The Trap

THE TRAP

Still shaken and out of breath, Xena and Gabrielle stood at the edge of a cliff beneath which flowed a river of swirling, fiery lava. Lava into which they had just lured two mortals-turned-goddesses, Velasca and Callisto.

“How long will it hold them?” Gabrielle asked.

“For eternity, I hope.”

“Xena…” Gabrielle sighed. “Do you think that deep down, Callisto is sorry for the things she’s done?”

“No!” Xena was startled by the vehemence in her own voice. At this point, she didn’t want to think of any goodness Callisto could have had in her. Not after condemning her to an eternal living death in a lava pit. It had been the only way.

“I do,” Gabrielle said simply. “ I have to or I can’t forgive her. And if I can’t forgive her, I can’t move on. Goodbye, Callisto.”

Xena glanced warmly at her friend, moved, as always, by Gabrielle’s capacity for compassion.

“Let’s go,” she said.

They turned around.

And froze in place, because the subject of their conversation stood right behind them, a very nasty smile on her now-unblemished face. Gone was the ragged scar that had disfigured the immortal Callisto before she had gotten hold of ambrosia – and godhood. A godhood Xena had had to hold out before her as a prize, to trick her into helping fight Velasca. Except that, apparently, she had overestimated her ability to trick Callisto into the same trap she was laying for Velasca herself.

“I heard that, Gabrielle,” Callisto said. “Very touching.”

“You!” Gabrielle gasped. “But you’re supposed to be – “

“Trapped down there in the lava pit?” Callisto tilted her head, her smile turning dangerously sweet. “Well, I’m obviously not, am I? Just before we hit the lava, I was able to get your little playmate off me and use my powers to stop the fall. After all, I’m a goddess now.” She paused and added, with a silvery laugh, “Of course, so was she, but she never did learn to put it to good use, poor dear. So, at least you won’t have to worry about her anymore.” She came closer and grinned. “Me, on the other hand…”

Xena clenched her jaw, prepared for the worst. “What do you want, Callisto?”

“What do I want?” The newly-made goddess laughed girlishly. “A little chat with you, my love. I’m afraid we have some unfinished business to settle … someplace more private.”

Xena quickly considered her options. Her weapons were useless; the Amazons were far away, even if they could do something against a full goddess. There was no chance of luring Callisto into the lava pit again. The only thing to do was follow her to whatever place she had in mind, and then try to trick her way out.

“All right,” she said coldly. “I’ll play your little game. Just leave Gabrielle out of it.”

“Are you sure?” Callisto pouted. “It’d be even more fun as a game for three. But have it your way.” She clicked her tongue. “Just you and me. Come on.”

She extended a hand toward Xena, but Gabrielle jumped suddenly between them, her staff pointed at the goddess.

“Get away from her!”

Callisto threw her head back and laughed. “You’re going to fight me with your little stick, Gabrielle? Oh, please. You couldn’t have stopped me when I was still mortal. As a goddess – you can’t even delay me. You’re not even a minor annoyance anymore – just an amusement.”

Gabrielle gave a cry of frustration and swung the staff.

“No, Gabrielle!” Xena shouted, grabbing her shoulder to stop her. Before she could do anything else, Callisto gave a lazy hand-wave, and Gabrielle was tossed aside by some invisible force, flailing wildly as she flew through the air and landed on the ground about fifty paces away, losing the staff in mid-flight.

“You bitch!” Xena charged forward, but Callisto held out a hand to stop her and wagged a finger.

“Tsk tsk tsk. I’m being nice, Xena. I could have thrown her that way.” She nodded toward the lava pit. “Now, you come with me, and your little friend will be fine.”

Callisto gripped her shoulder, and a swirl of air and light opened up around them; and then everything turned black.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

When Xena came to, there was a dull ache in the back of her head. She was staring at a vaulted ceiling that had known much better days – some of the figures painted on it had peeled so badly they were missing heads or limbs – and, rather disconcertingly, she couldn’t move her arms or legs. Her back was pressed against what felt like rough cold stone, and Xena quickly realized that there was nothing at all between that stone and her skin.

