The pulling at the bandages hurt, since the fabric was stuck to dried blood in places, but Erato didn’t fight it. She knew the cattle prod wouldn’t be far behind if she did. There was doubt starting to creep in though. If this was Hybris trying to fool her, she was doing a good job. It was as if that actually was Asterion standing over her. She imagined his shadow, dark and strong in the summer sun: in her mind, she looked up at him, and the sun behind his head cast a halo of light around him.
But still Erato’s arms hung limp, and she waited for what was to happen next.