by S.E. Akers
A sneaky suspicion swelled from the pit of my gut. I straightened myself up, now wide-awake and well on my way to “ticked”.
“How did you know?” I demanded, knowing full well he was referring to my skirmish at the stadium.
“Funny thing . . .” Tanner began, “I was heading back to the motel when I noticed a freak lightning storm churning in the distance. I say, ‘freak’ because the weather forecast showed no signs of rain — FOR DAYS.” Tanner tapped his finger on his chin. “By the looks of it, I showed up at the end of the third quarter.”
“You were THERE?” I asked, taken aback by his cavalier remark.
“Yes,” Tanner answered with an unabashed smile.
“Just so I’m clear . . . You saw me getting my ass handed to me, and you sat back and did NOTHING? Is that about right?”
“No,” Tanner defended. “I was cheering for you.”
I slammed my hands down against the ground. “Ughhh!” I couldn’t even look at him. My stomach simply wouldn’t allow it.
Tanner patted my back. “Hey, the coach isn’t allowed on the field when the game’s in play, Shiloh — And, I wanted to see if you could handle yourself when given the ball . . . so to speak.”
I thought steam was going to shoot out my ears after hearing his nonchalant explanation as to why my supposed “MENTOR” didn’t step in to lend me a hand. It sure-as-shit sounded a little too devil-may-care to little ole “inexperienced” me.
Sensing my annoyance, Tanner nudged my shoulder. “You did good by the way,” he praised. “I was thoroughly impressed.”
His admission wheeled my stare to his straightaway. The sincerity I spied flickering in his eyes filled me with pride, which inevitably sent my lips creeping into a subtle, yet confident grin. I did do it by myself…and with a lot of help from Gallia — A WHOLE LOT!
“Those blue chalcedonies are pretty handy,” Tanner affirmed.
“Yeah,” I agreed, nodding my head. “So how long have you been here?”
“Awhile. I’ve been cleansing that wound of yours. It was a pretty nasty gash, but it’s finally all healed. You’re as good as new.”
I ran my fingers down the side of my face. Sure enough, it felt as smooth as a baby’s bottom once again. “Thanks,” I said appreciatively.
Tanner grinned. “It was the least I could do,” he replied, his eyes sparkling.
I automatically shifted my stare and sent it bouncing around the cave, hoping to tame the flush I felt brewing. “What time is it?” I asked.
“Almost five-thirty. The sun will be up soon.”
I extended my arms, giving my aching back a much-needed stretch. The snapping “pop” of my vertebrae forced a thought to surface. “Oh, by the way — I had a dream about Adamas. At least, I think it was him.”
Tanner seemed pleased, though not a bit surprised. “What you saw was actually a memory,” he explained. “What did it reveal?”
“I saw the wand lying on a table and then Adamas appeared. He pulled out the diamond’s silver hilt and joined it to the wand. That was basically it.”
After a moment of silent contemplation, Tanner announced, “The diamond’s trust in you is growing. It’s forging a bond with your soul. Hopefully the wand will release itself to you soon. Then we won’t have to worry about Lazarus finding it down here.”
It must not trust me too much. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I’d already attempted to pull it out last night.
“That’s good news. Why am I sensing you’re perturbed about something?” Tanner questioned.
Crap. Clearly the Amethyst Talisman’s radar had picked up on my dismay. Tell him something… Anything but that.
“I was wondering where you were yesterday?” I evaded. “All day?”
“I had to make an appearance at the mine,” Tanner explained. “I couldn’t have Lazarus wondering why the geologist he keeps on retainer didn’t show up for work. And it’s a good thing I was there. He’s definitely up to something.”
I thought about what Samuel had suggested earlier. “Is he trying to back out of the deal?” I asked.
Tanner appeared somewhat surprised but confirmed my suspicions with a nod. “Good guess. Why does he need the mine when he knows the diamond isn’t there? For the past few years, Xcavare’s business acquisitions haven’t exactly been for the company’s benefit as much as they’ve been for Lazarus’ own. Xcavare’s primary shareholder is Lazarus’ father, Malachi Xcavare, who by the way is a Talisman as well. Lazarus’ extracurricular purchases have squandered an exorbitant amount of the company’s funds. He abandons almost every mine the company has acquired just as soon as he realizes the diamond wand isn’t there. Only three of his past twenty-one acquisitions have been sold, and they didn’t even come close to turning a profit. A few have stayed open, but the majority of them are sitting idle. The most unfortunate ramification is the countless number of workers who have been left jobless. I can’t tell you how many towns and villages across the globe Lazarus has indirectly destroyed from his quest to locate the wand.”
