“Ella, I wouldn't break something and not tell you. You know I would just replace it first before you even noticed.”
“True,” I laughed. I turned the frame over, carefully removed the picture, and then dumped the broken frame into the trash can. I looked around the room again making sure I had everything I needed. That's when I caught sight of the masks sitting on the window sill. “Hey, we almost forgot these,” I said handing Josie hers.
She took it and held it up to her face. “We're going to make some hot angels.”
“You ready?” I asked, double checking to make sure I had everything. She nodded and handed her suitcase off to Bob. “Josie, that's not his job.”
“Whatever,” she said, skipping down the hall to Tristan's room. Two minutes later Josie came running out with two big bottles of liquor and Tristan chasing her. She ran and hid behind Gabe and Bob, and stuck her tongue out at Tristan knowing he wouldn't have a chance in hell against the two of them.
I stifled an eye roll and walked down to the end of the hall where Tristan was standing. “You get everything you needed?” I asked.
“The important stuff,” he said, picking up a box filled with liquor bottles. I just sighed. “What?” he said innocently. “You really think I was going to leave this stuff here for someone to take. This here is a five year old bottle of Scotch and this…” he held up another bottle, “A thirty year old bottle of –”
I held up my hand. “I don't care, let's just go.”
It was close to dinner time by the time we got back to the hotel. We ordered room service again and Tristan suggested we try out the hot tub. I thought it sounded like a great idea and invited everyone to join us, even though I knew that was not what he had in mind. I felt the less time we spent alone, the least chances we had to be intimate. Not that I didn't want to be with Tristan. I did. I just wasn't ready yet, not with everything that was going on. To me it just wouldn't feel right, not now at least. So I decided to go with the whole theory of safety in numbers.
After we finished eating, I called everyone up to the room and changed into my bathing suit. One at a time I slowly dipped my feet into the hot water waiting for my body to acclimate to the heat. Tristan plopped right in not seeming to care. Getting impatient with how long I was taking, he grabbed me and pulled me in the rest of the way. I yelped and laughed as he tugged me close and kissed my lips.
“Hey guys,” Josie called, making Tristan groan.
“We're outside,” I yelled to Josie, as Tristan got out. “Where are you going?” I asked.
“To get a drink.”
We spent most of the night in the hot tub hanging out. Tristan occupied his time by getting drunk. This was definitely something we were going to have to work on. If he was going to date me then this excessive drinking would have to stop. Near the end of the night Josie and Billy kept making out, oblivious to the other people in the hot tub. After twenty minutes of listening to them swap spit, I decided to call it a night. We said goodnight to Dixon, Billy, and Josie then I changed out of my bathing suit, took a quick shower, and changed into some pajamas. “What, no penguins?” Tristan asked when I joined him in the bedroom. He had a teasing smile on his face but I still felt embarrassed.
“Shut up,” I said, pushing him down on the bed.
“I do like it when you get rough with me,” he smiled.
“Goodnight, Tristan,” I said, crawling into bed and turning the light off.
“I'm not tired yet and it's early,” he rolled over on top of me and started to kiss my neck, enticing me.
“Well I'm tired and you're drunk,” I said, trying to push him away.
“I told you, that's when I'm at my best,” he lightly flicked his tongue out with each kiss.
“Tristan stop,” I giggled.
“I could always make you, you know.” His eyes went dark and he exposed his fangs.
“Stop,” I said, pushing him away. “You know, I don't like when you do that.”
“Do what?” he asked seriously.
“That thing with your eyes, they get so dark and...I just don't like it.”
He brushed a piece of hair off of my forehead and tucked it behind my ear. “You never have to worry about me doing that to you ever again. I want you to know I hated doing it, but I had –”
“I know,” I said, caressing his face. “So, how does this whole mind control thing work? Could convince a girl to like you?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You really think I would have to brain wash you for you to go out with me?” I nodded. “I'm hurt, Ella. Honestly.”
