DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. The character of Insanity is my own. This story is the continuation of my story The Rape.

The Child
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Callisto wasn't pregnant the whole nine months, only four. When it was time, she went to a cave and stayed there.

The labor took several hours but finally the baby got out. It was a girl.

When the girl got out she started crying, but Callisto told her to shut up and she did.

She held her in her arms, playing with her dagger. She couldn't make up her mind whether to kill the child now or later, whether she should torture her or not.

She finally got tired of holding the baby and she laid her down on the cold stone floor. She didn't bother to clean and dry the girl because she didn't care.

Callisto stayed in the cave for another week. In the mean time, the girl grew to look like she was seven. What annoyed Callisto was the fact that the girl had brown eyes and blond hair and reminded her of herself. She wanted to kill her, but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to do it.

The girl hadn't said a word in a week and she was still naked. Callisto never bothered to bring her food and the girl didn't ask for it. It also looked as though she never slept and her eyes were so sad.

She's so pathetic, thought Callisto.

Finally, Callisto decided to get her some clothes. She went to the nearest village, looked for a girl with suitable clothes and killed her. Then she undressed her and took the clothes to her daughter.

She threw the clothes to the girl.

"Here, dress up, we're leaving."

The girl obeyed and dressed.

"Mama," she then shyly started.

"Don't ever call me that again!" Callisto interrupted her, a murderous look in her eyes. "Is that clear?"

The girl nodded, scared.

"Good. What do you want?"

"What is my name?"

Callisto was surprised. She cocked her head and thought.

"Hmm. Yes, that's it! I'll call you Insanity." Callisto laughed. "Come, Insanity, let's go kill some people."

Through the next week, Insanity grew to look like she was fourteen. Callisto tried to teach her how to fight with a sword, but Insanity seemed to dislike it. Callisto tried a dagger, but Insanity also disliked it. Callisto grew impatient and decided to show her how to kill.

As soon as they met a lonely traveler, Callisto attacked him. She knocked him down and put her sword on his throat.

"Please, don't…" the man begged.

"Shut up!" Callisto interrupted him and turned to Insanity. "Kill him," she said and offered her her dagger.

Insanity stared at her mother, shocked.

"No," she finally refused.

Callisto was surprised.

"Kill him!" she demanded.

"No," Insanity resisted.

Callisto was angry.

"You're so pathetic," she said and lifted her sword.

Insanity threw herself over the man to protect him, but Callisto's sword impaled them both.

For the shortest of moments Callisto was afraid. But then Insanity sat up beside the dead man and the fear was replaced by anger.

"Are you insane?!" Callisto asked, furious, and then laughed as she realized the pun.

Insanity stared at the corpse, crying. Her wound was gone. Finally, she looked at Callisto.

"Why, Mama?"

Callisto's smile faded and was replaced by a murderous look.

"I told you never to call me that again," she hissed. "You want to know why? Because you're my…" She paused at the word she was about to say. "…Daughter. And as such you have to know how to kill."

"But I don't want to kill, Ma… I want to help people."

Callisto stared at her, surprised.

"You're pathetic," she finally said, disgusted. "Ares would just die of shame if he were still alive." Callisto jeered. "Hm, I guess you take that after him, being pathetic, I mean. Ares was your father, you know. He raped me and I killed him for that." She paused. "You know, I wanted to kill you too, but I just couldn't make up my mind whether I should kill you immediately or later, whether I should torture you or not. Well, I guess now I can't kill you, can I? You're just as pathetic excuse for a god as that do-gooder uncle of yours, Hercules." She laughed. "You know what's really ironic? The fact that the daughter of God of War and of Goddess of Insanity, both former now, is such a worthless piece of dung. You gods are really pathetic. Get lost, you creep, I don't ever wanna see you again."

Insanity stared at her mother with disbelief. She was hurt. When she didn't move, Callisto left, disgusted.

"Mama," whispered Insanity, staring after her mother, crying.

A couple of weeks later, Insanity came to a village. She had been to several villages by now and she was slowly learning how to use her powers, especially those of healing and invisibility.

She loved to watch children play, but she never joined them, afraid that they might run away.

She sat on the edge of a well, invisible, and observed the children playing some game with a ball.

