Blood Sacrifice (The Blood Sisters Book 3) (20 page)

Home.

The
Blood estate was something Amanda never thought she’d see again. A two story
home, with blue shutters, on twelve acres of land. A peeling picket fence
surrounded it and the grass was overgrown, but not so overgrown that it hadn’t
been cared for. Someone had been here, within the last month.

Amanda
could make out the tracks in the dirt path that led to the family barn.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg; when was the last time Amanda had thought of the names of
the two horses she and Jessica once rode? Gosh, she had even forgotten they had
horses until now.

Mom
had taught them to ride and took care of all the animals, with the girls’ help.
Jessica was more interested in machinery, but Amanda had loved the animals. The
baby chicks and even the two goats they kept. The pasture was still there, but
it was overgrown and no animals had grazed on those fields in years.

The
Blood family home, never sold, yet never lived in again. It was like a sacred
tomb as Amanda stood on the doorstep, staring at a tarnished copper knocker.
The blue door was faded and showed signs of wear, but in her mind Amanda saw it
as it once was, beautiful and pristine.

In
her distant memory, the wind blew, as the door was opened. Two little girls
clutched each other’s hands as they skipped down the road. Flowered skirts and
jean jackets, Amanda was small and
barely
kept up with Jessica as they laughed. Mom, her curls red and flowing, stuck her
head out the door.

“Be
careful, you two!”

Lunch
boxes swung from their hands as they hurried to the bus stop. They didn’t stop,
never turned around to see the shining smile of Donna Blood, even as something
dark haunted the corner of her eyes.

Danger
was coming. They lived on borrowed time. Mom knew, just as Dad did. Amanda had
been little and they hid it from her. So busy with caring for animals, even
insects, and playing with dolls. Amanda hadn’t a care in the world. She didn’t
realize how much would ride on her shoulders. On her soul.

She
twisted the old knob and stepped into the open living room of her home. There
was no furniture anymore, except for an old grandfather clock in the corner of
the room. A rear staircase led to the bedrooms The luster of the hardwood floor
had faded—
coarse
from a decade drying
out—but everything was clean. Amanda’s toes gripped the hardwood floor as she
made her way across the room and stopped before a stain. Not bright, but muted.

Red.
The color of blood.

Amanda
bent forward so her fingers could touch the stain. She hadn’t seen it that
night. Barely even noticed it the night Mom was killed, but as her fingers
stroked against it, her mind came alive with a scream of evil. Faces of torment
flashed into her mind and the past played out in her head.

Over
ten years ago,
lightning
flashed,
illuminating all of the windows. The den door swung open wildly as Mom, in her
nightgown
and bathrobe, stepped from the room.
Demons by the stairs snarled and charged toward her. Maybe she would’ve gotten
further, but she’d locked the den door first.

Protect
Jacob. Save the children. His sacrifice needed time to work. It just did.

Her
friend. Savior. Her lover. Donna would do anything for him and their family.

With
teeth gritted, she stormed into the three demons, who violated her home. Mom
struck one with her fist and pushed another back. She wasn’t a fighter, far
from it. A demon grabbed her by the arm and she took that opportunity to push
her dagger into his stomach.

He
didn’t die from the wound; instead the other demons seized her by the arms, as
the injured one slit her throat with her own blade. They let her body fall, as
lightning
flared and thunder crashed outside.
Mom groaned as her back collided with the hardwood floor. She grabbed at her
neck.

“My
babies,” Donna whispered and watched two demons head for the stairs while the
other headed for the den door.

No,
Jacob.

Her
palm fell open on the hardwood, just as a golden light lit up the den. It
blocked everything else out from her vision, but she heard Jacob fall. Donna
sobbed listening to him fall.

“Mommy!”
Jessica’s footsteps rushed down the stairs and that was how it all started for
them. That’s when the horror really began.

The
memory faded as Amanda’s finger slipped from the floor as she stood. It was the
den she really wanted to see. She needed to stand in it again and feel him. It
had been so long since Amanda had been able to feel him. This place was cursed
now or that’s what they’d always thought.

