Talisman 1 - The Emerald Talisman

by Brenda Pandos

  “No,” she said, now sending out a little sadness. “She is gone. But it’s better this way. It was her time.”

  I latched onto every word and willed her to speak more. The melodic quality of her tone was so pleasing to listen to, the absence made everything sound bland. She had to be an angel.

  “I’m not an angel,” she said, with a slight chuckle.

  “You… can read my mind?” I asked, instantly feeling vulnerable.

  “I can.”

  I became guarded, unsure if I could trust her. But if she could read my mind, then she would know everything about me. Stepping backwards, I willed my mind to stop, but it rambled through all the things I didn’t want her to know.

  “Don’t worry…I’m your friend.”

  She spoke both externally and internally. But her changing back and forth made my brain feel woozy.

  “Who are you? What are you?” I asked, overwhelmed by her presence, suddenly feeling very insignificant and ugly, right down to the repulsive sound of my own voice.

  ‘Sweet, dear child, I am nothing important, unlike yourself. Don’t be so disheartened.’

  “I … I’m not doing this,” I said in frustration and turned to leave. No one was going to pry around in my head uninvited.

  “Don’t leave. I know why you’re here. Sense the honesty of my intentions.”

  She finished her sentence in my mind and I stopped mid stride. I could sense her trustworthiness like she suggested. But I struggled whether or not to stay. If I left prematurely, I could possibly never know the truth behind what Madame said.

  I swirled around and frowned.

  “Then tell me what I want to know,” I forcefully thought.

  I heard a gentle purr, though she wasn’t in cat form. Her face seemed to look like she was formulating the best explanation but I knew she was poking around in my head.

  ‘Well, as you know, the Madame wasn’t a psychic. But since I can read minds, I could see what the people wanted to hear and I’d tell her what to say. It made a nice lucrative business for her and she took good care of me.

  ‘But sometimes, she’d come up with things on her own. Like her prediction for you for example, so I’m not positive what she meant. But I saw her premonition. It’s all true.’

  Even with confirmation, I resisted the ambiguous vision as my destiny. “I won’t do it. I’m no one important. Why would she tell me that?”

  ‘Don’t underestimate the vision. You’re far more powerful than you think and there’s nothing you can do to stop fate. But whatever happens, you and your friend will find a way to be together. I have seen it. There are other avenues yet unexplored.’

  “But how do you know?” I asked.

  ‘I have my ways. But it’s time for you to go. I have things to take care of and so do you.’

  Her eyes twinkled before she turned to leave.

  “But wait. When we first met, you hissed at me, why?”

  ‘You, of all people could’ve revealed the truth about Madame’s abilities. I couldn’t let you do that. But you didn’t betray her and for that I’m truly grateful. I hope I’ve repaid the favor. Good bye and good luck.’

  I opened my mouth to ask another question, but she transformed back into a black cat and leapt into the bushes before I could stop her.

  The silence left me feeling helpless, with more questions than answers, my deepest secrets ransacked.

  While driving home I had to force myself to concentrate on the road. Even though she wasn’t in my mind anymore, it didn’t feel the same, like she left footprints behind. I just clung to her insight that Nicholas and I would be together, that there was another way. I smiled at the hope until I realized.

  Which friend did she mean? Nicholas or Phil?

  She didn’t specifically say. And she also mentioned that there were other avenues to be explored. What did that mean?

  “Ahhh!” I said out loud in frustration. Why does everything have to be so complicated? My life was stuck in the spin cycle.

  I looked at the time and pressed the gas pedal harder. If I didn’t hurry, I was going to be late for work. I’d checked the lunar calendar online when I went home earlier and sunset was going to be at 6:35 p.m. tonight. My shift started at 6:30. I figured that I’d be safe inside the building once sunset truly happened, but I was cutting it incredibly close.

