by S.E. Akers
I bolted out of bed just as soon as my alarm clock blared its calls the next morning. And though I didn’t have the faintest idea what the day had in store, I was eagerly embracing the distraction. This was exactly what I needed. Something to ease the fresh, painful ache I felt from my broken heart… Something to numb me, so I couldn’t feel the multitude of emotions tormenting my soul… But most of all, anything that could sidetrack my mind and keep me from dwelling on haunting past moments with my father that I would never experience again. This “distraction” was a blessing—as supernaturally crazy as it was—even if it was only masking my pain.
I slipped my left arm out of my pajamas. Tanner was right. The cut had completely healed. There wasn’t even a trace of a scar. Amazing… I wasn’t sure exactly how much sea-salt to use when I’d drawn my bath, so I just dumped in what was left from the container Katie had brought over the other night.
I’ll have to pick up some more at the grocery store later. Something tells me that I’m going to need it.
I grabbed Daddy’s crumpled shirt off my bed and hid it in the back of my closet. There… Nice and safe. I’d pulled it out last night. After all, I didn’t have Tanner Grey here to filter my emotions, and I needed something to abate the emptiness in my heart. The subtle scent of musk and spearmint from Daddy’s shirt helped, but in no way did it compare to the blissful effects of Professor “Prozac” Grey.
I zipped through my morning routine and was ready in thirty-five minutes flat. I placed the rough diamond (that I’d been forced to carve out of my skin) into the front pocket of my jacket. I’d left the golden topaz on my finger last night. Beatrix had said that the little gem wouldn’t be of much use until it basked in the light of the next full moon (which wasn’t until this coming Friday), but I thought a dip in the salty water during my bath wouldn’t hurt. It certainly didn’t help. Sadly, the stone remained a shiny though disappointing, dormant little bauble.
A rush of brisk fall air whirled around me when I stepped outside, its lively touch instantly energizing my gait. Freshly fallen leaves danced around my feet as I trotted down the porch steps. I paused to breathe in the scene for a moment. The halo streaming from the rising sun was blazing, and the clouds were few and far between. It was going to be a gorgeous fall day in the mountains of West Virginia.
Good. No more rain.
Although Tanner didn’t reveal any specifics last night, I had a pretty good idea as to where we were to rendezvous. Just for fun, I arched my back and lowered myself into a track runner’s stance, just as they would before the gun fired to signal the start of their race. Then after an eager ready, set, go, I was off and headed for the cave. My strides were as swift as the wind as I barreled across Shiloh Ridge, feeling just as free as I did yesterday and for the first time, without a single drop of apprehension shadowing my frame. Though it only took me a matter of seconds to reach the cave’s secret entrance, I arrived feeling a touch disappointed. I was having so much fun with my newfound skill for speed, and just like a ride at a carnival, I hated that it had come to an end so soon.
The side of the ridge was once again nothing but dirt. I placed my hands firmly on its craggy surface. Precisely as it had awakened before, the earth rumbled out a bold quake and then the rocks began slowly crumbling away to unveil the cavern’s mystical entrance. I followed the stone spiral staircase down to the bottom where I found Tanner Grey sitting on the ground, just as I’d predicted.
I noticed Tanner’s eyes were closed on my approach, like he was concentrating on something intensely. He wasn’t chanting (not out loud at least), though he did seem absorbed in some sort of thought as he sat there holding a small stone in his hands. Patiently, I stood aside in silence and watched with utmost intrigue. Then all of a sudden, the mysterious stone ignited with a vibrant purple glow. The streams of light flowing all around his hands were absolutely mesmerizing. The dazzling spectacle waned after a few more seconds and then the Amethyst Talisman opened his eyes.
“You’re late,” Tanner announced.
“You didn’t give me a specific time,” I countered.
Tanner rose to his feet and started tossing the stone back and forth in his hands. “I didn’t give you a place either, but you managed to figure that out.”
Yet again, he’d succeeded in launching my eyes into a fierce orbit around my sockets. If he didn’t lighten up on the wisecracks, my peepers were going to end up rolling right out of my head one of these times.
“What were you doing?” I asked, curious about the little purple stone that he was now using for his own personal game of catch.
Tanner extended his hand to reveal a small tumbled amethyst, roughly the size of a quarter. “Charging one of my stones for you,” he replied with a grin. “It’s a gift.” I extended my hand, only to have him playfully yank the amethyst well out of my reach. “But now I’m thinking you may not need it . . . seeing how that gray sky is blue again.”
“No. I want it,” I insisted as I tried snatching it from his grasp — several times, in fact. In the midst of his laughter, I pulled back and pretended to pout — arms firmly crossed and tapping my foot repeatedly on the earthy floor.
Tanner let out a grunt and tossed me the stone. “I can’t have you throwing a temper tantrum now can I, little—”
Without hesitation, I cut him off. “DON’T say it!” I knew exactly what was going to slide off the tongue of the charming, but cheeky Tanner Grey. He noted my displeasure with an amused grin on his approach.
I held up the stone. “What will this amethyst do, exactly?”
“Just like your golden topaz, you’ll be able to draw out the stone’s energy and wield some of the powers it grants. I thought it would be of some comfort to you during this time . . . to help with your grief.”
I smiled appreciatively and lowered my head. Professor Grey was even more charming when he allowed his sensitive side to come through that rugged, cocky exterior of his.
“Thank you,” I replied in a gentle and sincere voice. Straightaway, I clutched the amethyst tightly in my hand. I could feel myself being overrun with joyful feelings. He should bottle this stuff and sell it.
Tanner noted my instant change in emotions and smiled. “You’re welcome. Oh, and the stone will only work when it’s touching your skin,” he advised. “It needs to make a connection, remember?”
I nodded as I slipped my present into the front pocket of my jeans. “So how do you ‘charge’ a stone?” I asked.
“Do you have the diamond from last night?” Tanner inquired.
“Right here,” I replied as I pulled the raw little wonder out of my pocket.
Tanner stepped closer and gently took hold of my hands. “All right . . . Keep the stone cupped in your palms and close your eyes.”
