Dread washed over Xena like a cold wave when one of the guards hurriedly went to fetch the King’s Concubine, Xena knew that if none of the king’s women came, she knew that if Sheba and Nneka would come, and if they got involved, things would take a dark turn.
Her anxiety was palpable as they escorted her down to the dungeon. At this moment, she longed for Jeanne’s presence more than ever. However, Jeanne had fallen for one of the guards and had left with him. Xena held onto the hope that Jeanne would return, though it seemed like a distant dream.
It was too late for anyone to persuade the King to honor the promise he had made to his mother, the vow to protect. Yet, Xena clung to that promise, despite the risk of the King discovering her involvement. Memories of the kindness she had shown to the King’s mother weighed heavily on her conscience.
As they reached the cell and the guard swung open the door, a putrid stench overwhelmed Xena’s senses, causing her to instinctively cover her nose.
“You don’t honestly expect me to sleep in a place like this, do you?” Xena murmured, but the guard responded with a scornful glance, running his gaze from her head to her toes. Xena held her tongue, realizing that humility was her best defense at this precarious moment, as she didn’t want to make any more enemies.
“You still think you’re the all-powerful Xena, the King’s favorite concubine?” The guard taunted, gripping her hand firmly. She struggled to break free but was forcefully pushed to the prison floor, causing a painful moan to escape her lips. Just as she attempted to adjust her position, a gravelly voice echoed through the prison, reminding her that she wasn’t alone in this wretched place.
“Will you keep quiet?” a deep voice growled, interrupting Xena’s thoughts. The cell was pitch black, making it impossible to discern anything. She squinted and then gasped as she stood up swiftly, realizing a massive man was beside her, along with several others.
She hurriedly made her way to the front of the cell, her trembling hands gripping the transparent iron bars used to enclose the prison. She called out to the guards with a loud and desperate tone.
“You can’t throw me in here! Why would you put me in a cell with men? Take me to a new cell where I’m the only one!” Xena’s voice quivered, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill, but she fought to hold them back, knowing she was already in a dire situation.
“And why can’t you stay here? What makes you so special?” The guards turned back to face her, their previous respect now replaced with disdain as they spoke to her rudely. Xena’s anger flared, but she struggled to maintain her composure.
“Please,” Xena implored, her voice quivering with desperation. Her heart pounded, and she could feel the weight of the prison closing in on her. She knew she had to swallow her pride to escape this wretched place. With her hands clasped together in supplication, she begged for mercy.
“Perhaps we could consider it if you grovel at our feet,” one of the guards suggested a sly smile on his face. These were the same guards she had offended with her earlier rudeness.
“What?” Xena’s eyes widened in shock.
“If you’re not willing, it’s no problem,” they began to turn away, ready to take the first step. Xena stopped them, realizing that they had sworn to make her life miserable during her time in the cell.
“Wait,” she called out, and they halted, though they didn’t turn to face her. They were eager to hear what she had to say, as they relished the thought of making her suffer.
“Please, help me out. I can’t do it. Besides, do you really think the King will leave me here forever? He will eventually forgive me. I promise to increase your wages and personally compensate you when I’m reinstated,” Xena proposed, though the two guards scoffed at her offer.
“Do you think we care about your reinstatement? Since you’re not willing, enjoy your stay here until the King decides to pardon you,” they declared and began to walk away. But just as they turned, Xena’s voice halted them once more.
“I’ll do it,” she said forcefully, her words causing a smirk to appear on the guards’ faces. They stepped backward, opened the gate, and brought her out, expecting her to bend down and lick their feet as they had demanded.
Emotions raged inside Xena as she battled to hold back tears, watching her life crumble in a matter of minutes. She realized that without Alpha Malik coming to her rescue, she was in grave danger.
Finally, with a heavy heart, she bent down and positioned her mouth towards the first guard’s filthy feet. A putrid and repugnant stench engulfed her senses, making her question whether he had bathed in days.
“I haven’t bathed in three days, and if you can’t do it, we’ll throw you back where you belong,” he sneered.
“No, I will,” Xena stammered, her voice muffled by the saliva she had gathered in her mouth. Closing her eyes and pinching her nose with one hand, she reluctantly began to lick his feet. The act was revolting, and as she moved on to the second guard’s feet, she struggled to contain the vomit rising in her throat. She hoped they would take her to a different cell after this ordeal.
But their response was unexpected.
“We would have preferred to move you to another cell, but we’ve already informed the King’s concubines that you’re here. Maybe tomorrow, after their visit, we’ll consider a cell change,” they said in unison, pushing her back inside before she could protest. Xena’s anger boiled over, and just as she was about to speak out, the vomit that had gathered in her mouth surged forth, pouring over the head of the burly man inside the cell.
As the reality of what had just happened, particularly the humiliating act of vomiting on the husky man sank in, Xena’s legs quivered on the prison floor. A sense of dread overcame her as she began to imagine the torment she might endure at the hands of the enraged man. She couldn’t help but question whether she would make it through the night alive.
Doubt gnawed at her, casting a dark shadow of uncertainty over her already dire situation.
That….