Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

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.
    I knew choosing a life with Nicholas wasn’t going to be ordinary. And actually, I’d never been more alive or happy in my entire life, dating the most eligible and only half-vampire in the world. But, a relationship with Nicholas meant an uneven path ahead filled with twists and turns. Possibly life threatening. Was I ready for it? Would I scream through it? Or white knuckle it quietly? Or would I smile, raise my hands up, enjoying the wind in my hair?
    I guess the choice was up to me.
    Inside, I really wanted to throw caution to the wind, tempt fate and just see what would happen, secretly feeling invincible because I wore the talisman now. But I had this awful feeling that what we’d encountered a few months back wasn’t anything compared to what the future would bring. Things would get worse when Alora returned, determined to capture Nicholas, to take him as her prize. I worried about his vulnerability and the prediction, but trusted that the cat would warn us upon Alora’s return. I still battled telling him, thinking maybe we should do something to prepare. He’d already insisted though, after my continuous nagging, that he was prepared and to stop worrying.
    Why wasn’t that easing my fears?
    With the necklace, I felt totally safe. It had become a permanent part of me. I was worried people would take notice, questioning why I wore such an expensive piece daily, but no one ever did. Nicholas said it had a way of making itself look unattractive to others, its beauty only shown to the beholder. I found that strange, since every time I saw Nicholas wear it before, it sparkled brilliantly as if to call attention to itself. Maybe I was always supposed to be its owner.
    Nothing really happened after we got rid of the gang and ran Alora out of the city. Because of that, Nicholas actually let his guard down, relaxing a bit, even allowing this evening date to take place. For a fleeting moment it felt as if vampires didn’t even exist and we had a normal relationship for once. But I didn’t want to hold my breath because, like the ride, the ground was going to plummet beneath us at any minute. But I was going to be where Nicholas went and help with my unknown ability.
    Other things had changed too.
    I could finally tell Sam that Nicholas had returned and I wasn’t cursed after all. But Nicholas warned me to be careful how much I shared. The necklace kept me safe, but others could be placed in harm’s way knowing too much. I decided to keep things between us a secret.
    Dad broke down out of frustration from being my chauffer when he was home and purchased me an Acura—complete with OnStar for emergencies. I wasn’t sure how to handle such a luxury until I found out I had to pay half. Thankfully, Linda took me back at the deli with open arms. Business had picked up after the hysteria subsided and she was in dire need of a trained cashier.
    My home-life improved too. Both Dad and Luke appreciated the change in my demeanor, no longer brooding about.
    Most importantly, after the authorities investigated the fire, Phil and Justin were laid to rest. But I had a very hard time being around their mothers still feeling somewhat responsible for what happened. Nicholas was there in the distance the whole time. His support, even from far away, helped me keep it together in a way that no one else’s could. I had many haunting dreams afterward, my mind trying to sift through the past. I just hoped there wouldn’t be anymore vampire changing sprees in my town because I didn’t think I could handle going through the grief and drama again.
    I also worried about the cat delivering bad news. All her secrets wore on me, and I wanted to come clean before Alora came back. Daily, I contemplated telling Nicholas the truth,