JUST ONE BITE

pt.15

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.