Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3)

by Melissa Pearl

  The miracle he’d been praying for was delivered as he heard the lock pop. The door inched open. He swung it back and charged through, racing down the stairs two at a time. Jumping the last few, he ran towards the weapons cases. He couldn’t remember where Gemma had got the key. With the clock ticking, he decided making a little noise would be worth the risk.

  Grabbing a small dumbbell from the gym, he wrapped a towel around it and approached the biggest cabinet. It housed an impressive array of swords and daggers, amongst other things.

  Trying to be quiet, he slammed the padded weight into the glass. Spider web cracks instantly appeared. He looked up the stairs, holding his breath then smashed the glass again. Huge chunks dropped to the floor. He pulled the other pieces away and grabbed for weapons he’d seen used in movies, weighing them in his hand.

  They were bulky and heavy, but he shoved a dagger into his belt, pulled out a short handled axe and shoved that on the other side of him. Then for good measure, he reached for the crossbow. His hands were shaking as he grabbed an arrow and figured out how to load it properly. Pointing it at the opposite wall, he held it steady with his left hand and pulled the trigger. The arrow flew across the room and embedded itself in the far wall.

  “Holy crap.” Harrison let out a breath, his eyes wide. He gulped down the contents of his stomach and reached for another arrow. Carefully loading the weapon again, he made sure he pointed it away from himself as he ran towards the stairs.

  He didn’t know if he stood much of a chance, but he had to try. Running up the stairs, he peeked his head out the door and forced his heart to slow down with another long breath.

  “Okay, Gem,” he whispered. “Where are they hiding you?”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Ponte Vedra Becah, Florida – 2011AD

  Gemma tried to wriggle her wrists free as she watched Penelope enter the room with a metal tray in her hands. She placed it on the trolley beside Gemma then extracted a pair of white gloves from the box on the counter.

  “You won’t get away with this.” Gemma tried to sound strong, but couldn’t keep her voice from shaking. “You can take as much blood as you want, but you won't get a chance to use it. I am going to fight until I’m dead.”

  Alistair and Penelope both sighed and shook their heads as if Gemma had just come home to tell them she’d got a week’s worth of detention.

  “You know we had you. If it hadn’t been for that Harrison boy warping your mind, we could have just asked you for your blood rather than having to beat you... or strap you to a chair.”

  Gemma’s mouth fell open. “You never could have sold this idea to me. It’s ridiculous! You know Decimus gave his life to make sure no one could open this box and you guys are proof that he was right! You can’t experiment with people this way!”

  Penelope looked thoughtful for a moment and turned to her husband.

  “You know we could use some of Ruby and Dom’s blood to boost it.” She picked up a clean needle packet and ripped it open.

  Gemma wanted to scream every profanity she could think of.

  “Or we could try injecting Harrison,” Alistair suggested. “He survived the travel earlier this year, which obviously means he has the right blood. A little serum might activate him and we could work from there. Once he’s traveled a few times, gained his strength, we could use his blood as well.”

  “If he has siblings… they could be useful too.”

  “You stay away from them!” Gemma struggled against her bonds.

  Penelope clipped the needle into a plastic casing with an exasperated sigh. Gemma looked at the long tube connected to that and swallowed. Her blood was going to drain through that tube and into the storage bag on the floor… and then it was going to be used to kill somebody else.

  “Gemma can’t you see what a gift this would be for people.” Penelope checked that everything was connected properly. “They could go back and fix their own problems rather than relying on us to do it.”

  “That’s insane! Do you have any idea what would happen if it got into the wrong hands. People would abuse their power. They could go back and change anything! You can’t do this!” Gemma bucked in the chair then tried to pull her hands free.

  “Oh Gem.” Alistair’s expression was pained as he dug his thumb into her shoulder. She whimpered and went still.

  “Are you honestly willing to turn your back on everything we taught you? You’re our child.”