Tanner rose to his feet and continued, “Malachi has even grown tired of the way his son’s been operating the business. It’s bad for the company’s bottom line, as well as their image. Its stock has taken a huge dive. Malachi is suspicious about what’s been fueling his son’s spontaneous purchases. Even though they share the same blood, they’re still both Talismans. They’d kill each other over the wand if one ever found out the other possessed it. Malachi Xcavare is the one who insisted I be here for this acquisition, mostly to keep an eye on Lazarus and report back to him. I’m pretty sure Lazarus suspects something, but they’re both clueless to the fact that I’m a Talisman.”
“So, you’re kind of a double-agent?” I posed.
Tanner flashed his cocky smile. “Exactly. I can keep tabs on both of them for The Guild. Convenient, don’t you think?”
“Very,” I replied. My thoughts began to dwell on the unsuspecting miners, as well as all the residents of Welch. Harper Riverside was hell-bent on selling the mine and Xcavare was the only fish biting, especially in this economy. The whole thing sounded too good to be true from the start—everyone keeping their jobs, their pay, their benefits, and their positions—nothing changing the least little bit. That NEVER happens when a new owner comes in. Even if Mr. Riverside were to find another buyer, the odds of the workers getting the same sweet deal was little to none. Whenever a mine changed hands around these parts, the new owners would unfailingly lay off at least half of the workers, and the lucky ones who did manage to keep their jobs had to kiss their union contracts good-bye. The city of Welch would be devastated as well. Unemployed townspeople would be forced to relocate. Then there were all the promises Lazarus had made to the town about “revitalizing Welch” and “investing in its people”. Our little community would inevitably end up a ghost town. How horrible…
Tanner snapped his fingers to pull me out of my apparent daze. “Shiloh? What are you thinking about?”
“Just about the miners . . . and the town. They’re screwed — one way or another. If the sale goes through and Xcavare shuts down the mine, it’ll be devastating. If Lazarus backs out of the deal, Harper Riverside will have to find another buyer. Odds are at least half the miners will lose their jobs, and that’s just as bad. Mike said his father thinks the mine is more trouble than it’s worth. Harper Riverside might just shut it down, even without a buyer. Like I said, they’re screwed,” I replied solemnly.
“I see . . . But right now, you should be more concerned with how Lazarus ended up here in the first place,” Tanner advised heedfully.
“I don’t know? Do you have any guesses?”
“Unfortunately, I do.” Tanner became very subdued. “I think he may have the wand’s hilt. That’s the only way he could know the diamond is here. Lazarus has been eyeing various coal mines for a while, but this is the first one he’s sou
ght to acquire. There are thousands, upon thousands of them all over the world. It’s too coincidental that the very first coal mine he chose was the exact same one in southern West Virginia close to where the wand was hidden.”
My eyes lit up instantly. “What does that mean?” I inquired.
“It means if he has the hilt, it’s led him here. The hilt claims some of the same memories the diamond wand possesses. It would speak to him randomly or in his dreams. The hilt would call out to him, give him clues, and guide him to the wand’s general location. The hilt’s only desire is to be reunited with the wand — no matter who claims the diamond’s power. It’s cast of metal, so it doesn’t have an owner. Nothing reigns over it.”
“What makes you think he has it?” I asked.
“I did some checking today. Xcavare purchased a company in Montana two years ago that happened to stumble upon a rare reserve of platinum. That’s what metal the hilt is cast from — not silver. It would have been buried near a source of it, so that just like the diamond, it could lie dormant but maintain its energy. When Adamas surrendered his powers, he gathered several Talismans from the Guild and bestowed each of us with a specific duty. Adamas left me in charge of protecting the wand, so I knew its location. He never let any one Talisman know too much, out of fear for their safety, as well as the wand’s. I’m not sure if that’s where it was hidden or not. I’ve tried contacting the Talisman who I think may know, but my attempts have been unsuccessful.”
I couldn’t help noticing that Tanner’s tone was now bordering on dismal.
Tanner continued, “If the hilt was hidden out there, and Lazarus happened to stumble upon it accidentally . . .” He shook his head and continued confidently, “Well, it’s the only reason that makes sense. The timeline fits. After the platinum discovery, the past two years have been filled with peculiar mining acquisitions, but they all have one thing in common — carbon. The exact same element the diamond wand needed to keep its charge all these years. The hilt doesn’t emit any energy like the wand does. It just receives it. Until the hilt is reunited with the wand, all it will do is call to whoever is in possession of it and attempt to guide them to the diamond wand’s whereabouts. If the hilt has led Lazarus here, for some reason, it can’t give him the wand’s exact location. Adamas could have used the same type of enchantment on the hilt as he did on the cave, hoping to hinder the hilt’s search. The man you saw in the store . . . It’s no coincidence he’s here.”
“So you did get my message,” I blurted, excited that my first attempt at contacting another Talisman via “stone” was a success.
“Yeah,” Tanner replied. “Loud and clear.”
My elation quickly faded as I watched him walk around the cave like a caged animal. I figured the stranger was possibly a Talisman, but that was about it. Clearly from his steady and heated steps, Tanner was on edge about something.
