“Why?” I choked.
“Because if your sister was able to birth a Nephilim, so can you,” he sneered. “Priscilla has been useless to us for a while now. You’re going to replace her. You will birth all of my Nephilim children.”
“The hell I am!” I tried to lunge at Luke again, but I was pulled back into the chair by an angel guard.
“As far as Isaac is concerned, he’s safe for now,” he explained. “But when the time is right, I’m going to groom him for the most important role of his life,” Luke promised.
“Role?”
“Isaac is going to lead my Nephilim army. Together we are going to fight the angels of Eden. And kill all the humans,” he smiled.
“You’re a monster!” I cried.
“Now, tonight is very important. I’m going to auction off your virginity. Why? Well, because the entrepreneur in me sees value in that exchange. After that, we’ll put your child-bearing hips to the test. You’ll live in luxury inside one of our suites—as long as you behave,” Luke explained pointing a finger at me like a father explaining the rules to a child.
“Behave? As I’m repeatedly raped day after day?” I replied gritting my teeth. “Screw you. I won’t do it!”
Luke chuckled. “I have a feeling you will.”
A whimpering girl was brought in by another escort. At first, I didn’t recognize her because her ginger hair was now brassy and dull. The freckles on her skin were fading. My sister Priscilla was gagged in a muzzle, her eyes glazed in fear. I immediately reacted when I saw her. I jumped to my feet, but I was forced back into the chair again.
“Priscilla!” I cried choking back tears. A flicker of hope crossed Priscilla’s eye when she recognized me. Her escort pulled a chair up to the poker table and sat her down across from me. I could barely contain myself. I never thought I’d see her again. After seven long years, my sister was finally in the same room as me.
Luke gave an approving nod to one of the angel guards who took Priscilla’s hand then snapped her index finger. With a loud crack, the bone broke. Priscilla screeched, but the gag muffled the sound.
“Stop!” I rasped. Gripping the armrest, I squirmed in my seat. I watched helplessly as these bastards tortured my sister. And it was all my fault. Priscilla’s finger swelled as guilt consumed me.
“Her arm is next unless we have an understanding,” Luke warned.
“Yes,” I replied with a sob. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just please don’t do anything to her!”
“Good girl,” Luke said with a malicious smirk.
I was taken back to my room where I sobbed until there were no tears left to shed. How was I going to escape Stone Mountain when Luke had my sister? I was trapped.
The sound of the deadbolt clicking startled me, I sat up straight and waited.
My eyes widened when I saw him. He was the last person I expected to walk through the door. Why was he here? My eyes flickered with anger when Eli gave me a worried look.
“How could you?” I asked furiously. “How could you do this to my sister?”
“It wasn’t me. I didn’t bring her here.”
“If it wasn’t you, then who?”
“When I first met Priscilla, I was still involved with Dylan,” Eli began. The mention of Dylan sent waves of nausea to my stomach. “He became jealous of our relationship, so he did everything in his power to break us apart,” he continued. “I loved your sister. We were going to run away together.”
“It makes no sense,” I shook my head. “How did she get pregnant with Dylan’s child?”
Shame crossed Eli’s eyes. “You don’t want to know.”
“Yes, I do,” I demanded.
“Long story short, all three of us were drunk...and high. And well…”
“Spare me the details,” I hissed in disgust. “I can’t believe my sister would do that.”
“You do crazy things when you’re in love.”
I snorted. If that was love, then I never wanted to experience it. I would never do anything as filthy as what Priscilla did in exchange for ‘love.’
“When I found out your mum sent her away, I didn’t hear from her for months. After she returned home, she called me. We made our escape plan. We were to meet at the cemetery by your house at midnight. But Dylan got to her first. He lied to Priscilla. Told her he would bring her to me.”
“What about Isaac?”
“Priscilla didn’t want him,” Eli looked away. “She said he reminded her too much of Dylan.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. How could Priscilla abandon her son?
“You’re the one who tattooed her hand,” I said.
“It was my way of protecting her.” Eli’s voice was hoarse and shaky. “It worked for a while but now the tattoo is fading. I’m afraid she’s fading too.”
