The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  I felt him before I saw him. I turned back around and spotted Tristan sitting casually in a chair by our table. He was wearing a suit and his hair was its normal messy style. He was the picture of perfection and every bit as handsome the day I met him. The sight of him made what I had to do that much harder. I forced a smile and walked over to where he was sitting. He stood up when I approached, kissed my hand, and surprised me with a bouquet of wild flowers.

  “Thank you,” I said softly, afraid my voice would betray me. He took one of the flowers from the arrangement and placed it in my hair. Holding out his arm for me, he led me to the dance floor. We danced as if we never stopped dancing that night. I closed my eyes, resting my head on his chest, savoring the moment. I listened to his heart and it hurt more than I could have imagined. I would never hear this again. I pulled back before I lost all of my nerve. I placed my hands on either side of his face. I tried to take in as much of him as I could; his hair, his skin, his cool, minty scent, his smile, and his intoxicatingly dark blue eyes. I absorbed the feeling of his arms around me, the feeling I get when he touches me, when he’s around. I took it all.

  I dropped my hands to his chest and looked up into his eyes. “Tristan?” my voice cracked. He met my eyes, smiled, and kissed my lips tenderly. “Tristan, I have to go.” My voice was weak and it was getting harder to speak. I pushed myself and tried again. “I have to go. I have to move on.”

  “Ella, what are you talking about?”

  “You aren’t real. This isn’t real. This is all just a fantasy I’ve created to keep you with me, but I can’t do it anymore. I can’t keep torturing myself like this. I have to let you go.”

  “Ella?” There was pain in his eyes. He reached up to touch my face, but I stopped him, holding his hand in mine. I had to do this before it was too late, before I changed my mind.

  The aching in my chest was building. I started to cry. Standing on my tip toes, I kissed his wonderful lips one last time, lingering longer than I should have. “Goodbye Tristan,” I whispered, closing my eyes. The clock signaled it was midnight. I closed my eyes. When I was brave enough to open them, Tristan was gone.

  I was alone.

  The only thing that let me know he was here was the bouquet of flowers lying on the floor in front of me. I picked them up and hugged them close to my chest. When I opened my eyes I was back in my room. “Ella! Ella!” Hadley and Jake yelled. “Happy New Year!” they cheered, jumping up and down on my bed causing, ginger to grumble and get down.

  “Sorry Ella, they’re fast little buggers,” Danni said, trying to catch her breath.

  The sound of fireworks outside caught Jake’s attention. “Fireworks! Can we watch?”

  “Just take Ginger with you. I’ll be out in a second.” Ginger lay on the floor not happy with my request to go outside with the kids. “Go on girl, go.” She reluctantly got up and followed them out.

  “Everything okay Ella?” Danni asked.

  “Yeah, just give me a minute,” I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. She hesitated in the doorway for a moment. I knew she could tell something wasn’t right, but she also knew I would come to her when I was ready. She left me alone to hash out my issues before I joined them outside. I got up off the bed and took a deep breath. I managed to compose myself enough to go outside and watch the fireworks. I found Danni with the kids over by the fire pit that was already ablaze. All four of us cuddled together on one of the larger chairs and watched the explosion of beautiful, multicolored lights.

  When they were over, I gave Jake and Hadley some sparklers to play with. “Ella, what’s in your hair?” Danni asked, looking at me funny. She reached up and pulled out a purple violet. I examined the flower in her hand. How the? I had no idea how that got there or where it came from.

  I took the flower from Danni twirling it between my fingers. Crazier things have happened I thought and shrugged it off. “Ella, come play with us,” Hadley squealed, running over to us. Her eyes went straight to the violet in my hand. “Pretty,” she said, touching the petals with her tiny fingertips. I tucked the flower behind her ear. “How do I look mommy?”

  Danni squeezed her cheeks and kissed her nose. “Beautiful baby.” Hadley giggled and took my hand pulling me off of the chair.

  “Xander!” Jake yelled. “Come play with us!”

  “You’re home early,” I said as he joined us on the lawn.

