Xena and Gabrielle stepped into the dim light, in awe of the incredible room around them. Pillars of unbelievable size held up the roof, which towered far above their heads. They gave off a subtle glow that was the sole lighting for the room. At the far end was an empty wall, or so it seemed at first.

As they started walking towards it, the light from the pillars illuminated the stone, highlighting the pictures and words scribed there hundreds of years before. Gabrielle came closer, captivated by the beautiful symmetry in the lines. At first, the squiggles and etchings were completely meaningless.

But as Gabrielle gazed at the artwork, she felt an unforeseen power come over her, and then it was as if someone was saying each word in her head. Xena had been roaming the room, searching for another way out, when Gabrielle called, “Xena! Come over here and see this!”

Moments later, she stood beside the awed bard, examining the odd designs that decorated the rock. Gabrielle was running her finger along one line of symbols, muttering under her breath.

Xena looked again, but couldn’t distinguish anything familiar. “Gabrielle, can you understand this stuff?”

“Yes, every word. It’s beautiful. The most amazing writing I’ve ever read. There is so much detail, it seems as if its a memory brought back in perfect detail instead of a story.”

“So what does it say?” Gabrielle started out reading it line for line, but after the first few minutes of listening to the flashy details that told nearly nothing, she interrupted. “Could you possibly give me the condensed version of this thing?”

Gabrielle frowned, but reluctantly nodded. “It proclaims this canyon, the place of arrival for Incubus, a criminal from a realm far distant from ours. It’s impossible for him to go back because he was exiled because his desires were out of control.”

“What kind of desires?” Xena asked with a growing suspicion.

“All kinds. Greed, lust, power. He used his looks to hurt others, and in doing so, fed his ego to the point where he felt justified in breaking their laws. He was banished here and horribly deformed as a consequence.”

“Anything else?”

Gabrielle studied the petroglyphs seriously. “Yes. It says this place was meant to be a warning to the residents of this realm, so they might learn about the demon in their midst.”

“Demon?”

“That’s what it says.”

“Great. They don’t have a problem with leaving us their dirty laundry, but feel guilty enough to hid a few clues of caution away where nobody will find them?” Xena shook her head in annoyance.

“There’s more. It says that when he came here, he developed unnatural powers over the elements and the mind of humanity. And it gives warning about his goals. He wants to destroy his home world.”

Xena touched Gabrielle’s shoulder gently, soberly asking, “Does it say how?”

“He must find a woman pure enough to bear him a child.”

“An Incubi?” Xena was confused. She had heard of many Incubi, all over the world. If that was what he was after, then Incubus didn’t need to go to these lengths.

“The offspring is called Cambion. They are a half human, half animal mix that carries all the power of it’s father. They can travel back to their realm without restraint. Incubus plans on sending his child back to wreck havoc in it’s father’s name. And reopen the portal home for it’s sire.”

Xena spent a moment pondering all she had heard. Then one phrase clicked into clarity in her mind. “A pure woman? Why does he need that?”

“The evil seed inside them feeds off the purity of the mother’s soul. Most never make it past a few months at best. It’s those children that become Incubi. He needs someone to carry his child to term.”

Xena’s breath hitched. No, not Eve.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Gabrielle asked.

Xena gritted her teeth and replied, “In that case, I hope we’re both wrong.”

They were gone. For the first time in the eons of his existence, his powers had failed him. Incubus sat slumped on his throne, one leg lazily tossed over the armrest.

Staring into one of his few unbroken goblets, he drank his most potent liquor and brooded over the opportunity lost. He had been close several times before, but they paled in comparison to the feeling of rightness that had struck him on this occasion.

Uncaring of it’s loss, he flung the vessel away and into the fire, where the alcohol made the flames soar with a rush. Incubus watched and felt his control slip as the deadly kiss of heat danced wildly, revealing the horror of his true form.

“They will pay.” he snarled softly from his deformed mouth, and continued watching the dance of the flames in the pit, waiting for his prey to come out of hiding.