“Callie!” David Jackson shouted as he shook the lifeless body that lay battered beneath him. “Wake up, gurl!” Maybe he took too much of that stuff out of her then again there was an awful lot of blood on the floor. Maybe she was dead. Now that would be a pisser, wouldn’t it? David leaned in a listened to see if he could hear a heart beat but stopped before he could lay his head on her chest. That mark was glowing and it was starting to, to what? Hum? Is that what it was doing? Yes, it was humming. David laid a cold hand on her ribs, her lungs moved up and down slowly, she was still breathing and that meant she was still alive.

Headlights outside caught his attention, David pulled out of her and zipped up his pants as he reached to button his shirt. There was one of those huge honkin’ gaz-guzzlers circling the parking lot outside. It looked as though Danny had made it to the party after all and he’d brought some friends along with him. “Hate to leave ya like dat, gurl, but ah, looks like that white knight a’ yos is trying to ride to the rescue. I won’t be long.” He reached inside the bag and brought out the duct tape, David cut a length of it with his teeth and fastened it over Calla’s mouth. Reaching into it one last time he pulled out the snub nose .38 and made his way past the metal frame beds to a room beyond.

“Dear God, what is this place?” Jack exclaimed as they climbed out of the Denali. “Stephen King couldn’t have done better if he tried!”

“It’s awful.” Major Carter agreed as she rubbed her shoulders to try and ward off the feeling that she was being watched. “You’re sure she’s in there?”

Daniel tossed his head over the right as he looked past the trees there. A glint of glass could be seen in the moonlight; David’s car. “She’s here. So is he.”

“All right, kiddies, time to break out the goodies.” Jack opened the back to reveal the stash of side arms there. He cocked and locked his weapon. “Time to bring her home, Daniel, just like I promised.” The tracks in the fresh snow were easy to find and follow, SG1 walked up the door that David and Calla had entered through. O’Neill turned on the flashlight before going inside. “Well this ain’t the Ritz.” He mumbled as he disappeared through the dilapidated door. A trail of fresh blood lead from the stairs at the entryway down the corridor, quietly they crept through the darkness as they followed where it lead.

The pull at Daniel’s heart was almost beyond belief, she was here, somewhere in this maze of dirty discarded rooms and corridors she lay on the floor broken and bleeding, waiting for him to come and rescue her. Waiting for him to take her out of here, take her home. The hall split off now, the trail of blood lead up the stairs but the drag marks on the floor to the left told them they were down that way. Just for the merest instant, in his mind, Daniel saw her tumbling down the stairs with his brother standing over her.

There was more blood on the floor where she landed, it was smeared into the old porous floor and stuck to the drywall. As the drag-line began, the trail of crimson spread out from it on the right and another trail lay smack in the middle where her head had been. As they walked there was no echo to their footfalls, it was as though everything in this place, even the air, were dead.

Daniel caught sight of her feet through the doorway at the end of the corridor, Jack saw her too and put an arm to hold him back from running up to her. “Wait,” he whispered as he peered around the corner and noted there were two more rooms off to the left. “Go, slow.”

Daniel nodded as he walked into the lead with his gun at the ready and his eye fixed firmly on where Calla lay. The rest of the team spread out behind him keeping their eyes open for David. Creeping quietly along the derelict hallway and up to the doorway, Daniel could see her now, her wrists had cuffs on them and David had tied her to an old radiator, her mouth sealed shut with duct tape. Looking around carefully he emerged through the doorway, Calla looked up at him with fear in her eyes. For a moment he thought she thought he was David coming in for a second round but that wasn’t it. She kept looking across the room trying to tell him something with her eyes. Daniel continued forward towards where she lay helpless and waiting for him, she would not look at him. Finally Daniel followed her gaze to the open door, he drew the gun out in front of himself and kept a good eye on Calla as he walked toward her at what he hoped was a not-to-slow gait.

Daniel came up to the open door as he crossed the floor to her, his heart beat rapidly in his chest, sweat broke out on his forehead and froze into small icicles. Almost full in front of the open door way now, Daniel dropped to one knee just as the gun fired and the bullet went whizzing past his head. Daniel fired. The shot hit him just below the shoulder and it send David backward into the ancient cast iron tub behind him, the rotted shower curtain fell down, covering him with a thin layer of dust and mold. The look of surprise on David’s face was one that Daniel would never forget, he thought he had his baby brother beaten but Daniel had still managed to get the best of him.