“Who is he?” I asked.
“His name is Ferrol and yes, he’s a Talisman. I sensed his presence a few minutes before he arrived at the mine this morning.” Tanner bent down and picked up a rock from off the ground. He resumed his fiery pacing as he tossed it in his hand. “That stone you saw around his neck is a carnelian — but that’s NOT his origin stone.” Tanner hurled the rock forcefully across the cave, allowing what appeared to be some pretty deep-seated hatred to surface. I watched it shatter against one of the walls. “I knew the Talisman who used to reign over that stone,” he revealed with a far-off look in his eyes. “Ferrol isn’t the first of our kind to claim it.”
I could tell Tanner was grief-stricken by this revelation. I should know. The aura grief emits had become all too familiar to me. And if that wasn’t a strong enough signal, the far-off, somber look on his face sure gave him away. The Talisman whom Ferrol received the stone from must have been a close acquaintance of his.
“Who was he?” I inquired.
“She,” Tanner corrected, “ . . . was someone I cared for deeply.”
Though he tried concealing his anguish, his emotions were too strong. I could see every ounce of his pain just by looking into his eyes, and my heart went out to him for his loss.
“Maybe she’s not dead?” I encouraged. “Couldn’t she have just given him one of her stones? As a gift?”
“NO,” Tanner insisted. “The one around his neck is the original carnelian. The same one Adean wore.”
Tanner’s violet eyes darkened as they crept into a sharp glare. I could only assume that maybe this Adean was a past love of his. All things considered, I decided not to pry. Who knows what memories I’ll stir up by asking? He’s clearly pissed enough already. This time, I think I’ll keep my questions to myself.
Trying to remain optimistic, I asked, “Couldn’t Adean have surrendered the stone to him?”
Tanner let out a sharp laugh. “The only way Adean would’ve let that stone go was if he pried it out of her dead, lifeless hands,” he announced confidently. “Adean was extremely brave and headstrong.” He grinned and added, “She was quite a firecracker. You remind me of her in a way — spirited, but stubborn.”
All things taken into consideration, I assumed that was supposed to be a compliment.
“When was the last time you saw her?” I asked.
“Not for a number of years,” Tanner said with a distant gaze. “But she’s never been far from my thoughts. I’ll miss her.”
“I’m so sorry,” I replied solemnly.
“Yeah well, if you hadn’t sent me that vision and let me get over the initial shock, I’m afraid I would have blown my cover when I ripped the bastard’s head off. I kept out of his way and pretended to be busy while he was there. I was afraid he might recognize me. We had a run in ages ago. I wasn’t even sure it was Ferrol until I managed to catch a glimpse of the stone that’s the origin of his powers. That confirmation was pretty damning.”
I found myself strangely disturbed by his last comment.
“Why? What stone is that?”
“The howlite, I’m sad to say,” Tanner revealed, looking clearly annoyed. “I saw it bound to his wrist. He accidentally flashed it when he was putting on his coat.”
“What does it do? Does it give its owner a lot of powers?” I questioned nervously.
“No, not a lot of powers,” Tanner replied grimly. “A howlite only has one power and one purpose . . . To hunt for other Talismans and their stones. Fortunately for me, my tiger’s-eye kept him from discovering who I was, but the bastard’s powers were pretty strong. If he hadn’t left around noon, he would have drained all the damn thing’s magic, and then my little jig would have been up for sure.”
My bottom lip dropped as the seriousness of the situation became abundantly clear. This Talisman was here to help locate the Diamond Wand of Adamas and would ultimately find me. A wave of pulse-firing panic consumed me as I looked around the cave. I felt as though its rough and rocky walls were closing in all around me, stripping me of my breaths and suffocating me with fear. Tanner rushed to my side in an instant. Oh, yeah. He’d sensed it.
“I don’t even have to ask if he picked up on yours.” Tanner shook his head. “Good thing you spotted him first and got the hell out of that store. I’m sure he suspects the diamond’s powers have been claimed. I’m just glad he didn’t see you.”
I pursed my lips and looked away, which unfortunately did nothing but arouse Tanner’s suspicions.
“He didn’t see you? Did he?” Tanner questioned.
I remained quiet.
“Shiloh?”
“He may have noticed my Charger . . . when I was pulling out of the parking lot,” I mumbled apprehensively.
“That’s all?” Tanner asked. “That’s not the worst news in the world. Well then, not only will you have to stay away from him, but I’m afraid you’ll have to ditch your car as well.”
My appearance stayed the same, still deeply troubled by each of my numerous encounters with Fe
rrol, and I was positive Tanner would be none too pleased by them as well.
“Don’t be upset,” Tanner encouraged. “I’ll get you another one. Something nice . . . and a little more low-key. Maybe a white Beamer? How about that? Nothing too flashy, of course. Just a 3-Series. I can’t have you getting spoiled.”
