They took him to another cell and roughly ushered him in. In the center was a table that had restraints for both the feet and hands. On the wall was a rack that held various instruments of torture. True to every stereotype, there was a plain light bulb hanging in the center of the room. Oh goodie this is so going to be fun.
“Strap him down, and then leave us,” a voice said from the darkness.
He would know that voice anywhere. There had once been a time that he had craved to hear it, and it had spoken sweet loving words to him.
“Hi Persephone,” he said. “Long time no see.”
Back in the cell, Cam swallowed another scream. The pain he was feeling now was completely different. Earlier his body had felt like it was burning from the inside out as the demon’s blood had traveled through his blood stream. Now it felt like someone was tearing him apart bit by bit. Finally unable to stand the agony any longer, he let loose a yell.
He was barely aware that all his injuries were healing at a phenomenal rate. As his body transformed, bones broke and reset. Every muscle in his body went into spasms as they grew. He rolled up in a fetal position and heard himself calling out for Ana and his brothers like he was a child again. When the pain became too much, he let the blessed darkness claim him.
Chapter Sixteen
If not for her voice, Abdiel wouldn’t have recognized her. Gone was the female that he had once thought he loved. When he had last seen her she had been beautiful and regal with long, curly, brown hair and wide, brown eyes, but like his brothers, the evil in her had changed her. A monster stood before him. Her skin, although unblemished, was a dusky shade of red. She had cold, soulless, black eyes and her hair was as dark as midnight. Her hands were long and curled inward to form claws. There were long talons at the ends of her fingers. On the top of her head was a set of black horns.
She was dressed like some goth teenage boy’s wet dream. Her black gown was long and flowed gracefully around her. The outfit was ripped in many places, the holes strategically placed so that glimpses of her most provocative body parts showed through. She wore a black choker around her neck that was studded and had a large ring in the front so it resembled a dog collar. A gold snake bracelet coiled around her upper arm and ended just above her elbow. Her vinyl, knee-high boots had long spiked heels and silver buckles that ran the entire length up.
Following her orders, the guards threw him roughly on his stomach on the stone table and restrained his hands and feet. When the fetid smell hit him, he tried to pull his face away as he gagged. The table was covered in dried blood. Some was a fresh, bright red. The rest was dark and obviously old. It seemed that housekeeping was not top on the list of priorities for demons.
“Do you know what my specialty is, Abdiel?” she asked him.
He looked down and did not answer her, refusing to be baited. Seeing how she had pulled out a whip and he was spread eagle on a rack, it was a stupid question. She had always been a little dense now that he thought about it. How could he have ever thought that she was so great? Gabi was right. He’d been a stupid idiot.
“I torture others. I’m very good at it. In fact, I’m the best there is in Hell.” She pulled his head up by his hair, forcing him to look at her.
“Good for you.” He decided to use sarcasm a weapon. “I’m the Texas Hold ‘Em Champion three years running in Heaven.”
She bared her fangs at him and hissed as her eyes burned with fury. Smacking him on the cheek her talons left several scratches. Seeing stars, he shook his head to clear them away. Obviously she had no sense of humor, but she did have a mean left hook.
Using her claws, she sliced away his shirt in order to bare his back. Damn, that was my favorite one too. He wondered briefly why he was worried about something as little as that right now. Probably because he was trying to think of anything but what was about to happen to him. He closed his eyes and braced himself as he heard her swishing the whip around. Finally, she raised it and brought it down on his back. He bit his lip in order not to cry out as it cut into his flesh. His back felt afire.
“You see that blood under you?” she asked. Yeah right, like he could miss it since his face was right in it. “Do you know who most of it belongs too?”
“Your boyfriend?” That comment earned him another lash of the whip. Damn, she is one vicious bitch.
“No, you smart mouthed fool. It belongs to your baby brother, Appolion.” She laughed when she saw the look in his eyes. She knew that she’d finally scored a point. “I honed my skills on him for hundreds of years. When he kept refusing to turn demon, his punishments were many. We used every technique we could think of, but he still refused to hurt any human. He’s a stubborn, bleeding heart just like you. Appolion always got the same look in his eye that you have right now. He’s more like you than he will ever know.”
“How could you? He was just a child!” he snarled at her. She brought the whip down again. This time the pain was so bad that when he bit his lip he drew blood.
“I was right. You are just like your brother. He too refused to scream when he was being punished.” Crack! “I tried and tried to break him but he fought it.” Crack! “We had to finally turn to more imaginative ways.” Crack! “You would be surprised at how many demons are pedophiles.”
That brought out a small cry of protest from him. While she could not break him with physical pain, she could with emotional pain. The mere thought of his brother being abused like that tore him apart, and she knew it. She had been right. She was good at what she did. Seeing that this was working, she continued.
“They love teenage angels. Lucky for them we’re not like humans. Those weak humans are only in their teens for seven years, whereas angels and demons are teens for many years. Until he finally grew to be a full grown male, your precious Appolion was very popular.”
He fought against the restraints. “When I get my hands on you, Ariel, I’m going to tear you to pieces.”