Lifting her head, she realized that she was completely naked, her ankles – and presumably her wrists too – securely tied to the stone carvings on what looked like an altar in a deserted, half-crumbled temple. For a moment she wondered if Callisto intended to kill her on the altar – the new goddess claiming the object of her immortal hate as her first sacrifice. Shit. This was not good. Major understatement.

She should have asked Ares for help against Velasca, she reflected belatedly. Sure, his help always came with strings attached, but she could have convinced him that a power-crazed Amazon juiced up with ambrosia was as dangerous to him as she would be to anyone else. Well, too late to think about that. There had to be a way out.

“Wakey-wakey,” said a lilting voice behind her; and then, Callisto came into view and perched herself on the edge of the altar.

“Where are we?” Xena asked. She managed to sound completely unfazed by the fact that she was tied naked and spread-eagled in front of her worst enemy.

“Used to be a temple to Artemis,” Callisto shrugged. “I think they used to sacrifice deer and goats on this thing. Or maybe virgins. But don’t worry…” she paused and winked, “I have much better uses for it.”

“So I’m the sacrifice.” The only way she had a chance to survive this was to stay calm and focused.

Callisto giggled. “In a manner of speaking.” She held out a hand and laid it on Xena’s stomach, and then slowly slid it up her body until she reached Xena’s breast and squeezed it gently.

Xena held back a gasp. So that’s how Callisto wanted to settle their score.

“Well, what do you think?” The bright, manic smile was back on Callisto’s face. “Isn’t this the perfect way to celebrate my new life as a god, darling? You and me. Together. The new goddess – and her mortal creator. Perrr-fect.”

She leaned down and captured Xena’s lips with her own. The kiss took Xena by surprise, and she had no time to steel herself against it – against the strange heat of the goddess’s mouth, the velvet feel of her tongue sliding between Xena’s lips and dancing against her own tongue. She did not flinch, did not move her tongue or her lips in response to this kiss; but, to her hidden dismay, she knew her body was responding, and worse yet, she suspected that Callisto knew it too.

After a moment Callisto pulled back and laughed, her brown eyes sparkling. “Well now – that wasn’t so bad, was it?” She lifted a hand and stroked Xena’s face, then moved it lower, circling a nipple with the tip of her finger. “We have a bond much deeper than love. And you know – there really isn’t a reason you and I shouldn’t be very good friends. At least, not from your point of view. I mean, what have I done to you, really? So I fucked Ares while I was in this lovely body of yours, but come on – it’s not like you haven’t been dying to do it. And admit it – I did you a big favor when I sliced open that drip your little friend decided to marry. Now you have her all to yourself.” She slid her hand lower, down Xena’s stomach, until her fingers were brushing against the dark curls of her mound. Xena clenched her teeth, determined not to show signs of arousal – though Callisto needed only to move her hand a little further down to find out. “Tell me, my pretty – “ she paused a moment, and then moved her hand to precisely that spot, parting the soft folds and slipping a finger inside – “have you done this with her yet?”

“Damn you, Callisto,” Xena spat out.

She laughed again and shook her head. “Too late, dear. I was damned the moment you barbecued my family. But we’ll just – let bygones be bygones, right?” She leaned down and swirled her tongue inside Xena’s navel, then licked her way up to her breasts and sucked on the left nipple, her fingers still toying with the sensitive flesh between Xena’s legs. The heat coiling in Xena’s groin was starting to spread to her stomach and her legs. She willed herself not to squirm, and managed to keep her voice almost steady.

“So now you’re going to get your revenge by forcing yourself on me? You’re pathetic.”

“Forcing myself? Oh no.” Callisto flicked her thumb lightly over the now-swollen bud, and Xena couldn’t suppress a shudder. “Trust me, my love – “ she planted a light kiss on Xena’s right nipple, then looked up, grinning – “by the time we’re done, you’ll be begging me to fuck you.”