I straightened my stance and followed his instructions straightaway. It wasn’t long before the stillness wafting between us sent a nervous twinge swirling through my chest. Then again, it could have been from feeling the weight of his stare scrutinizing me like I was standing on the stage of a microscope. “How’s that,” I asked, hoping a little reassurance would stifle any butterflies before they took flight.
“Good,” he finally breathed and cleared his throat abruptly. “Now, in order for a Talisman to share their power, you need to infuse the stone with a small amount of your energy. You do that by concentrating on what ability you want the person to have. I gave your amethyst my powers of tranquility and bliss, as well as my ability to alleviate the effects of various toxins. That will come in handy. Even though your body is now invincible, per se, you can still be taken down if one were accidentally ingested or entered your skin through an open wound.”
Yes. That’s a must.
Tanner continued, “You only want to give the person what they need, never any more. Since you’re the only Talisman who reigns in the house of The Storm, you can’t pass along any of your body’s invincibility to the s
tone. It won’t allow you to do so. Even the diamond knows how much of a detriment that would be. You can, however, infuse it with your psychic skills, which will not only extend your telepathic powers to them, but it will protect their mind, as well as their soul. Caiden had one he wore to shield his mind from being possessed.”
Daddy’s strange little crystal necklace… It wasn’t a crystal at all. That’s why he had it on the other day — for protection. No wonder it hadn’t helped. The bastard poisoned him. I wonder what happened to it? Since the Amethyst Talisman was still lecturing, I shelved my curiosity for now and redirected my full attention back to his valuable words of wisdom.
Tanner’s voice shifted into a serious tone. “Also, if you trust the Talisman completely, you can share your ability to magnify their own powers — but ONLY if you trust them. I can’t stress that enough. You need to be certain that they don’t run the risk of becoming addicted to the stone. Even though their powers will get a boost, it’s only a fraction of what they experience when they’re around you. A Talisman’s power will increase one-hundred-fold just by being in your presence. In a sense, that’s your greatest disadvantage. A constant reminder of the strength they could possess if they killed you would only fuel their cravings for the diamond wand if they don’t have the will nor the desire to fight them off.”
As I listened to Tanner Grey’s instructions, I thought about how I was a trusting person by nature. Trust was one of my most precious virtues (even though it had left me vulnerable when dealing with Charlotte and Chloe all these years). Now, I had to abandon that notion entirely and be one-hundred-percent skeptical of people from the get-go. And that, in turn, shrouded me with an uncomfortable feeling of paranoia.
I suppose around the wrong person, like Lazarus, just walking down the street would be like waving crack in front of an addict. Obviously, being a Talisman wasn’t just going to alter my body and mind, but my soul as well.
“So only another Talisman can draw a stone’s energy and use its powers?”
Tanner shook his head. “Not exactly. Talismans and other supernaturals can receive a stone’s full power. A typical human can only feel a minute trace of its energy . . . and they can only benefit from a stone’s healing abilities and protections. Never any of its supernatural powers.”
“I’d always thought a ‘talisman’ was actually a stone itself . . . a thing, not a person,” I admitted openly. I realized I still had a lot to learn about the inner workings and mystique that surrounded this unfamiliar clique.
Tanner postured himself. “Shiloh, many, many years ago, Talismans weren’t such a secret. We didn’t have to be. The world wasn’t as hostile as it is today. Sure there were plenty of wars and a lot of fighting, but that’s simply in man’s nature. There was still compassion for others, and greed wasn’t as prevalent. Everyone is out for themselves nowadays, with very little, if any genuine regard for the well-being of those around them.”
“That’s true,” I acknowledged.
“Talismans helped balance the world, Shiloh. Unfortunately, our powers were very seductive to those with sinister intentions, whether they were supernaturals or not, so we went underground centuries ago. Not only for our protection but humanity as well. All the legends and lore surrounding the magic of our stones are still out there, but with every year that passes, they become more myth than truth. And that’s exactly the way we want to keep it — a secret.”
“Is that why most people don’t believe crystals and gemstones work?” I quizzed.
Tanner displayed a proud smile. “Exactly. They don’t, if they haven’t been charged. Now, enough with the questions. Close your eyes and charge that stone of yours. Oh, and keep in mind . . . you’ll be giving that one to me.”
I cocked my head and looked over at him with one brow raised. “I’m not sure if I can trust you,” I quipped.
Tanner tilted his head back and let out an unamused laugh. “Little girl, you can’t afford not to.”
I turned a deaf ear as I knelt down. I closed my eyes, cupped the rough little diamond in my hands, and did precisely what he’d said. Though I wasn’t exactly sure what I should be doing specifically, my general pleas for all the powers that I’d experienced, as well as the ones Tanner had described, whirled in my head and began guiding the newfound raw energy radiating inside me. I immediately sensed a bright, warm light streaming from the diamond and could actually feel a part of myself fusing with the stone. Thankfully, it didn’t hurt like it had when I’d cut it out of my arm last night. It just tingled. Once the magical phenomena had ended and I knew the ritual was complete, I rose from the ground and tossed the freshly charged diamond to Tanner.
“You’re welcome,” I said purposely.
Tanner acknowledged my gift with a mere hint of a grin as he placed the stone in his pocket and gave it a little tap. That was it. Not even a formal “thank you”. None whatsoever.
“You’re not going to string it around your neck with a gold chain? Like your tiger’s-eye?” I asked curiously.
Tanner’s mouth stretched into that crafty grin I’d come to know all too well. “No. I have other plans for this one . . . but a diamond shouldn’t be set in gold or silver. It can, of course. But it’s more powerful set in platinum.”
“Noted,” I replied heedfully. His admission about the importance of what metal the stone should be placed in prompted another question, which I was sure he was going to love coming out of my mouth.
“I take it metals have some kind of energy . . . if it affects the stone’s strength. Do they have any powers?”