Aunt
Gwen told them demons would track them here. It wasn’t safe to see the home of
their parents, but Amanda had always wanted to return. Sometimes she got close,
but the remembered misery and despair of the place scared her off.

Not
anymore. Now Amanda was stronger. She saw her dad in her mind’s eye. She could
feel him and appreciate his sacrifice. She really wasn’t alone anymore.

She
pushed the den door open and expected to see all his things, right where he had
left them, but it was dark. Empty. The bookcases still held his books, but
everything else had been sold or thrown away except for one lone chair. It made
Amanda’s heart tight and bitter. That stuff was theirs, hers and Jessica’s. It
shouldn’t have been sold without their permission.

Daddy…Amanda’s
fingers swept against the leather recliner in the center of the room.

With
her eyes closed, Amanda allowed herself to sit. A deep inhale was all it took
to smell him. A smell of leather mixed with pine, from all the work he did in
the yard. A slight hint of grease, from when he worked on the car with Jessie.
Something just the two of them did and Amanda didn’t understand why her sister
loved it so much. She suspected it had something to do with him.

When
she opened her eyes, she was six years old again. The den was polished and
perfect. Pristine, as all of Dad’s things were. A fire flickered in the
fireplace and in front of her on a small table, a tea set.

Amanda
poured two cups of pretend tea—just water—into cups. And on tiny plates, small
crackers. “One lump or two, Daddy?”

Her
voice was so kind. So sweet, it scared her that she had changed so much.

Dad
put his book down and sat in the chair opposite her. He wasn’t sleeping much,
judging by the lines around his eyes. His face was scruffy. from not being
shaved. The sleeves on his white shirt were rolled up and he wore a black vest
that hadn’t been buttoned. Amanda never saw the worry on his face, even as he
rubbed it. Although she was an empath, she was only six, and just hadn’t known.

“Two
lumps. You know how I love my sugar.”

Amanda
pretended to put two lumps of sugar in his tea and then they clinked their cups
together. “Bottoms up!”

He
never stopped watching her with his careful blue eyes. “You know how special
you are to me, Mandy?”

“I
know,” Amanda said shyly, but she didn’t really know, did she? Why was he
always in his study working so hard? She wanted to play dolls and roll around
in the dirt with him as she did with her Mom. Like how he spent time with
Jessica working on his car.

Dad
put his hands on her knees. “If you don’t really know, it’s my fault. I’m
sorry. My work is important, but…want to lie in the grass tonight?” Dad sighed.
“Want to gaze out at the stars with me? Just the two of us?”

Amanda
nodded in a hurry. “I’d love that!”

“Good,”
Dad grinned. “I’ll lay on your princess blanket, if you promise not to tell.”
He gave her a wink and Amanda giggled.

“It
can be our secret,” Amanda whispered.

“We’re
going to have lots of secrets,” Dad stroked her hair back and gazed deep into
her eyes. “So many secrets, Mandy, once you’re older. You’ll have to keep them
just between us. Okay?”

Amanda
sat back straight as the door opened. A strange man was there to visit. A
priest, but not from church. Dad stood in a hurry, as if to block her view.
“What the hell—.”

“Jake,
we have to talk.”

It
was Mike. How hadn’t Amanda known it was him that came to talk to her Dad? Was
it Mike who warned Jacob that the demons were on the move?

Amanda
opened her eyes, and the memory, the last of the memories she had time for,
faded. Her dad had been a good man. She ached for him. She ached for all of it,
but time for indulgence was over.

Miriam
stood in the center of the room with her arms folded. Her head was buried down
deep, like a bird, drifting to sleep. She was solemn in this place of deep
mourning. Amanda appreciated her kindness.

“I’m
ready,” Amanda stood from the recliner and caught her reflection in the patio
window. Nothing about her was familiar anymore. It was all black and evil. The
faces of the dead screamed out in torment, amid the fabric of her dress.

All
that was left was for her walk into the underworld.