“Never.”

“Hmm. Shall we put your resolve to the test, then?”

She bent down again, and Xena steeled herself for the assault. Callisto’s hot breath brushed her belly, followed by the maddening touch of her lips and tongue, and then quick feathery kisses on the soft skin of Xena’s inner thighs that felt like they left a trail of liquid fire. It took all of Xena’s strength not to arch her hips toward her tormentor. She tugged and jerked at her bonds but that was useless. Meanwhile, the goddess was moving in for the kill, spreading her open, flicking her tongue over the exposed aching bud and then, without warning, sucking it hard so that Xena finally couldn’t suppress a guttural cry in her throat. Callisto’s response was a delighted laugh.

“My, my. I think you’re losing this battle, Xena. And so quickly, too. I’m disappointed.”

Callisto’s finger slid inside her, stroking her there, causing new sensations that made things even worse. It occurred to Xena that perhaps the best strategy at this point was to play along and persuade Callisto to untie her – but Callisto was probably too smart for that. Still, it was worth a try –

And just then, she heard another sound in the temple. Callisto must have heard it too, because she tensed and sat up. Someone was there – someone Callisto hadn’t expected. Xena breathed a slight sigh of relief. Right now, any change in the status quo could only be a good thing.

“Well, well, well,” said a very familiar male voice. “What have we here?”

Ares. Was he there to help her, or to help Callisto torment her once again? He had been Xena's ally as a mortal; and he owed her for saving his life and helping him get his godhood back. But now that he was a god again –

“Ares,” Callisto said, in a tone that left no doubt that the visit from the God of War was an unpleasant surprise. She got up from the altar as Ares came into view, looking unflappable as his eyes slid over Xena’s naked form. He and Callisto obviously weren’t working together. On the other hand, being in close proximity to Ares while naked and very aroused was – definitely not a change for the better.

“Let me guess,” Callisto continued, “you’re here to welcome me to the club?”

“Oh, that’s right. You got your shot of ambrosia. Congratulations.” Ares chuckled. “And what’s that? Your first virgin sacrifice?”

“I don’t think she qualifies.” Callisto shrugged with mock regret. “Just enjoying a little quality time with an old friend. Do you mind?”

“Well, as a matter of fact I do,” Ares said nonchalantly. “Considering your old friend happens to be my special project.”

Callisto sat down on the edge of the altar once again and resumed her excruciating caress, brushing her nimble fingers over Xena’s breast before trailing them down. Xena grit her teeth, struggling not to betray herself this time. “Your special project, huh. So you want a piece of this?”

“Call me a sentimentalist, but I prefer my women untied and a little more willing.”

“Why, Ares – such a gentleman. Who knew.” Callisto gave a short, tinkling laugh, then moved her hand to Xena’s mound again. “Well, don’t worry. She’s more than willing. Come see for yourself.” She dipped a finger into Xena’s wetness and stroked lightly, and Xena knew that in another moment her control would break down. “The flesh is willing, and the spirit… well, the spirit is getting weak.”

“Stop it.”

“Mmm.” Callisto withdrew her finger and licked it. “She tastes wonderful.”

“I said, stop it,” Ares growled. He stepped forward and clicked his fingers at the bonds on Xena’s hands and feet; and, one by one, the leather straps snapped effortlessly, freeing her limbs. She sat up with a gasp and rubbed at her chafing wrists.

“Thanks,” she muttered as she scrambled down from the altar. She already resented owing Ares a favor.

“Rescued by the God of War,” Callisto chuckled. “Well, now – that makes it even more of a challenge. Let’s see how well you can resist me when you’re free – shall we, my love?”