“They do . . . but there are no Talismans who reign over any metal or their man-made alloys. Metals naturally emit their energy to all supernaturals. Some are beneficial while others aren’t. Silver is extremely harmful to a lot of them, but not to us. The only thing that bears an adverse ill effect on certain Talismans is iron. It won’t kill us, but it severely weakens our bodies and drains our powers if it comes in direct contact with our skin. The only Talismans who aren’t affected by it are those who reign solely over an Earth stone — like the Onyx, for example. Iron is so abundant in the earth that they’re immune to it. Don’t be surprised if you feel a little queasy and extremely weak when you touch it. Try to avoid it if possible. There are small traces of iron in lots of things, just stay away from the objects that have a high concentration of it. Stainless steel isn’t a problem because it contains chromium. Chromium actually shields us from the iron’s effects. You’ll figure out what to avoid soon enough. Fortunately for us, gloves work in a pinch. Not a bad idea to keep a pair handy.”
I thought about when I’d hurled the plant stand through the window the other day. I felt weak as soon as I touched it and quite nauseous too.
“Like wrought iron,” I stated doubtlessly. Tanner confirmed my assessment with a nod of his head.
“As far as some of the other metals go . . . a lot of supernaturals use copper when casting their spells because it only directs energy and can’t be permeated. Brass is one of its metal alloys, so you can hone in on the copper’s energy and manipulate its structure quite easily. And since most locks are crafted from it, opening a door is a breeze. That might have been helpful for you to know the other day. You wouldn’t have had to break your window,” Tanner laughed. “You could have discovered that for yourself . . . if you would have been more patient.”
I threw him a cold glare.
“Lithium’s a fun one,” Tanner added. “Since cell phones and laptops use it in their batteries, you can listen in on people’s conversations and even get a mental picture of what they’re looking at on their computers.”
“Isn’t that eavesdropping . . . and a bit nosey?”
“And listening in on people’s thoughts through telepathy isn’t?” Tanner quickly rebutted.
I smiled mischievously. Well, he’s got me on that one.
“You’re right,” I conceded.
“Okay . . . Let’s go,” Tanner instructed as he pointed up to the mouth of the cave.
A million questions were running through my mind as I followed him up the winding rock staircase. Though knowing how painful the whole experience of cutting a diamond out of my arm had proved to be, I decided to hit on the particulars of that one first.
“Tanner, can I charge any diamond or does it have to come from me?” And I didn’t care if I sounded like a wussie either — ’cause it had really hurt!
“You should only charge your own stones — NEVER any other! No Talisman should!” Tanner continued up the stairs and then stopped. His tone softened as he added, “You can, but it’s difficult to do so, and they’re notoriously unpredictable. Not a wise thing, so you need to get that thought out of your head.”
I nodded back at him. You know, they really ought to print a daggone guidebook to go by. They could call it, The Do’s and Don’ts of Stones, or possibly, A Beginner’s Guide for Talismans, or even better, Talisman-Training for Dummies. With so many rules and important things I needed to learn, any of them would be a welcomed sight for my ignorant eyes.
“Are you ready?” Tanner asked eagerly as soon as we’d reached the top.
“Yeah,” I announced, echoing his enthusiasm. “What’s the game plan?”
“We’re going to stretch our legs a bit.” Tanner motioned back to the entrance of the cave. “Close the door, would you?”
I waved my hands over the opening. Still fascinated, I watched the rocks and earth as they shifted around, connecting like pieces of a puzzle until they had seamlessly resealed the mouth of the cave. I turned back towards Tanner, though all I spied of the Amethyst Talisman was a trail of purple mist hurtling off into the woods. I shook my head.
Ugh! I guess the “gentleman” has never heard of “ladies first”…
I took off running into the forest before my eyes lost sight of him. I couldn’t help noticing how much faster I was today. Only a few yards separated us, though I would willingly admit he was far more fleet-footed. While Tanner Grey could dodge trees and leap over bushes with impeccable accuracy, I bounced around behind him with the direction and grace of a daggone pinball. I hit pretty much EVERYTHING in my path. I had no idea where we were going, but I knew it was definitely much further than we had traveled yesterday.
After running for about forty minutes, we came to an almost synchronized stop. Well, at least I didn’t trip this time. My eyes widened as they panned the breathtaking view that lay before me — colorfully-kissed rolling mountains stretched throughout the countryside under a heavenly field of pristine blue, peaking and dipping gracefully for as far as your eyes could see.
Rapt in the wonderment of the quintessential autumn scene, I beamed an approving smile. No doubt about it… West Virginia at its best.
“Do you know where you are now?” Tanner asked confidently.
“Yes. US-19, standing on the New River Gorge Bridge.” It was the largest and highest steel expansion-bridge in the country, and not to mention, equally as impressive as the view. Once a year, daredevils would flock here for Bridge Day — the only legal day of the year when you could bungee or BASE jump from its top. It was the perfect place for such an event. Though I didn’t consider myself a chicken by any means, I’d never attempted it (nor gave it a crazy second-thought). You could even go whitewater rafting in the New River below, but only when they opened up the dam this time of the year.
Tanner fearlessly sat down on the bridge’s narrow concrete guardrail. It made me nervous just watching him. He noted my uneasiness. “It’s totally safe,” he assured. “Well, I mean it’s not iron, that is. That’s the only thing one-hundred percent safe about it. Though I can’t say the same about all those iron-rich girders underneath us,” he added with a wink. Tanner paused to take in the view. “Do you remember when you asked me why was the wand hidden here, of all places?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“I ask you . . . Why not?” Tanner posed as he released his arms from the security of the railing and pointed them out towards the majestic panorama lying before our eyes. “The wand needed a source of carbon to maintain its energy, but it also needed to be placed somewhere that would remain relatively untouched by time. Could there have been a more secluded or serene place? These lands are not only filled with earthly treasures, but raw beauty as well. It was the perfect place . . . right down to its people.” He drank in a deep breath as his eyes feasted on the delights of the awe-inspiring scenery.
I had lived in West Virginia all of my life. It was a very rural environment, where nature’s bounty was plentiful, but it lacked the availability of jobs for its residents. If you lived here, you were either a coal miner, married to a coal miner, or your job catered to the livelihoods of coal miners in some way. I’d always wanted something different for myself. Though I desperately longed to escape this area one day, it was my home and in my heart it always would be. But it was refreshing to see West Virginia through the eyes of an outsider. It warmed my soul that someone could see the beauty in the state we tended to take for granted and made me treasure it all the more.
