The Old Gods | Book 2

Nine: A Silent Call

They left her in darkness again. Unable to find her way. Unable to see. Things moved in the dark, shadows playing tricks when there was nothing there at all. Figures appear to grow and reach for her. Sigyn shut her eyes to keep them out.

Then the lights turned on. Sigyn sits upright nearly forgetting her hands are chained and her magic bound. The goddess rises to her feet wondering what is about to happen.

The door in the far corner opens inwards and a line of armed soldiers march into her cell. "Come with us." one demanded, being a helmet. "And there won't be trouble."

"You sound afraid." she replied. "What are you so afraid of?"

"Cooperate and things must just go your way." he shuffled slightly to the left, indicating she was free to walk to the door. She guessed they were here to drag her out if she didn't. So she walked forward cautiously.

"And where is it you'll be taking me?"

They shoved her forward. "Be quiet."

They march the goddess into a little corridor. Long and grey and glaring down-lights lined the long hall. It smelled of old dampness and there was a chill in the air. They walked her to the right and down they took her. All the way until they reached the end where they passed a set of doors. Here, it acted as a junction, splitting off into different rooms and more long corridors.

A Hydra man pushed her towards a set of doors on the right and demanded she 'walk' was she not already?

They took her through and a large chamber is before the goddess. A larger cell. Old and worn tiles lined the walls. No windows. A doctor's gurney set in the middle of the room, a tray of tools on a metal table next to that.

The only modern thing in the room is a very large chair at the end of the room. Large and mechanical with open shackles at every limb of the chair. A boisterous machine surrounds the head of the chair and a television is on the wall. Somewhere an electric fan was on, neon lights buzzed every couple of minutes, and the distance sound of footsteps and doors opening and closing.

Daniel Whitehall is there, waiting.

"Is this your means of scaring me?" she spat. "I have seen the dungeons of hot Muspelheim. Far worse than you can imagine. Spits of fire, the heat of the planet slowly burning you alive."

"Sounds like hell."

"Oh, no. Our Hel, is much worse."

He chuckled, gesturing to the mechanical chair. "How rude of me. Please, sit." it was a demand, rather than a request.

"If I refuse?"

A sharp jab to the back of her leg brought the princess to her knees. She found the cold dirty floor in her face and her palms striking the ground.

"You can either cooperate and tell me what I need to know, or I'll have no choice but to force it out of you."

The princess lifted her silver head.

"Who are you?"

"I will not fall for your petty tricks or lies."

Daniel motioned his head. Sigyn is roughly hoisted up from her arms and set on her feet. They thrust her to the chair. She caught her balance just before the seat. "Why are you working for Shield? What are their plans? How do I stop them? Where are you from? So many questions I want answered."

"You will have to find them somewhere else."

Sigyn is pushed into the leather of the seat. Her legs were put into place and the shackles closed around her ankles. "Simple questions. Simple answers. Who are you?"