“You will never have that chance. When we win this war, and we will win, I will not only have you at my mercy but I will also have your bitch wife, Gabi.”
“Don’t talk about her. You aren’t even fit to say her name.”
That threw her in a fury. She backhanded him before she started to use the whip on him again. Fueled by deep seated jealously she started calling him every name imaginable as she went into a frenzy. Finally halfway through the beating he lost control and let some cries of pain escape. It was not until she was exhausted and covered in his blood that she stopped.
“I am going to give your precious princess to Beelzebub,” she shrieked. “Do you know he has been taken with her since we all were in school? All those years you were mooning over me, while she pined for you, he drooled over her. It’s like some bad love movie. He’d love a chance to finally screw her, and he’ll enjoy doing it in front of you.”
“He so much as touches her, and I’ll amputate his hands and feed them to him,” Abdiel whispered. She had really worked him over good. He was barely conscious.
She called in the guards. “Take him back to his cell, and bring me the other one.”
“No.” He struggled to lift his head. “Leave him alone. He’s already been hurt enough. I’ll take his place.”
Persephone’s mouth opened in shock. “You’re willing to take another session for him?”
“Yes,” he gritted out between clenched teeth. “Just leave him alone.”
She went over to the wall and pulled a set of pliers down. Walking towards him she gave him a wicked smile. “You angels have always shocked me by how much you care for one another. It almost surpasses the affection you have for those lowly humans. I can’t believe how you and the other angles let love and compassion rule what you do. That will be your eventual downfall.”
“What do you mean there’s nothing you can do?” Gabi screamed. She gave Michael a shove in the chest before turning away from him in anger.
Michael raked his hands threw his hair as he paced around his l
iving room. “Angels cannot go into Hell. You know that just as well as I do. Just like we have protective fields around Heaven, the demons have put up their own barriers. If I took an army there and tried to infiltrate it, the shields would make them so sick that they wouldn’t even be able to move, let alone rescue anybody. I’m sorry, Gabi, but there’s nothing we can do except hope that the demons decide to release them on their own.”
“Some consolation that is.” Gabi wrapped her arms around herself. “The only time they ever release a captive is if they’ve already destroyed them. And the only reason they do it then is so they can terrorize us.”
Just the mere thought of finding Abdiel the same way they had found Haniel broke her heart. With an agonized moan, Gabi collapsed to the ground. Rolling up into a fetal position she started to sob. They had Abdiel, and there was nothing she could do to get him back. The demons were hurting him, and it was tearing her heart apart. She had never lost it like this before. She had always been cool and in control of her emotions, a true ice princess. But that was before Abdiel melted the ice and found the way to her heart.
“If you won’t go for him, I will,” Rachael challenged their leader. “Unlike you, I am no coward. I will figure a way around these barriers.”
Even in Heaven her rage was evident. Lightning flashed through the sky dangerously close to his house. She was teetering on the edge and the only one who could bring her back was in Hell.
“You step one toe into Hell and the demons will be on you so fast your little head will spin,” Michael’s voice held a warning. Every angel including Abdiel always backed up when they heard that tone. Rachael however, took on step forward and glared at him.
“How can you just sit by and do nothing? Don’t you care anything about them?” she spat out.
“Of course I do,” he thundered. “Cam is my nephew, damn it.”
Gabi and Rachael stood there in stunned silence. Gabi could not have been more shocked had Michael come up and slapped her in the face. She had never even suspected that Michael and Cam were related.
“Does Cam know you’re his uncle?” she asked.
“No, none of them know, not even Ana.”
She had the sudden urge to hit him again. “How could you keep something like this from them?”
“Lehor and I never had the best of relationships. When her children were born, we were not even on speaking terms.”
“How about after she was mentally destroyed? Why did you keep it a secret then?”
“I am a leader. I can’t afford to look like I’m playing favorites.” Even as he defended himself, he couldn’t look her in the eye.
“They needed you, Michael!” she yelled at him.
“They had their Aunt Amiteil to take care of them,” he said lamely.
“Please, Lehor’s sister is a cold bitch that never gave them a second thought. Ana and the boys were totally alone, and you know it. But, then you should know all about Amiteil since she is obviously your sister too. I should have known all along, you both share the same stone hearts.”
“You’re bordering on insubordination, Gabi.” Michael’s voice had taken on a cold edge. “You had better watch it.”
“I’m going to tell them the truth,” Rachael shot out heatedly. “As soon as I see Ana and the brothers, your precious little secret is going to be out.”
“As chief I forbid you both from saying a word.” Michael pointed a finger at them.
Rachael gave him a scathing look. “You may be Gabi’s chief, but you are not mine. I never made any vows, remember?”
Michael stormed over to her and looked down into her eyes. Even though he towered over her, Rachael stood her ground and did not take even one step backwards.
“Whose side are you on, Rachael? Are you a demon or an angel?”
“I … I…” she stuttered. Suddenly her angry face dissolved and was replaced with that of grief. She looked so lost and small. “I just want my brother back. He’s the only one that ever loved me and now I’ve lost him. I want Cam back too. I’m so lost without both of them.”
