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 Child.

Lila
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Callisto was standing near one of the entrances to Poteidaia, smiling evilly. She wasn't wearing her armor, only some plain clothes and a long cloak.

Soon, she thought, very soon.

Then she moved on. She asked people where Gabrielle's sister lived and she soon found her.

"Hi. Are you Gabrielle's sister?" she asked sweetly.

Lila turned.

"Yes. Why?"

"She's dying."

"What?" Lila was worried. "What happened?"

"Callisto poisoned her with something. Xena did what she could, but she will probably die. She wanted to see you before she died, so I went looking for you."

"Will you take me to her?"

"Of course."

"Wait right here, I'll just take this home and tell my parents."

"Sure."

Lila left and Callisto smiled wickedly.

When Lila returned, Callisto helped her on her horse and sat behind her. Then they left.

They rode for several hours. Suddenly Callisto hit Lila on the head and she became unconscious. Callisto then turned off the road. She rode through the forest until she reached some bushes near a wall. She shoved Lila off the horse and dismounted. After tethering her horse, she removed some of the bushes. Behind them an entrance to a cave appeared. Callisto first lit a torch. Then she grabbed Lila's left arm and dragged her inside.

Inside, she let her go and put the torch into a holder. Then she tied Lila up and to a stalactite. She gagged her mouth and finally changed her own clothes.

When she was done, she left the cave and rode to Poteidaia.

It was getting dark when she arrived there. She dismounted and waited.

Finally, the night fell and the people went to bed. Callisto entered Poteidaia and went to the barns where she had been preparing the barrels with oil for the past couple of weeknights. The oil was stolen, of course.

It took her several hours before she dispersed the oil throughout the village using a small cart to drive the barrels around and a small bucket to spread the oil.

When she was done, she made a small fire. She picked up a small burning piece of wood and looked around. Her eyes burned with murderous lust. She smiled evilly.

"Party time."

She dropped the burning wood, took her sword and dagger and waited.

The fire quickly spread and the people started waking up. Soon, the screams started and the people came out of their houses.

Callisto silently walked among them, slaying them. She had killed about ten people before others finally noticed what was going on. Callisto then screamed her battle cry and openly attacked, killing people as she passed them.

The people were confused, on one hand, the fire needed to be put out, but on the other, there was Callisto.

Finally, several men approached her with hay-forks. Callisto stopped, amused, and cocked her head.

"Oh, you came to play with me," she said playfully. "My, how sporty of you."

She screamed like a banshee and attacked the men. The men tried to defend themselves, but Callisto killed them all within five seconds.

The people finally decided it was in their best interest to flee.

"Oh, no one left to play," Callisto said when everyone was gone. "How unsporty." She shrugged. "Oh, well."

She went to a corpse and cleaned her weapons. Then she resheathed them and looked around one last time. She smiled evilly and left.

When Lila woke up, she was alone. She was so tied up that she could barely move and her mouth was gagged. It was cold and quiet and dark and she was scared.

Finally, after what seemed like eternity to her, a noise disturbed the silence. It sounded like a horses. Lila tried to scream, but only muffled voices came out.

The noise came closer and louder. Suddenly a light appeared and became brighter. Lila heard footsteps approaching. She had a bad feeling.

Finally, a woman appeared. It was the one who had brought her news of Gabrielle, but this time she wore armor. Lila gulped.

"Oh, you're awake," Callisto said, "how nice. Oh, by the way, I am Callisto." She laughed as Lila's eyes went wide with fear. "Well, in case you're wondering where I've been, let me tell you. I've been to Poteidaia. I burned it down, you know, and I killed a few people. Oh, by the way, Gabrielle is doing fine. For now."

Callisto smiled wickedly and untied Lila from the stalactite. Then she dragged her out, put out the torch and disguised the entrance. Then she mounted the horse and pulled Lila up.

"And now we're gonna have some fun," she said and laughed.

Gabrielle and Xena were having lunch in an inn.

"I've eaten many things, but this, this was probably the worst. I… Gabrielle?"

