by S. E. Akers
“Is it that obvious?” I groaned.
“I was curious about the lady who was in Tanner’s company, but I didn’t have a clue who you were until I tapped you on the shoulder back at the church. A surge of energy flowed through me that I’d only experienced many years ago, whenever I was around Adamas. I felt a hundred times more powerful. Right now, it can only be detected by touching you, but that won’t last for long. You’re almost at the zenith of your power. Then, you’ll have to be extremely careful.”
I forced myself into a deceptively “relaxed” appearance and thought, Great…I’m one big, flashing neon sign!
“You know, Tanner’s a great warrior,” Gallia boasted with a smile. “He even rivaled Adamas.” I noticed a subtle discomfort when she mentioned the wand’s previous owner. She looked deep in thought about something.
“You knew Adamas, too?” I asked with an air of intrigue, knowing that the Talisman who was nothing more than a faceless name to me seemed to hold a great deal of influence over my future.
“Yes,” Gallia replied as she lowered her head. She looked up at me and added, “He would be very proud of you.”
What a peculiar thing to say, I pondered curiously. “What do you mean?”
Gallia paused. “I mean…that you were the one who claimed the wand and possess its powers,” she stated with a firm nod. “If you don’t mind me asking, where did you find it?”
Though Tanner had warned me about divulging too much information to others, I didn’t see the harm in answering. After all, she did just save his life. I figured I could mark a check in the “friend” column.
“In Welch. It was in an underground cave, not far from my house.”
Gallia laughed, seeming surprised. “All this time…It’s been here…in West Virginia!” Her laughter heightened. “Of course, I understand why. These mountains are full of coal, and it would need a source of carbon. He must have known West Virginia would be the last place anyone would look for it. Adamas was exceptionally clever.”
Unimpressed with Adamas’ concealment skills, I announced, “Well, there’s a Talisman named Lazarus Xcavare, who blew into town last week. He thinks it’s here, and the Onyx has roamed the ridge behind my house since I was a little girl trying to find it.”
“THE ONYX?” Gallia shrieked. “Are you certain?”
“One-hundred-percent,” I answered as I glanced back at Mr. Estell’s shack and reflected on each time the Onyx had tried to kill me.
“THAT’S HORRIBLE! Does he know that you’ve claimed the diamond’s powers?”
“Considering Mr. Estell was under the Onyx’s spell…Yeah. I think he knows,” I replied and then tossed the recovered sardonyx to Gallia. She let out a long whistle as she held the stone ring in the air.
“A sardonyx is the Onyx’s calling card. He has quite a following that does his bidding for him. If you ever see someone wearing one of these…be mindful. It’s probably best not to trust them, just to be on the safe-side. The more white hatches on the stone, the stronger the magic. The Onyx will stop at nothing to get his hands on the wand.”
“No kidding,” I grumbled. “Mr. Estell had a set of diamond dentures he shoved in his mouth, right before he traded his soul by looking into a mirror that turned him into a 25-foot rattler.”
Gallia gasped. “A black obsidian mirror?” I confirmed her question by nodding vigorously. Gallia’s look of surprise turned solemn. “I can empathize with you, Shiloh. I know what it’s like to be constantly looking over your shoulder.” She took a deep breath and revealed, “I’m being hunted, too.”
I was beginning to think West Virginia was becoming a secluded hideaway for supernaturals. The expression on Gallia’s face mirrored my fear.
“Who are you running from?” I probed.
Gallia’s face turned as white as a sheet. “From Lorelei, that’s who!” The mere mention of the name made the little Talisman twitchy. “This area, being notorious for its snake-handling church, makes it a pretty obvious place for me to hang around. Lorelei’s very shrewd. She probably thinks that I wouldn’t be dumb enough to come around here. She would NEVER want to waste her ‘PRECIOUS TIME’ looking for me where my anti-venom talents would be useful.”
“Who is she?” I inquired. It’s a pretty name…How bad could she possibly be?
“I don’t think you want to know, but I have a feeling that when she finds out someone has already claimed the Wand of Adamas, she’ll definitely want to know all about you.”
