Blood Debt (The Blood Sisters Book 2) (17 page)

M
ike
wasn’t big on fairy tales or flights of fancy, but once upon a
time,
he was a young lad who believed in love.
True, and pure. The kind that only came from God.

A priest
who had just taken his vows, he’d discovered how serious the fight against the
forces of evil really was. In those early days of cleansing towns and setting
up spiritual protection, he met a sassy redhead who changed the course of his
life forever.

Some
would say she ruined it.

Then her
hair had been long and fell in waves down the middle of her back, but she had
always wore a yellow bandana across the top of her head. Her cheeks had been
rosy and the fire in her eyes was only outdone by her commitment to the cause.

By the
time Mike fell in love with her, it was too late to back away. He broke his
oath and God’s commandments, and bedded her without realizing the full
consequences of his actions. The years weren’t kind to them and now Mike did
what he could to avoid her.

Driven
from the church or leaving on his own, he wasn’t sure anymore which happened
first, but his life mission was the same.

Rid the
world of demons. Stem the advance of Lourdes. The one he helped create. Not on
purpose of
course,
he’d never side with
evil. What was once mist and shadow
were
able to take human form because of what they did. What Gwen and Mike created
together and unleashed on the world was evil incarnate.

All
because he chose her over the mission, one time. One. Nothing he could ever do
would make up for that.

That was
Mike’s ultimate failure as a human being and as a priest. His soul was darkened
and purity would never again be obtained.

Now, in
an old soup
kitchen,
he had strung his
former lover up like an entrée. Mike used
rope
to bind her arms spread wide—one to the stove and the other to the large
immobile prep-counter. Her legs were rigged in a similar fashion. Still
unconscious, Mike took advantage of that to sprinkle salt
around
her body.

All the
while ignoring her face. All the while refusing to look at her, but once she
awoke it’d be harder. The demon in her would egg him on to engage; Mike
couldn’t for a multitude of reasons—the exorcism, his personal
shame,
and failures. He bit his lip with a deep
breath and sprinkled holy water
on
her
head. Then flipped his bible open and started the prayer.

Gwen’s
head rolled back and forth and she hissed in pain. “You really think this is
going to work?”

Mike
ignored her
words
but licked his lips.
His words grew louder, and his eyes didn’t deviate from the page. “And let this
vengeful demon be gone, in the name of the Lord…”

She spat
at him. “You got to hell!”

“It’s
you,
she-beast
, who will be dining there
tonight. You better be prepared to answer for your failure to Lourdes herself.”
He poured more holy water onto her forehead.

Her back
arched as the struggle really began. Gwen’s arms yanked at the ropes until they
were taunt. “Let me go! I will kill
you,
Michael Mortenson! Kill you!”

Words
Mike had heard before from her, but even those hadn’t sounded so vengeful. He
kept his chant going,
but, this time
flipped the pages. He found John and read the gospel word for word.

The demon
hollered in pain, green mist pouring from her eyes, but it wasn’t over. No, the
worst was just beginning. The demon just laughed. “I am anchored deep. You
can’t destroy me. I’ll destroy you first.”

“Be gone
wrathful spirit and never return to this place. I speak on the authority of
God, Lord in the highest.” Mike sprinkled more holy water onto Gwen, being
careful not to disturb the ring of salt around her body.

Gwen
slithered back and forth, not going anywhere, but her mouth was open. Her hips
bucked as if in pain and her fingers flexed like claws.

Maybe the
demon wasn’t as anchored as it pretended to be. Master of liars. Mike surged
with determination; he bent over Gwen and dangled the rosary
beads
to her face. “Take in the sight of this,
demon. He isn’t just my God; he is also yours!”

Her
screams echoed in his ears as sweat broke out on her forehead. The chattering
of her teeth stilled Mike’s heart. That was the real pain he expected, but to
be the one that caused it, to be the one that had to keep this going.

There
were no choices.

Mike
placed his hand against Gwen’s forehead. “You will leave this woman!”

Gwen’s
body started seizing. Her body bucking back and forth. Eyes wide she gagged as
if
choking
. Real fright presented on her
face and for the first time, the mist of the demon was gone. Instead Mike saw
the green eyes that all Blood women had. She looked on him with love, the
tenderness he always expected from her.

