THE TALISMANS

the necklace

Christine waved at Gareth as he drove out of her street. She sighed and went straight to her room. She Layed on the bed and thought about all the weird things she was seeing and the scary nightmares. It would be an understatement to say she was frustrated.

Knock, knock.

Christine looked at the door and shouted. "Come in".

Her mother came in holding a cup of juice. She was dressed in a casual wear as usual.

"Grandma's here. Why don't you go meet her and tell her all about your dream". She took a sip from the orange juice. Christine sighed .

"Thanks mum. I'll tell her all about it." She stood up from her bed. She pecked her mother's cheek and went out the open door.

"Grandma!" She hugged the old woman who smiled in return.

"How have you been child. You've grown so much". Her grandma squeezed her cheeks.

"Grandma stop, I'm not a baby anymore." She wriggled her cheeks to release it from her grandma's hand.

"Come on Christine, walk with me".

She followed her grandma to the garden at the back of the house. They both sat watching the works of mother nature.

"You know there's a time I won't be here and you won't see me to ask questions from".

Christine's heart sank. Her grandmother was talking about death. ”you are not dying now grandma. You still have many years ahead of you".

Her grandmother smiled. "Young hearts, always trying to cheat death".

Christine rolled her eyes. Her grandma was always talking in parables.

"So tell me about this dream of yours". Her grandmother faced her and trailed her hands on her hair.

Christine narrated all she had been dreaming about and how she always felt that someone was watching her.

Her grandma sighed after her dear lovely grand daughter finished telling her story.

"Sometimes Christine, things aren't always what they seem to be. Sometimes you see what you want to see. And that's common for mortals".

Christine stared at her grandma. She called the world mortal like she was an immortal and not mortal her self.

"You see that tree". Her grand mother pointed at a dead tree that had been caught off to half it's size.

Christine nodded.

"What do you think about the tree?".

Christine stared at the tree in disgust. "It's ugly and dead".

He grandma nodded. "That's the way you see it on the outside. That's why we are called mortals. Why don't you check what it looks like on the inside".

Christine stood up and walked to the tree. She bent towards it's height and scraped of the face. She gasped. "The inner skin was beautiful. It looked like someone had drawn different things on it. She could make out a picture shaped like a waterfall".

"Come sit child. So tell me. What do you think about it now".

"It's beautiful" Christine replied.

"Yes my child, it is isn't it."

"But how does this help me with my dream". Christine asked.

"That's a good question Christine. It doesn't help at all does it. Some dreams are best left undiscovered. You'll figure it out by yourself soon or later."

Christine sighed. This was useless.

"Oh that reminds me". Christine watched her grandmother take of the necklace she had seen her wear for ages. She even doubted she ever took it of.

"What are you doing". She asked.

"I'm doing something I should have some a long time ago. Hopefully it should help reduce the nightmares. But not totally stop it. Now come let me put it on you". Her grandmother clipped it around her neck.

"What's this called". She asked.

"It's called a talisman my dear. And never take it of under any circumstances. Am I clear. Promise me you would never take it of no matter what". Christine could sense the danger in her grandmother's voice. Is sounded like something would happen if she takes it off.

"I won't grand mother, I promise".

Her grandma nodded." Let's get back inside. It's time for me to go home".

Christine held out the necklace pendant, the drawing of the pendant looked like a waterfall and a girl controlling the water. "Weird carvings why not go for volleyball instead". She muttered.

*********

Arthur came out of his car and headed into the house.

"What took you so long Arthur, I was scared to death". His mother shouted immediately she saw him.

"Calm down mum. Put the spatula down. And I'll talk". His mother sighed and put down the spatula on the kitchen table.

"So, I'm listening".

"I visited a friend, I had no idea I was getting late. And then again the traffic was bad".

"Don't you lie to me Arthur prudence Truaman, I called all your friends and they told me you left in the middle of a class. You even disrespected your teacher when she called you back".

"I did what!?", Arthur asked stunned. "I didn't even leave the class. How could I have disrespected a teacher".

"You tell me!, You know I'm starting to think I should send you back to your cousins".

"No mum. I swear I'll change. Anywhere but not Nico's place. The guy smells like gut".

His mother shaked her head sideways. "I've told you to stop talking about people like that Arthur. How would Nico feel knowing his cousin brother said he smells like gut".

"I'm sorry". Arthur said and picked up a meatball. His mother tapped his hands with the spatula.

"I told you never to touch something eatable with dirty hands Arthur. Wash your hands before you touch my food".

"No Fair mum. I'll just take a little bite".

"Yeah you can, but first wash your hands.

"But Mom the sink is way over there. And I'm way over here".

"You lazy brat. Go wash your hands or no dinner." His mother frowned. he shrugged and walked to the sink.

"So what kind of gift will you get me for my upcoming birthday". Arthur asked as they sat around the dinning table.

"No talking while eating. And besides you said it yourself. It's upcoming, so it means I still have time to think of a gift to give you".

"Just so you know. I don't want underwears this time". Arthur said and stuffed his mouth with spaghetti.

"Maybe I'll get you something worse than that If you don't keep your mouth shut. How about that". His mother said and Arthur kept quiet. They eat in silence.

***************

Robert ran into the woods and the monsters kept chasing. He wondered how they found him. The Rena drink was supposed to cover his saint but it only made it worse. It seemed like the monster hated the smell.

"You stop there boy. Stop now". A monster growled as he continued running.

He was almost out of breath when he sighted a cottage at the far end of the trail. He ran towards it but looked back when he noticed the monster wasn't pursuing him anymore.

