Before I could recover, he pulled me into an embrace so hard, that I couldn’t breathe and I gasped.
“Sorry,” he said, releasing his arms a bit. “I wasn’t sure how this would work out and it broke my heart to see you so upset in the car. I should have thought to give you the necklace earlier.”
I felt the crystal around my neck grow warm and heard a faint high pitched ringing sound, almost like it agreed.
“This necklace is special, isn’t it?” I asked, feeling the heat from it under my fingertips.
“Yes, very.”
“Did it save me when I fought and ki–” I gulped and skipped over the word, unable to say it, let alone admit it. “—Justin?”
His eyes tightened for a second but his pride swelled.
“Quite possibly.”
I had mixed feelings about his approval of what happened. I knew it was a necessary evil, but I felt terribly guilty.
“How?” I asked.
“The necklace provides protection against vampires. When wearing it, you virtually become undetectable meaning they can’t smell, hear or feel your presence. If they do manage to capture you, they can’t do anything to harm you. They can’t steal it from you either. Any vampire that tries to touch it, except the person who gave it, would be burned by it. Same if they tried to bite you.”
I thought back to Justin’s arm mysteriously burning after he tried to bite me.
“So it’s impossible to come into ownership of it by force. It must be given of free-will and the necklace knows. It’s said it will turn black and burn any unwanted recipients.”
That must have been what he meant when he told me it liked me. I held the stone in my palm and admired the new, rich, deep, sapphire color.
“But it was green before?”
“It changes with each owner.”
“Who gave it to you?”
Nicholas frowned. His internal angst punched my stomach – I’d asked another hurtful question.
“It was my mother’s. A friend gave it to her so my parents could live together safely without fear. I became the new owner after—well, you know.”
“Oh,” I said sheepishly.
I decided not to ask anymore questions. Somehow I always managed to pry into painful places that were none of my business. It did shed light on how his parents were able to be married and the answer to how Nicholas and I could be together as well. But with Nicholas being both human and vampire, did it make him virtually invincible?
“I, on the other hand became impossible to kill and track. It’s a good thing I was a fighter against evil, because with it, I became the most powerful human and vampire in the world.”
I cocked my head to the side and looked into his tender face. How could he ever be evil? His character was the kindest I’d ever felt. Of course he’d be a fighter of good. Would that ever be a question? Then I remembered the prediction and went to unclasp the chain.
“What are you doing?” Nicholas said as he caught my hand.
“Giving it back. I’m safe, threat over. You need this more than I.”
“No,” he said firmly and he put my hands in my lap. “I gave it to you and I feel better with you wearing it.”
“But you need it,” I said in earnest.
“I’m still immortal and equally as strong. Of course they’ll smell my human scent which I can use to my advantage, but I have other means to protect myself. I need you to wear it.”
I grimaced and looked hard into his eyes. One way or another, I’d get him to see things my way.
“No,” I said more forcefully.
“Julia, why are you so worried?”
I gulped back the tears, hating that I always got so emotional at the wrong times.
“You’re going to think I’m nuts,” I said as I looked away, trying to gain some sort of composure.
“You can tell me,” he said softly.
I took a deep breath.
“On the night we ran into each other at the theater, I was given a prediction by a fortune teller that you were going to die and I should avoid any interaction with you,” I said quickly, suddenly embarrassed.
“Hmmm… I see,” he said, a smile forming on his lips. “I hope you didn’t pay her.”
“You think this is funny?”
“Oh, no. Very serious. Sorry.”
“I believe her,” I said while squinting my eyes. I reached up to unfastening the chain.
Nicholas was disappointed in my statement. I’m sure because it showed my lack of faith in his abilities.
“Well, you can’t give it back,” he said plainly.
“What? Why?”
“I willed you to have it,” he said solemnly. “Only after your death would I be able to retrieve it. Fortunately, your death will be virtually impossible while you wear it.”
I gasped at the confession, my hands falling limp into my lap. There had to be another way. But his determined face told me I’d not win this fight today, plus I didn’t have the energy to try anyway.
“If it’s impossible for me to be injured, then why does my cheek hurt?”
“Okay, let me clarify. You can’t die from a vampire’s hand though you could still be under their influences. But it doesn’t save you from yourself.”
“That’s good to know,” I said.
I thought back to when I’d lost my voice. I knew Angelia had somehow silenced me but that’s as far as her power went. No matter how hard she tried, she wasn’t unable to crush my arm.
Suddenly, I felt very tired. I slunk into his side and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. With a yawn, I looked at the time. It was after one in the morning, much later than I thought. I sighed because I didn’t want to go home, but I didn’t know if anyone worried I was missing. Without a cell phone they wouldn’t be able to reach me.
“I should be getting home. It’s getting late,” I said, as I started to reach for the door.
I felt his disappointment was just as strong as mine.
“I’m sorry to ask you this, but before you go, I need your help with one last thing.”
“Really?” I was confused.
“Bettina said that she should’ve killed you earlier. What did she mean by that?”
“Oh,” I said looking down.
