Read Online The Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brenda Pandos
Ads: Link
true fact.
“If I’d have known you had the gift so soon, I would have found you and taught you how to use it. Maybe you’re different. Maybe you’ve been given the tools to defend yourself.”
I cried softly on her shoulder.
“Tools? I don’t think so. By luck Nicholas came into my life and he kept them away from me. And now he is gone, and Mom is gone, and I don’t know what to do, let alone how to handle it. I don’t want this gift anymore! I’ve never wanted it. It’s cost me everything …”
“Dear, child.” Grandma patted my back. “You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s okay. I’m here.”
I tried not to completely fall apart, keeping my shoulders stiff and holding most of my tears in. But Grandma had guessed right. The responsibility behind the prophecy haunted me any chance it got. I couldn’t just live my life in peace and ignore it. The vampires would always be there, hunting me. And even worse, if I had a daughter … “I’m just so tired.”
“I know. This is a very draining thing to deal with.”
“Is there someone we can talk to about it? Anyone?
Grandma sighed. “Not that I know of, but it’s not difficult to avoid danger, Julia. They can’t get you when you’re safe inside. They only come out at night.”
Such a ridiculous and impossible way to avoid them. “Or if you invite them in,” I added.
“Now why would you ever want to invite one in?” She handed me a coy smile.
I smiled back, her kindness finally breaking in and comforting me. If only she knew about Phil—that there were actually good vampires in the world. “Well, that’s kind of impossible to avoid being out at night, don’t you think?”
Grandma shook her head. “I’ve done if for over fifty years. People just think I’m scared of the dark.”
Killing them all off seems easier.
She smiled mysteriously as if she’d read my mind just as Dad appeared on the porch, slightly worried.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said. “But Luke isn’t feeling well, so I’m going to run him to the hotel. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” I said, kind of wishing I could go, too. But the thought of Luke heaving and the small space we were staying in changed my mind.
“Oh, the poor boy,” Grandma said. “I hope he feels better soon. I’ll keep an eye on Julia.”
I smiled as the talisman warmed on my skin. If anything, she needed me to watch over her.
As the day continued, Grandma filled me in on the missing pieces of Mom’s life, stuff Dad never talked about. Mom and I were alike in so many ways, which thrilled and scared me at the same time. But the truth became evident. We were all basically the filet mignons amongst fast food hamburgers of society, tempting vamps much more than we should. So, the prophecy, highly flawed, didn’t make sense. Other than empathy, there was nothing else present to assist when slaying vampires. Mom had become a victim, like anyone, like all the Seers before her. Maybe the talisman was the key. Thank God I had it so I could at least be outdoors at night.
The sun moved closer to the horizon, Grandma grew nervous. Dad still hadn’t returned.
“I need to be getting home,” she finally said. “Could you call me a taxi?”
“What? No. We could drive you. Let me just text Dad to see where he is.”
After another thirty minutes, he finally returned—disheveled and smelling slightly of vomit. Luke must have lost his lunch multiple times and reeked up the joint. Something fun to look forward to.
As we drove, Grandma wrung her hands, her eyes glued to the sunset all the way to the Wilshire Rest Home. At the double doors, she hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear. “Get to your hotel quickly, you hear me? Don’t tempt the devil.”
“Yes,” I whispered, then watched her walk inside.
Dad and I drove in silence, both of us completely exhausted.
“Sorry,” he finally said.
I looked at him questioningly. “Dad, it’s okay.
“If I’d have known you had the gift so soon, I would have found you and taught you how to use it. Maybe you’re different. Maybe you’ve been given the tools to defend yourself.”
I cried softly on her shoulder.
“Tools? I don’t think so. By luck Nicholas came into my life and he kept them away from me. And now he is gone, and Mom is gone, and I don’t know what to do, let alone how to handle it. I don’t want this gift anymore! I’ve never wanted it. It’s cost me everything …”
“Dear, child.” Grandma patted my back. “You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s okay. I’m here.”
I tried not to completely fall apart, keeping my shoulders stiff and holding most of my tears in. But Grandma had guessed right. The responsibility behind the prophecy haunted me any chance it got. I couldn’t just live my life in peace and ignore it. The vampires would always be there, hunting me. And even worse, if I had a daughter … “I’m just so tired.”
“I know. This is a very draining thing to deal with.”
“Is there someone we can talk to about it? Anyone?
Grandma sighed. “Not that I know of, but it’s not difficult to avoid danger, Julia. They can’t get you when you’re safe inside. They only come out at night.”
Such a ridiculous and impossible way to avoid them. “Or if you invite them in,” I added.
“Now why would you ever want to invite one in?” She handed me a coy smile.
I smiled back, her kindness finally breaking in and comforting me. If only she knew about Phil—that there were actually good vampires in the world. “Well, that’s kind of impossible to avoid being out at night, don’t you think?”
Grandma shook her head. “I’ve done if for over fifty years. People just think I’m scared of the dark.”
Killing them all off seems easier.
She smiled mysteriously as if she’d read my mind just as Dad appeared on the porch, slightly worried.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said. “But Luke isn’t feeling well, so I’m going to run him to the hotel. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” I said, kind of wishing I could go, too. But the thought of Luke heaving and the small space we were staying in changed my mind.
“Oh, the poor boy,” Grandma said. “I hope he feels better soon. I’ll keep an eye on Julia.”
I smiled as the talisman warmed on my skin. If anything, she needed me to watch over her.
As the day continued, Grandma filled me in on the missing pieces of Mom’s life, stuff Dad never talked about. Mom and I were alike in so many ways, which thrilled and scared me at the same time. But the truth became evident. We were all basically the filet mignons amongst fast food hamburgers of society, tempting vamps much more than we should. So, the prophecy, highly flawed, didn’t make sense. Other than empathy, there was nothing else present to assist when slaying vampires. Mom had become a victim, like anyone, like all the Seers before her. Maybe the talisman was the key. Thank God I had it so I could at least be outdoors at night.
The sun moved closer to the horizon, Grandma grew nervous. Dad still hadn’t returned.
“I need to be getting home,” she finally said. “Could you call me a taxi?”
“What? No. We could drive you. Let me just text Dad to see where he is.”
After another thirty minutes, he finally returned—disheveled and smelling slightly of vomit. Luke must have lost his lunch multiple times and reeked up the joint. Something fun to look forward to.
As we drove, Grandma wrung her hands, her eyes glued to the sunset all the way to the Wilshire Rest Home. At the double doors, she hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear. “Get to your hotel quickly, you hear me? Don’t tempt the devil.”
“Yes,” I whispered, then watched her walk inside.
Dad and I drove in silence, both of us completely exhausted.
“Sorry,” he finally said.
I looked at him questioningly. “Dad, it’s okay.
Similar Books