"What happened you twits, can't you run any more". He shouted and

the monster growled. "Come here and say it boy and we will see who's tired".

Robert noticed the smell of magic. The monster couldn't get to the cottage cause the cottage was bonded by a spell. But who would have that kind of magic that kept monsters out.

"I've been waiting for you Robert slick. Come in".

He turned back and saw a woman maybe in her eighties or so.

"Who are you". He asked still looking between the angry monster and the old woman.

"I am Nora my dear. Nora wright". The old woman answered.

Robert gasped "you mean you're Nora. Like the talisman with the power to control water and stuff*.

The old woman nodded.

"How come you're alive". The question made the old woman flinch.

"Do you want me dead Robert"?.

"No of course not". Robert scratched his head. "It's just that in the books, they said no one survived". Robert answered.

the old woman smiled. "that's what we wanted them to believe, I'm the last one alive the rest are dead". Her look turned pale and Robert immediately regretted asking.

"I'm sorry if I brought back old memories. But why are you here and not with your family".

"Here reminds me of who I was and the friends I made, it reminds of who I was in the past".

"Aren't you scared the monsters would attack".

The old woman smirked, making her dried lips look more thin.

"They should be scared of me. I might be old but I aren't powerless. Right Troas". She shouted at the monster who growled out a response.

"Who do you think have him that big scar on his head".

Robert hadn't noticed it but when he looked at the monster, well he saw the big scar that stood out from others. it looked like a huge bowling ball. Was thrown at him.

"You really did that. I thought monsters were supposed to vaporize. Like turn into dust".

"Not all monsters vaporize dear. Now come in, enough of the silly questions"

Robert followed her into the cottage. He gasped. The interior looked bigger than it was outside. Many magic books and potions were scattered around a table, the room stinked of magic and old women stuff.

"You need to get ready, Otis is already waking. His staring up from sleep and the journey ahead is very deadly"

"What do you mean by Otis is waking". Robert asked.

"I can't go into all the details Robert. You'll need to find that out yourself".

"How do I find the rest, my magic doesn't walk well here. I can't conjure them, I already tried".

The old woman smiled. "This world is different from the one you know.

Magic doesn't walk that way. But I'm here to help.

You'll get admitted into a school,

They all attend the same school so you don't need to find them".

"But I don't go to school. I'm supposed to be a magician now. I can't go back to school again".

"Listen young mind. The school you went too is different from the one here so don't worry you won't have any problems with it. And by the way you'll have to be ready, the others will be hard to convince".

"I know my father already told me mortals can't see beyond the mist so i came ready". Robert boasted.

"You'll need a lot more than that Robert. They are also enemies and when I say enemies. I mean enemies". The old woman said.

********

Carolyn drove into her father's mansion she parked and opened the front door then headed to her room. Her room was painted in pink all through. The curtains were down and the pictures of her family were by the bed stand.

She walked to the mirror and rubbed the necklace her mother gave her the night she died. Her mother had made her promise not to ever take it of, the drawing on the pendant was a tornado. She'd often wondered why the Carver went for a tornado out of every options.

She sighed and slept in her bed. She turned and twisted but the sleep wasn't coming. Going to a night party won't hurt right. Just to pass away time. She stood up from her bed and searched through her closet for a dress suitable for a party.

"Perfect". she brought out a knee length black gown that showed off her hips. "This will do". She muttered.

***********

Arthur and his mother both sat in the living room watching TV.

"Do you think Dad will ever come back for us". Arthur asked his gaze fixed on the TV.

His mother swallowed. "Of course Arthur we should have hope. He'll come back for us".

"I want him to come to my birthday Mom. I'm going to be eighteen in a few days. Call him and tell him to come. You said he picks your calls right". Arthur waited for his mother's answer.

A lump formed in her throat, how does she get out of this, the poor boy deserves to know where his father is. "Uhhm. Let's talk about other things Arthur I'm sure your father would come at the right time".

Arthur nodded not satisfied with his mother's answer, he could feel it. She was hiding something from him.

"You know you can tell me anything mother right, I'll be here for you".

His mother nodded. "I know Arthur, you'll be always here for me. Your grandfather told me to give you something when you turn eighteen but I think I'll give you now."

He watched his mother stand up and walk towards the cabinet.

That cabinet and always been locked. He could remember when he was little and tried opening it. He tried all the keys he could find in the house but the cabinet had a mind of its own. It never opened. So how was he's mother going to open it.

He watched in awe as his mother just rubbed the lock and it came undone. What, was it that simple all this years he tried everything he could think of and this necklace just opened with a rub of the fingers.

His mother picked out a necklace.

She came back to him. "This necklace belonged to your grandfather. He made me promise to give you".

She wore the necklace on him. Arthur admired it. The drawing made it more attractive. It was a drawing of a sword in flames.

"Now you have to promise me not to take it of, never take it off".

"I won't" he answered immediately. "It's to attractive so I won't take it off".

"Now I need you to make another promise to me". His mother folded her arms.

"What promise" Arthur asked.

"Promise me you won't go out this night Arthur. Promise me. I don't want you getting hurt."

"I won't Arthur". answered.

"I don't believe you Arthur, I mean it you won't go out this night".

"Okay mum, I won't".

He's mother narrowed her eyes at him.

"I won't mum, I promise".

"Okay Arthur, I'm of to bed. Make sure you turn off the TV Before you go to sleep".

"Okay mum I will". His mother headed to her bedroom.

A call came in on Arthur's phone.

yo Arthur, I'm having a party at my place you interested?

na man sorry, promised my mum I'm not going out tonight

hey guys look who's become a Mama's boy. the caller shouted and Arthur heard rumblings of laughter.