The Sapphire Talisman

by Brenda Pandos

  “I’ve never been to his house,” I barked. “Happy?”

  “Easy there, it’s not a big deal,” he said, backing down instantly. “Let’s just get the directions.”

  A part of me wanted to spit out all the reasons why I’d never been there, all pointing towards Nicholas’ honor of course. But another part, the one that felt Phil clearly still had feelings for me, wanted to let the moment go and spare him the embarrassment like he’d spared mine.

  “Yeah, good idea,” I said softly.

  Phil volunteered to get the directions and disappeared downstairs to use my dad’s computer while I waited in my room, slowly putting my shoes back on. A big part of me suddenly wanted to go and see where he lived, giving me a burst of hidden energy.

  But mostly I wondered where Nicholas ran off to, confused why he didn’t just stay outside and wait for us to leave in order to nab me or fight Phil when the opportunity presented itself. But, mysterious or not, we had to take advantage of his sudden absence.

  Looking again at the receipt, my finger grazed over his signature, causing moisture to well up in my eyes. Just a few days ago when he signed this, he was normal—normal and wonderful—and we had such plans for our future.

  I bit my lip and pushed my anguish down, wiping away a tear with the back of my hand as Phil returned. I pretended to be tying my shoe laces.

  “Got the directions,” he said in excitement. “You ready?”

  I nodded and gulped down the rest of the tears threatening to cascade down my cheeks, forcing my lips to smile when I noticed a black box by my door.

  On the top was a little yellow post-it from my dad.

  Hope you are feeling better soon.

  Love Dad.

  Inside I found a new iPhone with a pink cover, my favorite color. The gesture warmed my heart. He wasn’t as mad as I thought he was after all.

  The phone felt sleek in my hands as I turned it on, happy to be reunited with my connection to the world. The screen illuminated and flashed a beautiful sunset, similar to the one Nicholas and I watched regularly on our beach, making my heart feel heavy in my chest. I pushed back the grief and touched the screen to check my text messages instead, to which I had none.

  Phil paid no attention and rushed to the window, standing on the ledge while I turned off the phone and pocketed it. I slowly moved to the window, a little less eager. A rough breeze blew against me, making me shiver. I zipped up my sweatshirt.

  “Is he out there?” I asked, sensing nothing beyond Phil’s curiosity and slight hesitation.

  “Nope,” he said with a whisper. “Come on.”

  Disappointed, I climbed onto the roof and stood next to Phil, noticing a twinkle in his eye when I turned and looked up at him. Suddenly, I found myself wrapped up in his arms, flying up into the night sky. The massiveness of the full moon stole my breath away but all I wished for was to be in Nicholas’ arms instead.

  My mind drifted towards protecting Phil and giving him a heads up about the venom T-shirts until I remembered Nicholas’ super-power stakes. And I wasn’t sure if I could reveal the secrets without Harry’s permission. Maybe a chain mail shirt of teeth could defeat the stakes, though it would take a lot of vampire deaths to make one.

  “What are you thinking about?” Phil finally asked over the wind, his voice pulling me back into reality.

  “Protecting you,” I said reluctantly.

  “From your boyfriend?” Phil chuckled. “Cute, but completely unnecessary.”

  “I think you should be leery of him. He is a vampire slayer you know.”

  Phil laughed, refreshingly. “He can’t hurt me.”

  My eyes tightened. “Don’t you remember what happened the last time?”

  “He can’t do it twice. Double jeopardy. I’m invincible against him now.”

  “You’re what?” I stated with a stutter. “How?”

  “It’s just one of those things Alora figured out. Apparently you can’t kill a vamp twice. She is the brains behind this whole resurrection operation after all. Plus she likes me, another reason why I made a good candidate to bring back.”

  My heart quivered at the gravity of the situation. Thinking about Bettina, Angelina, and the rest of the vampires coming back in revenge, protected with sudden invincibility made me shudder. Nicholas would have to rely on me to defeat the ones he’d previously killed and vice versa. Yet another step towards the prophecy coming to fruition.

