I opened my eyes and my dad was smiling. “Good job honey,” he said, resting a kind hand on my shoulder.
“You think you’ll be okay to go to the party?” my mom asked.
“Yeah, it only seems to happen when I channel a lot of power, but I didn’t channel any power?” I scratched my head looking at the bracelet. “Oh no…I don’t…oh God…do I?” I threw my hands to my head and ran to the mirror in the bathroom. I sighed relieved when I saw my normal streaks in the front – two on each side. Cameron came up behind me and handed me another mirror, and then turned me around. Yep, there it was, another blue streak down the back. “Damn it!” Cameron tried to hide her smile. I glared at her.
“It’s not that bad.”
“Is everything okay?” my mom asked concerned.
“Fine,” I mumbled, getting an ‘oh,’ gasp when I walked past her.
“Well that’s new,” my dad said
“Yeah, I’m getting used to it,” I sighed, falling on the bed.
“Does this mean you got a new power?”
“No, just a new streak. I glow, I get a streak,” I pointed to my hair.
My dad rubbed his chin and looked at me like I was some kind of science experiment. Sensing an inquisition I wasn’t ready for, Cameron came to my rescue. “How about we worry about it later?” She linked her arm through mine pulling me off the bed. “I’m in the mood for a party.”
When we got to the car, my mom pulled me aside. “Are you sure you’re okay? If you’re not up to it you can stay home. I’m sure Xander will understand.”
“Honestly mom, I’m fine.”
She put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Ella, I felt a lot of hostility and…heartache,” she looked at me with sadness in her eyes. “What happened in Ireland?” she asked softly.
“Now is not the time,” I snapped. She recoiled from the harshness in my voice. I opened my mouth to say sorry, but nothing came out.
“I know,” was all she said before wrapping her arms around me. “When you’re ready, you let me know.” I nodded. That was the best I could give her.
“Girls, there will be plenty of time for hugging later. We’re going to be late,” my dad complained. I rolled my eyes and got in the car beside Cameron. “Seriously Jamila, you’re smothering them. No wonder they always want to leave.” My mom gawked at my dad and I could see the slightest smile tug at the corner of his lips.
“Oh dad,” I shook my head. He was on his own for that one. I knew my mom wanted to give it to my dad for his comment – joke or not – but with Cameron in the car she kept her cool.
When we arrived at the club I heard my mom whisper to my dad, “Keep it up and you’ll be sleeping on the couch.” I tried to hide my laugh but was unsuccessful. My dad turned around and glared at me. I quickly wiped the smile from my face.
I paused just inside the hall doors. I was not ready when we arrived. Most of everyone that would be there was from our side of the family since Jasa said she really didn’t have any. I hadn’t seen my extended family in a while and wasn’t quite sure I was ready to face them. Knowing what we were and what they are, how was I supposed to act? Not to mention I was sure the rumors of my latest escapades were floating around and I wasn’t in the mood to answer questions. I also wasn’t sure what I could and couldn’t say .There would be a lot of Xander and Dad’s colleagues and friends there and I was sure they weren’t all supernatural.
Before we walked inside I pulled my mom aside. “Hey mom, so..um,” I started, not sure how to come out with it.
“Not everyone in there is a vampire,” she said smiling.
“Wait, how’d you?”
“I’m your mother, remember,” she winked. “And as far as everyone else here is concerned, we are all human.” She took my hand and squeezed it, leading me inside with her.
I held my breath and let out a small gasp as soon as we stepped through the doors. I’d never seen the club so decked out before. All different types of Lilies on the tables with candles lit up encircling the vases. The table clothes were white with lace draped over them, chairs in a tacky gold cloth that tied into a bow in the back, sparkly lights, crystal, and the highest quality china you could find anywhere. “Wow Danni, you did all this?” I asked.
“Well, Cameron helped,” she said.
“Everything looks great, well everything except the gold clothed chairs,” I cringed.
“Yeah, not my choice,” Danni said, making a face.
