Pt.13
Xena stood stunned as she saw Gabrielle.
XENA
No you can't be a Bacchae, we killed Bacchus.
HEALER
What in the name of Hades is...
The woman was cut off as Gabrielle suddenly lept from the bed and pounced on top of her. She screamed as Gabrielle latched on to her neck and began hungerly feasting on her blood. Shaking of being momentarily stunned by what was happening, Xena quickly moved to get Gabrielle off of the healer. She got down and pried Gabrielle's mouth from the woman's neck and shoved Gabrielle back as she pressed her hand to the wound on the woman's neck. She heard Gabrielle hiss as she lept back towards her, and Xena caught her with her other hand and held her at bay as she lifted the hand on the woman's neck to examine the wound. As she did, Xena saw blood pulsing from the woman's neck, who struggled to breathe as she laid there. Normally after seeing such a wound, Xena would have immediately began to try and stop the bleeding. But this time she didn't as she knelt there seemingly mesmerized by the blood pooling on the floor. The healers eyes were wide in terror as she continued to bleeding and saw Xena stop holding Gabrielle back, who lept on top of the woman and sink her fangs back into her neck as she drank the woman's blood. Meanwhile, Xena looked at her hand that was covered in blood and felt her breathing rapidly increase as something inside her began to claw its way to the surface. Her heart pounded, her eyes focused only on the red on her hands as the woman's screams faded away from Xena's ears. Slowly and breathing heavily, Xena brought her hand up to her lips and licked the healers blood from her palm. After that moment, everything became a blur as bits and pieces of that time would flash across Xena's mind now as the events of that day were something that both she and Gabrielle wished that they could forget but knew they would have to live with for the rest of their lives. Screams of painful horror and blood. By the time someone made it to the room, they came upon a horrific sight of the healers body laying on the floor as two feral figures hunched over her getting every bit of blood they could from the floor. The person screamed at the sight as Xena and Gabrielle looked at them, their minds clouded by the Bacchae power. Suddenly they stood and ran towards a window as they transformed into a couple of wolves, crashed through the glass and ran off. The two raced out of the village and into the nearby woods side by side. One wolf with pitch black fur and bright blue eyes. The other with green eyes and a golden coat of fur. They ran through the area for some time until stopping and looking around as the golden wolf whimpered and layed down. The black wolf walked over and sat beside the golden wolf and nudged it with its nose as the golden wolf let out a sad sounding howl. The dark wolf layed down and rested its head on the other creature, and the two stayed that way for some time.
GABRIELLE
(Quiet tone) Xena?
Xena looked down at Gabrielle, who layed curled in her arms as she sat leaning back against a tree. Now both cleaned up from the blood that had covered them, Gabrielle opened her mouth to say something but couldn't bring herself to say anything as she suddenly felt incredibly sick and quickly moved. Xena sat there in silence as she heard Gabrielle emptying the contents of her stomach in the bushes just behind her. A few moments later, Gabrielle returned and sat down next to Xena and cried.
GABRIELLE
What did we do, Xena? How did this happen? I thought after we killed Bacchus, we returned to normal. God's that woman, Xena we...
Gabrielle couldn't even finish the thought as she felt her stomach churn at what they had done. Xena pulled Gabrielle close and held her as she too tried to force the horrific scene from her mind.
XENA
(Soft tone) I know... I know.
The next few days were very long as Xena and Gabrielle came to terms with what happened and that they were somehow still Bacchae even though Bacchus was dead. While Gabrielle wanted to go back to the village and confess to what had happened, Xena knew that if they went back and explained what happened they would either be labeled crazy and ignored if no one believed their story or be imprisoned and killed if they did. Neither option was good. So Xena had told Gabrielle that though what happened to the healer was truly awful, nothing they did would bring him back or change what happened.
XENA
Besides nether of us were in our right minds at the time. We had no more control over that situation than that healer did.