“Why’s that?” I asked.
Gallia appeared to be dithering. She checked on Tanner, whose color had now almost returned to his face, and then quickly turned back to me.
“How much has Tanner told you about…our kind?”
Disgusted, I rolled my eyes. “Not much. He’s extremely secretive…Not to mention, evasive and cocky. He claims it’s for my protection, but it’s really frustrating.”
“That’s Tanner,” Gallia confirmed with a laugh. “But Shiloh, I’m not your mentor, the one who’s to guide you. He is. It’s not a good idea to reveal too much about our world…even to each other. Every Talisman’s worst fear is that another one their kind will want to kill them for their powers. Secrecy is our most powerful weapon.”
Disappointed that yet another Talisman was not very forthcoming with any answers, I shook my head.
“I understand, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating,” I sighed.
The little Talisman observed my raw displeasure as she fiddled with her pigtails. “Well, there is one thing I can do,” Gallia grinned as she removed one of the serpentine stones from her bracelet. “I can give you a gift.”
Gallia’s eyes fell to a close as she cupped the stone in her hand. Within seconds, small streams of a green-hued light flowed from under her grasp. When the dazzling spectacle had finished, she placed the rough little wonder in my hand.
“There. Now it will protect you from any earthly or supernatural snake and its venom, whether on land or at sea. No matter how many diamond fangs it may have,” Gallia bragged with a resolute nod of her head.
I was grateful for the gift, but it made me wonder, Should I honestly have to worry about “this exact situation” happing again?
I felt awkward, like someone had given me a Christmas present and didn’t have one for them in return.
“Would you…like a diamond?” I asked.
Gallia’s eyes lit up. “REALLY? Could I?”
I was taken aback by her surprise and eagerness. You would have thought I’d just told her that she’d won the Powerball Lottery. I nodded slowly, “Yes. That’s the least I can do for all of your help and generosity.”
I bit my lip and scraped my fingers down into my arm, carving out a small rough diamond — painfully. All things considered, I felt the need to charge the little diamond with both my psychic abilities, as well as my power-boosting capability. I knew Tanner’s feelings about the latter one, but in this case, I went with my gut. As soon as I had finished, I placed the glowing stone in her hand. Needless to say, the little Serpentine Talisman was thrilled.
“OH, THANK YOU!” Gallia cried out. “This is really too much! I just gave you a little ’ole serpentine, but this is something truly powerful. I’m so honored you would trust me with this.”
Her reaction had me second-guessing my actions. I knew it would make her powers stronger, but I wasn’t quite sure if I’d done the right thing.
Gallia’s eyes widened. “Wait! There’s something else I can give you.” She quickly plucked an opaque, muted blue stone off her bracelet. “This is my last one, but please take it. I think you need it more than I do,” she insisted.
I held up the intriguing milky-blue stone. “What is it?”
“It’s a chalcedony,” Gallia proudly informed me. “There are several different kinds, and they’re extremely rare. No one has seen Rodiam, the Chalcedony Talisman, for centuries. Personally, I think he’s in hiding. Both good and evil Talismans desire the magic his stone
s convey. Most of them yield dark powers. Talismans who bear an earth stone love to use their magic to torment their victims. So, stay away from the white and pink ones. However, the blue ones are very special. They drive away evil. What you do is, whenever you’re attacked, no matter by whom or what, you throw it at them. The stone’s magic is released when it breaks open, and then they’ll be forced to flee. I’ve been told they’re excruciatingly painful and quite maddening. A blue chalcedony won’t kill your attacker, but it binds their powers and prevents them from doing you any harm, so they have nothing else to do but retreat. I’ve only used one once before on Lorelei.” Gallia donned a sly smile and let out a giggle. “I heard through the grapevine that even after her powers returned several days later, she couldn’t get the screams out of her head for a week and her skin flaked off uncontrollably for an entire month!” She added, “It’s too bad they can only be used one time. Once their magic is released, they become nothing but dust. Some stones are like that.”
