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.
Lifting her foot, she looked at the seeping bandage and winced. She was guessing that would be the last thing to recover. Running her eyes over the linoleum table she leaned forward to inspect the remains more closely. The brown star that used to be emblazoned on her skin now lay face down on the table. The roots that had run deep into her muscles were at least an inch long and now drooped against each other.
That’s so gross.
Gabe had been racing the tingling climbing up her body as she screamed at him to hurry. She’d fought off the sense of departure with all her might and it wasn’t until she’d felt her bones being torn apart that she let out an excruciating scream and blacked out.
She’d woken moments later still in Gabe’s presence and finally free. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to walk again, but as she’d slept her body had begun to heal. By the end of the day she was confident she’d look as normal as she always did.
Thankfully Harrison won’t have to see me this way.
She swapped the small hand mirror for Gabe’s cell phone. Flipping it open, she tried once more to scour her memory for his number. It remained blank.
“Stupid speed dial.” She slammed the phone down.
“Hey, don’t take it out on my phone. It’s not my fault you guys don’t memorize numbers anymore.”
“There’s no need to!”
“Yeah, well,” Gabe slid a drink towards her with a grin, “maybe there is.” Taking the seat opposite her, he took a long sip and sighed with satisfaction. “It’s a miracle you remembered mine last night.”
“Yeah, well, like you said… luck was on our side. The numbers just popped into my head.”
“Hey,” Gabe stilled her fidgeting fingers, “I know you want to talk to him, but he’ll be back in a couple of days and you can explain everything then. It’s probably better this way. All he’d do is worry if he knew you’d been hurt and couldn’t get to you. Believe me, it’s the most horrible feeling in the world.”
“Is that how you felt when Mom died?”
“Yeah.” Gabe frowned. “I was on the other side of the country making a sale. I thought someone had punched out my heart when I got that call from the authorities.”
“What happened, Dad? How did they… kill her?” Gemma’s voice caught on the last words, her mind still struggling with the fact that the parents she grew up with could do such a thing.
“They came into the house and tried to steal you from your crib. Your Mom arrived on the scene and fought them off… there was evidence of bruising on her body. Forensics said she must have put up a hell of a fight.”
Tears built on Gemma's lashes as she pictured her sleek mother fighting in vain.
“They think she grabbed you from the crib and went to make a run for it, but they shot her. By the time the police arrived, she was nearly dead. The first on the scene said she kept whispering, ‘My baby, find my baby.’” Gabe’s voice caught.
Gemma grabbed his hands. Her own tears flowed unchecked.
“They never caught them. Every time they thought they had a lead, something would change.”
“Let me guess… time spirits at their worst.”
Gabe nodded then shook his head.
“It only took them six months to stamp it as unsolved. I decided to fall off the radar after that. Thought it might be easier to search for you that way.”
“How did you live?”
“Your mother and I had been storing up quite a nest egg and with the sale of the house… I don’t need much to live on.”
“So you’ve just sp
ent the whole time looking for me? Must have been a lonely life.”
“It wasn’t my first choice, but you make sacrifices for the sake of your children. When we got married we decided we wanted to have a normal life and at the time, it was the best decision we could have made… but that night…” He shook his head. “I would have given everything to be able to travel again.”
“Don’t, Dad… you made the right choice. I would have loved a normal life. You did all you could. You even gave Mom her dying wish… you found me and I’m so grateful for that.”
His eyes glistened when he smiled at her.
Gemma wiped at her tears and drew in a shaky breath, which she held onto.
"Do you hear that?"
She nodded at Gabe's question and looked down at the drooping tentacles of her tattoo on the table. "Is that...?" She leaned towards it. "It's buzzing."
Both unwilling to touch it, they studied the slightly shaking tentacles.
"It's like its trying to draw in the energy around it. Kinda like a magnet."
Gemma picked up the coffee stained teaspoon next to Gabe and waved it near the tattoo. "It's not attracting metal."
"Hmmm." Gabe rubbed his chin then squinted his eyes in thought before jumping up from the table. He returned a moment later with a clean hunting knife resting in his hand. "Feeling brave?" He held it towards her.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Test a theory."
She reached for the knife, understanding Gabe's intent. Gently knicking her finger, she held it towards the tattoo and gasped as the drops shot towards the tentacles and were absorbed. The tentacles stood taller and buzzed a little louder.
"He's trying to pull you back again. When this doesn't work, he'll probably figure out you've removed it."
"How does it all work? I don't get it."
"Must be some sort of remote system." Gabe slid into the booth again and leaned towards the fake birthmark. The buzz was slowly diminishing. Alistair was giving up the fight. "I wonder if when he starts to visualize and get ready to travel, it sends out some kind of signal that activates this." He pointed at the tentacles that were once again drooping. "When it was inside you, it must have drawn on your energy and that's what he used. It was your energy that probably provided the strength everyone else needed to travel. That's why you were always so drained afterwards."
Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) Page 14