A blade coming towards her, Gabrielle stood terrified and unable to move as Hector swung at her. With her life seemingly at its end, Gabrielle braced herself for her painful demise. Time almost seemed to slow as the blade came just inches before cutting her, then, before Gabrielle knew how it happened, a strong hand suddenly latched onto Hector's wrist, stopping his swing just before it made contact with Gabrielle's shoulder.
HECTOR
What the f...
As he spoke, Hector turned his head and was stopped mid-word by a fist colliding with the side of his face. He staggered a few steps as his arm was released. He then turned back to face Gabrielle and his attacker with fury in his eyes, as Gabrielle couldn't believe hers. She didn't know why, but for whatever reason, she had just been saved by the Conqueror, as the woman now stood in front of her facing Hector. The man scowled at her as he felt the pain of being hit so hard it had staggered him.
HECTOR
That girl has nothing to do with you, Xena. She's an escaped would-be slave and belongs to Draco.
Xena smirked.
XENA
Not anymore.
HECTOR
What do you care about some random farm girl?
XENA
I don't. But it's clear that Draco, or at least you, do. And that's good enough for me.
HECTOR
So is that how it's gonna be?
XENA
Well, since Draco seems to think that he can try and take what's mine, then I think turn about is fair play. The girl's mine now, and if you or Draco want to come get her, you're both more than welcome to try. The same goes for anything that belongs to me. So you tell Draco that if he wants to try and take what's mine, he's going to have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.
HECTOR
Be careful what you say, Xena. Draco's gained more power than you know. Your days of being Conqueror of Greece are coming to an end.
XENA
(Quiet, angry tone) Am I supposed to be afraid? This isn't the first time I've dealt with Draco, but I can guarantee it WILL be the last.
HECTOR
You're right, Xena. It will be.
Hector then gave a yell to the remainder of Draco's men, who Xena or Leonidas hadn't killed, to tell them to retreat. Then, without taking his eyes off Xena, Hector too backed away.
HECTOR
This isn't over, Xena. Not even close. Draco and his allies are coming for you.
Xena glared at the man intensely as she clenched the handle of her sword in rage.
XENA
(Quiet, angry tone) Let 'em.
And then Hector and the rest of Draco's men were gone, leaving just the Conqueror, Leonidas, and Gabrielle in the room. Leonidas walked up to stand beside her as she stood fuming from the unexpected turn of events.
LEONIDAS
What do we do now, my lord?
Xena sheathed her blade.
XENA
We prepare.
(Quiet, angry tone) If Draco wants a fight, he's got one.
LEONIDAS
Then I suppose that we'll be...
Their conversation was interrupted when they heard noise behind them, and they both turned to see Petrodes trying to climb out of a window.
XENA
Now would you look at that, Leonidas. It looks like Hector left behind some of his trash.
Realizing that he'd been noticed, Petrodes frantically began trying to get out of the window as fast as he could. He was hanging halfway out of the window when he felt himself being grabbed and dragged back inside as he screamed for help to anyone who might be able to hear. He was thrown to the floor as the Conqueror stood over him.
XENA
Leonidas.
LEONIDAS
Yes, my lord?
XENA
(Sinister tone) Lock and barricade the doors. I wouldn't want our little meeting to have any further interruptions.
LEONIDAS
As you wish.
Leonidas walked to the doors, closed and locked them as Petrodes began to yell as loud as she could for anyone to help him. But his cries went unheard as Gabrielle witnessed firsthand a glimpse into the brutality and ruthlessness that the Conqueror was capable of. Xena threw punch after punch to the man's face and body before lifting him up and slamming him straight through a table. With several sharp wooden splinters from the broken table embedded in his back, Petrodes begged for mercy as he tried to crawl away from the enraged Conqueror. His face smeared crimson as blood ran from his nose and mouth. He yelled in pain and fear as he felt Xena's boot stomp onto his leg. Petrodes rolled onto his back as he tried to pull away but was unable as he looked up to see a crazed, sadistic smile appear on Xena's face. He again tried to plead for Xena to stop, but his words went ignored as the Conqueror lifted her foot still on the floor and brought it down onto his leg. He instantly screamed in agony as he felt the bone in his lower leg snap. He used his other leg to kick Xena off of him. She stepped back and watched with remorseless eyes as Petrodes grabbed at his shattered leg and used an arm and his uninjured leg to try and escape Xena's wrath. But the Conqueror wouldn't be denied her vengeance as she walked over and casually stepped on Petrodes' hand. He tried to push her away but was met with a fist to the side of his head. Everything went fuzzy for a moment as he fell flat before being brought back to reality by more pain as he continued to be mercilessly beaten. All the while, Gabrielle had retreated into a corner of the room. She looked on in horror for a bit until, unable to watch any more, she closed her eyes and covered her ears as she tried to block out the horrible scene. But despite her efforts, Gabrielle could still hear the man's tormented screams, until she couldn't. After some time, Gabrielle peeked open an eye to see the Conqueror standing over a beaten and bloodied man. Her knuckles red from both Petrodes' blood and her own, from the force of her repeated strikes opening the skin that unbeknownst to Gabrielle had been scarred over multiple times from this very type of behavior. The woman huffed as she caught her breath and brushed her dark, tousled hair out of her face. She looked down at the motionless Petrodes at her feet as she gave a satisfied smile. Certain that he had regretted his foolish decision to turn against her and ally himself with her enemies. Gabrielle watched as the Conqueror walked away from the motionless Petrodes and over to the window. She grabbed the curtain that hung there and used it to wipe the blood from her hands. She then went back over to the man and gave him a nudge with her boot. After getting a better look at him, Gabrielle was certain that someone in the condition the man they called Petrodes was in, must be dead. But then she heard him make a low groan.