“What do you mean she’s fading?” I asked tightening my jaw.
Heavy guilt flashed across Eli’s eyes. “I give her Angel’s Ash, so she doesn’t feel anything. I think it’s affected her mind. She’s been slowly slipping.”
“All these years you’ve watched as Priscilla was raped and you never lifted a finger to do anything?” The anger that simmered inside me exploded. “So, you drugged her so she couldn’t feel?”
“You saw what they do to traitors,” Eli said, his eyes fearful.
“You’re a coward!”
“I’m sorry,” Eli said backing away from me. “I’m so sorry.”
“A fucking coward!” I screamed after him.
The door opened again. Another person I didn’t expect to see walked through.
“Your time is up loser,” Jane Hayle innocently smiled at me, but there was wickedness in that smile. A sort of evil hiding behind those lips. “I have to get her ready for the auction.”
“Jane,” I whispered.
“Hey, girl!” she said in a peppy voice. “You look surprised to see me.”
“You’re part of this too?” I spoke through clenched teeth.
Jane smirked. “Of course, I am. Someone had to spy on you. But you know, I must admit”—she placed a hand over her chest— “pretending to be your sidekick, was the worst thing I’ve ever had to do. Acting innocent and clueless. You totally bought it. It was an Oscar-worthy performance don’t you think Miss Wannabe Spielberg?”
“You bitch!” I screamed as I pushed Jane into the wall.
Jane flinched and raised an accusatory finger at me. “Don’t forget what my daddy said. One act of misconduct and your sister will be punished.”
I stared at Jane. Her eyes were dark like Luke’s.
“I cannot wait until Dawn is brought in.” Her demeanor quickly shifted to excitement. “She’s going to pay for every single thing she did to me.”
When Jane reached for my dress, I flinched and drew back. Her face now looked bored as she rolled her eyes at me. “Get over it already. The surprise is over. We’re bad. Boo-hoo. Now get with the program.” Jane scanned what was left of the white gown. It was torn and muddy. There was no shred of elegance left. “You know what? Now that I think about it, our clients love the helpless bitch look. She’s ready!” Jane called out in a lively voice.
As the guard escorted me out of the room, Jane smiled and waved. “Don’t forget to relax your hips,” she giggled. “I hear it hurts like a bitch if you don’t.”
I was taken up to Stone Mountain and tossed into a van. The angel guard blindfolded me. My knees shook the entire ride. I was going to be sold to a random stranger, prodded and raped. If I fought back, my sister’s life would be on my hands. The thought terrified me. You stupid girl, I thought. You got played by Milo. Just thinking about him made me want to cry.
Once the van came to a stop, I was guided indoors where the smell of heavy cigars swirled in the air. I heard the soft chatter of people and orchestral music playing in the background.
The guard suddenly stopped and took the blindfold off. I was standing on a stage inside a large theater. There was a projection of a moving
sky on the ceiling. Clouds drifted above me, and every single seat was taken by men dressed in fancy tuxedos and women dressed in expensive ball gowns wearing Venetian masks to hide their identity. The exact same mask Jane gave me on my birthday. Judging from their clothing, they were rich and powerful. The suitors gawked, their eyes flicking down my body causing my body to tense. They were checking out the merchandise before buying.
I tried to cover my legs with the shreds of fabric. But it didn’t help. I felt exposed. Weak. Small and insignificant. My heart raced faster than I could count, I felt it ringing in my ears.
The sound of a gavel beating snapped me back. Zane, dressed in a fine gray suit, stood behind a podium flinging his hand in the air to get the suitors attention.
“Let’s gather around ladies and gentlemen. Before me, you will find a ripe little peach plucked right out of the Georgia’s north mountains. Her beauty and innocence will satisfy all of your needs. We’ll start the bidding at fifty-thousand-dollars.”
A man in the back raised his hand, in return, Zane pointed at the man accepting his bid. Another party guest shouted, ‘sixty- thousand.’
“Seventy-thousand anyone?” Zane asked the hungry crowd.
