"Ah, Sadie Kane. You have accepted my offer?" The ghost of Vlad Menshikov said. "At last, you made the right decision."
"Yes, yes, yes. Let's get on with it." Sadie replied.
"As you know, it was my ancestors who placed the curse on king Tutankhamun, ending his life. The curse and the cure have been passed down through the ages, the cure falling to me. And now-"
"Enough with the bloody theatrics!" Sadie shouted. She tried to keep her confidence, but she would give almost anything to have her brother here to back her up.
"All right. All right." Vlad sighed wearily. He motioned for two magicians to step forward and they grabbed Sadie's arms. "Remember, all knowledge comes with a price."
"Lady Kane, you haven't been very willing, now have you?" Vlad admonished as he floated around the room. "It's starting to seem like you don't want to help poor Walter."
Sadie would've punched him if she wasn't tied down to the bed with spells. Vlad's magicians had been casting spells and curses tirelessly for the past two days, leaving Sadie bruised and weakened. "No. I do want to help him." Sadie sat up as much as she could. She may be weak, but she still had her dignity. "I'll do anything you want me to do," Sadie began, "if you promise me one thing in return." She knew she had Vlad's attention now.
"Go on."
"You will give detailed and correct instructions on how to break King Tut's curse and you will have them delivered to Walter Stone of the Twenty-first Nome in New York. Then, once I have assurances that your instructions are indeed correct, I will do what you command."
"Very well. I will enjoy this."
Screams echoed off the stone walls and laughter followed. Four days after the deal, Sadie was bloodied and broken- waiting to die. Vlad and his magicians seemed to tirelessly enjoy her pain, their magic never ceasing. Spells to break bones, open veins, leave bruises, and break her soul. When they'd leave she'd try to remember things about her old life. "Walt, Carter, Jaz, Cleo, Julian, Felix, Alyssa, Shelby." She'd recite, trying to remember the faces that went with the names.
Sometimes she'd have nightmares and she'd cry for Carter. She wanted him to save her. She knew she couldn't save herself.