I heard Tanner talking, but I wasn’t listening. I remained still while my head swirled with panic and dismay.
The Emotion Whisper quickly noted my reaction. “Not the response I would expect from someone who was just informed they were getting a new BMW as a gift,” Tanner remarked with a distinct raise of his brow. “Shiloh? Shiloh?” He instantly picked up on my escalating alarm. Tanner swiftly grabbed my shoulders and demanded, “WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?”
The violet hue spinning in his eyes was starting to make me seriously dizzy. There was no sense in putting off my blunder any longer.
I lowered my head and mumbled, “He may have seen me in town . . . sitting at the red light when he walked past my car as he was crossing the street.”
“What do mean by ‘MAY HAVE?” Tanner probed, fearing my answer. “He didn’t see your face, did he?”
I lifted my head. “I mean . . . he did,” I confessed.
“Dammit, Shiloh!” Tanner yelled. “WHEN did this happen?”
I flinched. “Sometime between noon and one o’clock — I think,” I replied sheepishly.
“I thought I told you to go to school! Why didn’t you listen to me?”
“I did,” I snapped back, “but I got suspended and sent home. I thought it was too risky to go to my house. I was afraid Lazarus might show up on my doorstep, waving another check. I couldn’t find you or Bea. I didn’t know where else to go, so I ended up hiding out at the Drive-In.”
“What did you get suspended for?” Tanner grunted.
“Fighting,” I muttered. “I kind of beat up Mike Riverside.”
The Amethyst Talisman rolled his eyes and stormed around, spitting out a few expletives under his breath. His steps were so quick and heavy I thought the daggone roof was going to cave in at any second.
Then abruptly, Tanner stopped dead in his tracks. “Wait — If you were hiding out at the Drive-In, then how did you end up at the football field?”
My confession was almost complete. I didn’t think Tanner could get any more livid than he already was. Might as well just let it rip…
“Ferrol spotted my car parked there, so I took off on foot through the woods. I was on my way to the Heritage Inn when I saw the lights on at the stadium. I figured I could hide out there for a while.”
“You took off . . . on foot,” Tanner scoffed gruffly. “That’s what you’re telling me? You think you lost a Talisman — who’s a supernatural ‘hunter’ — ON FOOT?”
I nodded my head uneasily. “Yeah . . . Didn’t I?”
“No, Shiloh. You didn’t lose him. I’m sure once he realized you weren’t at the Drive-In, he followed your trail of energy straight to the football field!”
“But I didn’t see him there!” I countered.
Tanner boomed out a brassy laugh. “You didn’t see me there either, now did you?”
The unsettling realization of that fact sure jerked a knot in my already bottomed-out stomach, rest assured.
“He probably followed you here . . . He could be waiting outside the cave — this very second!” Tanner grumbled.
I wallowed in my own stupidity while I watched a very riled Tanner Grey storming around the cave like a mad man trying to figure out “what to do”. He stopped and turned to look at the wand, staring at it fiercely. The next thing I knew, Tanner had snatched my arm and was tugging me up the rock formation.
“Wrap your hands around it,” Tanner ordered impatiently. “Try to dislodge the wand.”
“Tanner, I tried when I got back here last night, and it wouldn’t budge.”
“Try it again!” he demanded.
Carefully, I wrapped my hands around the wand and did as Tanner requested. Though as I’d predicted, it didn’t move an inch. I stood over the diamond disheartened once again. This unfortunate predicament was entirely my fault—every stupid, naïve percent of it—and no matter how upset I was with myself, knowing I’d disappointed the Amethyst Talisman was the worst feeling of all.
Tanner immediately picked up on my frustration and turned me around to face him. “Shiloh, I think I know what your problem is,” he began, his expression softening. “You have to want to accept this as your destiny. You are a Talisman, but the stone will not force itself upon you. That’s why the transition of its powers won’t be complete until the wand is in your hand. You have to be absolved of any reservations, and right now, I think you still have some. With Ferrol sniffing around and my suspicion that Lazarus has the hilt, we don’t have the luxury of time. Lazarus could use the hilt to find the wand, and though he couldn’t possess its powers because they belong to you, he would take the opportunity to claim them . . . by killing you. Then the diamond’s powers would rightfully belong to him.” Tanner directed a glance towards the rocky staircase. “Wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
I listened to the sound of Tanner’s footsteps echoing throughout the cave while I stood there alone and in front of the wand, left to consider his theory. I’d known all along that my own doubts were keeping me from claiming it. I’d come to terms with everything about the nature of possessing the wand with the exception of one thing — death. Death was an inescapable consequence of its ownership. Having to “do the deed” to someone who wanted to claim the wand from me or my own death that could result from trying to keep it from falling into their hands…and lest I forget, the inevitable tragic outcome for all the people I cared about if they ever found themselves in harm’s way because I possessed the diamond wand. That’s what it boiled down to—death—plain and simple. It was the only obstacle standing in the way of my future, my destiny. That was the barrier I needed to break through once and for all.
