The Emerald Talisman (26 page)

‘
I am an Enigma’
she spoke in my
mind.

I was speechless for a second.

“You’re the cat?” I choked out.

She didn’t say yes or no. She just continued
to smile at me and her eyes washed me with such happiness I’ve not
felt in a long time.

“You’re looking for Madame,” she stated
plainly. “She is not here.”

“She’s not?”

“No,” she said, now sending out a little
sadness. “She is gone. But it’s better this way. It was her
time.”

I latched onto every word and willed her to
speak more. The melodic quality of her tone was so pleasing to
listen to, the absence made everything sound bland. She had to be
an angel.

“I’m not an angel,” she said, with a slight
chuckle.

“You… can read my mind?” I asked, instantly
feeling vulnerable.

“I can.”

I became guarded, unsure if I could trust
her. But if she could read my mind, then she would know everything
about me. Stepping backwards, I willed my mind to stop, but it
rambled through all the things I didn’t want her to know.

“Don’t worry…
I’m your
friend
.
”

She spoke both externally and internally. But
her changing back and forth made my brain feel woozy.

“Who are you? What are you?” I asked,
overwhelmed by her presence, suddenly feeling very insignificant
and ugly, right down to the repulsive sound of my own voice.

‘
Sweet, dear child, I am nothing
important, unlike yourself. Don’t be so disheartened.’

“I … I’m not doing this,” I said in
frustration and turned to leave. No one was going to pry around in
my head uninvited.

“Don’t leave.
I know why you’re here.
Sense the honesty of my intentions.
”

She finished her sentence in my mind and I
stopped mid stride. I could sense her trustworthiness like she
suggested. But I struggled whether or not to stay. If I left
prematurely, I could possibly never know the truth behind what
Madame said.

I swirled around and frowned.

“
Then tell me what I want to know,”
I
forcefully thought.

I heard a gentle purr, though she wasn’t in
cat form. Her face seemed to look like she was formulating the best
explanation but I knew she was poking around in my head.

‘
Well, as you know, the Madame wasn’t a
psychic. But since I can read minds, I could see what the people
wanted to hear and I’d tell her what to say. It made a nice
lucrative business for her and she took good care of me.

‘
But sometimes, she’d come up with things
on her own. Like her prediction for you for example, so I’m not
positive what she meant. But I saw her premonition. It’s all
true.’

Even with confirmation, I resisted the
ambiguous vision as my destiny.
“I won’t do it. I’m no one
important. Why would she tell me that?”

‘
Don’t underestimate the vision. You’re
far more powerful than you think and there’s nothing you can do to
stop fate. But whatever happens, you and your friend will find a
way to be together. I have seen it. There are other avenues yet
unexplored.’

“But how do you know?” I asked.

‘
I have my ways. But it’s time for you to
go. I have things to take care of and so do you.’

Her eyes twinkled before she turned to
leave.

“But wait. When we first met, you hissed at
me, why?”

‘
You, of all people could’ve revealed the
truth about Madame’s abilities. I couldn’t let you do that. But you
didn’t betray her and for that I’m truly grateful. I hope I’ve
repaid the favor. Good bye and good luck.’

I opened my mouth to ask another question,
but she transformed back into a black cat and leapt into the bushes
before I could stop her.

The silence left me feeling helpless, with
more questions than answers, my deepest secrets ransacked.

While driving home I had to force myself to
concentrate on the road. Even though she wasn’t in my mind anymore,
it didn’t feel the same, like she left footprints behind. I just
clung to her insight that Nicholas and I would be together, that
there was another way. I smiled at the hope until I realized.

Which friend did she mean? Nicholas or
Phil?

She didn’t specifically say. And she also
mentioned that there were other avenues to be explored. What did
that mean?

“Ahhh!” I said out loud in frustration. Why
does everything have to be so complicated? My life was stuck in the
spin cycle.