Suddenly she noticed a girl sitting in the grass, alone, playing with a doll. She noticed that the girl was blind. She got up and went to the girl. She kneeled beside her, put her hand over the girl's eyes and concentrated.

The girl quickly noticed that something was happening to her eyes. She was afraid at first and she dropped her doll and touched her eyes. Slowly the darkness disappeared and a whole new world appeared. The girl stared at the unknown things for a few moments, confused.

"Mommy!" she called, a bit afraid and also excited.

"Yes, sweetheart?" a saleswoman asked near by.

The girl looked and got up. The voice was right, though the face was unknown.

"I can see, Mammy! I can see!" she said and went to her mother, who stared at her, surprised.

"What?"

"I can see!"

The girl hugged her surprised and confused mother, and her mother hugged her back.

Insanity observed the two, happy that she could help and sad that she and her mother weren't so close. She got up and went away.

It was around noon when Hercules and Iolaus arrived to the village.

"Ah, finally," Iolaus said. "I just can't wait for a decent meal."

Hercules smiled.

"Tell me about it," he said and avoided a girl.

"What did you do that for?" Iolaus asked, confused, and looked back.

Hercules also looked.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, that, like you were avoiding someone."

"I was. There was a little girl. Look, she's over there," Hercules said and pointed at Insanity.

"I don't see anyone," Iolaus said.

Hercules and Iolaus looked at each other, confused.

"Must really be missing some decent food," Hercules said and glanced once again at Insanity, who was looking at him shyly. He shook his head and followed Iolaus into an inn.

Insanity stared after them. She had never met the two, but the bigger one saw her, which meant he had divine powers. She wondered if that was her uncle Hercules.

Hercules and Iolaus were just finishing eating when a woman came running into the inn.

"Hercules, help! There's the bandits who have been harassing us."

"Let's go," Iolaus said and quickly ate a few more spoonfuls.

Hercules followed him.

The bandits were already harassing the villagers. Insanity walked among the hurt, soothing their pain. Hercules saw her, but he didn't have time to think about it.

When the bandits saw the two men kicking their comrades butts, they all attacked them.

While Hercules and Iolaus were busy fighting the bandits, Insanity walked among the fallen bandits and soothed their pain.

"Don't do that!" Hercules called when he noticed what she was doing.

Insanity looked at him, surprised. Hercules was captivated by her eyes.

"What?!" Iolaus asked.

Hercules jerked and looked at his friend.

"Not you! Watch out!"

Iolaus ducked and barely avoided being hit.

Insanity observed the two heroes fighting the bandits. She wanted to help the injured bandits, but the big man told her not to. She felt that he was right and she didn't understand it.

Hercules and Iolaus quickly knocked out most of the bandits and the rest fled. The villagers quickly disarmed them and took them to jail.

"Are you all right?" Hercules asked his friend when he saw that he was holding his head.

"I have a major headache. That guy must have an iron scull."

"There's a…"

"What is it?"

Insanity approached Iolaus and touched his head. The headache slowly disappeared.

"Hey, my headache is gone!" Iolaus said, confused.

"It's the girl," Hercules said.

"What girl?"

"The one that I avoided."

"Where is she?"

"Right beside you."

Iolaus looked.

"I don't see anyone."

"I'm a goddess," Insanity explained.

"She says she's a goddess," Hercules said to Iolaus and turned back to her. "What's your name?"

"Insanity."

"Insanity?"

"What's with insanity?" Iolaus asked.

"She says that's her name."

"Insanity?"

"Yes."

"A weird name."

"Aha," Hercules said and turned back to Insanity. "I've never seen you or heard of you before."

"I'm very young."

"Oh. Who…"

"Are you Hercules?" she interrupted him.

"Ah, yes. And this is my friend Iolaus."

"Hi," Iolaus said, not really knowing to whom he was speaking.

"Can I come with you?" Insanity asked.

"With us? Where are you going?"

"Anywhere."

"Well, okay. She's coming with us," Hercules told Iolaus.

"With us?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Then let's go."

Later that day, Iolaus went hunting and Hercules made a camp for the night.

"Why did you help those bandits?" Hercules asked.

"They were hurt."

"I know."

