Englecon Mine, Desmond, 10416 P.C.

The world was fuzzy as Todd opened his eyes. He took a deep, shuddering breath and an ache in his head sprang to life, making him wince. He blinked rapidly, struggling to get his bearings. It took him a moment to realize he couldn't move his arms. The next moment he realized he was in a chair, his hands bound behind him.

He jerked his head up, smashing the back of it against something hard — Annabella's mumbled curse was enough to know it had been her skull. "Annabella," he whispered frantically, looking around as his headache worsened from the blow. They were in the middle of a stone room. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all stone. To his left, there was an opening, a doorway, and he could see out into a tunnel just a bit. The room was empty, and the silence was deafening.

Annabella shifted behind him. "What happened?" He could feel her pulling on their bindings — their hands seemed to be bound together. "Oh, I knew this was a stupid idea," she added, her voice sharp.

Todd grimaced, keeping his eyes trained on the door. Bethany and Jessie were nowhere to be seen, but he was sure he had seen movement in the tunnel. His heart raced.

The air shifted. Todd jumped, startled when the Veiled Lady appeared before him out of thin air. She was clad in her signature blue dress, a veil masquerading her features. She looked like a ghost — that was the only way his mind could describe it.

"At long last, we meet, Deliverer," the Lady whispered, her voice soft and melodic, sending cold shivers down his spine.

I called out their goddess and here she is, Todd realized. Staring at the ominous figure, he knew he had made a big mistake. He was at a severe disadvantage. Even with his sword and shield, he knew he wouldn't have been able to take this being on. Not even Annabella could have.

They were in deep, deep trouble.

So, he stalled. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice shakier than he had wanted it to be. "Who are you?"

The figure began to walk around him, emitting something that sounded an awful lot like a chuckle. "Don't play dumb. You know exactly who I am."

"And that is?"

"The Veiled Lady," Annabella said, her voice low and foreboding. She didn't seem to catch onto his stalling tactic — or maybe she was just done following his plans. He didn't even know what he was stalling for anyway. Annabella's voice was icy as she continued, "One of the Condemned, the cursed, the Elite, one of the tyrant rulers of Desmond."

"You forgot incredibly powerful and ruthless executioner while listing off my current vocations." The Veiled Lady had walked a full circle around the room. She stood before Todd again, hands clasped in front of her.

"If you are going to kill us," Annabella growled, "then get it over with."

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Todd, however, had noted a hint of humour in the Lady's tone. He answered it. "Yeah, we don't have all day. I've got another rescue mission at seven."

He could have sworn that he saw red lips smiling behind the veil. "Dear, dear children, I'm not here to kill you. If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead."

"Then what do you want?" Annabella demanded.

"The same as you do. I want to know where and who the Immortal One's son is."

Todd narrowed his eyes. "We'll never tell you."

"Clearly, since you haven't a clue of his whereabouts in the first place." The Veiled Lady shook her head at him and began to walk again, stopping at the entrance of the room where both of them could see her. "I told you I knew you'd come back for Stephanie. You're predictable beyond measure, truly. She's of utmost importance to me, I'll have you know, and to you as well, so I thought we might share her for a time. A minor annoyance, this detour in the mountain."

The woman's words weren't making sense to Todd. "What?"

"Why are you telling us this?" Annabella asked suspiciously.

"I'll let you worry yourself over it. It is, in fact, for our mutual gain that I provide you with information. You've been like dogs chasing your own tails, and it's boring me. You were chosen to find the Creator's son and you've gotten nowhere quite quickly."

Todd's heart raced along with his mind. The Veiled Lady had been watching them, following them, waiting for them to discover the Immortal One's son so that she could kill him. It was obvious now — but why tell them that?

"Tell your lackeys to lay off and we might perform faster," Annabella shot back.

"Oh." Todd could hear the Lady's smile now. "But I just love to watch you dance."

Annabella didn't reply. She was breathing heavily. Todd didn't have to be able to see her to know she was furious. The Lady was toying with them, playing with their emotions. It took everything within him to remain calm. She wasn't going to hurt them — hopefully — just try and manipulate them. As long as they remained strong and level-headed, they ought to be fine.

Maybe.

"I am not unreasonable," the Lady said. "I know who and what you fight for. It's admirable. Truly. I would try and soften the blow of what is coming to you, but your kind always seems to have to learn things the hard way." She smoothed down her dress like a child getting ready for a picture. "Stephanie is coming. I hear her. I sense—" She stopped suddenly, her voice cutting off as she straightened and looked behind her. She turned around fully, slowly, tilting her head as she looked into the tunnel. "I sense... oh. No, that can't... be possible..."

Todd frowned, nearly jumping as the Veiled Lady spun around to them. "He had two children, or did you forget?" she said, her voice firm as if to cover up her moment of confusion. "He took His son and left His daughter — what good Father would leave behind His flesh and blood? What god would give the devil His daughter? She thinks she has slipped from my grasp, but she's exactly where I want her to be: helping you find her brother." That crimson smile flashed behind the veil. "Beware the immortal blood in Stephanie's veins. She will destroy you both before this is over."

With that proclamation, the Veiled Lady vanished.