I looked at the time and pressed the gas
pedal harder. If I didn’t hurry, I was going to be late for work.
I’d checked the lunar calendar online when I went home earlier and
sunset was going to be at 6:35 p.m. tonight. My shift started at
6:30. I figured that I’d be safe inside the building once sunset
truly happened, but I was cutting it incredibly close.

I drove up into the lot, found a spot close
to the front and parked when I felt him. The sun had barely set a
minute and Phil was already here, stalking me. I jumped out of my
car, my stomach in my throat and sprinted for the front of the
building. I imagined how silly I looked, but didn’t care. Phil was
someplace looking to corner me and I wanted to be safely inside to
avoid him.

“You could’ve just told me you were running
late, Julia,” Linda said, with a puzzled look after I’d run through
the store doors like the welcome mat was home plate.

“Oh… Yeah… Sorry,” I said breathing heavy,
not thinking of a good excuse.

I glanced behind me out the glass windows,
glad to be in the store. Phil was nowhere to be seen.

“Actually, Linda, there’s something I need to
talk to you about.”

Either my words or the tone of my voice
caused her alarm which made me start to feel bad. I was still very
upset that the situation was so out of control it interfered with
something simple like my job. But I had to tell her and this seemed
like a good time.

“Okay,” she said, as she ushered me into her
office.

I sat down and took a deep breath. I’d
rehearsed my speech a few times in my head, but now, facing her, I
was drawing a blank.

“Everything okay?” she finally asked, after I
didn’t say anything, obviously looking a little distressed.

“Well, no,” I began finally. “I’m just having
some challenges in my life right now and my dad doesn’t think I’m
balancing work and school well. He’s asked me to quit, just until I
can get a handle on things.”

“I see,” she said, disappointed.

“I know that you’ve got me scheduled for the
rest of the week and I’ll be happy to work my shifts. I know you’ll
need to hire someone new and I can train them,” I said quickly,
hoping to lessen the sting.

“That’s thoughtful of you, Julia,” she said.
“But if your father thinks it’s best you quit, then I don’t want to
impose. Plus with the criminal activity and curfews, I’m going to
have to change everyone’s schedule anyway. We can handle things in
your absence. We managed when you were out after your fall.”

“Yeah... I guess you did,” I said, feeling
rejected. “I’m so sorry. Really, I am.”

“So am I, but you need to do well in school.
You can always come back this summer when business picks up.”

I sighed and stood up, prepared to make the
best out of my last day. I’d almost completely forgotten about
Phil’s presence until later in my shift a wave of his angst hit me.
He was still outside waiting for me. Impatiently. I reached for my
cell phone ready to text Nicholas, when I realized it wasn’t in my
pocket.

It must be in my car.

I took the mistake as a sign. It slipped my
mind that I didn’t want them to meet until I had a chance to talk
to Phil first. Nicholas wasn’t going to be patient with Phil and I
knew there would be a fight, especially if Phil acted remotely
close to the way he did in the tunnel.

But I was already prepared. And I wanted to
do this on my own to prove I was right about Phil. The thought made
me feel exhilarated and petrified all at the same time.

My shift seemed to take forever as I worked
diligently behind the counter. It didn’t help make things go faster
when Linda made a scene by telling a regular customer that today
was my last day. The onslaught of questions from fellow workers
afterwards made me kick myself for not waiting until the end of my
shift to tell Linda I was quitting. All the questions meant more
lies.

“Julia, I’m not going to have you close
tonight because I need to take your keys,” Linda said sadly when
the time came closer for me to leave.

The relinquishing of my keys made leaving
feel more permanent and I got this foreboding feeling that I wasn’t
going to return.

At the door, I said goodbye and timed my exit
so I could walk out with Megan, a bubbly, talkative, fellow
co-worker. I appreciated the fact that Megan acted as if we were
best friends because she didn’t leave my side until I got to my
car.

Once I got in, I locked my car door and
prayed that tonight I didn’t run out of gas while driving home.

. . .

19
- TRICKED

Phil followed me as planned and I led him
straight to my house. The chase electrified me. As I felt his
curiosity grow stronger, I shook my head amazed I actually enjoyed
this game of cat and mouse.

