Talisman 2 - The Sapphire Talisman (26 page)

I’ll say.
I sat on the floor and put my arm on his shoulder. Tyler turned out to be a genuinely likeable person, unlike a lot of the jocks I knew. “It’ll be okay. I’ve got friends working on the problem.”

“More vampires?”

I gulped, wishing for once
Scarlett
could be here to interpret and help—maybe even mind swipe him. “Kind of. Remember Phil?”

“The guy that died in that fire?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t a fire.”

“He’s not a
—”

“Yes, he’s like Katie
,
but good.”

Tyler scrubbed his hand down the front of his face. “Man.”

Suddenly curiosity bounded into the room, stopping our counseling session. “Crap,” I said, scrambling to my book bag and ripping out my binder and a pen. “Quick, pretend we’re doing homework.”

Tyler pawed into his own bag, taking out his book.

I cleared my throat. “So, I think Mr. Marshall would like something more like this for the outline
. . .
Oh, hey, Dad.”

With a fake smile to cover his concern, Dad pushed open the door and brought with him a tray of cookies. “Thought you’d like something to snack on.”

Tyler’s eyes lit up as his hunger hit the scene. “Yeah, thanks, Mr. Parker.”

He scarfed five before I even got to eat one.

“How are things coming along?” Dad asked, e
mitt
ing thankfulness, I’m sure because he didn’t find us making out or something.

“Pretty good, almost finished,” I smiled. “Tyler’s just about to go since it’s late.” I let out a quick yawn though the time was only nine o’clock.

Tyler took the hint, shoved his book into his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Thanks, Julia and awesome cookies, Mr. Parker.”

I caught his arm as he was about to leave. On a piece of scrap paper, I scrawled out my phone number and placed the slip into Tyler’s hand. He looked at it and smiled before putting the number in his pocket. Together, we trudged out my bedroom door towards the stairs. Dad followed transmitting curious disquiet.

“We’ll talk
soon
?”

“Yeah,” Tyler said. With a wave he was gone.

“Nice kid,”
D
ad said and put his arm over my shoulder at the front door.

“Yeah,” I said, thinking now might be an opportune time to throw
him
off track. “I like him a lot.”

“Do you?” He turned his head and studied me quizzically, closing the front door. “What about that
other
fella?”

“Huh?” I artificially displayed my confusion.

“Your brother said you were hanging with the fellow who helped you home when you had your accident.”

“Oh, yeah, him
.
” I snorted. “We were, but not anymore.”

“Did something happen?”

“Naw. We’re just friends.”

“Ah-h,” he said in relief.

Just then, Luke walked past us and buzzed up the stairs, giving off some serious skepticism. Just out of sight of Dad, he turned and glared at me, obviously listening in on our conversation. I wanted to make a face back at him but couldn’t without Dad noticing.

Dad gave a few pats to my back before he made his way to his office. “Need to get some work done. We’ll talk later?”

“Sure,” I said, heading up the stairs. I needed to make a stop before I snuck out.

Through Luke’s half-opened door, I spotted a
Vans
covered foot hanging off the bed, twitching to an unheard beat. Mustering up my courage, I stormed down the hall into his room.

“What’s your problem,” I said with one hand on my hip.

He put down the music magazine and removed his iPod earbuds. “Excuse me?”

“You and your attitude. Acting all pissy.”

“Am I?” He rolled his eyes then resumed reading.

I walked over and forced the magazine down with a little too much force, ripping the page from the seam.

“Hey!”

“I’m talking to you,” I barked.

“Geez,” He got up and pushed me aside on his way to his desk. He carefully reaffixed the page with some tape. “What’s your deal, Julia?”

“If anyone should be mad, it should be me. You big fink.”

“Don’t blame me,” he said, instantly feeling guilty. “Dad was worried. I just told him the truth for your own good.”

“Well, because of you, I’m on a GPS leash now.”

“So.”

“So? Dad knows everywhere I go now.”

Luke snickered.

