Chapter 23 The Devil Finds His Angel

Chapter 23 The Devil Finds His Angel
~Liora~

The next time I open my eyes, there is nothing.

Blackness.

It takes a second for me to understand I’m not blind, I’m blindfolded. The cloth is tight enough that it presses against my eyelids. My head throbs, like someone drove an axe right down the center of my skull. My wrists are pinned behind me, tied so tight the rope bites into my skin. My ankles too. I can barely even wiggle my toes.

I’m trapped. 

My breath picks up as panic claws its way up my throat.

“H-Help!” The word tears from me, shaky. It echoes off the walls and comes back sounding smaller. “Please! Someone! Help me!”

I yank against the restraints, but they only dig in deeper. My pulse is pounding so hard I can hear it ringing in my ears.

Where am I?

What did they do to me?

“Hello?” My voice cracks. “Is anyone there?”

Nothing. Not even the sound of footsteps or distant talking. Just cold, empty silence.

A chill races through me. My thoughts instantly go to Nikolai. He had me. I was with him. So how did I end up here blindfolded, tied up, tossed somewhere that smells like dirt and rust?

A horrible question creeps into my mind.

Did he do this?
Did he hand me over?

I remember his power and money. What if this is all part of something darker? A business deal. A trade. Human trafficking. Girls vanish in places like this. They’re sold for a large sum.

My throat dries until I can barely swallow.

No. No, Nikolai may be dangerous… cruel even. But would he go this far? Would he throw me to monsters?

Fear squeezes my lungs. I scream again, more desperate.

“Somebody help me! Please!”

My voice bounces back at me. No response. It’s like the walls themselves are swallowing my words.

I try to think. How long was I unconscious? Minutes? Hours? It feels like forever. My head is pounding so hard it’s difficult to keep a clear thought.

If Nikolai isn’t behind this, if he didn’t plan any of it, then he should be looking for me already. He would notice I’m gone. He always notices. He’d tear this whole place apart to find me.

At least… that’s what I need to believe right now.

Because the only thing keeping me from completely losing my mind is the hope that wherever he is, he’s already coming.

And God help the people who touched me when he gets here.

After some time, metal shrieks. A door dragging open.

I flinch. My heart takes off, pounding so loud it feels like it might burst out of my chest. Boots thud against the floor, like the person wants me to hear every step and panic with each one.

They reach me.

A hand grips my face roughly. The blindfold is ripped off so violently that the sudden explosion of light stings my eyes. Tears spill out from the shock.

“Look at you…” a voice drawls, oily and pleased. “Even prettier up close.”

My vision clears enough to see him.
I recognize that face instantly.

One of the men from earlier. One who didn’t speak, just watched. His grin is twisted, teeth yellowed, breath sour enough to make my stomach twist.

“I’ll be the first to have a taste,” His hand lands on my thigh, fingers pressing hard. He starts sliding his palm upward, like he wants to savor every second of my fear.

“Don’t touch me,” I snap, voice trembling. “You filthy, sick man.”

His grip tightens. The amusement in his eyes grows.

“Ohhh, you’ve got fire,” he says with a grin that sends a cold wave down my spine. “I like it when they fight.”

I clench my jaw. Helplessness coils in my stomach

Oh God. What now?

The door screeches again and I flinch before I can stop myself. Two more men stroll in like they own the place. They’re laughing, loud and careless, the kind of laugh that makes my skin crawl.

“It’s been a while since we had someone new,” the taller one says, dragging his gaze down my body. “Not like these shabby town women.” 

He licks the corner of his mouth, and bile rises in my throat.

The other man elbows him playfully.
“Oh, I’ll be sure to tell your wife you’ve been keeping busy, Thomas.”
They both burst into roaring laughter like it’s the funniest thing in the world.

My heart slams against my ribs. I pull against the restraints again even though they burn.

The first man, the one who touched me doesn’t laugh. He keeps staring at me like I’m already his prize.

“How’s it gonna be, Dave?” Thomas asks the first man, amusement thick in his voice. “You taking the first round, yeah?”

Dave’s lips curl into a grin so cruel it freezes the blood in my veins.
“Of course,” he says, like he’s savoring the moment. "Untie her"

The two men who had just come in fumble at the knots. Their movements are practiced, like this is ordinary for them. When the ropes fall away from my wrists and ankles I should feel relief, but my limbs are heavy and numb. Still, when they step back with satisfied smirks, I know I have to move. They've set me free. This could be my only change to escape. 

“Turn around,” Dave orders the two men with a disgusting chuckle. “I don’t like an audience when I'm doing this.”

They do as he says, faces smug as they give him space. The instant Dave’s hand reaches for me I bite down hard until I taste copper. He howls and grabs his palm, and for a sliver of a second I taste victory. I run.

But it doesn’t last.

A boot hits my ankle and a hand wraps around my hair. My scalp burns as they yank me backward until I hit the floor. I try to push up, but my body refuses me.

“No!” I scream, voice raw. “Please, please, let me go!”

Tears burn my cheeks. I beg with everything I have. “I’m married. Please, don’t...”

Dave’s face tightens. For a moment his bravado flickers and something harder replaces it. He wipes his bleeding palm on his trousers and looks at me with a new, terrible interest.

“Dave?” Thomas asks, watching him. “You’re hurt should we go first?”

Dave’s jaw clenches. “I’m fine. Beat her to pulp. I don't think I like the idea of her struggling anymore."

And that’s all it takes.

Kicks. Blows that land against my ribs. I curl instinctively to protect my stomach, but the hits keep coming. They laugh, mocking my helplessness. Ugly sounds that make bile rise in my throat.

Is this it?
Is this how I die?
On the dirty floor… surrounded by monsters?

A trembling thought slips into my mind. Why isn’t Nikolai here yet?
Did he… know?
Did he plan this?

I try to push myself up, desperate for air, but Thomas’s boot crushes me right back into the ground. A sharp, helpless cry escapes me as tears blur my vision. My chest burns. My life flashes before my eyes and I say a silent prayer until my eyes catch something.

Black, clean boots. My breath catches.

Nikolai.

He’s walking toward us slowly. They don’t notice, too busy laughing at my agony. But I do. And a weak, broken smile forms on my lips.

He came. He actually came for me.

“Get on your knees. The three of you.”

The men freeze, confusion spreading across their faces. They turn and finally see him.

Nikolai cocks his head slightly, eyes full of murder.

“Get on your knees…” he repeats, voice heavy.

“…and say your fucking last prayers.”