Miriam
turned toward the patio door and it flew open. She held a hand up and in the
distance in the fields, a staircase to the underworld opened. “Make your decent
and I’ll close the path up after you.”

Tears
of gold sparkled in Miriam’s eyes and she cupped Amanda’s chin. “May God be
with you, child. May He have mercy on your soul for what you are giving up for
all of us.”

“Thank
you,” Amanda whispered and started forward. She reached the patio door just as
someone blocked it.

Jessica.

It
had been so long since Jessica had been home, it almost didn’t seem real. She
wished there was time to process and really think about it, but there wasn’t.
Jessica had to ignore the yard and the old maple tree where once she carved
their initials with her Swiss army knife. She had to get to Amanda, because
outside a war was brewing.

Streaks
of gold across the night sky amidst the fury of black wings disrupted whatever
calm there was. The sounds of bombs dropping and steel against steel pierced
the calm air about the place. Her remembrance of the place had already been
ruined by her parents’ murder and now, there was something new to add to the
list.

This
was the place Jessica might lose Amanda forever. Everything had come full
circle.

There
was no time to think about how bittersweet it was to see the two-level home or
how the open yard hadn’t changed much. Sure, the white picket fence was peeling
and cracked, but that was all Jessica had time to remember. She couldn’t let
her memories get in the way of doing what she had to do.

Her
hand rested on the door handle. It was time to go. Push on and find her sister.

Duncan
took her by the shoulder. “Go in through the back and I’ll check the front.
I’ll try to keep the angels and demons off of you, Jess. Just be fast and
quick. Remember if anyone stands in your way, you’re gonna have to deal with
them swiftly.”

Jessica
couldn’t pinpoint it, but something about his voice was different. It held a
harsher quality than what she was used to. Maybe he was just nervous. Who
wasn’t a little on edge? “Shouldn’t we take this on together?”

Duncan’s
smile was playful and crooked. Shouldn’t he be more serious about this? They
had arrived at the finish line after all. “I wish we could, darlin’, but if
Amanda sees us both coming, she will run. We don’t want to spook her.”

That
made sense. It did. Jessica exhaled. She was so nervous.

“You
find her and you don’t let her go. No matter the cost.”

This
was it. Pep talk over. Hopefully she’d be up to the task. Jessica stole a kiss
from him. “For my own luck.”

Duncan
stroked her hair back and his eyes glinted with passion. “There’ll be time
later. I’d always make time for you, darlin’.”

She
could stay there forever and get lost in his eyes. Something about them was
more hypnotic than usual. The way they glinted, with specs of brown adrift in a
sea of blue. Had Duncan’s eyes always been so haunting? Powerful?

“I
love you,” Jessica whispered, but what was wrong with her? She had to go.

Duncan
nuzzled her lips. “We’ll be together forever. Now, go Jessie. Go.”

Jessica
broke free of her trance, popped the door open and took off running. Normally
she loved a good fight, but she avoided the air fight. Angels clashed against
flying demons high in the sky, except for the occasional nose dive. Dirt shot
up, as bombs were dropped to earth. Never in her life had Jessica seen demons
with black wings. She would’ve loved to put a few in the grave.

For
now, she couldn’t draw attention to herself. All Jessica could do was keep her
head down and run. Heart pounds and legs aching from being weak. Heaven knew,
the run wasn’t that long or hard.

She
jumped the white picket fence and edged around the windows of her Dad’s old
den. Her heart clenched to be so close to it. Inside a darkened silhouette
moved and Jessica paused at the paint chipped door. Her hand just above the
handle, Jessica froze. She couldn’t move. Her heart was in her chest.

Amanda
was in there. She knew it. Jessica could practically smell that sweet fruit
scent that always lingered around her.

The
door was pulled open from the inside and Jessica’s heart
leaped
out of her throat, to be face to face
with her sister again.

Only,
Amanda wasn’t her sister anymore. Jessica didn’t want to believe her eyes, but
her heart convulsed in pain to stare directly into the face of her tormentor.

Lourdes.

