Sorry I've been away. Life happened. I finally finished Chapter Three and I hope you enjoy it.
-Bunny
Chapter Three
Sebastian sprinted down the halls to Ainsley's quarters. Xena's observation of their matching heart beats had shocked him and he needed answers. Centuries ago, each person in the twelve cities was born with a single soul mate. Some would find their match, and others would spend their entire lives searching. In the times after Xena was exiled, many people were executed or killed as the kingdom was plunged into war. The number of lives that were lost had made the search for soul mates futile and they had given up, most settling for casual sex and the occasional cuddle. Xena would have no idea of this, and Sebastian needed to protect his heart. He opened the door to Ainsley's quarters abruptly and watched the color drain from her face.
"What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to leave Xena alone!" Ainsley exclaimed. "The Oracle said the Eldest planned to hurt her and the only way she would be safe is if she isn't left alone! Get back to her
now
!"
Ainsley pushed him out the door and he stood dumbfounded for a moment before her words registered in his head. He turned and sprinted back to Xena with more fervor than he had on his way to Ainsley. Fear mixed with his confusion as he pushed people out of the way and left chaos in his wake. Xena was strong but he wasn't sure she would endure whatever punishment the Eldest intended for her. His stomach pushed at his throat as he approached Xena's door. He pushed the door open and stepped inside before he was immediately forced back out by Tilly hitting his chest.
"Oof! Tilly? What's happening?!" Sebastian helped Tilly to her feet. He looked into her eyes and she shared his fear.
"Ainsley told me to make sure Xena wasn't left alone. I was too late. Her room is a mess, there's a trail of blood and she's gone." She sobbed into Sebastian's chest.
"The Eldest must have her. We don't have enough people to send to rescue her." Tears welled in his eyes as he realized all they could do was wait it out. "Xena is a resilient woman. She will make her way back." He said it, but he hadn't even convinced himself. The Eldest is a sadistic bastard and he was scared for Xena's life.
*****
Xena opened her eyes to a pitch-black room. She moved her head to try to look around and she felt the dried blood on her neck crack. As she reached for her head, a door opened to the room and flooded it with light. She quickly moved to stand but was pulled back down to the ground by chains attached to her wrists. A silhouette stepped into the light as she moved to a kneeling position and her eyes adjusted to the light.
"Hello, girl." A buttery voice filled her ears. More light appeared as he stepped further into the room. "I was afraid you would never wake up."
Xena squinted as a woman's shape stood in front of her. She wore the traditional dress of those who practice medicine, the colors revealing she was from the seventh city as well.
"Where am I?" Xena asked. "Why am I chained?"
"Since I have not had a chance to explain the rules, I will ignore that you have broken one. You have ignored the terms of your exile and are now a prisoner of the Eldest." Xena gasped and the woman smiled. "Now that I have answered your question here are the rules. Should you break them, you will be punished harshly. There are only three, so this should be easy for you. You will not speak unless spoken to in a manner that requires a verbal reply. You will do everything that you are told, regardless of what you think or want. You will live the rest of your life as a prisoner and a slave to the Eldest and his successors. Easy, right?" She smiled down at Xena. Her smile showed that she was genuinely pleased with her delivery of the rules and Xena's puzzled face as realization settled in. "Do you understand these rules, girl?"
Xena thought over her options. Fighting would be a waste of what little strength she had left. She recognized the chains that bound her as the ones designed to hold beings much stronger than her. Her mind raced until the woman clicked her boot, becoming impatient. Xena hung her head and nodded as a slave would be expected to.
"Good, girl." The woman smiled again. She examined Xena and then called several slave girls to come in and clean her. They cut her dirty dress from her body and smirked at the trails of cum that Sebastian had left behind. They cleaned her top to bottom, braided her hair, and left her naked as they quickly exited the room. The woman looked over their work and nodded her approval.
"You'll do well here. Only whores arrive with cum stains already on their clothes. Ha! And such a tight body you have." She ran a finger down Xena's chest, between her breasts and down her stomach. Xena's body reacted against her will and her nipples hardened. The woman noticed and smirked before twisting a nipple between her fingers. Xena did not react. This angered the woman and she backhanded her, knocking her backwards. Xena pushed herself back onto her knees, again not reacting.
"Jasmine, don't damage our property." Xena looked up as The Eldest came into the room. She quickly looked back at the woman, realizing who she was. Jasmine failed the test to be a warrior and had to choose a different profession. She was too quick to act on her emotions which would endanger the other warriors around her. Jasmine envied Xena's power and the exile had done nothing to change that. "Your work is done for the day, Jasmine. You are dismissed." She left, her medic's robes flapping behind her.
"Did you miss me, Xena?" The Eldest smirked as he held her chin so that they were eye to eye. "No need to answer I know you've missed me. I suppose you're wondering what my plan is? Unfortunately, I have many things to attend to, so I don't have time to tell you. My son has graciously volunteered to spend some time with you in my absence."
The Eldest waved toward the door and Xena's eyes widened. She balled her hands into fists and pulled against her chains in a futile effort to break free. Her anger boiled over as he grinned at her, standing there as if he had been reunited with an old friend.
"It seems you have missed me, love." He said.
"I should have slit your throat when I had the chance, Gareth!" Xena broke the rule of silence again and The Eldest struck her as Jasmine had. Xena scrambled back to her feet and spat at the Eldest, earning herself another blow to the face.
"It seems our newest slave girl is not as well behaved as we thought she would be." Gareth continued to smile as he pulled a collar from his pocket. He formed it into his shape and forced it around Xena's neck. "I made this just for you, love. I hope you like it."