So far things were right on course, the last
part of my plan being the easiest. The only sketchy part was
whether or not Luke would be home. But I just counted on the fact
that Phil would not want to be seen and hoped he’d hide if Luke
happened to come outside.

The little tires on the Quantum screeched as
I took the last curve on my street a little too quickly. The house,
only a few yards away now, would be my safe haven once I entered
the garage.

I pressed the magical button on the opener
I’d taken earlier and waited for the door to ascend. To my horror
nothing happened. Dumbfounded I pressed it again, this time aiming
it directly at the garage. Again, nothing happened. I panicked. The
opener worked when I tested it earlier. What was wrong?

I pulled into the driveway, continually
pressing the button over and over. Then he was there; standing
right between my car and the garage door, my headlights
illuminating his vibrant skin.

“Hello,” he said with a devilish smile. He
looked radiantly pleased with himself, as he stood wearing a
similar trench coat to Nicholas’, apparently the vampire fashion of
choice.

I frowned back.

“What’s wrong? The door not opening?”

To my awe, he held up a 9-volt battery. I
flipped over the remote and opened the cover. The battery was
missing. My mouth dropped open.

“How did you know?” I said stunned, instantly
afraid. “Can you read minds?”

“I wish,” he said with a cocky grin and
looked around inquisitively. I cringed at his overwhelming joy.
“Where’s your friend?”

I frantically tried to figure out how he knew
my plan. He must have seen the remote on my seat and taken the
battery out while I was at work. The thought made me feel sick,
regretting my decision to do it on my own as my plan fell apart
right in front of my eyes.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” I
lied.

“Julia. Don’t play with me,” he said with an
icy stare. “We can do things your way, or my way, but whatever you
choose, you will exit your car, so why don’t you just get out so I
don’t have to break anything.”

He placed both hands on the hood of my car
while leaning forward with demanding eyes. I could feel his
fascination with his power and imagined him rolling the car door
back like a sardine can. How would I explain that to my dad?
Knowing I needed to survive the encounter first, I decided to test
his intentions. If he wasn’t going to kill me, I’d willingly get
out. If not, it wouldn’t matter anyway – the more unexplainable
damage to my car, the better.

“You won’t hurt me?” I questioned, watching
his expression closely.

“I promise,” he said with a chuckle and held
up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

If I hadn’t known for sure he told the truth,
I’d have been frozen stiff with fear. Even with his promise, it
didn’t change how badly he still wanted me. Before opening the
door, I reached down nonchalantly and grabbed the stake out of my
backpack, hiding it behind my back. With my other hand, I pulled
the handle and stepped outside, legs shaking.

“I’m out of the car,” I said with a sputter,
waiting for his next move.

“See? That wasn’t so hard…” he said, his
voice suddenly absent from his body, floating in the air. “…was
it?” I felt him appear when he whispered in my ear, his breath
tickling the back of my neck. My body broke out in a cold
sweat.

Startled, I turned, flailing my hand
half-heartily forward in an attempted stabbing motion, but found it
empty. My stake vanished. I looked up to see Phil, a few feet away
from me flipping the stick in the air, mocking me with his
smile.

“What’s this for?”

My throat went dry and my lips froze partly
open.

“As if you could stop me,” he said with a
tisk.

My face fell as I watched him snap it in two.
I felt totally defeated and knew I couldn’t possibly make a break
for it now. The front door, just beyond him, seemed impossible to
get to. Even with a diversion, I wouldn’t be able to move fast
enough.

“You’re so adorable,” he cooed.

He was doing that thing with his eyes; luring
me in with his infectious stare, casting a magical spell on me. I
looked away.

“I’m out of the car,” I said with an
indignant tone. “What do you want?”

If he planned to do anything to me, I wanted
it over already.

“Oh, where do I begin…” he said, slowly
advancing, watching me with his nebulous eyes.

I backed up, trying to expand the distance
between us only to be blocked in by my car. I had nowhere to run.
He stopped, minding the space between us as if to placate me.