It
was the face of a twisted monster. There were slight differences. Amanda was
still under there, but it was as if she had been covered with
molten
ash. Her real features still poked
through, like the way her nose crinkled and that adorable chin that Mom always
used to kiss goodnight.

Her
dress was a work of tortured souls. Her arms and neck were covered in tight
black ink and her hair had lost its lustrous red sheen—instead it was a tangled
mess of black curls and above them all…a set of horns.

But
her eyes…her eyes were Amanda’s. Everything about them was what Jessica loved.
The green, the purity. Somehow her baby was in there and wasn’t lost at all.
She could reach her, Jessica knew she could.

“You
can’t go.” Jessica stood her ground, but her voice broke with sadness. “You
can’t just march into the underworld. Amanda—.”

Amanda
wasn’t happy to see her. Instead, she sighed as if Jessica was a problem.
Something that had gotten in the way. “Like I have a choice?” Her words struck
Jessica hard. “You think if there was another choice and I wouldn’t take it? To
stay here, with you? My sister…” Amanda stretched a
handout
. Her fingernails were jagged and black and her palms held
black tattoos of thorns and heartbreak.

Jessica
took her hand without question or hesitation. She held it and squeezed it hard
because this was Amanda. It didn’t matter to her if she was the queen of the
underworld. Her sister…they’d be together until the end and Jessica wouldn’t
let her go. She couldn’t. Maybe Jessica had thought, for a brief moment, she
could sacrifice her…

Jessica
would die without Amanda and that meant they found a way to do this together.
If they both went into the underworld to save the world from Lucifer and his
demons, maybe things would finally be right. She didn’t want to say
goodbye
to Duncan, or a life she might have
had, but maybe this was the Blood sacrifice that was needed.

Maybe
this had always been the part they were meant to play.

Together,
instead of apart.

Miriam’s
nose flared. “We’re wasting time. Amanda, Hell has split. Only your return to
the throne can stop what is about to happen!”

Amanda’s
eyes searched Jessica. “We can’t be responsible for destroying the world.”

One
more time, Jessica pleaded. “Give Aunt Gwen time. She has what she needs. She’s
almost here, Amanda. Please.” Jessica wasn’t above begging for this. “Five
minutes. Please. If she doesn’t show, we go. Together.”

“Together?”
Amanda’s forehead creased. “No, I can’t let you do that. You belong here.
You’re not…you’re human, Jessica.”

“Barely.
Because of you. If you’re going to the underworld to clean house, to release
the lost souls, let me help you.” Jessica squeezed her sister’s hand and Amanda
gazed down at it. “Please.”

Amanda
licked her lips and her eyes widened. “I don’t know.” She gawked back at
Miriam, but the angel shook her head. Fire and brimstone shone in her eyes. “It
cannot be done. Only one goes into the underworld and that person has already
been chosen!”

Jessica
clenched her teeth and stared Miriam down. “You don’t get to dictate what we
do. You might be an angel. You might serve a higher purpose, but we’re Bloods.
We stick together, no matter the odds.”

Miriam’s
cheeks reddened. Eyes wide, she shouted. “You think that has done any of you
any good? We told you to stay away, Jessica Blood! Now the angels are in
trouble out there. Something is very wrong, and while you can’t feel it, you
can’t see it, I can!” Miriam drew her sword.

Amanda’s
eyes widened. “Miriam!” She splayed her arms out wide to protect Jessica. “No,
don’t do this!”

“I
wish not to, Amanda.” Miriam gulped a deep breath of air as her golden wings
expanded wide in a terrible display and the sound of thunder shook the house.
“We all wish not to do violence against any human. It will break the heart of
heaven itself, but Jessica Blood must step aside. And if she won’t, no matter
the tears we shed for her….”

Her
words were cut off as a sword blade erupted through her torso. The angle
screamed as the glowing red blade cut upward, nearly tearing her body in two.

“No!”
Amanda screamed and grabbed the angel’s slumping body. “Jessica!” Amanda’s tone
changed to one of desperation, seeking help.

“Get
away from that blade!” Jessica grabbed Amanda by the shoulders and wrenched her
backward
, but she didn’t understand. Who
was there? What had happened?