XENA
(Cold tone) Good, you're not dead... yet.
She crouched down and stared into Petrodes' swollen eyes, examining her handiwork and the blood that now covered the man's distorted face.
XENA
Well, Petrodes, it looks like I'll be taking over your city after all.
She grabbed a handful of his hair and lifted his head, forcing him to meet her gaze.
XENA
(Cold tone) You should have just let the negotiations proceed as originally planned and lived out the rest of your pathetic little life as my minister for this city. But you decided to play a game that you didn't even know all the rules to, and you lost. And now, you'll pay the ultimate price.
Xena roughly let go of the severely beaten man and stood up. She held her sword and looked down at Petrodes with an icy stare.
XENA
(Cold tone) Have fun in the afterlife.
Gabrielle watched as the Conqueror took her sword and raised it above her head, then turned the blade down and gripped the handle with both hands as a panicked Petrodes begged for his life.
PETRODES
(Weak/ terrified tone) No, no, please, I'm sorry. I... ugh...
Petrodes raised his hands in a frantic attempt to stop the Conqueror, but Xena, without a shred of remorse, drove her blade into Petrodes' chest. She watched it sink into his flesh as far as it would go, and then watched as the life left Petrodes' eyes and his arms fell to his sides. He layed there, with his eyes open but unseeing, as after a moment Xena pulled her blood-covered weapon from his body. She grabbed the decorative scarf he was wearing and wiped the blood from her blade before returning the weapon to its sheath and casually dropping the cloth as she turned and headed for the door.
XENA
We're done here. Let's head home.
LEONIDAS
Right behind you, my lord.
As she was leaving, Xena spotted Gabrielle huddled in a corner with an expression of terror painted on her face. Their eyes met, and Gabrielle immediately looked away, now even more terrified of the woman than she had been before. Unphased by the fact that she might have traumatized the young woman, the Conqueror continued walking.
XENA
Don't forget about the girl. Thanks to Draco's buddy Hector, I now have plans for her.
Gabrielle felt her stomach drop as she heard the Conqueror, and a million terrifying thoughts raced through her mind once again. A hand rested on her shoulder when Leonidas approached her. After witnessing what the Conqueror had done to the now dead leader of the city, Gabrielle had no intentions of willingly going any further with this madwoman. She pulled away from Leonidas, backing up as Xena and Leonidas looked at her.
GABRIELLE
I'm not going anywhere with you, you maniac.
Leonidas glanced at Xena, who scowled at Gabrielle.
XENA
(Angry tone) Listen, little girl, I'm in no mood for games right now. So watch your tongue and either come along willingly or else.
Gabrielle continued backing away, her eyes searching for an escape. But aside from the third-floor windows, the only way out of the room was the doorway that the Conqueror and her soldier stood blocking a path to. She was about to take her chances with the window when she felt a firm grip on her arm. Gabrielle immediately fought to free herself from Leonidas, who held her arm with one hand. As Gabrielle yelled and struggled, Leonidas tried to restrain her without causing harm. He glanced back at Xena, unsure of what to do, and she growled in frustration.
XENA
(Angry tone) I've dealt with enough crap today to put up with this.
Gabrielle saw the enraged woman approaching and fought harder to break free, but then felt a sharp jab to her neck, and then everything quickly faded to black.
XENA
Now let's get out of here. We'll figure out what to do about Draco and her when we get back.
Xena left the room, with Leonidas following as he carried an unconscious Gabrielle in his arms. They regrouped with the rest of Xena's army and rode out of Olympia. Gabrielle rode with Leonidas, who was beside Xena. Unconscious and unaware of her destination, Gabrielle's life was about to take another drastic turn. She had now been taken as if she were some kind of property or bargaining tool to be used as the Conqueror saw fit. But what would actually unfold would be a series of events that no one, least of all Gabrielle or the Conqueror herself, could have ever predicted.
TO BE CONTINUED...