I laughed. “Hey, it did take you a while to convince me.”
“No that was just you being stubborn.”
“I am very stubborn,” I agreed, giving him a kiss.
“Very,” he said, kissing me back. “Very,” another kiss. “Very stubborn.” I laughed as he dragged a finger down my jaw, along my neck and across my chest.
“Stop that, it tickles.” His smile grew and he pounced on me making me squeal. “Stop it!” I shouted, laughing.
All of a sudden, Gabe busted down the door. I quickly pushed Tristan off of me and sat up. “I heard a scream. Is everything okay?” he asked, surveying the room.
“Christ,” Tristan mumbled and fell back on the bed.
“Yes Gabe, everything's fine.” He nodded and walked out. I laid back down and laughed. “Oops.”
“Maybe you should go sleep in your room tonight,” Tristan said.
“No, it'll be fine. Just as long as you can keep your hands to yourself,” I teased. “How did he even hear me? I didn't even think I yelled that loud?”
“Full vamps have superior hearing.”
“Another perk,” he just nodded. “You’d think he'd be able to tell the difference.”
“Maybe he's just a perv.”
“Or maybe he's just making sure you don't defile his boss's daughter.”
“Maybe we should test that theory,” he said, rolling back over on top of me. I tried pushing him away, laughing hysterically. We heard Gabe clear his throat from the other side of the door. Tristan groaned and fell down on top of me laying his head on my chest.
I ran my fingers through his soft, thick hair. “Come on, let's get some rest.” He reluctantly got up and rolled all the way over to the other side of the bed. “Why are you so far away?”
“Cause you can't keep your hands to yourself and you keep getting us in trouble.”
“Me?” I moved closer to him.
“Ella, I told you I don't do that,” he yelled. “No Ella, stop it!”
“Tristan.” I hit him.
“You want me to do what?” he said trying to sound shocked and doing his best not to laugh.
I heard Gabe clear his throat again, uncomfortably. “Tristan, stop it,” I warned. He turned around and faced me, a big smile on his face. “You're not funny,” I said.
“I thought I was,” he said, sliding his hand behind my head and pulling me closer for a kiss. I loved when he kissed me. I could kiss those lips for hours but it would have to wait until another time. I pulled back sighing, laid my head on his chest, and closed my eyes. He kissed the top of my head and wrapped his arms around me until I fell asleep.
Chapter twenty-two
We were both woken up bright and early by the sound of my mother clearing her throat from the bedroom doorway. I sat up so fast I knocked Tristan off the bed. Even though I was fully dressed and Tristan had pajama pants on, it didn't bode well for my mom to catch us in bed together.
Tristan sprang up quickly from the floor and I caught my mother checking him out. Gross, I thought to myself. “Good morning Ella, Tristan,” she said, trying to hide her smile. “I suggest you two get dressed and meet us in the living room before your father arrives.” She turned on her heel and closed the door behind her. My cheeks burned bright red from embarrassment. I quickly got up and threw on a sweatshirt. I left Tristan in the bedroom and hurried out into the living room to meet my dad.
“I trust you slept well last night?” my mom teased and I blushed even more.
My dad opened the door to the suite and stopped to give the guards a few instructions before entering. “Ella, why is your face all red?” he asked.
“It's just...um...really hot in here,” I said. I caught a glimpse of my mom smiling behind her tea cup.
“Then why don't you take your sweatshirt off,” he suggested, like that should be the obvious answer to my problem. I just shrugged. “How's my favorite daughter,” he said, arms wide waiting for a hug.
“I'm your only daughter dad,” I said, giving him the hug he was waiting for.
“And that's why you're my favorite,” he chuckled. When he pulled back, his head snapped up to the sound of a door clicking. I braced myself as I turned and watched Tristan step out of the bedroom. I could feel my dad's body tense up instantly.