"Shh," Gabrielle said, who was listening in on a conversation. "What did you say?!" she suddenly asked and went to the three travelers on whose conversation she had been eavesdropping.

"Ah?"

"What did you say?!"

"About what?"

"About Poteidaia!"

"It was burned."

"What?! When?"

"Last night."

"By whom?"

"By Callisto. They say that she killed some people during the fire."

"Come, Gabrielle," Xena said and left a few dinars for the lunch.

Outside Xena mounted Argo and helped Gabrielle up.

They arrived to Poteidaia the next day and they were horrified by what they saw. Xena rode straight to Gabrielle's house or what was left of it.

"Lila!" Gabrielle called, worried. "Lila!!"

"Gabrielle!"

Gabrielle turned, but it wasn't her sister.

"Have you seen Lila?" she asked the man.

"Yes. A young… Oh, no, it was Callisto!"

"What?!"

"She took her the day before she set the fire and killed the people."

Gabrielle gulped.

"What about my parents?"

"Ah, they're okay, I just saw them a couple of minutes ago."

"Good. Do you know which way Callisto left?"

The man thought.

"That way."

"Okay. Tell my parents that I went after Lila. Let's go, Xena."

They mounted Argo again and rode away.

"I know where she went!" Xena suddenly realized.

"Where?!"

"Do you remember the ruins of a castle?!"

"Yes!"

"I think she went there!"

Callisto was sitting on a throne, her legs crossed over the arms, taking care of her nails with her dagger. She had seen Xena and Gabrielle coming and was now listening carefully.

Finally, she heard them.

"Oh, Xena! Gabrielle!" she called sweetly.

The two women soon showed up.

"Ah, finally," Callisto said and sat up straight. "Oh, don't worry, we're alone," she added and jeered. "Oh, by the way, do you know that Poteidaia looked almost like Cirra, unfortunately it wasn't so bloody.

"Where is Lila?" Gabrielle demanded.

"Lila?" Callisto asked innocently. "Ah, your sister! Don't worry, she's here."

"What have you done to her?" Gabrielle asked, worried.

"You sure you want to see?"

Gabrielle gulped. She had a bad feeling.

"Yes," she said, her voice trembling.

"Okay," Callisto said indifferently and pulled a rope that was tied to the throne.

There were two alcoves, one on each side of the throne, both covered with a curtain. The curtain from the left alcove dropped.

Xena and Gabrielle froze at the sight. In the alcove, Lila was hanged by the arms. She had been tortured.

"Lila," Gabrielle whispered, tears running down her cheeks.

Callisto jumped from the throne and stepped beside the alcove.

"Don't worry, she's still alive," she said grabbing Lila's chin. "But not for long," she added and put a dagger on Lila's throat.

"Please don't kill her!" Gabrielle begged. "Take me if you have to."

"Gabrielle," Xena said, surprised.

"Hm," Callisto considered. "Actually, I'll take your life if Xena kills you or, I'll take Xena's life if you kill her."

Xena and Gabrielle stared at Callisto with disbelief.

"You have one minute," Callisto added, smiling evilly.

Suddenly Insanity appeared.

"Ma…" she started but stopped, shocked, when she saw Lila.

"Oh, it's you again," Callisto said, annoyed. "You sure know how to spoil a party."

Callisto slowly slit Lila's throat.

"No!!" Gabrielle cried and fell to her knees, shocked.

Insanity and Xena were also crying.

"Oh, what a bunch of wussies," Callisto said, disgusted.

Gabrielle screamed and attacked Callisto.

"Gabrielle!" Xena called and ran after her.

Callisto took her sword, parried Gabrielle's strike and knocked her down. Then she laughed, delighted.

"So, you do have some killer instincts after all," she said vexingly.

Gabrielle wanted to attack again, but Xena grabbed her arm."

"No, Gabrielle."

"Let me go!" Gabrielle yelled and tried to escape Xena's grip.

Xena pulled her to herself and hugged her. Gabrielle tried to break lose, but she couldn't.

"Oh, come on, Xena, let her fight," Callisto said and attacked.