“You sure you wanna do this?” I asked her.
“Gonna have to face it sooner or later. Why not start now?” she said braver than I would have. We both braced ourselves as we stepped into the swarm of people – plastering on our best fake smiles. I was attacked the minute I ascended the stairs; Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, family friends and colleagues. I barely got a word in and most of what I said was, ‘this is my friend Cameron’ and ‘Yes, I’m doing well.’
A few of Xander’s buddies hit on me, saying how ‘grown up’ I looked. I bit my tongue, smiled, and ignored their, not always, so subtle attempts at flirting. It was getting harder to keep up the charade with all the nasty thoughts they were thinking. One of his friends was contemplating bending me over a table somewhere in the back. I couldn’t help myself. I smacked him hard on the arm, gave him a nasty look, and stomped off leaving him wondering what the hell just happened.
Xander saw the mixed expressions on his friend’s faces and walked over to me. “What the hell is going on?” he spat accusingly.
“What is going on is that your friends are a bunch of perverts,” I pointed, glaring over Xander’s shoulder at them.
He turned around and laughed, shrugging his shoulders, and dismissing my weird behavior. When he turned back to me his smile faded and he pushed me out the door. “Okay, tell me what happened and I want to know the truth. If they did or said anything to make you feel uncomfortable I will handle it,” he said in a sincere brotherly tone.
“No one said anything, really.” He looked at me confused. I rolled my eyes knowing this would bite me in the ass. “I heard what they were thinking,” I tapped my head.
“Jesus Ella, seriously,” he threw his hands up frustrated.
“Okay, I know, but Xander you should have heard Zach. The details of what he wanted to do with his…thing and…me.” I shuddered at the last thought he had.
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Zach is a dick and I’m sorry you had to hear that, but Ella, you have to be more careful,” he stressed.
“I know, I know. It’s not easy you know.”
“I’m sorry,” he sighed. His face softened and he looked at me. “Just avoid them if you can.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
He pulled me closer to him for a hug and I relaxed a little. “I’ll just say…you had a spasm or something.”
“Oh great,” I laughed. He smiled at me before he headed back inside. I decided to stay outside and enjoy some of the fresh air. Lately, it wasn’t so often I got a few moments to myself so I wanted to take the time and enjoy the quiet. The swarm of people and all their thoughts were overwhelming. I was just starting to get a handle on that power. I haven’t had a chance to test it with so many people in one room. Most of my family had their minds automatically closed off, but for the rest of our guests it would take over and become an over load. Anytime anyone would open the door to sneak around the side to smoke I would get an explosion of conversations colliding inside my head.
My head started to hurt and I rubbed my temples hoping for some relief. To my surprise the relief came in a large glass filled with champagne. “I thought you could use this,” Danni said, handing me a glass. I took the flute and gulped down it’s contents in one sip. “That bad, huh?”
I looked around to make sure no one else was around. “How much do you actually know about all the vampire stuff?”
“Well, I guess the basics, why?”
“Nothing…I just…”
“Having a hard time adjusting
?”
“Something like that,” I sighed.
“We all have our own demons. Yours is more in the literal sense.”
“I’m not a demon,” I said, pouting and she laughed.
“I didn’t mean you specifically. I guess what I meant to say was when something’s new it’s hard in the beginning, but you’ll get through it. I know you will,” she smiled and squeezed my hand. “You ready to go back in or do you need some more time?”
“I just need a few more minutes.”
“Okay, I guess I should go back in.”
“You don’t have to. You can stay.”
“Like I said, we all have our own demons and mine is in there,” she smiled bravely as she reentered the room.
I spent about another fifteen minutes outside and then made my way back in. I needed to learn how to get a grip on my power and it was as good a time as any to try. I thought back to my powers class, remembering the breathing techniques. I took a few deep breaths and mentally prepared myself before I reentered the party.
