Black Blood (18 page)

“You don’t
think it’s a little tight?”

“
Mom,
would you get out of the 18
^th
Century
please?” Ruby spun back to the mirror to admire herself. Gathering
up her hair into a hand held bun, she turned from side to side to
study the effect with the dress.

It did look
amazing. With some drop earrings Ruby would turn every head on the
block. Gemma was about to say so when something grabbed her throat
and cut off her air supply. Just before Ruby dropped her hair she
spotted it. The small star shaped mark sat at the base of her
hairline and it looked exactly like Gemma’s.

“Lift your hair
again, Rube. I want to see it one more time.”

Ruby obliged
with a smile. Gemma sucked back her fears and pasted on a look of
approval.

“Nice,” she
managed.

Gabe’s comment
about her birthmark had had her mind spinning, but time had reduced
the impact of it. The first few days she had subtly tried to study
each of her family looking for similar marks, but her somewhat
pathetic investigation had revealed nothing. As she’d immersed
herself in practicing her travel, the idea that Gabe might be right
only simmered in the corners of her brain. Something she was more
than happy to go along with. Facing the prospect of being bonded to
her parents was a battle for another day. All she wanted for now
was to get Harrison back.

But now she
couldn’t escape it. Her lips moved to ask her mother if she knew
her daughters both had similar birthmarks. She wanted to sound
casual and judge her mother’s reaction, but fear clutched her
throat and she ended up spluttering on her own saliva instead.

“What’s wrong
with you? You don’t like it, do you?” Ruby looked annoyed.

Gemma shook her
head as her mother gave her a couple of crisp slaps on the
back.

“You can be
honest sweetheart,” Penelope said.

No, I really
can’t.

She had to get
out of here. She had to breathe.

Looking around
her, she quickly surveyed the store hunting for some fashion excuse
that could be easily bought. Instead fate gifted her an out.

“
Why
don’t you go and get a drink. You sound like you need
one.”

Gemma
smiled gratefully at her mother, adding one more cough for good
measure. Grabbing the five-dollar bill from her mother’s hand she
made a hasty retreat from the store. As soon as she was on the
other side of the glass, she inhaled the sweet nectar of open,
non-perfumed air. Closing her eyes against the rolling emotions
threatening to nauseate her, she let out a slow breath and turned
towards the grocery store at the other end of the mall.

She knew she
had to tell Gabe about Ruby’s mark and a huge part of her wanted
to, but… that could make his theory true and as much as she wanted
to break free of this family she was petrified.

Maybe I
shouldn’t try to sneak off and see Gabe today.

She entered the
store and absentmindedly turned towards the drinks aisle. Her eyes
glazed over the human traffic as she wove past an elderly couple
working out the most economic loaf of bread and past a toddler
throwing a huge tantrum over not getting the cereal he wanted. She
was about to glide right past the girl agitatedly debating which
chocolate bar to choose when she stopped. In all honesty it looked
like she was about to go for both. That’s when Gemma recognized
her.

“Oh hey,
Courtney! I nearly walked right past you.”

Gemma smiled as
she watched the girl turn with a confused frown. She wanted to
envelop her in a huge hug. This was the first connection to
Harrison she’d come across since he disappeared. Courtney’s
hesitant expression kept Gemma’s arms firmly crossed.

“How was
Maine?”

Courtney
flinched and stepped away from her. “How did you know I went
there?”

“Um.” Gemma
swallowed, her friendly confidence swiftly draining. “You told me.
Was it as bad as you thought it would be?”

“It was okay.”
Courtney’s eyes ran down Gemma’s body as she placed the two bars
back on the shelf. Her need for escape was evident.

What is her
problem? Did I do something wrong?

Gathering up
her last shred of social courage she decided to have one more shot
then abandon ship if Courtney’s behavior didn’t defrost
rapidly.

“I guess hiking
and camping aren’t that bad after all.” She was sure her smile
looked fake and forced.

Courtney’s
brows wrinkled. “Why are you talking to me?”

“I’m
sorry?”