"Stop it, Mama!" Insanity cried and stepped between Callisto and Xena and Gabrielle.

"I told you not to call me that, you little pathetic excuse for a god! Now get out of my way!"

"No."

Callisto was surprised.

"Do you know who she is?!" she asked and pointed at Xena.

"Yes."

"And do you know what she did to me?!"

"Yes, Mama, I know! I've seen your dreams about Ares and about Cirra, I've felt your pain and I comforted you while we were together! I know what it's like to live without a mother, but I don't know what it's like to be loved by one. Xena may have taken away your mama from this world, but you're throwing away the chance to be with her in the Underworld. Every time you hurt Xena or someone else you hurt me the most. Why must you always insult me? What have I done to deserve this? I've accepted you the way you are, can't you accept me the way I am?"

All three women stared at Insanity, Xena and Gabrielle moved by the speech, Callisto surprised. She felt moved too, but she hated the feeling. Slowly she took another dagger and approached Insanity.

"What are you doing, Callisto?" Xena asked. "You can't kill her, she's a goddess."

"Oh, but I can, Xena. You see, this blade has been soaked in Hind's blood."

"But she's your daughter."

"She's Ares' little loser."

Insanity quickly turned and concentrated. Xena and Gabrielle disappeared and Callisto stopped, surprised.

"Where did they go?" she asked.

"Away," Insanity said.

"Always the do-gooder," Callisto mocked her.

"Yes, Mama, that's what I am."

"Well, that's the last time you called me that."

"That's what you are and nothing's ever going to change that whether you like it or not. You are my mother and Ares was my father. I can't help it if I'm different. Why don't you put yourself in my position? How would you fell if your mama hated you the way you hated me? But she doesn't. She loves you and so do I. Always, even if you kill me now." Insanity spread her arms. "Go ahead, Mama, insult me one last time."

Callisto stared at her daughter, surprised. She hated these feelings she was having.

"Don't worry," Insanity said, "Zeus won't bother you if that's what you're worried about. I told him to leave us alone."

Callisto was surprised. She slowly lifted her dagger. Insanity closed her eyes and waited.

Callisto stared at her daughter. She knew that Insanity was right, but she hated to admit it. Ares was Insanity's father and she was her mother. She tried to imagine how she would feel if her mama hated her. She shook and lowered the dagger. She knew that her mama loved her and so did her daughter. She wanted to be with mama and with Insanity, but she was too afraid that someone might take Insanity away from her. Callisto was surprised and confused. For the first time she was afraid and she hated herself and what she had become.

She screamed and threw away the dagger, angry.

Insanity opened her eyes and watched Callisto as she walked to a corner, sat down and pulled her legs to her body. Callisto hugged her legs and leaned her head on her knees. Slowly, very slowly, she started to cry.

Insanity went to her and sat down beside her. She caressed her hair and then leaned her head on her shoulder.

Callisto jerked, surprised, and looked at her daughter. She stared at her for a while and then hugged her. Insanity hugged her back and Callisto leaned her head on Insanity's.

When Callisto woke up in the morning, Insanity was still leaning on her. Insanity felt that her mother had awakened and she turned her head and looked at her.

They stared at each other, not sure what to do. Insanity was afraid that Callisto would insult her again and Callisto wasn't sure what to say because the feelings she was having were so alien to her. Finally, she decided that it probably wouldn't hurt if she apologized.

"I'm… sorry," she said.

"Oh, Mama," said Insanity and hugged her, happy.

Callisto hugged her back.

"Tell me," Callisto said when they stopped hugging, "what have you been doing while we were apart?"

"At first, I walked around for a while and learned how to use my powers to help people. Then I met Hercules and he took me to his mother. I've been living with her ever since."

"You're living with Alcmene?" Callisto asked, surprised.

"Yes."

"Do they know you're my daughter?"

"Yes."

Who else knows?"

"Iolaus, Xena, Gabrielle, Zeus and some of the gods."

Callisto sighed.

"Mama?"

"Yes?"

"What will you do now?"

"I don't know."

"Will you still kill people and try to hurt Xena?"