  “How did she do it?”

  “Bring me back? I don’t know,” he said calmly. “Like I said, I woke up naked and mighty grateful.”

  “This is insane,” I said under my breath. “How am I supposed to defeat her? All of them?”

  “You won’t need to do that,” he said sympathetically. “Scar and I have a plan, plus you’ll recruit Nick to our side. He just needs a little time to regroup.”

  More than anything I wanted to believe him, but after what happened and the doubt emanating from Phil, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. I appreciated his desire to console me but even Phil knew the likelihood Nicholas would choose to be on Alora’s side over mine. That meant Nicholas was lost to me forever unless I was changed—again—making the prediction painfully clear. He would die along with the rest and apparently at my hand. Fate drove a hard bargain.

  We arrived above his street, Nicholas’ house hidden within the thick cover of redwood trees. I scanned the area for him, coming up blank. More than anything I wanted Nicholas to be nearby to steal me away; wake me up and tell me this was all a bad dream.

  Phil touched down and gave the surroundings a once over.

  “It’s safe,” I said, pushing past him towards the house, no longer wanting to pretend like I didn’t know.

  Phil studied my face quizzically. “You’ve got that psychic connection with him don’t you? I forgot.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, kind of,” but unfortunately, it’s with everyone.

  Phil shrugged and caught up with me easily, grabbing onto my hand. For a moment, I didn’t want him to but his confidence fused into my being, making our task seem less daunting. Together, we walked up the path to the wooden porch.

  Nicholas lived in a small rugged log cabin nestled in the forest. I marveled at how charming it was, just like I’d imagined.

  Phil reached forward and instead of knocking, pushed against the wooden door, swinging it wide open. Scarlett sat inside on the floor, her arms wrapped around her legs, her head propped against her knees. I silenced myself against her deafening defeat.

  Immediately, I dropped Phil’s hand, almost expecting to find Nicholas inside. It stung that he’d never taken me to his place before.

  Nicholas’ living area was simple and immaculate, yet sterile; almost like a hotel room except boxes lined the walls. On one end of the room, in a nook, stood a queen sized bed with an end table and a lamp. Next to it was his dresser, bare except for a solitary framed photo. I walked over and picked it up. Alora—human and very lovely—stared back at me with green eyes. She stood in a kitchen, wearing a white sundress and laughing, holding wild flowers out to the person behind the camera. The talisman caught my eye—bright crimson—catching the light of the flash.

  I grimaced while setting the picture down, instinctively cradling the talisman with my fingertips. The stone still remained dead beneath my touch.

  I continued to look around, noticing the surf boards propped in the corner. The guitar though—abandoned on the couch—did me in. I walked towards the instrument and traced the frets with my fingers, hoping to draw closer to Nicholas somehow. He’d been there, recently playing. Pieces of paper with handwritten lyrics sat on the coffee table. The title read “My Pretty Little Flower.” It took all my concentration to keep from bursting into tears.

  Phil coughed from the doorway. I glanced over and realized he couldn’t come in.

  “You’re invited,” I whispered.

  Phil nonchalantly moved forward and put his hand on Scarlett’s shoulder.

&nbs
p; “He’s gone,” Scarlett said breathlessly, without looking up.

  “Is he doing okay?”

  She shook her head. “I tried. The evil is strong. He’s been suppressing that side for too long. It’s now raging out of control. He’s not slept or eaten anything since the change. He . . . he got away.”

  “What’s that on your arm?” Phil said, turning over her wrist. Two purple curved scars lined the inside of her delicate forearm. “Did he . . .?”

  “It . . . was an accident.” Scarlett looked away, pulling back her hand, ashamed. “I . . . it’s tied us together.”

  “What?” I exclaimed, coming out of my fog, feeling very disturbed they shared that type of euphoria together and were connected somehow because of it. “What do you mean you’re tied together now?”

  “I sense what he senses and I think he senses me too.”

  Anger washed over me, leaving nothing but jealousy in its wake. “I can’t believe you let this happen. You—” I pointed my finger at her, “—this is all your fault!”