“There’s no one outside,” Tanner announced as he hurried back down the staircase. “Our plans have changed. I’ve got to tie up a few things today, but most important, I have to find out if Lazarus has the hilt. You’ll have to leave town with Bea, just for a little while. Once the two of you are safe, I’ll return and guard the wand. I just put a temporary enchantment on the entrance. It will only last until the sun sets this evening. Lazarus and Ferrol won’t be able to get in here before I return, hopefully before dusk. During that time, I’ll be the only one who can open or close it.”
“Why’s that?” I inquired.
“Because I’m the only one who knows the magic words, that’s why,” he replied. “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe down here all day.”
My head automatically shot into a much straighter position. “You’re kidding, right?” I posed, eyes wide. “All day?”
Tanner’s face was stone-cold serious. “Yes, all day. You spent all last night down here. What’s a few more hours?”
I looked around the dimly lit cave that was to be my prison for the next twelve hours, starting to feel a bit claustrophobic. Well, that sucks… I’ll be trapped down here.
My anxious eyes returned to Tanner’s. “Don’t you think you need to fill me in on what the magic words are, exactly?” I suggested.
Tanner crossed his arms and tipped his head towards the ceiling. After a few seconds of contemplation, a curt, “NO” shot out of his mouth like a missile, hitting me equally as hard.
“But what if I get hungry?” I reasoned.
“I don’t think you’ll starve to death,” Tanner countered.
“What if I have to, you know . . . use the little girls’ room?” I challenged.
Tanner’s lips twisted into a grin. “You’re a mountain girl. Don’t tell me you’ve never been camping,” he hit back bluntly and pointed to an area behind a large boulder.
My mind was whirling a mile a minute tryi
ng to come up with a convincing enough plea. Then suddenly, my worst fear came to a screeching stop in my head.
“But what if something happens to you?” I blurted. “I might be in danger and have to get out of here.” That was something I didn’t even want to think about, let alone say out loud for the jinx-fairies to hear. I could tell Tanner was wrestling with my point by the fixedness of his pupils. The thought of such a scenario actually occurring was a remote possibility, but a chance nonetheless. I thought I’d take his doubts a step further.
“What if Bea is in trouble?” I added.
I watched Tanner’s strong shoulders sink like the leaden tug of quicksand and then his head toppled back not a second later, his thoughts drowning in utter defeat.
“Do you know any Latin?” Tanner sighed reluctantly, still staring at the ceiling.
He’s got to be kidding. I postured my hands on my hips. What kind of public school system does Mr. Ivy League Professor think we’ve got around here?
I shot him a blank stare. “Pig Latin,” I cracked.
Tanner raked his hand through his hair and let out a grunt. “Listen closely, wise-ass. The entrance can only be opened by saying, ‘ostendo sum porta’, and closed by saying, ‘occulto porta’. Now, I’m trusting you . . . You’re only to leave the cave in an emergency. Not to grab a bite to eat or anything else trivial. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I vowed wholeheartedly. “Only in an emergency.”
He quickly headed back up the stairs. As Tanner ascended the cave, he called down, “I’m serious, Shiloh. ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY!” I watched as he threw his hands up in the air and shook his head repeatedly the entire way up the winding staircase. He managed to yell down another gruff, “Stay Put, little girl!” before I heard him say the magical phrase that opened the door. Then the faint rumbling of earth shifting around filled the air with the coarse rhythm of an avalanche, letting me know that the secret entrance was closing, and I was well on my way to being entombed inside for the remainder of the day.
With the cave now pin-dropping still, I stomped my foot on the floor and yelled out, “Asshole!” There was just something about being well out of his earshot that kind of catapulted that one right out of my mouth.
Regrettably, I had nothing to do down here but think. Alone with my thoughts wasn’t the best way to pass the time, especially when all I could think about were the two Talismans that were hot on my trail. And sadly, my own paranoia was the only thing I had to keep me company while I waited for Tanner to return…twelve freaking hours from now.
Now I know what a deer feels like during open season. The only thing I’m missing is a big red target on my back! I checked my watch. It wasn’t even six o’clock yet. This is going to be one SERIOUSLY long day, I sulked as I plopped down onto the ground.
Attempting to head off any signs of boredom, I decided to count all the rock formations that randomly adorned the cave. I started by adding up all the stalactites hanging down like jagged icicles from the ceiling. There were hundreds, but I just counted the larger ones. Three-hundred twelve. I still found it odd that these wonders weren’t naturally formed from calcium deposits, but dark bituminous coal. Though I got the distinct feeling that their supposed “creation” may not have been an entirely “natural occurrence” at all. Next, I tallied the sporadic clusters of stalagmites rising from the floor like twisty columns. I grabbed hold of a smaller one nearby and gently ran my fingers along its groves. Bituminous coal was relatively soft, so I had to be very careful not to break it, especially with my newfound strength.
