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Barters N Garters Library Chapter Four We’re stranded....caught in the crossfire The Other Side of Ares’ Island “All right, boys, everybody ready?” Ares asked with the extremely handsome Achilles at his side. “You kain’t expect us to fit through that.” David complained pointing at the problem in Ares’ little scheme. “It ain’t gonna happen.” “Why are we going in alive?” Daniel asked. “I thought you enjoyed killing me.” “Oh I do. Not much gives me more pleasure, Jackson that is very true.” Ares said in a voice which seemed full of longing for the day that Daniel died and stayed that way. “Your arrival will be announced if you go in dead, alive, you can wander around under Hades’ radar for a while.” “How long? How do we get across….” “Too many questions!” Ares roared pushing the brothers away from the small opening in the cliff side. The one where Aphrodite called to Callestah last summer and on this day, as on that one, the sun above was warm and there wasn’t a cloud in the sapphire sky. Ares, who had been relaxing on his Island before they showed up and was not wearing the customary large battle belt at his waist but rather was clad in his favorite black leather pants—the ones with the heavy leather tie to keep them together—his favorite biker boots-which he’d picked up in the Mortal World, in a mall in Athens, several years prior—with only his favorite match black leather vest to cover his bulging torso. If he wasn’t such a rotten bastard most of the time he might well be the most handsome man that ever walked the Earth. With a pair of heavy black gloves to protect his hands and matching set of studded gauntlets covering his brawny arms, Ares turned his rugged back to them. Rudely shoving his sledgehammer sized hands into the crag and using all the strength he had in those tree trunk arms, Ares pushed the rock further apart. The ground at their feet trembled with fear as the crag split further apart and ran up the side of the cliff. Rocks, stones and pebbles fell upon those on the ground below until an opening wide enough for the Jackson brothers to squeeze through was made in the solid rock. “Go!” With huffing and rolling eyes, Daniel and David stepped through the larger opening. “You still haven’t said how long we’ve got.” “So long as you go undetected and you do not eat or drink, you can stay there indefinitely and still return to the OuterWorld.” Ares assured them. “Don’t worry about Callestah, between Nicholas, Achilles and I, we’ll take very good care of her.” Calla, not liking the taunting lilt in her Father’s voice pushed him aside and latched on to Daniel once more. “Please, what can I do? What can I say to make you stay here? Just tell me what it is and I’ll do it.” “I have to do this you know that, don’t you?” “No, you don’t. It was a long time ago.” She stammered feeling the bore of Ares’ eyes through her back and into her soul. “You don’t owe her anything,” Calla whispered. “Please Daniel, stay with me. Don’t leave me. Don’t go.” “I love you, Kitty.” Was all he could say to her. Surely she understood why he had to do this, above all people in the universe, Calla must understand. Yet, after all the years they’d been married and the thousands of times he’d gone away off on one dangerous mission or another to worlds far, wide and unknown, she’d never once begged him to stay home. Never once had she asked him not to go; until now. In his arms she was trembling, Daniel could almost feel her breaking down. After this, yes, yes, yes, after this, everything would be set right. Ares would have what he wanted and he’d go away. They would have a normal life and until Ares was either satisfied or dead that would never happen. “Watch over your Mother.” Daniel said to Nicholas with suspicion in his heart. He hugged her tighter and fought back the tears choking in his throat. Daniel would feel better leaving her here with them if last night hadn’t happened or if Nick didn’t have his nose so out of joint over it. Ares couldn’t hide the fact he was salivating at the prospect of time alone with her, the glint in his onyx eyes spoke loud and clear on that count. In the matching eyes of his Son, Daniel saw a desire to be a good Son and to watch over his Mother but Nicholas was still angry with all of them and that anger could cause him to go in any number of directions. Holding her this closely the despair she felt at his impending departure pervaded both of them. