Was that a tiger tearing the head from one of the Sages with a single swipe of an enormous paw? It was almost too much for her to comprehend. Her mind was awhirl, as if caught within the hallucinogenic grip of a fever dream. Scylla craned her neck within the net and saw Spike and Drusilla making their way toward her in the back of the truck. Drusilla held Spike's burnt hand to her mouth, licking the seared, mottled flesh. Scylla wanted to speak, to question them, but she was still too weak from the Sages' attack and the mystical properties of the net.

They stood over her, staring at her through the enchanted netting. The woman's eyes were wide with wonder.

"Oh look at her, Spike. Isn't she marvellous?"

"Course she is," Spike scoffed, reaching down to grasp a handful of the net. "Wouldn't travel all the way to Egypt for just any snake woman."

He pulled the net from her and immediately she could feel the strength returning to her leaden limbs. With a savage hiss, Scylla reared up on her muscular lower body, swaying hypnotically before the two who had set her free and who had spoken of the Great Old Ones.

"What do you want of me?"

"Easy, girl," Spike replied, his gaze wandering admiringly over her serpentine form. "We've been sent to collect you for a very old friend."