Here's the next installment! Thanks for being patient.
Annnd, thanks to my marvelous editor cannd. Keep the comments, ratings, and favorites coming! They make me happy :)
~indiglowblue
*
Angel woke with a gasp as she was jostled roughly. She immediately realized that her hands were tied behind her back, and when she tried to swear aloud, she discovered she was gagged, as well. She could hear voices, and feel a pair of arms carrying her, but she couldn't see. It took her a minute to realize she was blindfolded too.
She groaned, and whoever was carrying her stopped. "The minx is awake!" he shouted, and dumped Angel unceremoniously on the ground, knocking the breath from her. She breathed hard, but the gag prevented her getting a full breath in. She started to panic, thrashing in her bonds.
"Aw, fuck."
The gag was torn from her mouth, and she sucked in a long, deep breath. "Let me go," she hissed.
The man, who by his voice she now recognized as Harlem, laughed. "Why would I do that? You were enough trouble to get down here." He paused. "Give her one to herself. I don't want her touched."
Another pair of hands hauled her to her feet. Angel stumbled forward, and then she heard the unmistakable sound of a metal door being slammed closed. "Fuck you, Harlem!" she shouted. "Ryder's going to murder you!"
She heard him murmur, and someone laughed. "You'll be able to soon enough, Angel," he laughed. "As for your concern for my state of health, I'm very touched. I assure you I'm very safe. Ryder isn't going to find me, and he most definitely will not find you. Now, try to get some sleep. It won't do for you to have dark circles under your eyes during your auction."
His last word sent a tremor through Angel's body. Auction? She was going to be sold? She swallowed a cry of despair that rose in her throat. Ryder would rescue her. He had to. She forced her trembling limbs to still. "Ryder," she whispered, "Ryder, I need you."
***
Ryder's head was still foggy from the chloroform. His eyes would cross themselves from time to time, and if he wasn't careful, the whole world would spin and he'd almost pass out again. Even with all of that, he was up on his feet, beginning to search every possible place that damned girl could be. He had no qualms about what he would do to Rey when he found her. It was going to be long and painful.
***
He slammed a closet door closed in frustration. Rey was doing a good job of staying hidden, and it was fucking annoying him. She knew what Harlem was up to, and she knew he needed that information. She'd be fucking lucky if he didn't rip her wings right out of her back.
Turning, he saw Tenner walk around the corner. The younger man shrugged. "Not hide, nor hair," he said despondently. He let out a frustrated sound. "She's still here. I can feel her. But we can't find her!"
Ryder rubbed his eyes, and Tenner's face changed. "You haven't slept since Angel went missing, Blondie. You can't keep this up."
As much as Ryder didn't want to admit it, Tenner was right. The older angel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Two hours. Come wake me up in two hours, ok?"
Tenner nodded, and Ryder walked off to his room. In the three days since Harlem had kidnapped Jenna, he hadn't entered that room. All it did was remind him that she wasn't in his bed with him at night. But Tenner had been right. If he was going to be any good at finding anybody, he needed to get some rest.
As soon as his body hit the mattress, he was unconscious.
***
Angel was pissed off. When someone finally came to collect her, days after she'd been put in the cell, she front-kicked him in the balls, whipping the handcuffs around his neck and cuffing him to the bars of her cell door. "Fucking idiot," she said in his face. "I'm from New York."
She walked away from the cell and stopped. "Harlem, now. Get your ass down here."
When the placid-looking man appeared in front of her, she lashed out with a back fist, breaking his nose. While he clutched his face, she said, "You better hope to God that Ryder or I never get our hands on you. I'd say I'd kill you, but I'm afraid death would be too fucking easy." She breathed deeply as three daemons appeared behind Harlem. "Your backup's here."
Harlem waved them off, pushing his nose back into place. He shook himself, standing up straight and wiping his bloody hands on his shirt. "Your point is crystal clear, Jenna," he said calmly, sounding only slightly nasal. "I regret to be the one to tell you that you will belong to one of us very shortly. Anyway, it's been three days. Shouldn't your prince have come for you by now?"
She didn't show it, but his words cut her deep. She did wonder why Ryder hadn't come for her yet, but she assumed he had a good reason. She lifted her head proudly. "Keep deluding yourself, Hell-Boy. It will make it that much easier to take you."
Harlem laughed, and Angel allowed him to grab her arm, leading her away from the cells. For the first time, she got a good look at her surroundings, which, she considered, was Hell.
The walls were smooth and black, almost glossy, and the floor was tiled with alternating shades of red tile. It was less spacious than Heaven. Apparently, daemons dealt better with small spaces.
Harlem led her through a series of hallways, finally coming to stop in a large room, almost like an auditorium. The stage was to the left, filled with people milling about. Angel swallowed. Every one of them had red-tinted skin, fangs, and a tail. She was cruelly outnumbered.