Miriam’s
body began to dissolve into gold dust. What remained was snapped in two by a
pair of strong hands and she disintegrated one golden
note
at a time.

What?
No blade could kill an angel! Jessica didn’t understand….

As
the haze dispersed, Amanda’s shrieks of terror faded. For through the cloud of
vapor came Duncan Jasper’s smiling face.

No
way was that happening. Jessica knew Duncan better than she knew herself. There
was no way he would take out an angel. She thought back to their talks in the
car, how he kissed her and held her—almost like she was his property. Something
had been off about him, but how could it be? Was he sick?

Injured?

He
snarled in a way that Duncan wouldn’t. Jessica couldn’t catch her breath as he
brought his sword up in an offensive stance. She pulled Amanda back, against
the wall behind her. Whatever was happening, Jessica couldn’t believe he was in
control. “You’re better than this, Duncan. Please, don’t.”

She
didn’t have a weapon. There was nothing…She gazed at Papa’s fireplace and
reached for the poker stick. “Don’t make me fight you, Duncan. What’s gotten
into you?”

The
flesh of Duncan’s face began to burn away, like paper lit on fire. It revealed
another man’s twisted face with strong features and yellow inhuman eyes.

“Sorry,”
he said in Duncan’s familiar drawl that now made Jessica’s skin crawl, “the
devil made me do it.”

****

The
façade of Duncan faded and in its place was the most royal of demons, wearing a
human face. Thick black hair fell to his shoulders; he was dressed in a long
red robe and was taller than any man had a right to be. A human face, but by
all accounts, not a human body.

Jessica
didn’t understand. If he was here, where was Duncan? Had he even made it out of
the car accident? Was he dead? Her mouth was sour and a glance at Amanda
revealed nothing. “I can’t…read him. Whatever he is. I just can’t.”

That
terrified her.

“Easy
to fool. Like they say, the devil is in the details. I just love a good devil
pun, don’t you?” He held his sword out, the tip pointed at Amanda’s throat.

The
devil…Lucifer. He was here to stop Amanda; there was no other reason for what
he was doing. None.

And
it had come to this. A choice.

A
final decision.

Jessica
had a split second to choose. Earth or hell. Freedom or slavery. Sister or
everyone else on the planet. There really was no choice, was there? They both
couldn’t get out of there. Someone had to buy the other time.

For
the first time in her rotten, stinking life, Jessica had to choose someone else
over her sister. She allowed herself one longing look at Amanda before she
charged for Lucifer. She grabbed his wrists and pushed against him with all her
might in a losing game of tug of war.

“Go!”
Jessica screamed. “Get out of here!”

Lucifer
hollered a battle call and pushed back against her. Behind him, great black
wings spread wide, filling the room with darkness. Jessica had stared into the
eyes of Satan himself and not only that, had fallen for him. Kissed him.

Jessica
kept her head buried down deep, but Lucifer grabbed her by the throat.

“Jessica!”
Amanda ran from the room, but stopped just outside. Her tone was one of fear.

“I’ve
got this. You go!” It was most likely a lie. Jessica bared her teeth and gagged
as Lucifer pushed her up against the wall beside the fireplace, but Jessica smashed
her hands down onto his shoulders and brought her legs up for a powerful kick.
If she lost, Jessica hoped Amanda didn’t stay around to watch.

Otherwise
her sacrifice would be for nothing.

“
Goodbye
, Jessica!” Amanda ran for the dark
portal Miriam had opened into the underworld.

Good-bye
my sister.
Goodbye
.

Her
kick barely threw Lucifer back, his grip on Jessica never lessened. They
tumbled onto the floor together and he pushed her off of him. “So strong, for a
human girl. You’re lucky I’m not at my full strength yet, or you’d be dead. Or
worse. You’d be my bride.”

Bride?
“I'd rather be dead than…” Jessica tried to pull away from his eyes, but they
lit up red. There were little gears inside his pupils and they spun…causing
Jessica to lose herself. Her mind tumbled and she saw dresses.