“He’s down!” Daniel shouted as he broke into a run toward Calla. “Get this off her, please get this off of her,” he begged as he pulled at the rope which held her bound to the radiator. Teal’c came forward with his knife and cut the rope. Daniel removed the tape from her mouth. “I’m here.” He said quietly as he gently brought her arms back to her side from over her head. Daniel took off his coat and wrapped it around her; the mark between her breasts was glowing. “I’m going to take you home. It’s over now.” There was so much blood on the floor around her. Calla did not move toward him nor make any sound at all, she just lay there limp and lifeless in his arms. From down the corridor heavy footfalls were heard. “It’s over!” Daniel shouted. “I am going to take her home now.” The mark grew brighter and emitted its low droning hum. “No,” Daniel held her tight to himself as the footfalls stopped outside the door.

In the doorway stood a woman he recognized, Calla’s mother had come to claim her daughter and with her was the man he had seen in the vision. “Don’t let him touch her.” Daniel said to those around him. “Just back off. Get away from her.”

The man who was dressed in black from head to foot and wore a golden crown upon his head did not cease his pace, rather he walked straight up to where Daniel shielded Calla from his touch. “Move away from her.”

“No.”

“I don’t know who you are buddy, but if I were you, I’d back off. Now.” Colonel O’Neill threatened as he leveled the gun at the man who was threatening Daniel and Calla. They hadn’t gone through all of this and come all this way just to have some one else come along and take her away. Jack was damned if he was going to watch Daniel lose another woman. Not if he could help it.

“Yeah, hey, everybody,” Daniel said from his place on the floor, “why don’t you meet her family. This is the Lady Aphrodite, Calla’s mother and this is her dear old uncle Hades.” He looked up at the man in black, “Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, it is. Now move away from her.”

“I won’t let you touch her. You can’t have her.” As much as he was loath to do it, Daniel brought Calla’s battered body up into a tight ball so that he could lay himself over her preventing Hades from taking her.

“Sa’Tan Daniel,” Aphrodite said, “I have given you a great gift, several of them. I gave them to you because I thought you worthy and even though you disappointment me, I still believe this.” She walked carefully to Hades side. “This is my daughter, you must allow Hades near her.”

“Why?” Daniel asked sobbing as he stared up at Aphrodite. “Lady you of all people know my heart, please, don’t take her away from me.”

“She is my daughter, I love her. I am not the one who doubts your love for her. Trust me, Daniel. Move aside.”

“I love you.” Daniel kissed her cheek as he rolled away from her and watched while Hades hovered over her.

The God of Death did not touch Calla, his hand hovered a mere centimeter above her chest where Zeus’ mark glowed bright. The light from it grew brighter and descended to engulf her ribs and stomach. Soon it was so bright that it lit up the whole room and all present could see just how bleak and desolate their surroundings were. Just how much blood....

....Ichor....

Calla had lost during her ordeal with David.

Hades knelt on the ground beside his grand-niece and whispered to her. "Come child, it's time to go."

The warmly glowing place between her bruised breasts shot its light upward toward the ceiling and within the light the shape of a young girl began to appear, she grew more and more visible as the light faded into her until she stepped her own solid but small feet onto the pitted floor. "Danny!" She cried as she tossed her small arms around his neck and covered his cheek with soft little-girl kisses. "I knew you would come!" The little girl stepped away from him but held onto his hands. "Look at you!" She cried with delight. "Very handsome." She winked at him and then looked back over her shoulder at the woman who had carried her around for so many years. The woman who had kept her hidden and safe while she bore the brunt of the pain and sorrow so that she wouldn‘t have to. "She loves you," Callestah whispered to a sobbing Daniel.

"Daughter." Aphrodite spoke as she neared the little girl. "It's time to go now."

Callestah turned toward the voice of her mother and broke out into a run; she flung herself into her mother's arms while she squealed with delight. Aphrodite scooped the young girl up until her arms and spun her around in the air as she nestled her face into the little girls auburn hair.

"Ah, Daniel," Jack said in a soft voice, "looks like we got more company."

"What?" Daniel found it so very difficult to take his eyes off of the little girl who had emerged from Calla's lifeless body. He managed to take his eyes away from her for a short moment and look around the darkened room. Sitting on the other side of Calla were five young people who ranged in age from less than a year to about twenty or so. The baby was laying on the still glowing chest of his mother while his brothers and sisters looked on. Even though she was lost to the world at the moment, Calla’s good arm encircled the baby that lay on her breast, a soft sigh came from her lips, and she wept without sound. The oldest, oh him, there was no mistaking him either, he looked exactly like his father. He couldn't not possibly be anyone other than Kanan's first born son.

They were not the only souls who had come forth to witness the scene. From every corner eyes stared back at the members of SG1, they peered around corners, out from under empty metal framed beds and through the shattered and barred windows.

"Come with me now my grandchildren, it is time for us to go." The Lady Aphrodite held her arms to her grandchildren. "She cannot hold you any longer."