I managed to slip back in without anyone stopping me. I sat down at the table with Dean who was already on his third glass of scotch and Cameron who seemed bored out of her mind. “You doing okay?” I asked her. I couldn’t imagine that this was any fun for her.
“Yeah,” she smiled genuinely. “Your family is…interesting.”
“To say the least,” I smiled back, nudging her with my elbow. Cameron gave me a small laugh, letting me know she was doing alright.
“Ella Alexandra McCallister,” called a familiar and warming voice.
I turned around and sure enough there she was. My smile grew as I jumped out of my chair. “Grandma Bea,” I shrieked, throwing my arms around her. She was my favorite grandmother. I didn’t see her much because she was always traveling. Saying she needed to see the world before her time was up. Knowing what I knew now, I was curious as to how old she really was.
“That I will never tell,” she winked. I was about to ask her how when I realized of course she could read minds. She was my father’s mother. “So you know,” she said, squeezing my shoulders and I nodded.
“How long are you here for?” I asked a little desperately. Seeing her made me not want to let her go. I missed her so much and needed her around, for little while at least.
“You know I don’t like to stay in one place for too long,” she smiled, but then her smile faded when she saw my expression.
“Right,” I said sighing.
She reached up and touched my cheek gently. “I might make an exception if a certain little bumble bee needs me.”
“I don’t want to ruin your plans.”
Her hand slipped down to my chin and she cupped it, lifting my head to meet her eyes. “Hush. Nothing is more important than my family. Especially my little bumble bee,” she said, kissing my cheek. I hugged her again before she turned her attention to Dean. “Dean Patrick, you better get up and give me a hug. I’m old you know, if I bend down I might not get back up.”
I laughed as Dean got up to give her a hug. “Hi Grandma Bea,” he said, smiling for the first time tonight. Grandma Bea kind of had that effect on everyone. She pinched his cheeks making him blush and then stole his drink. He opened his mouth to protest, but she gave him her always stern, don’t mess with grandma look. I tried to hide my smile as I pulled out a chair for her. Dean signaled for the waiter to bring him another drink and told him to make it a double.
“So what’s this fiancé like?” Grandma Bea asked.
“She’s nice,” I said.
“Just nice, what’s wrong with her?” she asked, knowing full well I was holding something back.
I shrugged. “I just don’t know her all that well,” I said.
“But?” she pushed.
“But I kind of have this weird feeling. It’s probably nothing. Just me being silly,” I smiled. I never told anyone about the strange feeling I got around Jasa. I just figured at first it was a natural instinct. Sort of like the protective sister coming out in me, but when the feeling slowly started to grow I decided to keep a cautious eye on her. I kept it to myself because I didn’t want to start trouble in case I was overreacting.
Grandma Bea slid her seat closer to mine and leaned in. “Always trust your gut. Even if you think it’s nothing, always trust your instincts,” she said, staring straight into my eyes. “Promise me Ella.”
“I promise.” I smiled, feeling a slight twinge in my stomach.
“Great,” she said, finishing off her drink. “Now, who is this lovely lady?” she looked at Cameron.
“Oh, I’m sorry Gran. This is our friend Cameron from school.”
“Hello Cameron, it’s very nice to meet you.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too Mrs.?”
“Please, call me Grandma Bea, everyone else does.” They smiled politely at each other as Gran shook her hand. Gran eyed Cameron suspiciously and then her smile grew. I eyed her, prompting her to let me know what was going on. She just smiled back at me and told Dean to sit up straight.
Danni finally made her way back to our table and looked just about as happy as I did when she saw Gran. “Grandma Bea!” she cheered, throwing her arms around her. The smell of her breath and the flopping of her arms told me Danni was facing her demons with a fifth of alcohol. I sighed knowing it was going to be a long night.
“My precious Danni, how are you and that adorable little girl of yours?”
“I’m fine, she’s fine,” Danni said nonchalantly, taking another glass from a tray as one of the waiters walked by. I stood up and took the glass from her hand. She frowned but didn’t argue with me.