She kissed Xena’s shoulder and then touched her again, slowly running her hands up the curve of Xena’s hips toward her waist, cupping her breasts, rubbing the stiff nipples. Xena knew she was now free to push her away, goddess or not; but the heat that pulsated between her legs and tingled all over her body hadn’t gone away, and Callisto’s touch was rousing it to an even higher pitch. She felt Callisto’s warm breath on her neck, then Callisto’s tongue, and the light pressure of her teeth; at the same time, Callisto’s hands moved down to her stomach and lower, and Xena couldn’t help moaning. It didn’t help that she was now facing Ares, who was staring at her with undisguised lust and with a very visible swelling in his pants.

“Mmm – it’s good, isn’t it?” Callisto purred into her ear. Ares gave her a questioning look; and, the last of her resolve melting away, she nodded as she leaned back and yielded to Callisto’s caress.

Through half-lidded eyes, she watched Ares come closer; and then she raised her head to meet his lips in a kiss that was strangely tender at first, until it turned almost brutal in its passion. He gripped her hips, pressing her body against his so that she felt his hardness through the leather, grinding into her. Xena raised her hands and sank her fingers into his hair, pulling him into another kiss even as Callisto’s hands squeezed her breasts; she was trapped between the two of them, their hands roaming her body, their mouths on her neck, her face, her lips. Then, the touch of Ares’ leathers on her skin was instantly replaced with that of his own hot bare skin, the hair on his chest deliciously rough on her nipples, his hard cock jutting against her belly, already moist at the tip. She brought her hand down to stroke him and cup his balls, smiling with satisfaction when he moaned in response. Their lips collided again, their tongues jousting, the pure pleasure of this kiss heightened by the wet suck of Callisto’s mouth on Xena’s neck.

“Yes,” she breathed as she leaned into Callisto, “yes”; this time it was Callisto who captured her lips, bending her head back, darting her tongue tantalizingly in and out of her mouth while Ares kissed his way down to her breasts, sucking and lapping greedily at her nipples. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could take this. Ares’ hand moved down her stomach and then between her thighs, and she heard him gasp. “Tartarus, you want it bad” – he muttered.

“Yes, dammit,” she groaned, “yes”; and as she threw her arms around his neck, he gripped her hips and lifted her and slammed her down on his cock. Xena cried out at the sensation, wrapping her legs around Ares as he thrust deeper into her.

“Hey!” Callisto exclaimed peevishly, sounding for all the world like a child annoyed at a playmate for snatching away her toy. “I didn’t say you could go and fuck her just like that!”

“Girlie” -- Ares' voice was husky and tight -- “if you think I need your permission, you’d better think again.” One arm still wrapped around Xena, he raised the other one; turning her head slightly, Xena saw a ball of blue light form in his palm and shoot out at Callisto, catching her square in the chest. The goddess screeched with rage as she flew backward and crashed into a far wall of the temple where, for the moment, she lay still.

Xena laughed. “You can shoot fireballs at a time like this. I’m impressed.”

“You should be.” Ares grinned at her as he backed away toward the altar, with her still wrapped around him and his cock still inside her.

And then, in an instant, she saw a solution to the Callisto problem. She mustered all of her self-control to focus, for now, on something other than the demands of her body.

“Ares,” she said, “you don’t really want that psycho bitch on the loose with powers equal to your own, do you?”

He winced a little as he sat down on the edge of the altar. “Not really. But” – he leaned over and kissed her neck – “I’m a little preoccupied with something else right now.”

Xena chuckled. “So am I. But I have a plan to stop her.”

Ares gave her a rueful look. “You have a plan? Now? I must be losing my touch.”

“You’re not.” She laughed and gave him a quick kiss, darting her tongue between his lips. “I’m just that good.”

“Mm – “ he shuddered, half-closing his eyes as she squeezed her inner muscles around him – “you are. What’s your plan? Better be quick -- she’s back on her feet and headed this way.”

Xena leaned closer, shivering as her nipples brushed his chest, and whispered briefly in his ear.

“Sounds good,” he said. “Now – where were we?”