Carefully, I climbed onto the bridge’s narrow concrete railing and positioned myself right beside him. “So why are we here?” I asked.
“For your next lesson, of course.” Tanner flashed a sly grin, just a shady second before he swiftly pushed me backward — off the daggone bridge!
I screamed all 876 feet down the gorge. All I could think was, Why the hell can’t I fly!?! Unbreakable bones or not, this landing was certainly going to sting.
Like a mother, I grumbled.
I crashed into the chilly waters below. The force of the fall drove me down to the riverbed, where my body scraped its bottom. The walloping impact hurt of course, but nowhere near how I’d thought it would. Without a doubt, any normal person wouldn’t have been able to survive such a fall. They certainly couldn’t walk away without numerous broken bones, not the way I’d smacked the water’s surface. Fortunately for me, I was no longer a “normal” person.
I maneuvered my feet and pushed against the river bottom with a powerful thrust, reaching the surface in less than a second. Furiously, my eyes scanned the riverbank for Tanner Grey. I finally spotted him strolling casually downstream, heading towards me.
“Why did you do THAT!?!” I screamed.
Tanner appeared to be offended, which only added to my confusion. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about? I had to take the long way down,” he scoffed and pointed over to a winding mountainside trail that led to the bottom of the gorge.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t be so WET today!” I snapped.
“Oh, we wouldn’t want that,” Tanner laughed and flashed me that signature cheeky grin of his.
That’s not good…
Tanner stood on the riverbank and turned upstream. Oddly enough, he seemed to be staring intently at the water.
What’s he doing?
I waded in the river while I followed his focused gaze upstream. Suddenly the river began to swell and surge. I looked over at Tanner. This was all his doing. A huge wall of water was now rushing towards me. Not a slim-second later, I was being swept away in a violent flashflood. The river’s turbulent waters were tossing me around tirelessly, and I felt its grip desperately trying to tug me under.
I struggled to keep my head above the water for several minutes, but it kept pulling me below the surface as the brutal current tossed me like an old ragdoll downstream. I couldn’t fight its fury. A large wave finally forced me down. Swimming topside was impossible no matter how hard I tried. The water seemed to be holding me there. I didn’t even get a chance to take a deep breath before it had dragged me under. My body twisted and turned strenuously, dying to escape. I assumed it was only a matter of time before I would run out of air but surprisingly, I didn’t. The water’s tireless grip eventually loosened (after what felt lik
e a short eternity), finally freeing me to drift up to the surface.
Overwrought with anxiety and physical exhaustion, I paddled towards the riverbank. I flipped myself over as soon as I reached it and flopped right onto my back. A shadow fell over my body as I lay there with my chest heaving, trying to mellow my breaths. I looked up to see Tanner standing above me.
“Why are you so out of breath?” Tanner questioned. “You shouldn’t have had a problem with air down there. After all, you’ve been under for about a half-hour.”
I made an attempt to splash him with some of the chilly water that had imprisoned me for the past thirty minutes. “How did you do THAT?”
“My amethyst reigns as a water element. I thought this way of revealing it would serve two purposes. You could grasp the serious nature of Talismans who claim a water stone, and you could see that a small part of you can manipulate the elements of water and air, to keep you safe from the water’s fatal outcome.”
“Honestly, you could’ve just told me the objective of your little lesson! You brought me all the way up here to Fayetteville to show off and prove I can’t drown?” I grunted as I rose to my feet and then looked down at my drenched clothes. Straightaway, I leaned towards Tanner and violently shook my dripping hair at him. The Amethyst Talisman grinned as he jumped out of the sprinkling water’s path. He brushed off his jacket and laughed.
“Not entirely. We’re here because you’re growing more powerful, and we can’t risk Lazarus sensing any of your energy,” he replied matter-of-factly. “Besides, there’s a café up the road that serves a pretty mean omelet.”
I looked down at my sopping wet clothes and then back at him like he was nuts. He sensed my resistance.
“Don’t worry. The run to town will dry you out,” Tanner chuckled. “My treat, since you didn’t bring your purse.” The Amethyst Talisman patted my back as he transformed once again into his vapory form and was off like the wind.
I shook my head and grunted, but diligently followed his lead.
The misty purple trail came to a stop on the outskirts of Fayetteville. We walked (like normal people) down the small-town’s quaint main street. Before long, we were standing at the entrance of the Cathedral Café. It appeared to have once been a church that now housed a charming downtown eatery. It was a little crowded, but we managed to find a vacant table. The décor was on the spiritual side with whimsical accents everywhere. Hand-painted tabletops and mismatched chairs littered the dining area in a random fashion, bright multi-hued ceramic tiles covered a long counter where a line of customers sat munching on their food, and funky artwork from local talent adorned the walls of the colorful and cheery café. I had to admit, it was undeniably cute in an eccentric sort of way.
A waitress hurried over to our table. She seemed just as infatuated with Tanner as Shelia had been at Anthony’s restaurant the other day. I sat back and watched the twenty-something brunette while she doted on him without giving me the slightest bit of attention, smiling and flirting uncontrollably. It was off-putting, but I’ll admit, slightly amusing. However, the server’s lack of professionalism aggravated the part-time waitress in me to no end. I motioned at him to order for me, seeing how I doubted she would remember a single word coming out of my mouth. Our server soon scurried off to the kitchen with hopefully, all of our order — not just Tanner’s. Our appetites have been solely thinking of food, but after picking up the flirty waitress’ thoughts when she brushed my arm as she was leaving, she was definitely craving “somethin’ else”.
I propped my head up on the table with my hands, threw Tanner a sassy smile, and started batting my eyes. He let out a subtle chuckle and passed off her actions by saying, “She probably just wants a good tip.”
I glanced back towards the espresso counter where she was now chatting with another waitress. The two of them were staring dreamily at Tanner as they whispered and giggled back and forth. Guess again, I noted quietly.
