobby and into the night. They hadn’t expected quite the overwhelming response they’d gotten for the tour, and as a result, had ended up breaking the larger group into several smaller ones to accommodate their needs. Nikki and Nora had called on some of their friends to lead the other tours, though suspiciously, none of them was Darius. Xena and Gabrielle both had recognized him as fae and figured he was going to provide some of the more special effects they anticipated seeing. Xena particularly wished she knew what he was doing - she wanted to have a little fun on her own... especially since all the superheroes were part of their group. Still, she knew she’d be able to figure out something - she’d learned to think on her feet a long time ago.
They watched as Nora took the next to the last group, and turned back to Nikki who was smiling at them. “All righty, y’all. I think most of you know me, but just to be sure, my name is Nikki Beaumont, and I’m going to be your tour guide tonight. For the record, I was born and raised here in the Big Easy, and I have done this before - I am a certified tour guide here in New Orleans. We actually put together this tour specifically for the conventions, and we will be the only ones out there tonight, because we mixed up two or three other tours to choose the spots we wanted to take you.” She looked around at the group, noting excitement, skepticism and humor among the women standing in front of her. She grinned. “C’mon, y’all. Let me show you a part of New Orleans most people never get to see.”
************
“Our first stop is the Omni Hotel,” she said as the stepped inside the building, leading them into a conference room that was set up with several choices of bite-sized desserts and some craft beers and wines. There were a number of comfortable chairs and couches scattered around the room, and she encouraged them to help themselves to food and beverages before taking a seat. Kara spied the chocolate pecan pie, and made a beeline in that direction even as Helena started towards the raspberry white chocolate cheesecake. Alex and Maggie figured out the snickerdoodle creme brûlée was a safe bet in the meantime, and soon everyone else was following in their wake. They descended like a horde of locusts, and Xena and Gabrielle watched with amusement as the staff scrambled to keep up - none of the other groups had been quite so ravenous, and they had expected much the same from this group as well.
Nikki let them go for a few minutes, enjoying the beer she’d chosen, and observing with delight the enjoyment she could see around the room. She was thrilled to know these women she called friends were happy to be in her hometown. She spied Darius just beyond the doorway, and he nodded shortly to let her know he was ready whenever she was. Because despite the reality of ghosts in these buildings and her hometown in general, ghosts could be rather stubborn creatures, and she wanted to guarantee that these women - all of them - were able to experience some of its more fantastic aspects for themselves. She didn’t ask, and he didn’t tell, but Darius had enlisted a few of his friends to ‘go along’ with each group to ensure there were at least a few paranormal sightings. Though she didn’t understand why, Nikki just knew with him being there, their chances had increased dramatically.
With a shrill whistle, she brought silence to the room, then looked around with a smile. “I’m so glad you ladies decided to join me tonight for our little tour. I know a number of you are skeptics, and I really can’t blame you. You’re all women that require facts and proof in your jobs - it’s what makes you good at what you do. But I promise you that what you’re going to see tonight is real. Every place we’re going to visit has documented ghosts and paranormal activity. Some of the ghosts are fun and playful; a few are mischievous. But some?” She shook her head. “Some are downright terrifying.” She looked up with a teasing grin. “I know you don’t believe me now, but I guarantee you’ll be singing a different tune when this is all over.”
She looked around the room again, noting she had their rapt attention, even amongst the skeptics. She dropped her voice until it was little more than a whisper. “I have it on good authority that several of the ghosts that should be present at our host hotel - the Bourbon Orleans - have temporarily vacated the premises due to the presence of some of the more… formidable members of our gathering,” drawing laughter from around the room with many covert looks in Xena and Gabrielle’s direction. “That’s kind of a shame, because I was really hoping to introduce you all to the smoking man… or the lonely dancer.”
“Wait… what smoking man?”
Nikki whirled, not expecting the interruption… especially from the woman who reminded her more of a human puppy more than anything else. She took a couple steps, moving her closer to where several groups of women were clustered closer together. “What’s your name, Sugar?”