Finally able to let go, Xena trailed her mouth from his ear to his lips and kissed him, sweeping his mouth with her tongue, nipping at his lip. “Here,” she muttered as she broke free for a moment only to kiss him again, her hips jerking, “and here” – she moved upwards, almost sliding off him, rubbing herself against the silky head of his cock, the feel of it making tendrils of heat spread under her skin; and then, with another kiss, slid down and took him inside her completely, making him cry out as he bucked against her.

Callisto's hand touched her back, then moved to her shoulder.

“You know, my sweet” – Callisto cupped her chin and turned her head slightly, and Xena found herself staring into those captivating, frightening eyes – “I could pay you both back for that stunt.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips tantalizingly against Xena’s. “But I won’t. At least – not yet.” She ran the tip of a fingernail, gently, across her cheek. “Because this – is going to be much more fun.” She smiled brightly. “Go on.”

She stood behind Xena, astride Ares’ legs, running her hands over Xena’s body, one hand caressing her breasts, squeezing them, tugging at her nipples, while the other hand roamed her back and moved lower. Xena was gasping, so wound up by now that every touch, from Callisto or from Ares, sent a jolt of pleasure through her body; she wanted to close her eyes and surrender to her senses completely but she wanted to watch Ares, too, his face racked by exquisite torment, his mouth half-open, his eyes wide and blurry. Callisto’s hand on her back moved lower still, much lower, and suddenly Xena realized with a shock that Callisto was groping for her other opening. She had no time to react; slick as she was with arousal, Callisto’s finger entered easily, and then another, and she could only moan inarticulately at Callisto’s hot whisper in her ear – “Like it?”

She moved faster, riding Ares hard as he matched her rhythm with his own thrusts, his hands gripping her waist, with Callisto’s fingers sliding in and out of her, roughly enough to cause a slight pain that only made the pleasure more intense. Finally the sensation was overpowering, the pure animal sensation of being filled, possessed, fucked by them both, Ares’ cock and Callisto’s fingers – her blood pounding, her moans turning to screams as she writhed in an agony that she couldn’t bear and never wanted to end – the heat inside her rising in tight coils and spiraling outward and taking her higher and higher and higher still until there was nothing else, until she was shaken by long waves of spasms – vaguely aware that Ares was shaking under her as he reached his own peak, his hands now clenched on her shoulders, his deeper cries mingled with hers.

For a few moments after that, she lay slumped against Ares, lost to the world as he held her to his chest and Callisto stroked her hair and her back, almost as if they were lovers, all three of them. She wished she could stay like this longer; but her awareness was returning, and with it the knowledge that she had a plan to carry out. She hoped that Ares wouldn’t let her down.

She slid off his lap and turned to Callisto, lifting a hand to stroke her face. Callisto looked startled for a moment; even more so when Xena leaned forward and kissed her softly on the mouth.

“You were right,” she whispered, breaking the kiss. “We shouldn’t be enemies.”

Callisto stared at her for a long moment and then burst into a wicked laugh.

“Oh, you’re good, Xena. Trying to trick me? Do you really think I’ll – “

Xena stopped her with another kiss, this one hard and demanding, wrapping her arms around the goddess’s body still clad in her leather armor, drawing her close.

“Come on, Callisto,” she whispered huskily, sliding her hand under Callisto’s skirt, stroking her through her soaking-wet undergarment. “You know you were right. The bond between us is deeper than love. We are so much alike, you and I. You’ve always known that. I’ve denied it to myself – “ she kissed the blonde again, sliding her tongue deep inside her mouth even as her fingers ripped away the thin fabric – “until now.”

Suddenly, Callisto looked young and vulnerable and lovely, her eyes very wide, her breath ragged, and Xena felt acutely ashamed of what she was about to do. Worse yet, she could almost believe what she was saying. She had remind herself that there was no changing Callisto; she had been dangerous enough as a mortal – as a goddess, she’d rain terror on thousands of innocents.

