Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

only for his valiant effort in trying to save her life, but for killing her murderer and breaking down the wall in me that held her memory. I could see her in my mind now. Smell her sweet dewy fragrance. Feel her warmth. The healing could begin.
    “Thank you,” I said as I blushed. I hated the circumstances surrounding our friendship, but I couldn’t have earned a more amazing guardian.
    I wanted to ask him more about his special vampire abilities but glanced at the clock on the dashboard and almost had a heart attack.
    “Is that the real time?”
    “I believe it is.”
    “I’m going to be so dead. I need to get home.”
    Before I could finish the statement, Nicholas spun out of his parking spot and took off down the gravel road.
    “What are you doing?” I yelled and grabbed panic-filled onto the arm rail with one hand and fastened the seat beat with the other.
    “Speeding,” he said, completely at ease. “ . . .so you won’t get in trouble.”
    “Without your headlights?” I yelled louder. “Are you crazy?”
    Nicholas laughed.
    “I do this all the time. I have natural night vision,” he said, amused. “But I can slow down and put my lights on if it makes you feel better.”
    The thought of my irate Dad standing in the doorway tapping his watch changed my mind.
    “No, that’s okay. I do need to get home.”
    My breath slowed back to normal when I realized he was in complete control of the car, even when he blindly turned onto the highway and wove with precision through the traffic.
    I relaxed and trusted his instincts. We sped through the streets, and the dark night blurred past me outside. As soon as we turned off the freeway, he flipped the headlights on.
    “This is insane,” I said as I shook my head.
    “Welcome to my life.”
    We pulled into the deli parking lot and I noticed my car was one of the last ones parked there. The thought of driving home alone made me nervous. I couldn’t stop the flashes of the hungry eyes of the vampire that attacked me, and I pictured others waiting in the dark at home. This was worse than the imaginary boogey man I used to be afraid of. Vampires were real and quite possibly everywhere.
    “Do you think you can drive?” he asked, as he parked next to my car.
    “I think so. I’m feeling a little better now,” I lied.
    “I’ll follow you home if you want.”
    “Please?” I asked, grateful he sensed my hesitation.
    Once I got into my car, I immediately locked the doors behind me, even though I knew there were no vampires around. With a turn of the key, the engine revved to life and I waited for it to warm up while I blew hot air into my hands. My Quantum paled in comparison to Nicholas’ Chrysler.
    I pulled out a compact mirror from my purse and added powder to my eyes. I didn’t have a clue how I was going to get past my dad without being noticed. Maybe they’d be in bed already.
    After a few minutes, I looked in my rearview mirror to back out and noticed Nicholas’ concerned face in the reflection. My heart warmed at the revelation of the truth. All along, when I thought he’d ditched me, he was still there, agonizing over our separation too.
    I cranked the heater and drove. Nicholas followed closely behind and his headlights shone through the back window. He couldn’t drive stealth following me and it made me grin.
    Quickly, I formulated an excuse in my head for why I was late, just in case. Nicholas’ superb driving did shave off precious minutes and instead of being an hour past curfew, I was only about a half-an-hour late. But with all the drama, I knew he’d be counting every minute and exponentially adding them.
    I figured out a decent story when I noticed we passed the spot it all happened and my car lurched a little, almost as if it recognized it. I couldn’t believe my late-night mishap was just days ago, when it felt like ages—back when I was still naïve.
    I turned down my quiet street and felt my tension release when I found my house dark and my family sleeping peacefully inside. Nicholas was at my door just as I shut the engine off. It was as if he’d read my mind.
    “Thank you,” I said as he helped me out of my car.
    “I can’t imagine what you must be going through,” he said his face full of concern.
    “I’m glad I know,” I said, trying to sound brave. I looked up at him in the moonlight; his beautiful face and amazing eyes sparkled down at me.
    He reached out, pulled me gently toward him and hugged me. I melted