Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) (18 page)

She kept her eyes downcast. There was no way
she was implementing anyone else in this. Her hair was grasped, her
face violently pulled towards her father’s booming voice.

“WHO DO YOU KNOW?”

“No one! Myself!” She was thrown back against
the wall once more followed by another sharp slap that had her
senses reeling.

“You can’t travel on your own. She can’t
travel by herself, can she Alistair?”

“Only if she’s taught.”

His eyes bore into her, demanding an answer
she would never give.

“I did it by accident one day,” she mumbled.
“When I realized I could, I kept practicing.”

They could all smell the lie. It was
potent.

She watched her father work through his
anger. Fear built in her system. Her breath caught in her throat.
Alistair’s face went from charcoal to black in a matter of moments
and before Gemma could react his fists were pummeling her.

“How dare you defy me!!!”

Gemma blocked the blows as best she could,
but couldn’t bring herself to hit back. His malice was so execrable
she didn’t think she could compete with it. Instead she took the
blows, listened to the screams of rage and willed her mind back to
the present.

It didn’t come easy, the pain pervading her
body kept breaking her concentration, but with a lusty scream, she
closed her eyes and punched her body back to the present.

* * * *

Her muscles shook with agony. She could feel
blood streaming from her mouth, nose and the numerous scratches on
her face. Her father’s ring had done some brutal work. She touched
her swollen lip with a whimper then grabbed at her burning ankle.
Running her fingers over her birthmark, revelation hit her like a
lightening bolt.

Gabe’s right. That’s how I’m bonded. That’s
how they pull me back!

Her fingers curled into claws and began
scratching at the mark beneath her anklebone. All the wasted fear
at severing the ties to her family vanished. She didn’t care where
she was going to live; she’d sleep on a caravan floor if she had
to. The idea of a hole in her ankle no longer sent spiking shivers
up the back of her legs. She’d do anything to be free. The nails
digging into the skin did nothing to eradicate the mark. She yelled
at the star, demanding it to get off, her body convulsing with
tears as she mangled her skin, drawing blood and achieving
nothing.

She barely heard the rumble of the engine
approaching and it wasn’t until two gentle hands stopped her
frantic movements that she was even aware of her surroundings.

“Daddy,” she whimpered and turned into his
arms.

“Shhhh, it’s okay. I’m here.”

With gentle persuasion he helped her dress
before gathering her up in his arms. He cradled her broken body
against his own, wrapping her in a strength she didn’t have.

“We’ll come back for the bike tomorrow.”

She consented without thought and clung to
his body as he raced her home to his caravan. He carried her
through the door and laid her on his crumpled bedding. Gemma
watched him strip off his jacket and listened to him fossick
through the cupboards. Moments later he returned with a warm bowl
of water, a soft cloth and what looked to be a bottle of
arnica.

Gemma winced as she rose to sit. Her brain
felt heavy and swollen inside her aching temples.

“How do you find me so quick?” she
slurred.

“I was on my bike before you hung up on
me.”

“My phone.” Gemma pictured its crushed debris
scattered over the road.

“We’ll get you another one.”

She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning
against the pillows Gabe had propped behind her. The thought of
Harrison not being able to reach her was crushing.

“I nearly missed ya. That alley you chose to
park in was pretty dark. I guess luck was on my side tonight.”

Gemma popped one eye open to watch him
squeeze the excess moisture from the cloth. “Thanks for
coming.”

Gabe nodded before wiping the blood from her
face. Gemma winced.

“Sorry, but I gotta clean you up, kid.”

She held her tongue and let him finish,
unable to miss the shake of his hands as he applied the arnica
cream to the worst of her bruising.

“You okay?”

Gabe let out a sardonic chuckle. “I want to
kill someone right now, but other than that, I’m fine. Now let me
see that ankle you were clawing at when I found you.”

She turned her leg so he could get a better
look.

“You’ve scratched yourself pretty bad.”
Pulling out a bottle of antiseptic, he tipped it onto a cotton ball
and dabbed at her wounds.

“I wanted to scratch it off.”

Gabe’s expression remained unreadable.

