Bloodline

By Martha Harris

What would you do if you were psychic and the last in your family? Then you find out, against all odds, that you could have a baby, even though it could kill you.

Through a difficult pregnancy, a baby is born, Amber. Using abilities that go far beyond any of her relatives, Amber helps solve strange and unexplainable situations. As busy as she is helping people, the very skills that make her successful, make people nervous. Then, on one of her trips, she meets a man and falls in love. Its no easy relationship. Knowing about her skills, he is as nervous as anyone. While working out their difficulties, Amber is asked to use her gifts to stop a serial killer. As things get dangerous for her, she wonders, will she ever again be with the one she loves?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499062786

Martha Harris

Martha Harris was born and raised on the East Coast. She moved to the West Coast over 30 years ago where she raised her five children. Martha has been trained as a CNA on both coasts, went to college for a degree as a COTA and has worked in geriatrics and with the developmentally delayed populations.

Book preview

Chapter One

But you have to!

No, I don’t!

What about the bloodline – the gift – our heritage?

Mandy shrugged.

Mandy, please! Jasmine begged.

Why don’t you bug Nat or Topher?

They don’t seem to care. Apparently neither do you.

I care, Jas, but Teddy is enough. Her husband, Phil, had died when their son, Teddy, was only a year old. She hadn’t dated since then and didn’t seem inclined to do so, even though it had been seven years since Phil had crossed over.

"But, they’re boys – they’re all boys. You know we need a girl!"

Perhaps one of the boys will have the gift.

You know only the girls have it.

I’m just saying – perhaps.

Ugh!

Jasmine was beside herself. True psychic gifts skipped the males in each generation. To date, her sister, two brothers, and herself had only produced boys. She’d be more than willing to keep trying for a girl if she could. However, the birth of her youngest son nearly killed her and her son, so the doctor strongly advised that she not get pregnant again. She had done almost everything medically possible immediately after to ensure a pregnancy wouldn’t happen again. The bloodline, the gift, their heritage, would die with her and Mandy. What were the odds - four of them, and none of them producing a girl? How could she change it? Therein lied the problem.

She had an idea.

Stop staring at me, Jas – I won’t change my mind.

Fair enough. You’re right. Mandy squinted her eyes at her sister.

What are you up to? Mandy knew her sister wouldn’t give up.

Nothing. Jasmine tossed back at her.

Yet. Mandy retorted.

I’ve got to get going. Say Hi to Teddy for me, Jasmine said quickly as she walked briskly out the front door.

By the time Mandy arrived home she was so excited she could barely function. She called her mother and grandmother, inviting them out for lunch the next day. She couldn’t wait to see what they thought of her idea.

After a filling lunch at Tore’s, their favorite café, they sat relaxing as Jasmine explained her idea. As they sipped their coffee, her mother and grandmother looked at each other, then at Jasmine who got a sinking feeling that they didn’t think much of her idea. She looked at them in disbelief.

What’s wrong with the plan? Is it because an adopted child – a child from a past life – isn’t the same, or is it because I’m an adopted, past life child myself?

Good heavens, no! Her mother exclaimed. Neither has anything to do with it!

Then what is it?

Jasmine, her grandmother spoke quietly, gently placing a hand on hers, you didn’t have children in your past life.

"In any of them?!"

You only had one past life dear.

Really? Just one?

Really – just one.

So there’s no hope. The bloodline stops here.

Unless, her grandmother patted her hand, someone gets pregnant again, she sat back, sipped her tea, and then carefully sat the cup down, unintentionally.

Jasmine’s eyes widened. A smile slowly spread across her face.

Really?! Who? Topher? Mandy? Nat?

It won’t happen through the boys. A squeal erupted from Jasmine.

Ooh, Mandy! I’m going out right now to buy baby clothes and clean up the crib and stuff of mine. I know Mandy threw out everything after Teddy because she was done having children. I’m so excited! She kissed each of them and headed out on her shopping spree.

Will she be okay with this pregnancy? Jasmine’s mother asked.

Everything will turn out as it should be.