I had to admit, I liked the sound of this stone. Surely this will come in handy…considering I seem to have a growing enemies list.
“Thank you, Gallia. But won’t you need it, in case you run into this Lorelei lady?”
“No, no. Please take it. I’ll just be extra careful the next time a full moon rolls around.” Gallia looked regretful about her disclosure and swiftly pointed to me. “Just forget I said that last part.”
Before my mind lingered too much on Gallia’s last token of information, Tanner’s voice rang out, “No gifts for me?”
“That’s funny,” Gallia scoffed. “I think Shiloh and I gave you one…just a few minutes ago.”
Tanner scooped Gallia up and gave her an endearing hug. Their actions suggested they were genuinely fond of each other, like long-lost friends reunited after years of separation. Gallia scanned both of his wrists.
“Where’s your serpentine?” she questioned. “The one I gave you ages ago?”
“Misplaced?” Tanner replied.
“Humph! Lost is more like it, I’m sure,” she scolded. Tanner lowered his head and tried to flash his best “forgive me” smile. Gallia turned to me. “That’s makes three of my stones he’s ‘misplaced’,” she revealed, wiggling her fingers in the air.
I couldn’t help but shake my head at him for having the nerve to tell Beatrix that she was “forbidden” to give me another golden topaz and questioning “my responsibility”.
“Do you still have the amethyst that you tricked me into giving you?” Tanner crossed his arms and shot the little Talisman a curious glare.
Gallia’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t trick you into anything. As I recall, you lost that bet fair and square. But, as a matter of fact — I do,” Gallia replied as she flashed her bracelet, which held a small amethyst, and shook it in the air purposely. “I know how to hold on to things!”
I felt somewhat awkward, like a third-wheel as I watched Tanner and Gallia’s playful reunion. As soon as Tanner’s laughter had subsided, he gave Gallia a scrutinizing look.
“So? Have you been corrupting my protégée?” he asked. I wasn’t sure how much of our conversation Tanner had been privy to, but Gallia was clearly offended.
“I didn’t tell her anything I wasn’t supposed to,” Gallia insisted.
Tanner’s brow rose when he noticed the small diamond now in her possession. “But you managed to persuade Shiloh into giving you one of her diamonds, I see.” Before I could even come to her defense, Tanner admonished, “Shiloh, something you don’t know is that your stones not only allow other Talisman’s powers to strengthen, but if they fall into the hands of the wrong person, they can be used as a dangerous weapon against you. Hence the importance of trusting the Talisman you give one to. Any diamond will sever your skin, of course…but a diamond spawn from your flesh is an extension of the wand — and its powers. It can be particularly hazardous for you. Enough of them can even be deadly. If you think cutting that little snippet out was painful, you haven’t felt anything like it being thrust back in.”
My heart skipped a beat — actually several of them. Now I understood why Gallia seemed so surprised by my offering. This is why he shouldn’t be so damn evasive, I ranted to myself.
“That makes them extremely valuable,” Tanner declared. “I wouldn’t be passing them around to just anyone.” He turned to Gallia and winked. “However, with that said…you couldn’t have picked a more deserving recipient or trustworthy, might I add.” Gallia began to beam at the sound of Tanner’s accolades until he wittingly jabbed, “Considering she claims an earth stone.” Gallia glared at him and gave his shoulder a firm whack.
“Shiloh, you don’t have to worry about that. I would never, ever bestow harm on…” Gallia hesitated, almost as if she seemed to be weighing her words. She softly smiled and continued, “…the diamond wand’s new owner. I promise.”
For some unexplained reason, I believed her. Maybe it was because I felt a genuine sense of comfort in the Talisman’s presence, or I could have been trying to convince myself that her intentions were pure. Especially after rushing to hand the diamond over to her in such an ignorant manner. Heck…It isn’t a piece of daggone chewing gum…
Gallia patted Tanner’s back. “Well, Tanner…now that you’re back to your charming self…Oh, and you’re welcome, by the way. I’ll be heading back to the church now. I need to hurry. You know…damage control.” She gave Tanner one last hug and walked towards me.