Another raised his hand. Then another. The numbers kept elevating higher and higher for an excruciating amount of time. I lost track after the hundred-thousand mark. I’d never imagined I would lose my virginity to a random stranger, I always thought I’d find someone to love, a person who in return would love me back, someone who I felt a connection with to share this part of myself. For some reason, the image of Milo crossed my thoughts. I wanted to cry and scream, but there was no point. All I could do was shake in what was left of the gown.
When I focused my attention back on the auction, the number had escalated to three-hundred thousand. I was disgusted at the sick men and women in my presence bidding as if I were dispensable.
It was down to a tall man with greasy slick black hair,
and a slimy overweight man who looked like The Penguin from Batman Returns. He kept licking his lips every time he looked at me. And judging at the hesitant pace the greasy haired man was bidding, it seemed like it was in favor of The Penguin.
Then suddenly, I heard a voice shout from the shadows, “half a million!”
Everyone in the audience turned their heads in the direction of the voice. I searched the darkness for the man behind the bid.
Who was the person bidding such a high amount? When Milo stepped into view, my knees almost gave out. He looked sharp and handsome in a slick tux. And his hair was tied up in a ponytail. Even though every cell in my body cursed his name, something about seeing him caused my heart to flutter with hope.
“Fascinating,” Zane said in curiosity. “It’s against our law to bid, Milo. Why are you here? What is this girl to you?”
“Nothing,” he said relaxed. “I want to finish what I started.”
“Are you sure there isn’t a hidden agenda?” Zane asked in a careful, skeptical voice.
“No,” Milo stated cool, calm and collected as ever. “I want to be her first.”
Zane considered this for a moment, searching Milo’s face for a different answer then smiled. “You have to lie better than that.”
Milo’s black wings unfurled then he leaped onto the stage and took me by the waist. Four angel guards surrounded us; obsidian daggers ready.
“Choose your next move wisely,” Zane warned. “None will save you from death.”
“I’ll have to kill you first then,” Milo growled.
Zane’s skull suddenly exploded into pieces. His body crumbled to bloody ash all over the stage. Panic ensued as the bidders ran for their lives out of the theater. More arrows were shot into the crowd injuring many and instantly killing a few of the wealthy bidders. The angel guards attacked Milo, but many were stabbed by Eli, Trent, and Lee who came out from behind the theater curtain.
Milo took my hand, we ran backstage fighting through rope, sandbags, and pulleys towards the exit door, but it was instantly blocked by more angel guards that rushed to the site.
Eli came in from behind. “Ah shit, mate!”
Milo froze as he calculated his next move. He quickly tied my waist with a stage rope that was hanging by a pin rail. He kissed me goodbye then cut through the rope. I screamed as I flew to the top of the theater until I reached a metal bridge that was connected to the stage grid. I used every ounce of strength to climb over the rail until I was safely on the bridge.
I looked down. Eli took out two obsidian blades from his holster and looked at Milo who had his weapons ready. They nodded in agreement then Eli whirled around and kicked one angel guard out of the way. At the same time, Milo stabbed a different angel guard right in the neck until he turned to rock. I held my breath as I watched them take on the rest of the angels. Milo kicked an angel right in the gut sending him crashing through the theater curtains.
Alva flew down from the top balcony, slipped a ninja sword from her back with the same obsidian stone and sliced the head of every angel who crossed her path with great skill and power.
Suddenly, the bridge rocked. I held on for balance and looked up, Dylan was staring down at me, his wings stretched out.
“You’re trapped, rat” Dylan growled.
I tried to ease myself on the rail as I backed away slowly. I whirled around and took off into a sprint. Dylan leaped over me and landed in my path. I backed away. Dylan swooped me up like an eagle and flew over the theater. He kept a tight grip on my body there was no room to fight back.
As I looked down into the theater, I screamed out, “No!”
Milo, Eli, Alva, Trent, and Lee were overpowered by a swarm of angel guards.