But could
it be real? Mike doubted it.

“She’ll
never let me go.” Gwen’s voice grew hoarse. “You need to kill me to free me.
Michael—do it.”

He
couldn’t, what she asked was ridiculous. Mike couldn’t kill Gwen any more than
he could kill his own child.

The mist
returned to Gwen’s eyes and she laughed. “Knew you wouldn’t have the stomach
for it. I knew you wouldn’t have the balls to—. “

Mike squeezed
her throat. The words Gwen spoke were true. Trying was the least he could do to
save Gwen, maybe not for life, but from torment. Grinding down on his knees,
Mike tightened his grip on Gwen’s slender neck.

Her eyes
widened and she gagged,
thrashing
around
to free herself. If she got herself free, even one hand, Mike knew he was in
the thick of it—he had crossed into the salt circle and what remained of it was
destroyed by his kneeling.

If this
didn’t work, Mike was in real trouble. There’d be three bodies in the soup
kitchen for them to find in the morning.

A tear
fell from his eye and Mike gritted his teeth. “I’m sorry, Gwen. God, forgive
me.”

The color
of her skin turned blue. Eyes bulging, Gwen’s head rocked back and she made a
final wheeze for air. Her arms went slack as she stopped fighting against him
and the ropes. Slowly Mike removed his hands from her throat and he checked for
a heartbeat.

Gone.

He had
really done it. She was…dead.

The demon
knew too. It
wisped
out of her open mouth
and hovered in the air, searching for a new host. Mike was weak right then; it
could try to take him. So Mike stood and held the rosary beads out. “You find
no host here. Back to the underworld with you!”

Commanded
with authority and with the backing of God, the demon had no human host to
inhabit. It couldn’t win that battle. Jaw tense, Mike sealed the deal by
splattering the air with holy water. The demon dissipated like a cloud of smoke
and Mike breathed a sigh of bittersweet relief.

But Gwen.
Dear God, no…Her still face unmoving. Not breathing.

No life.

He could
bring her back. He had to.

Rolling
up his sleeves, he crashed down to the ground. A sob struggled to escape his
mouth and the sound was that of a wounded animal. His shoulders rocked back and
forth as he started chest compressions, breathing into her mouth.

“Come on,
sweetheart,” Mike tilted her head, breathing into her mouth again.

Chest
compressions. 1…2…3…4

Check for
a pulse. Nothing. Damn it, nothing.

“Damn
you, Genevieve,” Mike’s lips quivered and a lifesaving breath turned into a
mournful kiss. And a crying aching sob escaped him that sounded more like a
scream.

She was a
Blood. Wasn’t supposed to go out with this. What would his old buddy Jacob
think? After everything they did, that it was Mike that sent Gwen to her death?

There was
still hope. They could save her.

Amanda….

He
gathered Gwen up in his arms. If truly dead, there was only a fool’s hope left,
but Mike would take it. There was only one person left who could try to save
Gwen.
If she was strong enough to try.

S
o much
lost, so much to process, but Jessica couldn’t begin to wrap her mind around
it.
Instead,
her head lay
on
her sister’s lap—her very sweet sister—and
Amanda stroked her hair.

There
was
love and compassion in that embrace, but
she didn’t deserve it. Not after everything Jessica had felt and said. That
intense burning rage, maybe it hadn’t been hers.
Instead,
it had been put in her heart by Lourdes.

But
Jessica felt it as if it was her own. It set her on fire and the hate; it may
as well have consumed her. She didn’t deserve forgiveness or Amanda’s love.

“You
deserve it,” Amanda finally spoke in a small, gentle voice. Her fingers swept
across Jessica’s cheek, as a mother would comfort a child. Jessica’s insides
trembled to feel so much love. She never thought she’d feel it again. To be
back with her sister was a joy, but…wait a second.

Had
Amanda just read her mind?

She
leaned up on her elbow and peered into her sister’s soft green eyes. Everything
about her was the same, but somehow Amanda looked different. Stronger; not as
fragile as before. Or maybe Jessica was seeing her for the first time from a
place of vulnerability.

