Talisman (50 page)

“Beatri
x, I have to get back out there,” I insisted.  “The service is about to start.  Lazarus is probably gone by now.  Surely he won’t stay for the funeral.  I don’t think he cares to consort with us ‘townies’ anyway.”

“You stay here. 
I’ll
go check,” Beatrix instructed and then shuffled out the door.  I waited alone on pins and needles until she reemerged roughly a minute later.

“Okay, I didn
’t see him, but be on your guard, Shiloh.  Remember, you can’t be around him, and for goodness’ sake, don’t touch him!  Even I could sense a trace of the diamond’s energy.  You were destined to claim the diamond wand, the only stone that magnifies all other stones.  You’ve had the makings of these abilities hidden in the recesses of your mind all of your life.  Coming in contact with his ring the other day allowed a small part of them to surface.  Lazarus is a Talisman who reigns over a stone that bears an
enormous
amount of psychic power.  That’s why you were able to look into his mind and feel his emotions.  You were like one, big ‘mental magnet’.  He couldn’t sense yours because you hadn’t claimed your diamond birth-stone yet.  But now you have so…
BE CAREFUL!
”

“I will,” I assure
d her, trying not to sound too nervous.  Beatrix grabbed my arm as I turned to leave.

“
Wait
.  Let me see your topaz.”  I held out my left hand and watched while she inspected the tiny gemstone.  “Tanner was right,” Beatrix confirmed as she patted my hand.  “You really drained my little baby.  You may have enough power left in it for one charm. 
Two
, if you’re lucky.  Sea-salt won’t be of any use to you, I’m afraid.  Normally, a few moonbeams from any old moon would do, but you used so much of its power the other night in your humanly state… I’m afraid the only thing strong enough to charge it back to its original strength is the light from the next full moon.”

“Is it
…
broken?
” I asked apprehensively.

“No, no.  A stone is a living thing, just like you and I, Shiloh.  It’s on the verge of going dorman
t, that’s all.  It needs to be ‘refueled’, so to speak.  But you’re in luck.  The full moon on Friday night is going to be a
true
blue moon.  They are
very rare
.  The Talisman who reigns over the moonstone sets aside one night where the full moon shines with some of her stone’s powers.  She does it so she can use the moon as her own personal telescope.  She can see anything and everything that’s happening in the world, all at once.  It’s an absolutely magical sight to witness.  It’s like a supernatural’s Fourth of July, but these fireworks only we can see.  You’re in for a real treat.  But for now, I’m afraid your golden topaz’s power is scarce.  Tanner ordered me not to give you another one.  I’m sorry, dear.”  Beatrix rolled her eyes.  “He says it will teach you responsibility, so be
careful
,” she urged and then shoved me out into the hall.

Oookay
, I thought as the door creaked to a close.  Beatrix couldn’t have alarmed me more even if she’d just announced that Lazarus was packing a Smith & Wesson underneath that long overcoat he was sporting.  On a different note, I found myself both shocked and a little ticked that Tanner Grey had implied I was in some way “irresponsible”.

I may lack the knowledge and experience when it c
omes to the intricacies of being a so-called “Talisman”, but I’m in no way “wet behind the ears” when it comes to being responsible for anything
, I fumed as I ran down the hall.  I peered into the viewing room. 
Good…No signs of Lazarus
.

There in the doorway, I overheard the funeral home director announce, “We’re about to commence with the service, so those of you who
aren’t staying should exit the room at this time.”

Various attendees
began to saunter down the aisle.  I spotted my reserved seat, located in the front pew beside Charlotte and Chloe.  I maneuvered up the aisle through the crowd of people, nodding at them as I walked past.  Ty and Katie were sitting together a few rows away.  Katie waved to me.  They both had a mixed look of relief and puzzlement on their faces.  It just dawned on me that I’d been talking to them, right before Beatrix had snatched me away.  I waved back and flashed an apologetic smile in their direction.

I found myself
so distracted by my unintended rudeness that I wasn’t looking where I was going.  After running into a few people who were coming down the aisle (and apologizing to them), I refocused my attention directly ahead of me.  Then from out of nowhere, I spotted the one person I was cautiously trying to avoid, heading straight for me.

