Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

wish,” he said with a cocky grin and looked around inquisitively. I cringed at his overwhelming joy. “Where’s your friend?”
    I frantically tried to figure out how he knew my plan. He must have seen the remote on my seat and taken the battery out while I was at work. The thought made me feel sick, regretting my decision to do it on my own as my plan fell apart right in front of my eyes.
    “I don’t know who you’re talking about,” I lied.
    “Julia. Don’t play with me,” he said with an icy stare. “We can do things your way, or my way, but whatever you choose, you will exit your car, so why don’t you just get out so I don’t have to break anything.”
    He placed both hands on the hood of my car while leaning forward with demanding eyes. I could feel his fascination with his power and imagined him rolling the car door back like a sardine can. How would I explain that to my dad? Knowing I needed to survive the encounter first, I decided to test his intentions. If he wasn’t going to kill me, I’d willingly get out. If not, it wouldn’t matter anyway—the more unexplainable damage to my car, the better.
    “You won’t hurt me?” I questioned, watching his expression closely.
    “I promise,” he said with a chuckle and held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
    If I hadn’t known for sure he told the truth, I’d have been frozen stiff with fear. Even with his promise, it didn’t change how badly he still wanted me. Before opening the door, I reached down nonchalantly and grabbed the stake out of my backpack, hiding it behind my back. With my other hand, I pulled the handle and stepped outside, legs shaking.
    “I’m out of the car,” I said with a sputter, waiting for his next move.
    “See? That wasn’t so hard.” he said, his voice suddenly absent from his body, floating in the air. “Was it?” I felt him appear when he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling the back of my neck. My body broke out in a cold sweat.
    Startled, I turned, flailing my hand half-heartily forward in an attempted stabbing motion, but found it empty. My stake vanished. I looked up to see Phil, a few feet away from me flipping the stick in the air, mocking me with his smile.
    “What’s this for?”
    My throat went dry and my lips froze partly open.
    “As if you could stop me,” he said with a tisk.
    My face fell, as I watched him snap it in two. I felt totally defeated and knew I couldn’t possibly make a break for it now. The front door, just beyond him, seemed impossible to get to. Even with a diversion, I wouldn’t be able to move fast enough.
    “You’re so adorable,” he cooed.
    He was doing that thing with his eyes; luring me in with his infectious stare, casting a magical spell on me. I looked away.
    “I’m out of the car,” I said with an indignant tone. “What do you want?”
    If he planned to do anything to me, I wanted it over already.
    “Oh, where do I begin . . .” he said, slowly advancing, watching me with his nebulous eyes.
    I backed up, trying to expand the distance between us, only to be blocked in by my car. I had nowhere to run. He stopped, minding the space between us as if to placate me.
    “Well, first, I wanted to say thank you.”
    “You want to thank me?”
    “Yes,” he said with a little snicker. “Because of you, I’m now immortal. Little did those silly humans know the transfusion would revive me so I could be transformed.” He dramatically tilted his head up towards the night sky, closed his eyes and opened his arms while inhaling deeply. “I do love my new body.”
    The display made me sick, but his absorption in his exhibition gave me the urge to sneak away. I moved a fraction of an inch in preparation when his arm suddenly appeared at my side, stopping my retreat.
    “Where are you going?” he whispered, his lips inches away from mine.
    My voice caught in my throat and I stuttered. “You don’t have to give in. You can be good.”
    “Good?” A dark shadow crossed his face. “Why? I’m having too much fun being bad,” he said with a wicked cackle.
    My countenance fell. I wasn’t anticipating this reaction.
    “Let me show you,” he whispered, using his other arm to encircle me, pinning me to the car.
    His body pressed against mine and my heart raced in response. I turned my head away from his face, anticipating a kiss, but realized I’d exposed my neck. My hands flew up to hide my flesh, but instead of biting me, he pulled me close to his