By L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
Copyright © April 2002 L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
All Rights Reserved
Reworked: February 9, 2004
Concept for this story was derived from the novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Author’s Note: So far everything that I have ever written about Ari’s story has been difficult, but be forward,
this story in particular has been the hardest piece to write. I have heard it said that before a survivor can begin
the road to recovery, they must first walk through hell. Possession, Part 4 of Sins of the Mother is Ari’s walk
through hell.
Disclaimers:
Xena Warrior Princess, its characters, and all related materials are the property of MCA/Universal and
Renaissance Pictures. All other characters are mine.
This story in no way reflects the life or actions of the wonderful actress, Claire Stansfield. Her portrayal of
Xena’s nemesis was so wickedly inspired as to make the character of Alti the absolute evil villain.
Rated: NC-17
Violence: Scenes surrounding war and revenge.
Sexual Violence: References as well as scenes of wartime enslavement, rapes, and child abuse.
Subtext: X/G is portrayed as being in a loving, long-term relationship/marriage.
Extra Warning: As Alti raised the main character I feel it’s necessary to warn that this story deals with child
abuse and molestation issues. It may trigger abuse issues for some. This story should be unpleasant for all
readers, but to know Ari, and the difficulties that her new family faces, it is important to know where she came
from.
Ari felt herself floating on a sea of horrific dreams. She felt the cold wind blasting past her. The anguish and
frustration raged through her soul as she stared up at a cloud of darkness. From somewhere in the distance,
she heard the low rumble of the sky like a thunderstorm in the night.
“Why?” She heard herself cry as she stood facing the raging tempest. In answer to her question, a gust of
wind pushed against her, threatening to knock her from her feet. Openly defiant, the dark child fought against
the storm as the wind and rain bombarded her.
“Mother, why?” She yelled as the elemental forces pounded her small body.
At her defiance, a high-pitched sound pierced through the storm in her dreams, knocking her to her knees. All
around her, she heard her mother’s cackling laughter fill the air. With tear-stained cheeks, Ari gazed into the
storm in search of an answer. Like a veil suddenly lifting, she saw the ominous clouds suddenly part to the
image of her mother’s laughing face.
“Little girl, did you really think I would let you go?” Ari thought she heard the howling wind ridicule her as she
cowered away from her tormentor.
“Look, my little girl, and see what you have done…” Alti laughed as the girl was swept into a multitude of
images. Like a funnel dragging her into the center of a turbulent ocean, she was pulled through a long forgotten
dream – a memory so hideous that she had pushed it away, hiding it behind layers of darkness in her mind. As
she felt her senses clearing, she glanced around and watched the images unfold…
In the dream, the great hall of the newly conquered palace was filled with the boisterous voices of the
victorious. Their bragging words and praise for each other mixed with the music of the musicians. Too filled
with the victory of battle and ale, none of the men dared or cared to question their supreme commander’s
gender or motives for conquering the lands. Instead, they drank and celebrated the victory that was theirs. As
the new female slaves laid platters heaping with pork, calf and lamb meat, the nervous old men of the village
stood by and poured the ale for their new masters.
Ari, the Destroyer, remained sitting in the high back chair at the top of the dais. With the battle over and her
armor gone, she wore a simple black tunic and breeches with knee high black leather boots. Her bearing,
combined with her clothing continued to enhance her androgynous appearance. Although she did not know
her mother’s intentions, the dark lord continued to enhance the mystery of her gender. Rather than spend too
much time with the men, she kept to herself and rarely spoke to a crowd. Only when she was alone with her
chosen generals, did she remove her armor. Even then, the straight cut of her tunic and breeches did not
betray her true gender. As far as any of her followers were concerned, their leader was a young man and
nothing more. Maintaining the mystery, the young warrior chose to sit in the shadows. She sat back and
watched as the men enjoyed the food, spirits and serving wenches who happened to move too close to the
men’s prying hands.
Like a newly crowned queen, her mother sat on the matching throne. Glancing to her mother, Ari noticed the
older woman’s slight smile as she looked around the room. When she felt the girl’s gaze, she turned and
smiled seductively as she leaned toward her.
“Are you having fun with your new pet?” her mother asked.
The young lord suddenly remembered the woman sitting in her lap. With a slight smile, Ari glanced at the
woman wiggled in her arms. At her mother’s sudden question, the dark leader closely watched her new slave’
s expression as her fingers explored under the fine cloth skirt.
It had only been a few hours ago since Ari had deflowered this wench. Once they had taken over the fortress,
it took little time to discover where the king had his family hidden. When the daughters were found and
brought to the main hall, the dark warlord put into place the plan that they had formulated since the beginning.
While their helpless parents watched, the eldest daughter would go first. Then, when Ari was tired of her, she
would be passed to the men and the second daughter would then experience all that the dark lord had
bestowed upon her sister. Once she was through with the girls, the former royal family would be executed and
left hanging for all of their subjects to view.
As the dethroned king and queen watched at knifepoint, Ari had held the eldest princess down. With rough
hands, she ripped at the girl’s clothing while laughing at her ineffectual struggles and pleas. Before the girl
could even beg, the dark one roughly forced her armor gauntleted fingers into the virgin princess, never once
stopping at the tight hymen barrier that tried to keep her at bay. The princess screamed in pain and her
watching parents and sister echoed her wail. When it was over, the dark warrior pulled her bloody fingers
from between the girl’s slack legs.
As the Destroyer stepped back, the girl curled up on the table, the volume of her cries lessened while her tears
continued to fall. In mild fascination, the conqueror turned her gaze from her bloody fingers to the princess’s
features. She saw the royal girl’s expression full of hurt and violation, as her eyes took on a dull gaze. In that
split second in time, the inner child of the warrior watched as a part of the princess’ seemed to disappear
before her eyes. Curious by the change, the tall commander leaned down and peered into the girl’s eyes. A
part of her soul felt a kindred spirit in the girl. She knew that even as the men’s laughter rose, this girl was
disappearing into herself. Just as Ari had done when she was only a child, this woman was trying to find a safe
haven within the darkness of her mind. Before the commander allowed the pity for this girl to fill her soul, she
had pushed away all thoughts of compassion.
At the memory of the princess’ lost virginity, Ari smiled at her mother. “I bet her father never knew daddy’s
little girl was such a hot little vixen,” she stated as her now bare fingers stroked between the princess’ legs, the
tip of her finger spreading the young woman’s juices over her lower lips. With each slight touch, the woman
sighed; her hips arching up to meet each stroke as her legs parted even further. As young leader gazed into the
woman’s vacant eyes, she saw the dull, glassy gaze of the young princess.
