CHAPTER FIVE

Alyxx had absolutely no idea where she was. She struggled to make her eyes focus. The room was dark but she saw well in the dark and her eyes adjusted fairly quickly. There was a candle on a table in the middle of the room. Something was slumped against the wall farthest from her. She squinted and realized it was Jonathan.

     "Jonathan?" She called. "What the bloody hell?" She stood up and tried to walk to him but realized her legs were chained. Now, just maybe, she was a little bit scared.

     "Alyxx..." She barely heard the whisper.

     "Panya?" She was near the table.

     "Yes..."

     "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

     "No. I only know I woke up here."

     "Looks like Jonathan is still out cold. Can you move?"

     "Not far. I am chained."

     "Great. That makes two of us."

     "It is the cult. It must be."

     "Yeah, probably. Listen, if they come back, pretend you're sleeping. That could buy us some time."

     "I will try."

     "I know you're bad at lying, but now would be a great time to practice."

     Moments later, a door opened just wide enough for a man to slip inside. He shut it behind himself. "I know you're awake, girls," he said.

     Well damn. That plan's out, Alyxx thought. She looked at the man and tried to identify him. He was tall. He seemed vaguely familiar.

     He reached Panya first. "Hello, my dear."

     Panya was silent but Alyxx could feel her fear. The man came toward her next. "Alyxxandra," he practically hissed.

     "Ugh, no one but Mum and Dad ever called me that," she protested.

     "You can call me Daddy if you like."

     "You're one creepy perverted bastard, aren't you?"

     He laughed. "I'll start with you."

     "Start what?" Alyxx demanded.

     He opened the door. Several men came in before it was closed again. They quickly surrounded Alyxx. She suddenly had a very bad feeling she knew where this was heading.

     When the first man tried to rip her shirt off, she knew she was right. No, Alyxx decided. I am not going to take that sitting down. She struggled. She managed to wrap her hands around one of their necks. It was snapped before she even realized what she was doing.

     The first man struck her. Now Alyxx was angry. They'd torn her new blouse and now he'd hit her? That would not do.

     Allowing Neith to take control, Alyxx did everything she could with her feet chained, which wasn't much. Most of the men kept their necks away from her.

     "Get away from her!" Jonathan shouted.

     "Hey, you're up!" Alyxx called. "Morning. Splendid place we're in, isn't it?"

     One of the men caught her head and bashed it against the wall. Alyxx groaned in pain. The room was spinning now. She was fairly certain blood was dripping down the back of her head.

     "Unhand her right now! Stand up and fight like men! Take on someone your own size!" Jonathan cried.

     They laughed at him. "You can't stop us," one said. Clearly he was also chained up. One of the men took a blunt object and hit him in the stomach. He cried out in pain and doubled over.

     The first man went for Alyxx's blouse again. She wanted to stop him, needed to, but she couldn't focus.

     "Stop." The one word was quiet but firm. Alyxx knew it was Panya speaking.

     "Make us," the first man said.

     "Take me. Do what you will. Leave her be," Panya replied.

     "No, Panya," Alyxx said. "I won't let them hurt you."

     "I know this man, Alyxx. You do not wish to be in his presence. I have no choice."

     "Who is he?" Jonathan asked.

     "Beat him to shut him up," the man said.

     The man with the bat obliged. Alyxx screamed as Jonathan struggled not to. "No! Leave him alone! Please!" She begged. She had to protect him. Jonathan was her friend. She couldn't let them hurt him. It was clear the soldier was in horrible pain. The beating continued and Neith was trying to take control, but it wasn't working. Besides, even a warrior Goddess could only do so much while chained up.

     Even in the dark, Alyxx knew there was too much blood. Jonathan wouldn't be able to endure much more before he lost consciousness or possibly lost his life.

     Help us, Alyxx thought. Bloody Hell, is anyone listening? Please help us!

     "Stop!" Panya cried. "Please... I will go with you. Leave them be."

     The first man laughed in a creepy way. "That's my Panya," he said. "Always so willing to sacrifice herself for others."

     "Panya, don't!" Alyxx begged her. She had to protect Panya and Jonathan. Whatever was coming, she couldn't allow it to happen.

     "I am sorry, Alyxx," Panya replied softly. "I must." The determination in her voice was unlike her, and Alyxx was fairly certain there was no point in continuing to argue with her.

     "Do what you will with the other girl," the first man said. Then the horrible truth became clear to Alyxx as he said something else. "Kill the soldier and leave me with my daughter."