The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “You breaking sweetheart?” the guy asked with a smug smile.

  Dean whispered so low in my ear that only I could hear him. “Tell him to break. You’ll have a better advantage that way.”

  I looked the guy dead in the eye before I said, “No, you break.”

  He smiled, exposing the giant gap between his yellow teeth. I tried not to shudder. Xander pulled me aside to give me some quick pointers, but I was too nervous to listen. When my turn was up Xander told me to call my shots, which made me even more nervous.

  I didn’t know how I did it, but I won. I had a feeling somehow Xander and Dean were behind it. I had no know idea what their powers were, but something in my gut told me they played a part in me winning. The guy looked truly embarrassed to be beaten by a girl. I smirked at him as I walked over to collect my winnings. “Pay up,” I said, holding out my hand. He had to ask his buddies for some extra cash to cover what he lost.

  Once I had all the money, I told the boys next round was on me. I made Xander come with me to order the drinks so he could help me carry everything. On our way back to the table some jerk felt the need to interject.

  “Hey sweetheart, here’s a dollar. Why don’t you come over here and shake that ass for me,” the creep shouted. I ignored the lewd comment and kept walking as Xander shoved me along.

  We spent most of the night playing pool and drinking. Dean ended up getting these shots called car bombs. “You do this and you’re officially in the boys club,” Dean said. I dropped my shot in the beer like he told me and downed the drink before they even started. “Damn Ella, welcome to the boys club,” Dean and Xander cheered, clanking their glasses together.

  After a few more car bombs, I could barely see straight. Xander and Dean seemed to be in the same predicament. We tried horribly to play pool but gave up after realizing none of us could even hold a stick straight. I pulled Xander over to an open area and made it a dance floor. Dean followed, pushing us aside, insisting he had the best moves. It was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. “That’s what you call dancing?” I laughed.

  “Like you could do better?” he challenged.

  I shoved him out of the way and did the best I could without falling over. ”Damn girl, shake it!” The creep from earlier called. “Oh, come on honey, don’t stop. I was enjoying the show.” I ignored him again and started to move closer to Xander but the creep jumped up and grabbed me. “Dance with me sugar.” Dean, Xander, and Gabe instantly rushed over to me. “Whoa! Relax guys I was just having some fun.” He let me go and put his hands up defensively.

  The boys backed down and I turned to walk away again when the creep smacked me on my backside. Gabe was about to strike when Xander stopped him. “Wait, she can handle this guy,” he told Gabe. Feeling confident, I turned around and fixed the creep with a scowl. He smiled wide, exposing his summer teeth (some of them are there some of them aren’t). He also had the worst comb over I have ever seen. I smiled back my sweetest smile and swung.

  Unfortunately, I missed. My coordination was off just a bit.

  I swung so hard I spun around and lost my balance. Gabe caught me before I did a face plant on the floor. “Miss Ella, I don’t think it’s wise for you to engage with this character.”

  “I got this,” I said, turning back around and facing the creep who was now laughing at me for my failed attempt.

  “Wanna try again,” he taunted. “I like it rough.” He bent down closer to me. “I’ll give you a free shot. Go ahead, hit me right here.” He pointed to his cheek, laughing. I did not like being antagonized and this guy was really pissing me off. He straightened himself out and turned his back, ready to walk away. I tapped him on the shoulder and he pivoted to face me. I could feel the boys getting ready. I signaled with my finger for the creep to come closer. He smiled that toothless smile as I put my hands on his shoulders, more or less for leverage.

  I looked him in the eye, smiled, and then slammed my knee into his groin. He fell to the ground crying out in pain. Xander and Dean were surprised and proud at the same time even though I know they cringed a little at my low blow. Gabe had a big smile on his face nodding his head in approval. I dusted off my hands and smiled, proud of myself.

  “Bitch!” the creep yelled, lunging for me. I yelped as Gabe yanked me out of the way and shoved the guy to the ground. The creep bounced back quickly and made a pathetic attempt to take on Gabe. He hit him in the jaw and it was like watching a rubber ball bounce off a brick wall. I think it would have to take a bulldozer to take down Gabe.

