Blood & Soul

Blood & Soul by Deborah O'Toole (aka Deidre Dalton) is Book #3 in the Bloodline Trilogy.

Emma Beckett is adopted into a loving home as an infant, never knowing the true circumstances of her birth. As a child, she discovers she has unique powers of healing but eventually realizes her abilities could be an instrument of evil, begotten by a bloodthirsty monster.

From Chapter Three: Touch of Loss

EMMA HAD NEVER met anyone she didn't like, at least not in her young life so far. She liked people - and animals - in general, never having a reason to feel otherwise.

So it shocked her when she  immediately disliked Mia Gianna, one of Shawn's classmates from Mendocino High School. Mia was part of a large, Italian family in the village, where her father owned a popular restaurant. Emma recalled seeing Mia a few years ago, when she and her parents had dinner at the "Mia Bella" eatery one Saturday evening. Mia - the only girl amongst six brothers - worked as a waitress at the restaurant during the summer tourist season. Back then, Mia had been pimply and pudgy, with frizzy blonde hair and a flushed face. She was quiet, rarely saying a word unless someone spoke to her first. Emma felt sorry for the girl, but did not think much about it after dinner with her parents.

A few years later, Shawn announced he and Mia were going on a date in his second year of high school. All of sixteen, Shawn had grown taller, his voice had deepened and his natural handsomeness had matured. Emma could spot the black whiskers on his chin, which he usually shaved off quickly. He was becoming a man, and the transformation had begun to fascinate Emma. Her best friend also happened to the best looking boy in school.

Emma was astounded when Shawn told her he was going on a date with Mia, never thinking he was the type to like someone like her. He could have his pick of girls, so why was he settling for the pimply and pudgy Mia Gianna? Almost at once, Emma felt ashamed by her thoughts - "someone like Mia" - yet the notion of Shawn taking Mia on a date still seemed far-fetched to her.

Emma and Shawn were lounging on the beach one Saturday afternoon when he told her about his upcoming date, mentioning it casually. "We're going to have dinner at the Fiddleheads Cafe, and then see a movie. Suburban Gothic is playing at the Coast Cinema."

"You and Mia?" Emma asked, her tone incredulous as she stared at him.

"Yes," Shawn replied, returning her stare.

"Well," Emma hesitated, her words coming awkwardly. "She doesn't seem to be your type."

"What's my type, Em?" Shawn wanted to know, his brow furrowing.

"Don't get me wrong," she replied quickly. "Mia is just . . . kind of heavy and zitty."

Shawn threw back his head and laughed. "When was the last time you saw Mia?"

She shrugged. "A few years ago, I think. I went to Mia Bella for dinner with my parents, and she was the waitress."

Shawn lay back, propping himself on his elbows. "Well, for your information, Mia is no longer pudgy - and what did you call it? - ah yes, zitty. She lost a bunch of weight and her skin cleared up. She's turned into quite a beauty, actually."

"Oh," Emma responded in a small voice.

His eyes were twinkling. "Are you jealous, Em?"

She glared at him. "Why would I be jealous?"

"That's what I want to know," he countered.

"I am not jealous." She refused to look at him.

 "You don't have to worry, Em," he told her in a soothing tone. "You'll always be my best friend, no matter what." His eyes softened. "We'll be besties even if we live across the world from each other someday, and even when we're old and decrepit."

She met his eyes. "Do you mean it?"

He nodded. "Always, Em. Always."

* * *

EMMA MIGHT HAVE let it rest after their conversation, but on the day of Shawn's date with the newly-alluring Mia, Shawn brought her to meet his mother, and then strolled over to the Beckett cottage to find Emma. She wasn't at home, and was nowhere in sight on the property.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Emma had climbed her favorite pine tree in the backyard, a bottle of coke in her hoodie pocket, with Chaz following her. Once she reached her comfortable branch perch, she opened the bottle of coke using the natural niche in the trunk, and then took a long swallow. She had seen Shawn and Mia walking over from the Baskerville property, but she had no desire to meet Shawn's date. She thought herself safe from discovery in the tree, with Chaz twitching his nose at her side.

Shawn and Mia came to stand in the backyard. Emma took the opportunity to take in Mia's appearance from her lofty position in the pine tree, her face forming a sour expression.