Oh, no! 
Lazarus Xcavare!

Straightaway, I lowered my head anxiously.  I felt fairly confident he wouldn’t notice me in the crowd, but several people
at my rear were pushing me directly into his path.  A clever thought popped into my head as we inched closer to each other.  If Beatrix was right, I had enough power for one more plea from the stone.  Without further delay, I repeated over and over,
Please don’t let Lazarus Xcavare see me
…

I lifted my head.  We were merely a couple of feet apart.  He was looking my way, but he seemed to be staring through me,
not at me
.  I glanced down at the golden topaz ring that was glowing (as was I) and smiled, relieved that the possible calamity had been avoided.  I observed that no one else seemed to be aware of the spectral golden glow surrounding my frame —
thankfully
.  Feeling overly confident, I strutted right beside Lazarus Xcavare, only to have someone push me, once again.  An ominous feeling consumed me when my arm rubbed against him, just as our paths crossed.

We were being
forced in opposite directions, but I found myself locked in a trance as the crowd of attendees pushed my body further up the aisle.  A gruesome vision had entered my mind.  I didn’t have to drink any magical emerald potion to obtain this one.  It came straight from the source —
Lazarus Xcavare
.

I was
freezing
.  The wind was whipping, and snow was falling at an uncanny rate all around me.  I heard someone chanting close by and then a set of hands appeared.  I gasped and found myself trembling at the sight.

Daddy! 
The hands were strangling him! Lazarus Xcavare’s hands were infusing my father with some sort of blue powder while he gagged and choked repeatedly. 
HE’S POISIONING HIM!
  Once Lazarus felt that he had administered enough of the toxin to eventually kill him, his men pitched Daddy into the back of his truck and threw the weathered tarp over his body.  The person I loved most in the world had been discarded like garbage.  He was alone and left to suffer helplessly in the frigid temperatures, until all the life in him had faded into the darkness of night.

M
y frame hardened like a statue as the vision dwindled.  The only sign of movement was from one lonely tear streaming down my face.  I felt the weight of someone’s stare as they made their approach.

“Shiloh, you need to take your seat.  We’re about to start,” Bob Ramsey whispered.  Unknowingly, I’d stopped in front of Daddy’s closed casket.  Mr. Ramsey motioned me to the front pew where my family sat wait
ing.  I’d heard what he had said, but I could neither verbally, nor physically acknowledge him.

The startling revelation plagued me with various emotions.  I was
horrified
by what I’d seen.  All I wanted to do was to scream out to everyone that Lazarus Xcavare was my father’s murderer —
but I couldn’t!
  I feared for my own life, as well as everyone else’s in the room.  All of Lazarus’ evil intentions and the severity of his cruel nature had passed through my body.  There wasn’t a doubt in my mind.  He would take out the whole town if he had to, just obtain the diamond wand and all its power.

“Shiloh,
please
take your seat,” Mr. Ramsey repeated as he placed his hand on my arm.

The moment I felt his touch, I snapped out of my hypnotic, stone-like state and jerked my arm from his grasp.  I turned to the back of the room, where Lazarus and his entourage had just crossed over the door’s threshold.  The attendants w
ere starting to close the heavy wooden double-doors.  My eyes were like daggers, transfixed on my father’s killer.  Lazarus seemed uneasy and paused for a moment.  I watched him lift his cane, gripping its handle forcefully, and then he began to slowly pivot back around.

H
e can’t see me, but does he sense the diamond’s power, or is the hatred I’m feeling potent enough for him to pick up on the threat?
  The doors shut just as he completed his turn.  Lazarus was now out of my sight, but he certainly wasn’t out of my mind.

Charlotte grabbed my arm and pu
lled me over to the front pew.  “Sit down!” my mother growled in my ear.

I looked around the room.  A
ll eyes were on me.  I turned towards my father’s casket and dropped down into my seat.  My body may have been inert as I sat there, but my mind was whirling.  As the music came to a halt, Lugand Hubble, the pastor from our church, began the service with a prayer.