“Shiloh, it was a pleasure to meet you and thank you for the gift. Don’t be a stranger,” Gallia beamed.
I squeezed her hand. “I won’t. Bye, Gallia and thank you.”
Gallia took her foot and imposed a circle on the ground in front of her. “I have to hurry,” the little Serpentine Talisman announced as she straightened her pink dress and gave the sides of it a quick fluff. She looked reluctant. “What a shame. This is one of my favorite dresses.”
Tanner let out a less than subtle cough. Gallia shook her head as she tapped her foot on the ground and then let out a grunt. She yanked a serpentine off her bracelet, charged it in her hands, and then tossed it over to him.
“Try to hold on to this one,” Gallia advised him with a curt smirk.
Tanner caught the greenish-gray stone and threw the little Talisman an assertive “I knew you would cave” smile. With that, Gallia nodded and began to spin vigorously as she disappeared down into the ground. I jumped back when I noticed a streak of shifting dirt plowing just underneath the surface, headed in the direction of the church. Every Talisman I’d encountered never ceased in leaving me speechless. We watched the trail of displaced earth as it faded into the distance.
“And you complain about water,” Tanner quipped sarcastically.
Straightaway, we trekked back to the spot where Tanner had stashed his Harley. After pulling out a bottle of sea-salt & water from one of his leather saddlebags, he doused my arm with a stream of the healing mixture and then removed his shirt to tend to his own wounds. I had to scold myself (again), especially when he handed me the bottle and had me put some on his bare, muscular back. That took some serious restraint. However, as soon as he started reprimanding me for not having some of the medicinal elixir “on me”, I found it easier to put a lid on my desires. With his shirt back on and his chastising lecture complete, we hopped on his bike and zoomed off down the road, headed back to Welch.
The drive was awkwardly quiet. I couldn’t get a read off Tanner. He was understandably hushed for someone who’d almost died, but there was something else to his demeanor that I couldn’t quite figure out.
I felt sort of responsible for the severity of his injuries. I couldn’t stand the thought of witnessing the loss of someone else — this soon — and for some reason, especially him. Evidently, my feelings for Tanner had evolved into more than just an acquaintance. My heart almost pounded right out of my chest while I sat there helplessly watching him suffer from the poison that had flooded his body. And I knew it wasn’t because I wou
ld have been stranded either. This guy had found a way into my heart. There was definite bond there, at least for me there was. I couldn’t imagine losing him no sooner than he’d come into my life. Then again, I did sneak a fast one by him with that punch. Talk about kicking someone when they’re down. I hoped he wasn’t too mad about it. My nerves were frazzled from his little “initiation”, and I didn’t have a clue as to what sort of danger we’d be in when I’d climbed onto the back of his bike.
What did he expect? I rationalized. I knew he was trying to give me a taste of what my future would hold, but did it have to be “that intense”, “this soon”?
Before long, we were pulling into the parking lot outside the Heritage Inn. I looked at my watch and caught a glimpse of the time as we passed under a light post. Almost 10:30.
Tanner parked and in a gentlemanly fashion, helped me off the vintage motorcycle. He scratched his head and ordered, “Go home and get some rest, Shiloh. Go to school tomorrow — be a normal teenager.”
WHAT? This is a strange turn of events, I thought as I watched him walk away, headed towards the motel.
“That’s it?” I asked, astonished. “That’s all you have to say?” He never turned around. Tanner ignored me and kept walking. “Fine,” I huffed childishly as I stomped off, mumbling a few choice words under my breath. I was so flustered I dropped my keys on the ground after I’d yanked them out of my purse. When I rose up, Tanner was standing there, blocking my driver-side door.
“Move, Tanner! Go inside and reflect on what a disappointment your protégé was this evening. Think long and hard about how I almost got you killed. Sorry to have let you down,” I snapped as I shoved all my weight into him, hoping to push him out of my way. He didn’t budge. Not even an inch.
Tanner grabbed my arms and hurled me around against the car door. His grip was firm, and his eyes were the most blazing shade of violet I’d seen yet.