From her
vantage point, the invisible Callisto could see that her twin was in
that particular state of madness that portended brutal atrocities in
the name of justice. 'This is very bad,' she thought. 'She's going to
murder two more innocent people, two people dear to Xee-nah's heart.
Even if she dies here, Xee-nah is liable to go insane. She may even
revert back to the bloodthirsty warlord that started me on my path so
long ago. Can't she see what her actions will cause?'
Then she realized sadly, 'that's her plan...'
The rational Callisto got a glimpse of the future. A future where Xena
was once again the Destroyer of Nations. All of Greece was aflame as
her armies destroyed everything and everyone in their path. Xena would
achieve her ultimate potential as the bloodiest and most despised
warlord in history. And it would all start here.
"Xee-nah," began the madwoman. "You're going to have the chance to save
one person, either your faithful companion or your loving mother."
She coughed up some more blood. She was still bleeding from the side
wound and she could feel herself getting cold, numb, and tired. But
Callisto was not going to give in, oh no, not when she was so close to
getting her revenge.
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The
leather-clad hellraiser continued: "With this chakram -- which, by the
way, is possibly the most fun weapon ever devised -- I will cut both
ropes there and there." She pointed to halfway between Xena and each
captive. "With your speed you should be able to catch one of the ropes
before the torch ignites the oil covering each of them. Now, I'll
graciously give you a second to decide."
Xena ran through her options. She couldn't pull both ropes since the
torches were tied in such a way as they would drop out of the ropes
when she tried. She might be able to hold onto one rope, jump sideways,
catch the chakram, then immediately throw it to knock the other rope's
torch away. She tensed and got ready.
Callisto was rapidly running out of time. Her vision was getting blurry
and she had started shivering. "All right then," she managed to croak
out. "Let the game begin."
The blonde psycho-doll threw the chakram with all her might. Horrified,
her ghostly double saw that the angle was wrong. Xena could do nothing
as the chakram cut one rope, then the other, just above the torches,
too far away for her to stop it.
In a mind-searing image, the torches fell and set both captives on
fire...
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