I
’d heard Pastor Hubble speaking throughout the service, but I couldn’t concentrate on one single word.  For the next thirty minutes, I remained willingly trapped in a trance.  I couldn’t listen to anything but my own thoughts as I stared vehemently at my father’s coffin.  I was so engrossed in the reality of what I’d discovered, I didn’t even look at the holy man as he spoke.  It was hard to focus on his righteous words when every thought I had conjured was hell-bent on seeking
revenge
.

I’d finally gotten my answer, but it had come at the most in
opportune time.  I couldn’t go to the police with what I’d discovered.  Who would believe me?  Officer Pete Ryan would lock me up for sure.  Charlotte would surely attest that my commitment to an asylum was in order.  The only people I knew I could tell were Tanner Grey and Beatrix (though I had a gut-feeling they already knew).

Why wouldn’t they
TELL ME?

I rose from my seat af
ter the closing prayer and watched the pallbearers position themselves around Daddy’s casket.  They were all of his close buddies and co-workers.  Samuel was standing at the rear of the coffin.  His eyes looked unmistakably pink and misty.  Charlotte, Chloe, and I followed behind them as they carried him to the black hearse parked outside.  I looked at no one.  My eyes stayed locked in front of me.

I climbed into my car
by myself, but I was far from alone.  My thoughts tormented me as I followed the hearse to Roselawn Cemetery.  My suffering continued on through my father’s graveside rights.  The rain was falling even harder than before.  The pastor hurried through the ceremony as the sound of ear-splitting thunder rolled around us and violent streaks of lightning lit up the sky.  As I watched my father descend upon his final resting place, I removed a white lily from a nearby standing floral spray and tossed it into the open grave.  Just as the flower landed on his casket, I made my father one final vow.

Somehow and sometime soon, Lazarus Xcavare will pay dearly for
what he’s done
.

He had
taken what I loved most away from me, and now I claimed what he desired most.  And I was going to make sure he “got it” —
Every powerful, blow I could summon from the mystical, diamond Wand of Adamas
…

Chapter  15  —  Catch!

As soon as
the graveside service had concluded, everyone piled into their cars and headed over to the Welch Annex, where a luncheon was being held for family and friends.  I’d already lost my appetite and had absolutely no desire for small talk.  The thought of standing around watching folks shovel lasagna onto their paper plates and unfamiliar faces scrounging for the last deviled egg made my stomach turn.  I opted to head back home where I could pine for my father in silence — and mull over what to do about
Lazarus Xcavare
.  That’s what
I craved
.

The rain
was still coming down in sheets, which made my drive home take much longer than what I’d hoped.  I debated about pulling over several times, but the rain would always subside as soon as I veered off the road and returned with full force when I pulled back onto it. 
So
, I just carried on down the highway at a slow and steady pace through the treacherous, inclement weather.

I tuned the radio to J104.5 FM and caught the tail end of the Black-Eyed Pea’s latest song.  One of their DJ’s started rattling off some news and
local events.  When his barrage of general announcements had concluded, he shifted his report to the weather.  One notification was of particular interest.

He broadcasted, “Hate to be you guys down in McDowell County.  There’s a stationary low-pressure system that’s been churning over your area since yesterday morning, and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere
, anytime soon.  Y’all sure have had some
freaky
weather down there over the past few days, what with that record-breaking snowstorm Saturday Night.  Totals have been coming in around 10 to 12 inches that fell in less than an hour.  But here’s the real kicker…
Welch
was the only town to get it…Like I said,
FREAKY!
  Don’t forget your umbrellas today.  Y’all are gonna need ’em.”

I reflected,
That snowstorm was pretty freaky…but nowhere near as “freaky” as the rest of the night
.

I
thought about the weather some more.  All the snow from Saturday night had melted.  The heavy rains had seen to that.  Sadly, not only was the abysmal precipitation making the driving conditions particularly hazardous, it wasn’t doing anything to help my horrible mood.  I felt just as dreary and dismal as the rain. 
Surely it couldn’t rain forever?  It has to stop sometime.  The sooner the better
, I thought. 
Maybe that will lift my spirits?