  The creep shook his hand out like he broke it. He looked stunned. Clearly he had thought he packed enough power in that punch to knock him out. The creep’s friends noticed the failed attempt and felt the need to join in. Xander and Dean came to stand beside Gabe and before I knew it chaos broke out. “Ella, get out of here!” they yelled.

  I couldn’t move though. People were getting thrown left and right. Some guy jumped in front of me and grabbed my arm. I shrieked and reached for a bottle on the bar, smashing it over his head. I’ve seen people do this in the movies a million times and thought it would work, but all it did was stun him for a second.

  He looked at me grinning as blood dripped from his forehead. “Ella!” Dean yelled throwing me a pool stick before he was socked in the face. I caught it and cracked the guy on the side of the neck with it. He barely flinched. I hit him again and again and again. “Why…Won’t…You…Just…Fall…Down!” I yelled.

  Frustrated and out of breath, I grabbed a beer mug off the bar – this was definitely heavier than a beer bottle. I nailed him right on the side of his head. He stumbled and fell down. “It’s about damn time!”

  “Nicely done,” Dean said, coming up next to me. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He started pulling me out as I yelled for Xander and Gabe. In the process of our escape, some big, brooding, bald man knocked Dean into me so hard I fell on my butt.

  “That’s it!” I stood up and brushed myself off. The guy that pushed Dean now had him in a headlock and Xander and Gabe were too busy fending off the other goons to help intercept. Having enough of this debauchery, I picked up a chair and bashed it over the back of the guy who had Dean. The chair shattered into pieces upon impact. He dropped like a fly releasing Dean. Dean looked at me wide eyed before I started to push him out the door. Gabe and Xander fought their way out as we ran to the car. Gabe hoped in the driver seat and peeled out before I even had my door closed.

  Once we got enough distance from the bar and knew we were all safe, Xander started to laugh and then Dean joined him. “What is so funny?” I asked, not finding the humor in this.

  “Who would have thought our li’l sis was a scrapper?” Dean said, laughing harder.

  “Hey, I saved your butt!” I said, still not thinking this was funny.

  “You definitely are a McCallister,” Xander joked ruffling my hair.

  “Yeah have fun using that as an excuse to explain this to mom,” I told him. At the moment I wasn’t so crazy about going home.

  “I’m just glad you didn’t puke,” Dean said.

  “I thought you were going to when that guy hit you in the stomach,” I said, teasing Dean.

  None of us wanted to go home and face mom and dad. I felt even worse for Gabe. I was pretty sure he would be in more trouble than the rest of us.

  After the adrenaline rush wore off, I was slapped in the face with the contents of everything I drank tonight. I knew if I wasn’t careful this could turn ugly. Xander and Dean had to help me out of the car so I wouldn’t fall. I could barely stand up straight and was wondering how Xander and Dean had an easier time holding themselves up when they drank more than I did.

  The three of us managed to make it to the door unscathed. We had told Gabe we would take the brunt of the abuse from our parents and make up some lie so he wouldn’t get in trouble. But Gabe being the honorable man he is said he would follow this through and take whatever punishment that was coming to him.

&nb
sp; So now all four of us stood by the door, not wanting to go inside and face the wrath of our father. Just as I was about to open the door, Dean retched forward and started puking in the bushes. “How long were you holding that in?” Xander laughed.

  “Ever since that guy punched me in the gut,” he said, wiping his mouth. He threw his arm over my shoulder no longer able to stand on his own.

  “Ew gross, you have puke breath,” I squealed. I tried to push him away but ended up tripping over my own feet. Luckily for me Xander caught me before I hit the ground and just as our dad opened the front door. We froze. Dean not able to hold his liquor anymore, keeled over and puked in the bush again, making our father’s eyes grow wide with rage. Xander and I started to bust up laughing.

  “Enough,” my dad growled. The anger in his voice was enough to shut us up real quick. Xander helped me stand up straight while mom came out to see what all the fuss was about. “Oh Dean, not in my rose bushes,” she complained.

  “Sorry mom,” he said embarrassed.