A nervous hand pushed a pair of glasses up her nose and continued on to sweep back an errant lack of hair. “Oh… um, me?” waiting for Nikki to nod. “I’m Kara… Kara Danvers.”
Nikki took her hand, surprised it wasn’t ice cold by the way the other woman was reacting. She clasped the hand she held and tugged Kara toward her gently. “Tell me, Kara Danvers - what did you see?”
Kara shoved up her glasses again. “Oh… just….” She sucked in a deep breath and tried again. “I was down in the lobby this morning early, and there was a man there.” She frowned as she thought back on the encounter. “I didn’t think anything of it; I-I mean… p-people read papers and smoke cigars before breakfast, right?” She giggled nervously and adjusted her glasses again.
Nikki looked at her seriously. “Could you describe him? Describe what he was wearing?”
“Uh… yeah, yeah. He was wearing a three-piece suit.” She scrunched up her brow as she called up the memory. “He had a weird looking tie… you know, the kind that kind of folds over instead of knots?” biting her lip while her eyes darted back and forth. “He was reading a Times-Picayune, but he had a couple more tossed on the seat beside him. I noticed it because it was… weird. They were….” She glanced down at her feet before looking back into Nikki’s brown eyes and shaking her head.. “I haven’t really seen them around here.”
Nikki nodded sagely and prompted softly. “Did you speak? Or rather… did he speak to you?”
“Um… sorta?” Kara hedged. She would have been twisting them together if Nikki hadn’t been holding them. “I said ‘Good morning’; he kinda grumbled back at me… something about the state of the world today.” She shrugged. “I didn’t really… I mean, a lot of people do the same thing, like… all. the. time. When he didn’t look up from his newspaper, I just went upstairs to get ready for the day.”
Nikki squeezed her hand briefly and grinned. “Congratulations, Sugar! You met the smoking man. He’s one of the most consistent apparitions in our hotel.”
Kara beamed as Nikki released her grip. “Really?” she asked, excitement clear in her gaze. “That is so cool!”
Her enthusiasm was contagious, and the women clapped and cheered as she returned to stand next to Diana. “So…” Nikki said as the noise died down and she looked around the room. “We’ve already had one ghostly encounter. What about the rest of you, hmm? Has anyone seen the dancing lady? Or the Confederate soldier? Or the kissing bandit?” She waited, but no one stepped up to confess. She smiled. “That’s okay… we’ve got all weekend, and odds are, we’ll run into some of our haunters tonight. After all, we do love a good show here, and everybody loves to show off,” garnering more laughter from her group.
“Now,” she continued without missing a beat, “here at the Omni Royale, the most famous….” Before she could continue, the lights flickered three times before settling into complete darkness. The staff, who had stepped in to begin their cleanup, simply reached to their sides and removed flashlights from the holsters that were attached to their belts. They snapped them on and continued their work in the eerie glow.
“As I was saying,” Nikki spoke into the strange light, gathering the attention of her group slowly, “The most famous ghost here in the Omni Royale is the 18th century maid who lives on the second floor. She tucks guests into bed, runs baths… even flushes the toilet. However,” she motioned around her, “as you can see she’s not the only one. Many of the ghosts that live here like to play with the lights and follow guests around the property.”
She saw Helena Kyle, Kara Danvers, and Diana Prince clap their hands over their ears at the same instant Dinah Lance tilted her head and shook it, as though to rid herself of a buzzing annoyance. It only lasted a moment, but it was long enough to catch Nikki’s attention. The very next second, the lights came back on and the staff grabbed their flashlights and shoved them back into their holsters without even a pause in their work. Nikki looked around and saw Darius giving her a thumbs-up and she turned back to the women now watching her with more interest and slightly less skepticism.
“What do y’all say to moving on to our next location?” The women gathered quickly, not wanting to miss anything. They looked around carefully as they exited the conference room and stepped back into the lobby. The lights flickered again, though they didn’t go out again, and a gasp went up from the group as they saw an ethereal woman pass through them as though they weren’t even there.
Nikki didn’t stop but led them outside and toward their next stop - the Hotel Monteleone.