"Why did you hurt them?"

Hercules was surprised.

"They wanted to hurt us."

"But you're a god."

"Only a half god."

"Oh." She thought. "So, I shouldn't have helped them?"

"Well, as much as I hate to admit it, no. You see, the bruises were their punishment for being bad."

"But people receive their punishment in Tartarus."

"True, only that punishment is from the gods and is determined by the way we live. On this world, some people are good and some are evil, and the evil try to hurt the good. Sometimes even the good act evilly."

"Why?"

"Because they are hurt." He paused. "When Hera killed my wife and my children, I became evil for a while, but fortunately I had friends who helped me."

Insanity thought.

"Why did Hera kill your family?"

"Because she hates me and wants to hurt me."

"Why?"

"Because I remind her of Zeus' unfaithfulness."

Insanity thought again.

"Your mother is a mortal?"

"Yes."

"Does she like Zeus?"

"Yes."

Insanity hesitated.

"How… How… were you… conceived?"

Hercules was surprised.

"Well, Zeus seduced my mother and they made love. He still visits her from time to time."

"He… He didn't force her to make love?""

Hercules was surprised again.

"No."

Insanity thought.

"Do you like being a half god?"

"Well, most of the time. There are times when I wish I wasn't. The divine side of my family, well, some of them are okay, but they all have their intrigues and schemes and sometimes they involve me in them. They can be really annoying, you know. But, I am what I am and I accept that."

"And if you could change that?"

Hercules considered that, surprised.

"I think I wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because then I wouldn't be able to help people, at least not as much as I can now."

Insanity thought again.

"Do you like your parents?"

"Yes."

"Both of them?"

"Of course."

Insanity observed Hercules for a while, thinking.

"You are different from other gods," she finally said.

Hercules smiled.

"I have my mother to thank for that."

"Why?"

"Well, she taught me the difference between right and wrong. You see, when I was little I was stronger than everyone else and sometimes I hit someone too strongly. I also mocked Proteus because he was so ugly. My mother taught me that it is wrong to make fun of others."

Iolaus returned with two fat rabbits and interrupted their conversation.

"Hey, Herc, do you think these two will do for a while?"

Hercules looked.

"Absolutely."

Iolaus looked around.

"Is Insanity still here?"

"Yes."

"Where is she?"

"Right here," Hercules said and pointed at the invisible Insanity, who was sitting beside him.

Iolaus looked but saw nothing.

"Why is she always invisible?" he asked.

Hercules shrugged.

"I don't know."

Slowly Insanity became visible.

"I see…" Iolaus started, but stopped, confused. He stared at Insanity for a few moments and then shook his head. "Must have spent too much time in the sun," he murmured. "Hello, Insanity," he said aloud.

"Hello."

Iolaus stared at her sad eyes for a while before forcing himself to look away. He started to prepare the rabbits.

"Hercules," Insanity said.

"Yes?"

"Could you ask your father to tell other gods to leave me and Callisto alone? All, except you."

Hercules was surprised.

"Sure. Why?"

"I've met several gods and they all had their plans for how to use me."

"Oh. I'll tell him."

"Thank you."

"What's with Callisto?" Iolaus asked, having a bad feeling.

"She's my mother," Insanity said.

Iolaus and Hercules both frowned.

"Callisto is your mother?" Hercules asked.

Insanity nodded.

"And who is your father?" Iolaus asked.

"Ares."

"Ares!?" Iolaus and Hercules asked in unison.

Insanity nodded again.

"He raped my mother and she killed him," she explained.

Hercules and Iolaus were too astonished to speak.

"Why… Why aren't you with her?" Iolaus finally asked.

"Because she left me."

"What? Why?"

"Because she hates me."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not like her. She hurts people, and I help them."

Hercules noticed that Insanity's voice was trembling a bit. He caressed her.

"I'm sorry," he said and put his arm around her.

Insanity leaned on his shoulder and cried. Iolaus stared at her for a while, confused, and then returned to the rabbits.

"Uncle," Insanity said when she stopped crying and dried her tears.

Hercules jerked and then realized that she was actually his niece.

"Yes?"

"Can you teach me to discern between right and wrong?"

Hercules was surprised.