I dropped my arms and walked over to Tristan to stand next to him. “Dad, this is Tristan.” He looked him over, an intense stare in his eyes. When he didn't say anything I started to get nervous.
“Hello, Mr. McCallister,” Tristan said, extending a hand, but my dad didn't take it.
“Liam,” my mother chastised. Not wanting to hear her wrath, he took his hand and shook it. He gripped it so hard I could have sworn I heard bones break. Tristan flinched slightly and when my father let go he wiggled his fingers at his side to make sure they still worked.
“So you're the one who has been telling my daughter about us.”
“Yes sir,” Tristan stuttered.
“What gives you the right?”
“At least someone told me,” I snapped.
“Ella,” my mom warned.
“If you'll excuse us, we need to talk to our daughter in private.”
“Of course,” Tristan said, taking a step forward.
I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to me. “No, anything you need to say you can say in front of him,” I said, putting my foot down. My father glared at me, not appreciating my tone.
“Ella, I think it's best if I go,” Tristan said, a little scared. “Besides, I don't really want to make him mad,” he whispered. I knew my dad heard him by the smile on his face. I glared at my father, turned back to Tristan and pulled him in for one hell of a kiss. His arms flailed at his sides refusing to touch me. Tristan managed to pry me off of him and he pulled back blushing. He had fear all over his face when he looked at my dad.
I crossed my arms and gave my dad a smug look. Tristan made a quick exit for the door only to have my dad stop him on the way out. He grabbed his arm and I was about to open my mouth when my mom put up her hand to silence me.
My dad didn't say anything. He just stared at Tristan, eyes wide with rage, nostrils flaring, and that big vein in his neck bulging out like it always did when he was angry. Then in the same instant his shoulders sank, his eyes turned from rage to understanding, and then he let go and nodded at him. Tristan nodded back respectfully and left the room.
“Now that that's taken care of,” my father said, joining my mom at the table and she poured him a cup of tea. They both sat there silently, sipping their tea as if it was just any other day. I stood there waiting impatiently, watching them act if nothing was wrong. My irritation was growing at their cavalier attitudes.
Tired of the silence I decided to speak first. “So what else are you hiding from me?”
“Ella, have a seat,” my mom said calmly, pulling out the chair next to her.
“No, not until you tell me what's going on.”
“Sit!” my father yelled, making me jump.
Not wanting to piss him off any more than he already was I decided to take a seat. “So, I'm a vampire.”
“Half-vampire,” my mother corrected.
“And you felt the need to keep this from me, why?”
“For your protection,” my father said.
“Protection from what?”
“Ella, this is bigger than you will ever know.”
“Well that's the problem. I don't know, and apparently I'm the only one.”
“Honey, you have to understand we were going to tell you when we thought you were ready, when we thought it was necessary.”
“I think it's pretty fucking necessary now.”
“Watch your mouth,” my father scolded.
“Ella, the reason we didn't tell you was because we didn't think you could handle it. After the accident, after all you went through, it was too much for you to deal with,” my mom said with sympathy in her voice.
“So you just waited for someone else to tell me.”
“No, that was not supposed to happen, and that boy will be dealt with,” my father growled.
“What do you mean dealt with?”
“That's none of your concern.”
“Like hell it isn't.”
“Ella, I'm warning you,” he said, narrowing his eyes at me.
“What are you going to do? Lie to me some more? Because, I’ve had about enough of your lies.” I stood up.
“Sit! Down!” my father growled.
“No. You lied to me my whole life, about who I am and who you are. Tristan was the only one who was honest with me and had the guts to tell me the truth. I don't even know who you are anymore. I don't even know who I am? And until you can finally tell me the truth, I'm done”
“I am your father and you are my daughter!” he snapped.
“No you're not. Fathers don't lie to their daughters. You don't exist to me anymore,” I said, stomping off and heading into the bedroom. I lie on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. I told myself I would not cry. I grabbed one of the pillows and squeezed it to my chest wanting so desperately for the day to be over.
