Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

excitement.
    I needed to do something quick, and trying to reason with him wasn’t working. Time was of the essence. I had to think fast. Something sharp pressed against my lower back and I remembered.
    “Just imagine. We’ll be together . . . perfect . . . unstoppable.” His unbridled lust shone in his hungry eyes as he shot me a sly smile just before he leaned in closer, anticipation building.
    “Don’t I get some last words or something?” I gasped out quickly, hoping to get my hands free for a second.
    “Last words?” He curled up the corner of his lip.
    “Yeah, I’m going to be dying or whatever. I’d like to have some last words.”
    “Well, actually, you’ll find you’ll be living for once, but I don’t see why you couldn’t say goodbye to your humanity or maybe to him.”
    He glanced over at Nicholas before releasing me, chuckling as he bowed with a smirk.
    My heart surged as I knew this was the moment I’d hoped for. I tried to act calm, my body trembling all over. With shaky fingers, I felt the smooth wood beneath my back. Then I took a deep breath and stepped towards Phil.
    “What I would like to say is—” I peered seductively into his tenebrous eyes; flashing him with an evil grin, hoping that I’d be able to distract him long enough to do my dirty deed. “—you can go to hell.” I whispered as I quickly plunged my arm forward, aiming directly at his heart.
    He caught my arm mid stab, swirled me around and pinned it behind me as he held onto my body, mocking me with a belly laugh.
    “This is why I love you,” he chimed in my ear. “You’re just so spunky, but it’s not time for me to go to hell quite yet.”
    With a tiny forced twist of my hand, I released the stake.
    Defeated, I slumped in his arms as I heard it bounce onto the cement floor. I couldn’t believe my plan failed yet again.
    Phil’s appetite was building and I knew it wouldn’t be long before he took me. I didn’t feel like fighting anymore. Would it really be that bad to become like him? I wondered if my eyes would turn crystal blue too, like the other women’s were. And if I’d become eternally beautiful and ageless. That part I wouldn’t mind. And maybe, I’d lose my conscience when I became a ruthless killer. If I didn’t feel the guilt, then it wouldn’t matter what I had to do to survive.
    And it felt good to be wanted. He had basically made finding and changing me his mission. That in itself was flattering. And I too, in some weird sick way, enjoyed it and could see myself falling for him as well. I was sure, after I transformed, the bond would grow stronger until we’d never want to be apart. I just hoped when my body died, my feelings for Nicholas would die too.
    I was glad Phil blocked my view of Nicholas so I didn’t have to see his face when it happened, because at the moment he spewed the most vilest of feelings I’d ever felt from anyone. I just hoped it would be quick and not very painful.
    My eyes instinctively closed when Phil turned my head to the side and I could feel his breath on my neck, giving me chills, his excitement unrestrained. I waited and held my breath for what seemed like an eternity.

21- SURRENDER
    W ith a wanting groan, Phil put his teeth on my skin. Suddenly when I expected pain I felt a gust of wind and my arms became unpinned. Then the pungent acrid odor of smoke filled my lungs. I choked.
    I spun around just in time to hear a small clink on the pavement beneath my feet. Through the cloud of ash, I saw Nicholas with his arm awkwardly outstretched; a large grin on his face.
    “That’s what he gets for turning his back to me,” he stated calmly.
    My mind slowly processed what my eyes witnessed. Phil wasn’t gone, he was dead. Nicholas must have thrown the stake when Phil turned, too preoccupied with biting me. I stared into the ashes feeling numb. I was ready to be transformed and when it didn’t happen, I was strangely disappointed.
    Something sizzled and I turned to see what it was. The cuff binding Nicholas disappeared in thin air.
    “What?” I mumbled in confusion.
    “Darn. I wanted that,” Nicholas said, but then he was at my side, holding me up. “What were you thinking?” He gently pushed back a lock of my hair studying my face with his charming eyes.
    “I . . . I . . . didn’t know what to do,” I said. My thoughts bouncing around like a broken strand of pearls. I couldn’t stop shaking. “You’re not mad at me?”
    “Mad?”
    “Because