As hard as I tried to keep myself distracted, I still found my thoughts drifting back to Ty. Even caressing a rock formation made thoughts of running my fingers along the curves of his handsome face pop into my mind. If I managed to survive all of this, I still had a lot of explaining left to do.
Soon my mind was drifting with random thoughts in regards to my destiny and the wand. Then a question blared in my head like the ring of a five-alarm fire bell. What happens to me after I claim it? Lazarus and Ferrol won’t just disappear. They’ll still be after me…and the wand. What happens THEN?
The ugly truth of the situation had surfaced. Yep. I had a good idea that my departure with Bea was going to be for much longer than “just a little while”. Then my mind started conjuring various scenarios where I was constantly on the run or in hiding. My life, as I’d known it, would be nothing more than a memory.
I won’t graduate, that’s for sure…and who knows when I’ll get to see Katie again… Even though we hadn’t officially made-up, she was still my best-bosom friend, and I would miss her dearly. Then there was Ty. My absence would certainly put a damper on our feelings blossoming into anything. A pain swelled in the pit of my stomach. Yeah… This sucks.
As far as my family went, Charlotte and Chloe wouldn’t skip a beat in my absence. I was certain of that. But then there was Samuel, and I would miss him something awful too. He’d been a part of my life since I was born. In some small way, he made me feel like Daddy was still with me, which I found comforting (and needed). Just like Daddy, Samuel would be ripped from my life unexpectedly as well.
Strangely enough, even Mike Riverside cropped up in my mind. Forget about healing him, I thought. Just chalk up Welch’s flawless record going up in flames to little ole me. I even found that disappointing. Though no matter how trivial it seemed in the grand scheme of things, Welch High hadn’t had an undefeated season in over twenty-three years. I sat on the ground with my head lowered into my hands, wishing for “a sign” — any sort of sign that would tell me that this was truly my destiny and what I was meant to do. A week ago, all I could think about was doing everything within my power to get the heck out of the coalfields of southern West Virginia. Now, I found myself desperately trying to find a way to stay.
My gaze fell to the ground. It seemed karma had a close cousin…and her name was “irony”.
In the midst of my wallowing, a faint quivering sensation tingled throughout my body. I panned the cave with a curious eye. What is that? Then without warning, a jarring vibration rocked the entire cave. I looked up to discover a few of the stalactites had broken off and were falling to the ground, directly above me. Alarmed, I quickly rolled out of their path and glanced back to see them smashing onto the exact spot where I’d been sitting.
I know I asked for a sign, but I could’ve stood for something a little more subtle… Not a second later, another tremor shook the cave. I immediately sprang to my feet and started running up the rocky staircase.
I paused at the craggy wall of seamed rocks when I reached the top. Tanner had told me not to leave — to “stay put”. As I weighed the consequences of what opening the door could prove to be, another tremor struck the cave. And this one was even more violent than the last. The jolt sent me stumbling backward, towards the edge of the staircase. I quickly recovered my balance, avoiding a nasty tumble to the ground. Then I braced my hands on the rocks lining the secret entrance. I trained my stare to the earthy barrier while my mind churned feverishly about what could be causing the cave to quake. There was no time to reason this one out. Impulsively, I chose to step outside to see what the heck was going on. After all, who doesn’t consider an earthquake an EMERGENCY?
I struggled with the magic words a couple of times (eleven, to be exact). I supposed my enunciation could have been more precise, but I finally delivered the words, “ostendo sum porta”, with a silver tongue and then waited for all the earth to mystically shift away from the opening.
I stood inside the cave for a moment, taking pause for safety’s sake. I didn’t see or sense anyone else outside, so I thought, The coast seems clear. The cold morning air rushed over me as I edged out into the darkness. I spied a faint trace of light illuminating the horizon, signaling that the sun was about to make its scheduled rise.
Again, I scanned the woods for any Talisman intruders. There wasn
’t a soul to be found. Suddenly a fierce rumble that sounded an awful lot like an explosion pounded the air and rocked the ground beneath my feet again. The next thing I knew, a siren was blaring in the distance.
The mine! That’s their siren! The explosions must’ve occurred in one of the tunnels. The mine siren was something you never wanted to hear roaring throughout the mountainside. Bad news was inevitable.
My thoughts turned to Samuel after catching time on my watch. He would be getting off around this time. I became consumed with fear for my surrogate father, unaware if he was safe or not. And there lay my dilemma — without my cell phone, I didn’t have any way to reach him.
What would be the harm in running down there to check for myself? I’ll be right back. Anyway, if my suspicions are correct, and I am leaving town for longer than “just a little while”, I have to say good-bye to Samuel. I can’t just run off and have him wrought with worry over “where I am” or “what happened to me”?
