JUST ONE BITE

pt.9

Gabrielle held the goblet that contained a mixture of some kind that included Bacchus' blood. The god watched intently as Gabrielle brought the cup to her lips. Then suddenly out of seemingly nowhere, an object came flying through the air and struck the goblet, knocking it from Gabrielle's hands. Bacchus looked away from Gabrielle, gave an evil smile.

BACCHUS
Xena! So glad you could join us after all.

XENA
She's not interested, Bacchus.

Xena scowled at Bacchus as she caught her chakram, and spotted the lyre.

XENA
Joxer, quick, on Bacchus' throne. Get the lyre. Hurry.

JOXER
You got it.

Joxer raced towards the lyre as Bacchus yelled to his legion of Bacchae.

BACCHUS
(Angry tone) Get her!

At Bacchus' command, a number of his Bacchae charged for Xena. She ducked under one who swiped at her with her claws and shoved her away as another came at her from behind. The Bacchae grabbed Xena, pinning her arms to her side as she beared her fangs and went straight for Xena's neck. Xena threw her head back into her face as another Bacchae came at her from the front. As she closed in, Xena brought her feet up and planted them on her chest as she shoved the Bacchae back and used the momentum to drive herself ab d the Bacchae behind her backwards to the ground. Xena rolled out of the woman's grasp and back to a vertical base as more Bacchae came her way.

JOXER
Let go of me, you little monster!

Joxer pulled himself loose from a Bacchae that had grabbed him while he was doing his best to avoid being noticed while Xena held most of their attention. He continued to climb his way towards where the lyre sat. He looked down for a moment and saw Xena fending off a number of Bacchae before continuing on. Xena dove to the ground as a Bacchae flew at her and missed. She then spun into a kick as she knocked another away and hopped back to her feet as more continued to come at her.

JOXER
Orpheus!

Joxer made it to the throne and pulled Orpheus from the bag and placed the sleeping head on the chair.

JOXER
Orpheus wake up!

Orpheus opened his eyes and saw Joxer picking up the lyre that sat beside the bard.

JOXER
I got the lyre. What do I play?!

ORPHEUS
It doesn't matter, just play it!

Joxer began to strum the instrument when a Bacchae lunged at him from above. He struggled against the Bacchae as among the chaos, Bacchus grabbed another goblet that contained his blood and shoved it into Gabrielle's hands.

BACCHUS
Drink! I command you. Drink, and become one of us.

Among her fighting, Xena saw Bacchus and Gabrielle and knew that they had to act fast, or it would be too late.

XENA
Gabrielle! No! Joxer, play the lyre! Now!

With the Bacchae still on his back, Joxer threw himself back against the cave wall to get his arm free and began to strum the lyre. As he played and Orpheus began to sing, the Bacchae began to cringe. The Bacchae attacking Joxer stopped as did Gabrielle, who was about to drink. As he saw what was happening, Bacchus scowled as he flew up to where Joxer stood. Joker swallowed hard as he looked up at the god that towered over him and glared down at him.