  “No, I’m not.” Gemma’s voice dropped to a soft whisper. “I’m the daughter of Gabriel and Lena Hunter.”

  She watched both their faces pinch white and their eyes narrow.

  “He found you?”

  “Wow, that’s almost impressive.” Alistair shook his head with a hard smile. “So he was the one who taught you how to travel. He always was strong… that’s why we waited until he went out of town.”

  “Before you took me and murdered my mother?”

  “We did what needed to be done.” Penelope shook her perfect head.

  “Your talents were completely wasted with those two. They were going to raise you as a normal child.” Alistair looked incredulous. “We wanted to secure a future for our children and we were happy to accept you as one of them in order to do that.”

  “Can’t you understand? We grew to love you too.” Penelope’s eyes glistened with a soft smile.

  Gemma gave her a stony glare. “After everything you’ve done, that means nothing to me.”

  Penelope’s expression darkened before giving her daughter a sharp slap across the face. Clearing her throat, she straightened her shirt and went back to business. Pushing Gemma’s shirt sleeve up, she wrapped a tourniquet around Gemma’s upper arm, tapping the inside elbow to look for the vein.

  Gemma sniffed and blinked at the tears threatening to surface.

  “Bet you wish you hadn’t come back, huh?”

  She ignored her mother’s mocking tone and kept her eyes straight ahead.

  “How did you get here? I didn’t hear your bike coming up the drive.”

  Gemma bit the inside of her cheek.

  Penelope paused, the sterile wipe poised in her fingers.

  “Did Gabe bring you?”

  Gemma looked down.

  “No. He wouldn’t let you come back here.” Penelope tipped her head then gasped. “Wait! You’ve got to be joking,” she laughed. “Harrison brought you here? He’s waiting outside for you, isn’t he?”

  Gemma tried not to let her fear show, but couldn’t keep her jaw from clenching.

  “Oh, Alistair, this is too perfect. Go and get him.”

  “With pleasure.”

  She wanted to scream a no, beg him to come back and leave her boyfriend alone, but she knew it was pointless. Instead she kept her eyes on the wall as her mother wiped her arm, pulled her skin tight and inserted the needle.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – 2011AD

  Harrison gripped the crossbow by his side as he shuffled through the house. He decided a systematic check would be best and had so far ruled out most of the downstairs. Doubting they would be in the garage, he turned to try upstairs when a door clicked behind him. Diving around the corner, he held his breath as another door opened and shut.

  Checking all was clear, he moved back to where he’d been and noticed the laundry room. He hadn’t thought to check there. Holding the crossbow in front of him, he slowly crept forward. Every muscle in his body was tense as he listened for sounds. Nothing was immediately obvious, but then he heard it, a faint tink of metal on metal.

  Walking past the washing machine, he approached what looked like a linen closet and tested the handle. The door came free.

  “Just bring him in, Alistair, we’ll get-”

  Penelope sucked back the rest of her sentence and raised her hands.

  Harrison’s eyes darted to Gemma, her limbs strapped tightly to the chair, a needle protruding from her left arm. A red welt was forming on her jaw
line. She looked pale and the usual confidence she exuded in crisis situations was lacking. Angry breaths spurted through his nostrils.

  “Let. Her. Go.”

  Penelope’s eyebrow shot up, her eyes filling with a dark smile. “Forget it. I need her.” She chuckled. “Besides, little boy, you don’t have what it takes. You probably don’t even know how to fire that thing.” She reached forward. “Now give me the crossbow.”

  His finger twitched on the trigger before he could stop it. With wide-eyed horror he watched the arrow fly into Penelope’s shoulder and throw her back across the room. She landed like a rag doll, her head smashing against the wall. She let out a dazed groan.

  Dropping the weapon, Harrison raced towards Gemma to assess the needle.

  “Oh my- you just shot…” Gemma stared at the floor, gaping at the sight of her strong mother now a crumpled mess.

