by L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
Copyright © January 10, 2004 L. Crystal Michallet-Romero
All Rights Reserved
to Sins of the Mother, chap 7.
Disclaimers:
* Xena Warrior Princess, its characters, and all related materials are the property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. All
other characters are mine.
Dedication: Ari's story is for all survivors, and the people who love them.
Rated: NC-17, not intended, or suitable for children.
Violence: Physical child abuse issues are portrayed and its effects are completely explored.
Sexual Violence: Child molestation is depicted and its effects are explored fully.
Subtext: X/G are 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 tale 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.
I
What are you looking at? I thought so? stupid. I suppose the next thing you?ll want is my tree. This is my tree, I found it! It?s
much better than the other one, and don?t ask why. You probably wouldn?t understand even if I told you. No one understands.
No one can see things the way that I do because everyone is brainless. Besides, if you knew, then you?d try to take it away
from me. That?s how everyone always is. They always want what other people have. Well, you can?t have it. This is my tree, I
found it and I?m not going to let anyone take it away from me.
Look, the arms of the tree hang out and make it easier to climb up. The other one, the one I was in when my mother was
looking for me a while back, was harder to climb up. This one is easier, and if I want to, I can sit up here all day and no one will
ever know I?m here. See, I can lean back on this other limb and prop my feet up on that one. See? It?s more comfortable this
way and when I lay like this, I look up past the tree limbs and see the blue canvas up there.
Shut up! I know what you?re thinking. You?re thinking that all I do is lay around. A good for nothing! That?s all people ever
think I am. That?s what my mother thinks, but what does she know. Look at her, see, if you look down through the tree
branches, you can see the house where I live. See, that?s my mother there, the big ugly blob just sitting on that chair. She?s the
one who?s useless, not me. What? So what if she?s sharpening her sword, that?s all she ever does. She?s like a man playing
with his thing? Disgusting!
What would you know? You don?t know anything. You don?t know Xena like I do. You think you do, but you don?t. All you
know are the stories about the Warrior Princess and all of her goody goody deeds, but I?m telling you, she?s not at all like that.
Look at her just sitting there, sharpening her sword like it?s a? You know what I mean.
I used to have a sword, but the stinking pig took it away from me. She didn?t think I knew what I was doing, but I did. She
always thinks she?s so smart, but she?s not. She?s just dense. Nothing but a big, disgusting stupid pig? no, not even a pig, just
an ox. She thinks she can push everyone around.
What? What do you mean why don?t I stand up to her? Ridiculous! Just goes to show how much you know. You don?t know
anything. You don?t know what she did to me after I was born. You don?t know how she threw me away like I was just a
piece of? of? garbage. That?s all I am to her? that?s all I?ll ever be?
What? Oh, it?s nothing. I just? got something in my eye, that?s all.
You don?t know what its like to know that you mother hates you. She always has, since the day I was born. She didn?t want
me, she never did. I don?t know why, I guess? I-I don?t know. The lazy cow probably thought she saw too much of her in
me. I guess I?d throw her away too, if things were reversed. But still, you don?t know what it feels like. You don?t know
what it was like to have seen her cooing over Solan, my little brother, or to see how she is with Eve.
Look, there?s the bitch now. See her? Yeah, the one in the short blue skirt and top, that?s my little sister, Eve. What? Shut up!
What do you know! Of course she?s my little sister, what are you, stupid? It?s not my fault that she looks older than me! I?m
the older one, I?m the one who Xena should trust, but does she? No! And all because Eve is some puritanical, sanctimonious
prophet, at least that?s what she thinks. To me, Eve?s an idiot. Who in their right mind would believe that some dead guy still
talks to her? She?s such a loser and anyone who believes her is just brainless.
Idiots. They?re all idiots. They don?t know anything. If they asked me, I could tell them what it?s all about. But they don?t
want to know. They don?t want to hear what I have to say? just like you! You don?t want to know either! Don?t look at me so
surprised, I know what you?re thinking. No, stupid! I don?t have to read your thoughts to know what?s on your mind. You
with your prying questions and watching eyes! All you ever do is sit and watch and think that you know me, but you don?t.
You think I don?t know what you?re about, but I do. You want to watch, that?s all you want to do. Watch and see and try to
understand me, hee hee! But you can?t, not in a million years would you ever know me because I won?t let you! That?s right,
you heard me. Just shut up, don?t ask ?cause I won?t tell you anything!