Mother, please answer the question!

She will be fine.

Jasmine did exactly what she said she would do. At every opportunity she had, she shopped for girl’s clothing, making sure the child had enough clothes to last her until she was three. When she wasn’t buying clothes, diapers, toys, and other baby items, she was wrestling baby furniture around in the basement, cleaning, and polishing it until it looked like new again.

Seeing the baby things she had used with her two boys brought back memories of when she and Bart were dating, specifically their talks of having a family. They both had wanted a large family. They hadn’t had a set number, just a lot.

When they realized that two children were all they would have because of her health, she saw, real or imagined, the regret on Bart’s face. She could never fulfill his dream of having a large family. She had thought of adoption, but felt he wanted only children of his own. She knew she was a source of disappointment to him, though he would never say or do anything to make her feel that way. He didn’t have to, she felt it every day.

Hey, what are you doing down there? Bart, stopped, eyes wide, mouth hanging open when he saw baby furniture all around her.

I’m cleaning this stuff up.

I had a few seconds of fear thinking you were pregnant. With that being impossible, do you plan to adopt?

Cute, Bart, but no.

Okay, so which sibling is pregnant? Whichever one is, I know they’re not happy as everyone seems to be done having kids!

She will be happy, and so will we all – to have a girl.

Mandy? Is she the one? Is she pregnant now?

Not yet.

Then how do you…? Oh. Occasionally he forgot his wife and in-laws were psychic. When is this baby due?

I don’t know. He poked through a couple of the bags of clothing.

So she could arrive years from now.

Jasmine hadn’t thought of that possibility. She had presumed Mandy would be pregnant very soon. She scowled at her husband.

Well aren’t you a breath of fresh air!

I’m not the one who went off half-cocked. Her scowl deepened. But, he nodded toward the bags of clothing and whatnot, considering it’s going to be the first girl, I understand your excitement.

Months went by with still no word of Mandy being pregnant. Bart’s words haunted Jasmine. Apparently this pregnancy could take place at any time – including years from now. Well, it didn’t really matter when it happened, as long as it happened, she resolved. It didn’t matter, and yet it did bother her. The more she watched her sister for any signs and asked her how she was feeling, the more Jasmine became tense that nothing was happening. She couldn’t seem to help it - maybe because she had pumped herself up, bought out every store within a hundred mile radius of baby girl items, and cleaned and polished her own baby furniture. And yet it all sat in her basement while she waited for Mandy to announce she was having a baby.

A horrible possibility occurred to her, even though deep down she knew better. That didn’t stop her from tossing the idea around in her head. What if it doesn’t happen? She was driving herself crazy. The stress and worry were making her physically ill. She was starting to feel as though she was coming down with the flu – slightly nauseated and weak. Sometimes a little more than slightly – enough to send her to the bathroom, though so far she’d done nothing more than gag. And that seemed to happen mostly when she was, or had been, thinking, worrying, and stressing about hearing nothing about the forthcoming baby girl.

She wanted to bring it up to Mandy. She wanted to tell her it was predestined to have the girl who was so desperately needed to carry on the psychic heritage of their family. She knew, of course, she couldn’t do or say anything that could change the future outcome. She could warn people about catastrophes, help catch a criminal and the like, but she couldn’t, for example, tell Mandy she was going to get pregnant, giving her the opportunity to change it. Just as she could not tell someone they’d win the lottery and give them the numbers.

Well, she could, but she was raised with certain rules about her psychic abilities, as were her siblings. Just as you teach children not to lie or steal, they were taught not to abuse their gift. She could no more tell Mandy then the healers in the family could go around healing everyone with an illness or disease. What people charted for themselves couldn’t be changed by anyone except the powers that be – and that, in itself, was an entirely different and difficult process. Changing a life event without permission could and would change the entire world. It was a lot like the premise of going back in time and changing just one minute detail – the entire future changes. You simply didn’t mess with people and their charts.

