As soon as I was conscious again I realized that the blindfold was still on and my hands were shackled behind me. I slowly pulled myself into a sitting position. The movement made my pounding head worse and I slumped where I sat.

“So, how do you know her?” An accented voice inquired. He honestly sounded like an older Oliver Twist.

“What?”

“How do you know Algea? Her scent is all over you, and you were placed in a cell with me. I could only assume that you know her.”

“Is her smell that strong?”

“Only to the people used to looking out for it, but it is fading fast. And, you never answered my question. How do you know her?”

“Why does my relationship with Algea concern you? Who are you anyway?” He chuckled softly.

“An old friend can’t be concerned?”

“I see.” So this was another old friend of Algea. Seth thought. I guess being three thousand years old would result in having many friends. I snorted to myself when I realized what I said out loud and that the blindfold was still on. I had forgotten it was there when I started talking.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, I just said ‘I see’ with a blindfold on.” Now that my attention was on how I could not see, I decided to remedy that. Scooting back to loosen the strain in the chain, I tried to get my hands in front of me, but my efforts were not getting me anywhere.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to get my blindfold off.” I grunted. Switching tactics I started rubbing the blind fold up with my knee, but it was tied on tight. Luckily my feet were free. I started to kick off one of my shoes. Once my foot was free I leaned forward and tried to hook my toe into the gap around my nose. After my third try I was successful in moving the awful thing enough that I could see with my right eye.

The cell was spacious. It was dry and chains hung from the ceiling, floor, and walls. The only source of light was a dim light on the ceiling. That was when I noticed there was a boy sitting against the back wall. He looked mid teens with long dirty blond hair. The boy suddenly stiffened.

“Don’t give them anything. Understand?” The urgency in his voice made me worry. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Just then the door opened. And a girl with half green half purple hair came in. She was dressed in a black leather catsuit and a white lab coat. Which in my opinion was a weird combo.

“Yay! I see you’re all here! You must be the one Aurelio was talking about. My name is Foxglove! I can’t wait to work with you.” She sounded like a small child who just got the toy of her dreams. She quickly skipped over to me and roughly grabbed my jaw with one hand. The other hand yanked my blindfold off. Before she could do anything else the boy spoke up.

“Aw Foxy, what brings you here? To see me I hope. I thought I would never see you again.”

“Ri Riiii!” She squealed. “I wish it was you I was here to see, but Aurelio is very specific and strict. I am here to get some information out of our young friend Anakh.” The boy called Ri Ri frowned.

“That’s too bad.” his face grew serious. “Is it something I could answer?”

“Probably, but Aurelio wants me to see what he is made of. We already know what you and your unbreakable will are made of.” She turned back to me. I flinched. She looked at me with pure psychotic pleasure. “We are going to have so much fun together. I just hope I don't break my new toy too soon.”

With that, she unlocked the chain from the wall and yanked me up.

“Let’s get started. Shall we.” She motioned towards the door.

***

I was strapped to a nearly vertical table. My hands were chained above me and I was strapped down around my waist and feet. A table next to me was filled with weapons and a case full of bottles. The bottles contained liquids, solids, or bugs. The girl was pacing around with a thoughtful look.

“So, what are you doing?” She stopped and turned to me.

“I’m going to torture you silly, and call me Foxy.” She grinned and eyed a bottle with a clear liquid. Picking it up I could tell it was thick. Uncorking the bottle she forced it down my throat. It was like she poured cold tasteless phlegm into my mouth. I coughed and sputtered, but I could feel it already in my stomach. She smiled at my struggling.

“You know… you’re cute.” She turned and ran her hand across her options. “You should totally go out with me. You know, after this.”

“I’ll have to decline. I’m sure you can understand.”

“It’s Algea. Isn’t it? She isn’t as good as everyone gives her credit.”

“It’s not like that. I’m just a means to an end. That’s all.”

She huffed a short laugh to herself. “You know. If Aurelio didn’t want information out of you, I would have still found a way to get you all alone.” She leaned in, “ All to myself.” She giggled and showed me a small blade.

“You’re insane!” I shouted.

“I know.” She said smiling and putting down the blade. She must have decided against it as she went back to picking the right tool for the job. “You can thank Algea for that. If she hadn’t introduced me to the wonderful life of interrogation. Well… I might still be sane. Well, saner. The look on her face when she sees what I’ve done to you.” Her face glowed. “It’s going to be priceless.”

“She introduced you to this?”

“Of course. She was so good that she was given the nickname of Nephthys. She made anyone talk while making them wish for death. Many of her targets thought that, like the goddess, she had come to show them the way to the underworld. Because nearly anyone who saw her face died, not many people know she and Nephthys are the same person.”

I couldn’t help but my eyes widened with shock.

“You are really green aren’t you.” She inquired. “ How old are you?”

“Eighteen.” I gulped

“Wow. You just died didn’t you?”

“Y-yes.” I stammered. She was starting to make me feel a deeper sense of fear.

“Oh, this is going to be fun.” She lifted a bottle of silver liquid.

Then the crackle of a walky-talky caught her attention. She picked it up and after a while she replied.

“Understood. What do you want me to ask?” She nodded. “I’ll add it to the list.” She clicked it off. She slipped a syringe into the liquid, and stuck me with the needle delivering the liquid into my bloodstream.

“The first liquid I gave you amplifies the physical pain one experiences, but unfortunately it takes a little time for it to take. Now, the one I just injected you with makes it so that you can’t resist. I find it annoying when my patient starts writhing. I can’t administer anything. I kept missing the veins.” Shrugging she reached up and broke my finger. I screamed in pain. “Now tell me,” She grabbed my finger. “How did you meet Algea?”