Xan pulled herself back out of the water and into the prison cell once again. The Jancan stood before her. She throws the uniform to the ground and makes her way up to the hydra’s lair.
Calliope leads them to the prison and shows them the woman in the far room. A young woman, an amazon about Xan’s age. Darien. She says her name, slowly. Jittery language. Unpractised. Calliope and Xan take the lead, protect her or free her? The cell is unlocked but on word of Moxena’s name she retreats into the back and curls into a ball. Xan locks
Xan moves away, handing the keys to Calliope to decide. She joins Moxena and continues on the mission, leaving Calliope and Theo to decide the fate of the young girl. They head down the stairs.
They rest on the stairs to get back some of their strength.
Something Xan never wants to see again, either the young men in states of undress, or them being turned to marble. The garden. The young men. They freeze them in time through the eyes of the medusa. Secured.
Up the corridor another room. An empty room with more beds.
A door at the bottom of the room is pushed open and Moxena, Theo and Xan dive in, ready for battle…. but that is not what they find.