I
noticed the old farmhouse appeared particularly cold and desolate as I pulled onto our gravel drive.  I suspected it would feel even worse once I was inside.  With my purse slung over my shoulder and my bound umbrella in hand, I made a mad dash for the porch.  I saw no need to raise it. I was home and could dry off inside.

Cautiously,
I trotted up the slick porch steps as I searched through my purse for my keys.  As I stood in front of the door, still looking for them, a voice called out to me from the left side of the porch, “Home so soon?”

Startled, I jumped and whipped my head around.  Sitting all sprawled out and swaying on our wooden porch swing was none other than “Mr. Evasive” himself
,
Tanner Grey
.

I acknowledged his presence with a grunt, followed by a quick roll of my blue eyes.  I didn’t say a word to him and went back to digging through my purse.  As soon as I
’d located my keys, I unlocked the door.

“That’s rude…
No, ‘Hello’?
” Tanner Grey remarked as he rose from his casual lounge.

Straighta
way, I shot him a snarky look.

Tanner strolled towards me. 
“I’m picking up on something.  Let’s see… There’s
anger
…a bit of
frustration
…and a whole lot of
vengeance
.  That about right?” he scrutinized.

I threw open the door. 
Before I entered the house, I turned to him.  “You
knew
it was Lazarus,
didn’t you?
” I snapped.

“
Yes
,” Tanner confirmed in a solemn tone.

Frustrated by his admission, I bolted into the house, slammed the front door, and forcefully secured all three locks.  I
let out a gruff grunt as I slammed my back against the front door.  Within a few seconds, Tanner Grey came crawling into the house through the living room window.

“That’s breaking and entering,” I called out lackadaisically.

He looked back at the broken window and let out a laugh.  “
No
.  That’s just entering.  Look’s like someone else did the
breaking
,” Tanner quipped as he raised one of his eyebrows, inquisitively.  He walked into the foyer where I still remained propped against the door.

“Is that the
real
reason you didn’t want me to ‘go near’ or even ‘touch’ Lazarus?” I pouted.

“No, Shiloh. That was just an
unfortunate consequence
.  I told you, not while your powers are strengthening.  You’re still very vulnerable, especially to other Talismans.  Oh, and by the way, Lazarus picked up on your energy at the funeral home…
just so you know
.”  The handsome Talisman seemed slightly perturbed about it.

“It was an
accident!
  Beatrix told me that he’d left!  Did he know it was coming from me?” I probed in a panic.  “I asked the golden topaz to keep him from seeing me.”

Tanner patted
my shoulder.  “Calm down, little girl… The boogey man’s not onto you
yet
.”  I felt an instant rush of relief.  Tanner continued, “When he arrived at the mine after the wake, I overheard him telling one of his guys that he sensed something powerful back at the funeral home, but he didn’t know
where
it was coming from or
why
.  Lazarus started drinking and celebrating.  He claimed it was a ‘good sign’ and that ‘he was close’.”  Tanner hovered beside me and leaned into my ear.  “He just didn’t realize how
close
he was,” his husky voice whispered.

While the
delicate warm air from his words tickled my lobe, I turned to meet his smoldering gaze.  Just being close to Tanner Grey was intoxicating.   Whatever allowed him to wash away a person’s anxieties was like a drug.  The fact that he was such delicious eye candy was simply a perk.

“Your eye
s
aren’t
purple,” I remarked flatly, attempting to bottle up my churning emotions and cover the embarrassment I felt from my lingering stare.  Tanner stepped back and removed his tiger’s-eye from around his neck.

“I suppose it
’s safe…
now
.  I can’t afford to go around advertising to Lazarus that he has a another Talisman working for him, trying to sabotage his plans, now can I?”  I watched in amazement as his hazel eyes transformed into their dazzling purple hue as soon as the brown and gold swirly stone lost contact with his skin.

“How does
this thing
work…exactly?” I asked as I reached for his stone pendant.  He flippantly jerked the magical stone out of my hand and held it between us.