"Well, I can try, but if you want, I can take you to my mother, she can do it much better, plus you will be able to play with other children in the village."

"But I'm a goddess."

Hercules smiled.

"Don't worry. I'm a half god and my mother managed just fine as you can see. And besides, she could use some company now that her grandchildren are gone."

Insanity stared at her uncle for a while and then nodded.

"Okay."

"Good. We'll go there tomorrow."

Insanity nodded.

"Iolaus, what's with the rabbits?" Hercules asked his friend.

"They'll be done any minute now."

Several days later, they got to Hercules' home. Alcmene was just tending the flowers in front of her house and was turned away from the trio. Hercules sneaked up behind her and hugged her around the waist.

"Hello, mother," he said.

"Hercules!" Alcmene said, surprised, and then turned around.

They hugged.

"Hello, Iolaus," Alcmene said when she and her son stopped hugging.

"Hello, Alcmene."

Alcmene approached Insanity, curious.

"And who are you?" she asked kindly.

"Insanity."

Alcmene looked at her son, confused.

"I'll explain," Hercules said and turned to Insanity. "Why don't you go into the house with Iolaus?"

Iolaus started for the house, and Insanity followed him. Alcmene looked at her son expectantly.

"She's my niece," Hercules said.

Alcmene was surprised.

"Your niece?"

"Yes, she's Ares' and Callisto's daughter."

"What?"

"Don't worry, she's the total opposite of her parents."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"How old is she?"

"I don't know. Probably about three months."

"What?"

"That's when Callisto killed Ares."

"So it's true?"

"Yes. Didn't Zeus tell you?"

"No, I haven't seen him yet. He's supposed to visit me tonight."

"Oh. Well, Ares raped Callisto and she killed him for that. Zeus can tell you more about it."

Alcmene thought.

"She has so sad eyes," she said. "Why isn't she with her mother?"

"Because Callisto left her."

"What? Why?"

"She hates her, because she's so different."

"Oh. Poor girl."

"Well, I was wondering if you could take care of her."

"Me?"

"Yes. She needs guidance, someone to show her right from wrong. And besides, you could use some company."

Alcmene smiled.

"Well, I do miss having children around."

Now Hercules smiled.

"I know you do."

"Oh, what kind of powers does she have?"

"Well, beside the usual, she is very compassionate. She can heal wounds."

"I see. Well then, let's tell her the good news."

Alcmene and Hercules went into the house where Iolaus was showing Insanity around. When they entered, Insanity stopped and looked at Alcmene anxiously. Alcmene smiled.

"You're welcome to stay for as long as you want," she said.

Insanity relaxed.

"Come, I'll show you where you'll sleep," Alcmene said and offered Insanity her hand.

Insanity hesitantly took it and they left the main room.

"We'll get the food!" they heard Hercules call after them.

Alcmene took Insanity to Hercules' old room.

"This was Hercules' room."

"But won't Hercules sleep here?"

"Don't worry, he hasn't slept in here in a very long time."

"Oh."

"You may rearrange it if you want."

"I can?"

"Sure."

Insanity looked around the room.

"No, I like it."

"Okay."

"Ah…"

"Yes?"

"What do I call you?"

Alcmene thought, surprised.

"Grandmother?"

"Okay."

Alcmene smiled.

"Come."

Later in the evening, someone knocked on the door.

"That must be Zeus," Alcmene said.

"I'll go," Hercules said, went to the door and opened them.

"Hercules?"

"Hello, father."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'll tell you," Hercules said, stepped outside and closed the door. "Insanity is here," he said.

"Insanity? What is she doing here?"

"She lives here."

"Here?"

"Yes. She wanted me to help her learn to discern right from wrong, but I suggested that my mother shows her. It would be good for both of them."

"I see."

"Oh, she wanted me to ask you if you could tell all gods, except me, to leave her and Callisto alone."

Zeus was surprised.

"I will," he finally decided.

"Thank you."

"Now, can I finally see my granddaughter?"

"Of course."

Hercules and his father entered. Alcmene came to greet him.

"Hello, Zeus, it's good to see you again."

"You too, Alcmene," Zeus said and they kissed.

"Hello, Iolaus."

"Hello."

