Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

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 PM 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 and then 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 heavily, 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