GABRIELLE
(Angry tone) You can't be serious, Xena. What we did, what I did. An innocent woman is dead because of us. We just...
Gabrielle shook her head as she forced away the image of her and Xena consuming the blood of another person as she stood up. Xena followed and placed her hands on Gabrielle's upper arms as she looked her into her eyes.
XENA
Gabrielle listen I know what happened is incredibly horrible and nothing we do will ever change that. But you and I both know that we would never do anything like that normally, right?
Gabrielle pushed Xena's hands away as she walked off a few feet.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly angry tone) Of course, I wouldn't normally kill someone and drink their blood for substance. What kind of ridiculous question is that?
XENA
I know, I know. I'm just making the point that we weren't in control over what we were doing.
Xena walked over and stood in front of Gabrielle.
XENA
And turning ourselves in won't change anything, either.
GABRIELLE
(Slightly angry tone) So what we just leave and pretend that nothing ever happened? I'm sure that man had a family and friends, what about them? You might be used to killing people so easily, but I'm not.
As soon as Gabrielle said that last sentence, she instantly regretted it as she saw that brief moment of hurt in Xena's eyes before Xena masked it, turned and started walking off.
GABRIELLE
Xena wait I didn't mean it like that.
Gabrielle grabbed Xena's hand as Xena stopped and stood there.
GABRIELLE
Please. You know I wouldn't use your past like that. I simply meant that you're more used to killing in general than I am. I know you don't do it mindlessly and without regret. But what happened back there, Xena we can't just ignore and walk away from that. Even if it wasn't our fault, we're still responsible. She was an innocent person, and now she's dead because of us. You know it's the right thing to do.
Xena turned back towards Gabrielle and took a breath as she tried to figure a way out of their situation.
XENA
You're right we can't ignore this, but we also can't just tell them what happened either.
GABRIELLE
So what, we lie?
Xena thought for a moment before an idea came to mind.
XENA
Not completely.
Xena began heading back into town as Gabrielle followed. Once there, Xena told Gabrielle to go with whatever she said as Xena reported an attack by a couple of feral wolves that they had taken care of but unfortunately not before they had killed the local healer. And as for the woman who saw them briefly before they escaped out of the window, she only saw a quick glimpse of their crimson smeared faces before they transformed into their wolf forms and ran off. So she couldn't recognize them normally, which ment that Xena's plan worked perfectly, as terrible as they both felt about the situation aside. After that day and realizing that they were still Bacchae, Xena and Gabrielle took every precaution they could to ensure that something like that would never happen again. After fighting off and killing anyone that Xena had to in order to help whoever they happened to be assisting at the time, they would secretly gather some of their blood to sate and keep their bloodlust in check as they began searching for a cure while doing their best to keep their being Bacchae hidden. Which had turned into a very long and difficult road for the both of them. But Xena had sworn to Gabrielle that with everything she had, she wouldn't stop until they found a cure, and they could go back to their version of a normal life.
--PRESENT--
Gabrielle growled as she fought to control herself as Xena sat beside her and uncorked the small bottle that held some blood.
XENA
Here, it's not much, but it should at least hold you over until we get more.
Gabrielle reluctantly took the small bottle in her shaking hands, but it slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor, shattering on impact. The two sat there for a moment, looking at the floor and the small crimson puddle with shards of glass mixed in. It took nearly every bit of willpower that Gabrielle had left for her to keep herself from getting down on the floor and trying to still get the blood, regardless of the glass. Instead, she layed down and curled up as she tried to focus on anything else other than her thirst for blood that threatened to take over at any moment. Seeing Gabrielle struggle to maintain control, Xena stood up, went to the window of their room and locked it before moving the table that was in the room to its side and putting it up against the window to block it. She then moved to her pack and quickly dug through it until she found what she was looking for and went to the bed.
XENA
Gabrielle you know I don't wanna do this but...
Gabrielle shook as she did everything she could to hold back the monster that was nearly ot the point of breaking free.