CHAPTER
30
I stood on the platform at the bottom of Stone Mountain, shaking. I didn’t want to die. The angels’ eyes glowed with hunger. They watched me intently, devouring every inch of my body. Their malicious shouts and unearthly howls pierced through my ears.
Zane was dead. They wanted revenge. Alva, Eli, Trent, Lee, and Priscilla were each kept inside a cage made of obsidian. When Eli tried to touch the bars, he was shocked. My hands and ankles were shackled. A collar wrapped my neck with a leash held by Scarlet. She wore a long red dress that reminded me of Jessica Rabbit. Milo was brought onto the stage by Dylan and forced onto his knees. His long dark hair hung loosely around his face.
The angels grew quiet and genuflect before Luke as he walked onto the platform. Luke pulled out an obsidian dagger from Dylan’s holster and admired it in silence. He tilted the dagger its blade gleaming under the moonlight. I held my breath for a long time waiting for something to happen.
“Obsidian is a beautiful stone,” Luke finally began.
“Sharp when fractured, it can cut through anything”— Luke made a slashing motion in the air— “it’s a hell of a weapon. But deadly to us. The only substance on Earth that can kill an angel.”
Luke pointed the blade at Milo.
“I had plans for you,” Luke said, his eyes blazing with disappointment and contempt. “You could have been part of the greatest army the world will ever know. But you threw it all away for a human girl.”
Milo kept quiet.
“You were one of the greatest warriors Eden ever produced,” Luke continued. “It’s a shame, really. A waste of talent. I hate to do this. But the rules are clear. Death to traitors!”
Luke raised the dagger into the air, the angels followed pumping their fists and chanted, “death to traitors!”
Milo glared at Luke with disdain and kept an unusually calm demeanor given the circumstances.
“Non-serviam,” Milo growled.
“What was that?” Luke fired back with malice.
“Non. Serviam.”
Gasps and insults echoed through the crowd. The angels cried for Milo’s death. A sob escaped my lips, I turned away. The angel guard turned my head and forced me to watch. My face paled with fear growing with every second that ticked by.
Luke placed the blade on Milo’s cheek then traced it down to his chin leaving a trail of blood and sizzling smoke.
Milo repressed the pain.
The angels roared in approval. Dylan pulled Milo by the hair and drew his head back with one hand, with the other he grabbed another dagger from his holster. This was it. Milo was going to die. The last image on my mind before my own death. I hated all of them—the angels, Dylan, Scarlet, Luke. They were all power-hungry monsters without a shred of humanity.
Luke cupped Milo’s chin and took in his scent one last time.
“May God have mercy on your soul.” Luke’s smile slowly crept into a sadistic grin. With a nod, Luke gave Dylan the green light to proceed. Like an obedient dog, Dylan brought the dagger to Milo’s hair. Right at that moment, the ground began to rumble. A bright light flashed above blinding everyone. The smell of lavender and chamomile permeated my nostrils. A warmth overwhelmed me followed by a sense of peace that swept my body.
I looked up to the sky using my hands to block the light. Then I saw them. Light beings in the shape of angels. As the light faded, the white-winged angels in metallic body armor poured down from the sky in droves. Gold and silver specks covered their wings like glitter that shined gloriously.
The white-winged angels collided with the fallen. The sounds of wings and metal clashing rattled the Earth. Some of Luke’s angels immediately scattered and flew out of Stone Mountain. A fallen angel was stabbed mid-flight by a white-winged angel then fell into the Earth like a bomb followed by an explosion of ash and dirt.
Scarlet yanked me back with the leash and dragged me across the rock platform. I took hold of the leash trying to loosen its grip. Gasping for air, I kicked and screamed to break free. My vision blurred; the collar around my neck tightened with every step Scarlet took, I was afraid I was slipping. Darkness began to envelop my mind when a white-winged angel landed in front of Scarlet. He sliced her shoulder with his obsidian sword, and white smoke sizzled from her wound. Scarlet moaned in pain then took flight.
The angel slowly approached me. He ripped off the leash with his hands, then broke the shackles with his sword. I blinked to regain focus.
THE TRAGIC + DIVINE, Book 1 Page 26