“Ella, sweetie?” my mom called, opening the door slowly and peering inside. “Can you please come out and talk to us civilly?”
“Why should I?” I mumbled into the pillow.
“I understand you're upset, but staying in here and pouting is not going to solve anything. I've talked to your father and he's willing to try and answer any questions you have in a calmly manner.”
“I can ask anything and you won't hold back?” I lifted my head to look at her.
“Anything,” she replied. I sat up and she gestured for me to follow her out to the table. I let my father know, with just a look, that I wasn't going to tolerate any bullshit.
“Why don't we start with what you already know?” he said.
I let out a breath and started. “Well, it's not much, but I know about the different types and how they're created. I know we each possess a different power, we can all manipulate the mind, and our senses are better than humans.”
“Anything else?”
“We didn't get very far. Tristan didn't want to overwhelm me.”
I saw my mom eye my dad and he responded with a look saying, ‘I know, I know’. “Where do you want me to start?” my dad asked.
“What are you?”
“A full vampire.”
“And Mom?”
“A half-breed.”
“And that picture at the sorority house, who is it…really?”
My dad looked to my mom for that one. “It's your father honey.”
“How old are you?” I asked my dad.
“Ninety-seven.”
“That's it?”
“What were you expecting, over two hundred?”
“I don't know,” I shrugged. “Will you like...live forever?”
“No. We do have a longer life span than humans though. We can live up to over three hundred years, some four hundred or longer, but I have yet to know any who has lived past five hundred.”
“Wow, five hundred years. Who would want to live that long?”
“It's actually more beneficial than you think,” he said, looking at my mom and smiling. She smiled back coyly sharing some secret I'm sure I was better off not knowing.
“Obviously we age, but how exactly does that work?”
“We age at a slower rat
e.”
“Do we like…sparkle?”
“No, that damn movie really did a number on us. Making it all seem glamorous. Damn kids everywhere wanting to be a vampire.” I had to try and hide my smile. “Forget everything you've seen in the movies or TV. Forget all of the myths you’ve heard about our people. Everything you will need to know you will learn at school.”
“Wait, school?” I was totally lost now.
“Yes, there is a special school for our kind where you can go and learn everything you need to know.”
“Why do I have to go there? Why can't you just tell me?”
“Because there is so much more to it than what your mom and I can teach you. You need to know how to use your powers and how to control them. You need to learn about our society, the rules, and how everything works.”
“So you're just going to pull me out of school and send me to a new one? No, no way, I just got here,” I protested.
“Ella, this is for the best,” my mom said, her voice sincere.
“No it's not. I don't have my powers yet so why can't I stay here?” I begged.
My mom looked to my dad for the answer. “I don't see why she couldn't stay, at least until she got her powers.”
“This is nonnegotiable,” my dad said.
“Liam, I think we should at least talk about this,” she said, sticking up for me.
“We'll discuss it later,” he said, which really meant I was going regardless of if I wanted to or not.
“What's there to discuss? I'm staying whether you want me to or not. I'm an adult now I can do what I want.”
“Ha,” my dad laughed. I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you going to do when we cut you off? When you have to find a way to pay your own tuition?”
“Liam!”
“I'll figure it out. I'll get a job,” I said, daring him to threaten me with something else.
“No, there is nothing to figure out. Ella is staying here until she comes into her powers and then she will attend Hamilton Hill,” my mom said, glaring at my dad.
“Jamila, you're being unreasonable.”
“The only one being unreasonable around here is you,” she spat back at him. “So I suggest you listen to what your daughter has to say or you will have to deal with me,” she warned. I knew my dad was mean, but my mom was definitely not one to mess with when she put her foot down. Satisfied with my mom putting my dad in his place I couldn't wipe the smug smile from my face. That was until my mom gave me a look that said if I didn't she'd smack it right off of me.
The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven Page 33