  I rushed her, climbing over the coffee table with fists drawn. Phil stepped between us, holding me back. “Whoa there, Parker, calm down.”

  “Let me at her!” I barked, wishing he’d give me just one second to land a much deserved punch. Phil firmly sat me back down on the couch. I struggled, frustrated I was still weakened from my flu, withholding the horrible names I wanted to call her.

  “Do you think, by telling Nicholas about Alora, things would have been different?”

  “Yes,” I said indignantly. “We could have been better prepared. I could have told him what he’d be up against. Warned him. Been truthful and upfront.”

  “He would have gone after her,” she said darkly. “You know he would have. The coincidence that she had the same name as his mother would have been too ironic.”

  My eyes burned into hers. I didn’t want to agree. I wanted to hate her, blame her, scratch her face off, call her ugly names, but I couldn’t. From within her heart flowed sincerity, grief and exhaustion.

  “It’s in the past now,” Phil said, loosening his grip on me. “We need to figure out a new game plan so we can stop her.”

  Ignoring Phil, I gritted my teeth. “Where’d he go?” Jealousy ravaged my bones, disgusted they shared a special blood-bond, almost like he’d cheated on me.

  Scarlett looked off to the side. “He’s alone for now, wrestling with himself.”

  “Where? I should be with him.”

  Her eyes darted back to mine, concern glittering out. “No, it’s not safe yet.”

  “Of course you’d say that. You’re always calling the shots whether or not it’s the best thing!” I bellowed.

  “Parker, she’s right.” Phil squeezed my hand. His calm melted into me from his body to mine, relaxing me though I fought it. I scowled and pulled my hand away, wanting to stay mad.

  We were all suddenly quiet—but only on the outside. When I felt both Phil and Scarlett’s agitation rise at the same time, I knew they were telepathically talking to each other.

  “Quit it you two! If you have something to say, say it out loud,” I growled.

  “We—” Phil radiated nervousness, his eyes dancing between the two of us, “—think he needs more time, that’s all. What he’s going through right now is very complicated.”

  “I love that I’m the one now being kept in the dark.” I let out a sarcastic howl. “He needs help, he needs someone who can understand him, he needs—” me.

  Suddenly, I thought of Harry, his hero and father figure. Then I pictured him dead, unaware of Nicholas’ change. A horrific hiccupping noise followed after I sucked the air into my lungs too sharply. Katie had specifically asked about the weapons when she kidnapped me, making everything painfully clear. Alora not only wanted the necklace, she planned to get her hands on the weapons too–Harry’s weapons. Maybe even Harry himself. “Oh no.”

  Scarlett’s curiosity followed a shiver that ran along my hairline, radiating across my scalp. I instantly remembered, without the talisman’s power, nothing stopped her from canvassing my mind. Internally, I bolted and fastened myself under Phil’s feelings, hoping to confuse her, which it did.

  “Knock it off,” I said with a glare, getting up off the couch and moving to the other side of the room. “You have no business in my head.”

  I wanted to throw the talisman on the ground and smash it into tiny pieces for all the help it was doing.

  “I—meant no harm,” she said apologetically, laying her head down upon her knees again. For a moment, she looked vulnerable, like an abandoned child, lost and broken. I felt sorry for her for a second. A very brief second.

  “I’m not helping anyone.” Scarlett said and let out a long sigh.

  I snorted in agreement. Phil’s frustration erupted.

  “Look,” Phil’s eyes burned into mine, “I need the both of you to knock this off and get along. This is huge and, believe it or not, we must work together as a team in order to survive.”

  “I’m not thrilled with the arrangement,” I interrupted, glaring at Scarlett who’d turned her head away from us.

  “Well, you don’t have much of a choice,” Phil said coolly, pulling me off to the side.

  “She’s a freaking mind reader,” I whispered.

  “And she’s on our side, so I say suck it up, because it’s the best weapon we’ve got to defeat her Highness and Minions Incorporated. Don’t you think?”

  I folded my arms and pouted.