It was true. Mia had blossomed into a young beauty. Gone was the pudgy frame and pimples of a painfully shy teenager, to be replaced by a stunning blonde with green eyes and a creamy complexion. She wore a short, pastel skirt with a white, silky blouse, which showed off her generous breasts to advantage. Emma frowned. She thought Mia wore too much make-up. It made her look like a tramp.

"Can we go now?" Mia asked Shawn as they stood on the grass. Emma could hear her clearly.

"I wanted you to meet Emma," Shawn fretted.

"I met your mother," Mia reminded him crossly. "Isn't that enough? Can we go now?"

Shawn paused, staring at Mia in surprise. "I didn't realize it was such a hardship for you to meet my mother."

"It wasn't a hardship," Mia replied impatiently. "But I'd really like to get going now."

"Sure, Mia. Sure."

Emma heard the tone of Shawn's voice, and instinctively realized he was disappointed. She knew him as well as she knew herself, and she felt his unhappiness.

She guzzled the remaining soda in the coke bottle, and then leaned forward slightly on her haunches. Shawn deserved better than the plastic princess - whose voice had an annoying, whiny twinge - and Emma wanted to make sure he didn't settle for less.

She raised her hand, her fingers wrapped around the mouth of the bottle, and then let it go. A split second later she heard Shawn and Mia cry out simultaneously.

Emma pushed aside a low-hanging pine branch and looked down. Her eyes widened with dismay when she saw Shawn lying flat on the ground, his hand grasping his temple, which appeared to be bloody. The coke bottle had rolled a few feet away, on its side in the grass.

Mia stood there, motionless, a shocked expression on her face.

Emma leapt down from the tree, her graceful legs landing soundly on the lawn. Chaz sped down the tree trunk after her, and then scurried away. Emma went to Shawn, kneeling next to him as he met her eyes and groaned in pain.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Emma told him tearfully. "I just meant to startle you." She leaned closer to his face and whispered in his ear so only he could hear. "I'll fix you, Shawn. Don't worry. It'll be like it never happened."

"Who are you?" Mia demanded harshly, finally finding her voice as her hostile gaze settled on Emma. "And why did you drop a coke bottle on my boyfriend's head?"

Emma ignored her, instead reaching out to move Shawn's hand from his bloodied temple. She placed her own hand on the gash. She closed her eyes as she lowered her head, as if in prayer.

Shawn had witnessed Emma heal all sorts of creatures - animals mostly, but her skills had long ago graduated to the human realm. He could feel the warm, healing energy pulse into his head through her hand. It was a soothing sensation, making him calm and relaxed as she touched him. She was literally fixing him, erasing all impact and trace of the wound on his temple.

A few minutes later, she removed her hand and sat back on her heels as she regarded him. He reached up to touch his temple - there was no wound, no blood, no pain. He met her eyes again, which conveyed his wonder and appreciation for her act. She smiled timidly, returning his stare with warm regard.

"What just happened?" Mia asked as she looked down at Shawn and Emma.

"Nothing you would ever understand," Shawn replied softly, his eyes still on Emma.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mia wanted to know, her mouth turned down in an unhappy line.

"Just let it go," Shawn responded tersely as he rose to his feet. "I'll take you home, Mia. I'm not up for a date tonight."

"Don't bother," Mia returned angrily. "I'd rather walk." She turned on her heel and strode away, making her way quickly to Crestwood Drive.

Emma rose to her feet, still staring at Shawn.

"That date was over before it started," he told her wryly.

"I'm sorry."

"No you're not. But I'm not sorry, either."

"Why?"

Shawn grinned. "I don't think Mia and I would be well-suited. Plus, I've always got my mind on another girl."

"Who?" Emma's lips formed the word but no sound came.

"My best friend, Emma Beckett."

She blushed. "Oh."

He reached over and took her hand. "Thank you for fixing me."

"You're welcome, but it was the least I could do."

"Your gift . . . it's amazing and seems to be getting stronger."

"Yes," she acknowledged. "I can feel it."

Shawn regarded her quietly for a minute, and then smiled. "It's a good thing, Em. It's all well and good."

"I agree."

He tugged her hand. "Since my evening is now free, would you care to take a walk on the beach?"

She brightened. "I'd love to."

As they strolled toward the path leading to the beach, Emma looked over her shoulder toward the backyard. Her eyes fell on the miscreant coke bottle, now lying empty on its side in the green grass.

"I meant to hit Mia," Emma thought passively as she looked away with a small smile. "Not Shawn. Either way, I got rid of her and that suits me just fine."