“You cannot lie to me dear,” Gran said, wagging her finger at Danni.
“I never could,” Danni smiled bashfully. “But now is not the time.”
“Well it looks like I made it back in the nick of time,” Gran said, looking between me, Dean, and Danni. I gave her a fishy look and she just patted my shoulder. “Well I guess I should go introduce myself. Ella, Dean, help me up, will you?” With a grunt, Dean helped her up and I walked over with her to meet Jasa.
Xander gave Gran a great big hug before he introduced her. Gran smiled politely at Jasa, but I knew Gran had her suspicions about her as just as much as I did. I nudged Gran and she just played it off with one her warming smiles, but Gran couldn’t fool me. She might be able to put on a poker face for everyone else, but I knew all her tell signs – after all she was the one who taught me. I made a mental note to grill her about it later.
Gran didn’t hang around Jasa too long and I couldn’t figure out why, but I did notice she had an uncomfortable look on her face that was very hard to disguise. “Gran, are you okay?” Xander asked and I thought the same thing.
“Yes, yes honey, I’m fine. Where’s your father?”
“He’s around here somewhere?” Xander said, craning his neck.
“I believe I saw him over by the bar talking to the Hendricks,” Jasa said, making Gran shiver.
“I’ll help you find him,” I said, gripping her arm. Once we were out of earshot, I leaned down close. “Gran, what’s really going on? You don’t look so good.”
“Nonsense bumble bee. Don’t worry your pretty little head. It’s nothing a stiff drink can’t fix,” she said, trying to make me feel better, but it didn’t lessen my concern.
When we found my dad she pulled him aside to talk to him in private. They snuck behind a curtain where they felt no one could see or hear them. Curiosity piqued, I tried to slyly sneak over and get close enough so I could eavesdrop. Unfortunately they were speaking Gaelic and the little I knew was not enough to decipher their conversation, but I still tried. I didn’t need to know what they were saying to know this conversation was getting very heated very quickly.
Gran was shaking her fist at dad, growing hot with rage. I’d never seen her so angry before and the seriousness of her tone was startling. Dad was not one to keep his temper which was surprising to see how calm he w
as. His shoulders tensed and I knew I spoke too soon. He grabbed Gran’s wrist, leaned down close to her face and growled. I was about to interrupt, but then I would expose myself and it was not wise to piss off my dad more than he already was.
Gran ripped her hand away from dad and slapped him across the face showing she did not appreciate him acting that way. I gasped and quickly covered my mouth, hiding deeper inside the curtain. I heard a slight shift in my dad’s feet. Silence fell and I wondered what happened. A breeze blew the curtain and I froze in place. I thought for sure I was busted. I counted to ten before I peered back out from behind the curtain. My dad was gone, but Gran was still there with her back to me. I waited a few minutes to see if she would rejoin the party, but when she didn’t move I got a little worried.
I bit my nails, waiting for the right moment to approach her. She gripped the wall and clenched her heart with her hand. “Grandma Bea!” I shouted, running to her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing sweetheart,” she padded her chest. “Just my old ticker,” she smiled. “Sometimes takes a bit to keep up with the rest of me,” she winked.
“Gran, sit down,” I insisted.
“No need to make such a fuss.”
“Sit,” I said, moving a chair over to her with the wiggle of my finger.
She smirked at me and had a seat. “I see you get your stubbornness from your father.”
“Give me your hand,” I said, holding out mine. I placed her hand over my heart and then mine over hers. I closed my eyes and concentrated on healing her; all her aches and pains, her ailments, and everything else that might be bothering her.
As soon as I felt it start to work she pulled away from me. “Ella dear, no,” she said, shaking her head. “I appreciate it, but this isn’t something you can fix with magic.”
“Sure it is, watch.” I put my hand back over her heart.
She pulled my hand away and held it in hers. “Thank you, but this is a part of life. You need to understand that. You need to know your magic is a gift and is not to be used recklessly.”
Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) Page 20