GABRIELLE
I know. Just do it before I lose control. I don't want to kill anyone else like what happened to that healer.
XENA
I know.
Gabrielle held out her hands as Xena took the rope she had gotten and tied Gabrielle's hands together and then secured them to the bed. She then did the same to Gabrielle's feet before standing next to her with a cloth in her hand.
XENA
You think you're getting free from this?
Gabrielle tugged against the rope to test it.
GABRIELLE
No I should be secure.
Gabrielle closed her eyes as she felt her Bacchae side bubbling closer to the surface.
XENA
Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can, okay. So you just hold on a little longer.
Gabrielle nodded as Xena took the cloth and tied it around Gabrielle's head as she used it as a gag. This was so no one would hear hissing and growing coming from their room and come to investigate, thus putting them in possible danger if they go too close to Gabrielle or Xena, which ever had been taken over by their Bacchae side. Though fortunately they didn't need to do this very often, since they had grown reluctantly accustomed to managing their bloodlust before it became a serious problem. Which was lucky because restraining Xena normally was already an incredibly difficult feat for anyone unless she let them for whatever reason, let alone when she had no quarrels about killing anyone in sight regardless of who they were.
XENA
I love you. I'll be back soon.
Xena kissed Gabrielle's forehead as she walked to the door with the room key and looked back at Gabrielle for a moment, who nodded as she closed her eyes and continued to fight against her almost literal inner demon. Xena then opened the door and left the room, as she shut and locked the door behind her and headed downstairs.
ALEXIA
Oh you're up late. Is there something you needed?
The innkeeper saw Xena coming downstairs as she wiped down the counter and finished cleaning up before heading to bed.
XENA
Yes but not from here.
Xena hurried to the front door.
XENA
And if you hear any odd sounds coming from our room while I'm gone, do NOT go inside.
ALEXIA
Wait what?
But Xena didn't answer as she left the inn and the confused Alexia standing behind the counter.
ALEXIA
The weird people you encounter as an innkeeper.
The woman shrugged to herself as a short time later she headed upstairs to go to bed. She walked towards her personal room and passed Xena and Gabrielle's room on her way. But she stopped and went back as she heard something very odd coming from the other side of the door. Curious, Alexia put her ear to the door and listened as she heard muffled groans coming from inside.
ALEXIA
What in the world?
Concerned that something was wrong, the innkeeper pulled her master key out of her apron and unlocked the door to a very shocking sight.
Pt.14
The innkeeper stood in the doorway of Xena and Gabrielle's room, taken very off guard by what she saw. Which in her line of work at this point was pretty difficult to do. Because, as an innkeeper and having all people stay at her inn as they passed through the area, she had seen or heard just about everything. But what she was seeing now was something that Alexia didn't even know how to describe. Because there on the bed was Gabrielle with her hands tied to one end of the bed and her feet to the other, with a cloth in her mouth. Now that alone wasn't the shocking part, she knew that some people had a rather kinky taste when it came to things in the bedroom, and unfortunately for her, she had mistakenly walked in on much worse than this. Which was why she didn't typically go into guests rooms unless she knocked first. But with the way Xena had left in such a hurry and hearing the sounds from their room, she just felt as though something wasn't right. And now seeing Gabrielle in this state, Alexia was convinced that she was right and that Gabrielle was in danger and possibly being held against her will by Xena as a verity of truly horrific possibilities ran through the innkeeper's mind.
ALEXIA
(Thinking to herself angrily) The level of depravity some people stoop to. If that woman hurt this poor girl and comes back.
Gabrielle pulled on her restraints and made muffled sounds through the cloth in her mouth, which to Alexia sounded like a very clear plea for help.
ALEXIA
Okay. It's gonna be okay.
The young woman moved towards the bed as she pulled out a small dagger from its place on her hip that she kept on her for self-defense if she needed it.
ALEXIA
I'm not gonna hurt you, I'm just gonna cut you free, and then we'll make sure you're safe.