Amanda
cupped Jessica’s chin and came down low, nuzzling her cheek. It brought Jessica
so much warmth, that fresh tears sprung to her eyes. “I did, but I didn’t mean
to. My powers have grown since my soul was fractured by Vaughn’s drugs.”

Vaughn.
It all seemed so far away. She forced herself to sit even though it was hard to
pull away from her sister.
Instead,
they
held hands. “I’ve missed so much,” Jessica muttered. “I never thought we’d get
to do this again.” She bit her lip to keep control of her emotions and looked
away.

“I did so
many horrible things.” The tears in Jessica’s eyes stung hot and her mouth fell
open as she struggled with heartbreak. “The Black Scorpions—.” She shook her
head and swept her tears away. “What have I done, Mandy?” Her voice cracked.
“What have I done?”

The idea
that she’d have to face Duncan again knowing she murdered his gang—all his
friends? Jessica felt sick—didn’t think she could do it. She wished she could
melt into the ground.

Rising to
her knees, Amanda stroked Jessica’s hair back. “You didn’t ask to be stolen
into the underworld or lose your free will to Lourdes. We made it here because
of how strong you are, Jess. You fought and endured so much pain.” Amanda
placed her hand over Jessica’s heart.

“I can
see the scars,” Amanda said softly. “Not real, but invisible. Stretching and
carved on you from all the times you died. All those times she brought you
back.” She bit her lip, looking like a vulnerable child.

Her words
stung with the truth, but Jessica wasn’t ready to unburden her soul. “I’ve
missed you more than I can ever say. More than I have any right to.” Jessica
eyed around as another dear love was upon her heart. “Where’s Duncan? Is he
still here?”

Amanda
nodded. “He was my backup. He and Father Mike. They both took to the streets to
drive the demons back. They’ll be back soon, I hope.”

Relieved,
Jessica nodded. Father Mike harkened to a name from their distant past, didn’t
mean much to her. He was a good guy that was about all that she remembered.
Seeing Duncan plagued her mind. She wanted to see him, needed to, but what
would she say? How would she begin to make her actions up to him?

“I have
no idea what I’m going to say to him,”
Jessica's
voice warbled. The look in Amanda’s eyes was one of pity and Jessica snorted
with disgust for herself. “Look at me. Some warrior I am. Some hero.”

Amanda
placed her hand on Jessica’s shoulder. “My hero. You always have been. Nothing
could ever change that.”

Her words
caused Jessica’s heart a kaleidoscope of pain. She squeezed Amanda’s hand and
turned away. Looking into her sister’s eyes was too painful.
 
“Duncan made good on his promise to look out
for you.”

“And then
some. He got me
cobbler
.” Amanda’s mouth
danced into a playful smile. “He helped me through it all. It wasn’t easy
coming off the drugs, and that’s putting it mildly.”

So many
stories they had to share. Jessica hoped they’d have time for all of them. The
idea of facing demons drained what energy she had left. She had enough on her
mind without a physical confrontation. “There’s so much I have to tell you…”
Jessica’s chin warbled as she thought of Dad.

“You were
right,” Amanda played with the ends of her hair in a fit of nerves. “I saw Dad.
Saw him in the underworld when I was there. He…his eyes…did
n’t
look like Dad’s anymore. Not the dad I
remember.”

Jessica
covered her mouth to stop the flood of cries from coming. “What are we going to
do?”

She was
the one who usually made all the decisions, the choices, but right now, Jessica
didn’t know what the answer was. How could they just let him suffer? They were
alive because of what he chose to sacrifice.

Amanda’s
eyebrows rose as she sighed. “I don’t know what we can do. There’s still a
bounty on our heads.”

The
bounty. Her stomach rumbled into knots. “Then let’s run away. Hide. Once Duncan
gets back, we all go. Go to Europe. I don’t care.” Jessica’s nose flared.
“Somewhere.”

Amanda’s
mouth fell open. “Jess—.”

She
didn’t want to hear it. Jessica shook her head and her teeth gnashed together.
“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t. It has to be over. It just has to be—.”

The
basement door rattled and Jessica’s heart sank at the interruption, but if it
was Duncan…she wasn’t ready to face him or anyone else. She wanted to be alone
with the one person she could always count on, but it wasn’t meant to be as
someone rattled down the basement steps.