Even though Phil was dead, I didn’t want Nicholas to think I willingly went with him when he kidnapped me. I kind of hoped the whole sordid thing would have gone away when the others died. But Alora was still alive and she knew who I was.
“Well…” I took a deep breath. “… Phil kidnapped me and took me to meet the others. He wanted their blessing before changing me.”
“Everyone’s blessing or just one?” he asked.
‘Don’t tell him about Alora’ I heard in my mind.
My eyes shot outside. Enigma was nearby again.
‘It’s not time for Nicholas to know about her yet. I promise it will be detrimental to tell him.’
My heart started to beat a little faster as I felt time passing while he waited and I struggled to give him an answer.
“Be-Bettina,” I finally said.
“She was the head vampire?”
‘Tell him there was another, but she’s not here locally, but was planning to visit.’
“There was another… but she’s not here. She was going to be coming,” I said quickly, amazed at how easily the lie came with the cat’s help.
“We need to go there. Where did he take you?” he said, while starting his engine.
“What about my car?” I asked, as he pulled out of his spot.
“We’ll worry about that later.”
I looked down the street when he got to the corner to get my bearings.
“That way,” I pointed.
The hideout was closer than I realized. I worried Alora was still there and in the confrontation I’d get caught in the lie. I didn’t want anything else to ruin our budding relationship, especially after I had the chance to come clean and didn’t. The closer we got, the
more I resented the cat and saw our relationship unravel in front of my eyes. He’d never forgive me for keeping this from him.
“What are you planning on doing?” I asked, feeling my fear heighten.
“I’d like to take care of this before they can replace their numbers. If you invite me inside, then I can hopefully surprise them.”
“Invite you?”
“It works both ways for vampires. If they live there, I can’t come in uninvited either, neither can you.”
“Oh.”
My mind raced. I didn’t know how to get out of this and the cat was back at the other building.
“I wouldn’t allow you do this without the talisman though,” Nicholas said, full of new ambition. “Just come back to the car once you invite me inside. You’ll be safe until I’m finished.”
“How’s that?” I asked, still not understanding the significance – like the car provided some unseen protection.
“Because I’ve never invited anyone in here but you.”
“Oh.”
I gave a weak smile and thought back to the tunnel and my driveway. If only I’d stayed in my car that night, then Phil couldn’t have taken me to meet Alora. I was safe all along. The revelation hit hard. I closed my eyes as my insides crawled in alarm.
“Won’t they feel you coming?”
“Maybe. It was a lot easier when I had the talisman. Don’t worry. I’m good at ambushing. They won’t understand my power and by then, it’ll be too late,” he chuckled, excited. I felt the beginnings of a panic attack.
What do I do? What do I do?
I sat on my hands to keep from biting my nails; the building was in sight now. He pulled up across the street and parked. This could be the moment the prediction came true and he died.
“Ready?”
I nodded sheepishly.
He was out of the car before I finished nodding, opening my door.
I looked at the ominous building remembering back to the events just a few hours ago. Nicholas grabbed my hand and walked me swiftly towards the door. Nicholas was far gentler than Phil, but déjà vu grabbed me, unsettling my stomach.
Once we got to the door and I stopped, trembling.
“I’ll be okay. Just invite me in and then you can wait in the car,” he said, noticing my petrified expression.
“Please don’t do this,” I said, knowing Alora was ruthlessly powerful.
“Don’t worry about me. Just hurry. They’re going to know I’m coming.”
Against my better judgment, I quickly lugged the squeaky door open and whispered “Come in”.
He was by me in a flash, dusty swirls the only evidence of his decent into the darkness. I stood wide-eyed trying to adjust to the dark, reaching out to see if I could find Alora’s presence. Nothing registered beyond Nicholas. I wondered if I was close enough.
‘She’s not here’
I jumped and looked down, withholding a yelp. A familiar black cat wove around my ankles. I hated that she could sneak up on me like that, not being able to feel her in her cat form.
“Geesh. You again. What are you doing here?”
‘Talk in your mind. I don’t want Nicholas to hear you.’
I glared at her, miffed with at all the demands placed on me.
“Happy? ” I thought in a distempered tone.
‘Don’t be upset. I’m only here to let you know Alora is gone.’
I waited for her to pry around in my mind and come up with some wild retort. I didn’t get why she needed internal conversation when she knew everything I thought anyway. It seemed juvenile to go through the pretenses.
“And?” I thought, feeling impatient.
‘What do you mean “and” ?’
“Don’t pretend you aren’t rifling through my thoughts.”
‘I can’t read you anymore. You’ve figured out how to block me.’
My anger subsided. I wasn’t sure if I entirely believed her, since she was in cat form and I couldn’t read her back. I thought some vile insulting things about her as a test and waited. Nothing.
She didn’t hear me unless I spoke directly to her.
“So where’d Alora go?” I said in my mind.
‘Since her coven was annihilated today, she left to recruit more followers since she doesn’t sire people. Phil was a mistake.’
I’d wanted to know who’d originally made him, since Phil didn’t name names.
“And Bettina?”