  I drove up into the lot, found a spot close to the front and parked when I felt him. The sun had barely set a minute and Phil was already here, stalking me. I jumped out of my car, my stomach in my throat and sprinted for the front of the building. I imagined how silly I looked, but didn’t care. Phil was someplace looking to corner me and I wanted to be safely inside to avoid him.

  “You could’ve just told me you were running late, Julia,” Linda said, with a puzzled look after I’d run through the store doors like the welcome mat was home plate.

  “Oh… Yeah… Sorry,” I said breathing heavy, not thinking of a good excuse.

  I glanced behind me out the glass windows, glad to be in the store. Phil was nowhere to be seen.

  “Actually, Linda, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  Either my words or the tone of my voice caused her alarm which made me start to feel bad. I was still very upset that the situation was so out of control it interfered with something simple like my job. But I had to tell her and this seemed like a good time.

  “Okay,” she said, as she ushered me into her office.

  I sat down and took a deep breath. I’d rehearsed my speech a few times in my head, but now, facing her, I was drawing a blank.

  “Everything okay?” she finally asked, after I didn’t say anything, obviously looking a little distressed.

  “Well, no,” I began finally. “I’m just having some challenges in my life right now and my dad doesn’t think I’m balancing work and school well. He’s asked me to quit, just until I can get a handle on things.”

  “I see,” she said, disappointed.

  “I know that you’ve got me scheduled for the rest of the week and I’ll be happy to work my shifts. I know you’ll need to hire someone new and I can train them,” I said quickly, hoping to lessen the sting.

  “That’s thoughtful of you, Julia,” she said. “But if your father thinks it’s best you quit, then I don’t want to impose. Plus with the criminal activity and curfews, I’m going to have to change everyone’s schedule anyway. We can handle things in your absence. We managed when you were out after your fall.”

  “Yeah... I guess you did,” I said, feeling rejected. “I’m so sorry. Really, I am.”

  “So am I, but you need to do well in school. You can always come back this summer when business picks up.”

  I sighed and stood up, prepared to make the best out of my last day. I’d almost completely forgotten about Phil’s presence until later in my shift a wave of his angst hit me. He was still outside waiting for me. Impatiently. I reached for my cell phone ready to text Nicholas, when I realized it wasn’t in my pocket.

  It must be in my car.

  I took the mistake as a sign. It slipped my mind that I didn’t want them to meet until I had a chance to talk to Phil first. Nicholas wasn’t going to be patient with Phil and I knew there would be a fight, especially if Phil acted remotely close to the way he did in the tunnel.

  But I was already prepared. And I wanted to do this on my own to prove I was right about Phil. The thought made me feel exhilarated and petrified all at the same time.

  My shift seemed to take forever as I worked diligently behind the counter. It didn’t help make things go faster when Linda made a scene by telling a regular customer that today was my last day. The onslaught of questions from fellow workers afterwards made me kick myself for not waiting until the end of my shift to tell Linda I was quitting. All the questions meant more lies.

  “Julia, I’m not going to have you close tonight because I need to take your keys,” Linda said sadly when the time came closer for me to leave.


  The relinquishing of my keys made leaving feel more permanent and I got this foreboding feeling that I wasn’t going to return.

  At the door, I said goodbye and timed my exit so I could walk out with Megan, a bubbly, talkative, fellow co-worker. I appreciated the fact that Megan acted as if we were best friends because she didn’t leave my side until I got to my car.

  Once I got in, I locked my car door and prayed that tonight I didn’t run out of gas while driving home.

  . . .

  19 - TRICKED

  Phil followed me as planned and I led him straight to my house. The chase electrified me. As I felt his curiosity grow stronger, I shook my head amazed I actually enjoyed this game of cat and mouse.

  So far things were right on course, the last part of my plan being the easiest. The only sketchy part was whether or not Luke would be home. But I just counted on the fact that Phil would not want to be seen and hoped he’d hide if Luke happened to come outside.

  The little tires on the Quantum screeched as I took the last curve on my street a little too quickly. The house, only a few yards away now, would be my safe haven once I entered the garage.