“
You
never talk to me. You never talk to
anyone
.”

“But, Courtney,
we’re friends. We…” The smile slid from Gemma’s face as realization
rained down on her like cinder. No Harrison. No friends.

Gemma swallowed
the lump in her throat. “Sorry, I just… I forgot…”

“
Forgot
what? That you’re the school hermit?”

Gemma looked
down to hide the burning in her cheeks. Courtney remained still,
looking at her with that same perplexed frown. Resolved, Gemma
glanced up to say a dignified farewell when she suddenly noticed
the red rim around Courtney’s eyes.

She’s been
crying… and she’s buying chocolate.

“Are you
okay?”

“Gemma, what do
you want? Why are you suddenly talking to me?”

“Because you
look upset?”

“I don’t need
this right now.” Courtney turned to leave with an irritated
huff.

“No wait.”
Gemma grabbed her arm. “Please. I know I’ve been quiet and I know I
was really rude to you that time you tried to be nice to me, but
I’ve changed. I…” Suddenly lost, Gemma grasped for Courtney’s
favorite topic. “How’s Darren?”

Courtney’s face
drained of color. “How the hell should I know?”

Gemma felt her
heart lurch. “Did you guys break up?”

“Break up? We
were never even together!”

“But I thought
he liked you.”

“Me too!”
Suddenly forgetting her reservations, Courtney launched into a
passionate explanation. “I was just waiting for him to ask me out,
but then Dana decided she wanted him, even though she knew how I
felt! Don’t you remember her swooning all over him? She was
supposed to be my friend!”

Gemma bit the
inside of her cheek as vague memories from her Harrison-less
existence bested her. She had watched with minimal interest,
feeling sorry for Courtney. The image of Courtney crying fresh
waves of tears in the bathroom suddenly crystallized in her mind.
All she remembered now was lifting her feet so that Courtney didn’t
know she was in the stall listening.

Man, I hate myself
sometimes.
“I’m really sorry she did that to you.”

Courtney tisked
and looked away. “Who cares, right? If he’s dumb enough to go out
with her than he’s not worth it anyway. He’s probably only after
one thing.”

“You know
that’s not true. Darren’s a good guy. He’s just slow and shy.”

“Yeah,”
Courtney conceded with a frown. “Dana said it was my fault for not
asking him first.”

“I like that
you want the guy to make the first move. It’s dignified.”

Courtney’s lips
quivered with a smile, boosting Gemma’s confidence.

“His loss,
right?”

“Thanks.”

“Hey, do you
want to go get a drink or something?”

Uncertainty
flickered over Courtney’s face. She glanced at her watch then
looked up with apology. “I don’t think so, Gemma. I gotta go.”

Lifting her bag
higher onto her shoulder, she spun on her heels and skulked away.
The two chocolate bars sat precariously on the edge of the shelf,
forgotten. Or maybe Courtney was just waiting until the coast was
clear before retrieving them.

Gemma slumped
towards the drinks aisle with a frown. She didn’t like herself
without Harrison. If he were still around, Courtney wouldn’t have
spent the last five minutes looking at her as though she was some
kind of alien.

This
sucks!

Gemma turned
into the aisle and spotted what she could only assume was the cause
of Courtney’s tears. Darren and Dana stood before the soda cans.
His arm was slung over her shoulder and he looked resigned as she
prattled on about how diet was the only drink she could possibly
have and she didn’t care if it tasted different. They spotted her
staring at them. Dana gave her a disgusted smirk while Darren
looked a little perplexed that she was even making eye contact.

The sudden
reality that she missed his easy smile and Courtney’s infectious
laughter made her spirit deflate. Harrison’s non-existence in this
world had caused damage to more than just her. She needed to make
things right.

Collecting her
bottle of water, she walked to the checkout resolved. Knowing she
would pay a huge price for her decision, but deciding she didn’t
care, Gemma paid for her drink and ran for the exit. She didn’t
have time to waste at the mall. She had practice to do. Bursting
into the sunlight, Gemma let the image of Ruby’s birthmark slip
from her mind. All that mattered now was getting Harrison back.