  “Jasa has an early flight tomorrow,” he replied.

  “Where’s she going?” I asked curiously.

  “New York. Her firm has a big case they’re working on and she has to be there,” he said a little saddened about not being able to spend the whole night with her.

  “Xander come on!” Hadley and Jake complained, tugging on his arms impatiently.

  “Okay, okay,” he laughed and allowed them to pull him along. We lit a few more sparklers and watched as they danced around in the grass with bright, smiling faces.

  “Fly me Xander fly me!” Hadley cried. He picked her up in the air and spun her around. She giggled happily and I could see the longing in his eyes, wishing that she was his. I wanted to burst forth and tell him she was. He no longer had to wish because it was true. But it was not my secret to tell. So instead I bit my tongue and stood back.

  “Alright Hadley, it’s time for bed,” Danni told her as she stood up and joined us.

  “I’m not tired,” Hadley complained.

  “I know but it’s late,” Danni said through a yawn.

  “Will you read me a story?” Hadley begged with her big green eyes.

  “Yes,” Danni caved. There wasn’t anything that little girl couldn’t get her mom to do.

  “And Xander too!” Danni looked slightly uncomfortable.

  “I don’t mind,” Xander said. If I didn’t know any better, I could swear Xander still had feelings for Danni.

  I watched them walk in to the house before I turned to Jake and told him it was time for bed too.

  It only took a week for the school to get back to me with my schedule. My first class wasn’t until ten in the morning making this school a little more appealing. I looked over the schedule they had sent me.

  Vampire history 101 10:00 – 11:00 room 232

  Spells and casting 11:15 – 12:15 room 333

  Lunch 12:30 – 2:00

  Chemistry beginner 2:15 – 3:15 room 124

  Power control beginner 3:30 – 4:30 room 208

  Self-defense 5:00 – 6:00 gymnasium

  And that was just Monday. Tuesday was a whole different schedule.

  Royal politics/economics 8:00 – 10:00 room 239

  And the little appeal the school had was now gone.

  Art 10:15 – 11:15 room 393

  Dance 11:30 – 12:30 studio

  Lunch 1:00 – 2:00

  My schedule alternated like this every other day. At least the days I had to get up early I got done earlier so I tried to look at it on a positive note. I didn’t use to mind getting up early, but after experiencing the joys of sleeping in on a regular basis I was kind of spoiled.

  I slipped my schedule in my desk and walked over to my bed where I picked up my journal.

  Jan. 7

  I’m really starting to get nervous. I have no idea what to expect. Not only am I starting a new school, again, but I won’t know anyone and Dean doesn’t count. I have no idea what the people will be like. It’s not like when I started school in the fall. I had Josie with me then, it was easier, and I was more than willing to meet new people, but now, after everything that happened? I wasn’t willing to make new friends and risk putting them in danger. Plus this entire school will be filled with people like me. Vampires, half-breeds, witches…I wonder if there are any others out there? Like werewolves? Angels? Hey if there are vampires and I’m living proof there is, why not other folk lore creatures?

  I pondered that thought for a moment.

  Maybe starting somewhere new again would be a good thing. I’m sure I won’t be the only new stu
dent? I hope. A new place where no one knows me…doesn’t know what happened. I could literally start fresh. Oh who am I kidding? I can’t do this___

  “Ella, what’s the matter?” my mom asked, coming into my room, uninvited.

  “Huh? Oh, nothing,” I said, putting my journal aside.

  “Ella, something’s bothering you,” she said, making her way over to me.

  “I’m fine,” I said a little annoyed.

  “Ella, your emotions are practically screaming at me. I felt you all the way downstairs.”

  “Oh, right. I forgot you’re an empath,” I sighed. That’s the name for people like my mom with her kind of powers. It was one of the many things I looked up after she told me.

  “Now, care to tell me what’s wrong?”

  “You can’t figure it out?” I said, snippier than I intended to.