  “How do I get this thing out of you?” He grabbed the end of the needle.

  “Wait.” Gemma pointed to the tray. “Put a cotton ball on it first. Downward pressure,” she explained as he placed it on her arm, “and slide the needle out.”

  Penelope began to groan and writhe on the floor. “Alistair,” she mumbled.

  Harrison dropped the needle.

  “Quick, untie me.” Gemma wriggled her fingers. “He’ll be back any second.”

  His fingers felt like they were made of sausages as he struggled with the buckles. Swearing, he gave up the cause and grabbed the dagger from his belt. He hacked at the thick leather. Gemma’s left arm came free and she began working on her right hand buckle while he dropped down to her ankles.

  “Still think it was a good idea to come?” He grunted as he sawed at the foot straps.

  “So, I misjudged their humanity. Do you really want to talk about it now?!”

  He shot her a dark glance, noticing the blood oozing down her arm. He stopped what he was doing and reached for more cotton.

  “You need to put pressure back on your-”

  His sentence was cut short as he was lifted from his spot and thrown across the room. Alistair stood like a raging bull ready to pummel his face off. The large man turned and took in the image of his writhing wife. His black gaze was petrifying as it bore down on Harrison.

  Feeling small and pathetic, Harrison scrambled to his feet and grabbed the axe. He held it in his shaky hand and prepared for battle. Alistair looked bemused as he pushed up his sleeves and bunched his fist.

  Slashing out with a grunt, he deterred Alistair’s first attack, but only for a second. The guy moved like lightening and Harrison was soon hedged into a corner. He could hear Gemma fiddling with buckles, but knew she’d never get free in time. He swung the axe again and it was ripped from his hands. He looked down at his empty palms with wide eyes. This was it. He was about to die.

  “Drop it.” Gemma’s voice shook, but the hand that held the blade to Alistair’s throat was steady. The man’s eyes narrowed as if trying to decide whether he could take her on, but a sharp poke of the dagger made him drop the weapon.

  Blood trickled down his neck, staining the edge of his shirt.

  “Get into the chair.”

  Gemma guided him to the seat, the blade touching his skin at all times. She looked around her. “Harrison, grab that tubing. Tie his wrists.

  Harrison yanked the tube carrying Gemma’s blood from the syringe to the bag. Blood sprayed across the floor, but he ignored it, stepping over the mess to tie Alistair down. He was worried the strong hands might jump from the chair and wrap around his throat as he approached, but Gemma made sure the blade remained a menacing threat.

  A groan from the floor stole his attention as Penelope grabbed her shoulder and tried to rise.

  “Stay where you are!” Gemma dug the knife in so far Alistair let out a shout. Regret flashed over her features, but she managed to hold the knife steady.

  “Don’t move. I mean it.”

  Penelope froze on the spot, her malignant stare boring into Gemma. Harrison tied as fast as he could, making sure the bonds were tight. Stepping back, he took Gemma’s hand and pulled her towards the door. Alistair had already started struggling, pulling the cords free with his brute strength.

  They walked backwards out the door then slammed it behind them.

  Gemma leaned against the door, preparing for it be thrown open. “We have to lock this.”

  Harrison scanned the room then ran towards the washing machine, quickly unscrewing the pipes.

  He hauled the weighty machine in front of the door. Gemma countered the first attack, slamming her body back against the door to keep it closed. Penelope yelped in protest. She stepped out of the way so Harrison could slide the machine in place. She helped him shuffle it firmly against the door.

  It would take Alistair a while to push the door ajar, but he would get it open eventually… and when he did he was going to hunt them down.

  The idea sent a panicked sizzle through Harrison’s system. He grabbed Gemma’s hand and ran for the door.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – 2011AD

  The car was stuffy with shocked silence as they headed back to Harrison’s house. Gemma knew she had to tell Harrison the rest of the conversation about wanting to inject him and their other nasty plans, but by the pallor of his skin, she was guessing it might be a little too much to handle.

