HEART AND SOUL

pt.6

Xena stood by the doors of the large room, holding the young woman tightly in her grasp. She and Lady Nightingale staring each other down.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
Okay you have my attention. Now what exactly do you want?

XENA
I told you already. Your people, The Followers Of Deimos have my friend and I want her back. Now tell me where she is.

Lady Nightingale still tried to deny her involvement with the group. But Xena wasn't falling for her innocent act. Her continued denial only fueled Xena's anger further.

XENA
Enough! I'm running out of time and patience. Now tell me what you know or she dies.

Xena placed her fingers on the young woman's neck, ready to put her hold on her.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
I assure you I don't know what you've talking about.

Xena scowled.

XENA
Fine.

Xena put her hold on the young woman and explained that she had seconds to live unless Lady Nightingale told her anything that could help her find Gabrielle.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
Please stop this.

XENA
Times running out.

The young woman struggled.

YOUNG WOMAN
my lady...please

The seconds ticked by. Blood began to flow from the young woman's nose, as she felt herself getting weaker. Xena could see the expression on Lady Nightingales face turn from one of arrogance and confidence. To one of Fear and concern. Until finally she caved.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
Okay enough! I'll tell you everything I know. Now stop this and let her go!

XENA
There that wasn't so hard was it?

Xena released the hold, but still held on to the young woman for insurance.

XENA
Now tell me what you know.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
From what I've been told, we found the person that we need to trigger the beginning of our lord Deimos' reign.

XENA
Obviously I already know that, now tell me something I don't know.

Xena placed her fingers back on the young woman's neck, ready to put the hold on again. Lady Nightingale quickly continued.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
The ceremony to bring him here is set for two nights from tonight. When the moon is full and has a reddish hue. Or what we call the blood moon.

XENA
Where?

LADY NIGHTINGALE
(Smirking) It doesn't matter, you'll never be able to get there before he is summoned.

XENA
Then telling me shouldn't be a problem.

Lady Nightingale chuckled a little in agreement.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
Very well. The mountain range north of here. At the mountains tallest peak there's an ulter and that is where the sacrifice will be made. But it's impossible for someone to get there in only two days. It takes about a day to get to the base of the mountain from here. And then at least another three days to scale up the mountain. So you see it's as I said before, it doesn't matter what you do. You can't stop us.

Xena was skeptical about the amount of truth to this Information.

XENA
If that's the case, then why didn't you tell me that in the first place?

LADY NIGHTINGALE
We are forbidden to disclose anything about ourselves. The consequences of doing so are severe, and in many cases deadly.

XENA
And yet you told me.

LADY NIGHTINGALE
Yes, for her sake.

Lady Nightingale motioned to the young woman that Xena still had in her possession as her hostage. Xena was perplexed by the fact that anyone who would want to bring about nothing but fear and panic, could care for someone else. And clearly very deeply so. But didn't she realize that it would affect everyone, including this young woman. Regardless of that fact, Xena didn't have the time to try and figure out her thought process on the matter. Xena relinquished the young woman from her grasp and left. She did feel terrible about having done that to a seemingly innocent person. Especially someone who reminded her so much of Gabrielle. Dispite that fact, she convinced herself that it had to be done. And not just to save Gabrielle. But she knew that the Followers Of Deimos needed to be stopped from fulfilling their plans of summoning Deimos. Xena left Lady Nightingale's residents and headed north towards the mountains where she was told the ceremony to sacrifice Gabrielle would be taking place. Though the odds didn't look good, and time was not on her side, Xena was determined to find a way to reach the mountains summit before it was too late.

XENA
(Thinking to herself) I don't know how, but I'll make it in time. I'll save you Gabrielle, I promise.

She knew needed to hurry, time was running out for both Gabrielle and the rest of the world.

TO BE CONTINUED...