“
This
tiger’s-eye,
” Tanner corrected, “was given to me many years ago.  It helps a Talisman hide his or
her
powers from all supernaturals, including other Talismans.  Even though you can feel traces of its energy, only the Talisman to whom it was given may draw upon its concealment powers — so unfortunately, it won’t work on you.  A tiger’s-eye is one of the few stones that must be directly bestowed to the wearer by the Talisman who reigns over it.  Beatrix has one as well.  Shiloh, your identity is
sacred
.  You must keep it guarded at all times.  Once your identity is compromised, death and despair will follow you.  This is especially true for Talismans like Lazarus.  They’ll not only seek to harm
you
to get what they want, but they’ll hurt anyone you love —
just to get to you
— which is why, and I repeat
,
you are to
stay away from him
.”  Tanner topped his lecture off with a curt smile as he tucked the mystical pendant in the front pocket of his weathered jeans.

“Well then
…
where
can I get one?”

Tanner rolled his ey
es smugly and let out a laugh.  “Well, you can’t run down to the local Star-Mart and pick one up.  You can’t go just
ANYWHERE
and pick up one of these sought after stones. You have to
earn
it.
  The Talisman who reigns over the tiger’s-eye must feel you’re worthy of such a gift.  In our world, it’s a monumental feat to receive one from Burnu.  He doesn’t simply hand them out to
anyone
.  And just because you lay claim the most revered stone of all, don’t think for one second that it gives you any entitlement to one of his tiger’s-eyes. 
So
, until ‘your time’ comes, you can get that idea out of your head…even though it would
help
with your ‘identity problem’.  But even it’s not an
easy fix
.”

“Where does this Burnu—
”

“
Not around here!
”
Tanner gruffly interrupted. “He’s thousands of miles away, so forget about it.”  Tanner paced around the foyer.  “Stubborn
little girl
,” he grumbled, over and over, shaking his head.  I glared at him as I thought about how much I
HATED
that little “pet name” he liked to throw around.

“What are you
doing here anyway?” I demanded.

Tanner
ignored my question while he eyed the staircase with a suspicious grin.  He propped his hand on one of the remaining spindles from the smashed banister (which he ended up breaking off) and then turned around.

“You’re coming with me
,” Tanner finally answered as he tapped the spindle in his hand.  “
But first
, I need you to go upstairs and change in to something a little more…
comfortable
.”

Now I was curious.

“Where are we going?”

“
Out
,” Tanner replied bluntly as he motioned me up the stairs.

Though I shook my head at him, I complied
with an open mind. As I marched up the steps, I suspected I was in for an afternoon of strange requests and elusive answers.  I eventually found myself standing in front of my dresser and rummaging through my drawers cluelessly.

“Can you at least be a little more specific about what kind of
‘comfortable clothes’
I should wear?” I called down from my bedroom.

“Something you don’t mind
getting dirty, maybe even ripped,” Tanner replied.  “You know,
little girl…Play clothes
.”

After hearing “it” again, I purposely stomped my foot on the floor
, making sure it was loud enough for him to hear.  I ran back out to the top of the stairs and pointed down at him.

“
Stop calling me
that!”
I yelled down.  He simply brushed off my request with a grin as I turned to head back into my room.  I ended up pulling out some old jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and some worn out sneakers.  I was changed and ready in no time.  After my long locks were secure in my favorite ponytail holder, I headed for the door.

My cell phone started humming in my purse.  I pulled it out to see
several messages from Katie and Ty.  They were worried and wanted to know “where I was”.  I shot back a quick text to both of them.

I’m fine…Just need 2 B alone

Once the message had been sent, I turned off my cell and placed it back in my purse.  I looked at my leather bag curiously.  I didn’t know
where
we were going, so wasn’t sure if I needed it.

“Do I need to take my purse?” I hollered down to Tanner.

“
Um
…Are you buying me
dinner?
”

Is he kidding?
  “
No
,” I fired back assuredly.

“Then
leave it
,” Tanner advised.

After a shrug of my shoulders, I
threw my purse on the bed and grabbed my jacket.

“Okay, can you at least tell me
what
we’re going to be doing that warrants old clothes?” I asked as I trotted down the stairs.

Tanner
pursed his perfect mauve lips and smiled.  “We’re going to play
catch
.”