So she held it in, waiting and watching, and worrying and stressing to the point of it affecting her health. Feeling nauseated often was now happening nearly every day. Somewhere in the back of her mind, what she was feeling was very familiar. It didn’t take her long to realize what was going on with her. The pregnancy that was supposed to take place and, as of yet hadn’t, was on her mind so much she was beginning to have sympathy symptoms, feeling as though she was pregnant herself.

This was getting ridiculous. She had to stop obsessing about when Mandy would get pregnant. She had it on very good authority that it would happen, eventually. And, her grandmother was always right. She was prepared for it. Mandy wouldn’t have to do anything except have the baby. So she needed to let it go.

Another month went by and the nauseous feelings continued. Even though she thought she’d been doing well by not worrying as much about Mandy and the pregnancy, she was feeling even more nauseous. And now she was getting cravings. She knew she hadn’t been eating right, but now her body was telling her something. Between feeling sick and having cravings, she realized that she needed to pay attention to herself – to take better care of herself.

The next month came and Jasmine was still not feeling any better, even though she had been getting rest, not worrying as much, and eating regular meals. She was starting to wonder if there was something else going on with her. Perhaps something serious. She spoke to Bart, and then made a doctor appointment.

A few days later, when she left the doctor’s office, she was numb. She and her doctor had spoken a long time about her condition, discussing the pros and cons, and the options and treatments. She was in shock. How could this have happened to her? How was she going to tell Bart? How would he take it? She had been told she had seven months. Would she make it that long? How much of that time would she be strong enough to do what she needed to do?

By the time she’d been home for a half hour, it finally sank in and fear gripped her. It was a very distinct possibility that her life span was now seven months or less.

Bart took it quietly. Still, she saw the same raw fear in his eyes. She also knew his first thought - we won’t have the baby. That was not going to be an option for her. He looked at her, trying not to think of the worst, trying to think positively, while at the same time feeling negativity pulling him down.

Jazz, you know what the doctor said.

Of course I do, Bart! Do you think I got this way on purpose?

No, no, of course not. It’s just that – I’m just scared.

Then that makes two of us. Personally, I’m scared to death. We’ve done everything in our power to prevent something like this. Apparently this was meant to be so we can only see what happens.

It isn’t that simple, Jazz!

I know it isn’t that simple, Bart! What else can we do except ride this out and see what happens - how it turns out?

Is it worth it, Jazz?

Yes, Bart, it’s worth it. If I terminate this pregnancy I’ll never know…

If you don’t…Well, I’d rather have you survive if it comes down to you or the baby, and I certainly don’t want to lose both of you!

It will be fine. After all, it’s already known she’ll be okay.

"She will, but what about you?!"

I’d rather the bloodline continue…

"To hell with the bloodline! My God, Jazz, I’d rather have you – the bloodline means nothing if it involves losing you!"

And there it was. Jasmine would willingly take a pass on her life to preserve the psychic bloodline through the unborn child. Bart would definitely abort the baby and the bloodline to spare his wife. He resented the fact she was gambling with her life, and the life of the baby, when, odds were, neither would survive.

He knew it wasn’t her fault and he couldn’t fault her for her views on abortion. He had shared that view until now. Everything went well with their first child, Thomas, but after their second child, he had nearly lost them both. They had done almost everything to prevent a pregnancy from happening again. As she had said, it was the will of a Higher Power because, despite all that was done, here she was, a little over two months into it.

Chapter Two

In the following months, Bart was an emotional wreck. If Jasmine so much as looked uncomfortable, he worried and hovered over her. This, naturally, put a fair amount of stress on Jasmine. No amount of reassuring eased her husband’s anxiety and fear.

She was doing everything the doctors told her to do but starting in the sixth month ‘things’ didn’t feel quite right. All bi-weekly blood work, ultrasounds, and stress tests came back basically normal and yet…

Her seventh month was worse. All of the now weekly tests were starting to show small abnormalities. Nearing her eighth month, her complexion was ashen, her weight had dropped, and her blood pressure was staying elevated. She was always tired and yet she barely slept. When she did sleep, nightmares woke her. It seemed she had every complication for pregnancy. Her mother and grandmother took turns ‘baby sitting’ her. She was never alone.