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be home soon.” It would be hot, dry and dusty in there and if Daniel would not stay with her then the least she could do was to lend a hand. Giving a sad smile and waving her fingertips in the air, the blue jeans and gray sweater Daniel was wearing turned into his SGC uniform and the same happened for David. A green bandana appeared in her slender hand, Daniel bent down so she could tie it around his head. “Here, take these.” She said as he stood up once more and held out two canteens of fresh cold water. “You’ll want it soon enough.” “What are you doing?” Ares grumbled loudly for he had so hoped that she would heed his advice and just stand aside. Why couldn’t she do that? Standing there with the crisp wind blowing back his long black locks Ares thought that while she was definitely making her opinion known she was not protesting as hard as she could. Perhaps she did see the logic in his request. Calla turned around to face him with a stern stare. “You should appreciate this, Father, you too Good Achilles. I am arming my men.” While she was talking to her Father Daniel patted the pockets of his vest; Zippo lighter, Swiss Army knife, small bunch of heavy-duty twine, patting the last pocket he smiled. 5th Avenue bars in that pocket. Yep, pretty much everything he usually carried except the gun and the digital recorder. When she turned back to Daniel and David she was wearing that sad smile once more. “I’ve no weapons to give you, none that will be of use in there though I wish I did and that I could more for you than this. Listen to me; you are going in alive that means they only have the power that you give to them. If you do not believe they can hurt you then they cannot no matter what they do.” A bright flash of skepticism flashed in Daniel’s eyes but not in David’s for here he already knew the score. “I can’t do it for you this time, you have to believe or not, on your own. Just remember that I love you and I’m waiting for you to come home to me.” Seeing the smoldering anger in his Grandfather’s eyes and the unabashed and unashamed loved in the eyes of the Jackson brothers, Nicholas gently pulled her away from all of them. “C’mere, Mom. Everything’s good here, Dad. Be careful and come back soon.” “I will.” Daniel said with an uneasy smile looking at Mother and Son. “Here, you’ll need these.” Ares reached inside his black leather vest and came out with not one but three of the biggest and meatiest bones any of them had ever seen. He handed them to David. “Wot I want these for?” David groused but Ares ignored him. “Don’t worry about Callestah, Daniel.” Ares said with a wide smile as he yanked her away from Nicholas. “You either David. She will be just fine with us for as long as you’re gone.” Before Calla could stop it, the crag closed again. “I love you!” Calla called through the rocks. “Be safe. Come home to me, my love.” “It is done.” Achilles proclaimed as he finally spoke up. “They are on their way and there is nothing we can do. Come with me, Lady, let us walk for a while you will tell me your troubles and I will ease your mind while the time passes.” Achilles looped her small arm through his muscular one and began walking her away from the crag. “Nicholas?” Calla looked back at her Son for reassurance. Dad said to keep her safe from Umpa and to make sure that Umpa didn’t get any funny ideas in his absence. Dad did not say anything about Achilles in fact Nicholas—like the rest of them—were surprised to find the warrior still living on the island. Still, perhaps he shouldn’t let her wander off….. “Don’t worry, Ares has plans for him.” Achilles informed kindly her as they continued walking along the shore. “Father what is happening?” She called back to Ares as Achilles kept guiding her away from her Father and her Son. Ares sighed deeply and tossed an arm around Nicholas’ shoulder. “You’re always so suspicious, Daughter. Why is that?” He called back. “Gee, I don’t know, Father.” Calla dug her heels into the sand and stopped allowing the fair-haired man to lead her. “Promise me…..” “Your Husband and your Sa’Tan will return to you hale and hearty?” Ares asked. “I told you I cannot. Go now. Achilles will bring you back to the cave before too long.” End Of Chapter Four Of This story and all stories in the Barters N Garters Library are copyrighted to Lisa Beth Darling these stories
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Back Into Hell
by
Moon Mistress
a/k/a
Lisa Beth Darling
Save the strong lose the weak....never turning the other cheek
Trust nobody don’t be no fool....whatever happened to the golden rule
We got stranded....caught in the crossfire
Crossfire
Stevie Ray Vaughn
The Crag to the UnderWorld
Back Into Hell
Continue to
Chapter Five