The Masked Virtuoso

The pizza shop was unusually crowded for the late hour, but Ethan and Mia barely noticed as they pushed through the door. A hush fell over the room, and every pair of eyes turned toward them. Ethan, already exhausted and irritable, frowned.

"Why's everyone staring at me?" he muttered.

"They're not staring at you, genius," Mia whispered sharply. "They're staring at her." She gestured toward Nefera, who was slung over Ethan's shoulder, still unconscious. "Her outfit kind of screams, 'I belong in a museum.'"

Ethan glanced at Nefera's elaborate Egyptian garb and sighed. "Fair point. Let's just get to the basement."

As they made their way toward the back, Mr. Romano, the shop owner, intercepted them. His brow furrowed as he took in the trio.

"Ethan," he began, his tone tinged with concern, "what's going on? You're dragging another girl into my shop? Who's this one? A cosplayer or something?" He pointed at Nefera's ornate outfit.

"It's… complicated," Ethan replied, trying to sidestep the question.

Mr. Romano's gaze shifted to Mia, and his expression darkened. "And you're back with this one? Last time you were together, her father had me tied up in the basement! He thought I kidnapped her!"

Mia's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you tell him?"

Ethan leaned closer to Mr. Romano, whispering conspiratorially, "I had to lie, okay? What was I supposed to say? 'Oh, hello, sir. You got kidnapped last time because I'm an artifact user, and some shadowy organization wants me dead.'" He straightened and cleared his throat awkwardly.

Mr. Romano threw his hands up in exasperation. "You're lucky I like you, kid. But this better not blow up in my face again!"

"It won't," Ethan promised. "Probably."

Mia rolled her eyes. "Let's just get to the basement before someone calls the cops about the 'cosplayer.'"

---

The basement was cluttered, filled with unused kitchen equipment and supplies, but it was the safest place for a conversation. Ethan laid Nefera on a worn-out couch before summoning his shadows to bind her wrists and ankles. The inky tendrils glowed faintly as they locked in place.

Nefera stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times before her gaze sharpened, taking in her surroundings.

"What is this?" she asked, her tone regal despite the situation.

"A precaution," Ethan said, crossing his arms. "Now start talking. Who are you?"

Nefera sighed, glancing down at the shadow bindings. "I'm not a bad person."

"Then why did you attack me?" Ethan snapped.

"You attacked me first," she shot back, glaring at him.

"And what about my apartment?" Ethan pressed. "That wasn't exactly neighborly."

Nefera looked slightly embarrassed. "That… was an accident. I haven't used my artifact's power in years. It's hard to control."

Mia, leaning against the wall, raised an eyebrow. "Years? What's your connection to the Council, then?"

Nefera's expression darkened. "I was one of their experiments. A subject. But I wasn't the only one."

Ethan frowned. "Not the only one? How many others are there?"

Nefera hesitated, her gaze dropping. "Not many. Most of my friends didn't make it. The experiments were… brutal. The ones who survived either escaped, like me, or became tools for the Council. Some are under their complete control. Others—well, they work with the Council willingly, drunk on the power their artifacts give them."

The room fell silent for a moment. Ethan and Mia exchanged a look, both unsure of how to respond.

---

Nefera took a deep breath, her voice softening as she began to speak. "I was taken when I was thirteen. My village was raided, and anyone who fought back was killed. They didn't care about our lives—only about finding candidates for their experiments. I was chosen because of my lineage. They said I had 'ancestral resonance,' whatever that means."

Her gaze grew distant as she continued. "They forced us into training—exposing us to artifact fragments to see who could bond with them. Most of us couldn't handle it. The artifacts would reject them, and the… results were horrific. Burns, seizures, even death."

Ethan clenched his fists, shadows flickering around him in response to her words. "How did you survive?"

"I didn't have a choice," Nefera said, her voice trembling. "I wanted to run, but they threatened to kill my younger brother if I didn't cooperate. I endured everything—pain, isolation, loss—just to keep him safe. But in the end, even he…" She trailed off, her voice breaking.

Mia's expression softened, her usual sarcasm absent. "I'm sorry."

Nefera composed herself quickly, her tone hardening. "When the Council realized I had bonded with King Tutankhamun's Funerary Mask, they turned me into a weapon. They sent me on missions to capture or kill other artifact users. And the worst part? I believed them when they said I was doing the right thing."

Ethan's voice was low. "What changed?"

"I saw what they did to my friends. The ones who wouldn't follow orders were… erased," Nefera said, her hands clenching into fists. "And the ones who did follow orders became monsters. When I finally had the chance, I ran. But I've been hunted ever since."

---

Ethan leaned against the wall, his mind racing. He couldn't imagine what Nefera had been through, but her story resonated with his own struggles. The Council was relentless, willing to destroy anything and anyone in their path.

Mia broke the silence. "So, what do you want now? Revenge? Redemption?"

Nefera shook her head. "I just want to survive. But if stopping the Council means no one else has to go through what I did, then I'll do whatever it takes."

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This is a lot to process. But if what you're saying is true, then we need to stop them. Together."

Nefera looked at him skeptically. "After you tied me up?"

He smirked faintly. "Call it a trust exercise."

Mia rolled her eyes. "Great. Another addition to our merry band of misfits."

Nefera gave a faint smile, the first hint of warmth since she woke up. "For what it's worth, thank you. I don't know if I deserve your trust, but I'll do my best to earn it."

---

As they untied Nefera and prepared to leave the basement, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from above. Ethan's shadows flickered instinctively, and Mia reached for her knife.

"Did you hear that?" Ethan whispered.

The basement door creaked open, and a voice called down. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but we need to talk."

A tall figure descended the stairs, their face obscured by a hood. The room grew colder, and Nefera's eyes widened in recognition.

"It's him," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Who?" Ethan asked.

Nefera's voice barely carried the weight of her fear. "One of the others. An artifact user... and he's stronger than me."