  I pressed the magical button on the opener I’d taken earlier and waited for the door to ascend. To my horror nothing happened. Dumbfounded I pressed it again, this time aiming it directly at the garage. Again, nothing happened. I panicked. The opener worked when I tested it earlier. What was wrong?

  I pulled into the driveway, continually pressing the button over and over. Then he was there; standing right between my car and the garage door, my headlights illuminating his vibrant skin.

  “Hello,” he said with a devilish smile. He looked radiantly pleased with himself, as he stood wearing a similar trench coat to Nicholas’, apparently the vampire fashion of choice.

  I frowned back.

  “What’s wrong? The door not opening?”

  To my awe, he held up a 9-volt battery. I flipped over the remote and opened the cover. The battery was missing. My mouth dropped open.

  “How did you know?” I said stunned, instantly afraid. “Can you read minds?”

  “I wish,” he said with a cocky grin and looked around inquisitively. I cringed at his overwhelming joy. “Where’s your friend?”

  I frantically tried to figure out how he knew my plan. He must have seen the remote on my seat and taken the battery out while I was at work. The thought made me feel sick, regretting my decision to do it on my own as my plan fell apart right in front of my eyes.

  “I don’t know who you’re talking about,” I lied.

  “Julia. Don’t play with me,” he said with an icy stare. “We can do things your way, or my way, but whatever you choose, you will exit your car, so why don’t you just get out so I don’t have to break anything.”

  He placed both hands on the hood of my car while leaning forward with demanding eyes. I could feel his fascination with his power and imagined him rolling the car door back like a sardine can. How would I explain that to my dad? Knowing I needed to survive the encounter first, I decided to test his intentions. If he wasn’t going to kill me, I’d willingly get out. If not, it wouldn’t matter anyway – the more unexplainable damage to my car, the better.

  “You won’t hurt me?” I questioned, watching his expression closely.

  “I promise,” he said with a chuckle and held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

  If I hadn’t known for sure he told the truth, I’d have been frozen stiff with fear. Even with his promise, it didn’t change how badly he still wanted me. Before opening the door, I reached down nonchalantly and grabbed the stake out of my backpack, hiding it behind my back. With my other hand, I pulled the handle and stepped outside, legs shaking.

  “I’m out of the car,” I said with a sputter, waiting for his next move.

  “See? That wasn’t so hard…” he said, his voice suddenly absent from his body, floating in the air. “…was it?” I felt him appear when he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling the back of my neck. My body broke out in a cold sweat.

  Startled, I turned, flailing my hand half-heartily forward in an attempted stabbing motion, but found it empty. My stake vanished. I looked up to see Phil, a few feet away from me flipping the stick in the air, mocking me with his smile.

  “What’s this for?”

  My throat went dry and my lips froze partly open.

  “As if you could stop me,” he said with a tisk.

  My face fell as I watched him snap it in two. I felt totally defeated and knew I couldn’t possibly make a break for it now. The front door, just beyond him, seemed impossible to get to. Even with a diversion, I wouldn’t be able to move fast enough.

  “You’re so adorable,” he cooed.

  He was doing that thing with his eyes; luring me in with his infectious stare, casting a magical spell on me. I looked away.

  “I’m out of the car,” I said with an indignant tone. “What do you want?”

  If he planned to do anything to me, I wanted it over already.

  “Oh, where do I begin…” he said, slowly advancing, watching me with his nebulous eyes.

  I backed up, trying to expand the distance between us only to be blocked in by my car. I had nowhere to run. He stopped, minding the space between us as if to placate me.

  “Well, first, I wanted to say thank you.”

  “You want to thank me?”

  “Yes,” he said with a little snicker. “Because of you, I’m now immortal. Little did those silly humans know the transfusion would revive me so I could be transformed.” He dramatically tilted his head up towards the night sky, closed his eyes and opened his arms while inhaling deeply. “I do love my new body.”

