The Strange Apprentice- Book One

Chapter 6

Monday afternoon I got home a little worried. I couldn't eat. I couldn't focus. I just walked around my living room, probably for hours. I had felt something terrible and i wasn't dealing with that properly. Something terribly wrong was about to happen and not only i didn't know what it was, as i wasn't sure if i was going to be able to stop it. At least by myself. Earlier that day, i had the impression I was being followed. All day I felt like someone was watching me . It was a man. Tall ,black hoodie covering his face, black jeans and sneakers. I first noticed him in the morning on the train. On my way to school I managed to mislead him. I turned on a dark alley and waited behind the dumpster. He lost me, and continued his way through the main street. When i hid behind the dumpster i managed to get a glimpse at his face. It looked human but it didn't seem much alive. There they were. These tchills again. Someone was keeping an eye on me, and it wasn't human. While I was walking in circles in my room I feared for my parents life's. What if this... thing, was planning to harm them? What if it had something to do with my grandfather?. But that wasn't even the worst. My erratic behavior was starting to come up and Doc was starting to notice that something was up. He asked me about it once but i changed the subject. I know that in the past few months me and Doc had become closer but I didn't wasn't to involve him in this, at least not yet, i don't need his judging on how i should have been more careful, and that i should have told him right away.

After that day, nothing really was the same. I felt a dark presence nearby, every time i walked out on the street. I was starting to get paranoid over the smallest things. I knew i had to do something but i couldn't trust a lot of people.

There was only one place where I felt safe. The Sanctum. I really grew accustomed to that place and I was really starting to feel at home there.But hey, there was a silver lining to all of this.

A few days later after the day i first started being followed, i was entering the Sanctum for my practice and I felt a calling. I didn't hear anything but it was coming from somewhere in the house. That's when i saw one of the relics glowing. Remember when i told you about the green emerald stone that had caught my eye? That same relic was glowing, like calling for me.It glowed brighter as i approached. I got closer to the glass when i suddenly heard a voice behind me:

- The Talisman of Abraxas- Doc declared. I got scared, jumped and turned back immediately when i saw him with that smirk of his. He had done it on purpose:

- Jesus Doc, you really have to stop doing that. So what is this thing anyways?

-The Talisman of Abraxas has the power to turn an erratic and troubled state of mind, like fear, nerves, anger into a peaceful state of mind.

-So basically, it calms you down?

- Correct, and looks like it chose you to be his carrier.

- Are you sure about this?

- Well it wasn't glowing because of me I guarantee it. It is very helpful when it comes to demons because it allows you to escape their detection. They respond to fear and anger. Sounds like something you might need eventually.

I took the stone out of the glass box. A black thread appeared piercing, making it look like a normal necklace. I put it on and i have never taken that off since. It has protect me from my "secret admirer", calming down and keeping my head in the game. It was a proud moment for me, my own relic. For a moment everything looked great.

Short after that,a few days later in school, the weirdest thing happened. Well, everywhere you go there is always the people you like, the people, you tolerate, the people you don't like, and then there are those you just simply can't stand. That type of people that only need to open their mouth, and you already feel like punching them in the face. For me it was this guy called John Constantine. I hated the guy, I couldn't stand looking at him, and even less talking to him. He is an Exchange student from London and thinks that can charm every girl with his sweet talk. What a tool . All the girls fall for his cockiness, his trick talk, his massive ego and for his lies. He is taking the criptology course, we don't tend to see each other a lot so we don't talk much. You can imagine how surprised I was when he came to talk to me. I was putting my books in my locker when he appeared next to me:

- Good morning sunshine- pathetic. That's how he greeted all the girls in college.

- Look! It's John "Can't keep it in his pants" Constantine! What's wrong? Have you already slept with all the girls in this school, or did you just got tired of the dumb ones?

- Haha classic Casey! No i was just passing by, and i saw that beautiful necklace of yours. Where did you get it?

- Non of your business.

- Come on, just tell me, love! I'm not going to steal it from you!

- It was a gift.

- From that special someone?

-What do you care? Don't tell me you're jealous!- Of course he wasn't, i just wanted him to get off my hair.

- Maybe. it's a bloody shame love. Two beautiful people like us should hang out more often, i know i can show a girl a good time...- I got a little clumsy. I really wasn't expecting this.

-Yeah, I know, in fact, everybody knows and i'm not realy interested... plus that's not why you came to talk to me.

- Beautiful and smart... now i really am jealous! Honestly, If i knew there were birds like you in America, i would have come sooner.

I was growing impatient with all this small talk:

-What do you want, Constantine?

- I understand that you are dealing with a personal problem right now and i would like to offer my services.

I got worried. Did he knew who i was? Did he knew about the stuff i could do? I wonder if he had recognized my talisman. I responded in not a very polite way:

- Really?- i asked sarcastically- and who told you that I had problems?

- No one, I assumed!- ok, now i was really getting worried. How could i be that transparent? I had been working extremely hard since i had found out about my stalker to hide my other side, i thought i was making it.

- Really? You assumed? Alright then assume this. I don't have problems, and even if i had, they were none of your business and i certainly wouldn't ask for your help!

- We will see about that love, in the mean time just know I am available for helping with whatever you need- he said with a mocking tone- and i really mean anything- he whispered in my ear while he touched my shoulder- see you around!

He left my side and walked away, probably for class. I wasn't supposed to feel bothered by him, but something wasn't adding up. When he touched me i felt chills going up and down my spine and the sound of his voice in my hear echoed for the rest of the day, his breath on my neck gave me warm feeling that stayed that way for a long time. I didn't know what was going on with me, but it wasn't normal. I rushed to class as i remembered our talk. Something wasn't right. Things were going to go terribly wrong at some point, and i was pretty sure he had something to do with it. When the lesson ended i caught Lyla outside, seeing herself in the mirror on her locker ( she is kind of a diva ):

-What's up, Lyla?

- Hey Casey. Hey i saw you rushing to class last period. I tried to talk you but you didn't listen.

- Sorry I was late for class.

- You? Late? You are never late for class, or for anything!

- Yeah it was a one time thing, don't stress about it.

We continued talking for a while before I had went home. When I was on the train I saw my stalker again. My talisman did his job and calmed me down, and went home looking forward to my nest practice on the next day.