Chapter Twenty-Four

St Augustine, Florida
– 2011 AD

“
Gabe!
It’s me!” Gemma pounded on the door a couple more times then
stepped back and kicked the lower step.

Where are
you?

Pacing away
from the caravan she stomped into the empty lot. Images of
Courtney’s confusion and tears were still vivid. Gemma had been so
ready for a serious afternoon of traveling. The farthest she’d been
back so far was 50 years, but she knew she could do more. It was
getting easier to remember old trips with her family and visualize
where she was.

Slumping to the
ground, she sat crossed-legged in the sun and dredged through her
memory. She tipped her head as she ran through several scenarios
then finally decided to settle on the time they went back to
Chicago in 1926. They had saved a man who was being chased down by
the mob for ratting out one of their members. Details were a little
fuzzy, but Gemma could remember the dark alley they had arrived in.
She could picture the grimy walls and remembered the stench of
rubbish as she’d shoved her legs into a pair of pants.

She ran the
details over in her head, ready to discuss them with Gabe as soon
as he arrived.

Time passed at
a slow, painful pace.

Tapping her
finger on her teeth, she looked at her watch then back to where
Gabe would be appearing. She had been waiting nearly thirty minutes
and her mounting frustration was making her limbs jitter.

I could always
go without him.

She knew
immediately the idea was fool hardy, but she suddenly didn’t care.
Gabe not being here wasn’t her problem and she knew she could do
this. Standing to her feet, she wriggled her fingers and drew in a
slow breath.

The alley
became clear as she closed her eyes and concentrated. She couldn’t
remember the specific day and time she had gone, but 1926 was very
clear in her head. As she smelt the familiar stench of garbage her
body disintegrated.

* * * *

Chicago, Illinois –
1926 AD

She let the
sting disappear before opening her eyes with a proud smile. Her
triumph quickly diminished as she looked down the alley and spotted
a group of men. They were standing in a circle smoking cigarettes
and talking in that 1920s Chicago accent they used in gangster
movies.

Okay, so they
weren’t here last time.

Her heart
hammered. She was overly aware of her nakedness and wanted to
return on the spot, but knew she couldn’t risk one of them turning
to see her as she disappeared. So far they were still chatting in a
noisy circle. Stealing her breath, Gemma crept away from the wall
and peeked out of the alley. The street wasn’t crowded, but the
minimal human traffic was too risky. She’d rather be caught dead
than naked.

After a quick
assessment, she decided her only other option was to walk towards
the men and sneak around the side of the building. She could see a
patch of shadow that would hide her gold dust perfectly. Biting her
cheek, she slithered along the wall and was about to make a break
for it when her nightmare came true.

One of the
young men turned to throw his cigarette butt on the ground. His
beady eyes traveled the short distance to her and slowly worked
their way up her body. His crooked smile was repulsive and the
glint in his eye made Gemma want to whimper.

“Well, hello
doll.”

She could feel
her even breathing growing rapid as he approached. His friends
turned to see who he was talking to and Gemma was soon facing six
hungry smiles.

He sidled up
against her and brushed his finger down her cheek.

“Now what’s a
pretty young thing like you doing here?”

She shied away
from him and swallowed. “Don’t touch me.”

Her mind was
screaming for ideas of escape, but all strategies involved way too
much publicity. If she disappeared on the spot they may talk of
gold dust. If she fought them off word might spread. Who knows what
could end up in the history books?

As his smoky
breath covered her cheek she knew she was running out of
options.

“
Fancy a
little entertainment, boys?”

Holding the
back of her neck with a rough hand, he pulled her towards him and
ran his tongue down her neck.

She acted
before thought could stop her. Grabbing his crotch she pulled as
hard as she could. He let out a high scream and crumpled to the
dirt.

“You
little…”

His friend came
at her with a forceful punch, which she blocked. She finished him
off with a few swift punches of her own. She thought two fallen
comrades might be enough to deter the rest, but it just inflamed
them. They all came at her at once.