Alexia got to the head of the bed and reached for one end of the rope to cut Gabrielle lose. Not knowing the danger that her life was now in, and would be even further once Gabrielle was let loose in her current state. The innkeeper was just about to grab the rope and began cutting through it when she heard a voice behind her.
?
Trust me, you don't wanna do that.
Alexia turned to see Xena enter the room. She scowled at Xena as she looked back at Gabrielle for a moment.
ALEXIA
What is this?! Just what are you doing to this poor girl?
Knowing that from the innkeeper's prospective the situation looked to be something very different from what it actually was, Xena tried to alleviate her concern.
XENA
Look I know this looks bad but believe me Gabrielle is not being held against her will or hurt in any way. She's tied up right now for her own good.
ALEXIA
(Angry tone) Her own good. You expect me to believe that you monster.
Then something clicked within the young woman's head as she suddenly realized who she thought she was dealing with.
ALEXIA
Wait a minute, now I remember. I've heard stories about you. Xena, one of the most infamous women in all of Greece. I don't even wanna think what someone like you would be doing to this girl with her in this state.
Alexia pointed her danger towards Xena as she stood by the struggling Gabrielle.
ALEXIA
But now that I'm here, whatever it is you had planned for her, I promise you that I will not let you anywhere with her. As long as you're in my inn, I won't let you harm her or anyone else here.
Gabrielle pulled against the rope as she made more muffled sounds and looked at the innkeeper who didn't notice the change in her eyes as they were now yellow as her Bacchae side continued to overtake her.
ALEXIA
Now I know what you're capable of, Xena and I don't want any trouble. So why don't you just leave and I'll forget you were ever here.
Xena looked at Gabrielle for a moment, who continued trying to break loose as the bed frame creaked from the strain.
XENA
I can't do that. Now I don't have time to explain, but you need to leave this room right now or your life will be in very serious danger.
Alexia scowled as she pushed down her fear of the Xena she thought was standing before her.
ALEXIA
You can threaten me all you want but like I said you will not harm anyone staying at this inn. So I suggest you go before I send for the town guards.
Again the headboard creaked as Gabrielle strained to get at the innkeeper. Xena knew that she needed to get to Gabrielle and get the innkeeper out of harms way fast, as she was certain that the rope would give soon, and this situation would go from bad too much, much worse.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) I don't have time for this.
Xena moved towards the innkeeper and grabbed her arm to escort her out of the room and to relative safety. But fearing that Xena was going to harm her and Gabrielle, Alexia tried to pull away as she yelled for help. Not wanting even more people coming to the room and inadvertently putting themselves in danger, Xena quickly covered the frightened and confused woman's mouth, who struggled to get away as the situation continued to spiral out of control. Alexia bit down on Xena's hand, and it took everything Xena had not to knock the woman out cold as she pulled her hand away and the innkeeper elbowed her in her ribs, which due to everything going on took Xena off guard and caused her to lose her hold on the young woman who got out of her grasp and hurried towards the door as she screamed for help. It was then that the restraints holding Gabrielle back finally gave and the frenzied, bloodthirsty Bacchae bard made a feral, animalistic hiss as she immediately got into a crouched position and lept off the bed. She landed right on top of the innkeeper and brought her down to the floor. Having no clue what was going on, Alexia screamed as Gabrielle hissed in her face as she bared her fangs as she tore the cloth from her mouth. Completely overpowered, the young woman couldn't do anything as she was pinned to the floor and her head forced to the side to better expose her neck. With her hand firmly pressed against the side of the woman's face and a clear view of what she craved more than anything in the world at that moment, Gabrielle opened her mouth. Seeing her sharp fangs, Alexia screamed again as she tried to get free, with no results. Gabrielle leaned down towards the woman's neck as she opened her mouth further. Alexia could feel Gabrielle's breath against her skin when Gabrielle was suddenly tackled from the side. The terrified innkeeper immediately sat up to see Xena on top of Gabrielle as the two battle for dominance. Gabrielle hissed and growled at Xena who after several moments finally pinned her to the floor as she basically sat on her and held both of Gabrielle's wrists to the floor over the crazed bard’s head. Gabrielle fought to get loose as Xena struggled to maintain control over her. While holding Gabrielle's wrists with one hand, Xena reached into her cleavage with the other and pulled out a small bottle. While doing everything she could to keep Gabrielle in place, Xena bit the cork and pulled it from the bottle before spitting it to the side as she brought the bottle to Gabrielle's lips. Immediately smelling what was inside, Gabrielle immediately began struggling for freedom even harder. But once xena brought the bottle to Gabrielle's lips, the frenzied bard quickly took the offering and very enthusiastically drank the contents. Meanwhile, Alexia just sat there, too shaken and stunned to move by what had just happened as she looked on at the bizarre scene. After a few moments, Gabrielle bagan to calm down and began making what sounded like pleasurable growls. Seeing Gabrielle's now calmer demeanor, Xena looked over at the innkeeper.
