'Welcome to my abode, Princess.'
Liala stood up and felt dizzy.
'I now have you and your pathetic lover ...'
Liala vaguely heard what Dafne was saying and hoped the ancient crone would continue to rant on. Neither she nor Bryn was in a fit state to defend themselves. She breathed deeply to get oxygen back into her blood. Dafne seemed to think she was hyperventilating and scared out of her wits.
'You have good reason to be frightened, Princess.'
Liala felt her strength return.
'When your brother arrives I shall have all three of you.'
'What makes you think Crispin is coming?'
'When he hears your screams nothing will hold him back, my dear Liala. I shall broadcast them for all to hear. They will sound in every part of the palace. Your mother will hear them as she delivers her speech of welcome to the terrorists. The professor will hear them as he murders my defenceless colleagues.'
Dafne produced a bag of yellow powder.
'You know what happens in the gladiatorial games?'
'They colour the contestants.'
'Yes, Princess. Blue for guardians and pink for enemy.'
'And yellow for furies.'
'No, Princess. Yellow is for the most vile and debased amongst us.'
Ten more wild-eyed women emerged from the shadows and stood behind Dafne as she spoke. Liala levelled her ray gun at them.
'If you use that weapon all of us will die,' Dafne smiled. 'Its power will resonate in this confined space and tear us apart. If that is what you wish ... go ahead.'
Liala hesitated. Dafne was right about the gun and there was no doubt about the bag of powder. Children could buy them in the shops and throw them at one another as part of their monster-and-guardians games. Being showered with yellow powder would be fatal with the furies around.
Liala pulled her knife from her belt.
The smile on Dafne's face broadened.
'You do not frighten the furies.'
She raised the bag above her head.
'When they see you in your true colours they will exact payment in the only currency they understand ... and that is blood. You and your vile lover will receive the punishment you so justly deserve.'
'Kill!'
She screamed and Bryn's knife left his hand. It struck the bag of yellow powder and the contents showered down. Blue turned to yellow and yellow to blood-red as the furies pounced on Dafne. Bryn grabbed Liala's arm and they ran past the seething mass of arms and legs.
The sirens were waiting for them. The girls were dressed in flimsy gowns and clutching stones, ready to fight off the furies. It wasn't necessary. Liala glanced back and saw the deranged women tearing at one another. All were covered in yellow powder and their fury knew no bounds.