Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

wasn’t all a waste. It brought me you,” I said in barely a whisper.
    He looked back at me and I swallowed hard as my heart fluttered. I blinked back the fresh tears brimming in my eyes.
    “I look into your eyes and see her. It scares me that I’m going to mess it all up again.”
    The words caught in my throat again. I didn’t know what to say, other than I wanted things between us to work out. More than he’d ever know, but I was afraid I’d be the one to mess it up—with my prediction. But he leaned over and kissed me so passionately, I almost melted into the floor. His lips soft yet urgent; his hand finding its way to the nape of my neck, pulling me closer to him; his tongue searching and intertwining with mine. I was gasping for air when he finally released me, whirling with so many feelings I didn’t know which one to land on.
    Before I could recover, he pulled me into an embrace so hard, that I couldn’t breathe and I gasped.
    “Sorry,” he said, releasing his arms a bit. “I wasn’t sure how this would work out and it broke my heart to see you so upset in the car. I should have thought to give you the necklace earlier.”
    I felt the crystal around my neck grow warm and heard a faint high pitched ringing sound, almost like it agreed.
    “This necklace is special, isn’t it?” I asked, feeling the heat from it under my fingertips.
    “Yes, very.”
    “Did it save me when I fought and ki—” I gulped and skipped over the word, unable to say it, let alone admit it. “Justin?”
    His eyes tightened for a second but his pride swelled.
    “Quite possibly.”
    I had mixed feelings about his approval of what happened. I knew it was a necessary evil, but I felt terribly guilty.
    “How?” I asked.
    “The necklace provides protection against vampires. When wearing it, you virtually become undetectable meaning they can’t smell, hear or feel your presence. If they do manage to capture you, they can’t do anything to harm you. They can’t steal it from you either. Any vampire that tries to touch it, except the person who gave it, would be burned by it. Same if they tried to bite you.”
    I thought back to Justin’s arm mysteriously burning after he tried to bite me.
    “So it’s impossible to come into ownership of it by force. It must be given of free-will and the necklace knows. It’s said it will turn black and burn any unwanted recipients.”
    That must have been what he meant when he told me it liked me. I held the stone in my palm and admired the new, rich, deep, sapphire color.
    “But it was green before?”
    “It changes with each owner.”
    “Who gave it to you?”
    Nicholas frowned. His internal angst punched my stomach—I’d asked another hurtful question.
    “It was my mother’s. A friend gave it to her so my parents could live together safely without fear. I became the new owner after—well, you know.”
    “Oh,” I said sheepishly.
    I decided not to ask any more questions. Somehow I always managed to pry into painful places that were none of my business. It did shed light on how his parents were able to be married and the answer to how Nicholas and I could be together as well. But with Nicholas being both human and vampire, did it make him virtually invincible?
    “I, on the other hand became impossible to kill and track. It’s a good thing I was a fighter against evil, because with it, I became the most powerful human and vampire in the world.”
    I cocked my head to the side and looked into his tender face. How could he ever be evil? His character was the kindest I’d ever felt. Of course he’d be a fighter for good. Would that ever be a question? Then I remembered the prediction and went to unclasp the chain.
    “What are you doing?” Nicholas said as he caught my hand.
    “Giving it back. I’m safe, threat over. You need this more than I.”
    “No,” he said firmly and he put my hands in my lap. “I gave it to you and I feel better with you wearing it.”
    “But you need it,” I said in earnest.
    “I’m still immortal and equally as strong. Of course they’ll smell my human scent which I can use to my advantage, but I have other means to protect myself. I need you to wear it.”
    I grimaced and looked hard into his eyes. One way or another, I’d get him to see things my way.
    “No,” I said more forcefully.
    “Julia, why are you so worried?”
    I gulped back the tears, hating that I always got so emotional at the wrong times.
    “You’re going to