“Well, if that’s the case,” I began, “she would’ve at least acknowledged me.”
Amused, Tanner hastily replied, “Well, we can’t have your feelings hurt, now can we? Let’s get her back over here.” He threw up his hand straightaway. “Oh, Miss?”
Embarrassed, I watched wide-mouthed as he waved her over before I could stop him. Surely the busty airhead would think I was jealous. Ugh! I wasn’t. Not really… It just ticked me off. We could be a couple for all she knew. She was average at best. She just had extremely large “assets”.
Our waitress was by Tanner’s side in an instant. She leaned across him, rather seductively, as she placed his glass of water on the table. Mine was purposely slammed in front of me. Some of it even splashed my shirt.
I threw her a glare as I snatched my napkin out of my lap and blotted the spots of water. I just dried off, you twit! I heard her inform Tanner that her name was “Lila”.
Tanner cleared his throat. “Well, Lila . . . You were somewhat rude to my friend, Shiloh.” The tacky waitress continued to stare at her handsome patron. He finally had to motion for her to look my way.
“I’m so sorry,” Lila replied and then threw me a dirty glare. She turned back to Tanner with a look in her eyes that was sinfully suggestive. “How can I make it up to you?” she asked, practically panting.
I sat there, stunned by her brash demeanor. There’s no shame in her game, that’s for sure!
“Shiloh, how can she make it up to you?” Tanner asked.
“She can’t,” I replied curtly and took a sip of water. I fumed silently, What she needs is a cold shower… Ice cold, as a matter of fact.
The next thing I knew, Lila had snatched the glass water out of my hand and was pouring it all over herself. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Then she grabbed Tanner’s glass and dumped it over her head as well, cubes and all. Lila’s whole appearance had changed. She was wet of course, but she seemed dazed, like she was in a trance. She didn’t shiver the least little bit when the icy water had hit her (not even now with chunks of ice lodged in the cleavage of her boobs). My idea of a “cold shower” rang out. Lila had the same look in her eyes that Trooper Burks did when he’d changed his mind about dropping me off at the mine instead of taking me straight home. The tops of my teeth sank into my bottom lip, driven there by a shocking epiphany. I made her do it…
Tanner noticed my guilty-as-hell cringe too. “You could have just made her give you a free muffin or something, Shiloh. Now she’s all wet,” he remarked. “From what I’ve been told, little girls don’t like that.”
“Oops,” I shrugged, not so innocently.
Lila was still standing beside our table, suspended in a trance. I turned to her and softly ordered, “You can go and check on our order now.” With an added wave of my hand, she turned and headed towards the kitchen.
Oh, wait, I thought. She immediately stopped in the middle of the café. Quickly, I mentally whispered a secret message to her. Once my directive had been received, she headed off on her merry way, straight to the kitchen.
Tanner kicked me under the table. “What was that?” he asked.
“I told her to hold the spit — on mine.” Tanner slung his napkin at me. I couldn’t help but giggle. Our omelets and juice were delivered to us in a snap. I had to admit my meal was excellent, definitely better than the service.
“Can I do that to anyone?” I asked as we walked out of the café, still a little unclear about my new talent.
Tanner didn’t answer. He appeared too preoccupied with a man slumped down in an adjacent alley. Clearly he was more than curious about the stranger. Downright distracted seemed a better fit.
“Not to supernaturals, just people,” Tanner finally replied, his eyes never leaving the lethargic man propped against the building for one second. “And it’s easier to compel someone you don’t have an emotional connection with. Your personal feelings and past experiences will cloud your attempts. Over time,
you’ll learn to control them.” Tanner glanced at me and instructed, “Wait here,” and then walked over to the stranger.
I stood right where I was and watched him kneel beside the stranger. The man yelled a few choice words at Tanner, that is, until the Amethyst Talisman placed his arm on the man’s shoulder. Curiously, I crept closer. He held on to the man for about a minute. Tanner then took his hand and scraped it down his own neck. The broken skin unveiled his stone, a small amethyst, in the same manner mine had been revealed. Once his blood had been wiped off the stone, Tanner closed his eyes and cupped the amethyst in his hand, precisely like he had done down in the cave. Within seconds, Tanner placed the stone in the man’s right hand. The stranger seemed more alert, though he never looked directly at Tanner. The man then rose to his feet with an obviously more cheerful demeanor and strutted off proudly down the street.
“What was that about?” I asked as he signaled for me to follow him.
“I was helping him with a few of his demons,” Tanner replied.
Not real demons? I wondered. He noticed the strange look on my face.
“I healed him,” Tanner revealed. “That man has been suffering for a long time. He was dealing with some pretty intense depression. His spirit was reeling with misery, and he was quite irritable if you ask me. He was also an alcoholic.”
“What do you mean was?” I posed.
“I purged him of his bad thoughts and feelings, as well as his addiction. Alcohol is a poison to the mind, body, and soul. As long as he holds on to that stone, he won’t ever have to worry about getting the urge to take a drink again. All Talismans have healing powers. Some just don’t choose to use them.”
I found myself in awe of the charming Talisman’s compassionate actions towards the stranger. “That was very kind,” I muttered as I basked in admiration.
“Shiloh, that’s one of the reasons why we have our gifts. Not for our own benefit, but for others. Being a Talisman isn’t all about mystical powers or flexing our muscles. It’s an effective means to an end for peace and order, but mind you, our powers were also meant to help the world and all its people.” Tanner glanced back at the stranger. “One person at a time, if need be. Always remember that.”
What he said rang true. The world was overrun with pain and suffering, no matter how great or small the hardship. Once again the brassy, though charismatic tough guy had let his sensitive side shine through. I really liked seeing it.
Something about the exchange nagged me. “But he didn’t thank you?” I couldn’t imagine receiving such a valuable gift and not showing any sort of appreciation for it.
“He couldn’t. He doesn’t even know what happened, let alone remember it,” Tanner replied. “That’s part of our defenses . . . secrecy.”
“So, Talismans can heal people from anything?” I submitted curiously.
