Hi guys! I'm back! Here's the next chapter! Thank you again for your support! Don't forget to let me know what your opinion is! This one was pretty tough to write because I changed my mind so many times! PLEASE REVIEW!

LOVE,

DIANA ❤️

25-

"You know, Xena. You have been matter of discussion since you've been brought here" said the red serpent with a melodious tone in her voice. Every word she uttered made Xena angry and suspicious. The warrior was now standing between Lucretia and her soulmate, the chain to her collar had been secured to an iron ring in the wall. That slimy Ashur stood a two-step distance behind Gabrielle, occasionally eyeing the young woman's soft, pale skin and blond locks.

"My husband has gone soft, I'm afraid. Differently from him, I don't trust any slaves." She circled Xena, staring at her, trying to detect her emotions, her feelings. "What? Are you mad? You hate being this vulnerable, don't you? You hate…" she moved closer to Gabrielle and caressed her cheek with the back of her hand "seeing your beautiful companion here, a collar around her neck, nude, and yet you are so powerless…" Xena tried to move in her chains, but when she took a step towards her mistress, the metal collar cut the air in her throat. I'm not powerless, you'll see. And still, her evil look adorned her features. Her blue eyes were shooting darts of fire. "… and yet you are proud. You won't surrender, will you? I have heard a lot of stories about you Xena. You used to be a feared warlord. So, why are you still here? I thought you'd be able to sneak outside the ludus when you wanted." Xena pondered the woman's words. It was true, she knew that in this kind of situations she had always found a way out. The problem was that here she had no weapons, she had no armor and she was hated by all the men in the ludus. The gladiators didn't like the fact that they had to fight against a woman, they thought dominus had gone crazy and that he only kept Xena because she looked a lot like his wife. What they didn't want to admit, was that she was almost better than any of them with a sword in her hand. But still, they were too many and Oenomaus would surely give them the real iron weapons had she tried to rebel. And then, there was Gabrielle, with no staff and no one to protect her inside the villa. Xena breathed, her nostrils flared. She had almost succeeded in making friends with Spartacus but Crixus, besides being thankful for having been saved by Xena, had started to consider her a threat when he noticed how well equipped she was. He wanted to restore his title, he wanted to be the champion again.

"So, my dear, my husband told me that you have been a bit moody lately. Doctore asked him to let you and your girlfriend spend some quality time together. And you will, indeed. Ashur! Summon the maid" Xena and Gabrielle shared a series of questioning looks "You know, Gabrielle has become one of my personal slaves, she takes care of my personal needs, sometimes even better than Naevia. So, I decided she must carry my mark. Don't worry, she will not be branded. It may be a little painful, though."

Xena's eyes widened when she suddenly remembered the butterfly tattoo on Naevia's right shoulder. The maid and Ashur entered the room and the old woman started to place her tools on a little table next to a chair. Xena could see that her lover's eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"Domina, please don't. Mark my other arm instead, do what you want. But leave her alone..Please" She decided to behave. She had realized that what Lucretia really wanted was to smell fear and submission. She needed to pretend that she was being tamed.

"Xena, you need to remember your place. I am the one who gives commands here. Not you, warrior princess." The woman folded her hands, and started to pace again. "that's unfortunate, I know. What would you give? What would you do for her? To spare her this suffering? Tell me"

"I would gladly give my life for her, domina. Don't do it" Lucretia's sudden laughter filled the room, echoing through the corridors. I know your soft spot, warrior.

"Tomorrow's reception is an important one for the House of Batiatus. All the most successful and rich men and women in Capua are gathering here, within these walls. Young Numerius is our guest of honor, and I don't want to risk you ruining everything. I know you're probably plotting something. I can see it in your eyes. And I also know that you won't probably like what you see. You misbehave, Gabrielle goes off the cliff. Or, she can be sent to Ashur's quarters. Your choice." The Syrian smiled, already savoring the moment. Xena took a step forward, blinded by anger. Her hands almost reached Lucretia's neck, had it not been for the chain around her neck. "Don't you dare! I swear I'll kill you. And if I don't succeed in life, my ghost will haunt you until your last breath. DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER, YOU BITCH!"

Ashur grabbed Xena's arms from behind, keeping them being her back at a painful angle and pushed on her shoulder until she was now kneeling on the marble floor. Xena grunted and swiftly rose up, suddenly hitting the Syrian's nose with the back of her head. The man's eyes started watering, his nose bloody and swollen. He put his hands on his nose and closed his eyes, Xena took advantage of the situation, pushed him so that he was now kneeling before her, and pressed two points on his neck. Lucretia was in shock, she called the guards with a shriek. Ashur's nose was now bleeding even more profusely.

"What have you done to him?" said the woman with horror on her face while her husband and the guards approached, running.

"LUCRETIA WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" he roared

Xena's icy blue eyes were staring at her mistress. "He's gonna be dead in 30 seconds unless you tell the maid to go back to the kitchen" her heart was pounding in her chest. Again, Finally.

"Whatever you want! But release him, slave!" said Batiatus in a fury. Gabrielle slowly fastened her dress behind her neck. Xena released the man, who gasped for air and put a hand on his chest trying to breathe in as deeply as he could. This cunt.

"This is how you repay me, slave? After having decided to spit on my father's grave by letting you fight in the arena?" Batiatus was furious. Lucretia stood there in disbelief, she had never seen anything like that before, Gabrielle's eyes shining. "After everything that I have done for you two? I gave my permission to let you spend the night together and you almost kill one of my men? This can't go unpunished" he looked at his wife, knowing all too well that it was all her fault. He knew that Lucretia didn't like Xena just as much as she didn't like Spartacus and this brought her to harass the woman using Gabrielle as her main weapon. But he needed Xena. She means money, and she was given to me for free!

Once he had recovered his senses, Ashur stood up pulled on Xena's hair, lifted her up, keeping her head back so that she was now facing her owner. Xena looked like an enraged dog, she kept moving her shoulders to avoid Ashur's skin on her body.

"Good! Quintus, I expect you to carry out a punishment since she tried to kill your wife!" exclaimed Lucretia, raising her brows "Xena, say bye to your little pet here. You had your time together. And you" she turned towards Gabrielle whose angry eyes were fixed on Xena "fetch some wine. Ashur, take Xena to her cell. Chain her to the wall, hands and ankles. Just in case. And… keep her company until my husband comes, she'll love it".