  “Get. IN. The house. NOW!” my dad demanded. We grabbed Dean and leaned on each other as we made our way into the house. “Kitchen!” We tried to compose ourselves the best we could. “Sit!” my dad said, pacing back and forth, eyeing us all. I had to keep my head down because every time I would look at Xander or Dean I wanted to laugh. Gabe was the only one of us who decided to stay standing. He stood with his hands crossed in front of him ready to accept his punishment. My dad barely even gave him a glance.

  It felt like hours before my dad had finally decided to speak. He would open his mouth, close it, and then shake his head several times before he finally said, “Why?” He shook his head again. “No, I don’t want to know,” he said, changing his mind. “What would possess the three of you to act like this? I expect this from you two,” he pointed at me and Dean. I scoffed. “But Xander,” he shook his head again, ashamed. “You told me you just wanted to get her out of the house for a little. Not take her out drinking. This is not acceptable.” He scrubbed a hand down his face and turned on me. “If I wasn’t already sending you away I –”

  “Oh relax dad,” I interrupted, not in the mood for a lecture.

  His head spun slowly to meet my gaze. He eyed me suspiciously. “Are you drunk?”

  “No,” hiccup. “I am not,” hiccup. Dean and Xander could no longer contain their laughter and started to crack up. My mom looked more embarrassed than anyone hiding her face in her hands.

  “You think this is funny?” my dad yelled.

  “Oh Liam please, don’t act like you were a perfect angel at their age,” my mom said, standing up for us.

  “Jamila this is different. I’ve never acted this recklessly. Look at them they’re belligerent. So far gone that they get themselves into a bar fight,” he said angrily.

  “How do you know it was a bar fight and we weren’t attacked?” I asked a little defensively. Xander and Dean shook their heads at me to shut up. I looked at them confused.

  “Alright, we’re not going to get anywhere with this tonight,” my mom said. “Gabe, thank you for bringing them home. Your service is done for the night,” she said, dismissing him. He nodded his head and left without a word. She turned to my dad next. “Liam, you are too angry right now and they are too drunk,” she scowled at us. “I think those bruises and the hangover they’ll feel tomorrow will be punishment enough.”

  “Oh, they’ll be punished alright,” my dad grinned. “And now I have all night to think of the perfect punishment,” he chuckled.

  We were no longer laughing.

  My dad walked away with an evil smile on his face and we all feared for what we’d be in for tomorrow. “You two, look at you. Go clean yourselves up and stop bleeding on my table,” my mom said, feeling no sympathy for us.

  I sighed and got up to get some paper towels and ice for my brothers. Danni walked in just then and stopped when she saw us. “What the hell happened to you guys?” she asked, running over to Xander and inspecting his cuts.

  “We took Ella out,” Dean smiled. Danni rolled her eyes before bringing her attention back to Xander.

  “We need to get you guys cleaned up,” she said. I handed her the paper towels I had gotten. She stood up and headed over to the sink to wet some of them, retrieved the first aid kit from the cupboard, and then returned to Xander to address his wounds. She gently wiped the blood from Xander’s face as he stared into her eyes noting how he still cared deeply for her. I hated knowing what I did and not able to do anything or say anything about it. It was obvious these two still loved each other.

  “Hey! I’m hurt over here to you know?” Dean whined.

  “Awe, poor baby. You want me to fix your boo-boo for you?” I teased. He glared at me. I ignored his glare and reached up to check out the cut above his eyebrow. I felt a strange pulsing, almost a tingling sensation. Out of nowhere, my hand started to glow.

  Dean flinched. “What the hell was that?”

  “I don’t know?” I said just as surprised as he was. I stared at my hand. The tingling was gone and so was the glow making me think I almost imagined it.

  “Do it again,” Xander said.

  “I don’t know what I did?” I said honestly.

  “Put your hand over his cut.” I did as he requested and watched as my hand began to glow again. There was a silvery blue color that reached from my wrist to the tips of my fingers. I quickly pulled it back afraid of what might happen. I tucked my hand in my lap and looked back up at Dean. The cut on his brow had appeared to look smaller. I blinked not believing my eyes.