“In a roundabout way,” Tanner replied. “You see, every stone heals a different affliction. My powers purge negative emotions, and I can counteract most toxins, but where I can heal a person of these ailments, I can also burden them with the same ones as well. If a Talisman uses their powers to afflict someone, then they are the only one who can reverse it. That’s important to remember, especially when dealing with supernatural poisons. Shiloh, the only way you can be poisoned is if you were to actually ingest the toxin or through an open wound. That means you need to watch what put in your mouth and be very careful with your wounds until you heal them with sea-salt & water, which by the way, you should always keep on you, all the time. You can also heal them under the light of any full moon. That’s actually the fastest way. The healing touch of a full moon’s beam is an extremely powerful force. In fact, a special moonbeam, personally sent from the Talisman who reigns over the moonstone, can heal any supernatural instantly — from anything, even from another Talisman’s affliction. It’s a rare occurrence. The act itself weakens the moonstone Talisman. It drains her powers for a spell because she must absorb the affliction and purge it herself. That’s why it doesn’t happen often. To my knowledge, she’s only done it once. So, seeing as how a chance of that happening is next to none and a moonbeam from a full moon rolls around only once every 29 1/2 days, I’ll repeat, keep a bottle of sea-salt & water on you — ALL THE TIME,” Tanner affirmed with a stern nod.
Though learning about my limitations was somewhat alarming, the knowledge he passed along was like an addictive drug that left me craving even more.
“What can Beatrix heal?” I asked.
“Beatrix can fuse broken bones and cure a few aliments, like blindness for example.”
Surprised by his admission, my head fell into a tilt. “Blindness?” I parroted, my mind spinning with questions.
Tanner nodded. “Don’t ever mention what I’m about to tell you,” he advised. “Beatrix was born with her sight . . . but someone took it from her tragically when she was a young woman in her twenties. She’s actually been blind all of her adult life. Fortunately, when she was united with her golden topaz, it allowed her to see by granting that ‘third-eye’ of hers. It couldn’t restore her own eyesight because it was taken from her by another Talisman. Only they can reverse the magic.”
I gasped. “That must’ve been horrible for her.”
“Aw, she’s a tough old broad. Don’t feel bad for her. Beatrix wouldn’t want you to. She told me that her blindness was a blessing in disguise. She was able to view the world in a whole new light. Even though the golden topaz allows her to see, she only does so when she has to. She prefers relying on her other senses.” Tanner breathed out a light laugh. “There’s something else about Beatrix’s healing abilities . . . She’d kill me for telling this one, but her golden topaz also helps control a person’s weight. That’s how she really stays so slim. The woman eats like a damn bird.” Tanner’s subtle chuckles erupted into a boisterous round of laughter. His tone shifted, and he added seriously, “Most important, the golden topaz offers a great deal of protection from death . . . but you already know about that. As far as humans are concerned, it just delays the inevitable outcome for a while, buying them some time, so you really can’t call that a healing power.”
“Do I have any healing powers?”
Tanner took a deep breath. “Your diamond is special. It can heal any physical injury, like the ones you sustained in the cave the other night, but it can also cure illnesses of the mind as well. Those are pretty powerful gifts, Shiloh. Curing a random ailment is one thing, but saving a life is nothing less than miraculous.”
I smiled, fully acknowledging the weight of his claim. Shiloh Wallace…Talisman, M.D.
“There’s something else,” Tanner announced. “You know, your ability to increase another Talisman’s powers?”
“You mean my ‘greatest disadvantage’?” I scoffed reluctantly. “How can I forget?”
“Well, the power’s original intent was to boost another Talisman’s healing abilities. You make it easier for them when they’re in your presence. But you’re right, with every pro, there’s certainly a con of equal magnitude. That’s just how the universe works.”
Once we were on the outskirts of town, Tanner turned to me and instructed, “Let’s go. I think you need to burn off all those calories you just ate back there. After all, you don’t have a charged golden topaz to rely on,” he teased and took off into the forest, just after he issued my rear a sneaky smack.
I closed my gaping mouth and in less than a second, I was racing to catch up with him as we barreled across the mountainous West Virginia countryside.
We eventually came to a stop near a small stream that flowed into a plunging waterfall. Black Fork Falls… Well, I guess I finally made it to Twin Falls after all, I joked to myself. I’d been here hiking the trails many times before. The park was less than an hour from home (well, by driving). The waterfall was located in a more isolated area, well away from a lot of the more touristy attractions, and it seeme
d we were all alone.
Tanner decided that the rest of the afternoon should be spent sharpening my physical skills and reflexes. I had a sneaky suspicion I would end up soaking wet before we concluded for the day. Sure enough, I was right. I managed to stay dry, though dirty, during the first couple of hours of our “play fighting”. That’s what Tanner called it. I thought “willing torture” was more accurate. But when Tanner saw I was much stronger than yesterday, he upped his game and hurled me into the waterfall. Once again, I was wet and pissed. It wasn’t until the sun started to set that my mentor decided it was time to call it a day.
“Try to be on time tomorrow,” Tanner urged. “I think you know your way home from here.” With a flash of a smile he was off again. I followed his lead and made a mad dash straight for my house.
The closer I ran to Welch, the easier it became to get my bearings, even in spite of the fading light. And, I only ran into one tree this time around, which I thought was impressive. My pace slowed to a steady jog as I winded around the last sharp curve about a half-mile from my house. As I turned onto our gravel drive, I noticed that though Charlotte’s Cadillac was absent, Samuel’s Jeep was parked in its place. I ran up onto the porch to find my surrogate father swaying on the weathered old swing.
“I’m glad you showed up when you did. I was about to leave for my shift.” Samuel hesitated for a moment, his eyes heavy. “They gave me Caiden’s job. I wasn’t expecting that,” he sighed.
There it was — exactly what I was trying to avoid. I had Daddy in my heart. I didn’t need him floating 24/7 around in my head, too. It was too much heartache to deal with.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.
Samuel seemed surprised by my question and let out a laugh. “I came by to check on you. I sent you a couple of texts today. I even called up to the school. The lady in the office said you weren’t there, but that Chloe was.” Samuel looked me over from head to toe, eyeing my extremely soiled clothes. “What have you been doing today?”