I contemplated forcing him to give me his keys, threatening to tell Dad about Amber if he didn’t. But then he’d know I was sneaking out tonight and might tell Dad anyway. Besides, his big secret really wasn’t much to blackmail him with.

“What?” he finally asked.

“Nothing.” I stomped out of his room.

Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, internally cursing at
Scarlett
. Where the heck was she anyway? Without her, trying to rescue Phil would be darn near impossible. I looked at the stupid new phone, tempted to smash it into smithereens against the wall. The anxiety
of
wait
ing
was killing me.

The thought to ask Tyler crossed my mind a few times
,
b
ut my better judgment warned me not to get him further involved.
Scarlett
would need to work her amnesia magic if Katie kept her regular little visits.

The soft melody of my cell phone interrupted my solo problem
-
solving moment. I looked at the phone’s caller ID. No one I knew. My heart sped up with thoughts of who it could be.

“Hello?”

“She’s here,” a male voice whispered on the other end, his breathing a little rushed.

I sat up in bed. “Who is this?”

“Tyler,” he said sounding fearful. “Katie’s outside my house right now. I parked down the street, not wanting to go home when I saw her.”

“Did she see you?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Then come back here.”

“To your place? Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I need your help anyway.”

“O
h,
okay,” he said apprehensively.

“Park down the street. I’m sneaking out.”

“Okay, be there in a bit.”

Chapter Thirty
-
One

“
S
carlett
, now’s the time to show up if you plan to help me,” I said out loud
in hopes
she’d jump through the window and save the day.

Nothing happened.

“Crap,” I mumbled. “Time for plan
B
.”

Begrudgingly, I put on my jammies and went downstairs to say goodnight to Dad. To leave this early in the evening majorly risked getting caught, but I knew Tyler wouldn’t wait in his car forever.

Again, I drug the wig out from under my bed and made the makeshift body. I also put on my all black spandex outfit like before, prepared for whatever situation
was going to
happen.

Outside on the ledge, I closed my window and sucked in a deep breath,
and prayed
for a little luck. The crisp night air chilled my skin and I shivered as I released the emergency second-story ladder. Somehow I had to convince Nicholas to stop being an agent for the dark side, release Phil and get back home before morning. With nimble steps, I climbed down and landed on the back patio with a thud. No one inside noticed, so I snuck out of the backyard and ran down the street to find Tyler’s car.

“Thanks,” I said
as
I sat in
front seat, out of breath.

“Wow,” he said, visibly admiring my snuggly fitting outfit.

“Yeah, whatever,” I rolled my eyes, realizing I was wrong
earlier
. He was
exactly
like the rest of the boys at school. “Let’s go. We don’t have a lot of time.”

“Yeah, sure,” he said
and took
one last ogling peek. “Where to?”

“Behind the Boardwalk. I need to meet someone.”

I folded my arms, wishing I’d worn a jacket, while Tyler zoomed away. I hoped dragging him into the mess wasn’t a mistake.

“So, what should I do about my stalker?” he asked with a snicker after a few minutes of silent driving.

“I’m going to deal with that right now. But my advice is to avoid her, like you’re doing. But whatever you do—do
not
invite her into your house, car, or into anyone else’s house. She’s trouble and her friends are even worse,” I said frankly.

“Why do I get the feeling you know more than you’re telling me?”

“
‘
Cause I do, but don’t want to drag you into this mess. Believe me
:
it’s ugly. I’m just thankful for the ride.”

He pulled into the vacant lot and parked. Apprehension filtered outward. “You’re meeting someone here?” The worry that flared from him added to the pit already formed in my stomach.

“Yeah,” I said
while I looked
anxiously out the windows for any signs of the others. Of Nicholas.

“Wearing that?”

My head whipped around to meet his eyes. Though what I wore seemed a little low cut and didn’t leave much breathing room, I didn’t think it was
that
bad.
“Since when are you my father?”

“I’m just saying.” He shrugged innocently.

“I’ve got it under control.”

“Okay.”

“Stay here,” I implored. “Whatever happens, whatever you see, if you value your life, do
not
leave your car. You’ll be protected in here, just don’t invite
anyone
inside under any circumstances. Please.”

