Free THIS TIME (The Grace Allen Series Book Three Paranormal Romance) by Alisha Basso Page B

raced
across my flesh as his long yellow hair flowed out behind him. I was lifted as
things smashed and broke around me. I heard Helen screaming. Her cries began as
loud sharp screams only to dissolve into choking, gurgling sounds. Something
began to sizzle and I gagged as smoke filled the cabin.
    “Get the
damn air cleared, would you?” another man yelled.
    I was laid
upon the long sofa and I looked up at several strange faces. I blinked back
tears and tried to catch my breath but succeeded in only coughing more.
    “You were
right,” the co-pilot said, frowning. “He used demon blood. Damn-it, that son of
a bitch!”
    “Yes, it’s
demon blood. Middle circle, I’d say. Honestly, I’m surprised he went with such
a potent blood.”
    “Why are
you surprised? She’s a Madea. I am surprised he did not give her his own.”
    The man
with the yellow hair looked horrified. “Are you kidding? That would kill her! He
wants her compliant and memory free not a raging lunatic. This level of demon
blood would be plenty. She was already confused from the injury.”
    “So how
has he been getting her to drink that shit? You don’t think she’s going along
with it?” Another man stepped into my vision. He was blond with bronze colored
eyes, like two shining bits of metal.
    My mind
was spinning with pain and confusion.
    “Who are
you people?” I choked out, trying to sit up. The fire inside my body had
subsided and I struggled to move.
    They all
stopped speaking and then another scream rang throughout the cabin.
    Helen .
    “What are
you doing to her?” I coughed and they allowed me to sit up. “She’s a total
asshole but you better not be hurting her!” My hair was in my eyes as I
struggled to push up from the couch. I moved to go to her but the man with the
bronze eyes quickly grabbed my arms, pulling them hard behind my back. I kicked
and twisted, falling onto the couch, I struggled to get the man off of me while
trying to get a look at what was happening.
    The
copilot was straddling Helen. His knees pinned her arms to the ground. I kicked
again, struggling to free myself. Smoke billowed up from her face as she
screamed. The smell was horrendous.
    “Calm
down,” the man holding me grunted as I twisted and kicked at his legs. “That thing can’t be hurt too badly,” he said.
    “She’s
burning! He’s burning her!” I screamed as another sizzle hit my ears.
    “He’s only
questioning her.” The man tried to dodge my foot and grunted as I connected
with his shin.
    “Then
question her!” I screamed. “Why fry her like bacon?” I felt sick.
    “She’s a
demon.” He spun me around. “It’s holy water. She’s pure evil, Grace, Don’t feel
sorry for her!”
    I froze.
    Did he
say…no, he didn’t say that. Demon?
    With my
arms still pinned, I looked at the man holding me for several seconds, feeling
something I didn’t understand.
    “Who are
you people?” I whispered. For some inexplicable reason, I no longer wanted to
hurt this man. I shook my head frantically trying to toss the sudden feelings
of tenderness from my mind.
    He looked
sad and I frowned, watching him.
    “I can’t
tell you that,” he said, “I’m sorry, Gracie.”
    “Wait.” I
jerked in his grip. “My name is Alice . Why the fuck are you doing
this?” 
    He sat and,
pulling me down beside him, he grabbed the seatbelt and strapped me in. Then,
holding onto the clasp, he pulled himself closer, his face just millimeters
from mine. His eyes bore into my own as he glared.
    “Your name
is Grace Allen and you are not who you think you are. That bastard has
been feeding you lies.” He gripped my arms as desperation made his voice shake.
    I watched
him, my skin warmed where he touched me and something inside of me sparked. I
opened my mouth to speak.
    “ Pills! ”
    We both
jerked at the voice. Closing my mouth, I looked at the man who had been
torturing poor Helen. He was standing beside her. I looked past him to the lump
on the floor. The