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.
TO BE CONTINUED...