  She opened her mouth a few times to say something, anything, that would make it better, but there was nothing. Penelope and Alistair Hart were not going to let the simple fact that Gemma had detached herself from them, stop their plans. They still had access to Dom and Ruby and it wouldn’t take much for them to get to Harrison… or Sam. A pre-pubescent time spirit? They’d be drooling over that one.

  She had also made the mistake of admitting who her real parents were, which meant they would start looking into Gabe’s past and discover his whereabouts.

  Gemma could foresee the landslide of devastation her parents were going to smother her world with. As soon as they were out of that evil little room it would be the beginning of the end. An idea that had been festering grew with strength and power. She closed her eyes and willed away the tears. All it would take was one little trip back in time. A trip that would ensure she was never taken as a baby.

  Facio.

  Sacrifice.

  It’s what Decimus had done. It’s what Helen had had to do. Her mother did it to try and save her and now she was going to have to do it to save everyone she loved. Letting her gaze brush over Harrison’s face, she felt her heart twist into an agonizing knot.

  I can’t do it.

  But it’s the only way.

  She knew her arguments for one last travel would win every time, but she also knew it would tear her heart into a thousand tiny pieces in the process.

  Harrison’s hand rested on her knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She nodded. “Thank you for coming in after me.”

  “I was scared. I thought they… I thought you might be…” Harrison clamped his mouth shut and blinked rapidly.

  “They wouldn’t have killed me.” She squeezed his arm to reassure him.

  “I bet they want to kill me though.”

  “Probably.” Gemma felt her insides quake. She clutched her stomach.

  “We’ll think of something, Gem. We’ll stop them.”

  “Yeah, we will.” She forced her lips into a quivering smile and laid her fingers over Harrison’s. There was no way she could tell him her plans, he would never let her go and if she had to say goodbye, she’d never be able to leave him.

  * * * *

  Much to their surprise, Helen was flittering around the house when they returned.

  “Mom?”

  She turned and rushed towards them, wrapping Harrison in a vice like embrace before pulling back to study his face.

  “What happened to you? What happened to my house?” She looked around the devastation in the ha
llway then turned back to study Harrison’s bruising. “Oh, who cares about the furniture! Thank God you’re alive.” She hugged him tightly then stepped back and saw Gemma for the first time.

  “Hi.” She gave Harrison’s mother a feeble wave.

  Helen stepped towards her and placed two soft hands on either side of her face. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

  Gemma could only give her a teary-eyed nod. She didn’t think she’d ever be okay again. Lying the words aloud seemed impossible.

  “Mom, what are you doing here?”

  Helen turned back to Harrison, keeping her hand on Gemma’s arm. “I tossed and turned all night waiting for your call. By six o’clock this morning I couldn’t handle it anymore. I told Bryan everything and got on the first plane I could.”

  “You told him… everything?”

  “Yes.”

  “How’d he take it?”

  “Not well, but that’s not my concern right now. I had to get back and make sure you were okay.”

  Gemma felt a wave of sympathy wash through her as she watched Helen fight the tears she’d probably been damming up all day.

  “He’ll come around,” her voice wobbled. “Now, sit down immediately and tell me everything, then we can clean up this mess and make some hot cocoa.”

  It was a contradictive hour. Gemma was both pleased and exhausted sharing the burden of her Thanksgiving. It helped that Harrison’s mother was so sympathetic and understanding. She had been waiting for the finger point of judgment to fall, but Helen had remained motherly and sweet. She couldn’t help wondering if that would change if Harrison left the room.

  After a taxing hour of truths and tears, Helen clapped her hands together and ordered a clean up. All of them seemed relieved to have something to do. Helen bossed them around, making sure broken furniture was removed to the garage for fixing and smashed crockery was picked from the carpet and cleared away. Within a couple of hours they were done and Helen sent Harrison upstairs for a hot shower.