XENA
You should probably go. I've got this under control. Once I'm done here, I'll be downstairs. I'm sure you have alot of questions.
Still completely stunned and unsure of what she had just witnessed, Alexia nodded slowly.
ALEXIA
(Monotone) Sure. I'll uh... I'll be down at the bar waiting. Feel free to take your time.
The woman then turned around and walked rather quickly out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
ALEXIA
(Talking to herself) I need a drink and maybe rethink my policy on renting people rooms with no questions asked.
Pt.15
Sitting at a table, Alexia took a swallow of her drink and heard footsteps coming down the stairs to the quite large room. She, looked to the side and saw Xena coming her way. The young woman took another drink and put down her mug as she motioned to the seat next to her as an invitation for Xena to sit. As Xena did just that, Alexia raised her cup.
ALEXIA
Want one?
Xena shrugged casually in the affirmative, and the innkeeper got up and walked around the bar and filled up a mug of ale and returned to her seat with it, placing it on the bar in front of Xena. The two sat quietly for a few moments as they idly nursed their drinks. Unsure of how to start, Xena decided to wait for Alexia to initiate the conversation, and after a little bit she did.
ALEXIA
You know I've been doing this for a long time now and honestly after all the things I've seen through the years, I really didn't think that anything really surprised me anymore. But what happened up there, I gotta say I definitely did NOT see that coming.
The innkeeper rubbed her forehead before sighing and taking another big gulp of her ale before putting her mug on the bar. Xena turned in her seat to face Alexia, who remained facing forward and noticed a faraway look in the innkeeper's eyes. Though, Xena couldn't blame the woman for feeling whatever exactly she was feeling at that moment. After all, she had just found one of her customers tied to a bed and then got attacked and nearly killed by the same woman that she thought was in need of help. And with the way she was attacked, obviously nothing about the situation was normal, so it made sense if the innkeeper would need some time to process exactly what happened. But still Xena thought she should at least try to explain this way she could at least try and stop the woman from possibility gathering others to come after Xena and Gabrielle, thus putting everyone involved at risk. And Xena really wanted to avoid any more innocent people getting hurt or killed due to her and Gabrielle. So Xena took a breath as she began to try and figure how to even begin to explain the situation she and Gabrielle had come to find themselves in.
XENA
I promise Gabrielle isn't normally like this, she just hadn't eaten in a while and well as you can see she can get a little aggressive when she's hungry.
The innkeeper gave Xena a blank look.
ALEXIA
(Sarcasm) Gee, you think.
Xena sighed.
XENA
Listen I'm really sorry about that. And trust me once Gabrielle wakes up, she'll feel truly terrible about what happened. But I suppose you're more interested in why she was tied up and then attacked you when you tried to help her.
Xena paused as she tried to find the best way to explain the whole story.
ALEXIA
She's a Bacchae, isn't she?