Another harrowing blast shook the entire mountainside. I stared off in the direction of the mine like I was locked in a magnetic trance, feeling the weight of its hold tugging me towards it like a tractor beam. Without thinking about any of the negatives, I made another rash decision. Quickly, I waved my hand over the entrance of the cave and raced down the mountain en route to the mine. I had to make sure Samuel was okay. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing two fathers in one week.
I scrambled through the thick brush and arrived at the bottom of the mountain within seconds. The expansive line of trees across from the mine granted me ample cover while I scoped out the scene. Miners were pouring out of the front gates in compliance with their evacuation procedures. Everyone’s names had to be checked off a list, assuring that all the miners would be accounted for. In the midst of all the commotion, I spied Lazarus and several of his entourage loading up in one of their black Chevy Suburbans. Ferrol appeared roughly a minute later, walking at a brisk pace towards the SUV. As soon as he’d climbed inside, they bolted out of the lot and took off down the road like a bat out hell, leaving a dusty gray sandstorm in their wake.
With my two supernatural stalkers good ’n gone, I raced across the road and rushed towards the main gate to flag down Uriah Hatfield, who happened to be standing outside the security booth.
“Uriah, where’s Samuel? Is he OKAY?” I asked nervously.
“What ’n the heck ya doin’ down here? There’s enough trouble goin’ on ’round me. I don’t need no more,” Uriah snapped.
I so wasn’t in the mood for any of his grit today.
“Uriah, I have to know if Samuel made it out,” I demanded. “Do you know where he is?”
“I saw him out ’ere with Mr. Xcavare . . . and then that other fellow stopped to talk to him.”
“Was that before or after the explosions?” I asked anxiously.
“I’m not sure, Shiloh . . . I can’t think with all this goin’ on! Maybe before?” Uriah seemed even more frazzled than I was. He grabbed his clipboard and snapped, “I haveta check everybody off my list. Why don’t ya go and see if his Jeep’s still ’ere? I’m busy! I’m sure he’ll turn up.”
I headed over to the parking lot, both annoyed and frustrated. I scanned it thoroughly, several times in fact. I didn’t see Samuel’s Jeep, so I had to take that as a good sign that he’d already left — maybe? I headed back to the security gate to let Uriah know that Samuel’s Jeep was gone. He was still busy checking off miner’s names, so I tried my best to patiently wait my turn.
While I stood there kicking my heels, I observed a crew of guys rallying outside the building that housed all the safety gear. Surely they were making plans for their search and rescue operations. I watched one of the trucks pull away from the building, only to get punched in the gut when I spotted Samuel’s Jeep. He was still here — somewhere on the property.
I whirled around and stared into the empty security booth, my eyes honing in on the phone through the window. Uriah had left the door open, so I slipped inside, snatched up the receiver, and started punching in Samuel’s cell number. It rang and rang straight to his voicemail.
“Samuel, it’s Shiloh…
I’m here at the mine.
There’s been some kind
of accident… I was calling to
see if you were okay.
I don’t have my cell phone,
so just call Uriah and
check in with him.
PLEASE… As soon as you
get this message!
I’ll be on pins and needles
until I hear from you!”
Even though I was able to leave Samuel a message, I hung up the phone even more worried than before. I stood in the doorway of the security booth and surveyed the scene outside. Safety teams were gearing up, and an ambulance had just arrived on the scene. My eyes continued to search the grounds on the other side of the gate when I heard a scratchy noise crackling behind me. It was coming from Uriah’s walkie-talkie lying on his desk.
I picked it up and listened to what sounded like static that came and went several times. I pressed the “talk” button and called out, “Is anyone there? This is the security station. Over.”
There was no answer. I waited for more of the feedback sounds, but they never came. Huh, I thought. Uriah happened to glance inside the security booth. He shook his head angrily and motioned for me to “get out of his station”. As I started to head out, the walkie-talkie began crackling again, but this time a low, frail voice muttered the word, “Help.”
I snatched it up and answered. “This is mine security. Who’s this?”
The voice stammered out a reply. “Sa —Samuel.”
“SAMUEL!” I squealed. “Where are you?”
“Trapped…in a tunnel,” he groaned.
The next thing I heard was the sound of rocks crashing in the background. I flew into a panic. If the roof were in the midst of collapsing, there would be no chance whatsoever that a rescue team could get to him in time, not with their strict safety procedures that had to be followed. I was Samuel’s only hope.
“Samuel, hold tight. I’m coming!” I dropped the walkie-talkie and hurried out of the booth. Thank goodness for cave-radios, I sighed, grateful for the pricey little technological wonders Daddy had pushed for that the miners’ voices travel through rock. I shook my head. And Harper Riverside thought they were a HUGE waste of money!
“Shiloh, who was that on the horn?” Uriah hollered. Apparently he had been watching me the entire time.
