Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

meeting you—or your name.”
    “Nicholas.”
    Nicholas . I sighed. As I repeated his name in my mind, it instantly became the most beautiful word in the English language.
    “Well, it’s very nice to meet you, again .”
    I was happy he couldn’t see me blushing but then I chastised myself. What in the heck was I doing? I couldn’t let myself get emotionally attached when he wasn’t being completely honest with me. Where was my better judgment?
    It probably flew out the window the same time you decided to trek through the forest.
    My desire for him showed plainly on my face, so I was thankful he couldn’t see me. I’d never understood the attraction some girls felt for ‘bad boys’ and prided myself in staying away from them. Of course my gift usually tipped me off. But Nicholas was different.
    I never felt so drawn to someone before. His pull felt almost magnetic and every moment we stayed close to each other, the connection grew stronger. It frightened and electrified me at the same time.
    Maybe I judged him too soon and he wasn’t a ‘bad boy’ although he definitely wasn’t like the other ‘nice boys’ at my school. He radiated a maturity I craved but never found before. And there was something more—a feeling of déjà vu.
    ‘You can trust him ,’ my heart said while my head screamed “no”.
    It was a relief when we neared the corner where I lived and approached my house, because I needed this turmoil to stop—to think rationally about things. Nicholas carried me up the stairs to my front porch and sat me on the swing that hung there. I breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Is anyone home?” he asked.
    As he stepped away, I felt the serenity of his aura leave and I wanted to catch his hand and bring him back to me. Like a moth to a flame, I craved his touch even though that meant the risk of being burned.
    “You okay?”
    My heart dropped as concern spread across his beautiful face. I’d been too late to cover up my struggle. I gave him the first excuse that came to mind.
    “I’m just . . . dizzy,” I choked out.
    He pursed his lips; the concern still there, I could feel it right under the surface.
    I put my hand up to my forehead to try to get my bearings. Why was this happening to me?
    “Is anyone home, Julia?” His worry now expressed in the tone of his voice.
    “My brother or my dad should be,” I squeaked out.
    He walked over and knocked on the door keeping one eye on me. I gave a weak smile, trying to reassure him I was all right, but I was still confused as to how we had this mysterious electric connection.
    “My dad’s going to freak when he sees me like this. How bad do I look?”
    A smile appeared on his face. “You’re a little banged up, but I think you’ll survive.”
    As he stood on the porch waiting for an answer to his knock, I took the first real opportunity I had to look at him. His chiseled face with dark brown hair and olive-toned skin perfectly framed his dazzling green eyes. He wore a long, brown floor-length leather trench coat over a dark-colored, button-up shirt, faded blue jeans and some mean-looking boots. His face had a certain youthful, yet rugged appearance. A shimmering emerald green stone peeked out from under his shirt hanging from a gold chain around his neck.
    Nicholas noticed the focus of my gaze and tucked the medallion back under his shirt, out of view.
    Looking up at his beautiful face made all the pain fade away and I blushed as the butterflies flew around in my stomach. I knew my eyes must be red from crying and dirt covered me from head to toe, not to mention my clothes were torn, but he acted as if he didn’t see any of that.
    Nicholas bent forward and looked directly at me. Seriousness crossed his face. “Promise me you won’t wander alone in the woods again. Promise me,” he quietly demanded.
    “I promise.”
    “And no mention of the mountain lion, okay?”
    “Okay, but . . .”
    Luke opened the door. His eyes went from Nicholas then to me. When he saw my disheveled appearance, he gaped in horror.
    “What the hell?” Luke said.
    I clenched my teeth preparing for a barrage of questions. I must’ve looked pretty bad.
    Luke rushed to me.
    “What happened?” he demanded, glaring at Nicholas.
    “I fell and twisted my ankle and Nicholas kindly helped me home,” I said calmly, trying to reassure him that Nicholas was indeed a friend and not a foe.
    “You what?” Luke snapped, his eyes squinting into slits. “Where?”
    “The