Tyler looked back with terrified eyes. My speech had been more than compelling and my own fear radiated across his face. He nodded.

“Good,” I said and tore out of the seat. “Wait for me.”

I slammed the door and tried to run towards the structure, my feet struggling to gain traction in the mushy sand. The necklace flopped on my chest and for a brief second, I decided not to advertise its whereabouts freely on my neck and shoved the darn thing in my pocket. Though the talisman didn’t work, I’d never give it up willingly. I’d guard the fickle object with my life if I had to.

As I neared the structure, Nicholas and Phil’s aura’s hit me in unison—good vs. evil. I leaned up against the building and listened.

“If Julia comes,” Phil barked. “I swear I’ll rip your throat out if you hurt her.”

“She’ll come. You just watch,” Nicholas replied, bored as ever
as he
inspect
ed
his nails. “But I’d be more worried about escaping if I were you.”

“She’ll see through you,
Nick
. Don’t underestimate her.”

“Like she sees through your façade?” Nicholas snickered. “I think not. Teenage girls are all the same. Give them a little attention and they’re putty in your hands. Which apparently you’ve been doing a lot of because she’s coming right now to defend your honor.” Nicholas roared with laughter, while his insults turned my legs to batter. “Traitors like you are nothing but a lying heap of—”

I grimaced at the string of insults
as I snuck
around the corner of the building, unprepared to deal with Phil’s peril. Across the sand, Phil yanked against the bars of a cage similar to the one I'd been placed in before, cursing back at Nicholas who leaned arrogantly against the building several yards away
.
Venom must have been infused in the metal
to
prevent Phil from prying them apart. Come sunrise, he’d have nowhere to hide; his body would be burned to a crisp in the direct sunlight.

They both stopped and locked their eyes onto mine. I
pushed back
my shoulders and
held up my
chin, trying desperately to show strength, though my dashed dreams sucked my heart like a vacuum
,
down into the soles of my grimy shoes.

A sly grin formed on Nicholas’ mouth. “Good,” he said, raising his right eyebrow in satisfaction, pushing off the wall. “You’re alone.”

Phil mouthed
Scarlett
’s name and I shrugged ever so slightly to tell him that she wasn’t with me. His mouth hung open, arms falling limply to his sides as shameless shock covered his face. I wanted to tell him I was limited on time, abandoned and forced to come alone to plead for his life—just like Nicholas predicted I would. Like a gullible idiot.

“Let him go,” I commanded, glowering at Nicholas’ smug smile. “You don’t need to blackmail me to get what you want.”

“Nice to see you too,” He cocked his head to the side. “Where is it?” He fanned his hand over his chest, raising his eyebrow. “I see you took
it
off.”

I mimicked his bravado, puckering my lips. “No, if I remember correctly
you
took it off. I’m not sure what happened to it after that.” I threw my hair back with a flick of my chin.

He gave me a once-over and seductively eyed every inch of my body
. “I bet you’re just hiding it.”

I folded my arms over my chest, feeling naked under his gaze. “Let Phil go, and maybe I’ll tell you.”

“You drive a hard bargain, my little ninja. I like that.” He licked his lips and sauntered forward, giving my body a slow lecherous gaze.

I tried to remember his evil side was the one harassing me and counteracted his swagger with a little guile of my own,
still
glowering back with my head held high. Even though he radiated malevolence of colossal magnitude, deep down I knew he’d never hurt me.

“Wait,” I said, pointing at Phil’s cage. “You promised. He needs to be released first.”

Nicholas laughed, glowing with more confidence. “Give me what I want, and I’ll think about it.”

“No deal.”

“My
sweet
dear, Julia. You’re out of deals
.
”
H
e glared, his vibrant green eyes zinging holes like an Uzi into my body. “I don’t take kindly to traitors.”

I bit my lip, suddenly feeling like the queen in a life-sized game of chess and Nicholas had just said “check mate.”

“Phil’s done nothing but good deeds since he’s been back. Or are you just jealous?” I let out a
psscht
at the end to add to my delivery.