I couldn’t think of a good enough excuse. I didn’t realize I would need an alibi on stand-by.
“Nothin’ much,” I replied casually.
Samuel’s brow rose suspiciously. “Well, you sure have a whole lot of nothin’ on your clothes. Did you lie down on a dirt-track and let the four-wheelers use you as a ramp?”
I shook my head. “No, Samuel.” I wasn’t about to give up any details about where I was, whom I was with, and certainly not what the heck we were doing.
“Aside from all the dirt, nothin’ seems to suit you. I kinda expected to find you moping around the house . . . But then I saw you come a runnin’ round the bend with a smile plastered on your face. A smile like I haven’t seen since you were a little girl and would get a new toy. You look happy . . . Almost burstin’ with joy.”
I kind of felt offended by Samuel’s observation. Is he trying to insinuate that I’m not mourning my father properly? I was a wreck on the inside, but a whole new world had been revealed to me, whether I liked it or not; a world with unlimited opportunities that would allow me to have what I wanted more than anything else — Lazarus Xcavare’s head.
“Samuel, don’t think for one second that I’m not devastated by Daddy’s passing,” I snapped.
Samuel cut me off quickly. “No, Shiloh . . . That’s not what I meant. Boy, you women like to read things into what us men say.” He patted the empty spot beside him on the porch swing. “Come over here and sit down.”
Feeling a bit ashamed about my assumption, I lowered my head and plopped down on the swing beside my surrogate father. Samuel threw his arm around me, and I nuzzled my head against his shoulder.
“What I was trying to say was simply, whatever you’re doing to ease your grief — do it. You don’t need to be sulking around the house, wishing for one more moment with Caiden. Your father wouldn’t want that, and I don’t either.”
I could see how concerned he was when I tilted my head up and looked into his warm brown eyes.
He continued, “Shiloh, you have a glow about you. I can’t explain it, but you definitely have one.” Samuel’s expression grew more solemn. “I know all too well how a person can spend their life pining for someone who’s only a memory to them.”
I watched a small tear take form in the corner of his eye as I thought to myself, His wife… Sarah.
“When they leave without warning . . . Well, let’s just say, your emotions can haunt you into your darkest of hours, or you can choose to live each day enjoying what the world has in store for you. You always take what you get, but hope each day is brighter than the last. All I’m saying is don’t do it the way I did for so long. The most valuable thing in the world is time. Don’t waste it and don’t shut the people you love out of your life. Don’t ever take anything for granted. That’s the thing about time — you never know when yours is up.”
Samuel’s words were comforting, but they did give rise to some guilt, forcing me to acknowledge that I’d been tuning everyone out these last few days. Samuel, Katie, and even Ty… I’d thrown myself into this new world without telling anyone what I’d been doing or why. But I couldn’t. Even if I could, what would I say? Hey, guys… I’m sorry for shuttin’ all of y’all out. I know y’all have been so worried about me, but I haven’t had the time. I’ve been too busy tryin’ to sharpen my new supernatural skills that I got from this glowin’ diamond wand out back. I’ll make myself more available after I take care of Lazarus Xcavare and avenge my father. Please accept my apologies…
I don’t think so!
I gave Samuel a peck on the cheek and hugged him. “I promise, Samuel. I’ll be more present and not close myself off from everyone . . . especially you.”
“Good. Then you can start by telling me what you’ve been doing? Nothing illegal, I hope. I bet Officer Ryan would love to haul your butt down to the jail after whippin’ his tail the way you did the other day.”
“I’m sure he would, but nothing illegal — I promise.” My smile turned into a serious stare as I swayed on the swing and thought quietly, Nothing illegal yet, but I’m pretty sure killing someone still falls under the category of a crime…whether they’re a supernatural being or not.
Samuel wasn’t giving up. It was obvious that I was daydreaming about something. He poked me with his elbow. “Is it a boy?”
His assumption parted my lips on the spot. Samuel took the surprise behind my expression the wrong way, and in a typical fatherly-fashion, he continued his interrogation.
“Don’t tell me it’s that Mike Riverside from the other night. I saw the way he was lookin’ at you. Caiden was right. I should’ve brought Bessie Mae with me!”
I started laughing at the mental image of Samuel going after Mike Riverside with “Bessie Mae”, the affectionate name he used when referring to his double-barrel shotgun.
“No, no, no! Absolutely not! Not on his best day — or my worst.”
Samuel let out a sigh. “That’s a relief.”
The next thing we knew, my mother’s Cadillac was pulling up to the house. Once she had parked, both Charlotte and Chloe hopped out of the car—all smiles and giggling—and carrying a slew of shopping bags, all from various stores in Bluefield. I even spied a small tote bag stamped, Vance Travel Agency.
Samuel pointed over to the terrible-twosome. “See, Shiloh. Everybody handles grief . . . in different ways.” He shook his head and threw Charlotte a dirty look. Clearly he was just as riled by her behavior as I was. I’d kind of hoped she was truly saddened by Daddy’s passing, but considering all of her indiscretions that had recently come to light, I suspected it was more wishful thinking on my part.
Something about their bubbly demeanors struck me as odd. Of course I’d never seen them come home from one of their shopping sprees in a “bad mood”, but judging from their electric smiles and buoyant appearances, the two of them looked as h
appy as a tornado in a trailer park as they scurried up the steps.
As Charlotte entered the house, I called out, “Chloe, what’s going on?”
I noticed a twinkle in my little sister’s eyes when she turned our way, finally acknowledging us. Chloe placed her shopping bags down on the porch and then tossed her raven hair back as she flashed me a haughty smirk.
Oh, she’s definitely reveling about something.
“Well, if you must know . . .” Chloe began in a condescending tone, “We’re going to be RICH!”
Shocked by her announcement, both Samuel and I both glanced at each other with the same look of disbelief.
“How’s that exactly?” I asked skeptically.
“Daddy had a little secret,” Chloe revealed with a sneaky grin.
I shot to attention like the snap of a rubber band after hearing the words “Daddy” and “secret” uttered in the same sentence.