“Nobody,” I replied curtly. His eyes squinted into a skeptical glare. “Well, just tell Samuel I’m looking for him when he turns up. Gotta go,” I said abruptly and then pretended to walk towards the parking lot. I waved back to him, only to discover that the suspicious & surly old guard’s eyes hadn’t left me for a second.
Well, I never said he was dumb.
As soon as Uriah turned his head, I ducked down into the crowd of miners and snuck through the front gate. Once inside, I headed for the building that housed all the safety gear. I started to enter when suddenly the door came flying open right in front of me. I jumped behind it and watched several members from one of the rescue crews leaving the building. When the last guy had exited, I hurried inside and shut the door.
Good. No one’s here. Seeing how “invisibility” was out of the question since my golden topaz still hadn’t been “recharged”, I would have to go another route if I planned on concealing myself from head to toe. Though on the plus side, not only would my intended disguise guarantee me access into the mine, it would protect me as well. Even though it was a coalmine, there was still an awful lot of iron-rich steel down there, what with all the rail cars and their miles of track. Better safe than sorry. Once I’d slipped into a fireproof jumpsuit and coat, I grabbed a full-face gas mask from a nearby cabinet. With the help of a bright-yellow lighted hardhat, I was able to safely hide my long girly lo
cks. I snatched up a pair of gloves, a large flashlight, and found a portable gas detector, which I clipped to my side.
Samuel, here I come, I thought confidently as I checked my reflection in the mirror (my eyes swirling with white) and then bolted out the door.
A crewman was sitting on one of the rail cars, blocking the entrance to the mine. He was ordering everyone to, “Stand clear and not to enter until instructed”.
I couldn’t just hang around waiting for the all-go sign. Time was of the essence. I switched on the light that set atop my hardhat. When the men weren’t looking, I dashed into the mine as quick as I could. I ran so hard and fast I wasn’t able to stop until my head crashed into a low beam near the first section where the main line branched off.
As I staggered to my feet and rubbed my aching head, I noted that the ceilings would be much lower from this point on. Mental note: Duck down, idiot. I rose to a crouched position and turned on the flashlight. I followed the steel rails that led like a path down into the darkness, not knowing what tragedy would be waiting for me up ahead.
The farther into the mine I trekked, the harder I tried to sense any thoughts being generated from anyone who might be trapped. Nothing. I started calling out for Samuel, hoping he would hear me and give me some clue as to his location. The longer I searched, the more I feared for his safety. I passed by a badly charred spot that looked like an area where one of the explosions had possibly occurred. I gave the portable methane gas detector a quick check and was stunned when I read the levels. A series of numbers registered on the device, but they were all within the “normal” range identified on the display.
As I used the flashlight to search around for a source of the blast, something suddenly caught my eye. I reached down and picked up a reddish-orange tumbled stone that looked eerily familiar.
A carnelian… Just like Ferrol’s. What’s it doing down here? The evidence I held in my hand suggested a strong link between the explosions and the person responsible. But why did he leave this here?
Tanner might have some idea, I thought as I tucked the stone in my pocket and continued to search for Samuel. Before long, I stumbled upon yet another questionable mass of blackened rubble. I checked the air levels again. They were still reading “normal”. I couldn’t understand what could have caused the explosions. Something had to have triggered the blasts.
I kept on calling out Samuel’s name, over and over, but all I heard was the sound of my own voice. I had to have been pushing a mile in when I spotted another carnelian lying on the ground. I remained crouched down, deep in thought, as I picked up the little stone and rolled it around in my hand. Its presence in the mine was baffling. Why would he just leave these down here? Maybe he dropped them or something?
My mind shifted its focus back to Samuel. I had to figure out if I should keep going straight or venture down one of the tunnels that branched off from the main line. Suddenly, I heard a faint sound coming from up ahead. I stopped fiddling with the stone and listened closely.
“Samuel is that you?” I called out and waited breathlessly. A few seconds later, a frail voice echoed through the tunnel.
“Ye —Yes,” the voice muttered.
I was instantly overjoyed. “Samuel!” I hollered. “Stay there! I’m coming!”
I’d forgotten about the carnelian in my hand and unconsciously tossed it off to the side as I hurried to follow the sound of Samuel’s voice. As soon as the stone smacked one of the mine’s rocky walls, a horrible explosion erupted and hurled me forward several yards. Stunned, I lifted my head and looked around to see a raging mass of fire swarming the area where I’d thrown the carnelian. The reddish-orange flames went out in an instant. Then an ominous rumbling sound roared from above, and tons of rock came crashing down before my eyes. The blast had caused the roof of the mine to collapse, completely blocking off the main tunnel. I pulled the other carnelian out of my pocket.
Those sneaky bastards… They used the carnelians to trigger the blasts.
Suddenly, I found myself reflecting on how Mr. Evasive had described Adean, the original Carnelian Talisman.
Yeah, a REAL “firecracker”, I thought, shaking my head.
Chapter 23