Three weeks into her eighth month everything was unbearable. One morning when her grandmother arrived, she noticed the big change in Jasmine. Hearing her granddaughter’s suffering, she placed a hand on either side of her large belly. She closed her eyes and bowed her head. When she looked up, she saw the questioning fear in Jasmine’s eyes.

"This child wants out!"

I want the same thing.

"I’m sure you do but this child wants out now!"

Luckily, at her doctor appointment that afternoon, he agreed with the baby and her grandmother. The baby was in distress and needed to be delivered now, by C-section. At thirty-one weeks gestation – five weeks early – her doctor assured her it was perfectly safe for the baby to be delivered now.

Amber Marie was born at exactly midnight, what some call the witching hour. She screamed once, long and loud, at the transformation from the warm womb to cool air. Upon being laid on her mother’s chest, she looked up at Jasmine and smiled. Tears streamed down Jasmine’s face, soaking into the pillow. Her daughter had arrived, and they were both alive. Amber would be a unique child, making changes in this world like no other child.

Time moved quickly once Amber entered the world. It seemed to Jasmine, where her daughter was concerned, time was on fast forward - like soap operas. When what seemed that only a week had passed, her baby was suddenly three-years-old. When it seemed a month had passed, Amber was ten. By this time, Amber’s psychic abilities were well established - noticeably having and using them since she was just shy of being one year old, and acquiring and managing them even more with time.

With nothing except male brothers and cousins, Amber grew up just a little cocky. Why wouldn’t she? She had powers none of them had and she didn’t hesitate to use them if the lesser males, as she thought of them, warranted a little mental shove, tripping, headache, or whatever she felt like using at the time. She learned early from the elders, especially the females, how to retaliate and she didn’t fight fair.

This behavior, however, caused her to be excluded in the things the boys did, so she grew up lonely. Oh sure, she had her mother, grandmother, aunts, and, of course, the ever-present Spirit Guide, ghosts, and spirits, but it wasn’t the same. Once she realized what was causing her exclusion with her cousins and the children her own age, something the adults had been telling her for years, she, for the most part, stopped using her gift when playing with them, even if she became angry. It was a hard lesson, but one well learned.

All in all, she grew up to be a fairly well-adjusted adult. Although she did go through a period of feeling pulled in two directions – like a freak and also less than ordinary. Since realizing not everyone had her, or her family’s gifts, she felt her and her family were freaks. She didn’t dare invite any of her friends to her home for fear they would see how freakish her family was. On the other hand, each of her female relatives had at least one thing they were gifted with that no one else had – one thing that made them stand out from the rest – made them special, but she could do everything they could do, to one degree or another, but she didn’t have her own special gift. In that respect, she thought of herself as being ordinary, or even less than ordinary.

Along with the normal teenage mood swings, Amber experienced a constant slight melancholy – some days were worse than others. On one such day when it was worse than usual, for reasons unknown even to her, she agreed to spend the night at a friend’s house. Her mood made her wonder why she had agreed as she didn’t want to socialize with anyone, not even her family. And yet there was something pulling her, or maybe pushing her, to go to her friend’s house.

For the sake of her friend, Lena, she painted on a happy smile and told herself she’d do her best to enjoy herself. After all, she’d noticed Lena wasn’t her usual bubbly self, lately. Lena didn’t say anything was wrong, but Amber sensed something. Perhaps she could cheer up her friend.

As soon as she entered Lena’s house, she knew that would be no easy feat. She actually felt it as the door opened – something dark and angry. Lena’s parents shared, to a lesser degree, their daughter’s gloom – that was the only word Amber could think of to describe their moods and the atmosphere.

The dark, angry presence permeated the air. And although sunlight poured in their house, the air inside seemed grayish, making everything from the floor, the furniture, the windows, and even the people, a dull gray color. Lena and her parents tried to sound upbeat, and perhaps no one else would have noticed, but Amber did.

They didn’t realize the presence was there or how it affected them. They seemed unaware as they went about their daily lives. She couldn’t fathom