She purred loudly in my head. ‘Gone.’
I looked at her little, sweet, kitty face and swore I saw a smile.
“Will Alora come back?”
‘Yes. I’m sure in the near future. She didn’t get what she was looking for.’
The necklace suddenly turned icy cold against my skin and I fought to reach up to touch it, not wanting to bring attention to my medallion. I sensed it knew who Alora was. How would she know about the talisman if it stayed in Nicholas’ family? I convinced myself the cat meant Alora’s purpose was to capture Nicholas.
‘He’s coming. I’ll warn you when she returns, until then keep the secret little one.’
And she was gone.
“No one’s here,” he said, his face crestfallen
“And you’re frustrated?”
“Well, I do enjoy a good fight,” he said with a wink.
I’d never seen this side of him. I liked it. But before I could do or say anything else, he’d swooped me up in his arms and kissed me again. My mind went dizzy as my body fell limp; yet another part of him that I was powerless against.
“What a day,” I said, breathless as he gently pulled himself away, brushing my hair out of my eyes again.
“Yes and I should get you home, now that it’s over.”
The guilt of pushing the limits overpowered everything now. I was sure everyone was looking for me by now. And before I knew it, we were back in the car driving stealth in the direction of my home.
“But my car?” I said, realizing we weren’t going back to retrieve it.
“If you give me your keys, I’ll bring it to your home for you. I have business there later anyway.”
I remembered he was going to burn the building.
“Okay,” I said with a yawn.
I guessed his plan was to park at my house, do his fancy vampire sprinting back to the building, burn it then drive my Quantum home. The details weren’t of consequence to me anymore anyway. We were both alive and everything worked out, the only things that truly mattered. I leaned my head on his shoulder suddenly feeling very tired.
I felt the car stop; I groggily opened my eyes.
“We’re here,” he said sweetly, kissing my forehead.
I was home.
I felt the atmosphere inside my house and it was peaceful. No panic, no worries. I was glad, considering it was now 2:20 AM. I smiled thinking of all the times I’d woken up at this time, the aftermath of frightening dreams. I never imagined one day I’d be living the nightmare for real, but have it end like a dream. Just like the cat had promised.
“I’m going to be toast tomorrow, look at how late it is,” I said, yawning again.
“Late? Nah. It’s prime vampire hunting time.”
I caught the twinkle in his eyes, the misty flecks in his eyes glowing.
We walked hand and hand up to my door. Peace surrounded us like tiny petals fluttering in the wind. Nicholas would never run away again out of fear of what some retaliating vampire could do to me now. Every cell in my body wanted to sing in joy.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said when we got to the door.
“On what? My cell phone burnt up tonight, remember?”
“Oh, well… Then I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, I guess.”
He gave me a surly look. I jabbed him in the ribs knowing he was joking.
And the day after and the day after.
But before I could object, he kissed me again, deeply and I swooned.
“Good night, Julia. Pleasant dreams.”
&n
bsp; . . .
23 – ROLLER COASTER
We waited together, a little nervous as the repeated clicks filled the air, followed by the chilling screams. The smell of grease and oil mixed with the sweetness of baking waffle cones and cotton candy. In the distance, the ocean waves could be heard intermixing with the sounds of people milling about, enjoying the evening. Nicholas and I stood in line, waiting our fate, his arms wrapped around me and his head resting gently on the top of mine. Gawking onlookers exuded annoyance for our blatant displays of affection.
“I can’t believe I’m at an amusement park,” he whispered into my ear while attempting to nibble on it just to annoy me. I shook him off, feeling the disdain change to disgust as we shuffled slowly closer to the front of the line. I tried to ignore inquisitive eyes focused on us.
“Well, I can’t believe you’ve never been. It’s all the rage for humans you know,” I teased quietly, knowing my use of the word human would confuse eavesdroppers, but I didn’t care. Being daring seemed to be the theme of the evening.
I felt a little awe struck as I recognized how closely my life mirrored the roller coaster ride we waited in line for. For a first timer, you hear the clicks and the screams unsure if they signify something good or bad. Once you take your seat, your heart races in anticipation as the bar is securely fastened across your lap, pinning you in place. The time to retreat suddenly becomes a point of no return when the conductor waves good-bye and the car moves forward plunging everyone into darkness.
“You scared?” I teased as the ride started, jealous that it wasn’t my first experience riding a roller coaster.
“Only if you are,” he chided back, putting his arm around me, exuding excitement but playing it cool. I’m sure if I could see him, he’d be smiling, the malachite streaks of his eyes vibrant.
I used to live my life in the dark not so long ago, the track invisible with unseen horrors lurking around dark corners. I was naïve to what happened right under my nose, every little twist exciting. But then I surfaced into the light exposed to a whole world of deadly creatures. The fear building as I crept closer and closer up to the top finally reaching acceptance. And then the clicking stopped and the car paused for an instant before spiraling downward, the real thrill just ahead. That’s the precipice we stood on. I could see things were going to drop out from under us soon, I just didn’t know when.
Talisman 1 - The Emerald Talisman Page 25