  “No,” she said, ignoring my attitude. “Your emotions are all jumbled. Let me –”

  “No! Stay back. I can do this myself.” I knew she planned to calm me with her powers, but I didn’t want an easy fix.

  “I have no doubt you can, but Ella, please. Not just for your sake, but mine as well. You’re a jumbled mess right now and it’s killing me.”

  “Can’t you just block it?”

  “Not when they’re this strong,” she said, covering her ears as if the voices were too loud.

  “Sorry,” I said, feeling bad. I forgot she could feel everything I could when our emotions run high. She sat next to me on the bed, placing her hand over mine. I instantly felt warmth and a soothing, calm feeling. “Thank you,” I said, letting out a breath.

  “Wanna tell me what’s bothering you?”

  “I’m just really nervous about this new school. I thought maybe I could start over, but I’m scared.”

  “It’s normal to be scared Ella, but you can’t let it get the best of you. Besides, Dean will be there, and he’ll help you.” My head shot up. “I’ll make sure he helps you out. What else is bothering you?”

  “I’m afraid I’m never going to be able to trust anyone again. I’m also afraid I’m going to be so paranoid that I’ll think everyone is out to get me.”

  “Oh, honey,” she wrapped her arms around me. “It’s normal to feel that way.”

  I snapped, no longer feeling the calming effects of her powers. “Stop saying it’s normal!” I stood up. “Everything about me is far from normal!” My mom had a stunned look on her face, not sure what to do.

  “What is all this shouting about?” my dad asked, joining the party.

  “This is all your fault!” I yelled, pushing past him.

  “Let her go,” I heard my mom say as I stomped down the stairs. I didn’t know where I was going and I really didn’t have many options either. I couldn’t leave the house without any guardians and all I wanted was to be left alone. I was feeling trapped, like my head was going to explode. I walked out back and screamed at the top of my lungs.

  “Feel better?” Dean asked, shaking a finger in his ear.

  “Sorry, didn’t see you there…and no, I don’t.” I thought letting it out would help but all it did was make my throat sore.

  Dean stood up from his chair, drink in hand, “Alright, we’re going out. Go get dressed,” he said, making me do a double take.

  “What? And I am dressed,” I said, crossing my arms, annoyed.

  “You need to put something slutty on if we’re going to pass you for twenty-one, well, you could pass on your own considering you look like you’re thirty, but then you’d still stick out like a sore thumb,” he said, pushing me into the house. I opened my mouth to retort, but I was too stunned to form words. “Just trust me,” he winked. “Go,” he said, shoving me up the steps.

  I managed to close my mouth and walk up the stairs to my room. I didn’t completely trust Dean, but I thought I’d go along for at least entertainment value. I searched through my closet trying to find something ‘slutty’, which was hard because everything I owned now was hoodies and jeans. Not to mention even before most of my clothes, I guess you could say, were more conservative. Josie was always yelling at me.

  I reached in to the back of my closet and found my only mini skirt and a lace tube top. I pulled out the lace tube top. I’ve never seen it before and wondered how the hell it got in there? Regardless, it would have to do. I grabbed Josie’s favorite black boots from the bottom of the closet and got dressed. I then rimmed my eyes with black eyeliner for a more dramatic effect. I wasn’t too worried about looking older. Dean was right. I was always told I looked older for my age. My mom used to say it was because of the way I carried myself and what gave away my true age was my eyes – my dad said it was my lack of maturity, whatever. My Grandma Bea told me it was because I had a warrior’s spirit inside of me. The spirit masked my appearance to make me look older and wiser to fool my enemies. I liked Grandma’s reasoning the best.

  I didn’t mind looking older, it came in handy sometimes. For example, like tonight.

  When I was done, I met Dean downstairs where he was waiting with Xander and Gabe. “That’s your idea of slutty?” Dean mocked.

  “Sorry, I left my pasties and G-string at the dry cleaners.”

  “It’s fine,” Xander butted in before the bickering started.

  “Where are we going anyways?” I asked.

  “You’ll see,” Dean said, leading me to the car.