Zeus finally turned to Insanity, who was staring at him, not quite sure how to feel. Zeus kneeled in front of her and smiled.

"Hello, Insanity," he said. "I am Zeus."

"Hello."

"I will tell other gods to leave you and your mother alone, unless you want to contact them."

"Thank you."

"Do you mind if I visit Alcmene from time to time?"

Insanity shook her head.

"No."

"Thank you."

They were about to begin the conversation again when someone knocked.

"I'll get it," Zeus said and went to the door.

"Hi… Zeus?"

"Hello, Xena. Gabrielle."

"Ah, we heard that Hercules and Iolaus were in the neighborhood and we were wondering if maybe they stopped here."

"Yes, they have. Come in."

Xena and Gabrielle entered.

"Xena!" Hercules said.

"Gabrielle!" Iolaus said.

"Hello," Xena and Gabrielle said in unison.

Insanity stared at the black-haired warrioress with mixed feelings. On one hand, she was the reason her mother was a monster, but on the other, she was Hercules' friend and Hercules was good, even her mother trusted him, the only one of the gods. Her appearance imposed respect, but her demeanor was soft, gentle. She did not at all look like the monster her mother said she was. It looked as though she had really changed and was trying to make up for her past. Insanity hoped her mother would one day change too.

Then she looked at Xena's companion. She was young and not at all warrior-like. She looked kind and gentle.

"And who is she?" Gabrielle, who first noticed the girl and was captivated by her eyes, asked.

Xena looked and jerked because the girl gave her a bad feeling.

"This is Insanity," Hercules said.

"Insanity?" Gabrielle asked, startled.

"Yes."

"Insanity, why don't you help me carry these back into the kitchen?" Alcmene said.

Insanity got up and helped her. When they were gone, Xena and Gabrielle looked at Hercules expectantly.

"She's the daughter of Ares and Callisto."

"What?" Xena and Gabrielle asked in unison, surprised.

"Ares raped Callisto and she killed him for it."

Xena and Gabrielle were speechless.

"So it's true that Ares is dead?" Xena asked.

"Yes," Zeus said.

"And what is she doing here? Why isn't she with Callisto?"

"Because Callisto left her," Hercules explained. "She hates her because she is the total opposite of her."

"She is?"

"Yes. She will be raised by my mother."

"Here, you two," Alcmene said, who returned to the room, Insanity following her. "Sit down."

Xena and Gabrielle sat down and Alcmene and Insanity gave them food.

Through the evening they exchanged stories. It was mostly Iolaus and Gabrielle who did the talking.

The next morning, Xena was the first to wake up. She got up and went out to the creek near by where she washed herself.

Insanity appeared about ten meters behind Xena. She observed the warrioress for a while.

"Xena?" she finally said.

Xena turned, surprised, dagger in her hand.

"Oh," she said, when she saw it was only Insanity, and put away the dagger.

Insanity approached her.

"Can you tell me your side of the story about Cirra?" she asked.

Xena frowned. She slowly sat down and thought.

"Cirra was just another village. During the fight, fire broke out and quickly spread all over the village. Most of the people were killed by the fire because they were hiding in their houses."

"Did you order the fire?"

"No, that was not my way. It might have been set by my soldiers, though."

Insanity closely observed Xena and felt that she was sincere. She wasn't offering any excuses, just facts. Insanity felt that Xena was really sorry and that she accepted the responsibility and the guilt. She was not a monster.

"Thank you," she said and disappeared.

Xena stared at the empty spot for a few moments and then finished dressing up and returned to Alcmene's house.

Hercules and Iolaus were already up and Alcmene had just joined them while Gabrielle was still sleeping. Zeus, of course, was long gone.

"What's wrong?" Alcmene asked when she noticed Xena's face.

Xena jerked.

"Ah, nothing," she said.

Alcmene rose her eyebrows, not believing her.

"I just talked to Insanity," she confessed.

"I thought she was still in bed," Alcmene said, surprised.

"She's a goddess, mother," Hercules said.

"Oh, yes. I'll have to get used to that."

"What did she want?" Iolaus asked.

"Hear my side of the story about Cirra. I told her, she thanked me and disappeared."

Alcmene went into the house.