A
tattered looking priest carrying Aunt Gwen. From how her limbs hung at their
sides, Jessica thought she might be dead.

Another
Blood
gone
, another
life
given to the mission.

Amanda
jumped to her feet and greeted the priest. Stroking back Gwen’s hair, Amanda’s
eyes went wide. “Father Mike, what happened?”

Mike.
That was him?

Eyes
bloodshot
and wearing a torn shirt, Mike placed
Gwen’s body down on the ground with deep care. His hand ran across Gwen’s hair
as he slowly lowered her down. “I had to get the demon out.”

He
rambled on in a way that sounded like an apology, so what had he done?
Jessica’s eyes narrowed as she made out the red marks on Gwen’s neck. The
bastard killed her, but who was she to cast stones?

 
Mike’s eyes met Amanda’s and didn’t deviate.
“The demon worked for Lourdes. Gwen begged me to get it out. She’s been…dead
only a few minutes.”

His gaze
held an unasked question. Amanda shook her head. “I’ve never….”

What was
he asking her to do? Jessica wanted to
interrupt
but didn’t feel it was her place. Who she to stand in Amanda’s way? She was the
pure one. The healer.

Mike
gripped Amanda’s shoulder. “Your powers are growing. You removed the mark of
Lourdes, I’m presuming, from what I see. Reading minds, egging people into
doing what you want, can’t you try? For your aunt, don’t you have a duty to
try?”

Were his
words true? Had Amanda really done all those things? Jessica couldn’t believe
it, but Amanda nodded, her expression serene. She knelt down beside Gwen and
turned to Jessica for a brief moment. Her face pure as rain. “I have to try.”

“No,”
Jessica said forcefully and grabbed her arm. “You almost died taking the mark
of Lourdes from me. And now you’re what, going to try to absorb death? Look at
the marks on her neck, look at what he did.” Her eyes narrowed into
condemnation. “Get the demon out of her, you damned murdered her.”

Mike’s
eyes narrowed. “And what would you have had me do? Let the demon kill us all,
take Amanda into the underworld?” Mike snorted. “We don’t have time to fight.
The longer she’s gone…”

Amanda
nodded and lifted her hand in the air. The ball of light swirling in Amanda’s
hand, left Jessica bewildered. It was bigger and more glorious than any Jessica
had seen before. It lit Amanda in a luminous glow and it was only
outdone
by her fine concentration. Her face
beautiful as ever as she bit on her bottom lip and strained with might.

Red
fingertip marks appeared on Amanda’s neck and she gagged for air. “Amanda,”
Mike warned as she started to sway.

“She’s choking!”
Jessica’s words were a guilty verdict slashed at the priest. “Amanda!” Jessica
gripped her sister’s waist to pull her away, but Gwen’s eyelids were
fluttering.

“Just
another moment,” Mike begged. “Please.”

His words
were so simple and rife with emotion. Jessica didn’t understand why he cared so
much. Gwen’s back arched and she took a giant gasp of air, Jessica let Amanda
go. The light faded from her hands and Amanda fell forward, catching herself on
her open palms. Heaving for air, but her neck returned to its pale complexion.

The marks
were gone.

Love
surpassed Jessica’s awe. She never knew Amanda could be so strong. Where had
that inner strength come from?

Amanda
sat down beside her with rosy flushed cheeks. They both watched as Gwen sat up.
Her eyes locked with the priest and something passed between them, a
familiarity that Jessica knew all too well. No words were spoken, no touch was
transferred, but the affection was there and it made her think of Duncan.

She was
ready to see him again. She was. Couldn’t he just return so Jessica’s weary
eyes could look upon him? Maybe that would restore the sad state of her soul.

Gwen
turned and took in the sight of the sisters. Reaching for them with both hands,
she caressed each of their cheeks. “Oh my girls, I never thought I’d see you
again through my own eyes. I am so sorry.”

There was
nothing to forgive; Amanda had been right about that. What Gwen had done to
them, had been against her will and Jessica didn’t have the heart to hold it
against her.
Instead,
the Blood sisters
fell into Gwen’s open arms into a genuine warm hug. Love for
family
had brought them this far.

It would
continue to sustain them when nothing else would.