  “What happened? What did you do?” Dean asked panicked. He got up to look for a mirror.

  I looked at Xander not sure what was going on. “I think you’re a healer Ella,” Xander said smiling. I looked at my hand again. “Here, try it on the cut on my arm.”

  “Wait, shouldn’t you clean it first?” Danni asked.

  “No, it should be fine,” Xander said, brushing it off.

  “Just clean it first to be safe,” I said. He rolled his eyes, but let Danni clean it anyways. She wiped off all the dried blood and dirt. “Thank you.” I took a breath and prepared myself. I wasn’t sure how exactly this worked so I concentrated on his cut and willed it to heal. I placed my hand just above his arm and watched as the cut magically disappeared. “Ah!” I jumped up almost knocking my chair over.

  “Well done sis,” Xander smiled proudly.

  “What I miss?” Dean asked, coming back with a hand held mirror.

  “Watch,” I said, holding my hand up to his eyebrow. He held up the mirror and watched as my hand slowly began to glow. He flinched slightly but relaxed when he noticed the cut was disappearing.

  “I’ll be damned,” he said, examining himself out in the mirror. I smiled not able to stop staring at my hand.

  “What is going on down here?” my dad asked, coming back into the kitchen with my mom trailing not far behind.

  “Which one of you is it?” my mom asked, pointing an accusing a finger at each of us. She fixed her eyes on me. “I can feel the magic.” She tightened her belt on her robe and looked back at the boys.

  “Go ahead Ella, show them,” Xander encouraged. All eyes turned on me making me feel nervous. I pushed out a breath and concentrated as I had done before. I reached up and gently placed my hand over the black eye that had been forming on Dean’s left. There was only a faint glow this time. I tried harder but only managed to take down some of the swelling. My shoulders sank, discouraged. I didn’t understand why it wasn’t working now? Was I doing something wrong?

  Noticing my disappointment, my mom came over and rested a hand on my shoulder. “It’s the alcohol,” she said. “It lessons your powers.”

  “Oh,” was all I could manage.

  “Wait, I have an idea,” my dad said, walking into the kitchen. He returned with a knife and dragged it across his forearm slicing it open.

  “Oh my god, what are you doing?” I cried, jumping up, and throwing my hand
s over his bleeding arm. The power flowed through me stronger than before closing up the cut on his arm. There was still a faint pink line, but he and I both knew it would heal quickly on its own. My dad swung his arms around me and picked me up off the ground. “My daughter’s a healer,” he said, smiling proudly.

  “But not a very good one,” I said as he put me down.

  “Don’t get discouraged. You just got your powers and they’re still growing. Give it time. They will get stronger,” my mom smiled at me.

  “Don’t you think it’s a little weird that Ella’s a healer?” Dean asked.

  “How so?” I said annoyed. He would be the one to rain on my parade.

  “Nobody else in the family is. Your power usually comes from your bloodline,” he said.

  I looked at my mom and dad. “Normally yes, but we’re learning that Ella is special,” my dad said, still smiling proudly.

  “She’s special alright,” Dean muttered. I smacked him on the arm.

  “Like I said before, I have a feeling you’re going to surprise us all,” my mom said, kissing me on top of my head.

  “So that’s my power. I’m a healer,” I said a little disappointed. I was kind of hoping it might be something cool, like throwing fire or something like that. My dad chuckled to himself and I pulled back to look at him. “What’s so funny?”

  “Only witches possess the power to throw fire.”

  “How did you?” I asked, scratching my head.

  “I can read thoughts,” he said.

  “What!?! That is so…so…”

  “I can only do it when I’m in contact with the person and that’s how I knew what you were thinking.”

  “Oh.”

  “I can also talk inside someone’s mind and put thoughts there.”

  “Really?” I asked intrigued.

  He nodded. “It can be very useful sometimes,” he winked.

  I stared, stunned. No one else seemed to hear him but me. “Wait, did you just?” He laughed. “Interesting,” I said stroking my chin. “Do you have to be touching the person to do that too?”

  “No, but it is easier,” he said.