  “Does dad know about this because if not I do not want to get in trouble for this,” I stopped and paused, not wanting to pursue this any further without confirmation.

  “Yes dad knows,” Dean said rolling his eyes. “Why do you think Gabe is with us?” I didn’t ask any more questions. I was just glad to get out of the house.

  They ended up taking me to some dive bar in the not so nice part of town. “Seriously, this is where you guys bring me?” I was afraid to touch anything for fear of getting hepatitis.

  “It’s not about the place. It’s about the company you keep,” Xander smiled.

  “Yeah, well, that’s questionable too.”

  Chapter six

  We sat in the back near the billiards tables. Dean ordered us a round of drinks and shots. “Here,” he said, handing me a shot.

  “I don’t know? What is it?” I asked apprehensive.

  “Just take it,” he said rolling his eyes.

  I reluctantly took the shot. “Oh god, what was that?” I cringed as my throat burned with a horrific after taste.

  Xander and Dean laughed. I think I even caught Gabe smile. I glared at them thinking how not funny that was. “Whiskey,” Dean replied to my question. “It will put some hair on your chest,” he said, patting my back.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it,” Xander said. That was not something I wanted to get used to. “Come on, let’s play some pool.”

  “I’m not very good,” I told him. I only played one other time and that was when Tristan tried to teach me and failed miserably.

  “I’ll teach you,” Xander said. We walked over to the pool tables, but they were all taken. “We got next game,” Xander told one of the guys that were playing and put some quarters down on the table.

  “I don’t think so. Why don’t you and the little kiddies go play some video games?” The guy laughed, throwing the quarters back at Xander.

  “Come on Xander, you can teach me another time,” I said, trying to pull him away, but he wouldn’t budge.

  Instead he just walked right up to the guy and got in his face. Gabe instantly tensed up and stood by me ready to take me out in case this got ugly. “I said we got next game,” Xander repeated, more stern. The guy laughed again and bent down to take his shot.

  Dean put his hand on the ball. The guy stood up ready to knock him out. “Better yet, you’re done. We’ll take it from here,” Dean said, making the guy’s eyes go wide. “And the next game is on you.” The guy just stood there, staring at Dean dazed. Two seconds later, the guy put quarters on the table and walked away. His friend’s stared
at him like he was nuts. Gabe relaxed a little when he walked away.

  “Dean, how did you?” He turned to me and winked. It took a moment before it registered. Son of a bitch, he compelled him.

  “Nifty little trick, isn’t it,” Xander whispered. I just shook my head as Xander racked the balls. “Dean, you break.”

  Xander tried to explain to me how to line up the cue ball with the one I wanted to hit. He told me that normally you’re supposed to call your shots but since I was a beginner and we were playing for fun he wouldn’t make me. I played very well. Dean said it was beginners luck and Xander said I was a natural. Even Gabe relaxed enough to play a few games. Xander suggested I play someone for money. “I hope you have money to lose because I’m not that good,” I said.

  “No worries, we’ll play teams,” he said. “Besides, I have faith in you,” he smiled.

  “I know the perfect person to,” Dean said before he walked away. He came back with another round of drinks and shots. “Here, you’re going to need this.” He handed me the shot. I didn’t hesitate this time. “Hey you!” Dean called over his shoulder. “Wanna play?” he asked the guy who we took the table from earlier.

  “Dean, what are you doing?” I said, grabbing his arm.

  “Further humiliation,” he smiled.

  “For who him or me?” He ignored me.

  “What’s the bet?” the guy asked.

  “A hundred a ball,” Dean said with a cocky smile.

  “Dean!” He was taking too much faith in me being able to win. I was definitely not willing to risk that.

  Sensing my hesitation he said, “Ella don’t worry. You got this.” He turned back to the guy “You against her.”

  “Wait, I thought we were playing teams?” I asked a little panicked now.

  “Next one. Trust me Ella. You can take him.” I wasn’t so sure. I swiped Dean’s shot from his hand and threw it back, letting the liquid burn my throat. “Relax,” he said.