The feeling of cold air hitting his bruised and battered body is the first indication to Seth that someone has entered the room. His plight is exponentially worse than the last time he had awoken- he's no longer tied to a chair and can now move his legs, but now he is hanging from chains attached to the ceiling of Malvado's throne room. He's convinced the chair was the better mode of containment.

He's endured what felt like hours of beatings where Malvado's men had pummeled into him as the Lord himself stood back demanding answers to his questions- questions all about Santanico.

"Where is she?!"
"What are her plans?!"

On and on he had gone as Seth's body had turned into a temple of pain. Seth had tried to remain quiet and not allow Malvado the pleasure of breaking his silence, but in the end and even though he's endured beatings before, this one had managed to break him. He had been unable to stop some of his wit making it's presence known, and he'd had to show off and tell Malvado just how well they duped him. There was no way that he'd be able to get any information about Santanico out of him. He distinctly remembers laughing in Malvado's face, when he informed him of this. Unfortunately he could barely tell whether his snark had had any effect on Malvado as his right eye was so swollen he couldn't see out of it and the blood running down his face had obscured his left eye. In any event, he'd been unable to gloat for long as the next punch from his left had caused his head to snap back and oblivion had soon followed.

Seth keeps his head bowed and allows himself to remain hanging loose so that whoever enters the room will not know that he is awake. He doesn't want to incite them into anymore abuse as he cannot tell Malvado what he wants to know and at this point more punches would just push him closer to an early grave. He is perfectly aware of how bad his situation is, but is not ready to concede defeat- not until his heart gives out that final beat will he truly believe that he can't be saved.

Seriously he's a Gecko and Geckos do not go quietly.

As he does his best not to smirk at his own snark, Seth is aware the someone moving further in the room. The room is much quieter than it was during his beating- no Malvado barking out questions, no sounds of flesh smashing into flesh and no grunts of pain. He's pretty sure they had left him alone when he was unconcious seeing as no-one has made a sound since he'd first regained awareness.

Before he can consider who it might be that has entered the room, his hair is painfully grasped and his head jerked back so that the unknown someone can look him in the face. Seth tries not to resist so he can keep the facade of being unconscious, but he can't help the slight gasp of pain that is released from his blistered fat lips. Everything hurts and pulling his hair seems to connect all the pain together so he feels like he is on fire.

"It seems that you hermanos Gecko wiped your secrets exceptionally well. I'd be impressed if it wasn't for your present situation. Really it's a pity that you had no idea what you were facing coming into my way station." From the voice, it is obvious to Seth that this is Malvado speaking and clasping his hair in a punishing hold. "If this was another life, I feel we could have worked well together. I do admire your wit and your skills, but in the end you are just two little boys with something that doesn't belong to you!"

Seth realises that his pretense of unconciousness is not going to save him so he does his best to open his only good eye and look at Malvado.

"That's better," Malvado says with a grin when he sees Seth squinting at him. "I want you to be able to watch what happens next. It really would be no fun letting your ravenous hermano loose on you if I cannot watch the fear and despair flash in your eyes when he attacks."

Seth is unable to speak- this is the first mention of Richie since the beatings started. He is very happy to hear that his brother is still alive. Part of him had worried that Richie's fate quick death as he was the one who had stolen Santanico. The happiness is fleeting, as at the forefront of his mind is the chest tightening fear that spreads through him at the thought of becoming a culebra's kill- especially if that culebra is his only brother.

Through the haze of dread and fear that is coursing through his mind, Seth hears the end of Malvado's next speech – the man really seems to like the sound of his own voice- "..first I think we'll make you even more enticing for Richard. I think I'll take some of your face," the Lord spits at him.

Seth immediately tenses up causing all his bruising to start screaming. He has no idea what Malvado meant by that last comment, but it certainly couldn't be anything good. His body gets ready to deflect whatever is coming next and the adrenaline starts coursing through his body. Malvado's hand pulls on his hair more to keep his face in place, and Seth tries to twist and turn to get out of his grasp, but the hold is just too strong and tight. He barely sees the flash of gold as Malvado's free hand moves towards his forehead, but he certainly feels the sharp jab of his malicious ring as it begins to cut through the layers of skin on Seth's head.

Seth can't help the groan of pain that escapes his lips as Malvado slowly moves the ring embedded in his skin across his forehead. His blood runs down is face only to obscure his good eye and pooling into his mouth making Seth need to chose between swallowing or spitting. Choice made, Seth- with his last bit of adrenaline- rears back slightly and spits the blood out at Malvado causing the Lord to pause with the cutting. Seth can feel the ring being pulled out of his skin as Malvado, he assumes, wipes the blood from his own face. Too quickly the ring is back and Seth fights not to start screaming. He's about to give into the need to cry out in pain and surrender to the impending darkness when he hears a swish of sound that is completely different from any of the previous sounds in the room. This is quickly followed by Malvado's grip loosening both on his hair and face. Then pulling back immediately from the Lord's grip as it loosens, he hears a grunt from Malvado.

Seth can hear noises and grunts and what sounds like fighting, but he can't see anything. He's no longer being held by Malvado and no-one seems to be touching him, so he tries desperately to wipe some of the blood in his eye away on his trapped arms. With little success, he can see some violent movement in the room and hear Malvado pleading and saying something about El Rey before the room lights up the colour of flames. Before his mind can fully process the jumbled glimpses and muffled sounds, someone is touching him. The touch is nothing like the previous ones- this one is positively gentle and accompanied by a soothing voice.

"Seth- Seth, baby, can you hear me? My God what have they done to you? It's okay- you're going to be okay," says the soothing female voice as she gently touches his face and attempts to draw his eyes to hers.

"Freddie!" She calls out. "Get over here and help me get him down."

Seth tries his best to clear his vision as he's pretty sure he's hearing things- after all, it wouldn't be the first time he's had a hallucination about Kate. "Kate?" He manages to whisper at the blurred presence in front of him that is gently holding his head up.

"Yes, baby, it's me."

If he had any control over his facial muscles at that precise moment, Seth would be smiling and as he slowly slips back into oblivion, he doesn't care if he is hallucinating because Kate is there taking away his pain and she'd called him baby.