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. All other characters that appear belong to me. 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.

Devil's Heart
By Kristjan Brezovnik

A group of warriors had just returned to a military camp and the warlord was expecting them.

"Report," he ordered.

"We were successful," the second-in-command reported. "We can attack tomorrow."

"Good."

"We also brought a little bonus." The man pointed toward their prisoner. "I heard that she belongs to Xena."

"Oh, really?"

"I don't belong to anyone," Gabrielle said.

"Well, now you belong to me," the warlord said and turned to his second-in-command. "Torture her and find out what she knows, then she's all yours and you may do what you want with her."

"Thank you, lord."

The second-in-command motioned to the guards to follow him. They took her to his tent.

Soon screams were heard from the second-in-command's tent. He soon realized that Gabrielle didn't know much and he raped her. Then he let the guards do it and after that he dragged her outside.

"She's all yours, men!" he called.

The men cheered and approached Gabrielle. Gabrielle backed off, terrified, but the men surrounded her and gang raped her. They kept doing it even after she'd lost her consciousness.

Suddenly a pillar of fire appeared in the middle of the camp and after the fire dispersed, a woman was standing there. It was Callisto and she did not look happy.

The men stared at her, surprised, but not for long. Callisto concentrated and started throwing fireballs all over the place. The men took cover. Those who had bows fired at her, but the arrows disappeared as soon as they touched Callisto's body. Callisto incinerated the archers and slowly leveled the camp.

She noticed that the warlord had escaped. She let him go. For now. First, she leveled the camp and killed all the warriors. Then she checked on Gabrielle. She concentrated and the wounds and dirt slowly disappeared and the clothes became whole again. She picked her up and they disappeared.

They reappeared in a cave with a large entrance and Callisto laid Gabrielle down. She caressed her and disappeared.

She came back a few minutes later with Gabrielle's stuff and some blankets and food. She laid Gabrielle on the blankets and caressed her.

"It's play time," she said, smiling wickedly, and disappeared.

The warlord was running as fast as he could. He didn't know what exactly happened in the camp, but he knew that he and his men didn't stand a chance. Suddenly an arm appeared from behind the tree he was running past and hit him in the neck. He crashed down, making a flip.

"Going somewhere?" Callisto asked as she stepped from behind the tree.

The warlord looked up, rubbing his neck and moaning.

"Who are you? What do you want?" he asked, confused.

"I am Callisto and you have hurt someone I quite like. It's payback time."

The warlord backed off, but Callisto grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up. The man gasped for air.

"Now, let's see, where shall we begin, hm?"

Soon screams were heard through the forest and the travelers who were traveling through it were anxiously looking around for the source of the screams.

Finally, Callisto returned to Gabrielle. She caressed her and then started preparing food. When she heard Gabrielle moan, she transformed into Xena and went to her.

"Gabrielle," she said softly, caressing the bard.

Gabrielle opened her eyes.

"Xena?" she moaned.

"Yes, Gabrielle. You're safe."

Gabrielle sobbed and Callisto caressed her. Gabrielle sat up and hugged her. Callisto was surprised, but she hugged her back and caressed her again. Gabrielle started crying.

"Shh, it's okay, Gabrielle, you're safe," Callisto consoled her.

A couple of weeks later Gabrielle decided that she was fit enough to travel again.

"Are you sure?" Callisto asked, still disguised as Xena.

"Yes."

"Okay. Then let's go."

Gabrielle and Callisto packed their stuff and left the cave.

They quietly walked to he village where Callisto said she had left Argo. The village was several days away and Gabrielle was slowly getting used to being around other people, especially men.

They finally got to the village and Callisto told Gabrielle to go to the inn and get them a room and dinner. Gabrielle went into the inn and as soon as she disappeared through the door Callisto transformed back to her own form. She went to the side street and looked through the window. She saw that Gabrielle had already gotten a room and was taking her stuff there.

Callisto tethered her horse and stepped to the corner and waited. She soon noticed the Warrior Princess walking down the main street with Argo. She knew that Xena will stop at that inn since it was the only one in the village.

Xena first took Argo into the stable and then went into the inn. Callisto went back to the window and watched.

Gabrielle quickly returned to the main room. She noticed Xena talking to the innkeeper and she went there.

"Gabrielle!" Xena said, happy and relieved, when she saw her friend.

She went to her and hugged her. Gabrielle didn't understand why Xena was so happy.

"How's Argo's hoof?" she asked.

Xena was confused.

"Argo's hoof? Fine. Why?"

Gabrielle was confused.

"What do you mean? You said she hurt it badly. You had to hire another horse, remember?"

"Another horse? Argo is fine, Gabrielle."

"Then why did you hire another horse?"

"What horse?"

"The black one."

Xena stared at Gabrielle, utterly confused.

"Let's talk about it after dinner, okay," Gabrielle said. "Oh, the room is the first on the left."

"What room?"

Gabrielle looked at Xena, confused.

"The one you told me to get a couple of minutes ago."

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

"Gabrielle, I haven't seen you since Corinth."

"What? Then who…"

Gabrielle stopped and turned away.

"Gabrielle, are you okay?" Xena asked, concerned.

Gabrielle nodded.

"Let's sit down," she said without looking at Xena. "The dinner will be served soon."

Xena didn't know what was going on, but she followed Gabrielle to a table.

Callisto watched them until dinner was served. Then she untethered her horse and left.

After dinner Xena and Gabrielle went to their room. They were quiet for a while and Xena had a feeling that Gabrielle was trying to avoid her.

"Gabrielle, what happened?" she asked. "I heard that some warriors captured you and their camp had been grounded and their leader tortured."

Gabrielle slowly turned.

"So it wasn't you who saved me and… and…"

Gabrielle turned around and burst into tears. Xena approached her friend and hugged her.

"What happened, Gabrielle?" Xena asked again after Gabrielle calmed down a bit.

Gabrielle was quiet for a while.

"I was tortured and gang raped," she finally said silently and sobbed.

Xena was shocked.

"I… I had no idea. I'm sorry," she said and caressed her.

"When I regained my consciousness you were there and you helped me," Gabrielle continued. "I mean, someone that looked like you was there."

"Well, I'm glad that you weren't alone. But now I'm here," Xena said and hugged her friend.

The End