Number Nine

Untitled Part 1

The throbbing music reverberated through my body as I gritted my teeth against sounds. I'd been working at Mascara for over a month now and I got paid well. My manager would always say I was their secret weapon because we always got twice as much business when I was dancing than anyone else. Even though I had fallen I still looked stunning compared to a mortal, and just like male angels, male mortals loved pretty girls. I pasted on my sultry smile as my manager announced me. Ironically my stage name was Angel and it made me smile inwardly every time I heard it. I walked on toward my usual front and center spot letting the music drift through me. I hooked my leg around the pole and spun down it gracefully. The upside of being the main attraction is I could pretty much get away with anything. I refused point blank to wear high heels so I always danced barefoot or in knee socks. Today my outfit was school girl, why mortals found that attractive beats me but, what do I know. I slid down the pole slowly and flipped my hair up so it swirled around me in messy perfection. The black thigh highs hit me mid- thigh. The pleated skirt barely covered my ass. I paused momentarily to loosen the red and gold tie from around my neck and unbutton another button of the white dress shirt, causing my already plunging cleavage to become even more abrupt. I saw a scuffle at the door as I came from a complete spin. I swallowed my mouth suddenly dry as his head appeared from behind the guard. His long black hair framed a face so beautiful it was almost impossible to look at. My movements faltered, they'd found me at last. His wings melted into his back shimmering white against the dark backdrop of the club. He shoved a man off of the seat in front of me, the mortal turned in anger and immediately backed off and fled. The Angel produced a hundred-dollar bill and beckoned me to get down on his level. I sank down using the pole as support my knees threatening to give out.

"Having fun are we?" His tenor voice practically chiming. I winced,

"What do you want, Raphael?" I asked, my voice catching slightly. He smiled shaking his head

"Oh Sari, whatever this piece of paper will get me." I tried to back up but realized I didn't have anywhere to go.

"No, I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Oh I beg to differ that nice man over there said you were mine for an hour," He waved in the direction of my manager. "I think that's plenty of time for our business." He got up from his stool, "Come along, we can do this the easy way or," His moth turned cruel, "The hard way." I shuddered and slid down from my platform. He ushered me in front of him placing a firm hand on the small of my back pushing me towards the back exit. My eyes darted looking for any escape, once we got into that back ally I was good as dead. We were almost at the door when I brushed against a stranger who leaned against the wall. I stopped dead in my tracks, earning me a shove by Raphael. The energy radiating off the stranger was pure chaos. I glanced up at him he, had a dark hood pulled over his head and the only thing I caught a glimpse of before Raphael pushed me out the door was his Icy blue eyes. Once in the ally way Raphael grabbed my arm and slung me hard into the brick wall of the building. I slid down the wall my eyes starring as I rapidly lost consciousness. Raphael stooped over me thrusting energy into me with a growl, I blinked the grainy flecks from my vision. "No, you aren't going to get off that easy Sariel." He said pulling out a couple of small slim blades that dripped with pain enhancement potion, used in interrogations run by the Holy Legion. He grabbed my writs, I winced as the burning metal slid onto my skin. He cuffed my hands to drain pipe above my head causing me to stand almost on my toes. "The only angel to have fallen since the dark times, I don't have to do this, I could just drain the rest of your essence in one go and kill you. This is purely for me, for having to chase you all over this damn hell hole of a planet, and for your betrayal. You were mine, and you will stay that way until you die." I looked at him a small tear sliding down my cheek,