Hercules clenched his teeth and gripped the handle of the sword. Rising swiftly he rose and lifted the sword high in the air. Slowly the blood of the blad faded and an image slowly formed on the shiny metal. The dark colours swirled and slowly solidified to form an image of Ares.

"Hello brother", the head floating in the sword smirked. Hercules wanted to fling in to the ground and watch in smash into a million pieces but if he wanted to know what happened to Xena he had to hang on the sword.

"Wanna know what happened to you precious little LOVE?", Ares taunted. Hercules bit his tongue to keep from saying anthing.

"Well, my place. Three day from now. I'll see you at sundown. Be there" Hercules gritted his teeth. The way Ares said it, that had sounded like a party invitation. Ares' image faded. With a frustrated sigh the demi-god flung the sword to the ground and it shattered into little fragments that scattered everywhere. All of them seemed to have Ares' smug face reflected in them...taunting him.

Hercules woke before sunrise. The first day. Hold on Xena, I'm coming

Xena gritted her teeth as she once again rattled the heavy chains that bound her tightly to a metal slab. The whole situation stank of Ares and Xena was not suprised. Only a fool would have dreamt that she could carry her pregnancy to term without the god of war meddling in her affirs. Damn it! Whatever Ares chained her up in it wasn't going to budge an inch. Briefly Xena wondered about Hercules. He must be worried sick about me. Xena closed her eyes. The sooner I get out of this mess, the sooner I can get back to him.

Ares observed all of Xena's struggles with amusement. Well, that's one thing about Xena, she never gave up. Ares crossed his arms and allowed himself a smile as Xena twisted around to test each of her individual chains for their weaknesses. Satisfied that Heaphastus had done his job properly Ares left the room. He wanted to check on his dimwit half-brother.

Hercules looked up and noticed that the sun was low in the sky. Had he really been moving all day? It didn't feel like it. Then again, he hadn't been thinking straight all day. No matter what he did, Xena constantly invaded his thoughts. Hercules had being relying on his godly instincts to guide him. Suddenly, Hercules stopped, and he glared at the figure which had appeared out of think air.

"Ares, what do you want now?", Hercules asked in a resigned tone.

"Hello to you too brother", Ares said, spitting out the word 'brother' like it left a bad taste in his mouth, "Glad to see me?" A gloating sneer appeared on his face. Hercules bit back a response. Ares shrugged before continuing, "Anyway, I figure you want an update on Xena." Hercules' head snapped up and Ares laughed. The sound grated on Hercules' already thinning herves but again he remained silent. A showdown now would almost definitely spell serious trouble for Xena. Ares looked at his half brother in disgust.

"Xena's in my lovely dungeon awaiting you. Completely unharmed thus far. But you'd better hurry." Ares' face lit up in an evil grin before he disappeared. Hercules shook his head and pressed on.

"Hello my dear", Ares' voice wafted into the room and it set Xena's teeth on edge. The gloating face of the war god wafted into Xena's vision.

"Hello Xena, missed me?", Ares asked as he lifted a hand to gently caress Xena's cheek. Xena glared at him and snapped her face away from Ares' hand.

"Come on, aren't you happy to see me?", the god of war said with a smirk on his face. In reponse, Xena spat in his face. Ares' grin disappeared as he wiped the spittle off his face.

"You'll pay for that", Ares told her, and smiled again as he rested a hand on her abdomem, "Yes, you'll pay dearly." Suddenly Xena's vision went black and she lost all touch with conciousness.

Chapter 11

Hercules entered the halls of war apprenhension eating at his already drained energy levels. If anything's happened to her... Hercules banished the thought from his mind. He raised both hands in front of his. Why was this gods damned place so impossibly dark? Suddenly he felt his hands hit a door. Slowly he pushed it open. Ares was seated on his throne an evil grin twisting his otherwisse handsome features.

"So glad you could make it!" the god of was grinned, sure of his triumph, "You're lady awaits."

"Where is she?" Ares stood. He waved his hand and a goblet appeared.

"No hurry. You're a tad early. Care for some wine?" Ares teased. Hercules had had enough. Taking a few long stride he lunged forward and knocked the glass out of Ares' hand. Without pausing he aimed a kick at Ares' head and within second the god of war was on the ground a booted foot in his back.

"I'm going to ask you this ONE MORE TIME. Where is she?" Hercules yelled. A frizzle of lightning appeared at Ares' fingertips and within seconds Hercules found himself flying backwards into a wall. The dark haired god laughed maliciously.

"That's for me to know...and you to find out!"

TO BE CONTINUED...