Page 35 of Angel Condemned

Axton

“Remember what you promised.” I couldn’t wait for her answer but stepped between her and the cluster of Roulex. They were marching down the hallway with their reptilian tails dragging on the stone floor behind them. I recognized the sound from every time they’d come to collect me for torture. Today was no different.

I glanced over my shoulder at Jody. Somehow she’d broken through my barriers and into my heart and there was no time to tell her. The Roulex would only get more aggressive until they reached their goal or until Jody died. I couldn’t let that happen.

“Someone needs motivation,” Garl, one of the Roulex guards said.

“Fuck off.” I raised my fists. The hatred I had for these monsters grew at warp speed.

“Isn't that what you were supposed to do with her?” Garl whipped his tail behind him. “Or maybe it’s been so long you can’t remember how. Let me show your female how a real male fucks.”

The other Roulex snickered, and Garl sauntered forward. I didn’t wait for them to lock me in one of their tractor beams. They expected me to taunt them back, but words didn’t mean shit when life was on the line.

I rushed to Garl and punched him in his scaly throat. He grabbed at his throat, making choking signs as he tried to breathe.

Two of the Roulex slashed at me with their claws. I leapt back, hitting them both with a side kick that knocked one into the other.

Garl tried to talk, his voice coming out in garbled gasps.

The other Roulex charged me. I blocked their claws and kicks.

A Roulex spun around. His tail knocked me off my feet. I thrust open my wings, catching myself. But the cell ceiling was low and I couldn’t fly. I used the momentum to jab an elbow into the top of one of the Roulex’s heads.

My wings snapped back down along my back and I landed.

“Go for the door.” I kicked aside a Roulex coming at me. “Get out of here.”

Jody sped past me and then stopped. What was wrong with her? This was our chance to escape. We’d have more guards to fight, but we could get away. Getting out of this fucking cell was the first step.

Then a chill swept over me and I knew without looking something was wrong.

My breaths labored as I turned on my heel.

Garl had Jody in one of those damn tractor beams, but he also had his claws hovering at her throat. If he took off the beam forcing her body to do what he wanted, he’d slice her skin.

She looked at me like she’d done something wrong. Like she had failed me. Exactly how Celica had done when we were captured.

My muscles tensed and bared my teeth. I couldn’t go through this again. Couldn’t see another innocent woman butchered. I couldn’t take another memorial grave buried in my heart. Another haunting to etch away my soul. I gritted my teeth against the burning, slicing, potent rage that boiled over inside me.

I had nothing left to give.

Behind me was escape. The cell door wide open and the Roulex weren’t blocking it. But I wasn’t going to leave without Jody.

If they harmed her…I couldn’t finish the thought. I stepped closer to Garl and Jody. Images of my sister’s lifeless eyes flashed in my mind. I clenched my fists, acid burning the back of my throat.

How could I have let these monsters touch my sister? They broke her long before her body became cold and gray. There hadn’t been a spot on her that wasn’t bruised, bleeding, or broken.

“Let her go,” I growled, my voice echoing through the cell.

If they executed Jody, I’d be dead inside. I would rip all the Roulex to pieces.

I took another step closer. If I was smart, I’d get Garl to come to me. But I couldn’t think right now. Each beat of my heart had me wanting to plow into Garl.

“If you want her dead, keep moving,” Garl said in a hoarse whisper.

I froze, my fists locked at my sides, wanting to choke the life from these bastards. “What do you want?”

I’d fight until I died if they tried to take her. They would beat her. Their filthy, scaly hands would be all over her. I couldn’t let them have her.

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