Then Michael did the most shocking thing of all, he took the small female in his arms and held her tenderly as she cried her heart out. Gabi could only look on in stunned silence as he murmured soft words in her ear and stroked her hair slowly rocking her. He looked over her shoulder and met Gabi’s gaze.
“I always watched over them, even though I never let them know it. I know it was a piss poor substitution for what I really should have done, but I at least did that. I intend to start making up for it now, but I need you two to promise not to say anything to them until we get Cam and Abdiel back. Ana and the boys have enough on their plates right now without this being added to it.”
Rachael pulled back so she could look at him and nodded her agreement. Michael used the pad of his thumb to wipe away a stray tear that had fallen on her cheek. Gabi was starting to feel a little awkward with the whole situation, almost like she was intruding on an intimate moment. Holy Moly, who was she kidding? She was intruding on an intimate moment and it involved Michael of all angels. If the situation wasn’t so serious she might have laughed.
“I know a way to get them back.” Even though he was speaking to both of them, he never took his eyes off of Rachael.
“How?” Rachael asked as she looked up at Michael.
Gabi had the sudden urge to raise her hand and say, “Yoo hoo, grieving mate here.” Abdiel was in Hell and Michael was making nice with his sister. She was starting to get royally pissed off and she must have projected that fact because the two of them pulled away and shot her guilty glances.
“Pretty soon, the demons are going to know all about Rachael and her powers.” Michael got back to business. “They will be able to get that information from Cam and Abdiel.”
“Abdiel would never break and talk under torture,” Gabi protested proudly.
“There are plenty of telepaths in Hell that will be able to rip that information out of their minds. The demons won’t have to torture them to get it.”
“He’s right, Gabi. They’ll find out about me, one way or another.” Rachael wrapped her arms around herself.
“The way I see it,” Michael added, “is when Lucifer’s top general, Mammon, finds out that Beelzebub actually gave away one of the Order he is not going to be a happy camper. It won’t matter to him that Beelzebub didn’t realize that you were a member. Beelzebub is going to be willing to do almost anything in order to save his own sorry hide. We will strike a deal with him. We bring Rachael and they bring Cam and Abdiel to the battlefield. Winner gets all of them.”
“Are you crazy, Michael?” Gabi gasped. “You’ll need an army to pull this off, and the council will never agree to this crazy plan.”
“The council can go take a flying leap. Like I said before, Cam is my nephew, and this is personal. As for the army, let me worry about getting it organized.”
“I’ll call to Beelzebub and tell him I want to meet him.” Rachael went beside Gabi and took her hand. “Michael is right. They only have two of the angels. They’ll want me too. I will, also, let him know that Appolion and I can communicate telepathically. The demon will assume that I can track him down that way.”
“When is the last time you heard from Appolion?” Michael asked.
“Six hundred years,” Rachael admitted. “Beelzebub doesn’t know that though. I’ll tell him that I can find Appolion. The stupid demon won’t be able to resist the chance to get all four of us.”
Gabi jerked her head up. “No, you can’t do this. It will destroy Abdiel if they get you too.”
Rachael pressed her forehead to Gabi’s. “We just have to make sure we don’t lose then. Abdiel is my brother and Cam is like a brother too. I will not let them suffer in Hell. I know what it’s like down there.”
“Are you ready for this, Rachel?” Michael asked gravely. “Cam and Abdiel won’t be in any condition to fight, and Appolion is still MIA. You’re our biggest hope for success.”
Gabi looked at her sister-in law. She was so tiny and innocent looking. She held so much power in her small, delicate hands.
“Bring it on. Those demons aren’t even going to know what hit them.” Her blue eyes grew dark. “Nobody hurts my brothers and survives to tell about it.”
When Persephone finally got bored with him, the demon guards had to carry him back to his cell. As soon as they entered it, the smell of vomit met them. Cam was curled up in the corner moaning softly. He had gotten sick all over his clothes. One of the guards went up to him and hauled him to his feet. The young angel swayed on his feet as his head lolled back.
“You promised to leave him alone,” Abdiel protested.
“Surprise,” the guard sneered. “Demons lie. Who would have thought? We can’t let you have all the fun, archangel. Persephone is going to enjoy messing up your friend’s pretty face.”
“The surprise is on you, asshole,” Cam snarled as he jerked himself upright. “This empath’s got a little bite in him.”
Cam smiled showing off a pair of fangs. That did not shock Abdiel as much as his eyes did. They were still blue, but they were a dark, deep blue. The blue filled up almost the entire area leaving very little white. They were rimmed with black. The pupils looked just like the succubus’ did, long and feline in appearance.
His body structure had changed too. His pants used to be several sizes too big and hung on his frame, now they actually fit. Shit, in the matter of hours the angel had amassed several pounds of lean muscle mass. Gone was the scrawny kid, only to be replaced with a hardened warrior.
Cam bared his fangs and sank them deep into the demon’s throat. Ripping out his jugular, he drank in its blood. Abdiel was surprised when the blood didn’t poison him. In fact it seemed to give him even more energy. Throwing away the monster’s body, he turned to face the other guard. The remaining demon whimpered in fear.
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