Three of Calla's prematurely deceased children looked upon with him kind eyes as her oldest daughter took the baby up in her arms and crossed the room to where their grandmother awaited them. Calla’s battered body reached out for the baby as he was taken from her for a second time. The oldest he didn't move towards his grandmother and he did not look upon Daniel with kind eyes.

"Orion, go to your grandmother." Hades intoned in a dark voice as he rose from Calla's side and stood by the Aphrodite once more. "Byan."

The young man rose and curled his lip in Daniel direction as if to say 'I've got my eye on you.' and finally he made his way to his grandmother.

"Are you going to leave her like this?" Daniel asked in disbelief as he watched them all begin to head for the door.

"What would you have me do for her, Sa'Tan?" Hades asked as he turned around. "Heal her? I'm afraid that's just not my department." His voice was deep, dark and sarcastic as he tilted his head towards his niece. "Oh, really?" Hades asked of the unconscious Calla. "This is the best I can do for you, Sa'Tan. Callestah tells me that if I offer you this one, you will let her go." Gently he cast his black gloved hand toward the open the doorway, soft footfalls were heard in the hall.

Goose bumps rose quickly on his skin as Daniel's blood ran cold, he didn't need those footfalls to come around the corner to know who they belonged to. Sure enough his fear was realized, through the doorway walked Sha're, hale, whole, healthy and beautiful as she had always been. Her eyes looked upon him with love and kindness as she walked to her husband with her hand outstretched before her, waiting for him to take it, to greet her and take her into his arms.

"Stop, right there." Daniel told her as he stood on shaking legs looking down at the battered woman on the floor. "I know you'll understand." He whispered.

"You love her now, husband?" Sha're asked as she held her place halfway across the room from him.

"I do." How many times had he bargained with God that if He would just send Sha're back to him Daniel would do anything, give anything, be anything, that He wanted? Now, here she was. His prayer had been answered after all. The timing couldn't be worse. "I'm sorry, Sha're." Daniel whispered to his dead wife and then gazed back at Hades once more. "Can she hear me?” Hades nodded his dark head and Daniel looked down at Calla. “Nice try, Red.” He told her and then back at Hades. “No."

"Very well, Sa'Tan, have it your way." Hades waved his hand in the air and Sha're faded from sight. "We can help you no more, nor her. From here to the end, you're on your own." Again he leaned forward and appeared to be listening to something that Calla was telling him. Hades snorted and tossed his head back. "Only for you Little One." His black eyes gazed about the room and took in all those who stared back at him. "We are leaving now and anyone who wishes to join us may come along." Hades invited to the ghostly eyes. Out from the shadows walked the apparitions to which the eyes in the dark belonged. Children, all of them were children who ranged in age from toddler to somewhere around near adulthood. They were dressed in rag-tag hospital clothes, some had casts or bandages, others had IV bottles in their arms, and all were tired and hunched over as they walked forward at the invitation to leave this place once and for all. Hades began to herd all of them toward the doorway.

"Lady, you can't leave her like this, she is your daughter." Daniel begged hastily from the floor. "Please, you must help her."

Aphrodite looked at him with sorrow deep in her blue eyes, "It is as Hades said. I cannot help her or you anymore. You must do this...." her voice trailed off for a moment as she gazed down upon the body of her adult daughter, "or not. It is up to you."

"So, so, so....what?" He demanded. "You got what you wanted from her and now you're just going to leave her behind too?" Anger rose hot and swift. "You're her mother." Daniel whispered. "You're no better than Ares." He accused.

"Careful now, Sa'Tan, I would watch my step if I were you." She threatened in return. "She is my daughter." The Lady Aphrodite kissed the cheek of the 12 year-old girl who was still in her arms. "She is all I can save.” Aphrodite tossed her head and her eyes toward Calla, "She has been twisted and subverted beyond all recognition and hope…”

“She is not beyond hope.” Daniel returned in a strong voice.

“She has not lived the life she was intended to, Sa’Tan.” Aphrodite over rode him. “I can keep Callestah from her Father's grasp; it is up to you to do the same for her, for Calla. How you choose to do that is up to you. Just do it." The Lady Aphrodite took one last long look at the woman on the floor before she exited the abandoned asylum with her family and several new-found friends.

"Let's get her out of here." Daniel said as he watched Calla's mother and uncle leave her behind. "We have to get her some place safe and warm."

"Got some bad news for ya, Daniel." Jack said as he crossed the room.

"Now what?" Daniel asked in an exasperated voice.

"David took off."

End Chapter Twenty-Six
Daughter of the Gods: Every New Beginning
By Moon Mistress
Continue to
Chapter Twenty-Seven

This story and all stories in the Kingdom of the Gods & Daughter of the Gods series are copyrighted to Lisa Beth Darling these stories may not be transferred outside of this URL in any fashion.