Bloodbound

CHAPTER THREE

Margery's POV

"Laurie, I know I'm special, you've always told me that" I said, my

voice tight

"Yes, because it's true" Laurie replied, pacing the small room "But

right now, we don't have much time, the binding spell has broken,

which means the cloaking spell is gone too. We have to get going,

Margery"

"Spell?" I frowned, the word tasting foreign and absurd on my

tongue"What spell?"

Laurie flicked her wrist, and the lights above us blinked and

flickered as though they were alive. My heart skipped

"Okay, we need to leave. Now," she muttered, closing her laptop and

setting her glasses carefully on top of it

"Go where?" My voice cracked with panic, but Laurie didn't stop

moving

"Margery, I'll explain everything, I promise, but we don't have time,

they'll be here any moment now, the spell broke a few hours ago,

didn't it?" she asked, her tone clipped but urgent

I nodded, even though her words made no sense to me— Binding

spell? Cloaking spell? Humans didn't use spells, is my aunt losing

her mind?

"Laurie, maybe we should go to the hospital" I suggested weakly

"There's got to be a reasonable explanation for all of this, maybe it's

an illness—something treatable"

Laurie's green eyes softened momentarily "Oh, Margery, this isn't

an illness, it's who you are, it’s what we are" she said, brushing my

hair back

"Now, get up” she commanded, her tone turning sharp as she

grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet

Before I could protest further, a loud thud echoed from outside,

followed by the sharp clack of something striking the ground. My

stomach twisted

Then, the doorbell rang

Laurie froze, her face paling as the color drained from it "They're

here" she whispered, her voice a tremor

"Who's here?" I demanded, my voice rising in panic

Laurie's lips moved soundlessly as though she were chanting under

her breath, she gripped my hand, muttering "I have to get the

pearls"

The doorbell rang again. And again. Each chime reverberated

through the house like a death warning

"Who is here, Laurie?" I repeated, but she shook her head and

darted toward the stairs

"Stay close" she ordered

"Laurie, you're not making any sense! What's going on?" I hissed,

following her like a shadow as she opened the utility drawer in her

room, She yanked it open, tossing aside old trinkets and papers

until she pulled out a small wooden box

Inside, nestled on a soft fabric, was a black pearl

"Here, take this" she said, pressing one of the small pearls into my

palm

The pearl was surprisingly cool to the touch, smooth like glass, and

faintly pulsing with energy

"What is this?" I asked, staring down at it

"It's a transport pearl, hold it tight, and when you throw it at

running speed, it will take you somewhere safe"

Before I could ask any more questions, a deep, booming voice

echoed through the house

"Laurie! We know you're in there! Bring the girl out!"

I froze, my pulse hammering "Who are these people, Laurie?" I

whispered, my voice barely audible

Laurie didn't answer, instead, she snapped her fingers, and in an

instant, my body felt weightless, as though I were being swallowed

by air but was underwater at the same time, my stomach churned,

and then I was slammed back into reality

We were in the attic below the garage

"What the—" I gasped, clutching my chest. My knees buckled, and I

fell to the floor, gasping for air

"Sorry, sweetie" Laurie muttered, already rifling through another

utility drawer, she pulled out another pearl and tucked it into her

pocket

"Laurie, what the hell just happened?" I demanded

"No time to explain. Just follow me" she said and we bolted out of

the attic and into the hallway

Before I could argue, a voice echoed again, closer this time

"Hello, Laurie," the voice drawled, sending chills racing down my

spine

We turned, and there he was, a man in his early forties stood in the

hallway, dressed in black jeans and a matching jacket, his dark eyes

gleamed with spite, and a twisted smile curled his lips

"Theodore" Laurie said, protectively stepping in front of me, her

voice, though sharp, trembled ever so slightly "Still breaking into

people's homes, I see"

"What can I say?" Theodore shrugged "Old habits die hard, not that

I've ever tried to change" His gaze slid past Laurie and landed on me

"And you must be Margery, I've been dying to meet you"

"Take your eyes off her before I pluck them out" Laurie hissed, her

tone venomous and unrecognizable

Theodore chuckled darkly "I see you haven't lost your edge. Good,

that'll make this all the more entertaining"

"You're mistaken if you think I'll let you take her" Laurie said, her

stance unwavering

"You don't have a choice" Theodore said smoothly "You should've

known this day was coming. Seraphina's little spell was never going

to last forever, and we've been waiting for this moment, we came

prepared"

At that, more footsteps echoed from behind Theodore

"Margery, run!" Laurie snapped, pulling me toward the garage door

But as she twisted the knob, we found the door locked

"Did you lock this door?" Laurie hissed

"No! The garage door is never locked!" I whispered back, my panic

spiking

"Surprised to see us, Laurie?"

We turned to see a woman stepping out of the shadows, flanked by

two men, the woman clasped her hands, and glowing silver blades

appeared in her palms

Laurie shoved me aside just as the woman lunged. The blades sliced

through the air, missing Laurie by a hair's breadth, with a smooth

motion of her hands, Laurie summoned what looked like a gust of

wind, sending the woman flying backward into the wall with a thud

One of the men darted toward me, his hand outstretched, but before

he could touch me, his entire body stiffened, freezing mid-motion

Slowly, his limbs began to bend at unnatural angles, cracking loudly

before he crumpled to the ground

I stared at Laurie, stunned, her usually calm, collected demeanor

had been replaced by a fierce, commanding presence

"Margery, take the pearl and run!" she yelled, snapping me out of

my awe

"I can't leave you!" I shouted back, tears blurring my vision

Laurie's face softened for a moment "I'll be right behind you, I

promise. But you have to go now!"

Theodore appeared in the doorway, more men and women filing in

behind him

"Run!" Laurie screamed, throwing another gust of wind toward

them

Finally, I bolted past them, clutching the pearl in my hand like my

life depended on it