  The display made me sick, but his absorption in his exhibition gave me the urge to sneak away. I moved a fraction of an inch in preparation when his arm suddenly appeared at my side, stopping my retreat.

  “Where are you going?” he whispered, his lips inches away from mine.

  My voice caught in my throat and I stuttered. “You don’t have to give in. You can be good.”

  “Good?” A dark shadow crossed his face. “Why? I’m having too much fun being bad,” he said with a wicked cackle.

  My countenance fell. I wasn’t anticipating this reaction.

  “Let me show you,” he whispered, using his other arm to encircle me, pinning me to the car.

  His body pressed against mine and my heart raced in response. I turned my head away from his face, anticipating a kiss, but realized I’d exposed my neck. My hands flew up to hide my flesh, but instead of biting me he pulled me close to his chest and shot up into the sky like a bullet.

  I screamed and forced my eyes shut. The chilly night air rushed sharply against my face as I clung to his torso, the thrill of his feelings intermixing with my own. My ears popped as we ascended higher but I didn’t dare look down. My body responded and hardened in fear, petrified he’d accidentally drop me at any second.

  “Look, Julia,” he sang in my ear.

  Unable to open my eyes, I shook my head and pressed my face into his shoulder. He tilted me haphazardly over so I lay stomach down, my back against his chest with just his arm around my waist. The sudden movement unnerved my stomach, making me feel sick. I screamed and fought to turn back over, but his arm clutched me tighter.

  “LOOK!” he demanded.

  I opened one eye for a second to see the miniature world move beneath us. Then flinched and closed them again, turning my head into my shoulder.

  “Please,” I whimpered. “Take me back down.” Hot tears poured out and flew off the sides of my temples.

  “Isn’t this awesome? We have the world at our fingertips, Julia. Anywhere we want to go!”

  “I want to go home!” I cried out, as I started to shake uncontrollably, choking back bile in my throat while my stomach pitched.

  “You aren’t enjoying this?” he asked, in complete shock, then disappointment.

  “No!” I yelled as hard a
s I could. “Take me down now!”

  He grew discouraged, then annoyed. I feared he’d become disenchanted and felt the need to be more delicate in my approach, or it would be all over. I formulated a new plan.

  “Please, Phil. I’m very frightened,” I said quieter. “Can you take me down? I think I’m going to get sick.”

  He let out an exasperated sigh.

  “Fine,” he snapped and aimed us towards the ground swooping down in front of an abandoned warehouse in the industrial part of the city. I stumbled forward as he let me go, kneeling down to stop my fall. I wanted to kiss the asphalt in thankfulness.

  “You didn’t like that?” he asked, in confusion.

  “No,” I said plainly, withholding the barrage of insults I wanted to say, knowing I was still at his mercy. I scanned the area for a familiar landmark. “Where are we?”

  “I have some business to take care of,” he said, still irritated. I got the feeling the business involved me.

  “Why aren’t you being entirely upfront with me? What are you planning to do with me?”

  He looked at me with an expression from his former self, one of compassion and I felt a glimmer of hope. I knew he was in there somewhere and seeing it for a split second inspired me to keep trying to get through to him.

  “I just wanted to show you what I can do. I’m not going to hurt you, honest,” he said tenderly, without the seduction. I softened.

  “I understand you’ve changed and have this new power. But you are frightening me. Please, I just want to go home,” I said using the same scared tone he tried to use on me at the grocery story.

  “But you hate to fly,” he said with a cocky grin.

  The reality sunk in. That was his only mode of transportation and, unless we walked, the quickest way to take me home. At that moment, I wished for Nicholas. I wanted him to come save me from Phil and his bi-polar behavior. At least with Nicholas, I knew what to expect. I felt in my pocket again for my phone forgetting I’d lost it somewhere.

  “Do you have a phone?”

  He thought for a second, a flicker of recognition in his eye and then smiled. Before I knew it, he’d grabbed my hand.