“It was burning and I… I think you’re right,
Dad. It’s how they pull me back.”

Gabe’s hands stilled. Running his finger over
the mark, he studied it closely.

“I want you to take it off.”

“Lucia.” Sudden doubt scored his features. “I
might be wrong.”

“I don’t care. I want it off.”

“I’ll have to cut it out.”

Gemma nodded.

“It’ll hurt like hell.”

Gemma nodded once more.

“Maybe we should wait a couple days, until
the rest of your body has recovered. I can try and get some local
anesthetic.”

“Please, I just…” Gemma’s breath caught as a
tingle lit her toes. “Cut it out now! NOW!”

“What is it?” Gabe grabbed her flaying
hands.

“They’re trying again,” she whimpered.
“Please, Dad, help me. HELP ME!!”

Chapter
Twenty-Six

Memphis, Tenesse – 2011AD

Pulling open his mother’s purse, Harrison
peeked over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching before
delving into the leather bag. After a little rummaging, his fingers
caught hold of his phone. Flipping it open, he felt a jolt of
pleasure and annoyance as he noted a missed call from Gemma.
Hastily pushing a few buttons, he brought the phone to his ear and
frowned. He had not been expecting a recorded message telling him
Gemma’s phone was out of service. Hanging up, he dialed the number
again, slapping it shut with a grunt as the message repeated.

“Hey, no fair! You can’t give me a lecture on
borrowing without asking if you’re planning on sneaking into Mom’s
bag a day later.”

“Rosie, I was only checking my phone.”

“Well, let me check mine.”

She pushed past him and reached into her
mother’s bag. Harrison sat back on the floor and watched her
without seeing. The storm in his gut had swelled overnight and the
waves were pounding his insides without mercy. The fact Gemma was
out of reach only compounded the problem. He felt battered with
worry and bruised by his lucid imagination. Even worse was the fact
he still had two more days before he could fly back and see
her.

Stupid Thanksgiving in Memphis!

“Why are you so dark? Gemma didn’t call?”

“Yeah, I just missed it.”

“Well, call her back.” Rosie looked at him as
though he were stupid.

“I can’t,” he gritted back, “her phone’s not
working.”

“That’s weird. You could always try calling
Simeon and getting him to pass the phone on.”

I’d rather drink acid.

“It’s too risky. If her parents were around
and he let slip… I just don’t want to get her in trouble.”

“Well, try not to worry, she’s probably so
busy catching up with Dom and Ruby she wouldn’t have time to chat
anyway.”

“Yeah.” He nodded with a half-hearted smile,
appreciating Rosie’s attempt and wishing it had worked. His stomach
pitched.

“Come on, we better get out of here before
Mom catches us.” Rosie pulled him to his feet. “I still can’t
believe you didn’t manage to sweet talk the phones off her. She’s
being so stubborn about it.”

“Probably because she knows we’re sneaking in
here to check anyway.”

Rosie grimaced. “I hope she doesn’t figure
out about the necklace then. I mean it’s not like she’ll need it.
Cogwheels don’t go with much.”

Harrison’s heart skipped a beat and he pulled
Rosie to a stop.

“What did you just say?”

“Um...” Rosie wiggled her arm free and
frowned. “I hope she doesn’t figure out about the necklace.”

“No,” Harrison ordered his lungs to inflate,
“after that.”

“Oh, about the cogwheel?”

He nodded then closed his eyes, fighting off
the building nausea. “You never told me the necklace was shaped
like a cog wheel. Was it made of stone?” He grasped her arm.
“Rosie, was it stone?”

“Yes… ow! Let me go!” She stepped back and
rubbed her bicep. “What is your problem?”

“You wore it to school?”

“Yes.”

His stomach pitched again as his previous
premonitions were confirmed.

“Did Simeon see it?”

“Yeah, he thought it was really cool.”

“Of course he did.” Harrison pinched the
bridge of his nose, warring with the red haze building at the
corner of his eyes.

They know. That’s why I feel so sick! THEY
KNOW!

“I gotta talk to her.”

Pushing his parents’ door back open, he
lurched for the bag and extracted his phone. Not caring about the
risk, he punched in her home number and waited.