"Hey, sleepy head," Xena greeted her friend who came out, still sleepy.

"Good food does that to you, you know," Gabrielle said. "I bet you aren't up long yourself."

The other three laughed.

Alcmene went to Insanity's room and knocked. Nobody answered, but Alcmene heard some rustle. She entered.

Insanity was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She was silently crying. Alcmene went to her bed and sat down. She caressed her and took her hand. Insanity turned her head and looked at Alcmene, who was looking at her, concerned.

Alcmene smiled. Insanity watched her for a while. She wished it was her mother. She missed her so much. Finally, she sat up and hugged Alcmene. Alcmene caressed her and hugged her back.

Alcmene just held her until she stopped crying.

"Thank you," Insanity then said and dried her tears.

Alcmene smiled and caressed her.

"That's what grandmothers are for," she said softly. "Are you hungry?"

"I don't need to eat."

"Oh, yes. Well, do you want to eat?"

"No."

"Okay. I'll be outside if you need me."

Insanity nodded, and Alcmene left.

Outside, the four heroes were just laughing about something when a man came and asked for help.

"Mother, we have to go," Hercules said.

"Already?"

"Yes. Draco is causing trouble again."

"Oh. Well, good luck then," Alcmene wished them and hugged her son.

Hercules hugged her back.

"Good bye, Mother."

"Good bye, Hercules."

The four heroes left with the villager.

"Where are they going?"

Alcmene turned and saw Insanity.

"Draco is causing trouble again and they were asked to help."

"Oh."

"Do you want to…"

Insanity gasped in pain and grabbed the air for something to hold on. When she didn't find anything, she fell on her knees.

"Insanity?" Alcmene asked, worried, and knelt beside her. "What's wrong? Insanity?"

Insanity leaned on her arm, trying to control the pain.

"Mama," she whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"She's… hurt. Badly."

"Then go and help her."

Insanity looked at Alcmene, surprised.

"You want me to help her although she's a monster?"

"She's your mother, Insanity, and she needs you. Besides, you want to help her."

Insanity didn't respond.

"Go," said Alcmene softly and smiled. "You can bring her here if you want."

Insanity concentrated and vanished.

Callisto was chained to the wall. She was wounded and badly beaten. She was barely conscious, but she immediately noticed when Insanity appeared.

"What are you doing here, bitch?" she asked.

Insanity didn't respond. She slowly approached her mother, her eyes wet with tears.

"What are you crying about? Get lost, I told you I don't want to see you again, you no good…"

Insanity touched her mother and Callisto fell asleep. Insanity started sobbing. She hugged Callisto, concentrated and then they disappeared.

They reappeared back in Alcmene's house. Insanity laid Callisto on her bed and caressed her.

Alcmene, who heard the noise, came to see what was going on.

"By Zeus!" she said when she saw Callisto. "I'll get the water and the bandages."

"That won't be necessary," Insanity said.

"What do you mean? She may survive if we…"

"She will. I will heal her."

"Can you?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Call me if you need anything."

Insanity nodded and Alcmene left. Insanity then put her hands on Callisto's body and concentrated. The blood and the dirt slowly disappeared and the wounds healed. Finally, she repaired the clothes and the armor.

When Alcmene returned an hour later, Callisto looked like she had never been hurt at all. Insanity was sitting beside her, watching her. Alcmene saw that she had been crying. She approached her and caressed her.

"You can't save her from herself, Insanity, she has to follow her own path."

"But she will kill again."

"Yes."

"But if she died, many lives would be saved."

"True, but she would go to Tartarus while the people she killed went to the Elysian Fields."

Insanity didn't respond.

"Let her go, Insanity, maybe she will find her peace one day."

Insanity sighed and nodded. She hugged her mother, concentrated and they disappeared.

When Callisto woke up, she was lying in some forest. She sat up and looked at her body, astonished, it was unharmed. She got up and stretched. She purred from pleasure.

"Mmm, that feels good," she said and smiled wickedly. "It's payback time."

She looked around.

Suddenly Insanity appeared near by.

"Well, well, if it isn't my no good daughter. What do you want?"

"Please leave those people alone," Insanity begged her.

Callisto stared at her daughter for a few moments.

"You're pathetic," she finally decided, disgusted.

