Chapter Fifty-One
The soft caress of fingertips tracing circles on her back roused Gemma from her sleep. She smiled and turned her head on her pillow so she could see Christian.
He was on his side, his pillow caught between his other arm and his head.
His light brown hair was no messier than usual, but the golden hues in his hazel eyes were luminescent, full of such glee as they watched her wake.
Giddy warmth built in her chest and cascaded down her limbs.
Even first thing in the morning, he was so bloody handsome.
“That’s the best alarm I’ve ever had,” Gemma joked.
Christian grinned. “I tried to let you sleep as long as I could. Rami wants you to come in for a DNA test this morning.”
Gemma dropped her face into her pillow. Maybe if she suffocated, she wouldn’t need to face the fact that she wasn’t fully herself anymore.
The circles stopped, and the pillow was gently tugged out from under her head. She made a show of letting her head fall onto the mattress.
Christian chuckled. “Come on. It won’t be that bad.”
She groaned and didn’t move. The blankets whipped off her lower half, and she shrieked at the onslaught of cold air against her bare skin.
“Oh, that’s not fair,” Gemma said, sitting bolt upright.
Christian giggled and pinched her naked butt when she went to stand. Her reaction elicited a deep belly laugh from him before she pummeled him in the face with a pillow.
Like when she’d first arrived in Zion, Gemma had stood between panels of electroglass.
But this time, a scientist evaluated her for any physical abnormalities associated with her purple blood and newfound “ability.” She hadn’t known whether or not to be pleased that the exam showed she was anatomically normal.
An hour later, however, the scientist presented the results from her blood draw and cheek swab—and nearly knocked Gemma’s legs out from under her.
“Your DNA is incorrectly coded,” the scientist, Doctor Manae, said.
“What does that mean?” Christian inquired.
The scientist brought up a blank screen on her large panel of electroglass. “DNA typically has four nucleotides.” She drew a rough sketch on her screen. “Gemma now has a fifth. Whatever she disturbed at that alien site has literally implanted itself into her DNA.”
Gemma gulped a shaky breath and pressed a trembling hand to her chest. The results were impossible; they defied science. She should be dead or deformed. What did I touch? Why is this happening?
Christian’s hand found her other, his face ashen.
“Is there any way to extract the extra nucleotide?” Rami asked, frowning.
Doctor Manae shook her head. “Not unless we want to kill Gemma in the process.”
Christian’s grip on her hand tightened.
Doctor Manae waved them over to a massive microscope and switched on the light. “This, however, is most concerning. We’ve already seen the color of her blood has changed. But if we look closer . . .” On the nearby wall, a new visualization was projected.
Mixed in with Gemma’s blood were purple cells that swam amongst all the red and white, like ashes in water. Whatever she’d bothered in that temple had clung to her like a parasite and was now thriving—perhaps even multiplying—off her literal lifeblood.
Gemma leaned into Christian as her legs weakened, and he wrapped an arm around her to keep her from falling. The room blurred as tears filled her eyes.
“It’s not just the hue that has been altered,” Doctor Manae continued. “There are a significant number of these cells, and this is in one drop of Gemma’s blood. I fear to think how many circulate in total, and what would happen if they were to overtake her red and white cells.”
“So, what does this mean for Gemma?” Rami asked.
Doctor Manae shrugged. “I honestly can’t say. She could remain as she is, coexisting with this foreign occupant, or it could take over completely. We won’t know until more time passes.”
A quiet whimper sounded in Christian’s chest, loud enough that only Gemma would’ve heard. She bit down hard on her tongue, the sharp sting a deliberate distraction to keep tears from falling.
She’d been so terrified of losing those she loved that she never entertained the thought that she might be the one to leave them behind. And, for some reason, that hurt even more. How long would Christian hold her after an alien parasite took away her last breath?
“I would suggest, though, that Gemma not use this new ability until we know more,” Doctor Manae said.
“Understood.” Rami sighed. “Thank you for your time. We’ll be in touch.”
“My pleasure, sir.” She stepped away to conduct further research.
Rami led Christian and Gemma from the laboratory, and once they were in the hall, Rami gave instruction. “I want you to start a daily log of your symptoms, Gemma. And Christian, you will report to me immediately if there are any changes in her personality, demeanor . . .”
Gemma’s focus shifted when a message appeared on her eyepiece.
Nadine wants to talk. 10:00. Come alone. -C
A map of Zion, with a specific location marked, arrived a second later.
Gemma’s legs buckled, and she dropped to the ground despite Christian’s arm around her.
He was at her side immediately, a firm grip on her arms. “What’s wrong?”
“My sister . . .” was all she was able to get out. Had the Dissent kidnapped Nadine because Gemma turned on them? Were they going to use Nadine as a reason to force Gemma back into the Dissent?
“Gemma”—Christian brushed loose hair from her forehead—“talk to me. What about your sister?”
“Colton,” she forced out, “says she wants to talk. I don’t understand.” Her eyes burned. Oh, stars, if they hurt her . . .
Christian swore.
Rami tapped on his comm before turning his attention to Christian. “Get Gemma to the war room. Everybody’s on their way. I’ll meet you there.” He hurried away.
A feeling of heaviness expanded through her. Gemma clutched her chest, bile rising in her throat. “This is my fault. I tried to kill Colton. He said Reymond would be angry. What if they have her? What if they hurt her?”
Christian took her face in his hands. “Don’t do that. Don’t think of worst-case scenarios. For all we know, this is just a trap to get us looking for him in the wrong place. Take a deep breath, okay?”
Gemma closed her eyes and obeyed, her exhale shaky as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Christian wiped it away. “Good. Take another one.”
She sucked in another deep breath, and he kissed her forehead. After agreeing she could stand, Christian helped her onto her feet, and with hands gripped so tightly that even a black hole couldn’t pull them apart, they rushed to meet their team.