“Hello,” a subdued female answered.

“Can I speak to Gemma please?”

“She’s… not here,” the voice wavered.

“Where is she?”

“Who is this?”

“A… um… friend from school.”

“Harrison?” His name was whispered
sharply.

Unsure what to say, he remained silent.

“It’s Ruby. I was hoping she was with you,
but if you’re calling…”

“What’s going on? Why don’t you know where
she is?”

“She ran away. Mom won’t tell us anything,
but from what Simeon’s said, she somehow brought you back and Mom
and Dad are freaking out. She took off and I don’t know what’s
happening,” her voice shook with tears. “I know Mom and Dad were
trying to look for her by pulling her back in time, but they won’t
say. And then I saw Mom carrying some bloodied rags to the laundry
last night…” she pulled in a shaking breath. “I’m scared they’ve
done something to her.”

Harrison’s blood ran cold.

Bloodied rags.

Bile burned the back of his throat.

“They’re acting really strange… and Simeon
knows more than he’s saying. Dom wants to pound him for it, but Mom
and Dad are keeping him real close, you know, like he’s in on this
somehow. I don’t know what to do.”

“You gotta find her, Ruby.”

“I can’t! I’m being sent back to school this
afternoon. You know her better than anyone. When you find her, give
me a call.”

“Ruby! You can’t just walk away!”

“I have to.”

Harrison could taste her fear. It was seeping
through the airwaves and he knew no amount of yelling would take it
away.

“Find her, Harrison. Please.”

The line went dead. Harrison’s knuckles
whitened as he gripped the phone. It took every ounce of control
not to hurl it across the room.

“Harrison?” Rosie’s voice quivered. Her eyes
were wide and filled with too many questions to answer.

“Get out.”

“What?”

“Just… leave me alone.”

“But, what’s happening with…”

“Rosie! GET OUT!”

She closed the door with a yelp, leaving
Harrison to drown in his own storm. Dropping his head into his
hands, he gripped two fistfuls of hair and wanted to scream.

Just think. THINK!

A tap on the door distracted him. He opened
his eyes to catch a glimpse of his mother’s consternation.

“I don’t suppose you feel like telling me why
Rosie is nearly in tears, do you?”

“I thought you said the necklace was buried
with Nathaniel.” Harrison’s voice matched the blackness of his eyes
as he looked up at his mother.

Her skin blanched white.

“Why didn’t you tell the truth?” He felt his
eyes begin to shimmer and dropped his head.

“Because I didn’t want you to think less of
me for keeping it. I couldn’t bear to part with it. Nathaniel wore
it for so many years and I just… look, I know how dangerous that
piece is and I didn’t want anyone knowing where it was. If it fell
into the wrong hands…”

“It has, Mom!”

She went statue still, her eyes narrowing.
“What are you talking about?”

“Gemma’s parents. They’ve been looking for
the piece for years. They have the box.”

Helen’s breathing grew erratic and she
lowered herself to the bed on shaking limbs.

“But… how did they get the piece? I buried it
in my jewelry box! No one ever goes in there.”

Harrison sniffed. “Rosie was looking for
something
different
to wear.”

“She didn’t ask me!”

“No, she didn’t have time apparently and now
the Harts have it and Gemma is missing.”

“Gem… what?” Helen’s hand came under her
son’s chin and pulled him to face her. “Harrison Nathan Granger you
better start telling me
everything
.”

Chapter
Twenty-Seven

St Augustine, Florida – 2011AD

The small hand mirror was mean in its
assessment. Gemma touched the swelling beneath her eye and lightly
fingered the gouges Alistair’s signet ring had so brutally left.
She fingered her swollen nose and was grateful once more that it
survived the punishment without breaking. The wounds, having been
delivered with such vehemence, were taking longer than normal to
heal.

Her memory of the previous night was dim. The
aches and groans in various places of her body were cruel
reminders, but helped none-the-less. She remembered Alistair and
Penelope’s faces as they yelled, punched, scratched and kicked her.
She remembered the soft contrast of Gabe’s embrace, followed
brutally by the scorching agony of having the birthmark hacked from
her ankle with his hunting knife.