Original Sin

Chapter 23

Two days. No food. No water. No one tended to her wounds. Mercifully, there was no torture. Michael didn't need her dead, but neither did he want her living; he just needed her functional.

Hailey was exhausted. She was much too weak to put up a fight now. Still, she kept her wits about her. She and Alex had one advantage Michael did not seem to know of- Hailey's Divine light. Perhaps he was too far gone from his Heavenly status to sense its presence? Or he was too blinded by greed to care? Either way, Hailey was convinced the Divine light was the only reason she did not suffer even more.

"Miss Hailey, we need to put you in more suitable clothes. You can't possibly walk up the mountain in those rags." Michael entered the tent carrying a new set of warm clothes and a thick trench coat. Hailey eyed them with immense desire. She'd been sitting too long in the cold.

"Of course, I can't leave you alone with your chains undone," he mused sporting a sly grin.

Hailey gasped audibly. He meant to put clothes on her body! Ha! She shook her head vehemently.

"Oh?" Michael raised one eyebrow in curiosity. "I thought you were cold, Miss Hailey."

"I am, but like hell I'm going to let you strip me naked right now."

Michael let out an exasperated sigh. Was he that desperate? "I can promise you, Miss Hailey, with all the honor I have left in my angelic form, that I will only dress you and touch you as necessary. I will go no further. No matter how much desire I have, I will remain the chivalrous gentleman."

Ha! Hailey scoffed at the stark contrast between Michael and the southern gentleman he just described. She side-eyed him, waiting for a continuation of his ridiculous proposal, and caught a glimpse of something dark peeking out from beneath his thin robes.

She contemplated her options. I hate this idea, Hailey thought. However...

"Very well," Hailey assented before she could think any further and scare herself away.

Michael's face was beaming. That icy glare softened just a bit. He was far too happy about taking advantage of a chained woman.

"Here, Miss Hailey, let me help you up." Michael reached for her arms. She didn't argue, though she cringed at his touch and her face bore a permanent expression of disgust. He propped her up, and Hailey drew a deep breath as the chains were loosed from her wrists and ankles. Her teeth clenched tightly. The pain was excruciating.

"Oh, I am sorry about that," Michael cooed. His voice was being strangely gentle. One would consider him a nice guy. However, those eyes were still ice cold. It was truly a masterful deception to the naked eye.

Hailey braced herself for what had to happen next. On wavering feet, she closed her eyes as she let Michael take off her clothes. He was true to his word, only touching her body when necessary. He peeled away the crusty shirt from her back, ripping open newly sealed flesh.

"AAAAHHHH!! Hailey tried her best to hold in the scream that erupted from her lungs, but it was useless.

She wasn't so steady on feet anymore, leaning more into Michael as he carefully slipped off her pants, revealing badly bruised and battered legs.

Slowly, she put her arms and legs through new clothes. Hailey was instantly warmer, but felt violated, nonetheless.

"Put your arms around my shoulders, Miss Hailey, so I can reach around you to tie the coat at the back."

Hailey did as she was told, carefully setting her hands upon Michael's shoulders. She felt the cold evil radiating from his neck. Her balance grew more unsteady.