Xena looked at the innkeeper, surprised for a moment that she knew what Gabrielle was right away. Seeing Xena's reaction, Alexia continued.
ALEXIA
Shocked that I know exactly what she is aren't you?
XENA
Given that you got such an up close and personal encounter with Gabrielle up there, I guess I shouldn't be.
Alexia took a gulp of her drink as she continued.
ALEXIA
Fair point. But even if she wasn't pinning me to the floor and about to make a meal out of me, I still know a Bacchae when I see one.
The young woman sighed.
ALEXIA
Too bad I didn't pay more attention when I got closer to her, or I would've noticed it before she broke free.
XENA
So you're familiar with Bacchae than.
ALEXIA
Unfortunately.
Alexia looked into her nearly empty cup as she continued.
ALEXIA
A number of years ago, my sister was turned into a Bacchae. She was traveling and got lost in the Bacchae forest. After she was gone for far too long, we got worried. Me, my brother and our parents, that is. We went to look for her. It took some searching, but we finally found her. She was wandering around, acting as though it was completely normal to so. When we asked her where she had been, she didn't really give us an answer. But she appeared to be okay, so we just brought her back home. After all, my sister was kind of the free spirited and adventurous type of person, so it wasn't to out of character for her to go out like that. Maybe not for that long, but still it wasn't too big of a deal. She didn't like to worry our parents, so when she would go off on her little excursions she would typically make up some kind of nonsense for what she had been doing to try and ease our parents worries. Which as usual worked... on them. I on the other hand knew full well that she was out, likely getting into trouble of some kind. Because that's just what she did. But she was smart and could handle a dagger pretty well, so I was never too worried about her when she would venture out for a while. But after we came home, that night something happened to her.
The innkeeper looked at Xena as she carried on with her tale.
ALEXIA
We were all asleep when our father was awakened by some noise. Concerned that something was wrong, he hurried to my sister's room and caught her about to go out of her bedroom window. She was only fourteen, so obviously my father wasn't too happy with catching her trying to leave the house in the middle of the night like that. When he demanded to know what she was doing, she just looked at him as though she wasn't listening to anything he was saying. And then seemingly out of nowhere, she just attacked him. As my father yelled, my mother, brother and I were all awakened. The three of us all hurried to my sister's room, but it was already too late. My father was on the ground as my sister had her mouth on his throat. My mother screamed as she saw the blood. My brother quickly tried to get my sister off of our father, but she attacked him next. There was blood everywhere... and so much screaming from both my brother and mother. The look in my sister's eyes will always be something that I will never forget, cold, dark, yellow... hungry. As my mother was in a horrified panic, I raced outside and grabbed our wood chopping axe. When I got back inside, my sister had my mother on the floor and I knew I had to act fast. And as I yelled and swung the axe, my sister turned her head to look at me as though I was a complete stranger. After her head and body fell, both myself and my mother stood among the horrific scene. Once I got the nerve, I decided to get a better look at my sister. That was when I found the fangs. It wasn't until a year or two later that I heard stories about other women disappearing like my sister had, then some showing back up later and killing people much like what my sister had done to my father. I learned about Bacchus and his Bacchae. That was when I finally realized that was what had happened to my sister. I was so furious about the whole situation that I wanted to go find that damned God and make him pay for what he had caused. But after what happened with my sister and father, my mother was never the same. She was left just a shell of the vibrant, life loving woman she had been. After that night, she was just so traumatized. Over time, it became too much for her and she ended up falling into a deep depression, and unfortunately she never recovered.
Alexia took a long drink that emptied her mug as Xena understood the implication of what the innkeeper said. There was a bit of silence between them until Xena spoke.
XENA
I'm sorry you and your family went through that. I can only imagine what Gabrielle attacking you must've brought up.
ALEXIA
Yeah it definitely brought back some not so pleasant memories.
XENA
I'm sorry. We're usually able to manage it pretty well, but today we ran into trouble and. I shouldn't have left her like that, but I thought she was secure until I could get us more blood.