“I’m not talking about
him
.”

In shock, I pulled the precious air into my lungs, feeling like there still wasn’t enough. “You don’t mean
me
, do you?”

His stare leveled me to the social standing of an earthworm, obliterating any warmth or kindness I’d felt for him before I arrived.

“You’ve become such a huge disappointment to me.” He shook his head. “Such a waste of time.”

I hardened my lower lip to hold back the tears, but my shoulders sunk down anyway. His words crushed me and
,
like a trampled flower left for dead
,
I wilted in his hot sun of depravity. “You made a deal on the phone.”

“I did?” Nicholas rolled his eyes. “That was before I knew the truth.”

“What truth?”

“That Phil’s been spending the night with you in your
room
.”

“Hardly,” I chirped back. “He’s only there during the day by order of your mother, as a spy.”

“And what have the two of you been doing
all day
while you
pretend
to be sick and skip school?”

My cheeks double-crossed me, glowing bright pink as if we had done something wrong. “Nothing like what you’re thinking.”

“Are you suggesting you spent the whole day
alone
with a vampire and nothing happened? Really?”

“Why is that so hard to believe? We did it all the time.”

“Yes.
Did.
That is the operative word here,” he quipped. “I’m done playing.”

Before I knew it, with lightening speed Nicholas grabbed me and took me face down to the ground. With a painful yank, he wrenched my arm back and pushed my head into the sand. I let out a moan. Any bit of struggle on my part would
easily break my elbow at the joint
. His lack of concern terrified me further.

“I will ask one more time. Where is the necklace, Julia?” he growled in my ear, his voice seething impatience.

Tears from the pain and a broken heart betrayed me and fell down my cheeks, pooling into the sand. I never imagined Nicholas would
n
ever physically harm me. How wrong I had been. I hated myself for believing my love for him would bring back the Nicholas I knew and loved.

“I’m not telling you,” I spat with malice, fearful for whatever else he intended to inflict on me next.

Somewhere in the background, Phil yelled for Nicholas to stop, suggesting that he knew where the
thing
was. His blunder though was revealed in his inability to name the talisman appropriately. Nicholas kept the pressure firm, distracted briefly for the moment. He knew I’d never give that type of information to anyone anyway; implicitly loyal to the secret of its powers.

“You have a choice, Julia. Live and give me the talisman or watch everyone in your family die a slow and painful death,” he said, in shocking truth. “Now where
is
it
?”

“I’ll never tell you,” I whimpered, feeling the weight of the decision, knowing whatever decision I made someone was in jeopardy, quite possibly everyone. “I’d rather die.”

“That can be arranged,” he said in sickening pleasure.

“You don’t keep your promises anyway. My death will seal its hiding place forever,” I hissed out, feeling nauseous from the pain and his unloving threats, the urge to vomit in the back of my throat. “So go ahead.”

My stubbornness irked him and he puffed hot air from his nostrils onto my neck, withholding his temper and what he really wanted to do to me. I wished for
Scarlett
to come and telepathically infuse him with the vision of Hell so he’d let me go and fall into a screaming fit of madness, begging for forgiveness. His vamp side needed a dire fright badly.

I started to despise Nicholas’ alter-ego for mistreating me without any remorse. But, more so, I felt cheated that his good side gave up, allowing the addiction to let the evil one take over and crush everything we once held dear, including my arm. The strong noble man I thought I knew ended up being a weak and spineless coward.

“I hate you,” I screeched, feeling completely overtaken and unable to do anything against the horrid creature that used to be my boyfriend, now poised to haunt me forever.

“Awww,” he said, grinding his teeth and my arm a little harder. “That’s a pity.”

I cried out, feeling the bone in my shoulder start to come out of its socket.

“Mom,” I sobbed out involuntarily, looking out into the blurry horizon. Someone had to come to my aid. Instead, I only found fuzzy blobs of color illuminated from the high wires at the Boardwalk. I was officially at the end of my life. Sooner or later, he’d discover the talisman was in my pocket the whole time and kill me. There wasn’t a prediction after all.