Callisto stared at her daughter for a while and thought.

"No," she finally decided.

Insanity smiled, happy.

"Can I go with you?" she asked.

Callisto thought.

"No," she said and Insanity's smile faded. "I can't teach you right from wrong because I myself have yet to learn it," Callisto explained. "I want you to stay with Alcmene, she can teach you better." She paused. "I will visit you as often as I can, I promise," she added.

Insanity's face brightened again and she hugged her mother. Callisto smiled and caressed her daughter's hair. As much as it hurt being good it also felt so good.

"Now, why don't you take Lila's body to Gabrielle and then go home?" She paused at the last word, home. "I need to be alone for a while. I will visit you in a week or so and then I'll stay with you for a while. Okay?"

Insanity nodded, happy. Callisto kissed her on the forehead.

"Go now."

Insanity got up and went to Lila's body.

"Ah, Insanity?"

Insanity turned.

"Yes, Mama?"

"Do you think you can make the body look more… decent?"

"Yes, Mama."

Callisto smiled.

"Thank you," she said.

Insanity smiled. She hugged the corpse and disappeared. Callisto stared at the empty alcove for a while and finally sighed.

Xena was already preparing the breakfast when Gabrielle finally woke up.

"Morning," Xena greeted her. "Hungry?"

Gabrielle nodded and Xena gave her some meat and some bread. Gabrielle took it and silently ate it, thinking.

"What do you think happened to Insanity?" she asked after a while.

"Ah? I don't know, Gabrielle."

They were silent for a while.

"We'll have to go back to the ruins to get Lila's body," Gabrielle said.

Xena didn't respond.

Everything was quiet for a while. Suddenly Xena jerked as she felt that something had changed. She looked around and saw Insanity approaching with Lila's body.

"Gabrielle," Insanity called softly.

Gabrielle turned around, surprised. What she saw astonished her.

Insanity approached them and laid down Lila's body. Xena and Gabrielle both stared at it, confused.

"What…" Gabrielle started, but stopped.

"I cleaned it up for you," Insanity said.

Xena and Gabrielle looked at her, surprised.

"Thank you," Gabrielle said.

"Actually, it was Mama's idea."

"What?" Xena asked. "This was Callisto's idea?"

Insanity nodded.

"Yes."

Xena and Gabrielle were speechless.

"Gabrielle?" Insanity said after a while.

Gabrielle looked at her.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

"About what?" Gabrielle asked, confused.

"About what my Mama has done to you and about Lila."

Gabrielle was surprised.

"It wasn't your fault."

"It was with Lila. If I hadn't come, she…"

"She would still be dead," Gabrielle interrupted her. "It wasn't your fault, Insanity."

"It wasn't?"

"Gabrielle smiled briefly.

"No."

"Oh."

Xena also smiled.

"What's with Callisto?" she asked.

"She has changed. She wants to be alone for a while."

"I see."

Xena looked at Gabrielle, who was holding Lila's hand.

"Well, I have to go," Insanity said.

Xena and Gabrielle looked at her.

"Thank you," Gabrielle said.

Insanity smiled and disappeared.

"Come, Gabrielle," Xena said, "let's take her home."

Gabrielle nodded and they got up.

When Insanity appeared in her room, she immediately called Alcmene.

"Grandma! Grandma!" she called and almost ran out of her room before she noticed that Alcmene was sitting on a chair beside the bed.

"What is it?" Alcmene asked, concerned.

"I made it!" Insanity called, ran to Alcmene and hugged her.

Alcmene hugged her back, confused.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"My mama!"

"Callisto?"

"Yes!"

"What about her?"

"She has changed!"

"Really?"

"Yes! Unfortunately she killed Gabrielle's sister before she did."

Alcmene's smile faded.

"Gabrielle and Xena are now taking her body back home," Insanity added.

"And Callisto?"

"She wants to be alone for a while and then she will come and visit me. She can, can't she?"

Alcmene smiled and caressed Insanity's hair.

"Of course she can."

"Thank you," Insanity said and hugged Alcmene.

Alcmene hugged her back.

The End