Giving her no time to recover, Xena sank her fingers into the soft heat between Callisto's legs, stroking her gently while she covered her neck and face with quick kisses. Callisto’s breaths turns to whimpers. Xena pulled her down and they both sank to their knees on the floor covered with an old tattered rug. As Callisto’s hips jerked forward, Xena felt her own desire coming back, and reminded herself to get a grip. She couldn’t afford to lose focus, not now.

She glanced at Ares, who stood only a few paces behind Callisto at the altar, now fully clothed; he lifted and showed her a metallic object in his hand. The plan was almost complete; now, she just needed to keep Callisto distracted long enough.

She kissed Callisto again, slowly, savoring each flick of the tongue, while her fingers played gently with Callisto’s wet folds and rubbed her bud. Callisto’s breath hitched; all the excitement of the past hour had left her in such a state that this simple touch was now enough to bring her to the edge. She arched against Xena’s hand and grimaced as if in pain, and dove forward to seize Xena’s lips in another kiss; and then made a sound that sounded like a short sob and tossed her head, her hair spilling wildly, and cried out Xena’s name as her final convulsions were upon her.

Now.

Pulling Callisto closer, Xena ran her hands down the blonde’s slender arms, gently grasping her wrists and moving them behind her back.

In the next moment, she heard the clank of metal; Callisto jerked and her eyes flew open, blazing with shock and fury.

“What -- ?”

Ares pulled her up to her feet.

“That, my dear, was a chain made from Haephestus’ metal,” he said. “A chain that can bind a god.”

Callisto stared at Xena; and for a moment, the rage in her face gave way to a heartbroken look that made Xena feel a fresh pang of guilt.

“You lied to me,” she said forlornly.

Heavily, Xena shook her head. “I meant what I said.”


~ * ~ * ~ * ~

“Well,” Ares said. “That was the last of her, I hope.”

Xena thought his voice was tinged with a bit of regret, but she wasn’t about to probe. She looked back at the rocks where Callisto was now buried in a collapsed cave, for what should be forever. It was no different, she reminded herself, from the original idea of burying her in lava with Velasca.

Still, she couldn’t help asking. “Will she suffer?”

Ares shrugged. “Doubt it. Gods can put themselves into a deep sleep. I imagine she’ll do that, after a while.”

Xena nodded thoughtfully; that made her feel better.

“Well,” she said. “I’m headed back to the Amazon village.” She paused and added, “Thank you,” and reached up to give Ares a quick kiss on the lips.

He looked at her hopefully. “You wouldn’t be up for another round, would you?” Xena glared at him and he raised his hands defensively. “All right, all right – just asking. You have to admit I held up my end.” He smirked and added, “In more ways than one.”

She raised an eyebrow. “So you did.”

“And, um – watching your little seduction of Callisto has left me kind of – unsatisfied.”

“Ares,” she said, not unkindly, “take a cold bath.”


~ * ~ * ~ * ~


“Xena! You’re all right!”

“I’m fine.” She enveloped Gabrielle in a tight hug.

“You’re not hurt?”

“Nope.”

“Where’s Callisto?”

“Buried under some rocks,” Xena said curtly.

“Xena, when she took you away, I just totally panicked,” Gabrielle explained rapidly. “I didn’t know what to do. So I called for Ares and told him what happened. I mean – I know he can be pretty bad, but you did get kind of friendly with him when he was mortal, and he did put you back in your body and so I figured – well, I just didn’t know what else to do, and – “

“Gabrielle.” Xena gave her friend’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Everything’s fine. You did the right thing.”

“So he helped?”

“Um – yeah. He did.” There was no need to tell Gabrielle anything else. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, and this adventure definitely wasn’t one for the scrolls. Except maybe the kind of scrolls sold in certain dingy shops in bad districts.

“Oh, good.” Gabrielle smiled. “Except that now I suppose you owe him a favor.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” This time, Xena couldn’t hold back a smirk. “I think we’re just about even.”

THE END