Eternal
Spirit
Chapter
26
The underground hall was well lit with the bright fires of the mounted torches. Flame shadows danced on the dark walls lightly in animation. The cells were dusty with the aged dirt that had collected over the months. All but one very small cell remained empty. Loud footsteps broke the awkward silence that filled the prison as they approached closer and halted before the Amazon guard.
The Regent's eyes bore coldly into the guard's gaze. "Leave us."
The guard cleared her throat nervously. "Ephiny are you sure..."
Ephiny narrowed her eyes bitterly and tightened her grip on her staff to control her anger. Her voice dropped to a heated growl. "I said...leave us."
"As you wish." The guard bowed her head timidly at the Regent and laid the cell keys down. After taking one last look at the enraged Regent she scurried down the hall.
The Regent inhaled sharply and unlocked the cell door. Her feet scuffed purposely along the ground in frustration. She looked heartlessly at the prisoner noting the chains that bound his arms and legs securely. Dried blood masked several places on his face.
A vile smile spread across the prisoner's lips as he raised his gaze to meet the Regent's. "Well if it isn't the warrior Amazon. You look unfortunately well."
The Regent twirled her staff in her right hand and shook her head at the prisoner in disgust. "You bastard!" With a powerful swing of the staff she connected loudly with his face drawing fresh blood. Rage and hatred mingled in unison within her. She stared impassively at the prisoner and without warning spat in his face. "You disgust me Draden. I should just kill you right now. Cut your pathetic throat from ear to ear."
Draden laughed harshly and spat out a piece of a broken tooth. "Kill me then Amazon. Go on slice my throat wide open." He paused and met her stare briefly. "You can't kill me. You don't have it in you. You're the pathetic one."
Without hesitation the Regent kicked him in the chest and then swept her leg to the side and kicked him across the face. She took a step forward and placed her staff beneath the prisoner's chin violently and applied pressure on his throat restricting his breathing. "Understand one thing." She narrowed her eyes and spoke gruffly through clenched teeth. "I would not hesitate to kill you. In fact I can't think of anything I would enjoy more." She applied more pressure to his throat completely restricting his breathing.
"Ephiny release him!" Xena entered the cell and stood beside the Regent. "Ephiny enough!" she commanded in a dangerous tone.
"Stay out of this Xena." She stared blankly at the prisoner's reddening face as he struggled to breathe.
Xena took a step closer towards the Regent and spoke softly. "I, more than anyone, understand your anger, but you can't let it control you. Once you lose control you lose a sense of yourself. When that happens, the only one gaining anything, is him." She nodded in Draden's direction.
The Regent waited a few more seconds and then removed the staff from his throat. She watched him squirm uncomfortably in pain trying to regain his breath. "If it were up to me...you would be dead." Her chest rose and fell heavily with her deep breathing. Her eyes met the blue eyes of the warrior briefly.
Xena reached out and grabbed the staff from her friend's grip. "Let's go." Her blue eyes shifted towards Draden. "Death is too good for him." Her eyes narrowed in hatred. She felt a familiar rage boil within her. Turning away from Draden she closed her eyes tightly fighting for control of her anger. After a moment elapsed, she turned to leave the cell and paused at the entrance. "Let's go Ephiny."
"You're right about one thing Xena. Death is too good for him." Ephiny turned away from the prisoner and took a step forward towards Xena. Abruptly she turned back around and powerfully kicked Draden soundly in the groin. "Tartarus is too damn good for a bastard like you."
The bright sunlight glared in the Regent's face as she exited the prison doors. She exhaled deeply and placed her hand upon Xena's shoulder. "Thank you."
The warrior paused and faced the Regent. She raised a brow questioningly. "For what?"
Ephiny smiled warmly. "For bringing me back to myself in there. I really think I would have killed him."
Xena nodded and tossed the Regent her staff. She muttered barely above a whisper as she headed towards the Queen's hut. "Part of me wishes you would have."