  Phil put his arm around my shoulder and percolated com-passion, “Come on, Parker. Scar’s cool. She’s always had your back since the beginning.”

  “Yeah, but she told me not to tell Nicholas about Alora and look what’s happened?”

  “No one is to blame except Alora about how that all went down. Scar’s right. If you’d have told him earlier, he’d have gone after her and ended up in the same place. The reunion was bound to happen. At least now, you have an opportunity to help.”

  I grunted, refusing to agree.

  “Even still, Jules. Why’d you just freak out a second ago?”

  Phil was more concerned than he let himself feel. This time, the “Jules” told me more than my gift did.

  “I—” I wanted to tell him enough but not everything just in case. “Nicholas has someone he’s fond of in L.A., like a Father figure. He could help and is super knowledgeable about vampire stuff, but he’s unprotected now. I need to warn him.”

  “Okay.” Phil nodded. “Where in L.A.?”

  “Somewhere in Orange County.”

  Phil groaned. “Really?”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Um—nothing. I can take you,” Phil said apprehensively. “If I have to.”

  “I’ll take her,” Scarlett interjected, obviously eavesdropping, her voice suddenly soothing.

  “You’ll need to rest up first,” Phil said over my shoulder, shooting her a look of concern.

  Scarlett exhaled in exasperation. “I’ll be better by tomorrow.”

  “I don’t need either of you,” I said quickly, turning around to face her. “I’ll go alone.”

  Invisible warnings rung like sirens from the both of them.

  “No,” Phil said, while shaking his head. “That’s not an option.”

  The tension escalated in the room while the three of us squared off, all wanting to do something different. Phil had already made up his mind and enforced domination over our motley crew even if it killed him.

  “This is the deal,” Phil finally said in determination, “Scarlett, you need to rest up and get your strength back. Julia, you’ll stay home tomorrow and when Scar’s better, she’ll escort you during the day.”

  “Escort?” I let out a loud guffaw. “Not likely.”

  “Don’t give me grief, Parker,” Phil said, eyeing me firmly. “She’ll be able to protect you when I can’t.”

  “Protect me from Nicholas? Oh, brother,” I said with an eye roll. “He isn’t going to hurt me
.”

  “We don’t know that,” Scarlett said in my mind.

  “Shut-up,” I spewed back. “You both seem to think you know how to handle this situation—how to handle Nicholas—but so far, you’ve majorly failed. I’m all for this—” I waved my hands in the air, trying to come up with a likely word to describe our group “—team thing, but I want to handle what happens with Nicholas. I can bring him to our side.”

  “No,” they said simultaneously.

  But before I could argue, darkness descended on Nicholas’ house the moment someone crashed through the door, framed by Scarlett’s scream. Her cry initially sounded more human than cat-like and echoed inside my head.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Phil’s sudden movements were a whir. The rough grasp of his arms took my breath away as we catapulted upward. The sound of shattering glass followed a bellow from the living room. I craned my neck to see but, like a bullet, Phil climbed through the overshadowing redwoods into the moonlit sky, me in one arm and Scarlett, in cat form, in the other. I shook tiny broken pieces of glass and redwood twigs from my hair, watching them tumble out of sight with a shimmer. Phil had draped his arm over my head and pressed my face into his shoulder to protect me from injury when he’d broken through the ceiling.

  “What happened?” I whispered in his ear.

  “Nicholas returned,” Scarlett said.

  I looked down as my heart agonized to be with him and caught a blur of movement beneath us, too quick for my eyes to focus on.

  “He’s following,” she said as if to confirm my suspicion, though I didn’t let her back within my mind. I’d remembered to stick close to Phil’s aura. “We need to get back to your place before he does.”

  The increasing g-force pulled on my cheeks, sucking the moisture from my eyes. I leaned into Phil’s chest and snapped my eyelids shut, wanting the ride to be over. “What does Nicholas want?” I asked Scarlett.

  She remained quiet, terribly quiet.

  “I know you know. Tell me!” I internally yelled.

  “The necklace, your blood, your life, what else?”