"Please, Mama," Insanity said on the verge of crying.

"Don't call me that, you pathetic excuse for a god! You're just as pathetic as your father."

Insanity started to cry.

"Gods don't cry, you little loser. Now beat it, I've got people to kill."

Callisto pushed Insanity out of the way and left.

"Mama," Insanity whispered, but Callisto didn't hear her.

Insanity stared after her for a while. Then she concentrated and disappeared.

Alcmene expected that Insanity would be crying when she returned and she waited near her room. Finally, she heard noise. She knocked and, when she didn't receive an answer, she entered. She sat on the bed and caressed Insanity.

Insanity turned toward her and hugged her. Alcmene hugged her back and held her until she stopped crying.

"Why… Why is she so mean to me?" Insanity asked.

"It's been a long time since she cared about anyone. She wanted you to be like her, so that she could have a companion as insane as she is. That's why she named you Insanity." Alcmene paused. "You know, it's okay to get angry, but you have to be careful not to hurt anyone. Don't let Callisto take hope away from you, tell her how you feel, make her listen, but don't force her to change."

Alcmene caressed Insanity.

"But she's my mama, how can I be angry at her?"

Alcmene thought.

"You know, I love Zeus, but sometimes he can be just so stubborn. I get angry and make him listen. Don't be afraid if you fail the first time."

Insanity sighed and thought.

"Can I meet the local children?" she finally asked.

Alcmene smiled.

"Of course. Come."

It took Callisto a whole day to get to the nearest village and steal a horse and a long cloak. Then she rode to the town where she was imprisoned.

On the way there, she was ambushed by some local bandits. She didn't wait for them to make up their minds about what to say, she cried her battle cry and somersaulted off the horse. She knocked down two bandits and disarmed one. Then she killed them both. The remaining three stared at her, astonished. Callisto used the opportunity and killed one and wounded another. Then she took the dagger from the wounded bandit and slit his throat. The last bandit turned and ran away, horrified. He didn't get far because Callisto threw the dagger after him.

She was just cleaning her new sword when Insanity appeared. When she saw the dead men her eyes grew wide with horror.

"Hi, Insanity," Callisto chirped and smiled sweetly, "you just missed a nice little blood bath."

"Mama, I…" Insanity started.

"Don't call me that, you little bastard!" Callisto interrupted her angrily. "What are you doing here, anyway? I told you…"

"Stop it, Mama!" Insanity interrupted her, crying.

Callisto stared at her, surprised, and then laughed.

"Ah, you're getting angry," she said, pleased.

"Please, stop it," Insanity begged.

"Or what?!" Callisto dared her.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Why are you treating me like this?"

"Because you're so pathetic."

"But I am…"

"You're what?! You're Ares' little bastard, that's what you are!"

"I'm your daughter and you're my mama, whether you like it or not!" Insanity cried. "And I love you," she added silently.

Callisto stared at her for a while, surprised. Finally, she cocked her head, thinking.

"Hm, I think I'll go find some Hind's blood and put you out of your misery," she said coldly.

Insanity was too hurt to reply and she just stared at her mother, shocked.

"I'll be seeing you," Callisto said and left.

Insanity stared after her until she was gone. Finally, she pulled herself together and disappeared.

Alcmene was already waiting and, when she heard that Insanity had returned, she knocked. Insanity didn't respond, so Alcmene entered.

Insanity was lying on her bed. She was in shock. Alcmene sat beside her and put her head into her lap. Then she caressed her and consoled her.

Finally, after several minutes, Insanity started crying. She hugged Alcmene and Alcmene hugged her back.

Several minutes later Insanity broke the hug and dried her eyes.

"I… I have to go," she said.

"Go where?"

"I have to warn those people."

"Don't worry, Insanity, they can take care of themselves. And besides, you can't help everyone."

"But I can help those people for whom I know that they need my help."

"Right now you need to help yourself, Insanity. You need to learn and to gather strength if you want to help your mother."

"But…"

"No buts. First, you refresh yourself and then you will go out and play and you will try to forget about your mother for a while. Okay?"

Insanity nodded hesitatingly. Alcmene smiled.

"Good. Come."

Insanity followed her.

The End