ALEXIA
I'm sorry did you just say "us"?
XENA
(Sighing) Yes. Both Gabrielle and I are Bacchae.
Xena quickly continued as she tried to assure that she wasn't at threat to the young woman and gave a very short version of how they became Bacchae.
XENA
But as long as we have had blood within the last couple of days we're able to control ourselves. So you don't have anything to worry about. Unfortunately, Gabrielle hadn't had any recently which was why her cravings completely took over. And why I left Gabrielle in that state, to get her some after we lost what we had on us.
The innkeeper gave Xena an uncomfortable look as Xena explained that she had gotten attacked by a small group of random bandits and ended up having to kill a couple before the rest cut their losses and ran off.
ALEXIA
It's true that a number of village's around here have been having some trouble with some bandits for several months now.
XENA
It's just fortunate for us that we happen to find ourselves in a lot of situations where we're either defending ourselves or others from people like that, so getting the blood we need hasn't been too difficult.
ALEXIA
I guess giving your situation that's pretty fortunate.
XENA
I suppose.
An awkward silence fell between them as after a few minutes, Xena stood.
XENA
I'm sure this has been difficult for you. So I'll go get Gabrielle and we'll go.
ALEXIA
In the middle of the night? I'm pretty sure it's still raining. And after the ordeal from earlier, I'm sure both you and Gabrielle are worn out. Please don't leave because you think you're making me uncomfortable or anything.
XENA
Aren't we?
ALEXIA
No. I know that if most people were in my shoes given everything that happened with my family and then tonight, they would probably fear and hate anything to do with Bacchus or Bacchae. But while I do hate that God, who honestly I'm glad to hear is dead now and can't hurt anyone else ever again. I don't feel that way about you, Gabrielle, or any other woman that was turned. That God made you what you are for his own terrible purposes. I know how he lured women to fall under his spell and changed them without them ever even continously knowing what happened. Even if you became a Bacchae on purpose, Xena, I know you did it to stop that bastard once and for all. I can only imagine what it's been like for you and Gabrielle living this way.
Xena smiled slightly at the kind woman's understanding.
XENA
Thanks. I know Gabrielle will appreciate your kindness too. And yeah, it's been pretty difficult living like this. I'm pretty sure It's been harder on Gabrielle, though.
Xena sighed to herself as she thought of the toll that she knew all of this was having on Gabrielle.
ALEXIA
Well at least you can both take solace in knowing that you're not going through this alone. Maybe if we had known what was happening with my sister, then maybe things would have turned out differently. I'm sure there was a part of who she really was still in there somewhere. Maybe if we had known she was a Bacchae sooner we could've found a way to help her and my family would still be alive. I'm sure the real person my sister was hated what she had done and would've stopped if she could.
XENA
Your sister sounds like she was an amazing person.
ALEXIA
She was.
The innkeeper stood up as she yawned.
ALEXIA
Well it's late, so I'm gonna head to bed. I'll talk to you and Gabrielle in the morning.
The innkeeper patted Xena's shoulder as she picked up the empty cups and placed them on the bar before going to the stairs.
ALEXIA
Goodnight Xena.
XENA
Night.
Alexia went upstairs and to bed as Xena sat there for a little longer thinking about their conversation.
XENA
(Thinking to herself) We can't keep going on like this. Tonight was too close. And knowing what happened to Alexia. I don't even know if I should tell Gabrielle. She'll be devastated to know that she attacked someone whose already had such a horrific encounter with Bacchae. This needs to stop.
After a few more minutes of sitting with her thoughts, Xena stood and went upstairs to her and Gabrielle's room. Unsure of where they were supposed to go moving forward, as living the way they had been had clearly grown far too risky. Because while this time, no one got hurt when one of them lost control. What would happen when the day came when they couldn't be stopped without it resulting in the death of Xena or Gabrielle and possibly many others.