“Daddy owned Shiloh Ridge!” Chloe squealed. “Mom didn’t even know about it until Kyle Parsons from the County Clerk’s office called her this morning. He told her Daddy held the title and that someone wanted to purchase it. So she went down to the bank and got into his safe-deposit box. Low and behold, there was the deed! Mr. Xcavare is going to pay her FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS for it! Isn’t that GREAT NEWS? Well, for Mom and me, that is.”
Once my stomach had landed from its flip, panic swooped down on me like a flock of buzzards looking to pick me apart. My body remained motionless as all the color drained from my face, knowing full well I was probably as white as a sheet by now.
NO! Lazarus will find the cave! He’ll punch holes in every inch of Shiloh Ridge! Then that bastard will discover the wand has already been claimed!
Chloe stepped closer. “Oh, Shi . . . You look a bit peaked.” I was staring down at the porch, fixated on my thoughts of how to stop this from happening when my little sister lifted my head. “Awww . . . Now don’t fret. Mom’s already said you can stay here. But you might have to pay some rent,” she added with a smirk and gave the tip of my nose a snide little tap with her finger.
My mouth dropped as I watched her trot off into the house triumphantly, whirling her shopping bags around with a shit-eaten’ grin plastered on her face.
“They’re NOT going to do that — I promise,” Samuel vowed. “Don’t let them see you all worked up, Shiloh.” Samuel looked at his watch and grimaced. “Honey, I have to leave for work, but if you want, you can stay at my house . . . at least till things settle down around here. You’re more than welcome to.”
Though I was grateful for his offer, I couldn’t help but be a little confused by his lackadaisical attitude regarding my dilemma. I’d kind of expected my surrogate father to put forth more of a fuss than just, “I promise they won’t do that”?
My stare crashed to the planks on the porch. He’s been around our family my entire life. Has he not seen what those two are capable of?
“That’s not going to solve my problem.” I tried to act as calm as he seemed to be, but at that moment, I was ready to jump out of my skin. I turned to him with the fakest smile I could muster. “Go on, Samuel. I’ll be fine.”
Samuel gave me a couple of reassuring pats. “Bye, Shiloh. No worries now.” I watched him stroll casually over to his Jeep, and before I knew it, he was headed off to the mine.
I rushed inside the house. I found Charlotte in her bedroom, dragging one of her larger suitcases out of the closet.
“You can’t do this!” I protested. “You don’t know what you’re doing!”
Charlotte slung the cumbersome bag on her bed with a heave and then started zooming around the room, gathering up clothes to pack. “I can, and I will. I know exactly what I’m doing, Shiloh. I’m signing a piece of paper tomorrow afternoon that’s going to make me fifteen-million dollars richer, so I can finally get out of this hellhole. That’s what I’m doing!”
“No! You just CAN’T!” I pleaded.
“Ugh! You can live in the damn house! What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t allow you to do that? You’ll have to pay some rent of course, but considering you’re eighteen now and legally an adult, I could throw you out on the street. The only thing I’m guilty of here is being too generous.”
Clearly desperate, a thought rang out. I’ll compel her not to sell the land. I stood there quietly concentrating on Charlotte as she bounced around the room. I thought,
Charlotte Wallace…
You WILL NOT sell Shiloh Ridge
to Lazarus Xcavare…
I repeated it over and over in my head.
“Charlotte . . . What are you going to do?” I asked confidently. She finished folding her red blouse and gazed at me with a strange look on her face.
“I’m going to finish packing. ’Cause I’m catchin’ a flight to Europe,” my mother chortled. “Right after I sell Shiloh Ridge!”
DAMN! It didn’t work! I tried compelling her for several more minutes. Unfortunately, each failed attempt only stirred up more feelings of disgust and panic-fueled anger. After a good fifteen minutes of solid trying, my patience had worn out. I was on the verge of losing my temper and could feel my blood boiling with nervous rage.
“I hope we don’t keep you up tonight, what with all of our packing. I know you probably have loads of homework to do. Oh, wait — that’s right. You skipped school today. Mrs. Tuttle called to check on you and told me that you weren’t there. She was going to write it off as an excused absence, but I assured her that you were such a stickler for rules. I reasoned to her that if Chloe was able to attend, then your absence should be marked as unexcused. No exceptions. You’ll have to report to morning detention when you go back.”
Bitch! The next thing I knew, I’d taken my fist and punched a hole in her bedroom wall. To my shock, it drove straight through the sheetrock and pushed through the vinyl siding. I felt the cool fall air blowing on my knuckles. Mouth gaping and wide-eyed, I shamefully retracted my hand, which was visibly unscathed. Crap…
Charlotte had a peculiar look on her face. She was startled, but she also appeared scared. I ran out of her bedroom and headed straight for my room. I heard her scream, “And you’ll have to pay a security deposit to cover any DAMAGES!”
I slammed the door shut and began pacing wildly around my bedroom. What am I going to do? The compulsion trick didn’t even faze her. I remembered what Tanner had said about it being difficult to compel people who you have a strong emotional connection with. I guess even hatred counts as some kind of twisted bond. Ugghhh… How can I stop her when she’s hell-bent on selling it? The fact that I was so upset was just gravy for her. I had no idea what to do. I couldn’t call Tanner. I really didn’t know how to reach him. I know. I’ll call Bea!
I grabbed my cell and dialed Beatrix. Damn! I was prompted to a message informing me that her line had been disconnected. Probably because of her upcoming move, I surmised. Disappointed, I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to wait until morning to tell someone. This was surely going to be a long and restless night.
I ran to my closet and pulled out my new “security blanket”. I cuddled with Daddy’s shirt as I lay on my bed, tapping the cell on my chin. My mind was racing, but not one good idea had surfaced. I just hoped Tanner or Beatrix could come up with one.
Needing to calm down, I pulled the tumbled amethyst out of my pocket and held it tightly. Instantly, all of my panic and anxiety vanished. I knew trouble was still looming, but my mind, body, and soul had been set adrift on a sea of worry-free bliss.
I glanced at the display on my phone. It read,
