Talisman (56 page)

“
What can Beatrix cure?” I asked.

“Beatrix can fuse broken bones
and cure a few aliments, like
blindness
for example.”  Tanner advised, “Don’t ever mention to her that I told you about this.  She won’t ever talk about it herself.  Beatrix was born with her sight, but someone took it from her tragically when she was a young woman in her twenties.  She’s actually been blind all her adult life.  Fortunately when she was united with her golden topaz, it allowed her to see by granting that ‘third-eye’ of hers.  It couldn’t restore her own eyesight because it was taken by another Talisman.  Only they can reverse the magic.”

“That must’ve been
horrible
for her!”

“Aw, she’s a
tough, old broad.  Don’t feel bad for her.  Beatrix wouldn’t want you to.  She told me that her blindness was a blessing in disguise.  She was able to view the world in a whole new light.  Even though the golden topaz allows her to see, she only does so when she has to.  She prefers relying on her other senses.”  Tanner added with a laugh, “
Oh,
there’s something else about Beatrix’s healing abilities…She’d kill me for telling this one, but her golden topaz also helps control a person’s weight.  That’s how she
really
stays so slim.  The woman eats like a
damn bird!
”  Tanner’s subtle chuckles erupted into a boisterous laugh.  His tone shifted, and he added seriously, “
Most important
, the golden topaz offers a great deal of protection from death…but you already know about that.  As far as humans are concerned, it just delays the inevitable outcome for a while, buying them some time, so you really can’t call
that
a healing power.”

“Do
I
have any healing powers?”

Tanner took a deep breath.  “Your diamond is
special
.  It can heal any physical injury, like the ones you sustained in the cave the other night, but it can also cure illnesses of the mind as well.  Those are pretty powerful gifts, Shiloh.  Curing a random ailment is one thing, but saving a life is nothing less than miraculous.”

I smiled, fully acknowledging the weight of his claim. 
Shiloh Wallace…Talisman, M.D.

“There’s something else,” Tanner announced.
  “You know, your ability to increase another Talisman’s powers?”

“Oh, yes.  You mean my
‘greatest disadvantage’?” I scoffed reluctantly.  “How can I
forget?
”

“Well, the
power’s original intent was to boost another Talisman’s healing abilities.  You make it easier for them when they’re in your presence.  But you’re right, with every pro, there’s certainly a
con
of equal magnitude.  That’s just how the universe works,” Tanner replied as he placed his hand on my head and mussed my hair.

Once we were on the outskirts of town, Tanner announced, “Let’s go.”  With a playful smack on my rear, he added, “I think you need to burn off all those calories you just ate back there.  After all, you don’t hav
e a charged topaz to rely on.”

I jabbed his shoulder
, and in less than a second, we bolted into the forest, barreling across the mountainous West Virginia countryside.

We came to a stop near a small stream that flowed into a plunging waterfall. 
Black Fork Falls
, I thought. 
Well, I guess I finally made it to Twin Falls after all
, I joked to myself.  I’d been here hiking the trails many times before.  The park was less than an hour from home (well, by driving).  The waterfall was located in an isolated area, away from a lot of the more touristy attractions, and it seemed we were all alone.

Tanner decided
that the rest of the afternoon should be spent sharpening my physical skills and reflexes.  I had a sneaky suspicion I would end up soaking wet before we concluded for the day.  Sure enough, I was right.  I managed to stay dry, though dirty, during the first couple of hours of our “play fighting”.  That’s what Tanner called it. I thought “willing torture” was more accurate.  But when Tanner saw I was much stronger than yesterday, he upped his game and hurled me into the waterfall.  Once again, I was wet
and
pissed.  After
several
more hours had passed, the sun began to set on my long, grueling day.

“
Try
to be on time tomorrow,” Tanner urged.  “I think you know your way home from here.”  With a flash of a smile he was off again.  I followed his lead and made a mad dash for my house.

The closer I ran to Welch, the easier it became to get my bearings.  I
was impressed with my precision. I only ran into
one
tree this time around. My pace slowed to a steady jog as I winded around the last sharp curve about a half-mile from my house.  As I turned onto my gravel drive, I noticed that though Charlotte’s Cadillac was absent, Samuel’s Jeep was parked in its place.  I ran up onto the porch to find my surrogate father swaying on the weathered old swing.

“I’m glad you showed up when you did.  I was about to leave for my shift.” 
Samuel hesitated.  “They gave me
Caiden’s job
.  I wasn’t expecting…
that
,” he replied with a sigh.

There it was — exactly what I was trying to
avoid.  I had Daddy in my heart. I didn’t need him floating 24/7 around in my head, too.  It was too much heartache to deal with.

“What are you doing
here?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.

Samuel
seemed surprised by my question and let out a laugh.  “I
came
by
to check on you.  I sent you a couple of texts today.  I even called up to the school.  The lady in the office said you weren’t there, but that Chloe was.”  Samuel looked me over from head to toe, eyeing my extremely soiled clothes.  “What have you been…
doing
today?
”

I couldn’t think of
a good excuse.  I didn’t realize I would need an alibi on stand-by.

“Nothin’ much,
” I replied casually.

Samuel’s
brow rose suspiciously.  “Well, you sure have a whole lot of
nothin’
on your clothes.  Did you lie down on a dirt-track and let the four-wheelers use you as ramp?”

I shook my head. 
“
No
, Samuel.”  I wasn’t about to give up any details about
where
I was,
whom
I was with, and certainly not
what
the heck we were doing.

“Aside from the dirt,
nothin’
seems to suit you.  I expected to find you moping around the house…but then I saw you come a runnin’ round the bend with a smile plastered on your face…A smile like I haven’t seen since you were a little girl and would get a new toy.  You look happy.  Almost burstin’ with joy.”

I kind of felt offended by Samuel’s observation. 
Is he trying to insinuate that I’m not mourning my father properly?
  I was a wreck on the inside, but a whole new world had been revealed to me, whether I liked it or not.  A world with unlimited opportunities that would allow me to have what I wanted more than anything else —
Lazarus Xcavare’s head!

“Samuel, don’t think for one second
that I’m not devastated by Daddy’s passing!” I snapped.

Samuel cut me off quickly.  “
No, Shiloh
…that’s
not
what I meant.  Boy, you women like to read things into what us men say.” He patted the empty spot beside him on the porch swing.  “Come over here and sit down.”

Feeling a bit ashamed
about my assumption, I lowered my head and plopped down on the swing beside my surrogate father.  Samuel threw his arm around me, and I nuzzled my head against his shoulder.

“What I was
trying
to say was simply, whatever you’re doing to ease your grief…
do it
.  You don’t need to be sulking around the house, wishing for one more moment with Caiden.  Your father wouldn’t want that, and I don’t either.”

I could see how concerned he was
when I tilted my head up and looked into his warm brown eyes.

He continued, “Shiloh, you have a glow about you.  I can’t explain it, but you definitely have one.”  Samuel’s voice grew solemn and serious.  “I know all too well how you can spend yo
ur life pining for someone who’s only a memory to you.”  I watched a small tear take form in the corner of his eye.

I thought to myself,
His wife…Sarah
.

“
When they leave without warning…Well, let’s just say your emotions can haunt you into your darkest of hours…
or
you can choose to live each day enjoying what the world has in store for you.  You always take what you get, but hope each day is brighter than the last.  All I’m saying, Shiloh, is…
don’t do it the way I did for so long
.  The most valuable thing in the world is time.  Don’t waste it and don’t shut the people you love out of your life.  Don’t ever take
anything
for granted.  That’s the thing about
time
…you never know when yours is up.”

Samuel’s words were comforting, but they did give rise to some guilt, forcing me to acknowledge
that I’d been tuning everyone out these last few days. 
Samuel, Katie, and even Ty
.  I’d thrown myself into this new world without telling anyone what I’d been doing or why.  But I couldn’t. 
Even if I could
…
what would I say?  Hey guys…I’m sorry for shuttin’ all of y’all out.  I know y’all have been so worried about me, but I haven’t had the time.  I’ve been too busy tryin’ to sharpen my new supernatural skills that I got from this glowin’ diamond wand out back.  I’ll make myself more available after I take care of Lazarus Xcavare and avenge my father.  Please accept my apologies…
I don’t think so!

I gave Samuel a pec
k on the cheek and hugged him.  “I promise, Samuel.  I’ll be more present and not close myself off from everyone…
especially you
.”

“
Good
.  Then you can start by telling me what you’ve been doing?  Nothing
illegal
, I hope.  I bet Officer Ryan would love to haul your butt down to the jail after whippin’ his tail the way you did the other day.”

“I’m sure he would, but nothing illegal. 
I promise
.”  My smile turned into a serious stare as I swayed on the rocker and thought quietly,
Nothing illegal yet, but I’m pretty sure killing someone still falls under the category of a crime, whether they’re a supernatural being or not
.

Samuel wasn’t giving up. 
It was obvious that I was daydreaming about something.  He poked me with his elbow.  “Is it a
boy?
”

I was surprised by his assumption.  Samuel took my expression the wrong way, and in a typical “fatherly” fashion, h
e continued his interrogation.

“Don’t tell me it’s that
Mike Riverside
from the other night.  I saw the way he was lookin’ at you…Caiden was right.  I should’ve brought Bessie Mae with me!”

I started laughing at the
mental image of Samuel going after Mike Riverside with “Bessie Mae”, the affectionate name he used when referring to his double-barrel shotgun.

“No, no, no! 
Absolutely not!
  Not on his best day…or my worst!”

Samuel let out a sigh.  “That’s a relief.”

Next thing we knew, my mother’s Cadillac was pulling up to the house.  Once she had parked, Charlotte and Chloe hopped out of the car giggling and carrying a slew of shopping bags.  They were all from various stores in Bluefield.  There was even a small tote bag stamped,
Vance Travel Agency
.

Samuel pointed over to the terrible-twosome. 
“See, Shiloh.  Everybody handles grief…in
different
ways.”  He shook his head and threw Charlotte a dirty look.  Clearly he was just as riled by her behavior as I was.  I’d kind of hoped she was
truly
saddened by Daddy’s passing, but considering all of her indiscretions that had recently come to light, I suspected it was more wishful thinking on my part.

Charlotte and Chloe seemed beside themselves wit
h joy as they scurried up the steps. 
What are they so happy about?
  Neither of them made any attempt to speak to us.  As Charlotte entered the house, I called out, “Chloe, what’s going on?”

I noticed a twinkle in
my little sister’s eyes when she turned our way.  Chloe placed her shopping bags down on the porch and then tossed her raven hair back as she flashed me a haughty smirk.